They want his AUTOGRAPH?

Link via Atrios:

www.kstp.com ...

(They've updated the site to take out the text about the event itself, and instead it's all about whether they should've reported it, which I find suspicious. But the video still works.)

Now, my first reaction was that it was kinda pathetic for anyone in Congress to be grabbing Bush's shoulder after the speech and refusing to let go, basking in him like he's some rock star. (I also thought "standing with Bush? What's THAT worth?) But the newscasters also said that Rep. Bachmann wanted Bush's autograph on her State of the Union invitation. And that this is a common thing.

Now, I've always been an anti-autograph guy in general. But even factoring in my bias, for crying out loud, getting the guy's autograph? If it is in fact common, I won't single out Rep. Bachmann. Isn't there a little self-respect issue here? Believe it or not, Congresspeople, you're fairly high-ranking government officials yourself.

And of course, there's the policy angle: I'm not really confident that this president will be taken to task by people who are asking for his autograph.

•  I thought it was pathetic

  I was embarrassed that these clowns represent the american people.

  by Urizen on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:32:05 PM PDT

  •  Not me.

    I'd have forced him to sign mine. Think what it will be worth when he's impeached.

    A signed copy of the last SOTU before he leaves office in disgrace? Priceless.

    by Pager on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:34:02 PM PDT

    •  Yeah I spoze now that it's harder for them

      to take kickbacks and bribes from lobbyists they need a new source of unearned income.

      by Urizen on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:42:03 PM PDT

    •  a year from today. . .

      for sale at eBay (1 of 100): genuine, authentic autograph from Former President George W Bush.

      And those of us who want this collectible should also keep an eye on craiglist.

      by alizard on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:06:14 PM PDT

•  Tip Jar?

  Is this how you do it? It's my first diary.

  by RickMassimo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:36:14 PM PDT

  •  Yep

    That's exactly how it's done.

    by leftilicious on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:53:09 PM PDT

•  It was odd that the younger woman in the white

  suit kept touching W.  

  by oculus on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:38:26 PM PDT

  •  That's who the story was about, no? (nt)

    by RickMassimo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:40:11 PM PDT

    •  Not sure, as I didn't check the link. On C Span

      I saw two women, one in a white suit with dark hair, who kept touching Bush to keep him from moving away, I guess, and a white-haired woman in a blue suit who touched him occasionally.  

      by oculus on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:44:41 PM PDT

      •  Yeah the woman in white

        is the whole point of that video, and the news stories all day, and this diary. So. Yeah.

        by leftilicious on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:53:48 PM PDT

        •  Sorry to all. I can't open the link. Carry on.

          by oculus on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:55:04 PM PDT

  •  I think it odd

    that ANYONE would want to touch Bush.

    But maybe that's just me.

    by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:46:32 PM PDT

    •  She looked like a Katherine Harris clone

      by mperloe on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:11:41 PM PDT

      •  I thought so too.

        I wonder if she posesses the same comic potential.  

        I wonder if The Daily Show will run with this one...I definitely thought it was kind of a bizarre moment.

        by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:14:44 PM PDT

  •  You must not recognize crazy Michele Bachman,

    the woman in white. She got Bush twice. She shook his hand(?) on the way in. Then she hung all over him to get his signature on the program. She was always mentioned during the campaign as one replublican candidate who wanted the president to campaign with her. Check out http://www.mnpublius.com for more on Michele's antics, like she calls the Prez, "buff" .

    by kkjohnson on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:54:07 PM PDT

    •  Is she the latter day Monica?

      by oculus on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:55:38 PM PDT

  •  The woman in white

    Someone watching the SOTU with me saw her fawning over Bush and siad "that's Hillary Clinton, isn't it?"
    Please do not hold me entirely responsible for the company I sometimes keep.

    by Catte Nappe on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:47:07 PM PDT

    •  Now that's funny.

      by oculus on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:54:05 PM PDT

•  The Democrats should pass a whole bunch of bills

  enacting universal health care, stronger environmental regulations, getting us out of Iraq, and undoing some/all of the damage Bush has done domestically...

  And then, next year at the SOTU, line the aisle with the bills held out and Sharpies at the ready, asking for Bush's autograph.  

  Wait.  I guess that's not how it works.  Damn.

  by J R Hand on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:38:56 PM PDT

  •  remember who we're discussing here

    It might actually work.

    However, anyone tempted to get some of Bush's personal checks and try for a Bush autograph probably shouldn't. Ethics aside, it probably worked the first hundred times it was tried and even Bush knows better now.

    by alizard on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:12:19 PM PDT

    •  Yeah - It will be his last one

      so he might sign anything.

      by SarahLee on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:33:50 PM PDT

      •  the answer may have been on TDS...

        Presidential pardons. (and of course, even if one is never in the kind of ugly mess that requires one... what do you think a Presidential Pardon would be worth on eBay?)

