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Bush a Winner as Motivational Speaker

Former president tells crowd he relied on 'the Almighty'

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2009 7:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – George W. Bush commanded a 15,000-strong crowd at a motivational megashow in Dallas last night, flanked by signs reading "Achieve!" and "Motivate!" but not by the pyrotechnics that greeted other speakers—Secret Service said no. Bush told stories of both "great and not so great" days in office, saying setbacks only made him stronger. "All of us are going to be dealt a hand we don't want to play," Bush said. "The question is how to play the hand."

Bush's best moment at the show, which Wayne Slater described in the Dallas Morning News as "the granddaddy of sales seminars, a sort of Babbitt meets the Super Bowl, Tupperware on testosterone," was a story about walking his dog, Barney, in his new neighborhood, armed with a "plastic bag on his hand" to scoop poop. That, he said, is when he realized, "Man, my life has changed!" Bush received $100,000 for the half-hour speech, though participants paid as little as $4.95.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Former Presidents George H. W. Bush, left, and George W. Bush stand on the sidelines before the Houston Texans' NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Former President George W. Bush arrives at a welcome home rally of about 30,000 people, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 in Midland, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Former President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush, right, wave to a crowd of about 30,000 people at a welcome home rally Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 in Midland, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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I don't see how you can be president without relying on the Almighty. Now when I was 21, I wouldn't have told you that, but at age 63, I can tell you that one of the most amazing surprises of the presidency was the fact that people's prayers affected me. -

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Bush a Winner as Motivational Speaker