George Bush’s post-presidency return to Dallas will be pretty cushy

And it's all on our dime.

Our taxpayer dollars will ensure that when President George Bush leaves the White House, his return to Dallas will be pretty comfy. He'll get a Dallas office suite and staffers, Secret Service protection, medical coverage, travel budget, and an annual pension of $196,700.

The office and staff he gets for the rest of his life. But he'll get Secret Service protection for only for 10 years -- the first president not to get it for life.

Posted by T.G.

Collin Gouldin, verified:

wow, i wonder why they didn't give him SS for life. And i wonder if people will still hate him enough to hurt him after 10 years.

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Teresa Gubbins, staff:

the story in the link says that "Congress changed the law in the 1990s so that any president elected after Jan. 1, 1997, and his or her spouse will receive the federal protection for only 10 years."

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Jason Rice, verified:

But the exorbitant speaking gigs will go on forever.

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

guysmith, anonymous:

In view of the various secret inititiatives that he and his cadre put in place over the past eight years, it would be like Bush to have all his "liberry" donations be private, wouldn't it? Maybe the donators are just too embarassed to have their names listed?

If we're lucky, he'll spend most of his time down in Crawford clearing brush, thinking he's a Texas cowboy because he's got boots and a big belt buckle, and not bother the real Texans up in Dallas struggling to deal with the quagmire he and his administration created while in office.

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Jason Rice, verified:

Crawford? I'd much rather this story had legs. - or this

But somehow I fear it's just huge oil money to be made for the retirement. I mean 200 grand doesn't go as far as it used to.

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

lastangelman, anonymous:

Laws are made to be repealed, amended, extended, whatever. If Bush is still around in ten years and feels "threatened", I'm sure someone in Congress will sneak in a rider on some bill extending Bush's Secret Service protection. Then again, the Governor of Texas can extend protection by offering services of the Texas Rangers (not the baseball club).

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

rhia, anonymous:

sigh

He's moving into Preston Hollow here in Dallas. Yes, 'that' Preston Hollow.

That whole "ranch" thing was to make him appear more good ol' boy Texan - just "a regular guy" not some rich kid with connections. He's afraid of horses and only bought the ranch when he thought of running for President. Connecticut born and Midland/Houston reared just doesn't have the same panache as "a cowboy from Crawford".

As far as money, seems his 'little lady' just signed a rather lucrative book deal that should make up for any insufficiencies of income, just in case oil, ahem, Doesn't skyrocket in price again.

Anyone interested in some fine Arizona beach front property?

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Howard Wen, verified:

Any bets on how soon he will sell the Crawford ranch?

I wonder what this city will be like having to deal with his presence, especially if he's not going to be traveling much on speaking gigs (is he going to get any offers anytime soon)? I just don't see him wanting to travel or speak publicly much. (Neither seem to be activities he's ever cared for doing.) So what the hell is he going to do with his time while living in Dallas?

Appropriately enough, he's living in probably the only part of Dallas county which voted for McCain. (Obama handily won Dallas county, by the way.)

4 years, 4 months ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

What do you think?

Find out how to share this comment with Facebook

See more stories in:

President

Similar
Stories