Poor guy…..I actually like him now!

I don't belive it. I would like to know his oil net holdings that would be news.

One poster said that Dems supposedly care about people. It's all talk my friend, all talk. When the rubber hits the road, when their wallet is involved, you won't see them around.

Take Laura's dress out of the Smithsonian, sell it and give the money to soldiers' families. The worst president in history should not have mementoes in D.C.

You're living in the White House where I think you have an allowance. What else do you have to do with your money? I'm not impressed.

???????????????????????????????????????

So, this won't put food on my table.

I am not thrilled with having Bush as a president but it is good to see that he donated to charity. It's probably the most decent thing I've heard about him.

As for all the comments about Obama giving 1% everyone need to keep in mind Bush comes from a family with money and he has 2 adult daughters. The Obamas both hardworking, paid for their own college educations (Harvard, hum that's a costly tuition ya think?) and on top of it they have 2 minor children and we all know how expensive children could be. I'm sure they would love to give more provided that he's always been invovled in the community but let's get real, prior to this year their combined income was like 300K? This is the first year that their income was near 1 mill and like they said they paid off their student loans. So before you judge put yourself in their shoes, how easy would it be fore you to give 20% of your income to charity when you have a HUGE college loan to repay hanging over your head???

What a profitable business running the USA into the ground is.

no conflict of interest for a man who has cut income and capital gains. Don't we all have blind trusts

He's going to make his money on speeches about Iraq, after he leaves office.

What about the under the table income from "Big Oil"?

here's how i think they should pay the president.

1. deny access to any funds earned prior to election.
2. only "pay" the equivalent of middle income for washington d.c. (they get all kinds of services for free so this woudn't be too unbearable).
3. put the remainder of the "salary" into a trust fund that's retrievable when they leave office.

maybe if the president actually had to live paycheck to paycheck like so many americans, their decision-making processes will be a little different.

To those who said that the Clintons made $10 mil last year, you've got reading comprehension issues — that was over the course of 8 years.

I will take the time to leave a comment…………Hog wash to the Bushesssssssss and the Clintonsssssssss. People are starving who made the good USA with their sweath and hard work and you thieves are taking it away from us,,,,,,, What a sad world we live in. we are no better off in the United States than what's going on in the Congo….

That means he made 1/10th what Bill and Hillary made.

Where are all those "oil profits" the liberals talk about?

who cares,hes a waste of air

White House wants to know if you think they're spending your money?

Marc,
Obama made WAY more than Bush and gave less to charity. I wouldn't be pointing to him as the answer. Just look at Obama's and Hillary's earnings- Yup, the Dems are the party of poor alright!

I love the ridiculous accusations people make with no logical reason behind it!

Bush has done more for Africa than all of the empty promises of Clinton who never provided any relief for malaria, AIDS, HIV, victims. The Bush admininstration has saved millions of African lives, but what did Bill do about the slaughter of TutSee by Hutus in Africa…….Talk about the killing fields. At least 800,000 hacked to death and millions maimed. I guess his wife was keeping him too busy dodging snipers in Bosnia. The epitome of liars……

ART in TX

Unfornately your argument holds no water. I have three small kids, make CONSIDERABLY less than Obama, and pay an honest 10% of my gross income to charity.
The slime has no excuse!

This demonstrates the lack of understanding that liberals puke out. Punish and deride anyone who has applied themselves and improved their lot and become successful in America. What do they want, people who can't take their skills and improve themselves and become successfull? Their promise is only to "steal" from those who earn and give it to those who merely wait for the government to "give" them their due. The last time I heard that was from Karl Marx, Hillary Clinton, and Barack (racist) Obama. Take from those who have and give it to those who have not…..that is NOT AMERICAN in my opinion. It is socialism at best and really communism (non of which has succeeded in the world……why does everyone want to come to America……They aren't rushing off to Zimbabwa or Mexico or Venezula, or any of the other rotting civil systems…..We aren't far behind if we don't wake up……The whole thing about Halliburton is a farce, where is any proof? Never has any been provided. Cheney even gave up MILLIONS voluntarily in retirement benefits to serve in government. I don't believe the venom I hear from the wastrels and lazy that we see making empty and suspisious claims, never without proof…..they are like the Nazi's who said the bigger the lie, the easier to believe…….

Nice to see he donated almost 25% to charity while the Clintons donated only 10%, and to their own foundation no less.

