WASHINGTON D.C. – Your eyes and ears on the ground returns to the nation’s capitol for a check-in of the College Republican National Convention.

Buddha remembers his first CRNC; it was 1993 or 1994. Bill Spadea ran unopposed, and Tony Zagotta was still tearing up the town.

What Buddha remembers about that 93-94 event was that the CRNC appeared to be an excuse for a bunch of frat boys to play playground politics with one another and celebrate running the winning campaign – unopposed, or course – with kegstands.

Ah, the 90s. [LOTUS: This year’s president was also unopposed.]

Happy to see so many young GOPers in the house. Your Buddha wishes that he could stick around to see what kind of stuff RNC Chairman Mike “Balls of” Steele says to get you guys pumped up for 2012, when you’ll actually be old enough to vote.

“Yo, yo, yo, what up my homeys! Can you dig it? My homey John Boehner came to bring the pain, hardcore to your brain! What! Y’heard? Step up to get your rep up, youngsters: you are the future!”

[LOTUS: Actually, this sounds more like Buddha introducing his next set at the Red and Black.]

In all seriousness, maybe the big guy will find his most receptive audience to date.

Great to see so many great groups represented here: CPAC, NRA, YCC, ISI, YAF, Eagle Forum… conservative groups.

N.B. CRNC: It’s conservatives who support your causes and pay to co-sponsor your events.

Did Republicans for Choice send a rep? [LOTUS: Yes, Michael Steele]

Is the Main Street Republican Partnership Here? [LOTUS: Yes, Michael Steele]

And where are the social groups?

Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America: where are you? [LOTUS: In the kitchen, where they belong. Just kidding, I love those chicks.]

You’re missing the fun. Their outfits are great. Unironic plaid pants, fer cryin’ out loud. You have got to check this out! [LOTUS: Buddha prefers for every item he wears to be ironic, i.e. Stop Global Warming arm bands, argyle sweaters, 2000 Olympics polo shirts, Prada eyewear, other people’s dirty socks.]

And kids, only treat yourself to a keg stand if you actually beat your opponent.

No opponent, no drinky-drink.

Actor and director Robert Davi recently wrote in The Washington Times about his family, Memorial Day, and the importance of teaching children about about our military’s heroes.  While many kids know everything about “going green,” few know about America’s military and why we celebrate holidays like Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.

This Memorial Day, I had the honor of being part of the program at this cemetery. joining Robert Forster, Jon Voight, David Horowitz, Bill Sachs and Maj. Gen. JamesW. Comstock. The general had asked all to remember the first time he or she understood or felt patriotic. As I sat waiting my turn to speak, I reflected on mine. My father was a Navy gunner on a merchant marine ship during World War II. His ship was torpedoed in the Pacific, and he was in the water for three days. He lost some of his close friends and was awarded the Purple Heart.

My earliest recollections of my dad were that on every Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day until the day he died at age 57, he wore his Navy uniform and raised the flag in our front yard. I remember his solemn pride on those days. He also upset my mother a bit because he still fit in his uniform and had not gained any weight over the years. And, well, she had.

Click here to read more about Davi’s plan to go red, white and blue.

You may remember that in 2008 the media went berserk over Ann Coulter’s speech in which she said, “I was going to say a few words about Edwards, but it turns out you have to go to rehab if you say the word ‘faggot.’”

Coulter was referring to the recent Hollywood news that an actor from Gray’s Anatomy called another actor on the show a “faggot.”  He was told that he could return to the show after completing rehab.  Coulter defended her use of the word by saying that it was a “schoolyard taunt,” like sissy or pansy.

(Small confession — when I was 9 or 10 I used to label all the boys in Teen Beat and other magazines with either “Fine” or “Fag”)

New York Times columnst Judith Warner seems to agree with Coulter.  On April 16, Warner wrote:

Being called a “fag,” you see, actually has almost nothing to do with being gay.

It’s really about showing any perceived weakness or femininity – by being emotional, seeming incompetent, caring too much about clothing, liking to dance or even having an interest in literature. It’s similar to what being viewed as a “nerd” is, Bennington College psychology professor David Anderegg notes in his 2007 book, “Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them”: “‘queer’ in the sense of being ‘odd’ or ‘unusual,’” but also, for middle schoolers in particular, doing “anything that was too much like what a goody-goody would do.”

It’s what being called a “girl” used to be, a generation or two ago.

As Coulter herself has noted, the New York Times is a wonderfully informative newspaper once its political agenda is removed.

My favorite LOTUS Blog post of all time was written by Mr. Riggs and it’s time we gave him another assignment.  What are some good live-blogging events coming up? 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking with Robert Davi, the amazing actor who has been in EVERYTHING.  We talked about politics and his movie, The Dukes, which has already won numerous awards at the Rome Film Festival, Monte Carlo Film Festival, among many others.  In addition to playing the lead role (Danny DePasquale — no relation — HA!) Robert Davi wrote, produced and directed The Dukes.  In the next few weeks I’ll have a column/review of the movie.  Until then, check out the synopsis and preview here.  The movie opens on November 14.

