Bush debuts as motivational speaker
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/23/art.gwbush0923.gi.jpg caption="Bush spoke at a 'Get Motivated!' event in Fort Worth, Texas Monday night"](CNN) - Former President George W. Bush made his debut as a motivational speaker Monday night, telling a Fort Worth, Texas crowd it's futile to waste energy chasing popularity.
"It's so simple in life to chase popularity, but popularity is fleeting, it's not real," Bush said at a "Get Motivated!" business seminar, a multi-city event its organizers describe as an "energizing, action-packed, star-studded, fun-filled, spectacular stage show."
The president himself saw wild popularity swings during his eight years in the White House, garnering nearly a 90 percent approval rating in the months following the attacks on September 11, 2001 and exiting office with only the support of 31 percent of Americans, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll.
The former president was greeted enthusiastically by the 11,000 attendees of the event, according to the Fort Worth Telegram, and he spoke casually for about 20 minutes.
Event organizers declined to disclose how much the former president was compensated for the appearance, though former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani received $100,000 for a similar speech at the event two years ago.
Bush, who has made few public appearances or statements since leaving office nine months ago, also took the opportunity to reflect on his presidency.
"Every single day, I was honored to be your president by bringing honor and dignity to the office," he said. Bush also added later that his faith played a large role in guiding his decisions: "From a personal perspective, I don't see how you can be president without relying upon an almighty."
Colin Powell, the former Bush Secretary of State who sparred with many members of the president's inner circle over the invasion of Iraq and endorsed Barack Obama's presidential bid - also spoke at the event and offered high praise of his ex-boss.
"We are safer than we were before 9-11 because of President Bush," Powell said.
The former president is also scheduled to participate in another "Get Motivated!" seminar in San Antonio, Texas on December 2, according to the company's Web site.
"For a limited time only," the Web site says, tickets are available for that event at $4.95 per person or $19 for a group.
Follow Alex Mooney on Twitter @awmooneycnn
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So numbnuts W is making a few bucks motivating his Texas dittoheads? That's a good one! Then he said, ""Every single day, I was honored to be your president by bringing honor and dignity to the office," he said. Bush also added later that his faith played a large role in guiding his decisions: "From a personal perspective, I don't see how you can be president without relying upon an almighty."
Posing detainees sexually brought "honor and dignity" to the presidency? Lying about WMDs? I wonder if Jesus would have used waterboarding.
This guy is a sap from the gitgo and the people that pay to listen to him – even sappier!
One word, "Strategery"
What a joke. The only thing he motivates me to do is to strangle a Tea Bagger.
Please ! Leave that clown alone.
Are you kidding me??????? This man has the intelligence of dead man!!!!
Selling the presidency for $4.95 per ticket? Now that's motivational!
Bush's message: stick to your gut instincts no matter what the facts tell you. Marginalize your best advisors such as Colin Powell. Blame your decisions on the guidance you received from the almighty. This is the recipe for success that worked so well for Bush, that he is now selling his leadership advice to others.
it does not get any creepier then this
Well let's hope he's been practicing with Toastmasters. Speaking isn't his thing.
I can't wait to hear all the comments from the Obama worshipers, spewing their hatred of President Bush. Even Colin Powell had good things to say about him. The Democrats would have you believe that President Bush started the Civil War, World War I and II, and the sinking of the Titanic. Get a brain folks!!
He could end every lecture with "Mission Accomplished!"
A Terrorist Motivational Speaker!! Wow
Come hear Bush talk for $4.95 per person or $19 for a group.
Kmart prices for a Kmart president.
Texas is about the only place this disgraceful clown will draw an audience. I suppose he might also do well at the Hannity freedom concerts, all sorts of uneducated, mindless automatons attend them and I'm sure they'd be happy to drink his Kool-Aid.
I'd like to hear him name one action of his that brought honor and dignity to the office. He wasn't even president, Cheney was, and a piss-poor president at that! Every time something happened, Bush pissed his pants and ran to papa Cheney to fix it. Cheney usually fixed it with another government handout to Halliburton. Someone should investigate how much of it came back to Cheney's bank account.
Nothing screams "Bush was a GREAT President".., quite like Obama's own progressively liberal incompetence.
We'll see how long it takes for him to screw up this job so as to keep a perfect record. Frankly, Bush giving a motivational talk to a cheering crowd in Texas is like "Dumb and Dumber – Part 3."
If Bush had relied on some intelligent , rational human beings rather than 'the almighty' we might be in a much better situation right now.
This man couldn't even motivate this country, he lost the confidence of this country......the only one he motivated was the rest of the World to Hate us.......j
I am immediattely reminded of the father figure in "Little Miss Sunshine," the failed motivational speaker.
That Colin Powell is a confusing guy. Ha ha. He's kind of all over the map. However, nice job CNN posting a story about Bush we need to start bringing him into the news conversation more often to make Obama look better. It fits nicely with the comments about mops and mopping and things like that and covers up the healthcare mess.
In my opinion the perfect President was Mr.Bush. He is educated very strictly and honestly in his family and society. He is a true person. Many people loved and respect him. I wish next President from Bush family.
Figures this was a stage show, that is exactly what he gave the American people for eight years, complete with cheerleading hogwash. Find it hard to believe that 11,000 people actually paid for this show, when we already got it for free, or so we thought until everything colapsed due to him and his administration and their deregulation/war mentality.
Don't confuse chasing popularity for good manners. It's NOT all right to be rude & crude even though you FIRMLY believe in the righteousness of your cause.
Fairly certain that the line re: Colin Powell should read "...who sparred with many members of the president's inner circle." They were all spared, from prosecution, that is.
I think Mr. Bush has flung enough BULL-ONEY to last a couple of lifetimes. Go home. Reflect on the damage done. Do something positive for a change!