        If I'd been in the Capitol for the SOTU, I probably would have had an undated pardon ready for Bush to sign.

        by alizard on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 01:05:34 AM PDT

        •  Saw that and immediately thought about

          this thread.

          by SarahLee on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 08:28:18 AM PDT

          •  how many other

            authentic "get out of jail free" cards exist in the real world?

            by alizard on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 02:16:05 PM PDT

•  E-Bay currency n/t

  by tvb on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:38:58 PM PDT

•  I want Bush's autograph on the following:

  H.J. Res. 73
  H. J. Res. 14
  S. 121
  S. 233
  H.R. 353
  H. Res. 41
  H. Con. Res. 23
  H.R. 455
  H.R. 413
  H.R. 438
  H. Con. Res. 33
  H.J. Res. 14

  by zeus4prez on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:39:26 PM PDT

  •  I'd be content with

    Bush's signature on a letter of resignation.

    by alizard on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:12:53 PM PDT

•  I thought that at first, but then I realized that

  I probably would have him sign my copy.  It is historical.....even if he is a $%^&*@!  I'd rather do that than shake his hand.

  Besides, it's going to be much harder to get once he is either behind bars or exiled to Siberia (as if the Russians would have him).

  by Scout Finch on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:39:27 PM PDT

  •  Do you think you get signing statements

    with the autographs?

    by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:47:39 PM PDT

    •  I dunno, but I would frame it......

      in the same frame as the picture of him leaving the White House in disgrace.....ala Nixon.

      by Scout Finch on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:56:13 PM PDT

•  Thank You Atrios! ... and RickM -

  Thanks too for posting the link here - my entire family was howling at this last night!!  We were wondering who in the world that woman could be - reminded me of Katherine Harris (ahh - Aabisher's pure.comedy.gold. -- she was a comedic mother lode!!) but anyway - so this is Bachman from MN?  

  I linked to the story at ktsp, not much there, but the comments were very funny.

  I thought it was a bizarre SOTU moment and she was ridiculously out of line, but then, I find the entire rock-star production of the SOTU these days with the staged standing ovations and presidential "guests of the moment" in the gallery to be pretty obnoxious too.  And the whooping and hollering in the chamber for the POTUS - jeeze.  Too much adolescent pep-rally meets political-american-idol and waaaay to little decorum.

  But I am getting old and cranky.  I do like gravitas when appropriate, and I think SOTU is one of those times.

   

  by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:45:45 PM PDT

  •  Maybe I should just change my handle

    to "the cranky armadillo".  It really would be much more descriptive.  

    by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:49:13 PM PDT

  •  The whooping and hollering

    does have a longstanding tradition ... ever seen live coverage of the British parliament?

    That said, you don't grab the president like that. C'mon.

    by leftilicious on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:55:25 PM PDT

    •  That's fine ...

      ... but the British Parliament also has a tradition of heckling, don't they? I'm all for one if we can have the other as well.

      by RickMassimo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:06:40 PM PDT

    •  I actually like to watch Parliament

      Can you imagine Bush trying to field the questions though, as the PM does during "Prime Minister's Question Time?"  THAT would be priceless.  Including the whooping and hollering....maybe, PARTICULARLY the whooping and hollering (and jeering!)

      But they don't do that for the Opening of Parliament, (which I would liken SOTU to) which has its own strange customs (the entire House of Commons cannot come into the Chamber of Lords, not even the PM!!  There is a barrier to prevent the commoners from coming completely into that chamber and they must stand for the duration of the Queen's speech.)  

      Ah well, one set of strange customs, or another....

      by blue armadillo on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 02:10:06 PM PDT

      •  my thoughts exactly

        thank God for C-Span

        by Cat4everrr on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 03:34:02 PM PDT

  •  For more info:

    Check out http://www.mnpublius.com

    by kkjohnson on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 01:55:50 PM PDT

•  I saw the women grabbing

  his shoulder and she would not let go.  I thought to myself he must be shuddering inside...how rude

  by Cat4everrr on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 03:32:00 PM PDT

•  Please do not use "Bush" as a diary tag

  The correct tag for the current president is "George W. Bush."

  Tag guidelines instruct that when names are used both the first and last names should be included and in cases like the George Bushes - the middle initials are essential.

  Please do not enter "bush" or "Bush" or "President Bush" as a tag.

  If you have TU status and you SEE "bush" as a tag, please fix or delete.  We are trying to get rid of over 900 "bush" tags (down from over 3000) - we really don't need new ones.

  Thanks!

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  by SarahLee on Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 04:30:37 PM PDT

  •  Sorry ...

    ... first diary; still learning.

    by RickMassimo on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 07:10:49 AM PDT

    •  Be sure and read the FAQ on tagging

      http://www.dkosopedia.com/...

      by SarahLee on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 08:30:53 AM PDT