Bush: I Think I Lost Money, Too

President Says Recession Has Likely Hit Him; Assets Are In A Blind Trust

(AP)  President George W. Bush is confident that he and first lady Laura Bush have lost money in the economic crisis, but that they won't find out until after he leaves office how much their financial accounts have lost.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King on Tuesday, the president said his personal assets are in a blind trust and that the last time he talked with the trustees was eight years ago. Bush said he has "no earthly idea" how much he and his wife have lost in the market slump but said he's confident that they had lost some.

Asked what part of the responsibility for the financial meltdown rests on his shoulders, Bush defended his decision to ask Congress to approve a $700 billion financial rescue plan. He said his actions have mitigated the effects the economic crisis is having on Americans. He also argued that his administration called for reform of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but that no legislative reform was ever passed.

"Not to blow my own horn, but I recognized the dangers inherent with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and asked Congress to regulate them," Bush said, adding that he was worried they were getting a little overextended.

But he acknowledged that his administration did not foresee the meltdown.

"No, we didn't see it coming," he said. "We saw that there could be dangers in an unregulated Fannie and Freddie and they needed a regulator and they needed to be reined in."

In the interview held in the White House library, Bush also defended Vice President Dick Cheney, describing him as an intelligent patriot. He denied allegations that some of the harsh interrogation techniques used on terror suspects amounted to torture and said he was "comfortable" with the methods used because they were based on legal opinions. While he said the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq was the right decision, he acknowledged being "worried Iraq was going to fail" at the time he decided to dispatch 30,000 more U.S. troops there in 2007.

Bush was asked if Hurricane Katrina was the lowest point of his presidency.

"Well, I think being called a racist was the low point," Bush replied, referring to reaction to the federal government's sluggish response to the needs of hurricane victims, many of whom were black.

Asked if he thought he had gotten a bum rap as president, Mrs. Bush chimed in, saying that she thought he had. "A lot of it was very personal and demeaning," she said.

The president, however, brushed off the criticism, saying he couldn't and didn't make decisions based on polls.

On other issues, the president said he was a little surprised that his brother, Jeb, decided not to run for the Senate from Florida. Bush declined to tip his hand about whether he planned to issue more pardons before leaving office. And he said he had no interest in being commissioner of baseball - that even though he loves the sport, he was going to focus his attention on writing a book and developing his presidential library and center at Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas.

[downtowner97]

Did he die? No? Well, then he did better than thousands of men and women he sent to Iraq needlessly.

[jerr11]

This liar just goes on and on.

Wait for the big finale on Thursday.

More lies from the Liar-in-Chief!

[estabwary]

I''d say many people were in a blind trust with him.
What did he say, "cry me a river"? I think we went through ''Deliverance'' old boy, you can''t go fast enough.

[rickstas]

Thank God we only have a few more days of this idiot left.

[straightmate]

He saves the best for last!! I love it. What a punk. Yeah a ''blind trust'', all that means to me the peasant is that he has too much money to even count.

[countslapula]

Ugh... incorrigible moron. He "thinks" he lost some money.

[ubrew12]

estabwary said: "I''d say many people were in a blind trust with him. What did he say, "cry me a river"? I think we went through ''Deliverance'' old boy, you can''t go fast enough."

Well put. Bush/Cheney and the neocons espoused Laissez Faire economics: stop monitoring the economy and let the ''invisible hand'' take its course. Unfortunately, this means that when Cheney said ''We didn''t see this economic downturn coming'' he was being literally truthful: they had their eye''s closed, so of course, they didn''t see it coming. I don''t think Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, and the others quite had this in mind when they advocated a ''light touch'' on the economy, but that''s what BushCo gave us. As being a liberal ''policy-wonk'' has a down-side (a desire to manipulate the economy in the ways your knowledge insists it should be manipulated), so being a conservative ''hands-off'' has a down-side (blindness to instabilities/ripoffs until it is too late to do anything about them).

