Edwards at Bilderberg group meeting...

[Darkamber]

It appears that he was scheduled to speak at the "Take Back America" conference this morning after George Soros, but he backed out due to a schedule conflict.

Edwards cited a scheduling conflict, but the conspiracy wags among us wonder if the veep-wannabe, otherwise ubiquitous, didn't wanna be seen headlining a lefty-left forum during these crucial veep-selection weeks. (Don't buy it? Answer this question: Would a photo of Edwards shaking hands with Arianna Huffington help or hurt his veep prospects? We can already imagine the RNC web ad.)



http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/03/thu/index.html

That schedule conflict appears to the Bilderberg group meeting in Italy.

On Thursday the Bilderberg group marks its 50th anniversary with the start of its yearly meeting.

For four days some of the West's chief political movers, business leaders, bankers, industrialists and strategic thinkers will hunker down in a five-star hotel in northern Italy to talk about global issues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3773019.stm

They also included a separate box at the article listing some of those who will attend.

This year Bilderberg has announced a list of attendees
They include BP chief John Browne, US Senator John Edwards, World Bank president James Wolfensohn and Mrs Bill Gates

I'm not big on conspiracy theories about groups behind closed doors deciding how to run the world, but certainly meeting with international power brokers will help with his foreign policy issues.

Has anyone else heard of Bilderberg? Just curious...

[Alerter_]

1. Edwards, I thought you were one of us?

I might have to move you to my "don't like" list now :(

[spooky3]

3. Geez, both of the linked stories admit they are nothing but rumors.

There are so many less nefarious possibilities (such as that he kept the commitment he made first, and the 2nd event simply ASKED him to appear; miscommunication by a staff member on either side, etc.).

Edwards deserves the benefit of the doubt from us--and at least, our expectation that journalists report FACTS for us to judge, not speculation and rumors.

[madfloridian]

33. No, this states he was invited.

"This year Bilderberg has announced a list of attendees
They include BP chief John Browne, US Senator John Edwards, World Bank president James Wolfensohn and Mrs Bill Gates"

Clinton attended the meetings, John Heinz was very involved, I understand.

[spooky3]

37. The unsupported statements allege that he

didn't show up for one event he had already committed to and speculated about the nature of the second event (please reread my post). That is what concerns me, not that he attended a given event.

[Darkamber]

5. I saw another reference to this...

This seems to be from a CBS source, but I don't have the link. One of the posters at JRE Grassroots found the information that I linked above and this quote, but without a link.

One person who won't address the group is North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. His spokesman, Kim Rubey would say only that a "conflict" had come up. A source told CBS News that Edwards is at the NATO meeting in Europe — perhaps a better venue for a VP wannabe who can attract Republicans and conservative Democrats but needs some foreign policy heft.

[Gloria]

13. Well, Clark is in Europe, too, had a press conference in Bucharest,

Romania today, talking about their entry into NATO.

Wesley Clark states NATO accession brings us billions of dollars
Bucharest, June 03, 2004 - Romania's accession to NATO will bring "billions and billions of dollars " out of foreign investment inflows, will assure education for thousands of people and tens of thousand jobs, real change in economy, military system and culture, states general Wesley Clark, former commander of NATO troops in Europe.

(a little bit more)

http://www.southeasteurope.org/subpage.php?sub_site=2&id=11884&head=hl

[AP]

14. If non-military types like Blair and Clinton went to Bitlberger and came..

...away with some heat, then you go John.

But I have a feeling that it's not the act of attending that put Blair and Clinton on the map, it's what they said when they got there.

[Darkamber]

15. And Edwards is a way for them to speak to Kerry as well...

I just thought about something else to consider. Next week is the big FL deal isn't it? Edwards and Kerry will be together then. It might be that Edwards is there not only for his own experience but also to represent Kerry.

Interesting that both Clark and Edwards are in Europe right now. I'm tell you that no matter who get the VP spot that Kerry is going to have both Edwards and Clark on his team in some position or another.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

17. ... but look what it did for Mandelson!!! nt

[GreenArrow]

19. Edwards wants to be a player

he'll do what it takes.

[spooky3]

2. It's a sad day if Arianna is a pariah; I don't buy it!

But what else should I expect from CNN.com?

[robbedvoter]

4. Don't knock CNN! they try hard to help your guy - for whatever reasons

Everything they write about him is to build him up - at least by their standards.

[Domitan]

6. I posted about this the other day

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1706280

No bites, though.

[Darkamber]

9. Interesting quote from that article...

The Bilderberg group is said, though, to have made kings of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, who were unknowns until after they had done their rounds at the annual meetings.

Though I'm not sure if I should find that comforting or scary...

On the other hand, it's just all opinion because no press is allowed into the meetings.

[Scoopie]

20. And that doesn't bother you?

I think it's horrid that there's some big muckety-much meeting and no sunshine is streaming through the windows.

This really bothers me.

A lot.

