When the call went out that CPAC would be issuing press passes to bloggers, I wasn’t interested. I’m a cranky libertarian, crotchety even, and if I had a cane I would regularly wave it over my head in the direction of the Capitol while cussing out the lawmakers who haven’t figured out that their job is to get the fuck out of my way so I can live my life.

So anyway, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about the goings-on there, but I did show up last night for the happy hour in the Omni Shoreham’s bar.

The bar is your typical smoke-filled Washington back room, dark wood and leather chairs and waitresses who don’t speak English. It’s kind of hidden off to the side in the lobby, and starting from the Woodley Park Metro platform, all the way into the hotel, and throughout the lobby as I searched for the bar, I had only one observation.

“My god. I’ve never seen so many scrawny dorks in suits.”

What is it about the conservative movement that attracts fresh-faced college students who look like they’re playing dress-up with their parents’ clothes?

Also, apparently my unofficial job last night was as blogger ego-check. I gave up reading most political blogs years ago, so as Tom pointed people out to me, the conversation usually went like this:

“See that woman over there? She’s Trevino’s new boss.” “Okay…” “Josh Trevino, he’s a blogger.” “I know the name, but I don’t actually read his blog.” “Heh.”

“See that woman who’s about your height? She’s Little Miss Attila.” “Never heard of her.” “Hah.” (Note: We hung around at the bar for several hours last night and she’s really rather a lot of fun.)

In fact, my only other reaction was: “Hey, that’s Suzette Kelo!” “Who?” “Suzette Kelo.” “Again, I say, who?” “As in, Kelo vs. City of New London.” “OH, THAT Kelo!!”

Also, I’d just like to say that Sarah from Americans for Limited Government, the girl giving out the foam pigs yesterday, can totally roll with us anytime she’s in DC. Yeah.