BUS IS IGNORANT AND INSULENT AND PRIDFUL. HE CAN NOT ADMIT WHEN HE HAS MADE A MISTAKE. ONLY COVERS IT WITH MORE!!

"earned" …. EARNED ????

Hopefully, no college or institution will pay speech fees to that fool once we send his butt back to TX.

Sooo with the money he got, I will be happy to get him a ONE-WAY ticket MARS.

If 20-25% of your salary were the same as 20-25% of Geoge Bush's, you could afford to give that much away because you'd still have a nice $500,000.00 or so to sit on, which most people don't even make before taxes.

Who cares, tell them to just gitty up, gitty up on back to Texas so that this country can start to recover from the mess he is leaving us in.

Funny funny an Oil Millianaire, and a silver spoon baby. Not even beleivable let the IRS have a go it.

The Clinton’s should really be giving away even more since they do not pay the mortgage on their house… WE do. They build a home on their land for the secret service and bill them (us) the exact amount as their mortgage payment. Why are you folks defending them? Lies, lies and more lies from these 2.

As for George W; I still believe greatly that history will paint the past decade or so in a much different way than most would think. As for all this warmonger business… enough already. Do not think for a second that we know even 10% of what is really going on in the world beyond our own front door.

Every cent he makes when he leaves office should be given to the families of dead Iraqis

Personally, I could care less what Bush or Cheney earns now or in their future. I'll just be happy when they are gone.

Bush paid that much in taxes and the Clintons only paid 35 million out of 110 million. Hmmmmmmmmmm. The Clintons donated money into an organization that is controlled by guess who, the Clintons. Where is Obama when you need him.

How much did the Cheneys give to charity?

Oh! He got back my area code plus three zeros. That's great!

Nice gig if you can get it.

Thanks GW for being a stand up guy and giving to charity. I make about $50,000 ang give about 15%. I wish I could give more. You are a good example of giving to others and not your own charity.

I don't have a clue why Bush did this. He's not running for office, and at this point in his administration, after all the secrecy and nonsense, he's releasing his tax returns? Who cares? I'd much prefer to see where all the money is going when it's being spent on Iraq (no, not the carefully-crafted report, the ACTUAL destinations). I will be so happy when this man becomes Crawford's problem again. On a happier note, the next president will be better. We can't get any worse.

Cheney should have to donate everything he has made on increases in Haliburton stock to charity. (That includes stock he hasn't sold yet) Doesn't seem right to lie us into a war and then profit from it by insisting they be awarded no bid contracts. Talk about a conflict of interest. No Corporation would allow that kind of conflict of interest. IT'S NOT RIGHT! No way, No how!

VP Cheney 'earned' 3.5 times what Pres Bush 'earned'. Cheney paid almost 24% of his income to taxes and Pres Bush paid 30% of his income to taxes. How much do taxpayers provide in 'support' to both of these men and their families? ..living accommodations, travel, expenses like food, health care and all the things we taxpayers have to pay out of our pocket. The money these men earn can be spent completely on discretionary items as all their necessary expenses are footed by us. Don't forget they will be getting lifetime defined benefit pensions beginning in 2009; no need to worry about defined contribution plans which might run out.

simon April 11th, 2008 2:47 pm ET

The Clintons donated 10%, the Bushes donated 20%; however, the Obamas only donated 1%. Guess all those words Obama says about "Change" is change he wouldn't give to charity.

Let me break it down for you. The Clintons and Bushes have way more money than tey are letting be known. Plus, they don't have two small children to care for. I love how folks try to judge an Obama they don't even know while they defend corruption at every turn.

If Clinton or McBush get in the white house, this country deserves what it gets.

That meanse, the AICPA and SEC may need to revise their professional Accounting ethical standards accordingly.

I am just curious!

If Clinton or Mcain is president, we will miss Bush. I am from Texas, I hate what he has done to the America and to the world, but you gotta love him though. We will miss him if Clinton becomes president. Just watch.

Obama O8

And how is this news, how much is stolen, how much is deferred to be taken off shore. i.e. WHO CARES

Wait a minute….. the President made LESS than his VP? Maybe I ought to get into politics.

Cheney is only paying like 23% income tax. He is the vice-president of the United States. He should not be putting his money in tax shelters and trying to avoid paying for the mess that their administration is forcing us to pay for. The man is a criminal.

