Cheney Hauls In More Gifts Than Bush

Reporting Gifts, President Received $12K, VP $22K; Both Are Millionaires

(CBS/AP)  President Bush likes to fish, so people aiming to impress him often go that direction. Last year alone, he was given three rods and three reels along with assorted other equipment to the tune of more than $2,600. That's in addition to at least eight other rods he's received as gifts during his presidency.

On the other hand, Mr. Bush is only an occasional golfer. But that didn't stop his friend and 2004 campaign finance chairman, Mercer Reynolds, from giving the president a $915 set of new clubs and covers last year.

Mr. Bush turned 60 in 2006, which helped him clean up in the gift department.

He received at least 20 worth a total of $12,364, according to the financial disclosure forms the president and vice president are required by law to file each year. The reports, made public Tuesday, give a broad picture of officials' wealth — listing assets, non-governmental income, transactions and financial arrangements as well as gifts in an attempt to provide some transparency about potential conflicts of interest.

"And how about this from the White House Medical Unit?" asks CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller: A book titled "Lightly on the Land: The Sea Trail Building and Maintenance Manual." It came with a shirt, hoes and chainsaw sharpener. Total value: $440.

There is no limit on the size of gifts a president or vice president can receive from a U.S. citizen. They must report only those valued at $305 or more — as well as multiple presents over $100 from the same giver, if their cumulative total exceeds $305.

The president's take might look familiar to many men: a pile of ties, shirts and socks, plus a lot of sports equipment. Athletic shoes, jackets and shirts were popular buys for Mr. Bush in 2006.

His staff gave him two wooden benches, made for $1,600 from trees on his Texas ranch, for Christmas as well as cufflinks on his birthday in July.

Vice President Dick Cheney sprung for a $658 wireless weather station as a Christmas present for his boss, known to enjoy getting outdoors to hack at brush or ride trails. The president received another of the devices, this one a $157 model, from Bush mega-fundraiser James Francis Jr. and his wife, Debbie, a longtime friend of Laura Bush. Knowing where the commander in chief gets his thrills — on his bike — Cheney also gave President Bush a $400 personal trainer and cycle computer for his birthday.

Apparently the president and his No. 2 were thinking alike. At Christmas, Mr. Bush presented Cheney with $667 worth of instruments to measure temperature, barometric pressure and tides.

Cheney's gift haul was sizably bigger than the president's.

He received at least 15 presents totaling $21,674 in 2006, many reflecting the vice president's Wyoming roots and love of outdoor pursuits. They included three fishing rods of his own worth $2,975, $615 leather hunting boots, a $400 cowboy hat and a $7,200 bronze sculpture of a Cheyenne warrior. That was the most expensive gift reported by either President Bush or Cheney, says Knoller. The White House's senior staff ponied up $778 to buy him an iPod and compact disc collection.

It is unclear from the reports whether President Bush or Cheney are much better or worse off financially than a year ago because officials are required to list each asset's value only in very wide ranges, rather than precise numbers. But the documents suggest little substantial change in 2006 from years past, in both the value and type of their holdings.

Mr. Bush earns about $400,000 a year as president, while the vice president makes slightly more than $200,000. Both are wealthy men outside those generous salaries, but Cheney is far richer.

The president and his wife, Laura, are worth at least $7.54 million, including the 1,583-acre ranch in Crawford, Texas, valued at $1 million to $5 million.

President Bush reported having at least $3.6 million in Treasury notes, $710,000 in certificates of deposits, $168,000 in checking and money market accounts, $151,000 in retirement accounts and at least $1 million in investments held in a blind trust. He disclosed owning GWB Rangers Corp., worth $116,000, a tree farm worth $776,000 and mineral rights valued at up to $15,000 on property in Reeves County, Texas.

Cheney and his wife, Lynne, listed assets including at least $10.5 million in bond funds and more than $5.1 million in equity funds. The vice president reported more than $1.5 million in checking and money-market accounts, as well as an undeveloped property in McLean, Va., outside Washington, worth $1 million to $5 million.

He also reported at least $3.7 million in retirement benefits and stock options.

[mbcsmith]

The Clinton's backed up the U-haul to the White House when they left, taking hundreds of items that legally were the property of the U.S. and all of us. These hillbillies were caught in the act and forced to return the items. THIEVES.

[aaabee-2009]

And all this isn't enough for either of them.

