At the same conference Karl Rove's comments were leaked, President Bush "was bashed" for two full days, according to participant Robert Novak. "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."
Though the conference sessions were off-the-record, Novak says "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."
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire says a Bush adviser "frets about increased 'cutting and running' by Republican candidates through the 2006 elections."