Clinton on the bill in Aspen (with luminaries like Albright and Breyer to solve world problems)

Denver Post ^ | July 27, 2003 | David Frey

[mountaineer]

ASPEN - Former President Clinton will join Gov. Bill Owens and luminaries from around the world this week in an annual conference that attracts an eclectic mix of leaders to think through thorny global problems. A regular attendee since the conference began two years ago, Clinton will address Fortune magazine's "Brainstorm 2003," a gathering of thinkers and leaders.

Among those attending: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, heads of state from the Czech Republic and Rwanda, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins.

The event takes place Monday through Wednesday at the Aspen Institute and the St. Regis hotel.

The conference is closed to all but the invitees. To find out what happened, you'll have to read about it in a special Fortune edition this fall. Participants are handpicked by Fortune's editors to create lively discussions on pressing issues, said Fortune spokeswoman Carrie Welch.

Like the name suggests, the conference is about brainstorming, not about setting policy, Welch said, although sometimes that happens. And sometimes, she said, the discussions turn out to be eerily prescient. In 2001, talk of global terrorism dominated the conference. That was just five weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Participants have been asked to respond to some heady questions. Is the world getting better or worse? What country will dominate by 2013? How they answer will jump-start discussions on a range of topics, from peacemaking to global epidemics.

They'll tackle those issues in a series of seminars and roundtables. Clinton will again give a presentation, then have an open give-and-take with participants. In another annual mainstay, he'll sit with Fortune's editor and a world leader - this year it's Rwandan President Paul Kagame - to hash out world affairs in a late-night chat over drinks.

This is the first year the magazine is holding the conference jointly with the Aspen Institute, a think tank based in Aspen and Washington, D.C., that specializes in pondering similar questions.

The joint conference was the idea of the institute's new president, Walter Isaacson, said Aspen Institute spokesman James Spiegelman. Isaacson came to the institute after being chairman and chief executive of the CNN News Group, an AOL Time Warner company. He previously had served as editorial director of Time Inc., which also publishes Fortune.

"It's an opportunity for us to advance a dialogue on a very high level on issues of global concern, which is what we're all about," Spiegelman said.

[Bob J]

And sometimes, she said, the discussions turn out to be eerily prescient. In 2001, talk of global terrorism dominated the conference. That was just five weeks before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Wow. I'm impressed. Talking about global terrorism way back in 2001? These guys are regular Nostradami.

This years agenda must include the rise and dominance of conservatism.

[BigWaveBetty]

Golly I hope they come up with more really great ideas like giving N. Korea US light-water reactors!

[radiohead]

I see a very nasty lack of conservatives at this "brainiac" meeting.

Absolutely. I used to work for this organization. There were very few conservatives and most of them kept their mouths shut. Part of my job was to design conferences such as this and I can assure you that the Aspen idea of 'diversity' did not include political diversity.

When GWB was elected, the few conservatives I knew left for the administration. If I hadn't started a doctoral program, I would have done the same.

These are the people who are making policy for you folks. As a lawyer, I thought i knew something about elitism when I came in. : ) I have never met a group of people more elitist, more patronizing of the masses, more 'annointed' as Sowell calls them, than these people.

It sounds funny, since the academy is generally leftist as well, but I am entering academe in the hopes that I can reach young people before they fell prey to the machinations of these powerful leftists.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I saw enough to make me question many of my assumptions about the way the world works.

[sauropod]

;-)

They've brought in Eric Alterman (What Liberal Media?) for their keynote speaker.

The tables outside the entrance to the session rooms are bedecked with cherry and arsenic flavored Kool-Aid...

[Rummyfan]

Among those attending: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, heads of state from the Czech Republic and Rwanda, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins.

Wow! That's quite a line up!

[Rummyfan]

Like the name suggests, the conference is about brainstorming

Brainstorming? Clinton, Albright, and Ann Richards don't have enough smarts to get up a decent gust of wind, never mind a storm.

[freekitty]

The only presentation Clinton and Co. should be givinig is what their jail cells will look like after jail mate, Martha Stewart, decorates.

[hellinahandcart]

Bob Ferapples. Bwahaha...

[hellinahandcart]

New personal policy: I will not spend one tarnished penny on Fortune magazine.

And if I can think of a way to take pennies AWAY from them, I will do it.

[sauropod]

Agreed. The Aspen Institute is one of Our Minders. Kinda like the Ford Foundation.

[hellinahandcart]

I've got a $#!t list a mile long now.

I'm sick of being in the second tier of citizenship. I hit the wall last week when NYC went into full terrorism lockdown when a city councilman was killed as a result of a personal grudge/gay fatal attraction (no one is really sure yet...all I am sure of is that even corrupt dipwad city councilman are More Important People than the rest of us, and entitled to special privileges and protections even if they're now term-limited).

[F.J. Mitchell]

"A gathering of tinkerers and misleaders."

How could such a gathering of public servants to their on EGO's be more appropriately described ? And sponsored by Misfortune Magazine- are these naccissists outing themselves, or what?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


...WHY did the CLINTONS refuse 3 -No Strings- Offers from the Sudan during the 1990's to bring our No. 1 Terrrorist Enemy OSAMA bin LADEN to a U.S. Jail & Trial that would have prevented the Attacks on us all on September 11, 2001..?


NEVER FORGET

[Noumenon]

Ain't it wonderful that Our Rulers have closed door sessions in fancy resorts to establish how the rest of us will live?

I've got news for them.

[Humidston]

And as part of this project, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will address the group with a speech entitled, "How wearing large pins will deflect radio waves."

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I hear they're going to have a softbsall game there. Maddie is the cleanup batter.

[mountaineer]

Our Rulers have closed door sessions in fancy resorts to establish how the rest of us will live

Pass the Cristal, won'tcha please, Bill?

Why, sure, Maddie. Hey, how 'bout this: we'll create a committee of three to decide which crops every farmer in the world will be permitted to plant this year.

Oh, that's a great idea, Bill. Ann, don't you think so?

Whazzzuppp!

Oops, someone pick Ann off the floor!

[Howie]

Guess General Weasely Clark was too busy to attend.

[CyberAnt]

"the most arrogant thing I have ever seen"

I agree - it's another attempt for x42 to try to resurrect his legacy.

This will not help! The x42 admin had EIGHT long and painful years to do something good for the country - and they FAILED!

Now, in order to make it seem like Bush is not leading the country, they have the unmitigated gall to hold a conference on SOLVING world problems ..??

Give me a break!!

[yoe]

Among those attending: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, heads of state from the Czech Republic and Rwanda, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins and Baghdad Bob.......