5 responses to “Being an ex-Prez is a Good Gig”

1. 

   Doug Mataconis

   May 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm

   I hearby announce my candidacy for former President of the United States.
2. 

   Dodd

   May 22, 2011 at 3:47 pm

   That’s about the same pace as Clinton’s maintained since he left office: $65M in 9 years is just over $7M/yr. But Clinton’s speaking fees are currently double Bush’s.

   I don’t see this problem, myself, whoever’s raking it in. Whatever the market will bear, as they say.
3. 

   Southern Hoosier

   May 22, 2011 at 4:07 pm

   Let me guess how this works. The president does a favor for a special interest group. In order to repay him “legally,” they later on invite the ex-president to speak and pay him some big bucks for a short talk. Right?
4. 

   Jay Tea

   May 22, 2011 at 6:37 pm

   I think I prefer Carter and Bush making big bucks on the speaker circuit over Carter turning into an international busybody and pain in the ass.

   J.
5. 

   Trumwill

   May 22, 2011 at 8:30 pm

   About every six months I get a letter from George W. Bush because he is under the impression that I would like to donate to help him build his library. My thought was, “Dude, you’re the millionaire. We have negative net wealth. What are you bugging me for?” Upon learning about his post-presidential earnings, I feel the need to add some exclamation points.

   Also, I wonder what the formula is for someone that wants the post-presidency cash but doesn’t want to be president. If you cut out early, I don’t think you draw the huge speaking fees. So maybe you get elected and then, mid-term, govern in a way that will insure that you won’t be re-elected but that will still command respect upon departure. Take a bunch of controversial positions that are really popular with a segment of the population (drug legalization, staunch anti-abortioneering, something that appeals strongly to groups that will want to pay you a lot of money to hear you speak, but will hurt your re-election chances).

   Hmmm. Maybe there’s a novel in all of this.