[trueprogress]

CBS: How about a story on MS. Pelosi and her Holdings? Doesn't she and her husband own a vinyand where they use non union farm labor ? And they partly own a golf course, which was once public land but somehow got donated to their group of "investors" who turned into an elite private couse !

And , teddy KENNDY- FAmily Trust in Tahiti- So all that money will never be taxed by the so called "death TAx" - unlike hard working Americans, he will never lose his farm to taxes !
Teddy owns gobs of big OIL wells via this trust, tax free ! And Teddy owns big swatches of Washington DC office complexes h housing Fed HUD , who he controls and profits by ! WOW CBS how did you miss this !!!

And... Senator Feinstein from California, making deals for $ while her husband benefits, ALL given a pass by CBS.

WAke up CBS ! Shame on you for such biased reporting !

[skyk-2009]

What a disgusting pair of Nazi's these two are!!

[skyk-2009]

WAke up CBS ! Shame on you for such biased reporting !
Posted by trueprogress at 10:25 AM : May 16, 2007


What is wrong with you Nazi's? You have at least 20 sites that cater to the Reich and their views but you come on here whinning like a child because the News outlet did a story on the gifts accumulated by the Fuhrer and the Gestapo Head! Now You creeps haven't like the Free Press since day one and have NEVER EVER supported it, that's to be expected... but the Whinning has got to stop. Now take your swastika off in a corner and play with it for awhile while the adults discuss the WORST Administration in US history.

[skyhawk761]

Typical wing nuts, someone reports something bad about W and Uncle P rick and we go to Clinton did this Clinton did that. Can't you spoiled babies come up with anything original? Sheeple!

[bogusbones]

All politicians are takers, from the citizens, from other countries, from anyone. Clinton, he came from a deprived background, which is no excuse, but one can understand his motivation. Bush & Cheney, priviledged and wealthy (beyond belief and comprehension) still have their greedy hands out. These guys are absolutely the two worst people who ever stole a Presidency.

[trueprogress]

Liberals and their Name calling, Shyking: the Facts remain the facts no matter what.

here another : Harry Reid: Sen from the great State of Nev. The LAnd Deal that was forgotten. Got Paid Twice for a prime piece of Las Vegas land, on a hand shake, hey he did not sell it, really the first time, so more money for the goood Senator. Where is CBS !

Here is something more important: With CAIR by its side, there is a Democratic Bill that would make all us citizens LIBEL for CIVIL lawsuits if we POINTED out suspect activity of say, IMANS on a PLANE, who were were afraid were about to do something bad, like kill all of us. In other words we can report, and then be sueded by CAIR and have our lives ruined. Where do the DEMOCRATs come down ( really!) on National Defence. Presently we can not be sued by the Patriot Act. The Dem and CAIR are colluding to change this. ????? SKYKING please no name calling , the times are too dangerous. You may want to live in a fantasy land, resulting in our destruction, as you ignore the EVIL enemy of Islamics but Many of us with more than 1/2 a brain don't. Good Job VP Chaney, And PREs Bush, and all our Troops. G-d bless you !

[long_rider]

You have to love the chimp, he is consistant.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051607K.shtml

Keep it up prezy baby, ruin this nation, the people desirve it.

[tejasdemo]

That's sweet.And what does the young man from the middle of nowhere get ? Why, yes, it's a trip to Iraq to go kill some people, get his arm blown off, come home to a disgusting hospital that Bush wouldnt send his dog to, and then back to that poor middle of nowhere home to live out his one arm life in rehab in the same disgusting hospital.

Go to hell Bush, Cheney, and every slimeball Republican in this country.

[barbaraf4]

This entire administration, and for that matter, everyone else in Washington, is just a bottomless pit of entitlement.

A Political Science professor once pointed out that everyone in the government is rich beyond their wildest dreams; however, most come to Washington expecting to earn a simple annual salary. You don't get rich on a government annual salary, so how do they all get so rich before they retire? Answer: payoffs and favors.

[trueprogress]

To Bogus Bones: Clinton, he came from a deprived background, which is no excuse, but one can understand his motivation.


What are you talking about ?? Do you remember all the late night Pardons ? For cash ? Wow. I guess that makes you feel good about youself. I for one think that Clinton got a very raw deal from the Republicans re impeachment, and also from the Supreme Court who said it was OK to have a CIVIL lawsuit of a sitting President. Meanwhile, Al Queda was doing it EVIL thing, all distracted by the Impeachment here. Very stupid thing for Republicans to do at that time, and may have been a very key aspect of 9 11. Clinto could have been a much better President if the Republicans had let him.

