Over 450 people attended the 51st Annual New York State Conservative Party Dinner, Tuesday night, in Manhattan. Participants included Mayoral Candidate Joe Lhota, Conservative Party Leaders, Elected representatives such as State Senators Marty Golden and Kathy Marchione, State Senate Leader Dean Skelos, and many others.

The Charles Edison Award was presented to Newsmax Editor-in-Chief Chris Ruddy and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (often discussed as a possible Presidential contender) who was the guest speaker at the dinner.

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long told Jeb Bush that history could be repeating itself. He noted that his father, George H.W. Bush and his older brother, George W. Bush, both were elected president after speaking to the Conservative Party.

Bush’s 38 minute speech focused on the need for immigration reform, an overhaul of education standards, and restoring family values.

Mr. Bush drew thunderous applause when he attacked Governor Cuomo for failing to approve fracking to boost New York’s upstate economy, according to the NY Post.

“We should be celebrating this phenomenal achievement – and we do, in North Dakota, in Pennsylvania, in south and west Texas. Some states, like here in New York, are choosing not to grow. They won’t approve fracking,” the former Florida governor said. “Meanwhile, in parts of New York where huge opportunities exist for the restoration of economic activity, people languish.”

Mr. Bush also tore in to President Obama, calling him an utter failure. “President Obama has many gifts, but one thing he doesn’t seem to understand is basic economics. He has this almost naive view that America’s economy is so strong he can do anything to it and nothing bad will happen,” Bush said.

“You can nationalize healthcare … raise taxes and fees, regulate with abandon, $1 trillion deficits annually, demonize small-business owners and successful investors — and in Barack Obama’s world, it doesn’t even leave a mark.”

“We’ve had more than four years to see what Barack Obama knows about economics, and the truth is, with all due respect, he is an utter and complete failure,” he added.

Mr. Bush blamed the Republican Party for the devastating defeat in the fall of 2012. “We got beat because our brand is tarnished with an ever-changing America.” Adding, “We didn’t make our case all that well, and they did.”

“Let’s be really blunt. President Obama isn’t making good choices. On energy, he waffles. On immigration, he hasn’t led. On foreign policy, he doesn’t lead, even from behind. On the family, he is captive to the special interests of the left.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)