Joe Guy wrote: Why would anyone want to be president?
Is it for the retirement benefits?
Nope, it's for the life-time Secret Service protection, and the lavish funeral.
Why I Like Newt
Re: Why I Like Newt
Nope, it's for the life-time Secret Service protection, and the lavish funeral.
Re: Why I Like Newt
Isn't that part of the retirement benefit?loCAtek wrote:Joe Guy wrote: Why would anyone want to be president?
Is it for the retirement benefits?
Nope, it's for the life-time Secret Service protection, and the lavish funeral.
Re: Why I Like Newt
Oh, I thought that meant, what you got paid in pension.
Re: Why I Like Newt
Presidential Retirement Benefits
By Robert Longley, About.com Guide
Presidential retirement benefits were non-existent until the enactment of the Former Presidents Act (FPA) in 1958. Since then, presidential retirement benefits have included a lifetime annual pension, staff and office allowances, travel expenses, Secret Service protection and more.
Pension
Former presidents are offered a taxable lifetime pension equal to the annual rate of basic pay for the heads of executive branch departments, like the Cabinet Secretaries. This amount is set annually by Congress and is currently (in 2011) $199,700 per year. The pension starts the minute the president officially leaves office at noon on Inauguration Day. Widows of former presidents are provided with a $20,000 annual lifetime pension and mailing privileges, unless they choose to waive their right to the pension.
In 1974, the Justice Department ruled that presidents who resign from office before their official terms of office expire are entitled to the same lifetime pension and benefits extended to other former presidents. However, presidents who are removed from office due to impeachment forfeit all benefits.
Transition Expenses
For the first 7 months, beginning one month before the January 20 inauguration, former presidents get transition funding the help them transition back into private life. Granted under the Presidential Transition Act, the funds can be used for office space, staff compensation, communications services, and printing and postage associated with the transition. The amount provided is determined by Congress.
Staff and Office Allowances
Six months after a president leaves office, he or she gets funds for an office staff. During the first 30 months after the leaving office, the former president gets a maximum of $150,000 per year for this purpose. Thereafter, the Former Presidents Act stipulates that the aggregate rates of staff compensation for a former President cannot exceed $96,000 annually. Any additional staff costs must be paid for personally by the former president.
Former presidents are compensated for office space and office supplies at any location in the United States. Funds for former presidents' office space and equipment are authorized annually by Congress as part of the budget for the General Services Administration (GSA).
Travel Expenses
Under a law enacted in 1968, the GSA makes funds available to former presidents and no more than two of his or her staff members for travel and related expenses. To be compensated, the travel must be related to the former president's status as an official representative of the United States government. In other words, travel for pleasure is not compensated. The GSA determines all appropriate costs for travel.
Secret Service Protection
Former presidents who entered office before January 1, 1997 and their spouses get Secret Service protection for life, unless they choose to decline it. Surviving spouses of former presidents get secret service protection until they remarry. (18 U.S.C. 3056 - Powers, authorities, and duties of United States Secret Service)
Former presidents who entered office after January 1, 1997 and their spouses get Secret Service protection for a maximum of 10 years. A spouse's 10-year protection ends upon divorce, remarriage, or the death of the former president. In the event of the death of a serving president, the spouse gets Secret Service protection for one year. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security can authorize temporary protection at any time. (18 U.S.C. 3056)
Protection for a former president's children is available to them until the age of 16 or for a period not to exceed 10 years, whichever occurs first. (18 U.S.C. 3056)
In addition, the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000, granted the Secret Service additional authority to investigate threats against former presidents and their families.
The Secret Service also provides protective services to the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect, and the immediate families of the those individuals.
Medical Expenses
Former Presidents and their spouses, widows, and minor children are entitled to treatment in military hospitals. Former presidents and their dependants also have the option of enrolling in private health insurance plans at their own expense.
State Funerals
Former presidents are traditionally granted state funerals with military honors. Details of the funeral are based on the wishes of the former president's family.
By Robert Longley, About.com Guide
Presidential retirement benefits were non-existent until the enactment of the Former Presidents Act (FPA) in 1958. Since then, presidential retirement benefits have included a lifetime annual pension, staff and office allowances, travel expenses, Secret Service protection and more.
Pension
Former presidents are offered a taxable lifetime pension equal to the annual rate of basic pay for the heads of executive branch departments, like the Cabinet Secretaries. This amount is set annually by Congress and is currently (in 2011) $199,700 per year. The pension starts the minute the president officially leaves office at noon on Inauguration Day. Widows of former presidents are provided with a $20,000 annual lifetime pension and mailing privileges, unless they choose to waive their right to the pension.
In 1974, the Justice Department ruled that presidents who resign from office before their official terms of office expire are entitled to the same lifetime pension and benefits extended to other former presidents. However, presidents who are removed from office due to impeachment forfeit all benefits.