I wouldn't trust this as far as I could throw Bush

I guess answering the phone at 3:00 am in the morning has it executive perks…….I wonder if my tax liability of $887 contributed to his salary? You know what they say, "one man's loss is another man's gain."

let see how much he and his number 2 make after they leave office no one will ever see that although good on them for there charity! At least laura has done some good for the country more than her husband I would be willing to bet those charitable donations were her idea as well!

i wonder if he will be in the cheese line with the rest of the unemployed when he is out of office

Not bad for a loser that has never held a real job!

My big question is, how have the president and vice-president made way, way more money than their annual salary this past year? Your telling me their taxable income came straight from their salaries plus investment dividends? Don't give us a number and then leave out the source. Come on CNN, do some investigating.

Well said Uncle Sam… so many people, like Sam from Menlo Park, suffer from Bush Derangement Syndrome in this country (and need serious medication!). They take every opportunity to bash the president, calling him a Nazi, war criminal, racist, idiot, but they REFUSE to give him any credit when something good about him comes to light. This man gave 20% of his income to charity…. how many Democrats can say that? I'm guessing very few.

Ironic how so few of the typical hateful liberals are commenting on this article, isn't it? Usually you see 200+ comments when the name "Bush" comes up!

Vice President Cheney and his wife earned $2,528,068, the White House said.

President and Mrs. George W. Bush reported taxable income of $719, 274.

WOW. Vice President makes more then the president. mmmmm…

4 more years???

How come bush's tax is about 33% of his income and cheney's is only 25% of his even though he made much more!!! Something doesn't add up.

Cheney received a $20 MIL deferred "severance" package from Halliburton.

Wonder what Bush' cut or interest on that might be?

For the job that he has been doing managing the country he should have been fired a long time ago. He should have been making $0 and be begging like a bum on the street .

Nobody cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are just happy the stupid S.O.B. is leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the guy who won the election because he seemed to be the one most voters could see themselves having a beer with. He better be the one buying the rounds, for several nights, for everyine in the bar! You stupid morons who voted for him, shame on you…he left without money to fill your tank!!!

what is great about the U.S with its president earning like an average American who pick up three simultaneous factory jobs.

Don't complain about gas prices, stop buying gas powerd cars lol thats what I did and I spent 95% less money this year than last year on transportation.

Dick Cheney sure did make a lot of money. He should be investigate, because he has blood on his hands with the young men & women whom died for his OIL cause.

Well now there is money poorly spent and from where I sit, not earned. Ordinary people have a difficult time getting a justified wage for the actual work they do. President Bush on the other hand gets an unjustified wage for the work he didn't do. Go Figure?

Oh well, nice they donated some to Churches and Charities but wouldn't it have been better if they had donated those monies to the Morgage Crisis and the needy families in America? Seems that would be only fair given President Bush's Iraq war is taking all the surplus that could be used to benefit programs that might aid American Tax Payers. But then as he says, He's The Decider!

the only question i have is how is the vice pres and his wife making more money than the pres and his wife???????????

That's nothing…Wait until he gets out of the White House. He has set himself up to make 3 times what Bill Clinton have made.

how did VP Cheney make more money than the President?

The real news is Cheney's Halliburton profits. $2.6 million?!?!

Has anybody seen anymore about he lawsuit Mr. Sinclair filed agains Obama this month?

You people seem to be a bit blinded. Their "income" was only $700k this year. That does not mean that is their net worth. You don't own the Texas Rangers without being a millionaire.

Bush and Cheney must think that we are STUPID. Show us you taxes after you leave office. Their great great great great grand kids will be set for life.

Waiting on John McCain and his $100 Million heirress.

Do you people really think this is all the money Bush has? Dont be naive.

CNN posted last week how much the Clintons had given to charity. Unfortunatly 90% of what they gave went to a Clinton charity and not to anybody else.

It must be nice to be able to get a tax deduction for giving to yourself.

It seems anything is newsworthy today…

This is a sham!
No income from oil deals? and a host of other unknown deals?
Well, the idea of having an honest politician is simply utopian.
I rest my case.

I'm glad to see Bush donated so much to charity. His net wealth is so high that that's a drop in the bucket.

I wonder now how Bill & Hillary managed to get all that fortune…since, Bush appears not to do well, even as a president—I can only image, what Billary will make once presidents, unless they have find a way to boost their checks

Common folksy man , arse.

I meant to say charity, taxes were more like 30%…

What's great is that he gave 23% of his money away in taxes. That is honorable no matter how you feel about his policies.

Are any of you liberals willing to donate between 20 and 25 % of your income to charity?

Didn't think so. You liberal-socialist-fascists are so hypocritical it makes me sick.

