Bloomberg News reports that our Golden Isles are to play host to the capos of Conservative politics at the annual American Enterprise Institute World Forum.
Held at the remote, luxury Sea Island resort in Georgia, the 2015 American Enterprise Institute World Forum will bring together several potential GOP candidates and members of the business and media. Unlike the Koch's brothers Freedom Partners event in January, however, the World Forum will be closed to the press, but a guest list of invitees and speakers has been obtained by Bloomberg Politics.
Don't mean to quibble, but Sea Island is neither remote, being accessible by car, truck, kayak, yacht or plane, nor necessarily luxurious, unless you consider five hundred cottages/residences sitting on septic tanks luxurious. While there's no hard evidence to connect septic seepage to elevated coliform counts at the beaches, spending much time in the water is not recommended. The chlorinated pools sprouting like mushrooms on the ocean front may look inviting, but I, for one, don't consider swimming with chemicals a luxury item. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division classifies the coastal waters as "recreational." That means they're good for running a motor boat around in, if you don't mind scraping brown gunk off the sides when you're done.
There's no question Sea Island is exclusive. Or, at least, that's the impression one is supposed to get from the guarded gates and a road sign that says "Private......."
Moreover, in case there's any question,
Exclusive Resorts leaves no doubt that it's true. And they've bought 26 cottages near the southern end and the causeway to prove it.
Exclusive Resorts is absolutely one of a kind. We’re not merely a destination club, but a discerning and sophisticated community with a 10-year legacy providing our members with a distinctive lifestyle anchored by once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And this is what sets us apart from any resort or destination experience in the world.
Ten whole years! That's about right because that's when the descent into exlcusivity was begun. In 2004, Dubya did us the honor of scheduling one of the G8 Summits at his folks' honeymoon spot. Ever since, more and more barriers have been thrown up to keep the ordinary folk out.
So, what does it take to get in? Join the Club.
Our entry-level, Classic Membership, features:
• 5 years of membership
• 20 days of travel per year
• Access to one holiday reservation per year (excluding Presidents' Week, Christmas and New Year's)
One Time Member Initiation Fee: $120,000
2015 Annual Dues: $1,205 per day
For more flexibility and the best long-term value, our Premium Membership is a 30-year vacation plan offering access to all holidays and a better overall cost per night.
For a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, you get a better deal at night. Now, you might think that all it takes is money. But then, when you give it another think, you might want to remeber that the easiest way to get lots of money is to steal it. So, how do we know the exclusives aren't turning Sea Island into a den of thieves?
Well, you can test it. Or, as the ad says, have a taste.
A Taste Of Exclusive Resorts
GATEWAY: Gateway is a travel card that offers limited access to the Exclusive Resorts Vacation Collection for a set number of days. Gateway has been designed to allow prospective members to experience the advantages of vacationing with Exclusive Resorts without the commitment or upfront membership fee. While the Gateway card can be customized to fit your needs, our most popular option offers 21-days of access for one-time fee of $32,500.
On the other side of Brunswick, where the Delta planes land, Gateway is a facility for drug addicts and the mentally disturbed.
Welcome to Gateway, Mr. and Mrs. Bigwig
Come Walker, Santorum, Perry and Pence. Come Jindal and Graham and Christie and Cruz and even former Governor (Jeb) Bush. Welcome to the Gateway that's been prepared, even if the Marshes of Glynn had to be destroyed.