Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin invited to speak at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference)

Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are arguably the two most popular and polarising conservative figures in America today. Both seen as the defacto leaders of the GOP and removed from Washington. Palin, a first term Governor for Alaska. Rush, an influential radio talker with a listernership of 20 million.

Whilst they are both formidable in their grassroots appeal. Liberal pundits and strategists may be willing to accept Limbaugh and Palin as Defacto leaders of the GOP as it allows them to paint a "controversial and extreme" face for the GOP.

On Rush Limbaugh as the Defacto Head of the Republican Party
"Rush is a double-edged sword, he cuts both ways" said Phil Musser, a Republican consultant and former executive director of the Republican Governors Association. "Sometimes you love him, sometimes you cringe at his impolitic (he'd say honest) fusillados."

John Weaver, a former senior aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said that Republicans must be careful not to allow their Democratic rivals to paint them all with the brush of Limbaugh.

"The Democrats and the far left will do all they can to grab electoral turf," said Weaver. "And one sure way to do it is take some of the most controversial voices on the extreme right -- like Limbaugh and [Alaska Gov. Sarah] Palin -- and try to insist they speak for all members of the center/right movement."

The annual (Conservative Political Action Conference) CPAC conference's speaker list has been a traditional measure of the most influential voices for Conservatism. Once again despite attempts to marginalise them, Talk Radio remains a powerful voice for conservatives. Based on their placement on the schedule, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin are Conservatism's proud marquee names.

Rush Limbaugh, Joe Scarborough, and Sarah Palin to Speak at CPAC
The annual CPAC convention of conservatives is expected to be a sellout because two huge names are coming to deliver red-meat speeches: Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

Other notable pundits invited to speak include:
- Joe Scarborough
- Tucker Carlson
- Ann Coulter
- Michell Malkin
- Glenn Beck
- John Ziegler

Prominent politicians include, GOP Presidential contenders, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul
- Download the schedule of events here for CPAC 2009