Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

$150,000? For Bush?

by Steven D
Thu Feb 26th, 2009 at 08:57:33 AM EST

I wouldn't hire him for a speech if he was paying me that much to sit and listen to him:

President George W. Bush may have left office with a historically bad 22% approval rating, but he's still eager to impart his wisdom - for $150,000 a speech.
The former president will charge that hefty fee per pep talk - plus first-class or private jet transport for four - when he hits the lecture circuit next month with stopovers in Canada, the U.S. and other spots around the globe, sources told The News.
"There will always be people who want the prestige of a former President," said one public speaking expert.

There's sucker born every minute, I know, but still. Didn't these idiots listen to enough bullshit from this guy over the last eight years for free to last a lifetime three times over? Why pay for it now? Giving Bush money to make speeches at this point really is a prime example of wingnut welfare.

$150,000? For Bush? | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (4.00 / 2)

Only if the speech is in the Hague...

The Underground Railroad

by Oscar In Louisville on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 04:01:39 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

I second that.

No doubt he will avoid countries that might arrest him for war crimes.

We should clean up our own mess, anyhow, if we want any credibility in the world. That's why congressional hearings with real consequences are a must.

_________________________ I will donate my voice to progressive causes.

Check out My Voice Acting Page.

by mrboma on Thu Feb 26th, 2009 at 04:11:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (4.00 / 3)

It's influence-peddling, pure and simple. You think they pay that kind of money to hear W's dulcid voice and lofty sentiments? He's still one of the main condits to the black heart of the military-industrial complex. I'm hopeful though. Taking the long view, I think that crowd is starting to lose its mojo for the first time since the late 19th century. They are slowly but surely becoming completely irrelevant to the problems facing humanity and the widely-recognized solutions. Or another way to put it is that humanity is beginning to understand clearly that these guys ARE the problem.

by priscianus jr on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 04:16:59 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 1)

As is usual for sharks, they've got to keep moving -- that is, become relevant in accordance with the New World Order -- or fade out.

That said, of course the fees have nothing to do with Bush's 'wisdom'. Crickets do still chirp for free, after all.

by wilderness wench on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 05:21:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (4.00 / 2)

Of course, speaking fees are just ways of paying off someone, like when Dubya's dad got a cool million from the Unification Church for a speech down in Paraguay or some such South American location.

Another means of paying off someone would be to steer book deals with huge advances to him.

Or Presidential libraries.

by Bob In Pacifica on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 09:29:15 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

Why do we have these presidential libraries, anyway? How did this convention get started? I don't think it stretches back all that far.

The documents should be stored in a single "White House Records" archive. They are, as of my last hearing, public property. Let those ex-presidents who want a monument erected to them during their lifetimes have it done without the covering justification of its being a "research center." In other words, if you want to be a pharaoh and have a pyramid built for you, go ahead and raise the funds -- but without even pretending that your enterprise is serving any public interest, or any interest but your own.

And then you can and should be judged as Thoreau judged those in whose honor the pyramids were built, to wit:

As for the Pyramids, there is nothing to wonder at in them so much as the fact that so many men could be found degraded enough to spend their lives constructing a tomb for some ambitious booby, whom it would have been wiser and manlier to have drowned in the Nile, and then given his body to the dogs.

N.B.: Old Henry David may have been insufficiently sympathetic with those "degraded" builders -- insufficiently sensitive to their lack of choice in the matter. Regarding those who, while not spending their lives, do contribute colossal amounts of money toward constructing tombs, or monuments, for our ambitious boobies -- his point is better taken.

by no3reed on Thu Feb 26th, 2009 at 12:22:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

Why pay for it now?

That's what I was wondering as well...
Need a Speaker?

by ask on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 02:26:40 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

Get your throwing shoes ready.

Oh, there you are, Perry. -Phineas -SLB-

by boran2 (blogistan@yahoo.com) on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 02:30:11 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

That's probably the real story: Bush is going to hire himself out as a shoe target at state fairs and local carnivals. I know I'd pay.