Pray for balance... in ALL our lives.

[neocons_suck]

Sure he did. Also, he had no idea how his policies e.g. kbr no bid contracts, Iraq war etc. effected his portfolio. Won''t it be goo to have a president who isn''t lying every time he opens his mouth.

[hermitdave]

Well I am so choked up to hear the spoiled rich kid lost money. However my guess is either a SAUDI prince or a big oil dude will give him and Laura a nice line of credit. In fact he could be flat broke and his daddys friends would make sure he didn''t starve.

[aztecdakota]

Gee, did they short Bush on his weekly or monthly oil checks? poor guy.

[robaldrich]

Someone said, ''He saves the best for last!! I love it. What a punk. Yeah a ''''blind trust'''', all that means to me the peasant is that he has too much money to even count.
------------------------

Wow! He''s too old to be a "punk." Both meanings require one to be young.

He''s required by law to put his invested assets in a ''blind trust.'' So that fact, alone, cannot be the basis of determining how much money he has.

I''m sorry to hear that this person is a peasant compared to anyone with an IRA.

[ddaymichael]

If Bush ndeed lost money, I sure that his cut of the hundreds of billions stolen under the auspices of his contrived war for profit will more than compensate for it.

[arrestbush1]

Bush is a fool! but it doesn''t matter because all this bs is just one big show. I''ve seen managers at sports authority act more presidential than Bush. Bush knows every detail on how he intentionally sold out America. He''ll wait until he''s in the clear on some island in the pacific before announcing on satellite tv to the American people how he''s been working with Obama to form a North American Union.

[jerr11]

Bush: I Think I Lost Money, Too



And then there''re 4226 Americans who can''t "think" at all.

They''re stone cold DEAD!

Killed by this Liar-in-Chief and his 935 lies!

[mainedoggie]

Must be nice to not know if you lost money or not. Must be nice not to have to worry about it until later, after you move into the new house you''ve never seen, yet that you just spent 2 million dollars on in a swanky neighborhood in GOOD OL TEXAS!

Stop trying to be ''one of us'' you thug!

You lost nothing. Good Riddance!

[centerfall94]

Until he loses his FREEDOM (in iron shackles at his trial at the Hague) then justice will not have been served.

[tawpdawg111]

Im gonna be SICKKKKK!!!!!

His lies to other human beings pale to insignificance compared to the lies he tells himself. The trouble with getting through life selling BS is that you become your own best customer.

[yongamerica]

This is the wildest ruse I''ve ever heard of. This man put his assets into a blind trust (so they''d be no conflict of interest wink wink)and over the course of 8 years hasn''t an idea what they are worth? How were income taxes paid on these assets without a record of them showing up in his federal tax forms?

[spinproof]

In the end Pres. Bush''s approach to Government ended up being a contradiction of sorts, on the one hand he had a hands off approach not wanting Government to interfere, but on the other hand he overused the U.S. Military, yes Pres. Bush, the U.S. Military is a part of the Government too! Bush''s hands off approach and letting the chips fall where they may has led to a lack of peace and disaster in the Middle East and around the World, a disaster in the U.S. Economy, incalculable national Debt and the best way to describe his approach in the simplest of terms is to compare it to riding a bike with no hands on the handle bars, peddling furiously all the while shouting look mom no hands, and then predictably falling flat on his face as a result and taking the U.S. down with him. The lack of U.S. "Leadership" when it mattered was mind boggling and staggered the imagination and at one point many thought Vice Pres. Cheney was in charge and not Bush! What Americans can''t do and should not do is let President G.W. Bush "rewrite" History, we were there, we lived through it, we know what happened and no way should Pres. Bush and his supporters be allowed to rewrite what happened. History and Historians will not be kind to Pres. G.W. Bush and neither will the Ghost of those lost in his war of choice.

[dburfears]

Stupidest President ever.