[barbaraf4]

This entire administration, and for that matter, everyone else in Washington, is just a bottomless pit of entitlement.

A Political Science professor once pointed out that everyone in the government is rich beyond their wildest dreams; however, most come to Washington expecting to earn a simple annual salary. You don't get rich on a government annual salary, so how do they all get so rich before they retire? Answer: payoffs and favors.

[skyhawk761]

trueprogress , your post was almost exactly word for word off of homelandsecurityus.com. Do you people really sit and worry about the big bad muslim boggy man day and night? Also, if you want to support our troops, pick up a dam gun and do a tour and stop being a talking *** like Hannity, Limpbaugh and your beloved W and dickyboy.

[dssans]

First off this is the fact that only rich people get elected to office..I'm a Bush support and proud of it.but when you compare what these people are making for goverment service compared to the private sector is really a joke. We REALLY should be railing against the multi-million salaries and "golden parachutes" that the every day American can only dream of having. I am currently a Republican unemployed CEO that feels that if they wish to turn the light on the Pres and VP for their gifts, let us iluminate the gifts of ALL public officials, golf trips, vacations in the tropics, etc and see how the cockroaches scurry from the light...I feel these people are being elected and paid to protect and preserve the Constitution of the United States, the most solomn and important power that could be granted any person because they were chosen by their people to represent them. We should pay the accordingly to stop the graft and corruption and strike hard at only one you tries to profit.

[skyhawk761]

dssans, well said!The scum lines both sides of the isle, Dems and Repubs alike.

[dssans]

Thank you Skyhawk761....maybe we should run?
Ooops...I'm unemployed....my checkbook can't afford it!

[tejasdemo]

Dssans,

Would you vote for Bush again knowing what you now know about his incompetence and blatant disregard for the constitution you hold so dear ?

[dssans]

Where did we get away from the fact that these people are the elected representatives of the "average American" and start allowing the BIG MEDIA (LIKE CBS) and the big donations to allow their influence on our politics... here's a thought...ban ALL political advertising...make the candidate get out and stump for your vote rather than fly around the country for $1,000 dollar a plate dinners. Make them face the people they are going to represent and answer their questions. NO MORE LOBBYISTS!! Make officials vote for their people they represent rather than what will get them the best job when they leave government....sorry...maybe I'm gettting a little bitter after being unemployed for 4 months but it may be time that we expect our elected reps to bust their a@@ for us rahter than rake in the profits.

[dssans]

tejasdemo -

given the options that we had in both elections AT THE TIME.... I would gladly vote the same as I did....I truly have to admit the Al Gore has raised himself very highly on my list of people that I would like to see Pres....I still DO NOT like many of his views but he has definitely started promoting a positive message and given the candidate that he may run against...I could see myself actually voting for him...(Confirmed Republican who voted for Reagan in his first possible vote).

[bogusbones]

I feel our country is strongly supporting our troops. Our country and our troops have been wrongfully and some will say illegally put into the Iraqi situation. There is so much acrimony out there regarding the sum total of decisions and activities of this Administration, from top to bottom. Every Administration has their own brand of corruption and wrong doers. Our current Administration has shown their colors by the class of people they've put in office, the ideological decisions they've made and the manner in which they've proceeded on their own seemingly private agenda. If Clinton was taken to task for his White House impropriety, shouldn't this crew be held to the same standards?

[skyhawk761]

Thank you Skyhawk761....maybe we should run?
Ooops...I'm unemployed....my checkbook can't afford it!
Posted by dssans at 11:41 AM : May 16, 2007

dssans, don't worry our beloved leaders in Washington have created the most jobs ever. I hear it from them every day. The only problem is that with you having been a CEO, you are over qualified for these new jobs,Taco Bell, 7-11, MacRats, etc. Seriously, the common man or woman cannot run for office anymore because it takes millions to run for an office that pays $140,000.00 a year. Am I the only one that sees something wrong with that picture?

[dssans]

bogusbones -

I agree with much of what you said...they are the representatives of the people and should be brought forward to relate their beliefs on a subject when the time is appropriate. Now is not the time. There were some errors made...the removal of Sadaam created a bigger vacuum than probably was expaected and only players in the area to fill the void were to of the members from the "Axis of Evil"....My personal opinion is that we went in too light, tried too show too much compasion, tried to ask debate and questions rather than make a decision and execute...(sometimes literally). The US military, for all it's great strength, can not become "warm and fuzzy" overnight to project that image on the Iraqi people, nor should they. My father always said the easiest things for our adversaries to recognize that if we send troops and tanks there was still a diplomatic possibility...if we send ashaphlt and yellow paint we are going to turn you into a parking lot.

