Most members of the HUMAN EVENTS staff (as well as a few of our Redstate co-conspirators) are over at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) today mingling with the crowds, listening to the speakers and participating in panel discussions.

So far there have been a whirlwind of speakers here to pump attendees up about the conservative cause -- among them: Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao speaks later this afternoon and Vice President Dick Cheney and former UN Ambassador John Bolton are the keynote speaker at tonight's Presidential Banquet.

There's an energy in the halls here at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washinton, D.C. but it's hard to tell if it is all authentic. Supporters pushing presidential candidates are clogging up the hallways with signs, t-shirts, stickers and balloons showing their support. Fans of Mitt Romney and Sen. Sam Brownback are the easiest to spot, and certainly the most dominant. Brownback's crew is boasting him as "the one true conservative" in the race. As they did last year, a handful of people are promoting Secretary of State Condi Rice even though she has not agreed to run nor expressed interest in doing so.

The energy level could intensify into fireworks as we head into tomorrow with a full line-up of GOP presidential hopefuls schedule to address the crowd -- all those who have expressed serious interest in the race with the exception of Sen. John McCain.

Stay tuned.