(CNN) - It’s considered a key speaking engagement for any Republican considering a bid for president, but one potential 2016 candidate didn’t get an invitation to this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
Someone close to CPAC said Monday that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasn’t asked to attend by organizers of the event, which will take place in mid-March at a resort outside Washington. Officially, CPAC says they’re finalizing this year’s schedule.
Other Republicans who are thought to be considering presidential bids and are on the CPAC speaking list include Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was announced as a speaker earlier Monday.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin are also on the roster, along with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was a 2012 Republican presidential candidate; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
Mitt Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, will also speak at the conference.
Many Republicans voiced anger at Christie for praising President Barack Obama’s response to Superstorm Sandy, which swept through his state days before last November’s election. Later, Christie publically blasted Republican lawmakers for stalling passage of emergency funds for Sandy victims.
The outspoken governor defended himself against charges he helped swing the election to Obama, however, saying on CNN that "When the president does things that deserve praise, I will give him praise. And when the president does things that deserve scorn, I'll give him scorn."
"I am not going to play politics with this issue, this is so much bigger than an election," Christie continued. "When someone asks me an honest question, I give an honest answer: 'How's the president been to deal with?' He's been outstanding to deal with on this.”
CPAC, which touts itself as the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, turns 40 this year and will be held March 14-16 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland near Washington.
From CNN Politics
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I hope to heaven the above named participants are not the same people the GOP put up last election. If so, the GOP is gonna lose again. Chris Cristie at least had a chance. These folks are going up against at least two of the best dems the country has to offer. These guys were despised the last time around, and I don't think you can hope the people will forget that soon why they did not choose them.
The crazies only club still being exclusive
He is not anti-Obama enough. That seems pre-eminant for the Republican party.
I used to identify as a Republican before it became the party of the ridiculous. Christie is someone I admire and would support in a national election. With the CPAC's current lineup, it is apparent that the Repubs have no interest in bringing mainstream folks back into the fold. Guess I will continue to vote with the Dems. Oh, and by the way, I'm a middle-aged white woman in Montgomery, Alabama, whose views are NOT represented by the GOP. They certainly don't speak for everyone in the South.
Let's face it, Christie is no hero. Like Paul Ryan who criticized the President's stimulus program designed to stabilize the economy and put Americans back to work, only to turn around and accept millions of dollars in federal aid for his state, Christie has equally criticized the President's economic policies, only to turn around and beg for federal aid for Sandy relief. And this is the same deceitful, conniving hypocrite who cut many social and educational programs in our state, furlough state workers, forced many to retire early against their wishes and deprieved state workers of promotions and pay raises that they've earned just to continue more tax breaks for the rich. This man is a republican in nature and a disrespectful self righteous right wing fraud. A con artist is a con artist, not a hero.
Repugnants used to talk about their party as being a Big Tent. However, not big enough for Gov. Christie, apparently. Understandable, given the governor's girth, and propensity to be rational once in awhile.
Can the GOP get any more ridiculous? It is now taboo to tell the truth. When will they realize that the Fox News approach of Democrat/Obama = bad 100% of the time 24/7 amounts to the boy who cried wolf, if they DO have something legitimate to complain about it gets lost in the partisan noise...Chris Christie is simply stating the truth that the GOP doesn't want to hear – they prefer the empty chair, imaginary version of Obama (Kenyan Muslim communist socialist fascist Obama) to actual, truthful criticisms.
VVVVV
They didn't criticize Christie for stalling passage of emergency relief of for Sandy vicitms, they criticized him for attacking Republicans on day 1 they got the bill when the Senate had it for 2 months. The guy was an idiot in that criticism.
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Only the House can originate revenue related bills. The Senate can only amend what comes from the House. However, there is a work around where the Senate writes and passes a bill, then the House votes on it, and then the Senate votes on it again, all of which assumes that no amendments are made.
Furthermore, you blatantly ignore the fact that the House was in recess for most of the month of November and half the month of December, as scheduled by Eric Cantor and approved by Spkr Boehner. All in all, it is the House that holds and controls the purse strings.
Nothing else can happen until the House votes on a a revenue bill and passes it. Sandy Relief was originally a spending authorization request, above and beyond the authorized budget. from Senate Democrats to House Republicans.
CPAC is self foolish time.. Where they don't talk about the facts but their imagination and sick plans.. Its hard to watch them talk, for people that have healthy minds.
A man who recognizes the need for fiscal responsibility, not just slash and burn of the budget, but also sees a place for government when needed. A man who speaks his mind even when it runs contrary to his own party. As a left leaning centrist I have to admire him. Perhaps he represents the best chance to start developing a viable third party that can break the strangelhold that the 2 party system has given us. Or maybe he can just be a wake up call, along with the moderates who are leaving public life, to the zealots that have control of both parties in Washington.
Maybe it's time to switch and see the light of a Democrat.
That CPAC meeting will be a good time for one of the 47 percenters to record their scornful remmarks against the poor and people of color. Another tape which will surely sink their 2016 bid for the WH.
"CPAC, which touts itself as the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, turns 40 this year and will be held March 14-16 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland near Washington."
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I am sure Christie would rather catch some March Madness instead of right wing fever. So if CPAC turns 40 this year, is it any coincidence that 2012 was the 40th anniversary of the Watergrate break in, June 17,1972?
So typical. After Bobby Jindal says "we're the party of stupid" then goes on to say they don't need to change their beliefs, only their presentation. Then I knew they were all done in the next 4 years.
Let's face it, the white, church-going, christian (who would vote for a mormon over a christian) demographic is a dying breed.
I'll bet christie is happy about that............who would want to be on a loser list like that.......all of them are krazy koo koo
Jindal, Ru bio and Ryan are big no's already. Bush, maybe, if that's the best they have.
Oh well, go ahead and continue kissing the "Clueless One's" butt. Payback time!!!
Christie has a better shot at the Republican nomination than any of these nuts on the roster this year. The Republican party is an intelligently diluted group of crazies.
"Let's face it, Christie is no hero. Like Paul Ryan who criticized the President's stimulus program designed to stabilize the economy and put Americans back to work, only to turn around and accept millions of dollars in federal aid for his state, Christie has equally criticized the President's economic policies, only to turn around and beg for federal aid for Sandy relief.
And this is the same deceitful, conniving hypocrite who cut many social and educational programs in our state, furlough state workers, forced many to retire early against their wishes and deprieved state workers of promotions and pay raises that they've earned just to continue more tax breaks for the rich. This man is a republican in nature and a disrespectful self righteous right wing fraud. A con artist is a con artist, not a hero."
Yeah! What "blah blah blah" said. Deceitful is an understatement, though. Christie had compromised with Democrats, who controlled the state legislature. Both sides gave up something precious to their base. The Democrats passed the compromise budget bill, and Christie used his line item veto to remove everything that he was giving away while keeping everything that Democrats had put on the table. That is how Christie "passed" anti-union legislation in New Jersey.
WOW repubs remind me of a click in high school, if you do not do as they say they kick you out and bully you
how petty, stupid and useless can the repub be...pitiful just pitiful..hope folks remember them in 2014
So, Christie was hero when he refused the new metro project from Obama. But he's a villain if he wanted relief for Sandy victims?
Well maybe Christie should switch over to the Democrat party, like General Powell as exhibited in his actions.
Yes, Sarah and Mitt have so much going for them. They are better reps of this moronic group of anti Americans.
Christie forgot the first rule of American conservatism and has to pay the price, "Though shalt not be reasonable and put people before wacky ideology."
And, Christie doesn't care.