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George Bush entered the White House after one of the closest and most contested elections in U.S. history. Since taking office, the two-term president has served during some of the nation's most turbulent times. Take a look at the pivotal images from George Bush's presidency.
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -- Organizers of an investment conference in the Cayman Islands have been forbidden from disclosing any details about a speech by former President George W. Bush in the offshore financial haven, an event spokesman said Thursday.
The keynote speech by the former president was "totally closed to all journalists," and conference organizers were banned from discussing any aspect of it even in general terms, spokesman Dan Kneipp said.
"We've got a complete blackout on discussing the Bush details," Kneipp told The Associated Press.
In an exclusive interview with NBC's Matt Lauer, the former President George W. Bush spoke frankly about alcohol abuse and his decision to quit drinking.
The restrictions were imposed by the former president's staff, he said. Bush was scheduled to speak Thursday evening at The Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman Island.
"It's totally their decision," Kneipp said of the decision to close the event to the media.
According to the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit website, Bush was to "offer his thoughts on eight years in the Oval Office, the challenges facing our nation in the 21st century, the power of freedom, and the role of faith."
Members of the Bush family, including George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, are featured in a video presentation at the Republican National Convention.
Sponsors of the conference include KPMG, a company that provides tax advisory services, and Deutsche Bank. It costs $4,000 to attend and other speakers include billionaire Richard Branson.
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
Cayman Islands officials are proud of the British territory's role as an offshore finance center. But members of the U.S. Congress and advocates for changes in tax laws have accused corporations and wealthy individuals of using so-called financial havens to improperly avoid taxes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Yes, he's a private citizen now, but isn't it just plain ODD that he wants NO ONE outside this group to hear what he has to say? He used to be the president!!!! Most former presidents continue to do good work in PUBLIC. I mean I'm glad he's gone back under a rock, but WTF. I guess it's all part of his secret society stuff.
Who cares what Bush has to say. I want to hear what the investment group has to say. Do you suppose I could take my teacher's salary and make some Cayman investments? Perhaps the Romney's maids could invest with some insider trading.
To Elliot: It only takes a few minutes and a few dollars to START a corporation in the U.S.
I got an idea. Lets put a Bush article on MSNBC that will make us liberials froth at the mouth for a short period of time. So what if Bush does these conferences all the time, lets get something out there that all us Bush haters can focus on. Brings us together as a hate group. Ok, everybody at their keyboard....ready.....type!
Jobless rate up. Time's up Barry. Bush is not in charge Barry. Cayman's will be the new economic center of North America if Barry gets four more. Nothing sinister about planning for the future. Nothing at all sinister about eliminating the yellow journalists from any meeting about truth or economic reality. The press has done this to themselves by carrying soooo much water for their empty suit in DC.
The DUHbya is just checking on the money he and Draft Dodger Cheney made on two illegal wars that's all.
So that's what happened to that $1 billion in cash that 'fell of the truck' in Baghdad. I wondered why the US would have a plane load of cash in a war zone.
Sounds harmless enough... Why all the secrecy? LOL
The bigger WHY would be WHY would they want Dubya's thoughts on any of these things?
It's the challenges of hiding your money in the 21st century, the power of freedom to get away with hiding your money in the 21st century, and the role of faith in portraying yourself as moral to cover up your amoral crimes against the United States and it's people.
See? They just left out some choice words.
the new world hoarder
maybe w can wave his bible and tell everyone that jesus has forgiven him for killing 100k Iraqis while force feeding them our phoney baloney brand of democracy.
This is a bold move having a conference to discuss how to evade taxes and steal money from the United States.
Sweet Karma will handle these guys.
It's pretty telling that when he was President, this guy's handlers dreaded him holding press conferences, for obvious reasons. To me, that's a big reason why he has quietly faded away, which is appropriate. So he crawls out from exile for this? I think much like his press conferences, the Republican establishment doesn't want his remarks recorded. Maybe not so much for content as for sheer stupidity.
It posted twice...
George W. Bush and his ilk are
PHARISEES
In this country, he can't even get a ticket to a Republican event. It shows me that Republicans, though you may not think they have the capacity for it; have the ability to feel shame.
As they should.
I wonder why he didn't come to Panama? The money laundry here is leaps and bounds above what the Caymans offer. Oh I forgot, an American citizen can't get a bank account here now due to US pressure on reporting offshore accounts. You can set up a corporation though, anonymously, and it can have a bank account. You also need to be be a credible threat to the people handling your ill gotten gains because they might steal it from you. Plus Bush might have kidnapped, security is much easier in the Caymans than Panama.
I'm sure the blackout has more to do with giving future paid appearances/talks on the same topic.
Most probably so concerned that when Obama wins and no longer has to worry about his second term...he'll bring Dubya to trial on his war crimes! Down there plotting how to steal this election...like they did the one where the Supreme Beings(NOT) appointed Dubya!
This might be the one and only area that Romney has an expertize on. If we vote president based on this issue, I'll vote for Romney.
Where's the 'blue money' exchange when we need it?
Speaking of failures as president . . . .
The Cayman Islands don't accept GAY people either you crazy liberals!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cite your source of stfu.
President Clinton made 4 campaign stops in multiple states yesterday to support President Obama. W is in the Cayman Islands yesterday to support seminars on how Americans can cheat on their taxes. His act is so despicable that the event isn't open to news reporters. Compare and contrast.
Ricardo98
I surely didn't see anywhere that GWB was advertising that he was going to be in The Caymans. Me thinks that some low life paparottens are just rolling the Bushes for a scoop. Bunch of morons you all are
You miss out on a lot when you only get your news from Fox/Rush/Drudge.
Just how much is old Georgie putting in his wallet for this speech? Rich speaking to the rich. I can almost guarantee that some pro-Romney material will "leak" out of this and make the news; no one will hold any one accountable for the leak which will in truth be a plant to help Romney; the GOP stops at nothing to get their man in office; Bush is proof of that.
Gee i wonder why the wealthiest a ss holes and tax evaders don't want voters to see what they're up to. Probably for similar reasons that Romney won't show more than 1 complete return. It's profitable to keep secrets, and if the masses all learned the truth about how the system is rigged against them and who is really buying policy, the hordes would lynch them.
Hmmm... Wonder what he said about Romney's accounts down there?
Any comments from the T-baggers out there?
Private conference. Private. Anyone having a hard time understanding PRIVATE see the constitution. So when somebody speaks at a Private conference they are not required to let Obama's meddling press in to hear what they have to say. So Obama's press corps decides to run a story about not being invited to the party because everyone knows who they work for. Too bad so sad. They did this to themselves by carrying Barry's water for four years.