[antoniof123]

You know I miss Bill Clinton, durning his time we had a great economy, no war, and lots of good jobs still left in this country. Now with a Republican congress and President we have low paying jobs, war, and uncertain economy.

I know why the neo con republicans are so worried about Hillary getting elected. If she does and things turn around then we will have proof that it was Bill he could have done so much more had the facist pigs left him to do his job rather then issue over 1,000 subpoena%u2019s yet while their hero for the first 6 years they issued 4. That is right 4 and now just the metion of a subpoena and they go straight to the attorney's. Why is that Clinton was able to bring everything they needed and yet nothing was found.

Congress now ask for one thing and it just keeps getting better and better. This group of facist pigs is the worst that has ever been in this great country. I for one will never vote for a facist pig again.

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, never again.

[antoniof123]

You know I miss Bill Clinton, durning his time we had a great economy, no war, and lots of good jobs still left in this country. Now with a Republican congress and President we have low paying jobs, war, and uncertain economy.

I know why the neo con republicans are so worried about Hillary getting elected. If she does and things turn around then we will have proof that it was Bill he could have done so much more had the facist pigs left him to do his job rather then issue over 1,000 subpoena%u2019s yet while their hero for the first 6 years they issued 4. That is right 4 and now just the metion of a subpoena and they go straight to the attorney's. Why is that Clinton was able to bring everything they needed and yet nothing was found.

Congress now ask for one thing and it just keeps getting better and better. This group of facist pigs is the worst that has ever been in this great country. I for one will never vote for a facist pig again.

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, never again.

[bogusbones]

dssans

I am not advocating, as some do, impeachment. I think that after these men are replaced after the election of 2008, there will be more scrutiny and possibly legal action. We're in such a fragile state as a nation, we should maintain our course. I only ask for a little negotiating from both sides to get us through this impasse on the Iraq war. I will warn, as I have many times in the past, there's still Afghanistan.

[dssans]

antoniof123 -

I can understand some of your rant against the curent admin...but the ecomony is cyclical...there will be good times and bad times no matter who is in power....Clinton rode the wave out of Bush #1 term to great highs...but as he was leaving office things were going in the tank... not going to talk about any thing that happened on late 2001 as that was an abnomrality that focused tha country on the present problems facing us. We have always had people in the world that did not agree we the US. We had the "Cold War", were we were lined up in the Fulda Gap, tank to tank waiting for the word. Now we have an enemy with no country.. one who is willing to give his life for greater glory in the afterlife...(and yes I have read the Koran and studied Middle East History for 2 years and am still a Bush supporter). Their whole civilivation is built on a heriarchy of who has the power...that is why the Sunnis are up in arms...they have had the power(though they were a minority throughout Sadaam's reign) now they are on the outside looking in...which has led them to insurgency. They really have no idea or concept of democracy...they came from nomads where the strong survived and the rest persihed in the sand...Ala Akbar....God is great...(forgive me for the spelling, it's been many years) There is more to this conflict than just Sadaam and these issues need to be addressed...Persian versus Arab, oil equity, etc.

[gasp3]

Americans come to your senses...unite and get out of Iraq...over 3400 hundred young American lives robbed and were still counting....somebody here wrote that life is too short....your right about that..but while you defend the barbarian pretender or rather the moron"commander guy"....young lives are being cut short because nitwits like you don't recognize that the illegal war was lost before it even started..and if u feel so strongly about keeping the troops in Iraq and exposing them for the sitting ducks that they are...why aren't u running to ur recruiting office and join the poor ba*tards in the lost cause....f&*"ke& hypocrite!!

[dssans]

bogusbones -

Yes many of us have forgotten about Afganistan...where the "real fight" against terrorist is probably being fought.

[infidel_us]

Another CBS hit piece disguised as newsworthy. The bias of this organization and the MSM in general is amazing.....and sickening!

Kerry, Pelosi, Kennedy....they're all millionaires. How came we never hear about their personal finances or gifts?

Also, to all you "blood for oil" nitwits who believe Bush & Chaney are profiting from the war......ummmmm, it doesn't seeem like it to me.

[bogusbones]

I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Count Diodati, 1807
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

How appropriate.

