Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Forbes -- Motivational Speakers?
So what are some of the biggest names of the Republican Party up to, now that the GOP is itself in the dumps? Well, some of them are hitting the circuit as motivational speakers.
Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani and Steve Forbes have joined up with the "Get Motivated!" seminars run by Peter and Tamara Lowe, and are traveling the country to speak to business groups.
Check out this full-page ad in the Albany Times-Union, for the upcoming seminar in Albany next month:
(Click image to enlarge.)
Just think: Access to Rudy Giuliani could have cost you $2,300 two years ago. But now it's only $4.95 per person -- or you can send your entire office for only $19!
Special thanks to TPM reader MR.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Soon Rudy will be living in a van down by the river.
June 18, 2009 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
but the real question is: are they on twitter?
June 18, 2009 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will Michael Scott of David Brent be there?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2c5j01Z6yY
June 18, 2009 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
oy... "of" should be "OR" . . . Sheesh.
June 18, 2009 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Access to Rudy for $5? Heck, I'd rather eat a meal at some crappy fast food joint.
June 18, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't walk across the street to meet ANY of those guys... especially for only $4.95.
Perhaps if they were offering somewhere in the neighborhood of three or four hundred dollars... and it didn't take too long... I might consider it.
June 18, 2009 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
They've been all over the TV advertising here in the Bible / Rethuglican hell of Oklahoma too.
June 18, 2009 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
That 'seminar' was here in Huntsville, AL, earlier this year. Check the fine print on the ad! Buy your tix in advance for $5 or pay $200 at the door.
Seriously.
I can't tell you how many folks I knew that didn't buy in advance and nearly died o' shock when they tried to walk in that morning.
June 18, 2009 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Giuliani Time!
June 18, 2009 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to his May 2007 financial disclosure report, Rudy earned $9.2 million in speaking fees in 2006-2007, of which about $2 million came from the Get Motivated series. He netted $80K for less than an hour's work, once or twice a month. [Source]
bn
June 18, 2009 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
The thought of an army general as a motivational expert is incongruous with my experience as an officer.
June 18, 2009 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now a properly trained NCO - THERE'S some instant motivation for your ass!
June 18, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, in Oklahoma, in addition to all of those people, we get Joe Montana and "Special Guest" Laura Bush!! Not to mention OU football coach Bob Stoops!! If I was in Albany, I'd feel like I'm getting hosed.
In all seriousness, I don't think this is really a GOP rah, rah session. This fits right in to the Zig Ziglar milieu. Get you in the door cheaply, then sell you several hundred dollars of self-help books and DVDs on the way out the door.
June 18, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's exactly what these "Get Motivated" seminars are. I attended one here (Zig Ziglar was present, albeit badly hampered because of a recent head injury - his daughter was on stage with him to keep him on track). This isn't so much promoting conservative values as it is using conservative values and speakers to sell stuff to conservatives. Really, it was "troops, troops, troops, God, God, Jesus, 'Merica, 'Merica, but seminars!"
Really, I should imagine that the Republicans would be appalled that their base is being sucked try of money by these leeches who co-opt their talking points to sell useless seminars.
June 18, 2009 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah but Colin Powell? Is he really that far off the rails now or does he just need a gig. And my guess would have been neither so I'm confused.
June 18, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're having roadkill and boiled peas for lunch.
June 19, 2009 1:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.themudflats.net/2009/05/16/palin-gets-the-aluminum-but-will-she-get-motivated/
Rudy came to Alaska to speak motivation-ally!
I've lived all my life in Alaska, I think you've literally reached the end of the road when you get booked to give a motivational speech here =-)
June 19, 2009 3:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering why Colin Powell was giving the keynote speech to an executive summit of an IT security company.
June 19, 2009 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric,
Rudy's been doing these Get Motivated seminars for years. They're basically a rehash of his book. He gives the same speech every time with a little tweak to add local color, and gets to stay in a great hotel and make a fortune for very little effort. And I think Colin Powell has been doing these for awhile too. So, you haven't discovered anything new.
It does seem as though they are cheaper, though.
June 19, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw this Ad in our paper once or twice and it seemed fishy. Are these people going to appear live, and all in the same day?
If its only $4.95 per ticket (rounded at $5.00) then they probably need an audience of about 30/40,000 to make it a pay day for this gang and the expenses involved.
June 19, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is it about the photos of the "motivational speakers" in these ads?
Giuliani looks likes he's about to throttle the photographer, and Powell's about to take off like Superman without the cape.
It's not very motivational if the ad scares the crap out of you.
June 19, 2009 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can see how Powell would motivate a crowd of people. But Rudy? He'd only motivate me to commit suicide!
June 19, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink