[personalaccts]

I think gov't is behind the times as usual. Things are different from Harry Trumans days. Stop the perks. Ex-presidents can make millions from speaking and writing. Stop the Perks.

[pnh102]

How much of this whining is politically motivated? If Bush were a Democrat would this whine be screaming that he is not receiving Secret Service protection for life?

[Skooz]

Somebody had to do it:

[tsmith130]

And now with Bush 43 joining the ex president's club, that cost is going to go up even more.

Goooood Lord!...now it's Bush's fault that he's an EX president. These people really are deranged.

[BuffaloJack]

Our ex-Presidents are legitimate Americans with the rights of Americans.
Taking their perks away sounds like the class warfare that the socialists love so much. They earned their perks as they grew old and gray in office.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Reasonable expenses I have no problem with. If we want to stop the abuse, let's itemize the waste that congress critters spend every day, and the perks they roll up for life for serving only one term in office. As for Bill Clintoon making 100 million in payoffs since he left office, that's as immoral as everything he did while in office. He, like Obama, are worshiped by the left. Which says a lot about our fellow citizens. There are two Americas, and it's going to come down to sending the lefties packing to their own socialist hell hole if the America of our forefathers is ever to return. Otherwise, we are doomed to descend into anarchy. Mexico is there already, and it will be crossing the border quite rapidly. Obama will make sure we surrender.

[MarkL]

However by 1958, Truman told Congress he couldn't even afford stamps for official business. Congress immediately passed the Presidential Pension Act and gave him $25,000 salary benefits and staff.

President Truman was in no way a wealthy man. I remember seeing him mow his own lawn at the Truman Home in Independence, MO, which is now a national Historic Site. It's a rather nice home,IIRC, that home was actually owned by Bess' family, though I may be thinking of the Truman Farm.

Two things that set President Truman apart from most others who have aspired to, or actually held the office, were his humility and optimism. Here are 2 quotes that are among my favorites of the man...

“Nothing is so bad it couldn’t be worse.” and “If I lose though I guess I’ll take a whack at something else. I can’t possibly lose forever.”

Compare those to what we're hearing out of Washington, DC today. One other thing to note, which is quite apropos for these times. President Truman was a failure at most business he attempted. But he refused to seek shelter in bankruptcy, and eventually paid back all of his debts.

Mark

[Terry Mross]

Should live under the same rules as those on SS. If they make “too much” money they lose their pension. I always remember the man many here hate. Ross Perot said “We need men to serve instead of cashing in.”

[Brimack34]

Bush already was a millionare. Clinton used politics to become one.

[org.whodat]

The perks are cut back starting with jorge, but I agree more cuts back are in order, And I have no ideal why the speaker of the house should get any.

[yldstrk]

Too bad. They are worth it. Good Grief, have we no class whatsoever? That little lady that pays for her own stamps, big deal. She didn’t earn the right. She didn’t put herself out for the US like the Presidents did. I say the price to protect and treat them well is worth it.