[smurfcrusher]

Of course he lost money. Crime doesn''t pay!

[smurfcrusher]

Asked if he thought he had gotten a bum rap as president, Mrs. Bush chimed in, saying that she thought he had. "A lot of it was very personal and demeaning," she said.

Ha! Nothing is more personal than his own special brand of stupidity. It kills thousands.

[enviro_wacko]

Bush is waxing even more feculent than usual.

[airboatboy1]

I tried to watch the idiot but couldn''t stand listening to that lying, cocky moron. And his wife is either brainwashed or as stupid as him. What a stupid, conniving little man.

[notfooled]

I hope the war crime trial judges confiscate every dime this murdering con man got as his share of the profit from murdering almost a million humans and has tucked away in offshore accounts.

[marcosis78]

Awww, lets all feel sorry for him and his family. It must be devastating to go from $2 billion to $10 billion and then down to $7 billion. Times are TOUGH for the Bush family.

[skeezix06]

There''s a big difference between Bush losing some money and John Q. Public losing money in an economic downturn.

Bush will go on to a series of simultaneous part time jobs on various boards which he has to attend only occasionally and where he has contact only with those on his own economic level. He will make more on one speech than most earn over several years in a traditional job.

John Q. Public will not move into a multi-million dollar home in an exclusive suburb. To the contrary, John Q. Public may lose his home and his life savings/retirement funds. John Q. Public is likely to find himself living in a shelter if he''s lucky and getting in line for a free meal at the local free kitchen.

That''s a big difference. Unfortunately, I don''t think it is a difference that George Bush can or will understand.

[joule18]

I am LMAO at all you Bush haters. Who are you going to hate after January 20th? The comments on here are not only stupid, you all state your opinions as fact and do not want to face the actual facts because of your hate.

It was up to the finance committee in Congress to do their job and fire abusers, not Bush''s. Barney didn''t want to deprive people who couldn''t afford to buy a house of their dream and his boyfriend was a head honcho there.

When you want investigations into this whole Fannie/Freddie mess and the appropriate people called on the carpet (even if they are Democrats) then I will take you seriously.

I think you will find your boy, Obama, is not lily white when it comes to favors, deals, and the corrupt Chicago culture.

[stinginrich]

Democrats Seek Criminal Probe of Bush'' Abuses

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press
Tue Jan 13, 5:47 pm ET



WASHINGTON %u2013 The incoming Obama administration should launch a criminal investigation of Bush administration officials to see whether they broke the law in the name of national security, a House Democratic report said Tuesday. President-elect Barack Obama has been more cautious on the issue and has not endorsed such a recommendation.

Along with the criminal probe, the report called for a Sept. 11-style commission with subpoena power, to gather facts and make recommendations on preventing misuse of power, according to the report by the Democratic staff of the House Judiciary Committee.

The congressionally appointed commission should have subpoena power, the report said. It suggested the new president order "full cooperation by all present and past federal employees with requests for information".


Watch the Rats start Squeeling in exchange for reduced sentences and immunity......A nice Cell is waiting for Shrub, Darth, Kindasleezy, Rummy, Wolfy, Gonzo, et al......LOL

[barbaraf4]

