gourmet meals

In a shocking article, Robert Novak this week reported on bashing of Bush.
The bashing was not from the left but rather from right wingers. Here is the
article as it appeared in the
Chicago
Sun-Times.

Bashing by elite group should worry
Bush

September 22, 2005

BY ROBERT NOVAK SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

ASPEN, Colo. -- For two full days, President 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. More than
200 invited guests, mostly prestigious, arrived Thursday (many by private
aircraft) and stayed until Sunday for more than golf, hikes and gourmet
meals. They faithfully attended the discussions presided over by PBS'
Charlie Rose on such serious subjects as ''global poverty and human rights''
and ''the 'new' world economy.'' The connecting link was hostility to 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.