And what's Edwards going to talk about at NATO? Seriously? :eyes:

[Darkamber]

41. He might be at NATO and not at Bilderberg

According to Raleigh N&O (Under the Dome, not on line yet) Edwards is in Brussels, at the NATO headquarters, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

He is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee remember? There is the report that is coming out on June 17th from the Senate Intelligence committee as well. It might have something to do with that.

Considering how secret his staff has been since the cancellation...I really am not sure where he is. Is he at NATO or is he at the Bilderberg or is he going to be at both?

And is this a test for Kerry to see how Edwards does with the Big Boys in Foreign Policy relations?

Don't know, but I would watch to see how Edwards and Kerry are with each in the big Florida event.

[Domitan]

7. What is interesting here

is that Clinton and Blair were at the Bilderberg meetings before they rose to power. Can the same be said of Edwards?

[cosmokramer]

24. Nope.

Edwards' rise to power ended at the winning of his Senate seat. He won't be VP or in any super high office of the Kerry administration, unless he is AG, which is still doubtful. Thus, the answer to your question is a very solid "no".

[AP]

25. What, no evidence? No arguent? No claim of inside information or psychic

powers?

Just a statement of opinion unsupported by anything at all?

[Scoopie]

27. People are allowed to

have opinions.
And, since CK has been working with a lot of Dems in Ohio, her opinion is no less valid than the pundits.

[cosmokramer]

28. I am entitled to my observations..

...but what do these facts tell you:

Clark-48 appearances on behalf of Kerry

Dean-20 appearances on behalf of Kerry

Edwards-18 appearances on behalf of Kerry


Hmmmm, interesting...

[AP]

29. That tells me that Clark has lots of free time and needs a job.

[cosmokramer]

31. Sounds to me like he already has one.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AP]

39. Time will tell...

...what those sounds are.

[Darkamber]

36. Both Edwards and Clark will most likely be in Kerry's Adm.

I'm sorry, but pointing out who has had the most appearances for Kerry as proof?

Remember that when Clark dropped out he was on the road all over the place for Kerry. Dean and Edwards were still trying for the nomination. When Dean dropped out, Clark was still out there doing everything he could do make sure that Kerry beat Edwards.

Both Dean and Edwards endorsed Kerry later. So of course, Clark has made more appearances then Edwards. Edwards is also a Senator and has to spend some time in DC doing his job for NC.

Everything that I have seen and all indications are that both Clark and Edwards will be involved in the Kerry administration in some position.

[AP]

8. People are convinced Edwards is conservative. He could probably march

up and down the floor of the senate waving a red flag, singing the Internationale and people would still think he was too moderate.

[robbedvoter]

10. Why would that be? Patriot Act? Bankruptcy law? "I would have started

the war with Iraq?" Go figure! :eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. His voting record isn't that much different than Lieberman

[AP]

12. I didn't know Lieberman was the fourth most liberal senator in 2003.

See, you're proving my point. People don't know the facts. They're convinced he's conservative.

He could switch that Outward Bound pin to a hammer and sickle and people still wouldn't get it.

[robbedvoter]

23. Lieberman has a civil rights record though...

[madfloridian]

34. The site that calls him a liberal has a lot of strange stuff.

I lost the link, but I did read that their assessments seemed skewed. Lieberman is NOT liberal.

[AP]

35. Are you talking about the National Journal?

It's very reputable.

http://nationaljournal.com/

That was a joke about Lieberman.

Here's the article. Care to idenfity what you think is 'strange' and 'skewed;?

http://nationaljournal.com/members/news/2004/02/0227nj1.htm

Edwards is number 5 on social issues: http://nationaljournal.com/members/news/2004/02/0227nj_senate_social_lib.htm

He's number 2 on economic issues (any surprise there?):
http://nationaljournal.com/members/news/2004/02/0227nj_senate_econ_lib.htm

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

16. The Beeb did a good little documentary last year

which you can download here:

http://bilderberg.stagyro.org/bilderberg-hq.mp3

(It's called "Club Class" in case this download doesn't work- it was the first to pop up in google)

be very wary of the many sites about Bilderberg (unless you believe in the 'one world government' conspiracy), although there is scope for criticism of governmental peeps attending a policy forum in secret (ie Doug Feith is at this year's along with various European ministers). Tony Gosling's site is pretty hit & miss:

http://www.bilderberg.org/

but it does contain within it almost everything ever written about Bilderberg & a whole lot more besides, including this year's participants! - http://www.bilderberg.org/2004.htm#participants He's also a left-wing critic, which is helpful because most of the online criticism is from the often wacko right.

A great article is this:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/story/0,6761,449284,00.html

by Jon Ronson from "Them: Adventures with Extremists" where he goes to a Bilderberg meeting with Jim Tucker (from the far-right "Spotlight" magazine (now American Free Press).