I bet the $165,000 given to charity was used more efficiently than the $200,000 + that was given in federal taxes. But yeah, lets tax the rich more so we can give that money to poor people. I believe thats redistribution of wealth, commonly known as COMMUNISM. I, for one, am no commie.

The presidential tax return is released every year.

It's just that you people don't pay attention except in an election year.

Even the Clinton's released their tax returns every year they were in the White House.

You're the same bunch that didn't know there was an electoral college until 2000.

I think it is good that he has been so generous with charity, but it won't change his fate of eternity in hell.

I guess he doesn't have to report monies he made from Halliburton?

And just what is the point of all of this?? I don't get it….

Is anyone else concerned that the VP made $2.5 million last year? Cheney can put our country into a recession, shoot his friends, and make $2.5 million, and nobody in this country wants to stand up and challenge that. The citizens of this country have lost their control, and their minds.

Little George is a decent man!

I could not possibly care less about any of these individual's tax returns!

Bush cannot write a book because he's dumb, please!!!!

Once again, nobody cares.

looks like Bush is poorer than Clintons + Bush aint got Speech skills.. that will make it worse!

..they are coming tumbling, lol …

Way to go Georgie, way to go! Let`s hope the Clintons will be as transparent in explaining how they made their lobbyist money.

It's foolish to actually believe these numbers reflect the reality of their situations. An administration who has catered so willingly to corporate America, as well as personal acquaintances (see Haliburton) has certainly pocketed exponentially more than their tax returns indicate.

The charitable contributions are impressive, and to decent causes, especially Teach for America. From this, the Bushes look like very decent people.

******************CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRATS***********************

OKAY, STARTING TODAY, I AM CHALLENGING EVERY OBAMA SUPPORTER, AND HILLARY SUPPORTER TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATE (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM, BUT JUST SAY SOMETHING NICE) AND FOLLOW IT BY SAYING 3 NICE THINGS ABOUT YOUR CANDIDATE, AND WHY WE SHOULD VOTE FOR THEM….(POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING)

LET'S TURN THIS WAR WE HAVE STARTED ON EACHOTHER IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INTO POSITIVITY!!!

I ENCOURGAE EVERYONE WHO THINKS IT WILL BE A DETRIMENT FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO WIN TO COPY THIS POST, AND PASTE IT ON EVERY BLOG YOU WRITE ON

LET'S GO DEMOCRATS!!! LET'S GO AMERICA!!!!!

*******************CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRATS**********************

Simon… ….

…………….Before commenting on comments I think you should learn to count. Takes you a long way.

if 200,000 is 1% then Obama's total value is 20,000,000. I dont think he earned 19,000,000 in the last week.

Go..get a life.

Who really cares.

Does anyone believe, that someone would pay to listen to ex-president W. Bush, the same way they paid to listen to B. Clinton?

I have difficulty believing that someone would… Maybe a comedy skit…

Jack; INTERESTING! Now, to make our lives more serene…if the news-media can only show one last photo….one of the "backs-of-the-heads" of that whole sorry group as they ride out of our lives for…..I HOPE!….the last time!

Worry-not about your "legacy," though……the lot of them can forever be remembered as a BAD EXAMPLE! The worst I have noted in my life-time!

Chuck OH

I like to see his tax return for the coming three years 2008 to 2010. I bet you it will be in millions if not in trillions.

I honestly wouldn't expect to have seen him make any more than that. He can't go out and give speeches (not that he'd be able to) and get money. He's hasn't written a book yet (though I don't know if he can). He hasn't lobbied for foreign governments. He's pretty much bound to make just what his salary and his stocks would give him.

Give me a break, who is this guy trying to fool, how about the share he got for oil profit from all the oil companies.

?????? No oil money, how is that possible????

plus the unreported income kept in Saudia Arabia………

The Clintons donated 10%, the Bushes donated 20%; however, the Obamas only donated 1%. Guess all those words Obama says about "Change" is change he wouldn't give to charity.

Uncle Sam April 11th, 2008 2:36 pm ET

The Bushes generously donated over 20% of their income to charity. For those who have difficulty saying something positive about our president, remember what goes around comes around.

Maybe they give so generously because they feel guilty about all the misery they've caused their fellow man – especially the families of those 4,000 brave men and women who have died fighting his illegal war.

