Ted Cruz knocked the crowd’s socks off at CPAC on Friday night. And knocked Donald Trump down a peg or two as well for skipping the event, saying he must have heard Megyn Kelly would be there. He also tore into the idea of a brokered convention.

“Any time you hear someone talking about a brokered convention, it is the Washington establishment in a fevered frenzy. They’re really frustrated because all of their chosen candidates, all of the golden children, the voters keep rejecting. And so they’ve seized on this master plan, we go to a brokered convention and the D.C. power brokers will drop someone in who is exactly to the liking of the Washington establishment. If that would happen we will have a manifest revolt on our hands all across this country.”

Another highlight for me was his discussion about how to reach out to young voters. Not just because it’s an electoral imperative, but because he gives it as the perfect answer for people of any age. Conservative ideas are winning ideas not just on principle, but on their practical real-world effect. Conservative policy benefits people, it improves lives, it lifts those who are down and inspires those who are losing hope.

The conservative message is one of truth. And it happens to be Ted Cruz’s message. And the speech above is a fantastic course in how to deliver it.

Every campaign has good weeks and bad weeks. Between the debate and CPAC, Senator Cruz is having a presidential week. A refreshing change from the daily antics of Stumpy McTrumpfingers.