Bush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
Bush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
In 2007, President Bush said that he was looking forward to making a “ridiculous” amount of money on the lecture circuit after he left office, noting that his father often made $50,000-$75,000 per speech. Bush is now making far more than President George H.W. Bush. Yesterday, he spoke to nearly 15,000 people at the “Get Motivated!” seminar in Forth Worth, TX. He mostly focused on “lighter topics such as picking out a rug design for the Oval Office that reflected his ‘optimism.’” The Dallas News reports that for this 28-minute speech, Bush received at least $100,000 — a rate of $3571 per minute:
Bush, like other ex-presidents before him, was reportedly paid at least $100,000 to appear at the motivation seminar. He will headline another in San Antonio. [...]
It was a rousing, upbeat celebration of positive thinking and conspicuous success. Speakers were introduced with peppy music, confetti drops and bursts of pyrotechnics exploding from each corner of the stage (but not for Bush – Secret Service orders).
Bush is reportedly receiving $150,000 for other speeches, which doesn’t include the private jet he sometimes receives.
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Suckers!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:42 ambarf!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:43 amI have better things to do with my money.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:43 amGeorge W. Bush presents: Get Motivated in One Easy Step!
Step 1 – Be paid $3,571 per minute.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:43 amI thought the gop was against any kind of welfare!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:44 amHis lawyers will suck that up in 30 seconds once the war crimes trial begins.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:44 amHA HA HA
October 27th, 2009 at 10:46 amI wonder if Faux will provide dedicated coverage of the “trillions of people” that will show up?
October 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am“Tickets are apparently $19. That’s not per person — that’s per office.”
Easy to understand how they are able to fill the venue.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:48 amLOL
100k speech to look for optimistic rugs. This is another reason why I don’t want republicans leading the country.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:49 amThis is the payoff for being a corpoRAT shill for 8 years.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:49 amHeh – this just proves that some people will buy *anything*…
October 27th, 2009 at 10:49 amHe mostly focused on “lighter topics such as picking out a rug design for the Oval Office that reflected his ‘optimism.’
Yeah, that rug was really sumpin’, huh, Mr. President? Really tied the room together.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:50 amSays it all.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:50 amAre taxing his income? Because at 3571 a minute, we could begin to recover some of the money that scum licker cost over the 8 years he was in office!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:53 amBush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
– - Which is, coincidentally, what Bush spent in Iraq per second.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:53 amWas there WMD hiding under that rug?
October 27th, 2009 at 10:53 amHe didn’t look so optomistic the day he left washington. He looked like a whipped pup.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:53 amBush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
– - Talk about zero bang for the buck.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:54 amWTF? Nice gig, IF you could get it! If these people are willing to throw their well earned cash at this Dolt. More power to them.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:54 amBush got paid at least $100,000 for such earth shattering things as “picking out a rug design for the Oval Office that reflected his ‘optimism.’” That sounds like Sarah Palin speaking — hot air and empty words.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:55 am16. Badmoodman,
Damn! I got sidetracked and you posted my exact words before I could.
:-D
October 27th, 2009 at 10:55 am100k+ per hour, that’s absurd even by CEO standards. I’m actually offended at that.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:55 amI’m from Ft. Worth and thoroughly embarrassed, but not surprised, that almost 15,000 people showed up to see this inarticulate, war criminal speak. It’s sad that thousands of our young veterans are maimed for life and getting payouts of no more than $15-$20K annually for their sacrifice, while this clownish wannabe cowboy who sent many of them to fight in a pointless war/occupation gets paid over $100,000 per speech. Now he’s claiming he kept our country safe, by doing what…executing Saddam Hussein and his sons? Where’s the justice and why does anyone care to hear this man speak??!!
October 27th, 2009 at 10:56 amI see Dubya has reached his ultimate career goal — to make obscene amounts of money as a public speaker, even though he’s mediocre at best.
Contrast this with another ex-president who has built houses for charity, brokered peace deals, and has supervised free elections all over the globe.
Heck — even Dubya’s daddy has spent part of his ex-presidency working with Bill Clinton on the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief Fund (which has expanded to disaster relief in other places as well).
But to bemoan Dubya’s lack of doing anything constructive with his ex-presidency is to suggest there is something he COULD do with his limited skill set. We might all just be better off if he sticks to relatively harmless and shallow activities.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:57 amThis reminds me of something George Carlin said. “If some schmuck nails two pieces of wood together there will be another schmuck to buy it”.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:58 amSo, can someone tell me why WE are still paying for his SS detail?
beyond obsurd.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:59 amA fool and his money are soon parted.
