Schwarzenegger to speak at Bohemian Club conclave
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to address a throng of rich and powerful men on Friday under the towering redwoods at the Bohemian Grove as the annual encampment along the Russian River in Monte Rio enters its final weekend.
No one other than Bohemian Club members and their guests will hear the governor’s speech, which is — like everything that transpires during the 17-day midsummer enclave — done in absolute privacy.
Plutocrats and powerbrokers, including former presidents, annually flock to the 2,700-acre wooded retreat where neither women, other than grove employees, nor outsiders of either gender are permitted.
“It’s a private gentleman’s club,” club spokesman Sam Singer said. “People are coming to get away from the duties of daily life. They don’t desire to be on the front page of The Press Democrat or The New York Times.
“In real life, they get there often enough,” he said.
The club has about 2,000 members.
Mixing their revelry and weird rituals with serious issues, the Bohemians hear from a series of speakers, this year including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who discussed “the future of news” and former secretaries of state George Shultz and James Baker on international relations and terrorism threats.
The speakers list, including ex-President George H. W. Bush in 1995 and not-yet President Richard Nixon in 1967, remains a well-guarded secret.
But on Thursday night, the club’s more artistically inclined members will go public, staging the 99th annual Monte Rio Variety Show at the river community’s amphitheater, a fundraiser for three Monte Rio organizations.
The show and barbecue are open to the public and expected to beat last year’s record of more than $32,000 in proceeds, divided equally among the Monte Rio Fire Services Foundation, Monte Rio Elementary School Foundation and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
“It’s huge,” said Michele McDonell, a show coordinator and church member, referring to the show’s $10,000 boost to her congregation.
A sellout is expected, but tickets may be available by telephone through Wednesday night at 865-2234.
The entertainment lineup is not disclosed ahead of time, but the Bohemians “always guarantee a good show,” McDonell said.
Headliners last summer included country music singers Clint Black and Zac Brown, while Bob Weir and the Steve Miller Band have performed in the past.
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i hope he picked out a nice dress for the occasion..coinciding with chelseas wedding which will be a celestial event imo..
401
Seek i was thinking the same about Chels wed weird LOL
i am sure it will be..
Ah yes, what a celebration for all of the children of Cain!
LOL
I keep wondering about the new family Chelsea is becoming part of. Her father in law, an ex Iowa Congressman who served time in prison for fraud and a Ponzi Scheme, the press called him a one man crime wave…but I highly doubt it was really “one man”. Also, it seems the Clinton’s have been close to the family for years, especially Margolires, Chelsea’s new mother in law who was a reporter for NBC in Washington and a Representative herself, a Republican, who cast the deciding vote for Clinton’s 1993 tax increase. Seems she lost her re-election because of that vote.
RE: the coincidence? timing of the Bohemian Grove Ritual and the Chelsea Clinton Wedding…. did you know, from the position of those who worshiped Molech, the sacrifice of one’s first born child, or any child, was the ultimate sacrifice. It was done only at times of extreme hardship, and not necessarily willingly.
i saw those connections you found..keep it all on the same merry go round