Posted on 07/07/2004 6:16:46 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
Not only did more than a thousand fans of Bill Clinton show up at the Politics & Prose bookstore Tuesday to get their signed copies of My Life, but they were evidently a committed lot as well. Or so it seemed, given the hoops they had to jump through in order to get Clintons John Hancock.
According to the bookstores website, those lucky enough to score a spot in line had to make an additional trip to the store in order to pick up their book and line ticket prior to the signing, which was timed-entry, based upon last name.
Per rules established by the publisher and President Clintons staff, the notice continues, there is only one book per person, one person per book. Please do not bring a spouse, a child, or a friend to tag along when you have your book signed. No one but you will be allowed to enter the store.
In addition, Only copies of My Life will be signed. No other items, books, papers, or campaign memorabilia will be signed by President Clinton. No photographs are allowed. President Clinton will not be personalizing any books. [And finally] because of the huge demand, we cannot promise that everyones book will be signed.
An assortment of anti-Clinton protesters was also on hand, sequestered half a block down the sidewalk.
Kathy Wood of the conservative organization Free Republic said D.C. police immediately informed members of her group that if they denied egress to any passers-by, they would be removed from the area.
Jim Entringham, an official with the Campus Leadership Program, said there had been exchanges with Clinton foes. Weve gotten flipped off, screamed and yelled at. You like the people who come and make reasoned arguments, he said.
I'm not sure how many people attended the book signing in downtown DC today, but it was probably a like number. The DC Chapter members who were there have not made their way back home yet.
After action reports on both days' events will surely be up in a day or two.
Just realized that none of the libs tried that tactic of "I don't get it, what does your sign mean?" with regard to the Osama sign. Not Monday, not Tuesday, not today. Heard you had a lot of happy people posing with it today.
It didn't matter that folks were getting by just fine along the sidewalk where we were.
Jeff gave us balanced coverage -- three paragraphs and the featured photo. I enjoyed meeting and talking with him.
Those kids playing the roles of Saddam Hussein, Bill Clinton and Monica were fabulous and they had a great time yesterday.
Today, the group showed up again at the Barnes and Noble in downtown DC. It was so crowded that they stayed on the street corners opposite the bookstore for most of the event. But the Bill Clinton impersonator was there again. He wore out three Monicas while they stood outside the exit door greeting all those satisfied fans of the impeached, but proud of it, ex-president Clinton.
One woman with a teenaged daughter passed behind the masked Bill Clinton. She and her daughter had just left the store and had their signed books in hand. I was sitting in a chair beside them and heard the conversation as they walked by. The woman said, "He looks better than the real Bill Clinton looked inside." I got a great laugh out of this exchange.
The lone protester who was at the Politics & Prose booksigning yesterday was also visible today. He stood across 12th Street with his full array of signs. One woman standing on our side of the street said he had one sign she would put a torch to if she could -- it was the sign that said, "IMPEACH ALL DEMOCRATS."
FReep On!
It seems that there are a lot of people who want to email photos of themselves holding that sign, to friends and family members, here and overseas.
There were as many people as could fit, or have a prayer of getting their book signed.
90% of DC residents (and residents of close-in suburbs) vote Dem. They love every Dem. There's not any chance that an election will be different.
Barnes & Noble issued only 1,000 green wristbands to those lucky enough to get a place in line, wait all night and all day to get their few seconds in the presence of Bill Clinton. The wristbands were not numbered, so no one took the chance of getting out of line and going home before returning today at Noon. The wristbands had to be turned in before the book buyer left the store.
Just a funny note -- there were two guys standing around the tapeline in front of the store. They had three boxes that were empty; the boxes were stamped with the title, "MY LIFE." People would come out of the exit from the store, stop in front of these guys, hand them the bag with the signed book in it, get some money (we guessed at least a $20 bill) and then they would move along. The two guys would take the book out of the bag and stack it in one of the boxes.
One of the store security guards began complaining about the men. They maintained that they were doing nothing illegal. The security guard called a DC policeman over and he made them pick up the mostly full boxes and move them out of the area. They hailed a taxi. One of the guys came back. I asked him how many people they had paid to get in line to have books signed. He answered, "about 25." I asked when they would go on sale on eBay. He just gave me a noncommittal wave. He stayed until the last of their people came out and then disappeared.
Oh, the things we see.
If you go to our webshots photos on the DC Chapter site, you can see a photo tgslTakoma took showing the policewoman in question doing a pretty good job of blocking the sidewalk herself.
From the pulpit of a church in DC no less.
The church evidentally let him take the pulpit and not only show up 10 min late and incoherently rant, but also to curse and use God's name in vain, from that very pulpit.
I sent an email to the church and cc'ed a copy to Carville's website after finding the addresses online asking them if they knew what had happened. It's a shame that I'm still waiting for a reply from the church.
There, that pic is a little clearer.
Good job DC Chapter!
You know, some years back Jimmy Carter did a signing tour like this and as I recall he didn't even sign his full name, he just wrote the initials "J.C." He probably wanted people to think he was "Jesus Christ."
I can believe that.
Not quite true, any female over a C-cup got his signature and phone number.
What is the Osama sign? I don't think I've seen it.
Any female over a C-cup and not pretty enough for television you mean...
Go to google.com and in parentatheses put "If Osama were a piece" and you get lots of hits.
Creative, tho ... keep it up! Errr, I mean ... keep ... oh, nevermind ...
g
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