Other presidents do important work for non-profits and/or use their clout to take on additional challenges, like bringing life-saving medical care, housing, and attention to the very poor -- show-offy stuff like that. Bush has a completely different kind of post-presidency in mind. Just look at how he plans to improve the world.
First, Mr. Bush said, “I’ll give some speeches, just to replenish the ol’ coffers.” With assets that have been estimated as high as nearly $21 million, Mr. Bush added, “I don’t know what my dad gets — it’s more than 50-75” thousand dollars a speech, and “Clinton’s making a lot of money.”
Then he said, “We’ll have a nice place in Dallas,” where he will be running what he called “a fantastic Freedom Institute” promoting democracy around the world. But he added, “I can just envision getting in the car, getting bored, going down to the ranch.”
Robert Draper, a fellow Texan, was interviewing the president for a book. Bush seems to have been quite laid back during the sessions.
...As the transcripts show, Mr. Bush warmed up considerably over the intervening interviews, chewing on an unlit cigar, jubilantly swatting at flies between making solemn points, propping his feet up on a table or stopping him at points to say emphatically, “I want you to get this” or “I want this damn book to be right.”
The president had one or two moments of seriousness and concern.
“I made a decision to lead,” he said, “One, it makes you unpopular; two, it makes people accuse you of unilateral arrogance, and that may be true. But the fundamental question is, is the world better off as a result of your leadership?”
Uh...
I'm so disgusted with this idiot Bush, I can't even comment. Amazingly enough, there are idiotic people who will pay to listen to this fool give a speech after his presidency. What a disgrace and shame. Hey Bush, make sure you travel and give speeches internationally. I'm sure that will go well. FFS.
Posted by: bilbo | September 01, 2007 at 03:59 PM