Top story: Missed the exhilarating opening day for the Conservative Political Action Conference, otherwise known as CPAC? Here are some of the highlights:
- Pollster Whit Ayres called Marco Rubio “the RGIII of American politics." (White Ayres)
- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida: ‘States should have the right to define marriage” (Matt Lewis)
- “20-something woman: 'What the f--k is up with this music?' One Direction was playing as Rubio exited." (John McCormack)
- CPAC attendee to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Tennessee: "Don't drone me, bro!" (Robert Costa)
- Paul calls GOP “stale and moss covered.” (Domenico Montanaro)
- Texas Gov. Rick Perry laments what could have been if the GOP had "nominated conservative candidates in 2008 and 2012" (Emily Schultheis)
- "Republicans who vote for tax increases are rat heads in a Coke bottle, says Grover Norquist, in the oddest line of the day so far at CPAC.” (Neil King)
- “‘I'm going to re-think America's involvement in the first World War” – Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, (Katrina Trinko)
- Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas: "Vietnam was winnable, but people in Washington decided we would not win it." (Juana Summers)