Transition Expenses
For the first 7 months, beginning one month before the January 20 inauguration, former presidents get transition funding the help them transition back into private life. Granted under the Presidential Transition Act, the funds can be used for office space, staff compensation, communications services, and printing and postage associated with the transition. The amount provided is determined by Congress.
Staff and Office Allowances
Six months after a president leaves office, he or she gets funds for an office staff. During the first 30 months after the leaving office, the former president gets a maximum of $150,000 per year for this purpose. Thereafter, the Former Presidents Act stipulates that the aggregate rates of staff compensation for a former President cannot exceed $96,000 annually. Any additional staff costs must be paid for personally by the former president.
Former presidents are compensated for office space and office supplies at any location in the United States. Funds for former presidents' office space and equipment are authorized annually by Congress as part of the budget for the General Services Administration (GSA).
Travel Expenses
Under a law enacted in 1968, the GSA makes funds available to former presidents and no more than two of his or her staff members for travel and related expenses. To be compensated, the travel must be related to the former president's status as an official representative of the United States government. In other words, travel for pleasure is not compensated. The GSA determines all appropriate costs for travel.
Secret Service Protection
Former presidents who entered office before January 1, 1997 and their spouses get Secret Service protection for life, unless they choose to decline it. Surviving spouses of former presidents get secret service protection until they remarry. (18 U.S.C. 3056 - Powers, authorities, and duties of United States Secret Service)
Former presidents who entered office after January 1, 1997 and their spouses get Secret Service protection for a maximum of 10 years. A spouse's 10-year protection ends upon divorce, remarriage, or the death of the former president. In the event of the death of a serving president, the spouse gets Secret Service protection for one year. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security can authorize temporary protection at any time. (18 U.S.C. 3056)
Protection for a former president's children is available to them until the age of 16 or for a period not to exceed 10 years, whichever occurs first. (18 U.S.C. 3056)
In addition, the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000, granted the Secret Service additional authority to investigate threats against former presidents and their families.
The Secret Service also provides protective services to the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect, and the immediate families of the those individuals.
Medical Expenses
Former Presidents and their spouses, widows, and minor children are entitled to treatment in military hospitals. Former presidents and their dependants also have the option of enrolling in private health insurance plans at their own expense.
State Funerals
Former presidents are traditionally granted state funerals with military honors. Details of the funeral are based on the wishes of the former president's family.
I expected to be placed in an air force combat position such as security police, forward air control, pararescue or E.O.D. I would have liked dog handler. I had heard about the dog Nemo and was highly impressed. “SFB” is sad I didn’t end up in E.O.D.
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Mr. Duality
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:15 pm
- Location: The High Plains of Wyoming
Re: Why I Like Newt
I fail to understand how an intelligent person could even consider Newt for President. He has an amazing amount of baggage, especially the fact that of him having been the only Speaker of the house ever to have been disciplined for ethics violations.
Huntsman is the only one of them I might vote for but he apparently has no hope of getting the nomination. It's a sad situation.
Huntsman is the only one of them I might vote for but he apparently has no hope of getting the nomination. It's a sad situation.
Re: Why I Like Newt
Huntsman was filtered out by the GOP hierarchy.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Why I Like Newt
If Obama is reelected he will continue to do what he is doing now which is basically nothing. How much of the one trillion dollar stimulus made it to shovel ready projects? I suspect that the majority if it was skimmed off and used for political purpose because I see no effect on the economy.Mr. Duality wrote:I fail to understand how an intelligent person could even consider Newt for President. He has an amazing amount of baggage, especially the fact that of him having been the only Speaker of the house ever to have been disciplined for ethics violations.
Huntsman is the only one of them I might vote for but he apparently has no hope of getting the nomination. It's a sad situation.
When he first came into offices he talked down the economy; he was not concerned if his comments hurt the economy because it was Bush’s economy but we are still feeling the effects a lot more than Bush is.
For quite a while he ignored the economy but then he started to encourage expanded oil production until the BP oil spill happened. Instead of making BP clean it up, pay for the spill and ensure it never happen again he lost his courage and buckled under to the environmentalist. So we still have high fuel cost and will as long he is president.
If we do not punish our politicians for failure we lose what little influence with them that we have.
_______________________________
To prosper in our country we need three things:
1. to pay down the national debt
2. Cheap energy
3. Jobs
I expected to be placed in an air force combat position such as security police, forward air control, pararescue or E.O.D. I would have liked dog handler. I had heard about the dog Nemo and was highly impressed. “SFB” is sad I didn’t end up in E.O.D.
Re: Why I Like Newt
On Newt's "baggage," I think the ethics situation is miniscule compared to how people will react when his history of serial adultery comes to light. The ethics charges were political bullshit - he was accused to doing the kinds of things that most influential congressmen do. He taught a college course on Government and paid the expenses with charitable contributions. He accepted an unprecedented fine ($300,000), resigned, and never had a problem with the IRS. Who cares?
But his marital history is literally shocking - particularly when laid out alongside his constant preaching about Family Values. And while I think most voters are aware that he is twice-divorced, the details have yet to be published as clearly as they would in a Presidential campaign. Judge Judy would shoot him dead in her courtroom.
