The Conservative Political Action Conference kicked off Thursday at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md.
The annual conference provides a platform for conservatives and libertarians to listen to movement leaders give speeches and participate in discussion panels.
There is quite the unusual crowd at CPAC. Major organizations like the Heritage Foundation rub shoulder with other patriotic, wacky and event eccentric people from across the conservative spectrum.
Walk the aisles of the exhibition hall and you may just bump into a man dressed as Benjamin Franklin, or rub elbows with former presidential candidates and congressmen.
![There aren't many fans of the current administration at CPAC. (Photo: Grae Stafford/ The Daily Caller)](https://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Keep-Calm-e1363291060775.jpg)
There aren’t many fans of the current administration at CPAC. (Photo: Grae Stafford/ The Daily Caller)
![John Gizzi](https://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/John-Gizzi-e1363291284123.jpg)
Human Events White House correspondent John Gizzi is practically an institution at CPAC. (Photo: Grae Stafford/ The Daily Caller)
![Dan Bongino](https://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dan-Bongino-e1363291411225.jpg)
Former Maryland senate candidate Dan Bongino has been getting a warm reception. (Photo: Grae Stafford/ The Daily Caller)