Bush first ex-prez to face limit on Secret Service protection
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President George W. Bush’s “after-life,” as Laura Bush calls the post-presidency, is shaping up to be pretty comfortable, with a Dallas office, staffers, Secret Service protection, a travel budget, medical coverage and a $196,700 annual pension, all at taxpayers’ expense.
However, Bush will be the first president not to benefit from one former lifetime benefit: Secret Service protection.
“He’ll be the first one to receive it for 10 years,” said Malcolm Wiley, Secret Service spokesman. 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.
The Bushes will move to their new $2 million, 8,500-square-foot Dallas home — not paid for by taxpayers — on Jan. 20, and there Bush will be close to his future presidential library at Southern Methodist University.
“We’re working on a conceptual design for the building,” said Mark Langdale, president of the George W. Bush Foundation. The president will help develop the $300 million structure, which will include a library, museum and policy institute.
Fundraising is just beginning, Langdale said. Once the project is finished in 2013, the National Archives and Records Administration will take over the operation of the library and museum, at federal expense. Construction will be paid for with private funds, and Bush is expected to be involved in organizing the fundraising drive.
“He is enthusiastic about spending a lot of his time and effort working on the programs of the institute,” Langdale said.
Bush will maintain an office nearby in space acquired by the General Services Administration, which, under the Former Presidents Act, will pay for the office suite and staff to assist him for the rest of his life.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
I will bet then when it comes time for HO-bama to be an EX by that time Congress will change it back just for him so he will have lifetime protection, and not retroactive to Bush 43, of course.
So after 10 years treasonous Carter and Bill will still be protected and W will be left undefended….revolting!
The job of President of the US is the most dangerous job in the country – period. With what has happened the last 8 years, Bush will have a target on his back until the day he draws his last breath. Congress should recognize this and reinstate the obvious.
Of course they’ll change it back.
Obamanation will need all the secret service care because everyone will HATE him. This country will be in such dire straights when he’s done with it, we’ll never recover. And the media will blame it all on that damn Bush family. They don’t know what they’re doing you know. Yeah, look at what congress did to him and his dad.
I hope to God that in 2010, the Republicans take back the house and the senate and leave Obamanation as a lame duck. Got to get those idiots out of there!
Another good reason, Lynn, for all these inferior Dems to just get seated and prove without a doubt that it’s time for the Repubs to take it back in 2010. They’ve already been through their housecleaning, although, to be honest, I wish they’d all go.
BTW, I don’t know why, but my 86 year old MIL got sent a Christmas picture of the Bushes’ one year and she has it up in her living room.
I think the Paul Wellstone funeral was the turning point of utter disgust with the disrespectful Democrats for me, this is nothing but another gouge for Bush in their derangement syndrome.
In their sense of fairness that 10 year limit should be applied retroactively to all past presidents. before you all squall, remember congress has no qualms of instating retroactive income taxes upon you, even if it occurs on December 31.
I would think any ex-president would be able to afford his own bodyguards. Personally I would hire Blackwater for my protection. Those guy have never lost a client and are the best at what they do.
Slick Willie and Hillary had their Hollyweirdo elites purchase their FIRST home in 2001 at Chapaqua, NY… Where BUDDY succumbed to a conservative snow plow driver?
– There goes the neighborhood 2001
PS: The Christmas photo you showed is one of our favorites. Can’t wait to see the Ramadan / Kwanzaa trees in the WH Blue Room in 11 more months!
Carter will be dead in less than ten years. Obama I hope will still be alive.
For those who have never studied Islam, the first commandment of Islam is to kill all who convert from Islam. With his Muslim father Obama pass Jerry Ford as the most hunted President.
Very true about jihadist radicals’ thinking about “infidels” and Islamics who reject the faith.
But, they also have this code of conduct where they can say anything they want, lie, agree with the infidels, in order to achieve the ultimate goal (anihilate the enemy). They are pretty stupid. Maybe they think that’s what he’s doing. They all fer sure wanted him as President. Either they think he’s on their side pretending to be a Christian, or they just want the guy out in front where they have a better shot at him.
Who knows, those people are so wacked out. Another possibility is all the stupid sheat BO has said makes him look weak to them so they want him as a weak President.
If anything were to happen to George or Laura Bush after the ten years, Barack and Michelle Obama as well as every other future first family would have a bullseye on them with or without Secret Service protection.