Yes, what goes around comes around. And someday soon, George W. Bush will get his…

Shouldnt our president be making more? I mean if you can throw a ball and make millions why can you rule the free world and at least make one million! Wow! That's kind of sad that our country pays our top guy so little and then even that he gave some to charity! *blink* *blink* OK I couldnt go no furthur! IT NO WAY IN GOD'S GREEN EARTH THAT HE ONLY MADE THAT MUCH! SOMETHING IS FISHY! He may not wanna reveal his war revenue it may tell on him!

So how much did the Clintons give to charity? If Bush gave 20% since they are die hard Dems, who care about the people, it should be around 40-50%?

I wonder?

Please post!

He made $719K & the Clintons made about $10.4Mil last year?
Bill just talked to people & speaks and made that much? There must be some more "Blank" gate's going on ro something?

The Bush family contributed 23% to churches and charitable organizations. I bet that's a whole lot more than any of you "dingbats" donate. Why don't you all try being better Americans yourselves and contribute to society rather than find fault with everything around you !

Wow, you people are stupied and venomous…lethal combination! If he didn't release his taxes records you would be complaining about that, determined he's hiding something…seriously…mad man? Your hearts must weigh heavily on you with all that hatred built up…thank God you have the wonderby Obama, God's gift to world to soothe your hatred-filled hearts! Er, um, wait a minute, not sure he can do that with his own hatred-filled heart! Good luck with all that!

What a collosal waste of $719, 274. This guy isn't even qualified to hold down a minimum-wage job at Wal-Mart.

Bush and Cheney should be donating some of their hard earned cash to the war!

"contributed a total of $165,660″

A generous 23%

I don't like President Bush at all, but I can't help but be impressed by his charitable donations. He contributed more than 20% of his earnings. That's probably better than most people posting on this website.

Oh good, Bush and I are in the same tax bracket

HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS NOT FILED…. IRS SHOULD AUDIT HIM. GAS IS ABOUT TO BE 5 DOLLARS A GALLON AND PEOPLE IS WONDERING Y THE AMERICAN DOLLAR IS GETTING WEAK….

As others, I find it interesting his income and its sources. What is alluded to in ART in TX is likewise interesting. Let's see – huge income, great health care, great transportation to wherever he wishes, foibles and follies and indeed some pure madness all over the globe – AND ALL THIS PAID FOR BY OTHERS – WE, THE TAXPAYERS!!!!
Maybe we should get reimbursed for a bad investment, sort of like Bear Sterns !!

20% is way more than the 1% the Obamas, millionaires, had donated to charity.

Wow, he makes less than the Clintons and gives more to charity (and not his own). Such a greedy rich guy.

If he didn't make public his tax returns people would be screaming. Now he did and they are still complaining. Come on guys no one is all Bad, give him a break!

Thanks, but i'll rather see Cheney's tax return. !

However can you show us your tax returns a year after your presidency?

The Bushes generously donated over 20% of their income to charity. For those who have difficulty saying something positive about our president, remember what goes around comes around.

That seems like a lie to me, what information did they block out is all I want to know. You cannot be earning that little bit of money and act like the rest of America being in poverty is not your concern, when that is not considered a lot of money to me.

Whoopity do da. Why is this news? Bush releases his tax returns this year, why is CNN suddenly interested?

No President makes real money until after they leave the White House because then they write books, and make tons of speeches.

Just THINK how many pretzels he can gobble down with that!

Wow so the Bush's and Clinton's practice the old standard of the Friday dump. Very telling for two like people. What is even more shocking is that Bush made far less then the Clintons. I wonder how the Clintons made so much more money? It couldn't be Bill going around making deals with other countries on behalf of his wife. It couldn't be that Bill caters to lobbyist. No it all comes from his books, what a load of crock.

Well hes poor compared to the Clintons it seems.. Still not anywhere near as little as we make though.

So are they including the offshore accounts where money is funneled from Iraq and kickbacks from Haliburton – or is his Daddy holding those funds for him until he leaves office?

Bush will get paid once he leaves office. His is may act dumb but when it comes to money he on the top of his game.

Wow, we lost so many soldiers on the whims of a mad man.

Looks like Bill Clinton even beat GW Bush in earnings.

Not bad for a President who was almost impeached for abuse of power as President–and fraternization with a subordinate as Commander and Chief.

Glad he is showing his statements but I'm scratching my head on this one. Is he trying to be "vetted" for something? Bush wants to continue a failed war. I care didley squat about his tax returns.

WHO CARES!

Way to go Laura.

Poor George – see he is poor like you and me.