I have to ask this - but has George W. Bush been the least productive ex-president?

[LynneSin]

I know soon after Jimmy Carter was voted out of the office, he took a few months off then he started The Carter Center. Carter has been one of the most active of the Ex-Presidents not letting forced retirement to dampen his spirit or keep him out of the limelight.

Clinton has also been very active since retirement starting the Clinton Foundation. In fact the few times I've seen GWB in an active public role it was usually something he did with Clinton, like some of the fundraisers for crises around the globe.

I know Reagan did nothing in retirement because he was so old and probably in advanced Alzheimer's. And I don't think Bush Sr did a whole lot post presidency except a few projects again with Clinton.

But as for GWB - it's like the last 6 years he has vanished from existence. He has not helped with any republican campaigns or even speak at the 2012 GOP Convention (Clinton has been to all the conventions).

Life after a presidency is time to truly build ones legacy and it seems that Bush Jr's legacy is one of permanent retirement and vanishing from existence.

[NCTraveler]

1. Pretty sure Bush feels he is living the American Dream.

Pretty sick.

[Tikki]

6. Didn't he say the presidency was awesome and that he was famous..

I am pretty sure those sentiments are enough for him to live his life out and sleep well at night.



Tikki

[NCTraveler]

12. Yeah. Guy is sitting at home painting crap and enjoying his retirement.

I know so many people of retirement age who would like to paint shit and relax at home. Some can't do it in part because of that piece of shit.

[Tikki]

15. If we added up all the money lost in retirement monies by our DUers during the boosh years...

I am sure it would be shocking. We lost around $40,000 plus how much more in wages that didn't keep up.

The Tikkis

[Jamaal510]

28. When I first heard that quote,

it sounded like something I'd expect to hear on a Beavis and Butthead episode!

[randome]

2. Least useful on the job. Least productive off the job.

Another lazy conservative.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[sakabatou]

3. I have no idea

[Boom Sound 416]

4. He does a charity bike ride with wounded warriors

But I think ex-presidents do more when they are trying to change their legacy.

Even if bush wanted to change his, it ain't changin'

[1000words]

5. Because of health reasons, LBJ did virtually nothing at all.

Nixon ... well, it's best he disappeared.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Don't really care

He did enough damage while he was POTUS. I don't care if I never hear about/from him ever again. The only "decent" thing he has done since leaving office is not get out and slam President Obama like Cheney has (though the corporate media would hang on his every word if he did say anything).

[Jamaal510]

29. I've heard some pundits

" The only "decent" thing he has done since leaving office is not get out and slam President Obama like Cheney has (though the corporate media would hang on his every word if he did say anything)."

say that it's typical for former Presidents to hold back on attacking their successors, though. For example, Clinton never really went after Bush ll, and Jimmy Carter never went after Reagan and Bush l much at all.

[tridim]

8. He's a lazy, lazy man... Pre, mid and post presidency.

He is exactly like the millions of lazy idiots who voted for him.

[Initech]

26. 5 lazy idiots that voted for him, actually.

[Jamaal510]

30. +1

[Donald Ian Rankin]

9. Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, Roosevelt, Kennedy all did less. N.T.

[pipi_k]

13. Hah

got me for a few seconds, there...

[unblock]

14. pushing up daisies is more productive than painting them poorly.

[pipi_k]

10. Not sure

he did anything worthwhile even before his *residency, either, but yeah...afterward, it's pretty much business as usual for him, isn't it...


Unless, of course, he's doing all kinds of neat shit in secret because he's such a fine human being that he wouldn't want anyone to know what a fine human being he is....

.....

.....

.....

Nahhhhh.....

I don't believe that either.

[yeoman6987]

36. His work in Africa was ok

He didn't do much as President, but he did send additional money for expanded drugs to Africa. That is about it though while President.

[pscot]

11. Since Calvin Coolidge

Nixon was productive but evil. He created a bimbo in his own image; Monica Crowley.

[Johonny]

42. +1

[Ilsa]

16. Isn't he doing some shit with his Lie-berry? nt

[dionysus]

17. jesus, don't give him any ideas! for once he's not hurting anybody, let him drink\paint in peace!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. +1,000,000

[sinkingfeeling]

18. I'm glad he's staying out of the way and doing awful paintings.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. especially these

[3catwoman3]

19. "But as for GWB - it's like the last 6 years he has vanished from existence."

Good. Too bad that couldn't have happened 14 years ago, before he got the chance to spend 8 years screwing up the country.

I feel ill anytime I see that smirking face.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. Did Ford do anything besides sit on corporate boards and play golf?

[sorefeet]

21. He is ashamed of his legacy

and he hides in fear. It is going to take a few more years but he will be indicted for war crimes. Along with Cheney and the gang. Didn't he buy some property in a country that won't extradite or something. Already got his hide out and lots of money.

[rexcat]

22. Regan...

since his Alzheimer's Disease had such a detrimental affect on him. In fact one of the most corrupt administrations for the same reason since he was probably not competent prior to being shot and after the shooting his operatives found it difficult to hide his (Regan's) mental deficits. He had very few public appearances after his "recovery."

on edit: Bush 2 a close second.

[Samantha]

23. He was only at the White House about one-third of the time

He spent the balance at Camp David or his "ranch."

I am not sure what your definition of "productive" is in this context. George W. Bush* did a lot of harm (and that is an understatement) in the little time he was actually on the job. So I am thinking that might make him the most counter-productive person to ever occupy the White House, but that is just too kind of a way to describe the hideous acts he authorized.

Sam

[TransitJohn]

24. He had to go underground, as it were

for a few years, he had no choice. His party didn't want him around, and neither did anyone in the USA, nor the world at large. He might never leave the country again.

[fishwax]

25. pretty consistent with his tenure as president, too

Lotta vacation. At least now he's not starting unnecessary wars, though. :/

[Recursion]

27. Malaria and AIDS fundraising

It's not flashy, but it's better than nothing.

[davidpdx]

33. True

and the wounded warrior run someone mentioned up thread. Supporting AIDS research was one of the very few things he did right.

I agree with the OP, compared to Carter and Clinton, Bush senior and junior have done very little. I would bet you anything right out of the gate after he retires (with a couple months of rest), President Obama will be giving old Jimmy and Bill a run for their money.

[Recursion]

34. Definitely agree there, and it will be totally un-sexy, and whatever Chicago needs (nt)

[LynneSin]

39. Which is good because it keeps his visibility low profile in the states

That's all good stuff that he is doing but it's over in Africa, a place where he can't remind American voters how he fucked up this country.

[npk]

31. Actually GWB keeps quite busy.

Between his finger painting, cartoons in the morning, and afternoons of golfing, there is barely enough time for him to get fall down drunk and fall into the neighborhood fountain.

[UTUSN]

32. as opposed to the rest of his life? nt

[SoCalDem]

35. Ford golfed..Nixon was shamed into exile

Eisenhower golfed

It seems to me that the Democratic presidents (if health permits) tend to be more productive..

No recent president can touch Carter's dedication to service though..


Johnson & Reagan had health issues ..

Most probably concentrate on writing their memoirs.

[Marrah_G]

40. I prefer he stay at home and paint.

[AngryAmish]

41. Andrew Jackson hasn't done shit in like forever.