FDR's response to progressive demands: "I agree. Now go out and make me do it."

by DaveW on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 02:52:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

Bush may skip out to Paraguay -

Leahy announces hearings on Bush investigations set for next Wednesday
Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) reiterated his call to hold a truth commission to investigate Bush wrongdoings, and announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee would hold hearings on the matter next Wednesday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) rose after Leahy to support the call for investigations into "this past carnival of folly, greed, lies, and wrongdoing." "If we blind ourselves to this history, we deny ourselves its lessons," he said, warning that such an investigation will not be comfortable or easy:
WHITEHOUSE: We are optimists, we Americans. We are proud of our country. Contrition comes hard to us. But the path back from the dark side may lead us down some unfamiliar valleys of remorse and repugnance before we can return to the light. We may have to face our fellow Americans saying to us, "No. Please. Tell us that we did not do that. Tell us that American did not do that." And we will have to explain, somehow. This is no small thing. And not easy. This will not be comfortable, or proud. But somehow, it must be done.
Watch it:

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 04:15:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

Yeah, too bad they now have an extradition treaty with the US, huh?

I for one welcome our new Twitter overlords. @Omir55

by Omir the Storyteller (omir.the.storyteller -CAT- gmail -DOG- com) on Thu Feb 26th, 2009 at 03:13:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

As I recall Reagan got a $million in 1989 bucks for his first pimp-job post "president". So Bush is just figuring he'll flow with the economy he created and work for a dime on the dollar.

FDR's response to progressive demands: "I agree. Now go out and make me do it."

by DaveW on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 02:56:28 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

I know this should go into an open thread but I think it's important enough to say right here. Bowers is launching a campaign to get Dave Sirota a show on MSNBC. While the netroots don't have a lot of power, they ARE somewhat influential in that the media read blogs regularly. So how about an anti-Sirota facebook campaign to keep him off the air?

by MNPundit on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:17:45 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

I'd pay 150k to pie-job Bushy Boy, for sure...

In fact who wants in on a pool for which month this year the Biotic Baking Brigade get at him?

Declaring the bottom is the only way back up..

by anarchronarchist (mincers (-at-) hotmail (-dot-) com) on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:17:51 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

When they start talking about private jet transport, I couldn't help but think of extraordinary rendition and the private jets that were used to transport people off to be tortured.

by ericy on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:38:12 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

What -- you're thinking they might whisk him off to an undisclosed location and force him to take the GED without helpers?

FDR's response to progressive demands: "I agree. Now go out and make me do it."

by DaveW on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 04:17:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

That means only 3 Secret Service guys?

by mainsailset on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:40:04 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 0)

What would the Secret Service agents pay to get reassigned?

by Alice on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:53:45 PM EST

Re: $150,000? For Bush? (none / 1)

I kinda look at Bush's "asking" price like I do Hummers. Is there anyone out there who would even consider paying full price with acres of failed models parked to choose from? You'd get laughed at driving it through town the first go round these days even at a heavily discounted price. Nah, Bush's price is severely negotiable as all losers must be.

by mainsailset on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 at 03:58:29 PM EST

Hold on a second..maybe $150k is MSRP (none / 0)

My memory is not too short. Remember these kinds of headlines from last year:

Bush fundraising down by $40 million

So far this year, Bush has raised $82 million, according to the RNC, dramatically less than the $127 million CBS News reporter Mark Knowler says the president raised in the year leading up to the 2006 mid-term elections...

Poor ticket sales, expected protests scuttle Bush-McCain fundraiser at Phoenix Convention Center

A Tuesday fundraiser headlined by President Bush for U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is being moved out of the Phoenix Convention Center. Sources familiar with the situation said the Bush-McCain event was not selling enough tickets to fill the Convention Center space, ...
Tickets to the event were to range from $1,000 to $25,000 for VIP treatment.

I realize there were extenuating circumstances in 2008 for lack of enthusiasm (called "Nominee John McCain"), but I wouldn't be surprised if Bush's speech tour is curtailed (or his fees deeply discounted) due to lack of interest.

by Sawgrass on Thu Feb 26th, 2009 at 08:47:42 AM EST

$150,000? For Bush? | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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