Obvioulsy the Bush family has profited personally from the increase in oil prices as major players in the oil realm. I'm not looking to start a debate on the underlying ethics.

Duke: If this needs to be moved to the lounge or cc, please do so.


I'm curious to see if anyone would know (or where to find or even to wager an honest guess) on the ammount of money they will have accumulated by the time he leaves office.

On a corrolation, an estimated sum from all three Bush family terms would be nice to have/know as well.

5/13/2008 10:39:24 PM

i love this great country we live in.

i wouldn't want to live in any of those other nasty countries



they don't even put ice in their drinks

5/13/2008 10:40:15 PM

yeah i find this no coincedence

5/13/2008 10:57:20 PM

coincedence

5/13/2008 11:06:05 PM

why?

Our politicians are human. If my buddy was in charge of johnny's dildo corporation; I would probably show some favoritism when performing my gov't duties. for example vetoing legislation calling for a ban on dildos .

5/13/2008 11:19:36 PM

Is the president allowed to own stock?

I know cheney had to sell off his interests in haliburton before talking office, so I would assume the POTUS would be the same.

5/13/2008 11:22:14 PM

Quote :

"Obvioulsy the Bush family has profited personally from the increase in oil prices as major players in the oil realm. I'm not looking to start a debate on the underlying ethics."

The only thing Bush has done in office to drive up prices was invade Iraq. Are you suggesting Bush and his neo-con friends would not have invaded Iraq anyway?

5/14/2008 12:32:06 AM

If only there was a political system where lobbyists could not hope to benefit from law-making.

5/14/2008 12:32:10 AM

The only such system I have ever heard of involved outlawing law-makers.

5/14/2008 12:45:19 AM

^^ the topic of this thread goes a little deeper than that

5/14/2008 1:19:49 AM

Quote :

"Obvioulsy the Bush family has profited personally from the increase in oil prices as major players in the oil realm."

What? You made this statement, now back it up.

Last I checked Bush got out of the oil business more than 20 years ago.

5/14/2008 1:35:51 AM

You think the ever growing demand for oil from India, China and other nations that are becoming more industrial has anything to do with it?

Perhaps its the constant supply with increasing demand and consumption?

Just throwing it there; Im not saying it is the sole reason but people tend to shy away from the economics and gravitate towards the sensationalism.

5/14/2008 1:55:44 AM

Quote :

"Is the president allowed to own stock? "

if need be, politicians can always invest in blind trusts.

5/14/2008 2:13:40 AM

Yeah that worked out well for Jimmy Carter

5/14/2008 2:19:58 AM

I guess in 1973 Nixon/Ford made money of the rise in gas prices too.

5/14/2008 2:21:23 AM

Quote :

"What? You made this statement, now back it up. "

5/14/2008 3:21:31 AM

Quote :

"people tend to shy away from the economics and gravitate towards the sensationalism"

not that the rest wasn't true, just that i thought the statement in general was pretty accurate

5/14/2008 3:25:40 AM

HA! ive been quoted, success

halliburton! gas prices! special interests! 3rd bush term! middle class! bush! war! change!

(sorry, i just watched some obama chatter. i dont so much hate him, but i reaaaally hate when he goes on these 'appeal to emotions' streaks where he just lists off words that get people riled up.)

5/14/2008 3:30:35 AM

YES WE CAN

5/14/2008 3:45:09 AM

it's what politicians do... but it certainly does get annoying sometimes

^ that's actually a slogan trademarked by Community One Bank in Asheboro. nothing will come of it but i found that interesting.


[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 3:49 AM. Reason : ]

5/14/2008 3:48:00 AM

Quote :

"What? You made this statement, now back it up."

Come on, get your head out of the sand.

As I understand it, personal finances have to be managed by a trustee of some sort while he's in office. I believe the Clintons had to recently deal with something like this, when they had to examine their investments due to owing Wal Mart stock or something while they were critizing the same's business practices.

Quote :

"Last I checked Bush got out of the oil business more than 20 years ago."

I'm reasonably sure he may not know exactly how much he's worth or what/where exactly his personal/family fortunes are invested.
However, to think that whomever is looking after his finances while he's in office isn't investing in oil is rather naive.