As to what is discussed in the meetings -- there is online somewhere the minutes * edit -- found it: http://www.schnews.org.uk/bilderberg/ * (a little booklet is sent to all attendees past & present with unattributed comments from the various discussions) from about 5 years ago & David Guyatt (who approaches this with more of a conspiratorial eye than me) has minutes from the 73' meeting (oil crisis) here:

http://www.deepblacklies.co.uk/bilderberg_blurb.htm (download & use http://www.deepblacklies.co.uk/unlockit.htm to unlock)

I hope this is of some help!

[Darkamber]

18. thanks for the information

I'll go through these links. I don't believe this 'one world government' stuff anyway, but this will give some stuff to read about the group.

[sundancekid]

21. here's the extracted list of the USA "delegation" to Bilderberg 2004

Should we be afraid, or very afraid, or not???

USA - Boot, Max - Neoconservative, Council on foreign Relations, Features Editor, Wall Street Journal
USA - Collins, Timothy C - MD and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings LLC, Yale School of Management, Trilateral Commission
USA - Corzine, Jon S. - Senator (D, New Jersey), Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs
USA - Donilon, Thomas L - Vice-President, Fannie Mae, Council on Foreign Relations
USA - Edwards, John - Senator (D. North Carolina), Democratic Presidential Candidate
USA - Feith, Douglas J. - Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Defense
USA - Gates, Melinda F. - Co-Founder, Gates Foundation, wife of Bill Gates
USA - Geithner, Timothy F. - President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
USA - Graham, Donald E. - Chairman and CEO, Washington Post Company
USA - Haas, Richard N. - President, Council on Foreign Relations, former Director of Policy and Planning staff, State Dept.
USA - Holbrooke, Richard C - Vice Chair, Perseus, former Director, Council on Foreign Relations, former Asst.Sec. of State
USA - Hubbard, Allen B - President E&A Industries
USA - Issacson, Walter - President and CEO, Aspen Institute
USA - Janow, Merit L. - Professor, International Economic Law and International Affairs, Columbia University
USA - Jordan, Vernon E. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co LLC
USA - Kagan, Robert - Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
USA - Kissinger Henry A. - Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.
USA - Kovner, Bruce - Chairman Caxton Associates LLC, Chairman, American Enterprise Institute
USA - Kravis, Henry R. - Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., acquisitions financier
USA - Kravis, Marie Josee - Senoir Fellow, Hudson Institute Inc.
USA - Luti, William J. - Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
USA - Mathews, Jessica T. - President, Carnegie Endowment for International War Peace
USA - McDonough, William J. - Chair/CEO, Public Company Acct. Oversight Board, former Pres., Federal Reserve Bank NY
USA - Mundie, Craig J. - Chief Technical Officer, Advanced Strategies and Policies, Microsoft Corporation
USA - Nooyi, Indra K. - President and CEO, PepsiCo Inc.
USA - Perle, Richard N. - Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, former Likud policy adviser, former chair Defence Policy Board, former co-chairman, Hollinger Digital
USA - Reed, Ralph E. - President, Century Strategies
USA - Rockefeller, David - Member JP Morgan International Council, Chairman, Council of the Americas
USA - Ross, Dennis B - Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
USA - Schnabel, Rockwell A. - Ambassador to the EU
USA - Strmecki, Marin J. - Smith Richardson Foundation
USA - Thornton, John L. - Chairman, Brookings Institution, Professor, Tsinghua University
GB/USA - Weinberg, Peter - CEO, Goldman Sachs International
INT/USA - Wolfenson, James D. - President, The World Bank
USA - Yergin, Daniel - Chairman, Cambridge Energy Research Associates

http://www.bilderberg.org/2004.htm#participants

[Domitan]

26. Canadian flavour: I see McKenna

Hmm, interesting. Will he be groomed to be Paul Martin's successor? Well, if it actually happens, you heard it here first!

[Leilani]

42. What a Group!

Richard Perle...former Likud policy advisor

Douglas Feith

Ralph Reed

You are judged by the company you keep!

[JI7]

22. John Kerry attended a huge event with Arianna after he became nominee

not official nominee, but presumed nominee. i'm sure this had nothing to do with arianna especially since kerry himself was with her AFTER he became the presumed nominee. it probably was just a scheduling conflict.

[Scoopie]

30. Yeah - what a great group for Dems (rolls eyes)

The Bilderberg does not invite - or accept - Asians, Middle Easterners, Latin Americans or Africans.


http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EE22Ak03.html

[Domitan]

38. True that

but it's interesting that one of Bilderberg's major players along with David Rockefeller and Conrad Black (before his disgrace) is black himself (Vernon Jordan).

[Scoopie]

40. True

but Vernon Jordan isn't African.

I am just bothered that Kerry, Clinton and Holbrooke would even dane to attend this groups' meetings, as they did in the past (and Holbrooke this year). I think it sounds like a horribly secretive and exclusionary group of rich muckety-mucks who get together to see how invading countries and making foreign policy plans will make them richer.