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Most presidents make better former presidents than they do actual presidents, it seems. I mean, take a look at Jimmy Carter; better out of office than in office.
But, sometimes, well, you have a Bush … W, that is. I remember when he ran for office on the platform of being a “compassionate conservative” while telling The Gays to stay at the back of the marriage bus, and telling women that the GOP is in charge of vaginas, so, I got the conservative part, but I never understood where the compassion came into play.
And I still don’t.
As with the case of most former presidents, they tend to rake in the dough giving speeches to anyone and everyone who will listen, and, since leaving office W is no exception. He’s given more than 200 speeches since January 2009 and pockets anywhere from $100,000 to $175,000 per speech. Yes, that would be somewhere between $20 and $35 million dollars people, have paid to hear a monosyllabic “decider” talk.
But, we’re not talking paychecks alone, we’re also talking compassion. See, one of those speeches W recently gave was at a fundraiser for a homeless shelter in McKinney, Texas — yes, the same McKinney where cops beat up girls in bikinis but that’s not part of this story. Bush gave his speech, and pocketed $100,000.
“We paid his regular fee, which is $100,000. It was a hefty fee for us." — Lynne Sipiora, executive director of the Samaritan Inn homeless shelter
The Samaritan Inn isn't some penny ante operation, though, and they raised over a million dollars at this particular fundraiser. But, come on, W; it’s a homeless shelter and you took a check from them for $100,000, which I’m sure they could have used had you simple said, “I don’t need the money.”
And what about the fact that George W. Bush was president during one of the biggest financial crises in this country that left many people out of work, and many people, yes, homeless. Taking that $100,000 is the furthest thing from compassionate.
Sidenote: Politico spoke with W’s ‘people’ who made it clear that "none of what he makes when he does get paid goes anywhere other than his own bank account."
Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, donated every single penny she made from speaking engagements to charity.
Just sayin’.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The Daily Hypocrite: George W. Bush
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His pal, one T.Blair, has also become a multi-millionaire through his speech-giving. (How's that for being a Socialist!) A great part of his income, the majority of it I think, was and is being made in the U.S. where, for some reason, it's easier to find an audience who are starry-eyed about him and his (dubious) time as Prime Minister. In his own country it would be much harder to find those who'd be willing to actually pay out good cash to listen to his unctuous homilies. His name was a toxic ingredient during our recent General Election campaign, and I think it will remain so for the remainder of his life. (Appointed as 'U.N. Middle East PEACE Envoy', for crying out loud! - a post from which he's actually recently resigned). But he and Bush certainly see eye-to-eye in the distribution of wealth - like it's fine as long as they get the lion's share.
ReplyDeleteTar has a lot to say - to the squirrel. He
ReplyDeletejust gets chased inside.
"...what about the fact that George W. Bush was president during one of the biggest financial crises in this country that left many people out of work, and many people, yes, homeless."
ReplyDeleteirony - something W and Alanis don't quite grasp.
"Compassionate Conservative" means "I'll fuck you over the same as any other conservative, but I'll feel bad for you while I do it."
ReplyDelete@professor - YES!
ReplyDeleteW should be in jail as a war criminal!
Let's be fair...the man's got tremendous expenses, maintaining his "compassionate and softer side". Things like canvas and paint and turpentine and brushes needed to continue painting masterpieces such as, Self in the Tub...Little Doggie on the Floor...Putin with the Smush Face and shit like that there. Besides, I hear that he's the kind of guy you'd love to have a beer with. Art and beer ain't cheap friends.
ReplyDeleteSCREW GEORGE W. BUSH!
Funnily enough I have just been reading about Dubya's veteran in arms TB; a bit like Dubya, TB is raking it in, although to most Brits he is toxic! And just guess who's footing the bill for his security?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/11668401/tony-blair-global-business-empire-taxpayers-money.html