Rhodes Scholars Vs. Skull & Bones

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

Okay, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Wesley Clark are all Rhodes Scholars. Bush Sr, Bush Jr, and Kerry are Skull & Bones.

The Rhodes have had a long time network in the US and Europe for years, where they groom candidates for high positions in government, business, and the military. Russell Trust (Skull & Bones) has the exact same kind of network, centered around Yale, where they do the same thing.

Clinton made a point of mentioning Carroll Quigley's "Tragedy and Hope" in his inauguration - which was a memoir of Quigley helping the Rhodes network to plant their people into high offices in governments around the world.

What gives? Is there a competition between the Rhodes group and the Russell Trust? Russell Trust seems to be all WASPS, while the Rhodes Group has always had Catholics as well. Do these elite networks always pick our candidates, from either party?

[Dookus]

1. I don't believe...

Hillary Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar.

A Rhodes Scholarship is based on merit and accomplishment.

Skull and Bones is a silly Yale fraternity.

The amount of time spent on trying to uncover these silly conspiracies is astounding. If half the time and energy were spent on SUPPORTING a Dem candidate, we'd control all levels of government.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. More Rhodes Scholars

Bill Bradley*, Robert Reich, and Richard Lugar...


*I'm not sure about Bill Bradley...

[soupkitchen]

5. Bradley was a Rhodes Scholar from Princeton

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. Who said anything about a conspiracy?

You did, not me. There is no "conspiracy" about these networks, it's called "mentoring" - unless you are telling me that Bill Clinton was spinning a conspiracy theory when he thanked his mentor Quigley in his inauguration speech? Are you saying Clinton is some sort of tinfoil hatter?

I just read another post that said HC was a Rhodes scholar, I know Bill was. And pretending that elite networks don't exist just means you're living in a fantasy world.

"Skull and Bones is a silly Yale fraternity"

Ah yes, it's just a silly fraternity, with their people now controlling the US government. Got it!

[Dookus]

7. You asked....

"Do these elite networks always pick our candidates".


I read that as a conspiracy theory. It implies that secret behind-the-scenes powers choose our candidates instead of voters.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

9. Every candidate in my lifetime

has been either from Skull & Bones, a Rhodes scholar, or a CFR member (Carter) - so please, spare me your belittling conspiracy theories.

Voter vote in the primary and the general election - what happens before that? Better question - who decides which candidates are "electable" and which candidates are not?

Before the internet, it was easier to write off these networks as figments of our imagination - now when the Bilderburgers can't hold a meeting without riots in the street (due to sharing info online) you can't just close your eyes and pretend they don't exist anymore.

[Dookus]

13. well now you've mentioned CFR.

Before, you mentioned S&B and Rhodes scholars. I count exactly three Presidents in my lifetime who matched those, and two of them were father and son.

And I'm sorry, but when you ask if two organizations "actually choose every candidate from either party", that's a conspiracy theory. I wasn't belittling you.

Here's a more powerful conspiracy:

EVERY president for the last hundred and forty or so years has been either a Republican or a Democrat. Hrmm.... Why do these two organizations have SO MUCH power?!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

16. Interesting point - does Russell Trust have as much power as the parties?

that's an interesting question.

[Solomon]

20. "Our candidate" is being picked for us even as we

speak. Yes, and yes, Virginia, our candidates are chosen for us.
Youn better believe it.

[Dookus]

21. so...

the campaigns mean nothing? the primaries mean nothing?

Let's just pack it all up and shut down this site then.

Of course, when YOUR candidate pulls ahead, it will be a triumph of democracy. Until then, it's all back-room smoke and mirrors.

[frank frankly]

18. so very true

right on!

[LearnedHand]

17. They do now

What's your point?

[Dookus]

19. Who does what now?

Are you saying S&B and Rhodes scholars control everything now?

If so....

tell me:

Out of the President, the VP, the cabinet, the supreme court, the senate, the house of representatives and the 50 state governors: how many are Rhodes Scholars and how many are Skull and Bones?

I don't know the answer. I but I suspect it's a small number.

[Dookus]

8. hrmm...

"Ah yes, it's just a silly fraternity, with their people now controlling the US government. Got it!"

Well the President belonged to it. I wouldn't be surprised if some of this other frat-mates were hired into government jobs.

I suspect all other presidents who belonged to fraternities probably hired some frat-brothers to join their administrations.

I don't think there's any evidence that a college fraternity runs our government. I do believe a college frat-boy does.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. Let's not pretend the Russell Trust is just a "silly fraternity"

You're being incredibly disingenuous - the Russell Trust has been around for near 100 years, and it's members have been placed into high government and corporate offices around the world.

I think that Russell Trust's activities include a bit more than keggers on the weekend, okay?

You must be a Kerry fan? I can see why he would want to hush it all up.

[Dookus]

15. No...

you're mistaken. I admire Kerry but I'm not supporting him at this point.

I have no desire to hush up anything. I merely want to point out the silliness of a lot of the whacked out conspiracy theories I see here on DU.

[Cappurr]

11. She's not

[rfranklin]

14. Skull 'n' Bones is another "lucky sperm" club...

the members of which convince themselves that they enjoy privilege because either God choose them or they have "good breeding" (Dad was Man o' War and Mom was Galorette).

[Nikia]

3. Aren't Rhodes Scholarships merit based?

Bush had no chance in hell of being a Rhodes Scholar. I am not sure the criteria but I believe that academic merit is a strong criteria. One of my track team mates was a candidate. She had a high GPA and was superwoman as far as belonging and contributing to activities whileexcelling academically.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. Yes, I believe they are

Which makes the Rhodes strategy - finding highly intelligent people, vs. the Russell strategy - promoting the children of aristocrats, so much better.

[JVS]

10. They are to an extent. Now more than they used to be.

I remember Bill Bradley upon being asked about his Rhode's scholarship was very humble about it and said that it was partially based on academic merit and partially based on involvement in student activities and taking leadership roles.