1:32 p.m. -- Steele closing lunch by saying Americans need to have a honest conversation about our enery issues and challenges.

I'm heading out for a few more meetings. I will be back at GOPAC for dinner.

1:15 p.m. -- "Wind and solar is not enough,"he said. To address our situation, we need more supply, clean coal, hydro-carbons and nuclear.

But that's not all that can be done, Hofmeister notes.

"We must use our knowledge to improve efficiency," he said.

12:57 p.m. -- John Hofmeister, the former Shell executive, is now running Citizens for Affordable Energy. He says the disinformation out there is denying Americans their right to resources from their own country. He is talking about the current situation - politicians promising ungrounded solutions to the energy challenges facing us as a country."We can not continue (as a country) to live" with gas at more than $4 a gallon, he said. "The answer to greater energy demands" is hydro-carbons and alternatives.

12:46 p.m. -- Steele is speaking right now. He talked about the quality of people in the room, including a lot of up-and-coming state legislators.

12:40 p.m. -- Sitting here at lunch at the Key Bridge Marriott only a few feet from GOPAC Chairman and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. The ex-CEO of Shell oil will speak soon about enery solutions.

11:57 a.m. -- Gaylord: "Attitude is he most important word in politics." 11:44 p.m. -- This is a very interesting session with lots of great points for campaigns of all sizes and levels.

Lunch is coming up soon.

11:00 a.m. -- Joe Gaylord, who ran Newt Gingrich's 1994 takeover of the U.S. House is speaking on campaign management.

10:20 a.m. -- I'm listening to some interesting presentations from State Rep. Jonathan Paton (Arizona), State Rep. Phil King (Texas), State Delegate Chris Saxman (Virginia) and State Rep. Richard Cebra (Maine) on job creation, energy, infrastructure and education. All four GOP legislators are talking about conservative, free-market solutions to these 21st Century challenges.

Earlier this morning, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was here and former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie spoke before the possible vice presidential candidate.