[dssans]

gasp3 -

I would if I was young enough...but I'm just beyond their age requirements of 41 years old...and my step-son and my wife have both served in the Armed Services, my wife served in both the Army AND the Air Force (one of few people in the world to serve in 2 branches of the Armed Serives which I'm proud of!!!) so don't chastise a fellow blogger about sacrifice for the nation until you have done the same.

[dssans]

bogusbones -

Very worthy words from an extraordinary President...but if we paid the elected officials what they could be getting in "private practice" would we have all thses problems or is it just a fact of nature that certain people will screw you for what ever they can get?

[infidel_us]

The bias of this organization and the MSM in general is amazing.....and sickening!

Kerry, Pelosi, Kennedy....they're all millionaires. How came we never hear about their personal finances or gifts?

Also, to all you "blood for oil" nitwits who believe Bush & Chaney are profiting from the war......ummmmm, it doesn't seeem like it to me.

[colonieny]

this is a news story ?

How about talking about the Kennedy Family Trust FUND in TAHITI, where they hide all their fortune from the death tax ? They will not lose the farm over taxes, will you ?

The BIAS of the CBS news people is , well ... astouding.

CAIR is pushing through a bill via DEMOCrats to make us all subject to CIVIL liablity if we report a suspect MUSLIM who may be ? planning to kill us in a terrorist attack. Say, scouting out a nuclear site. Report, and we get sued ? This is not right. We need to be the eyes the ears of our own security. What would they have the KINKO guy do, be arrested ? That is why we can not trust the Democrats with our security.

[randalds]

The Clinton's backed up the U-haul to the White House when they left, taking hundreds of items that legally were the property of the U.S. and all of us. These hillbillies were caught in the act and forced to return the items. THIEVES.
Posted by mbcsmith at 09:47 AM : May 16, 2007

This is one of the biggest right wing urban legends. Of course like most urban legends there's not even one shred of truth to it. The Clinton's took nothing that wasn't theirs and any myths to the contrary are just that, myths.

[randalds]

"Reporting Gifts, President Received $12K, VP $22K; Both Are Millionaires"

Of course neither of them are reporting all of the "gifts" from the oil companies, war contractors and pharmaceutical companies deposited in off-shore bank accounts. I mean surely no one thinks they did this job just for their paltry salary! Not when there are kickbacks and bribes to be had at the expense of the American taxpayers like the prescription drug hand out to the drug companies, the "Energy Policy" which was nothing more then multi-billion dollar corporate welfare and worst of all this whipped up war for profit in Iraq! Hell that last one alone probably netted them $100 million each easy!

[colonieny]

This is a shocking non story reported to fill air, negatively. Can you imagine CBS doing the same to Clinton and Gore. They surely had gifts, and must have had one more than the other.

CBS reports. "GORE HORDE OUTSHINES THE PREZ ! MRS. CLINTON FUMES AS THE TRUCKS LOAD PRESIDENTIAL GIFTS." NEWS AT 6 WITH KATIE CURSIVE.
FOLLOW BY...PIZZA BOMBERS WERE JUST A RAG TAG BUNCH, WHAT'S THE FUSS ? AS MS. PELOSI AND CBS.
FOLLOWED BY...SINGLE SHOOTER KILLS 36 AT UNIVERSITY. IS IT TIME TO BAN ALL GUNS ? WHAT WENT WRONG AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN ? WHO WAS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ?

For the single shooter, banning guns. For a whole bunch of ISLAMIC Terrorist in our neighborhood with tons of guns, no threat. Just Pizza guys. Wow. Downplay those terrorist. (sung to the tune of Swing LOW SWEET TERRORISTS)

THE KEY::: READ THIS """""""


It is very difficult to confront real EVIL for liberals, lefties and CBS, better to confront guns, second hand smoke and transfats.

[torocaca]

"The Clinton's backed up the U-haul to the White House when they left, taking hundreds of items that legally were the property of the U.S. and all of us. These hillbillies were caught in the act and forced to return the items. THIEVES."
Posted by mbcsmith at 09:47 AM : May 16, 2007

Yeah, right! If you believe that then you will believe that, while at Halliburton, Cheney was a client of the escort service of DC Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey.

It's appearing in several blogs and was mentioned on the Letterman show tonight. It would be poetic justice that, after all the criminal ***** this pair has pulled, this proves to be true. LOL!! At least it will be entertaining.

Search on "cheney prost titute" (take out the space).