Comments on: Bush Should Return His $200,000 Pension http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/ Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:27:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mrsandyclark http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-23 mrsandyclark Sun, 10 May 2009 01:37:23 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-23 Jonathan, I did vote for Bill twice as well. I don't know why, but when I read that in your comments, my mind wandered right to Hillary. Sorry about that. Sandy Jonathan,

I did vote for Bill twice as well. I don’t know why, but when I read that in your comments, my mind wandered right to Hillary. Sorry about that.

Sandy

]]> By: mrsandyclark http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-22 mrsandyclark Sun, 10 May 2009 01:33:58 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-22 Jonathan, When I said "If I sit around and judge them, I choose to be unhappy" was directed at me, not you, as I have I tendency to do that. I am poor, but have no debt and I was grateful to be able to donate to Hillary's campaign around $1,100 and I did vote for her. I want her on The Supreme Court. I see your point about Bill Clinton donating his pension in these economic times, but it also opens him up to public scrutiny once again. If there is a wrong way to take a good act, there are plenty of people who will do so. I don't know what the limits are that he can donate to the organization he started...there may be none. The symbolism may be lost if it turns into controversy (which he doesn't seem to mind weathering) as it could rub the other "haves" the wrong way. President Obama wants Bill to keep a low profile and the act you speak of may be defying the current president's wishes. You spending time with your son this morning sounds like an excellent way to start your day. I can actually envision it. Personally, I got up and fed my new kitten, Valerie, knowing the mayhem would start when she was done eating. She needs all the attention she can get and loves to play. I forgot to mention that I loved your reference to Ann Richards. Her passing was not just a loss for Texas. She was witty, smart and one-of-a-kind. I'll miss her comments that would come out in good times and bad. Sandy Jonathan,

When I said “If I sit around and judge them, I choose to be unhappy” was directed at me, not you, as I have I tendency to do that. I am poor, but have no debt and I was grateful to be able to donate to Hillary’s campaign around $1,100 and I did vote for her. I want her on The Supreme Court.

I see your point about Bill Clinton donating his pension in these economic times, but it also opens him up to public scrutiny once again. If there is a wrong way to take a good act, there are plenty of people who will do so. I don’t know what the limits are that he can donate to the organization he started…there may be none. The symbolism may be lost if it turns into controversy (which he doesn’t seem to mind weathering) as it could rub the other “haves” the wrong way.

President Obama wants Bill to keep a low profile and the act you speak of may be defying the current president’s wishes.

You spending time with your son this morning sounds like an excellent way to start your day. I can actually envision it. Personally, I got up and fed my new kitten, Valerie, knowing the mayhem would start when she was done eating. She needs all the attention she can get and loves to play.

I forgot to mention that I loved your reference to Ann Richards. Her passing was not just a loss for Texas. She was witty, smart and one-of-a-kind. I’ll miss her comments that would come out in good times and bad.

Sandy

]]> By: Jonathan Curiel http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Jonathan Curiel Sat, 09 May 2009 14:58:07 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-21 Sandy. Thanks for your thoughts. As someone who voted for Clinton twice, and who knows about his foundation work, I know that he reaches out to the world in way that many people (me included) do not. I certainly admire his foundation work. But in this Great Recession, donating his pension to a good cause would carry great symbolism. This is especially true for Bush. As for being unhappy by focusing on the pensions of Bush and Clinton -- I agree with you. I probably would be happier focusing on other things, such as my beautiful almost-eight-year-old son, a fantastic person who is hanging out with me this morning as I reply to these comments. Sandy. Thanks for your thoughts. As someone who voted for Clinton twice, and who knows about his foundation work, I know that he reaches out to the world in way that many people (me included) do not. I certainly admire his foundation work. But in this Great Recession, donating his pension to a good cause would carry great symbolism. This is especially true for Bush. As for being unhappy by focusing on the pensions of Bush and Clinton — I agree with you. I probably would be happier focusing on other things, such as my beautiful almost-eight-year-old son, a fantastic person who is hanging out with me this morning as I reply to these comments.

]]> By: Jonathan Curiel http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Jonathan Curiel Sat, 09 May 2009 14:46:01 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-20 Thanks for your comments. You're right to point out that expenses take up a lot of the ex-presidents' bill to taxpayers. I briefly mention that, but you list numbers that really drive the point home. I agree that the act is a relic of an earlier time in America, and that it needs to be seriously reconsidered. Thanks for your comments. You’re right to point out that expenses take up a lot of the ex-presidents’ bill to taxpayers. I briefly mention that, but you list numbers that really drive the point home. I agree that the act is a relic of an earlier time in America, and that it needs to be seriously reconsidered.

