I missed last week’s bloggers briefing, because I was down with the CPAC flu like almost everyone else who attended the conference. But I was back in the saddle for today’s briefing where we heard from Alfred Regnery, the publisher of the American Spectator, who came by to talk about his new book, “Upstream: The Ascendance of American Conservatism.”

I walked in about a half hour late, just in time for questions, but missing most of Regnery’s talk about the history of the American conservative movement from the post-war period through Reagan.

You should check out Ericka Andersen’s post for more on Regnery’s remarks, but below are some notes from what I caught.

When Rush Limbaugh says that he won’t support McCain over Hillary, it’s the ultimate statement of principal.

We can withstand a bad election. Ideas are the most important.

Obama vs. Goldwater

There are certain similarities. There was a passion for Goldwater that never existed before.

With Goldwater It wasn’t about himself. But with Obama, it’s all about Obama.

What’s the greatest insight you’ve gleaned from writing this book?

The conservative movement is a very interesting coalition between intellectuals and philosophers and very practical politicians.

Conservatives when running for office, go to the philosophers.

For example, when elected to lead the Republican Study Committee, Mike Pence bought copies of “The Conservative Mind” for everyone on the committee.

Is McCain a conservative with that same philosophical underpinning?

No, he isn't, but neither is George W. Bush.

But McCain wakes up in the morning and says to himself in the mirror.

“Duty, Honor, Country.”

I have a copy of Russell Kirk’s “The Conservative Mind” on my book shelf, and it’s one of the best books I read while in college, even if it was never required reading for any college course I took. So I’m looking forward to reading Upstream, because as the old cliché goes, you can't know where you are going until you know where you have been.