Where Are They Now? The Bush White House (SLIDESHOW)

Since leaving the White House, members of the Bush administration have had varying experiences adjusting to a new reality.

President Bush, who was unrecognized by the greeter on a visit to a hardware store in Dallas, recently had to borrow chairs from his Secret Service detail when he and Laura hosted a dinner at their new home.

Laura recently told ABC News that she even had trouble getting the Dallas Morning News delivered.

Some former Bush officials, such as Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, have already picked up paying gigs. Others, such as Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and former AG Alberto Gonzales, have had trouble finding new jobs.

In fact, many of the 3,000 Bush political appointees are expected to have trouble finding new jobs, reports the Wall Street Journal. "They are getting a lot less than they expected," said one former official.

Click through this slideshow to see what has happened to members of the Bush administration:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Since leaving the White House, former President Bush has kept himself busy with his new home in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, helping raise $300 million to fund his presidential library, writing a memoir of his eights years on Pennsylvania Avenue. And he's already hitting the lecture circuit with a luncheon speech in Calgary on March 17. But time marches on - when Bush, in sweatpants and a windbreaker, showed up at Elliot's Hardware asking where he could find a torch and batteries, the greeter didn't recognize him.

Comments

[Clavis]

Why weren't any of these photos front-and-side?

[samaire]

Get a job losers

[AbeMartin]

I hope all of them end up on line to apply in person for the EBT (food stamps) cards and unemployment benefits, and have to confront the people they scorned when they were in power. As for Gonzales, who in their right mind would offer him a role in government (even Texas, which has NO standards), or at a law firm when he is such a prime candidate for disbarment and indictment?

Spelling will probably end up joining or setting up some consulting unit to advise schools on how to skirt the guidelines that the Dept of Education established during her administration.

And if that doesn't work, one of the rightist universities, such as Pepperdine, or Bob Jones will give some fat sinecure so they can indoctrinate future politicos in the subtleties of their dark craft.

[Diogenis]

a Conservative "think thank" hey? Watch those typo's! Type..'think tank!

[petsounds]

My favorite -- of many -- was "eeked out." EEK! Editor failure!

[alanearth]

To bad the neocons thought they would rule the world to the end of days, when they would be transported to heaven with the terroists and 50 virgins. They have all been left behind. Put them all in jail where they belong.

[garystartswithg]

its going to be fun seeing who rove and miers scapegoat. my guess is albie should start looking for a janitorial job in belarus if they are nice enough to have him -- and soon. and take haynes, feith, bybee, addington, and yoo with him.

[tangelan]

And none of these folks are in prison yet. Seriously?!

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has also had trouble landing a job since resigning under fire in August 2007. “With respect to employment, listen, I can understand in a very tough economy, some employers are going to be very hesitant about bringing someone like me on when you have an ongoing investigation,” he told CNN last month.

Ya think? I want him to go the jail so bad.

[RJII]

that slideshow made me kinda sick to my stomach. It was like rehashing a horr ibly long vyolent night ma re.

[ForObamaInDallas]

LOL. I've shopped at that Elliot's Hardware. Pretty cool hardware store. One of my faves.

What I find amusing is the greeter didn't recognize him ... how much you wanna bet the greeter, seeing as how this is Texas, probably voted for the man, TWICE?

[Silly old me]

Where are they now? Who cares!
Where should they be? In prison, serving long, long sentences.

[namewithheld]

Ok, but what I'd rather know is where are Wolfowitz, Perle, and PNAC cabal. I hope someone is keeping an eye on them this time.

[sandpiper1]

I think Perle lives in France..guess he figured he would be better off leaving the country though I can't understand why France would want him in their country...they should label him 'persona no grata' and deport him. They should all be in jail...where's the justice?

[ThankGodhesgone]

Boo effin Hoo. How does it feel like to live in the real world? This entire administration ruined the country and wonder why they can't books published or new jobs?

[Xylem44]

"Elaine Chao, who is marred to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell"

Hah! Freudian slip! :)

[yuhaniz]

THAT A MEMBER OF THE ELECTORATE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE BUSH AFTER 8 YEARS SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE IQ OF MANY. SCARY.

[zitlight73]

I think Obama shold keep Gitmo open for the ones that created it.

[dandypuddin]

Wonder who should get the Waterboard Suite?

[hoper01]

cheney