Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Former President George W. Bush has a strange way of keeping a low profile. Following his reported sore ego for not being afforded enough credit in the demise of Bin Laden, Bush declined an invitation to go to New York and appear with President Obama at “ground zero.” The ex-President, it was said, wanted to keep a “low profile.” That desire didn’t stop him though from traveling to New York the following week and giving three speeches to hedge fund managers for a cool $450,000.00.
According to presidential spokesman, David Sherzer, Bush has made about 140 such appearances and raked in $15 million. All are closed to the public, keeping up a hoary tradition he began in public office with few, if any, news conferences, and an almost maniacal desire for secrecy.
“It’s one thing to stay out of the public realm, which George Bush has said he wants to do,” said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University. “But then he goes on the speaking circuit and makes enormous amounts of money giving lectures mostly to corporate groups and other select audiences. Some Americans can find this distasteful.”
For his part Bush is unabashed. After leaving office, Bush pledged to “replenish the ol’ coffers” after seeing his net worth lock in at a paltry $20 million. Don’t feel sorry for the former President though, his book, Decision Points, has sold 3 million copies and he has raised $300 million for his presidential library.
To quote the former silver-tongued orator in a speech made during office, “This is an impressive crowd: the Haves and the Have-mores. Some people call you elites. I call you my base.” George W. Bush has finally come home — and gotten his paycheck.
Source: The Daily Beast (Peter H. Stone)
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Is George Bu**sh** still not on trial in the Hague for war crimes?
Bu**sh** murdered as many innocent people as Saddam Hussein and in less than half the time. He deserves the same fate: conviction and immediate sentencing.
In the spirit of shared sacrifice, let’s make ex-Presidents subject to the same kind of hit that Social Security recipients take if they continue to work after retirement: that is, they lose half a dollar of pension benefit for every dollar of outside income.
I don’t begrudge ex-Presidents getting rich on the lecture circuit; no one is forced to pay their speaking fees. But why should they keep collecting tax money they don’t need?
‘W’ can really sing a tune too. Is Las Vegas next for Mr. Privacy?
Here he is covering U2:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXnO_FxmHes&w=425&h=349%5D
Variety is the spice of life.
And he who controls the spice, controls the universe! Muahahahahaha! What’s that? Wrong kind of spice? Well . . . I can still enjoy it, can’t I? I mean, it is tasty and all even if it doesn’t allow me to fold space. I can? Excellent. Than I’ll stick with my original assertion.
Variety is the spice of life.
czech80:
To answer your comment, I see my role as guest blogger slightly differently than you. I do not intend to be Turley-light and discuss legal cases in great detail. That is the province of our host and I make no pretense to equality. I see my role on the weekends as one of taking a different angle on the law, politics, history etc. It may not be your cup of tea, and I cast no aspersions becuase of your choice. Suffice to say that I and some others enjoy the guest bloggers who provide differing perspectives on everything from Nathan Bedford Forest to popular music from our youth. I enjoy the melange and perhaps you will come to as well.
czech80,
The regular followers of this site are quite happy with our guest bloggers and I notice posts from individuals on the weekend who don’t regularly post through the week. Perhaps our guest bloggers are developing their own small fan clubs.
Me thinks you tend a bit towards the hyperbole with phrases like “tons of posts” and “bleeding hearts”.
In the end, this is Prof Turley’s blog and he makes the determination as to what is and is not appropriate. He has had nothing but kind words of appreciation for his guest bloggers.
czech80,
I am a registered Republican and I strongly disagree that this topic has nothing to do with the law. Quite the contrary, Mr. Bush and his administration have done more to degrade the foundation of the ‘Rule of Law’ than any others in American history have. Therefore, this topic is as fundamentally germane to the law as any topic could be.
Czech
There are plenty of issues where the law is discussed. There are also many of us who are not lawyers who enjoy the legal, political, economic, social, human and animal realtions on the site. As you claim to be a Libertarian, I suggest you follow the Libertarians’ long held traditions of staying out of other people’s business. If you don’t like what you’re reading…….
Why is that it’s always that the “Guest Bloggers” on this site who are the ones that contribute tons of posts that are in no way related to law? Seriously, these posts reduce the overall value of a site where people can discuss the legal ramifications and nuances of different events without having to listen to partisan hand wringing.
I’m a libertarian so certainly have no love for a lot of GW’s actions but giving speeches is a perk of the job that every single president enjoys and will enjoy in the future.
All in all, he really has kept a low profile and does not offer much opinion on current events.
And spoiler alert for all you bleeding hearts, every famous Democrat is as different from you as any Republican. They are part of a political class funded by billions (often from the same companies that hedge their bets). Everyone one of them would throw you under the bus to advance their policies or save their careers.
It will all go to legal fees. The Reaper is coming to Dallas with a grand jury summons. Only a matter of time. They got Pinochet ‘ere the end. Watch it move big-time when dead-eye dick draws the dirt nap. The dude it at death’s door, and we can only hope the doctor can pull him through.
“Seriously, I’d scrounge up half a mill to listen to him expound on ‘enhanced interrogation’ and illegal war from the dock in the Hague.” -Frank
…and that would make two of us. Well said, Frank.
Just a small sampling of Bushisms:
I’d love to see the blooper reel for that run of talks.
Any republican hero is paid, not made.
who wouldn’t pay hard cash to hear this golden tongued master debater speak?
Seriously, I’d scrounge up half a mill to listen to him expound on ‘enhanced interrogation’ and illegal war from the dock in the Hague.
Good….Maybe he can pay back some of the creditors that he discharged in his two Chapter 7 Bankruptcy’s…
George W. Bush’s Resume
Past Work Experience
Ran for congress and lost.
Produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.
Bought an oil company, but couldn’t find any oil in Texas; company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.
Bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money. Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.
With father’s help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas.
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushresume.htm