Back to the original question: Anyone care to estimate his net worth's increase over the last 8 years? I'm not trying to debate the causes behind the increases; I'm just trying to find a figure or percentage.



[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 8:07 AM. Reason : The term was Blind Trusts. Thanks Duke]

5/14/2008 8:04:00 AM

You could see if his tax returns are public record while he's in office Presumably he'd file joint with his wife, it wouldn't tell you what he started out having, but it would tell you what he earned in the past 8 years. Also that wouldn't tell you how much of it he didn't spend or the purchases actually went to his net worth. But it is a thought.

5/14/2008 8:15:51 AM

Quote :

"What? You made this statement, now back it up."

^^ Priceless. Provide sources to back up your claim--you know, links to something.

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 8:22 AM. Reason : BTW, can we check the Obama's increased income levels, too?]

5/14/2008 8:19:32 AM

Quote :

"I know cheney had to sell off his interests in haliburton before talking office, so I would assume the POTUS would be the same."

this does not mean Mrs. Cheney, his kids, or his friends have a stake in big oil and halliburton

I am not saying its purely Bush/Cheney's fault for high oil prices but i am sure they are not that upset about it.

Why is it so hard to deny the fact that politicians are not these altruistic heros of society who always act in a selflessness manner in the best interest of the American people.
If Al Gore became president I am sure his buddies and Mrs. Gore would conveniently be making money on "green" companies and solar power.

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM. Reason : a]

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM. Reason : a]

5/14/2008 10:13:21 AM

Quote :

"However, to think that whomever is looking after his finances while he's in office isn't investing in oil is rather naive."

Anyone thats smart would be investing in oil the last few years. A large park of my 401k has been in oil & gold for a while now...

5/14/2008 10:18:25 AM

Here you go HUR

Before entering office in 2001, Cheney bought an insurance policy that guaranteed a fixed amount of deferred payments from Halliburton each year for five years so that the payments would not depend on the company's fortunes.[27] He is legally bound by an agreement he signed which turns over power of attorney to a trust administrator to sell the options at some future time and to give the after-tax profits to three charities. The agreement specifies that 40% will go to the University of Wyoming (in Cheney's home state), 40% will go to George Washington University's medical faculty to be used for tax-exempt charitable purposes, and 20% will go to Capital Partners for Education. The agreement states that it is "irrevocable and may not be terminated, waived or amended," preventing Cheney from taking back the options at a later date.[27]

5/14/2008 10:47:30 AM

I know this; apparently though you did not read my last post.

5/14/2008 10:50:06 AM

I think people realize your point. that is why politicans in power positions have rules that they have to sell off thier interest. I remember Greenspan wasnt allowed to own stock during his tenure, etc. So Im wondering if the president is allowed to own stock.

Im sure there are ways around this however.

5/14/2008 10:55:54 AM

Quote :

"mean Mrs. Cheney, his kids, or his friends have a stake in big oil and halliburton "

5/14/2008 10:56:50 AM

^show me

5/14/2008 11:06:36 AM

Quote :

"BTW, can we check the Obama's increased income levels, too?]"

The sarcasm is unnecessary, and yes, that would be nice to know as well...it would be nice to know how all of the politicians are doing in their personal fortunes, and I'd be happy to broaden the question to any public servant who currently holds an office on the National level.

5/14/2008 11:10:02 AM

Vladimir Putin

5/14/2008 11:10:41 AM

Quote :

"show me "

why wouldn't he?

Please explain to me why a president/VP who has had past interest in big oil and energy contractors like haliburton would know show favortism. Or why that wouldn't "encourage" legislation to benefit these industries moreso then others.

Don't even make me dig out news reports on Halliburton's NO BID contracts for various multi-billion dollar contracts in iraq. don't be a fool. It is dandy if you like the bush administration but don't deny they are immune to biases and favortism. I would probably do similar given the situation.