I certainly wouldn’t want to know any of those morons that attended that crap event.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:01 amFred, GDumbya is still a whipped pup. He just has more snow up his nose these days to take the edge off his dejection.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:02 amPimpin’ for the bedwetters.
I’m proud of the idiot.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:02 amRandomChaos says:
So, can someone tell me why WE are still paying for his SS detail?
beyond obsurd.
I’m not positive, but I think presidents get Secret Service protection for life.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:02 amwait until he’s doing tv spots for crazy eddie’s applicance store…
October 27th, 2009 at 11:02 amWas it P.T. Barnum who said “There’s a Republican born every minute”?
October 27th, 2009 at 11:04 amI’m surprised FoxSuckers didn’t carry it live…
October 27th, 2009 at 11:06 amJust trying to play devil’s advocate here, but is this really newsworthy?
I mean, President Clinton has spent the last 8 years racking in a TON of money giving speeches.
Good for both of them. As long as your target audience is willing to pay such atrocious amount of $$$, more power to you.
That being said, what I am really interested in is what was the actual monetary breakdown for each mispronounced word or broken sentences?
October 27th, 2009 at 11:09 amThat explains why he kept on talking and talking and talking…He thought he was getting paid by the minute
October 27th, 2009 at 11:10 amOh what a country we have. One day you can be a mumbling, bumbling miserable failure and a war criminal and the next day you can make $3,571.00 a minute to talk about it.
The world would be a better place if bUSH & Cheney were both locked up in some cold, dark prison cell together, where they could try and motivate each other for the next 100 years.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:11 amI think that’s the whold point. Compare the two intellects and then compare what they might still have to say to Americans.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:11 amExcellent Ralph, The dude abides.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:13 amI’m from Ft. Worth and thoroughly embarrassed, but not surprised, that almost 15,000 people showed up to see this inarticulate, war criminal speak.
Actually it was 428 000 in the audience because you have to multiply the real number by the teabagger constant Tb.
Tb is approximately 28. So for instance at the 9/12 rally in DC the actual number of protesters was something like 70,000. Then you multiply it by Tb and you get 2 million protesters.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am“Our next speakers will be Tom Delay, with a speech entitled ‘Ethics & Manners’; followed by a poetry slam by Larry Craig called ‘Tapped Out’”
October 27th, 2009 at 11:14 amMaybe these re-pukes thought they were going to get another huge tax cut………..by showing up in person.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:20 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I am just happy NOT to hear from him anymore. I used to cringe each time he opened his mouth.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:21 amWell, at least Bush does gigs like these. Unlike Cheney. That man is willing to spread his evilness every chance he gets.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:24 amPathetic Pu$$y Troll spews: Lousy Freeper troll!!
Typical projectionist from the fringe.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:24 amP.T. Barnum is alive and well in Tejas.
Gummble, I believe the law was changed and he only gets SS coverage for 10 years.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:25 am$3571 per minute oughta buy a lotta blow…
October 27th, 2009 at 11:25 amBeefeater says:
You sound upset Beefeater. There’s still time to redeem yourself. Come, come to the light. You’ll feel a lot better.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:27 amUmmmm, good one Beefeater.
Way to constructively criticize my point and bring about a healthy debate.
Or were you being sarcastic?
Whatever.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:30 amCome to think of it, picking a rug was the one positive thing he did in 8 years.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:31 amFort Worth-less…
October 27th, 2009 at 11:31 amBush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
“Uniquely American.”
October 27th, 2009 at 11:33 am“Newsworthy?” Probably not. But, again, this isn’t a news site….this a political blog. :)
October 27th, 2009 at 11:33 amThese “seminars” are really just sales pitches to get the suckers to sign up for more expensive courses. That’s how entire offices get in for $19 but they can afford to pay the speakers that much. I don’t believe Bill Clinton ever did that kind of freak show. Then again I don’t think people would spend real money to hear W speak.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:36 amFollowed by OSarah bin Palin to give a lecture on “Geography 101″.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:37 amBush the Boy Blunder certainly can “motivate” …….No one on the planet can match his ability to increase sales of Pepto Bismol 1000-fold……….
October 27th, 2009 at 11:40 amI don’t know about the rest of you posters but IMHO George Bush can be a very inspirational and motivating speaker. He had a large role in motivating millions to vote for President Obama didn’t he? Here are a few of my favorite motivational quotes from Shrubby the Lout:
“I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of law-abiding nations in prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all acts of torture … and we are leading this fight by example.”
Quoted in “The Dark Art of Interrogation,” The Atlantic Monthly, October 2003
(are you feeling motivated AG Holder?)
“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”
(of course this quote was directed at then President Clinton. Sadly though it did not motivate Mr. Bush when he found himself in this position)
“Give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wages. Tell the truth and be honest. Don’t cheat or steal….And always remember: You are responsible for the decisions you make.”
