Oh, it's a party, but no one invited us. No, this is a very special party so Republican 2016 hopefuls can get to know their new best friend, Sheldon Adelson, and vice versa.
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush will get top billing when he and other potential 2016 presidential candidates join billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson for an exclusive Republican gathering next week in Las Vegas.
Bush, who is quietly exploring a run for the White House, will be the featured speaker at an exclusive VIP dinner on Thursday hosted by Adelson and his wife, Miriam, at his company’s private airplane hangar at Las Vegas Macarran International Airport, according to a draft itinerary obtained by The Washington Post. The Adelsons’ dinner for Bush will kick off the Republican Jewish Coalition’s four-day spring leadership meeting, during which politicians and major GOP donors will mingle at golf and poker tournaments, as well as in political strategy sessions.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former U.N. ambassador John Bolton will address the group during its meeting on Saturday morning, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich is to speak at a luncheon that day. The gathering is being held at the Venetian Resort and Hotel, a glamorous property built by Las Vegas Sands Corp., the casino and hospitality company that Adelson runs.
So this would be the Neocon Republican meeting and strategy session. Got it.
Adelson sits on the RJC’s board along with a number of other prominent Republican fundraisers and operatives, including private equity executive Lewis Eisenberg, former party chairman Ken Mehlman, lobbyist Wayne Berman and former ambassador Sam Fox.
At next week’s gathering, former vice president Dick Cheney will address the gala dinner on Saturday evening, where he will be introduced by Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.). Cheney will also participate in a private discussion and photo opportunity session that afternoon with RJC’s leaders, as will Walker and Kasich.
A number of member of Congress and other Republican leaders also are scheduled to speak. Rep. Sean Duffy (Wis.), a rising star in the Republican Party, will host a “late night dessert reception” for young leaders after the Cheney dinner.
It's like a state dinner-in-waiting! All the neocons gathered together to "strategize" for 2016 while doing absolutely nothing for the past six years.
Let's not forget Blanche Lincoln, either. She's Adelson's newest lobbyist. I'm sure she's getting to work right away setting the legislative table for the 2016 neocon parade, right?
