A new (and rather unflattering) book based on interviews with President Bush asks this question
He said he could make “ridiculous” money out on the lecture circuit: “I don’t know what my dad gets. But it’s more than fifty, seventy-five” thousand dollars a speech.
Would anyone pay that much money to listen to GWBush? Seriously? How big a market will it be for him?
There will certainly be people willing to pay big bucks. I think it will be more along the lines of paying to be in the room with him, rather than paying to hear him speak, since he is such a poor public speaker.
I think it will be more along the lines of paying to be in the room with him, rather than paying to hear him speak, since he is such a poor public speaker.
Not to mention poverty of content. This hasn’t been a particularly dynamic or fruitful presidency, and most people already understand that the War On Terror is hard work, waged by good folk committed to spreading democracy, etc. His audience will be limited to the same choir he’s been singing to for the past seven years.
I think you misunderestimate how popular Bush is, at least with certain segments of the population. Much like Bill Clinton, he will sell out whatever venue he comes to speak at.
I would imagine he is funny as hell and pretty interesting once he gets away from the presidential speech mode. He just doesn’t do very well at that.
I’d pay $100 to hear him speak. Bush RAWKS!
I think that the Miss Teen that just gave the world a Bush like geography lesson, is in huge demand right now. She’s about to break the youtube record, and every show on the planet wants her. SO I hate to say it, but Bush does have an audience out there, she just proved it…
Agreed. Some of those clips on u-tube are great. He’s seems liked he rather have fun then answer foreign policy questions. Today’s paper - GW says “I do tears”
I can’t stand the guy. I think he’s greedy, dishonest, and completely incompetent.
Having said that, there ARE pleanty of people who still love the guy for representing them (whether its the warmongers or the evangelicals…or both!). He sounds like an idiot when he gives public speeches, but go back and look at the 2000 primaries and presidential debates. There is a reason why he “won” (or at least close enough to sneak in). He is actually has a very warm, funny, likeable personality if you can get past all the substance that makes him who he really is.
Ken,
People pay to have Michael Jackson at their parties and crap.
Bernie
I would imagine he is funny as hell and pretty interesting once he gets away from the presidential speech mode. He just doesn’t do very well at that.
I think you are right. He is never at his best when he is “giving a speech.” He seems to be at his best when he is off the cuff and talking about something he is passionate about. Of course, most people are. From things that I have read about him, many people (world leaderes and such) have dreaded meeting him and talking with him, and he has charmed alot of them once he gets them one on one and informal.
Bernie
I can’t stand the guy. I think he’s greedy, dishonest, and completely incompetent.
Like duh, what other personality type wants to be president? 
He should start a scrub clearing business.
Bush is relatively young and in good health. If Nixon can be rehabilitated so can Bush. We have a tremendous capacity to forgive and forget in this country and although Bush may have to recede into the background for few years he has a loyal following that will always turn out for him.
I can handle greedy and dishonest. ; ^ )
He seems to be at his best when he is off the cuff… he has charmed alot of them once he gets them one on one and informal.
He definitely knows how to charm. It usually comes through when he’s not attending to presidential business, but when he’s cracking jokes - usually at his own expense. The self-deprecating humor is top-notch; it’s about the only time you see him with his guard down, and not appearing arrogant, defensive or condescending (even when it’s not intended - his delivery is just a mess). In those instances, he seems very likable. (I’ve never met anyone who could laugh at themselves that I didn’t like. It’s an endearing quality.)
If he wasn’t such a disaster of a president, I’d probably enjoy his company. If he were my barber, pest-control guy or insurance agent - pretty much anything outside of politics or management - I’m sure we’d get on famously.
Yes, there is still 28% of the population who believe GW has singlehandedly slayed the evildoer turrists while simultaneously thwarting the godless liberals and Hollywood gays. He will probably do well on the state fair circuit maybe opening for some C-list country music star, Rick Springfield, or Huey Lewis.
But, my guess is that he and his family will make a beeline to the new ranch they recently bought down in Paraguay. I wonder if Paraguay has an extradition treaty with the US?