October 27th, 2009 at 11:41 am- George W. Bush, address at Texas A&M University, April 6, 1998
(very motivational however once again Mr. Bush didn’t follow his own advice)
What I find amazing is that Bush is still using the same speech he gave when he was in the White House. There’s an article from 2006 in the Washington Post about how often Bush tells the anecdote about Laura Bush selecting the rug for the oval office. Sure, he’s added the anecdote about picking up after his dogs, but you’d think he could vary the speech a little based on the audience.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:43 am“Conspicuous success?”
Are you kidding me?
October 27th, 2009 at 11:43 amDon’t forget catching that bass… er… perch…. or whatever it was.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:45 amfletc3her, it’s not like Dubya has a lot of successes from which to draw lessons. It’s pretty much the rug and the fish, that’s about it from eight years in office.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:49 amI went to one of these “Get Motivated” seminars once. Colin Powell spoke at the one I attended. He spoke at length about he doesn’t get any respect anymore after leaving the White House. How motivating. They lure you in with a few high profile speakers, but the rest are hucksters pitching get rich quick stock trading or real estate programs. They’ve got a couple hundred staff stationed around the darkened hall holding up flashlights ready to take credit card numbers from all the suckers who jump out of their seats as soon as the speaker says “we’re ready to take your money! We can’t do this all day!”. It was like moths to a candle. I’d consider this a bottom of the barrel speaking engagement and a cash grabbing embarrassment for anyone who speaks there.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:56 amNothing quite sums up “positive thinking” like the unforgettable quotes “Is our children learning” and the equally inspiring and deep “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully” …………..
October 27th, 2009 at 11:56 amkaty says:
Bush paid $3,571 per minute for motivational speech.
“Uniquely American.”
October 27th, 2009 at 12:01 pm————————————————————-
LMAO! Brilliant response Katy!!!!!!!!!
Perhaps Bush the lesser will go out on his own “Money Trumps Peace” motivation tour to motivate the war industry?
October 27th, 2009 at 12:03 pmOr how about:
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking of new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
October 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pmWhy isn’t this WAR CRIMINAL not on trial for his crimes?
October 27th, 2009 at 12:05 pmThis totally makes sense. If that doofus can become President of the United States of America, then anybody can do anything.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:06 pmI think Bush’s motivational speech worked! I feel like going out to shop for carpeting.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:11 pmTo be fair I’m sure Boy George, Bush the lesser, the ex idiot in chief, the former decider guy has probably motivated many listless middle aged slugs, miserable failures, cocaine abusers, alcoholics, sociopaths, corporate crooks and terrorists during his eight year reign of error.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:19 pmgummble-bee-itch says:
I’m not positive, but I think presidents get Secret Service protection for life
Until Bush43 ex-presidents got SS detail for life. Congress changed the law in the 90’s so any president elected after Jan 1, 1997 recieve SS protection for only 10 years. Which is 10 years too long for Dubya.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:21 pmHe’s like Tony Robbins + Britney !!!!
but he’d best hurry up and make hay – nobody will pay even 19.95 to see him two years from now.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:23 pmWhat did Bush say that was motivating?
Did he say something like this? I stand before you a stupid, ignorant, immoral apathetic individual who was born into a family that was able to prop me up before the world as something I’m not, and they were able to steal two elections on my behalf so that I could nearly ruin the world. So, you can see from my experience that anyone can be successful.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pmYou know what? I really don’t have a problem with it. If somebody wants to pay him that kind of money to speak at a convention, I say take it.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:28 pmAll I can say is that Dumbya has certainly motivated me. I’ll never vote for another Republican as long as I live.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:31 pmGeorge says – Hehehe, I the motovationer guy, I got those suckers all fired up by talking about my rug and Barney, things that I decidered on alot, that rug was made from the billions of dollars on those pallets and body parts of thousands of those dark people over there, the dies were made from the blood of Katrina victims, I really liked rubbing my bare feet on it, and Barney just loved taking a big ole dump on it, that always made me smile when one of my slaves had to clean it up. That convention was what makes America great, it was just full of thieves trying to sell useless sh!t to the have-nots, now they have-less, hehe and I have-more-and-more. I murdered, tortured, lied, stole and yet here I am, FREE AS A BIRD because Obama doesn’t want to upset our Minority Majority, eat it, Reed and Pelosi, I’m rich and free…what do you think Dick?
Dick says – I need fresh blood from cute kittens and puppies.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:33 pmI wonder how many coherent sentences that bought.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Well they could donate it to my campaign instead of giving it to Bush. It would be a big help. I can win… I CAN WIN!
