“President Bush is holding private meetings ‘over sodas and sparkling water’ in which he asks trusted advisers — ‘Why does the rest of the world seem to hate America? Or is it just me they hate?’

This according to the Washington Post.

‘Not generally known for intellectual curiosity, Bush is seeking out those who are, engaging in a philosophical exploration of the currents of history that have swept up his administration,’ the Post’s Peter Baker writes in the lead story for Monday’s paper. ‘These sessions, usually held in the Oval Office or the elegant living areas of the executive mansion, are never listed on the president’s public schedule and remain largely unknown even to many on his staff.'” (AlterNet )