From IMDB:

The Dukes,(Chazz Palminteri and Robert Davi) a Doo Wop group, were on top of the world at 17, now are struggling for survival in 2008. Their manager (Peter Bogdanovich) is desperately trying to get them work but is met with failure at every turn. Finally pushed to the extreme, they pull a heist only a fool would attempt, which leaves them even more desperate. When all seems lost, they find themselves. Underneath the laughter, “The Dukes” is a film that explores the intricacies of re-defining yourself; not only dealing with lost fame but applies to anyone whoever found themselves at the bottom of the mountain looking up where they once were; and how, in changing times, to hold onto your true self.

Tony Snow was the closing speaker at this year’s CPAC.  Following his speech, he stayed and signed autographs and took pictures with the attendees and volunteers.  Later than night I received a voicemail message from him thanking me for the opportunity to speak.  Sometimes it can seem a little hollow to hear the talking heads say how nice someone was.  But take it from a nobody like me — he really was as nice and gracious as they say.

Click here to watch Tony’s speech at CPAC 2008.

Click here to read the transcript of Tony’s speech at CPAC 2008.

This week I visited the shooting range at the National Rifle Association of America in Fairfax, VA.  Also visiting that day was a group of wounded soldiers from Walter Reed.  It was great to see so many volunteers from the NRA donate their time, ammo and firearms for the day. 

The NRA recently launched a program to provide free one-year memberships to those currently serving in the armed forces.  Click here for information on helping NRA provide these free memberships.

LOTUS takes aim…

Hollywood is shocked that Lauren Hutton is criticizing how Sex and the City portrayed women.  She said:

“It’s written by guys, who happen to be gay, who are sluts. That’s what I think.

“Let’s face it most men are sluts. That’s what testosterone is supposed to do. As a hunter, if you stayed alive after 30, nature wanted your genes out there. Women were just trying to get the best sperm to make a masterpiece.

“You have a bunch a guys who are sluts, writing for women and telling them they are supposed to act like this.”

Hutton’s remarks reminded me of an article that Ann Coulter wrote for George Magazine when Sex and the City first aired.  The article is available in her book, How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must).  Coulter wrote:

Do you actually know girls who talk about sex using the d-word and c-word to describe specific body parts? No you don’t. You know gay men who do… Girls talking the way the do on Sex and the City is about as realistic as George Bush playing a gangsta rapper, talking about “ho’s’ and bitches.”

 I enjoy the show and I’ll eventually see the movie.  I’ve always that it was remarkable that after several years of watching the Sex and the City characters (or “three hookers and their mom”) through their failed hook-ups and relationships, in the end they all became happy once they got the guy and settled down into more traditional roles.  Even gay writers want their fairy tale ending. 

(Kudos to me for not making the obvious “fairy” joke!)

UPDATE:  I’m a Jen.

Nope, that’s not a typo.  After losing a couple special elections, House Republicans seem to be throwing in the towel and agreeing with the MSM that they’ve lost.  Oddly, none of these leaders have mentioned freshman Congressman Steve Scalise’s win in Louisiana (formerly Bobby Jindal’s seat) on May 3.  One insider tells me that conservatives are elated because Scalise is better than Jindal on many key issues, such as health care.  Maybe Republicans have a hard time winning, but conservatives are happy to take this victory.

The LOTUS Blog has a limited number of signed copies of the exclusive documentary about Ann Coulter, Is It True What They Say About Ann?  This DVD is also the perfect gift for any Coulter fan.

Click here to order your signed copy of Is It True What They Say About Ann? through Paypal for only $30.00 (USPS priority shipping included!).  Review of Is It True What They Say About Ann?:

Recently the movie biz has taken the Conservative Movement by storm. In the last few months, conservatives released more than a dozen documentaries. Is It True What They Say About Ann?  tackles the misconceptions and outright lies about author and columnist Ann Coulter. I was particularly interested in seeing the film because I coordinated and attended many of the events from the documentary’s footage. Also included are interviews with critics of conservative ideas, including TV-host Bill Maher, pundit Susan Estrich and the lovable, and Democratic pollster Pat Caddell. Several protestors from Miss Coulter’s 2003 lecture at Johns Hopkins University were also interviewed. The moments that define her critics are when several of the protestors admit that they’ve never read her books or columns.

As a fan of Ann, it would have been great to see more credence given to her enormous popularity on college campuses. She is one o the most popular campus speaker and we get calls every day from students eager to annoy their liberal professors. Sponsoring a lecture by Ann Coulter is an attractive solution. It’s thrilling for the students because she is always willing to meet and talk to them until the last question is asked and the last book is signed — things many of the other heavy hitters don’t do. Patrick Wright, co-director of Is It True What They Say About Ann?, explained, “I think that we start with all the rhetoric and things that are said about Ann and then move in closer to what Ann is about.”

The documentary is successful in showing viewers Miss Coulter’s quick wit and delivery that is best witnessed in person. Her personality shines and no one can deny the obvious enjoyment she takes in ripping liberals to shreds and then celebrating with fellow conservatives afterwards.

Click here to order your signed copy of Is It True What They Say About Ann?