Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hey Brother, Can You Spare a Job?

Bush's prospects appear grim in crippled economy

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 17, 2009 4:26 PM CST

(Newser) – President Bush is looking for work in the worst job market in decades. He might call it unemployment, but his critics call it "poetic justice," Daniel Gross writes in Slate. After leaving Washington, Bill Clinton reported income of $90 million—a figure Bush is unlikely to match given the recession and, well, the spite of the nation. "Ex-presidents peddle image, presence, and experience," Gross writes. "In Bush's case, each is tarnished."

Book deals won’t come easy to Bush, who has admitted an inability to reflect on life. "It's hard to know what he could say that would be compelling,” said one publisher. Public speaking gigs may also prove elusive, but he could land work in private equity. If Jimmy Carter taught us anything, it’s that unpopular presidents do get second acts: "We may be too quick to write off Bush's prospects," Gross concludes.

[Images (6)]

[Quotes (3)]

President George W. Bush delivers his farewell address to the nation from the East Room of the White House Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President George W. Bush, delivers his farewell address to the nation, from the East Room of the White House, defending his tenure and arguing that he followed his conscience and always acted in the best... (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President George W. Bush holds his last formal news conference at the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Given recent history, Bush probably expects to profit from ex-presidency. Bill Clinton reported income of more than $90 million from 2000-07. But Bush is very unlikely to earn Clintonian numbers. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 5: U.S. President George W. Bush makes a statement in the White House Rose Garden regarding the presidential election November 5, 2008 in Washington, DC. President Bush congratulated... (Getty Images)

U.S. President George W. Bush gestures during a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 15, 2008. Bush got a firsthand... (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

At the recent gathering of ex-presidents in the Oval Office, Bush couldn't stand far away enough from Carter. That might have been his final strategic mistake. - Daniel Gross, Slate

We may be too quick to write off Bush's prospects. Twenty-eight years ago, another one-time Southern governor, possessed of a deep Christian faith, left office unpopular. - Daniel Gross, Slate

It was a great embarrassment when Jimmy Carter's memoir failed to garner a seven-figure advance. But Carter has since become the Stephen King of politicians—a prolific, highly paid best-selling author. - Daniel Gross, Slate

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

All Living Presidents Will Attend Kennedy's Funeral

(NEWSER) - All four living former presidents will attend Ted Kennedy’s invitation-only funeral, the Boston Herald reports. President Obama will also be there, breaking off his Martha’s Vineyard vacation to deliver a eulogy. Gordon Brown also plans to attend, as will Irish PM Brian Cowen. “Sen. Kennedy is being honored as though he were a former sitting president,” observed one political scientist. More»

NY Times Video Obits Give the Departed 'The Last Word'

Non-Bush ex-president has already made one

(NEWSER) - Obituaries are a newspaper standby, but the New York Times has removed the journalistic middleman with its series of video obits, Editor & Publisher reports. After starting 2 years ago with humorist Art Buchwald’s greeting of “Hi, I’m Art Buchwald and I just died,” the Times has added 30 more to its “Last Word” stockpile. More»

This Picture Is Worth $6K

Leaders traditionally release limited number of pictures

(NEWSER) - When the five current, former, and future occupants of the Oval Office mugged together at the White House last week, one could almost hear the cash registers cha-chinging, reports Politico. All five will sign a limited 250 copies of the photo—with each keeping 50—instantly jacking the value to an estimated $6000 per photo. Works out to a cool $300000 for any chief exec looking for a little pocket money. More»

39, 41, 42, 43, 44 Have Lunch at the White House

Bush wishes Obama success in the future

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama met with a pair of George Bushes, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter today for a photo-op and lunch at the White House, the Chicago Tribune reports. "I want to thank the president-elect for joining the ex-presidents for lunch,'' Bush said, looking to Obama. "And one message that I think we all share is that we want you to succeed.” More»

Do Deciders Age Prematurely?

Stress causes grays and wrinkles, but nobody agrees whether presidents die early

(NEWSER) - Four to eight years as leader of the free world gave George W. plenty of wrinkles and gray hairs—but just what are the presidency’s long-term aging effects? One doctor found that presidents generally have shorter-than-average lifespans, the Boston Globe reports, while another pegs two years for every one spent in the Oval Office. "For eight years in office, they age 16 years,” he argues. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Hey Brother, Can You Spare a Job?