"That''s a big difference. Unfortunately, I don''t think it is a difference that George Bush can or will understand." Posted by skeezix06
~~~~~~~~~~~
You forgot to mention the full Presidential retirement with full medical and all the other perks, including Secret Service for life. He also owns that ranch in Paraguay and I''ll bet most of his assets are in offshore accounts (even a blind trust can have smart crooks for administrators).

[misha128-2009]

Posted by stinginrich at 05:42 AM : Jan 14, 2009

Congressman Conyers also made a comment several days ago about the possibility the cases could be tried in international courts. The president''s pardon power only covers actions in the US Courts.

[elpaulito]

Quote:

"I am LMAO at all you Bush haters. Who are you going to hate after January 20th? The comments on here are not only stupid, you all state your opinions as fact and do not want to face the actual facts because of your hate."

uh, where have you been the last 8 years?

[spinproof]

Quote:

"I am LMAO at all you Bush haters. Who are you going to hate after January 20th? The comments on here are not only stupid, you all state your opinions as fact and do not want to face the actual facts because of your hate."

uh, where have you been the last 8 years?

Posted by elpaulito at 05:59 AM : Jan 14, 2009

Not only where have they been the last 8 years but when others tried to offer advice and help Pres. Bush, he not only turned them down but made it clear in an angry tone that he was the "Decider"! So Pres. Bush who takes credit when things are going well needs to take the full blame when things are not going well. The buck stops there in the Oval Office and it always has ...

[irmcvet971]

Since the Republican Party as we know it NO LONGER exist and since People who continue to side with losers like this and the rest of the Southern Reich, I submit that they have ZERO intelligence. Thus I propose we rename the Republican Party, the National Alliance of Zero Intelligence... the N.A.Z.I Party! Fits now doesn''t it?

[u-r-right]

What an embarrassment he must be even to his family own family circle. I''m sure he never really knows what is in his silver spoon trust fund because his family doesn''t want him to tamper in it for fear of losing it all. He has the mental intelligence of a 10-year-old. Give him the cookie jar and he''d eat all the cookies.

[broncfan1661]

I am LMAO at all you Bush haters. Who are you going to hate after January 20th? The comments on here are not only stupid, you all state your opinions as fact and do not want to face the actual facts because of your hate.
Posted by joule18 at 05:27 AM : Jan 14, 2009
____________________________________
It''s not really him I hate, it''s stupidity. But he is the epitome of it.
GOOD RIDDANCE!!

[broncfan1661]

Isn''''t it curious? Most of you Yanks voted for him, not once but TWICE! Now you''''re all saying what a terrible president he was. Everyone else in the world could see that years ago. Are you Yanks appalling hypocrites or simply idiots?

Posted by hower4 at 06:45 AM : Jan 14, 2009
_____________________________________
Don''t blame me! I haven[t made the mistake of voting Republican since Regan''s first term. And that was a big mistake.

[tincup356]

Had to figure out how he lost money....he profited 6 billion off Carlyle group.....selling private security in Iraq......you could run your car for life ...from all the methane gasses coming out of Bushes mouth.

[irmcvet971]

....... and you sad, stupid, selfish Yanks think Obama is going to be much different. Just look at the highly principled stance Obama has taken on Gaza already! (For the benefit of you idiot Yanks, that was sarcasm.)

America is driven by the American principles of violence, bigotry and self-interest, no matter who is President. That isn''''t going to change until YOU AMERICANS change. Think about it.............

Posted by hower4 at 07:01 AM : Jan 14, 2009

Man are you some sort of mental case?? We are putting a man OUT of office who''s policies have given us NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but MASSIVE DEBT. HE took over a nation AT PEACE, with a Budget that was BALANCED PLUS a SURPLUS and YOU have the lack of Intelligence to say we aren''t IMPROVING ourselves with Obama?? I still say we MUST rename the Republican Party... THAT party no longer exist. It''s NOW the National Alliance of ZERO Intelligence and THIS is Example Number ONE of why they should NOW be called the N.A.Z.I PARTY!! Sieg Heil Y''all

[tincup356]