October 27th, 2009 at 12:52 pmOh yeah my man loco’s right. Please the stop the hating, send $$$. Thank you.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:54 pmThey paid $19.95…
October 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pmAfter Bush is imprisoned for his war crimes, he will be allowed to do interviews. The History Channel will want to document his version of events, much like they have done with various Nazi war criminals.
Bush will be quite happy to give interviews from inside prison, because it will break up the monotony of his life sentence. The interviews from inside prison will have more value to Bush then all the money he made from the “Get Motivated!” seminar in Forth Worth, TX.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:26 pmlocomotivebreath1901 says:
Lots o’ haters be around here.
If anyone’s a “hater” around here, it’s you.
Why am I even bothering responding to you, when you are clearly incapable of understanding what words mean?
Your acerebralism is showing.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pmUncle Fester @ # 37….Had a discussion with a like minded friend once re: Bush & Cheney awaiting their “war crimes” trials(wishful thinking I know). We agreed they should be housed in adjoining cells seperated by a shatterproof glass wall. That way they could look at each other from morning till night and remind themselves just how brilliantly they handled their chance to run OUR country.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:44 pmEvery newly elected House and Senate member would be required to visit and observe them on a monthly basis during their first year in office.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
$3,571 per minute. Typical government management type– underworked and overpaid!
October 27th, 2009 at 1:48 pmHi Mr. Duke.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:48 pmLMAO!
October 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pmHow many shoes were thrown at that bastard?
October 27th, 2009 at 2:05 pmEnquiring minds want to know.
From loco’s sparse and untended blog:
Monday, October 19, 2009
Blog Break Update: Slumming
I’ve been swimming in the sewers of Huffy-poo, Think Progress, and Liberland. So far, I’ve dodged most of the infantile vitriol that is rampant in these political circle jerks, and have remained free from any infection or malady.
One thing is clear, though: these ‘compassionate & open minded’ Lefties are quite the intolerant, hate mongering bigots when the dissent runs counter to their DNC talking points.
Note to self: Re-stock on disinfectant & rubber gloves before descending into the DailyKuss. It’s a dirty job…
PS: donations accepted via PayPal (look right)
___
No hate there.
Oh and he’s begging for donations.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:15 pmtombaker says;
I wouldn’t go see chimpy if they paid me.
Anybody who paid $19.95 to see that POS ought to get $50.00 change.
regular_Joe says:
Me too, I won’t EVER vote for another Repiggie at ANY level.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:17 pmThis is absolute bullshit.
Ronald Reagan made $2 million for a speech he gave in Japan.
Most Presidents get a lot more than $150K for a speech. That’s CHUMP CHANGE for a former POTUS.
ThinkProgress, your propaganda arm is suffering. The REAL story is this: Bush is so f**king unpopular, the stench from his inhuman and illegal term as President so nearby historically, that NOBODY WANTS HIM, and the laws of supply and demand are DEFLATING his price to give a speech.
$50K for a speech by G.H.W. Bush? That must have been for some Moonie or NRA crowd or someone else he’d give a discount to. I harshly disagree with your assessment of the situation here.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:06 pmDaddy-O has a point.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:36 pmBill Clinton, by Nov 1, 2001, had pulled in nearly $8 Million speaking as a former prez, receiving no less than $150k, sometimes $250K.
That’s what happens when people want to hear what you say, not like Mr. Bush, who’s first gig was October.
Supply and demand is right.
GWB first gig, in Canada, didn’t go off so well with protests and all, so I doubt he’ll get a lot of international demand. Clinton’s first gig after office… The Labor Party in UK.
GW is laughing as he sees he can still make complete fools of the American people. Yes after bringing the US to a Recession, allowing thousands of soldiers to die based on lies, an illegal invaion killing/tortureing thousands of innocent people, Satan’s worker George W. Bush is still in charge. More then 2/3’s of Americans are suffering as the World watches the idiot Bush still collecting money from people who are willing to follow Satan all the way to hell. As a Mother can’t feed her children, as a family can’t afford to keep their home the United States is more willing to listen to an idiot who can’t even speak english and even pay him for making a fool of himself. While Law Makers rushed back to pass the bailout for the Banks they seem to have no time for the taxpayers unemployment, yet Republicans and Fox News say it’s Obama/Biden’s fault as few realize it’s not his job it’s the Branches of Govenment. Obama still waiting to sign the extention of unemployment as the GOP laughs and Joe Liberman will stop Americans from getting anything. It’s time Americans take back the United States or lose it.
October 27th, 2009 at 4:57 pmMotivational speakers?
Bush, Powell, Guiliani…. more like a Liars Convention.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:23 pm