Posted on 04/15/2015 9:08:15 AM PDT by don-o
A secretive group that serves as the umbrella operation for leaders and activists within the conservative movement will host two meetings in the coming months, National Journal has learned, the first to vet Republican presidential candidates and the second to discuss coalescing behind one of them.
The Council for National Policy, a shadowy organization of several hundred dues-paying members, typically meets three times a year in various locations around the country. But with the 2016 cycle accelerating, and many conservative leaders intent on rallying behind a single candidate, CNP's leadership is taking extraordinary measures – scheduling two top-priority meetings outside of Washington, D.C., and inviting a large number of non-members to both.
The group will host a two-day summit on May 15 and 16 at the Ritz-Carlton in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. The format will be simple: Candidates will have an hour on stage to address the room and answer questions, followed by 30 minutes of meet-and-greet with guests. Organizers say they've begun sending invitations to all of the major Republican candidates – "even Chris Christie," one said – and several candidates have already committed to the event.
The candidates' performances in May could have enormous implications. That's because five months later, CNP will reconvene – in the same city, at the same hotel – but with a different agenda: To begin narrowing its list of candidates with the aim of collectively supporting just one.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
Even Fred Karger? [chortle]
Ping
The old reliable “Smoke filled room”
LOL. If conservative leaders could pick the Rebuplican presidential candidate we never would have gotten stuck with McCain or Romney.
Strange. I thought the Republican electorate picked the candidate....(/s)
Well. We have done the circular firing squads to death..... A good old fashioned smoke filled room may be what we need. Especially if it is streamed on the internet.
They’re choosing who the group wants to support. Nothing wrong with that. If the group happens to be more powerful than others, well, that’s what free societies do in picking their leaders.
There not “secret” meetings any longer, are they? How stupid.
I wonder who Bohemian Grove and the Bilderbergs have chosen?
I can’t help but think that, in the selection of McCain and Romney,
that they didn’t really want to win.
Democracy.....where did it go ??
We’re supposed to believe these genuine conservatives picked John McCain and Mitt Romney as presidential candidates? We’re supposed to believe this group of people wanted the GOP to lose the last two elections?
I have to admit the idea is sound. The establishment gets their crap candidate by dividing and conquering the conservatives. I wish there was a primary prior to the primary to choose one conservative to throw into the GOP primary.
Looking at their membership list, they’ll probably pick Huckabee.
That’s my thought. If this group really chooses a conservative to support, then more power to them. It lessens the divide and conquer strategy of the left, as you said.
Still, I do also see how the thought that these few powerful people may get to choose the Republican nominee sticks in people’s craw.
Not that the Dems don’t do the same thing. I am enjoying the idea that Hillary is defying the Democrat power structure in choosing to run, and that they are in a tizzy about what to do about her. I do think this may lead to an internal power brawl in the Democrat party, which can only be a good thing for this country.
I wish there was a primary prior to the primary to choose one conservative to throw into the GOP primary.
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I wish we had someone to vote for who was NOT in the GOP. The party offers no real hope for conservatives IMO.
Lot of diabetics on the list?
Sounds great, but what effect have they had since 1981, if any?
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