Novak: Bashing Bush in Aspen (by some Rich Republicans)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20050922.shtml

For two full days, George W. Bush was bashed. He was taken to task on his handling of stem cell research, population control, the Iraq war and, especially, Hurricane Katrina. The critics were no left-wing bloggers. They were rich, mainly Republican and presumably Bush voters in the last two presidential elections.

The Bush-bashing occurred last weekend at the annual Aspen conference sponsored by the New York investment firm Forstmann Little & Co. Over 200 invited guests, mostly prestigious, arrived Thursday night (many by private aircraft) and stayed until Sunday morning for more than golf, hikes and gourmet meals. They faithfully attended the discussions presided over by PBS's Charlie Rose on such serious subjects as "global poverty and human rights" and "the 'new' world economy." The connecting link was hostility to President Bush.

"All discussions are off the record," admonished the conference's printed schedule. Consequently, I will refrain from specifically quoting panelists and audience members. But the admonition says nothing about personal conversations outside the sessions. Nor do I feel inhibited in quoting myself. Even if I am violating the spirit of secrecy rules, revealing criticism of Bush by this elite group, and the paucity of defense for him, is valuable in reflecting the president's parlous political condition.

<snip>

U.S. News & World Report disclosed this week, with apparent disdain, that presidential adviser Karl Rove took time off from the Katrina relief effort to be at Aspen. He was needed as a counterweight. I settled in for serious fireworks, expecting Bush-bashers to assault his alter ego at the conference's final session. However, direct confrontation with a senior aide must have been more difficult than a remote attack on the president. It would be a shame if Rove returned to Washington without informing George W. Bush how erstwhile friends have turned against him.

[MarvinBarns]

1. Bush is an incompetent.

When does telling the truth become bashing an evil greedy administration.

[Arkana]

2. For our fellow DUers who don't yet understand Novakuspeech,

I shall translate:

"Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh! George's rich friends in Aspen hate him now! Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"

[wtmusic]

3. "All discussions are off the record".

Would someone please 'splain me how this can be considered anything more than a request, and have any sort of legal footing?

:shrug:

[one_true_leroy]

5. it's not legally binding...

but it is a 'gentleman's agreement...' if elements are recorded and leaked, you can bet the leaker won't be invited next year.

[wtmusic]

7. I noticed Grover Norquist does the same thing

but it seems to me the it would be hard to id a leaker if there was one

[one_true_leroy]

8. naw...

if the individuals remember who they've talked to, and see their name in print, it's an A tells B tells C type problem. and with a controlled guest list and no burden of proof needed to be nixed from said list, people are gonna keep mum.

[warrens]

10. It's more than a request

It's not a legal thing, it's an ethics thing. If you accept an invitation to attend knowing that what you are about to hear is off the record, it would be unethical to treat it as on the record.

[wtmusic]

11. And if you hear unethical policies being promoted

then what?

[otohara]

4. I'd Pay to See Republican's Thanking Novak Profusely

in secret, off the record!

we're not worthy, we're not worthy

[AX10]

6. kick

[DS1]

9. Oh look, Novak is leaking like a broken levee .. AGAIN

Why do people invite him to places where "All discussions are off the record,"