And yet, during his four years as House speaker (and largely due to his influence), the House enacted welfare reform, passed a capital gains tax cut (that dramatically increased Federal revenues), and in 1998 passed the first balanced budget in 30 years.
What other candidate has anything near this level of accomplishment at the Federal level?
But his marital history is literally shocking - particularly when laid out alongside his constant preaching about Family Values. And while I think most voters are aware that he is twice-divorced, the details have yet to be published as clearly as they would in a Presidential campaign. Judge Judy would shoot him dead in her courtroom.
And yet, during his four years as House speaker (and largely due to his influence), the House enacted welfare reform, passed a capital gains tax cut (that dramatically increased Federal revenues), and in 1998 passed the first balanced budget in 30 years.
What other candidate has anything near this level of accomplishment at the Federal level?
Re: Why I Like Newt
What do you base that on Dale? I don't see that at all...Huntsman was filtered out by the GOP hierarchy.
Huntsman has been invited to the debates, and received media attention far beyond what most candidates would get, given his abysmal poll numbers.
Huntsman's problem isn't that he was "filtered out" by "the GOP hierarchy"; (whatever that is) it's that he hasn't been able to catch on with rank and file voters. In New Hampshire, where he's put all his emphasis, he spent significant money, campaigned extensively, and still can't manage to get past 12-13 per cent in the polls. And this is a state where the not only is the GOP base considerably less conservative than in Iowa, and independents and even Democrats could participate in the GOP primary. He simply does not appear to be a very effective candidate, (much like Tim Pawlenty)
BTW, the research I've done on Huntsman indicates to me that he is far more Conservative on a wide range of issues than many of his Liberal cheerleaders in the media must think he is.
As for "the GOP hierarchy" it seems to me that one of the most distinguishing features of this nominating cycle is how little influence the establishment "movers and shakers" in the GOP have had on the process.
The main thing those folks want is a winner; if they were going to "filter out" anyone from the process, they would have started with Herman Cain, and then moved on to Michelle Bachmann...
Newt Gingrich would certainly never have enjoyed the rise he did if the "the GOP heirarchy" had anything to say about it. The fact is the candidates that the establishment party leaders favored, (like Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour) they couldn't even persuade to enter the race. They weren't crazy about Romney, but they seem to have decided finally to back him, out of a complete lack of credible alternatives.
Re: Why I Like Newt
I wish they were more concerned about economic salvation. I know you all don’t see our situation as seriously as I do; our present situation has the potential to make the great depression look like the good old days. During World war II, Winton Churchill once said to save my country I would deal with the devil. I know how he felt.Lord Jim wrote:What do you base that on Dale? I don't see that at all...Huntsman was filtered out by the GOP hierarchy.
BTW, the research I've done on Huntsman indicates to me that he is far more Conservative on a wide range of issues than many of his Liberal cheerleaders in the media must think he is.
The main thing those folks want is a winner; .
I expected to be placed in an air force combat position such as security police, forward air control, pararescue or E.O.D. I would have liked dog handler. I had heard about the dog Nemo and was highly impressed. “SFB” is sad I didn’t end up in E.O.D.
Re: Why I Like Newt
You really don't read much. His OWN PARTY voted against him overwhelmingly in approving the fine. Newt was dirty.dgs49 wrote:On Newt's "baggage," I think the ethics situation is miniscule compared to how people will react when his history of serial adultery comes to light. The ethics charges were political bullshit - he was accused to doing the kinds of things that most influential congressmen do. He taught a college course on Government and paid the expenses with charitable contributions. He accepted an unprecedented fine ($300,000), resigned, and never had a problem with the IRS. Who cares?
... "
And these are Republicans, they aren't allowed to have minds, or testicles, of their own.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Why I Like Newt
Newt had become a lightning rod, nothing more.
The Democrats were outraged that he had stolen their Fiefdom - the House of Representatives - so they gave him a body cavity search that would have resulted in charges against Mother Teresa.
The Republicans knew that the potential problem with a continuing series of hearings and witch trials would damage the party, so they asked him to leave and he complied.
As with RMN, the basic "crimes" for which he was ousted are a joke. It was all theater.
Contrast Newt's problems with the laundry list of Democrats who have been caught over the years with their hands in the cookie jar, and rather than force them out, the Democrat caucus conspires to suppress and delay proceedings until the public loses interest.
The Democrats were outraged that he had stolen their Fiefdom - the House of Representatives - so they gave him a body cavity search that would have resulted in charges against Mother Teresa.
The Republicans knew that the potential problem with a continuing series of hearings and witch trials would damage the party, so they asked him to leave and he complied.
As with RMN, the basic "crimes" for which he was ousted are a joke. It was all theater.
Contrast Newt's problems with the laundry list of Democrats who have been caught over the years with their hands in the cookie jar, and rather than force them out, the Democrat caucus conspires to suppress and delay proceedings until the public loses interest.