]]> By: Jonathan Curiel http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Jonathan Curiel Sat, 09 May 2009 14:40:18 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-19 Rick. You certainly make some good points -- not the least of which is, "Who decides when a president needs the money?" I'm not advocating a commission, say -- I'm saying that, in the particular case of George W. Bush, it would be the right thing for him to return his pension. Clinton, too. They are millionaires many times over, and will both earn millions this year at a time when millions are losing their jobs. As for things like social security, that's a sacrosanct entitlement. I'm not suggesting that these government programs be touched. Just that rich ex-presidents think twice about their need for pension money. Rick. You certainly make some good points — not the least of which is, “Who decides when a president needs the money?” I’m not advocating a commission, say — I’m saying that, in the particular case of George W. Bush, it would be the right thing for him to return his pension. Clinton, too. They are millionaires many times over, and will both earn millions this year at a time when millions are losing their jobs. As for things like social security, that’s a sacrosanct entitlement. I’m not suggesting that these government programs be touched. Just that rich ex-presidents think twice about their need for pension money.

]]> By: mrsandyclark http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-18 mrsandyclark Sat, 09 May 2009 04:29:17 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-18 Jonathan, Clinton created the William J. Clinton Foundation to promote and address international causes such as treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming. So, it seems comparing him to W. isn't really fair. W. may find a cause later. Legally, they are both entitled to their pensions whether one sits on his ass or not. Both make money speaking and Bill may have to work a little harder to get back the money his wife loaned her campaign as it is now a loss. Although, they may keep their assets separate for all I know. Congress set up pensions for past presidents among other things and what they made/make from the government. How they choose to spend it, is completely up to them. I think Bill Clinton is naturally more of a humanitarian, but that doesn't obligate him to give all his money away. He and Hillary have one daughter and I am sure she will be well provided for when her parents pass. I also believe both her parents will donate a lot of that money as well. It just seems likely as their lives have been built around Public Service. W. I don't have that same confidence in, but it really is none of my business what either does. If I sit around and judge them, I choose to be unhappy. I say just let it go. Sandy Jonathan,

Clinton created the William J. Clinton Foundation to promote and address international causes such as treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming. So, it seems comparing him to W. isn’t really fair. W. may find a cause later. Legally, they are both entitled to their pensions whether one sits on his ass or not.

Both make money speaking and Bill may have to work a little harder to get back the money his wife loaned her campaign as it is now a loss. Although, they may keep their assets separate for all I know. Congress set up pensions for past presidents among other things and what they made/make from the government.

How they choose to spend it, is completely up to them. I think Bill Clinton is naturally more of a humanitarian, but that doesn’t obligate him to give all his money away. He and Hillary have one daughter and I am sure she will be well provided for when her parents pass. I also believe both her parents will donate a lot of that money as well. It just seems likely as their lives have been built around Public Service.

W. I don’t have that same confidence in, but it really is none of my business what either does. If I sit around and judge them, I choose to be unhappy. I say just let it go.

Sandy

]]> By: scurvy http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-17 scurvy Sat, 09 May 2009 00:17:06 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-17 I can agree with the pensions. Not matter how poor a president, they still did a job and the actual pension probably should belong to them. What I think we need to stop paying for is all the other stuff they get. The Former Presidents Act says that they get office space, postage, staff etc. For example Mr. Clinton is costing the somewhere a little over $1,000,000 a year. The elder Bush about $750,000 a year. Carter somewhere around $500,000 a year. I think it is about time the Former Presidents Act get reworked. After all it is a relic of the 1950's. I can agree with the pensions. Not matter how poor a president, they still did a job and the actual pension probably should belong to them. What I think we need to stop paying for is all the other stuff they get.

The Former Presidents Act says that they get office space, postage, staff etc. For example Mr. Clinton is costing the somewhere a little over $1,000,000 a year. The elder Bush about $750,000 a year. Carter somewhere around $500,000 a year.

I think it is about time the Former Presidents Act get reworked. After all it is a relic of the 1950’s.

]]> By: mixgasdivr http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-16 mixgasdivr Fri, 08 May 2009 23:31:20 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-16 No, he shouldn't. No, he shouldn’t.

]]> By: Rick Ungar http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2009/05/08/bush-should-return-his-200000-pension/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Rick Ungar Fri, 08 May 2009 19:54:41 +0000 http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/?p=343#comment-15 This is certainly one way to look at it. But if we do so, then should we not also say that people who don't need social security should give it up as should people who don't need government provided Medicare? What you are suggesting is that all government entitlements (a pension is, after all, an entitlement) should be converted to government insurance. If you need the money you get it. If you don't need the money, you don't. I'm curious who gets to decide when a president needs the money and when he or she does not? I'm not necessarily against this approach, I'm just saying that there is more to it than not giving pensions to presidents who we might think are too rich. This is certainly one way to look at it. But if we do so, then should we not also say that people who don’t need social security should give it up as should people who don’t need government provided Medicare? What you are suggesting is that all government entitlements (a pension is, after all, an entitlement) should be converted to government insurance. If you need the money you get it. If you don’t need the money, you don’t. I’m curious who gets to decide when a president needs the money and when he or she does not?
I’m not necessarily against this approach, I’m just saying that there is more to it than not giving pensions to presidents who we might think are too rich.

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