Ron Paul at CPAC: "Too Much Bipartisanship"

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, gave a rollicking speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington — one peppered with cheers and jeers. His target? The "bipartisanship" that leads to foreign and financial policies he argues curb the country's liberty.

"We've had way too much bipartisanship for about 60 years. We have bipartisanship on medical care," Paul said. "It's the bipartisanship of the welfare system, the warfare system, the monetary system. It all goes through with support from both parties."

Paul, whose libertarian politics have earned him fans and critics on both sides of the aisle, took the opportunity to slam "big government conservatives" and "big government liberals" alike. He criticized the Patriot Act for its "destruction of the Fourth Amendment" — prompting boos in the audience (directed at Paul, or the Patriot Act). And he made multiple references to Egypt, saying foreign countries "don't like us propping up their foreign dictators" and that the U.S. shouldn't be in the business of operating so many military bases overseas. "It's time for us to bring the troops home," he said.