As Republicans in Washington were making their high-stakes decision on a chairman, a very different, low-stress gathering is taking place here in Hot Springs, Va., up in the mountains and just minutes from the West Virginia border. The House Republican Conference is taking its 2009 retreat, with a series of speakers and workshops. Morale is very high here after the Republicans stood unanimously in opposition to the House Democrats’ $819 billion stimulus package.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) addressed the entire group this afternoon at about 1:30, and began his remarks by thanking them for that vote. Afterward, he told reporters that he is writing a book on the policy challenges that America faces.

“No predictions at this point about when,” he said. He added some humor, too. “It was rumored that Gov. Palin was offered $11 million by a publisher for her book. My publisher has also talked about $11 million, but I couldn’t round up that amount of money to pay it.”