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I am unaware of any similar machinations in astronomy. Where's the evidence?

Yet its ideas became generally accepted, partially due to the influence of astronomers in powerful positions. Some had the ears of kings. They just didn't have a dinner club.

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I consider this forum more appropriate because the conspiracy theory forum deals with controversial, disputed conspiracies.

That the X Club existed is not in dispute. That they are responsible for the almost universal scientific acceptance of evolution today, is. I repeat, the fact that scientists were actually convinced by the evidence (and continue to be) -- rather than browbeaten and bamboozled by this group of people -- apparently hasn't crossed your mind.

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Evolutionists don't dispute the X Club - they may brag about it, or emphasize what great scientists were members, or sometimes suggest it could've done this or that better (you know, trying to learn from past mistakes). They sometimes get around to the infighting and side with one or another faction. Another basic theme is still to prevent accurate assessment of the organization's strength.

I'm honestly not passionate enough about the subject to care much. What I see -- what any serious scientist sees -- is that evolution explains the evidence well, and no one has proposed an alternative model that comes close. The history or politics become irrelevant when you look at it this way.

What is your alternative model, and can it be tested and falsified?