When Bush steps up to the podium at a closely controlled private event, he’ll face 1,500 friendly faces brought in by organizers and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Tickets reportedly sold for $400 each and were made available exclusively by invitation.
Those invitations say Bush will share his thoughts “on eight momentous years in the Oval Office.” The former president will also speak about “the challenges facing the world in the 21st century.”
Protesters promise to be out in full force.
$400.00 to listen to George W. Bush?
Organizers say they got 1500 people to fork out $400?
Oh, Canada.
I’d be paying attention to the Canadians who bought their way inside instead of outside on the streets protesting. I hope Calgarians turn out in droves.  NY Times:
So what does the current President Bush plan to do after leaving office? At the end of this revealing book, Mr. Draper quotes him saying that he plans to build a “Freedom Institute,†a sort of think tank where young leaders from abroad can learn about democracy. Mr. Bush, who has a net worth estimated at $8 million to $21 million, also said he would like to make some money — “replenish the ol’ coffers,†as he put it.
He said he could make “ridiculous†money out on the lecture circuit: “I don’t know what my dad gets. But it’s more than fifty, seventy-five†thousand dollars a speech.