5/14/2008 12:00:00 PM

BUST WENT TO IRAQ JUST FOR THE OIL!!!!!11111

5/14/2008 12:02:36 PM

CLINTON BECAME PRESIDENT JUST TO GET HEAD FROM INTERNS IN THE WHITEHOUSE

5/14/2008 12:13:00 PM

JUST BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE ACTUALLY HAPPENED DOESNT INFER VALIDITY FOR THE SECOND!!!

5/14/2008 12:48:14 PM

Wow. clearly this thread has been whored into oblivion.

Thanks everyone for the creative, original and thought provoking intellectualism. Please continue to grind your respective axes.

5/14/2008 12:48:18 PM

Quote :

"Don't even make me dig out news reports on Halliburton's NO BID contracts for various multi-billion dollar contracts in iraq."

What's the point? Halliburton has been getting big government contracts for many years. If you want to make a point you can get together some info showing that they've received a higher percentage of contracts since Bush entered office. So far no one here has been able to do that.

5/14/2008 1:23:08 PM

^ i haven't seen much substance at all in this thread yet

5/14/2008 2:24:25 PM

you noobs. you dont make money from the stock market until you actually sell your share.

5/14/2008 2:36:23 PM

Quote :

"Please explain to me why a president/VP who has had past interest in big oil and energy contractors like haliburton would know[sic] show favortism. Or why that wouldn't "encourage" legislation to benefit these industries moreso then others."

Dude, this is not how you debate. You/your side make a claim and then claim that we have the burden to disprove it or else you're unequivocally right.. It doesn't work that way. Show me something and I'll refute it if I can, or I won't if you're right.

SHOW ME.

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 2:38 PM. Reason : .]

5/14/2008 2:36:39 PM

I am sorry it should not require a 50 page thesis. Anyone that does not think George W does not have a natural bias towards supporting the oil industry is an idiot. PERIOD.

To think so otherwise just proves the lack of insight people in TSB have about politics.

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 3:36 PM. Reason : a]

5/14/2008 3:36:11 PM

Why? From what I saw he was never very good at the oil business. All his concerns went bust. I doubt before becoming president he had any friends in that industry since he lost everyone money by drilling dry holes. Maybe his time working in that industry convinced him that everyone else there was an asshole and should be persecuted by the government. I don't know for sure, but these rambling assertions so far have just as much proof as your rambling assertions.

The rediculous part is that your defense is probably just a google search away. You could flood this board with pseudo research done by conspiracy theorists the world over with just a click of your mouse. But, instead, you would rather be pretent your beliefs are somehow beyond question.

5/14/2008 6:14:39 PM

technically we didnt go into iraq to take their oil

we went in there to protect our strategic interests in the region

5/14/2008 7:37:09 PM

I thought we went there because Saddam had WMDs , Saddam was working with O'sama Bin Laden, oh i remember to free the iraqi people from oppression under Saddam replacing him with democracy, freedom, and liberty

5/14/2008 9:28:40 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_the_New_American_Century#Open_letter_to_President_Clinton_on_Iraq

5/14/2008 9:32:31 PM

Sweet so basically according to the thread creator and some dumbass diehard liberals, when Bush leaves office in January gas prices will go down.

5/14/2008 11:54:55 PM

also the ice caps will grow back

5/14/2008 11:56:16 PM

Quote :

"technically we didnt go into iraq to take their oil we went in there to protect our strategic interests in the region"

oh snap

dnl just did the damn thing

[Edited on May 14, 2008 at 11:59 PM. Reason : dsfdsfds]

5/14/2008 11:59:29 PM

^^ LOL

Except the ice is doing just fine--but none of the alarmists seem to be acknowledging that fact:

Sea Ice Extent

Quote :

"According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the March 2008 Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent, which is measured from passive microwave instruments onboard NOAA satellites, was below the 1979-2000 mean, but greater than the previous four years."

Quote :

"Meanwhile, the March 2008 Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was much above the 1979-2000 mean. This was the largest sea ice extent in March (28.6% above the 1979-2000 mean) over the 30-year historical period, surpassing the previous record set in 1994 by 10.9%. Sea ice extent for March has increased at a rate of 4.2%/decade."

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/mar/global.html#seaice

[Edited on May 15, 2008 at 8:04 AM. Reason : ]

5/15/2008 7:47:15 AM