I think this is a great observation. Leaving aside the politics of whether Bush's circle is a 'cult' or not, in fact, even leaving aside the word 'cult' - any group by whatever name that has a 'huge difference in the content of internal and external communication' is suspect.

Of course, in many instances it is harmless - humans will always form into groups with their own private group-think. But when such a group has a deliberate public-facing message which is at such odds with their own inner message, then the danger bells should ring.

That has always been Maharaji's main problem with recruiting. Even now at programs new people pick up on this difference - the laughter of some of the audience (the premies) to a banal observation by M, indicating that there is an inner message in the seemingly banal comment that only the cognescenti can understand. The atmosphere of reverence and religious observation to a supposedly open message, and even more so to the speaker of the message (who is of course not a guru, only a motivational speaker - or is it now 'inspirational speaker' - I can't keep up).