Bush write a book?....he could not wipe his butt with either hand so what makes him think he can write a book?The only thing I would be interested in seeing is Bush own up to the crimes he has committed and admit it was all done for money....no other reason.

[liberalme]

Isn''''''''t it curious? Most of you Yanks voted for him, not once but TWICE! Now you''''''''re all saying what a terrible president he was. Everyone else in the world could see that years ago. Are you Yanks appalling hypocrites or simply idiots?

Posted by hower4 at 06:45 AM : Jan 14, 2009


Give me a break---I live in the south and have never seen more idiot koolaid drinkers who think Bush can see the soul of God!

Most "yanks" are die hard dems.

[liberalme]

Bush said he has "no earthly idea"

Posted by earache4

That''s because he'' so "God-like".

[irmcvet971]

Isn''''t it curious? Most of you Yanks voted for him, not once but TWICE! Now you''''re all saying what a terrible president he was. Everyone else in the world could see that years ago. Are you Yanks appalling hypocrites or simply idiots?

Posted by hower4 at 06:45 AM : Jan 14, 2009

NO! We are no different than people all over the world.. in fact Sparky, WE ARE THE WORLD! Within our boarders resides EVERY Nationality, EVERY race, EVERY religion on the Planet. Sure, sometimes it takes us awhile to figure out we''re being taken for a ride, that hasn''t changed for over 200 years. It''s also a fact that when we figure it out, we come out better than ever before.

[smurfcrusher]

Hey, -I- never voted for this idiot.

[irmcvet971]

SIX more days! Six more days until we are rid of THIS embarrassment!!

[liberalme]

Posted by hower4

This fool is NOT an American===Canada maybe?

[irmcvet971]

What an interesting, intelligent and logical argument. Just what I would expect from a typical American.

Do you have an opinion, or are you intent on proving what the rest of the world thinks of Americans?

Posted by hower4 at 07:15 AM : Jan 14, 2009

"Rest of the World"? Would you be referring to the WORLD who would NOT be free if NOT for us flawed and sometimes misguided AMERICAN''s? Sorry Sparky but YOU just don''t pass the Smell test. The world MAY hate our present leader and they have that right! But AMERICAN''S?? NOT a chance! It''s like HATING you Cousin!! NO you are a FRAUD Sparky.. a Member of the National Alliance of Zero Intelligence I think.

[alphaa10000]

joule18 said, "I am LMAO at all you Bush haters... (you) do not want to face the actual facts because of your hate."
---

Already, you run atray of fact-- what you interpret as hatred is merely profound contempt.

And if, after eight years of Bush fraud, mismanagement, incompetence and criminal malfeasance with the nation''s affairs, you still do not understand his wretched standing in the opinion of most Americans, your intellectual and moral credentials are in a permanent blind trust.

Bush and the GOP share dishonors as the most mendacious and actively anti-American political actors during the first decade of the 21st century.

Together, they have done far more damage to this country than the Axis of Evil ever planned, and far more than al Qaeda ever conceived, much less carried out. The irony never has been so plain-- Bush and the GOP were the flag wavers, presenting themselves as super-patriots. But theirs is Enron-style fraud and damage on a gargantuan political scale.

Bush was master of disaster for most of his term. Name your crisis, and Bush played nemesis to American national interest. The nation was so thoroughly disserved by Bush and the GOP it will take many years for this country to see recovery.

Worst of all are opportunities lost because of Bush. David Sanger details many of these in a new book, "The Inheritance", profiling how American strategic, economic, diplomatic and other assets were "dithered away" as bush held the nation hostage to fear.

[irmcvet971]

. and apparently while you take your time to figure out what''''s right and what''''s wrong, you torture, maim and kill.

THE REALITY IS THAT YOU DON''''T CARE IF IT DOESN''''T AFFECT YOU.

Posted by hower4 at 07:19 AM : Jan 14, 2009

Yep! ZERO Intelligence. Say can YOU operate your SEARCH engine? Try if you can, to look up WHO is ACTUALLY responsible for the Geneva Convention! Who brought the NAZI''s to TRIAL! Better be careful Sparky. We''re taking steps to work out our problems, is never easy in a Nation THIS complex, but we are doing it. Now since those who hate us would torture YOUR behind in a New York Minute and SINCE the Power of this nation has and will continue to protect YOUR freedoms, maybe you should just sit down and allow us to do what we''ve been doing now for over 200 years.. right our ship.