Replenish the Ol' Coffers: Bush on Life After the White House
Some ex-Presidents grow in stature after their departure from the White House. Others are diminished by it. In a disturbing New York Times profile Sunday, President George W. Bush left little doubt which will be his destiny after exiting the Oval Office.
In a series of interviews with author Robert Draper, Bush confirmed that the banality - and venality - that defined his presidency will characterize his post-presidency as well:
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."
Despite Bush's vow (like his disgraced outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales) to "to sprint to the finish" of his term, his pre-occupation with his legacy is clearly paramount. Certain of his course in Iraq, President Bush like his wife Laura wants America to understand the price in suffering he has paid for his supposed steadfastness:
"I can't let my own worries - I try not to wear my worries on my sleeve; I dont want to burden them with that. Self-pity is the worst thing that can happen to a presidency. This is a job where you can have a lot of self-pity.
I've got God's shoulder to cry on, and I cry a lot. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count as president."
In advance of the Draper book Dead Certain, Karl Rove has been making the comical case that his President's legacy will that of the "far-sighted" architect of the Bush Doctrine. But Bush himself makes clear in the Times, his life after his White House tenure will very much resemble his life before and during it. The sense of entitlement, the kindness of strangers (read: his father's friends) and the perpetual campaign to sell a war, a terror threat, the loss of civil liberties and now his legacy are all symbolized by the coming George W. Bush presidential library and right-wing think tank.
Some former presidents grow in status - and the people's esteem - only after they leave the White House. Jimmy Carter's failed term was redeemed in part by his charitable works and efforts for world peace. Bill Clinton's foundation and campaigns to battle AIDS, disease and natural disasters have made him perhaps the last globally respected American president. Even Richard Nixon's partial resurrection earned him elder statesman status.
But not President Bush. Already a small man, he will only decrease in stature as leaves the stage in Washington to "replenish the ol' coffers" and, apparently, just hang out. "Sixty-two is really young," Mr. Bush said, "and yet I'll be through with my presidency."
So much time, so little good to do.
UPDATE: The Washington Post has more coverage of the upcoming Bush book. Capturing the once and future banality of President Bush is this exchange:
He told Draper he could see himself shuttling between Dallas and Crawford. Noting that he ran into former president Bill Clinton at the United Nations last year, Bush added, "Six years from now, you're not going to see me hanging out in the lobby of the U.N."
He is so disgusting, I don't know where to start.
That's for sure. I doubt they'd let him in the building after all the damage he's done around the world.
What a total piece of shit!
"Six years from now, you're not going to see me hanging out in the lobby of the U.N."
Hopefully, he'll be hanging out in the courtroom at the Hague.
Even Richard Nixon's partial resurrection earned him elder statesman status.
I disagree. Richard Nixon was a disgraced president and NEVER considered an "elder statesman." His profanity and bigotry on the tapes shocked middle America. The image of him on his knees drunk and praying with Henry Kissinger didn't add to his reputation either. He was known as the worst American president until Bush came along. (Though before Reagan became a saint, he could have competed for the title.)
It was only in his own mind that he was an "elder statesman."
[and btw, those three, Bush I, Reagan, and Bush II, are responsible for 70% of the 9 TRILLION dollar debt the US has run up.]
Of course Nixon was a disgraced criminal. But deserved or not, in his final years there were some who took his books - and general counsel on foreign policy - seriously.
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."
When they build that wall to keep migrants out, they should build a little further north to make sure Bush stays in the confines of his beloved ranch. It's best he stays away from the UN and out of the spotlight, the better off the whole world will be. Anything this man touches turns to ashes.
Noting that he ran into former president Bill Clinton at the United Nations last year
I bet he tried to shove past Bill through the door first, too.
What about the statement that Bush was "gassed" and on a long bike ride. Gassed means drunk. There can be nothing worse than an alcoholic in relapse in terms of bad judgment and the blossoming of antisocial traits. Our president is a train wreck and I agree with Bruce Fine that we should start impeachment proceedings with both of the criminals in "charge". I agree with the previous comment that Bush will just go to Paraguay to avoid taking the consequences for his crimes and misdemeanors.
Bill Clinton directly caused me not to be hired as an Air Traffic Controller after I got out of the Military. Made me lose a cool million+... Bush hasn't cost me millions!!!
Most people bitch about the current President, get over yourselves!!!
No one is listening to the twit now. What makes him think that once he leaves a gazillion burning bags of poop all over the known universe anyone is going to shell out a hard-earned buck to him later?
This stupid joker better learn to politely ask, "Can I supersize that for you?" in a drive-up window, hoping to get recognized. That, or he's going to be awfully careful with his inheritance. After all, if he squanders his inheritance the way he turned the Clinton Surplus into the hugest national debt in the history of American budgeting, he's going to prison.
"Jimmy Carter's failed term was redeemed in part by his charitable works and efforts for world peace."
Did you have to stifle laughter as you wrote that?
Uh, Bush has ruined the job of ATC and the FAA, along with the FDA, the USDA, the NLRB, et al. Funny, but the FAA hired many controllers from 1992 to 2000. Yes, the hiring wave had ebbed in 1992, but was not a result of Presidential politics. The Chimporer, on the other hand, has brought ATC to its knees with the ideological plan to bust the Union, lie in bed with the industry they are tasked to regulate, and too many foibles to enumerate. Go to faafollies.com or Google Main Bang.
Impeach, imprison, fine down to their shoe-tops all of the BushCo miscreants.