Posted on 04/30/2005 7:56:02 PM PDT by wjersey
WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush stole the show with a surprise comedy routine that ripped President Bush and brought an audience that included much of official Washington and a dash of Hollywood to a standing ovation at a dinner honoring award-winning journalists.
The president planned a speech late Saturday at the 91st annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, but was quickly "interrupted" by his wife in an obviously planned ploy.
"Not that old joke, not again," she said to the delight of the audience. "I've been attending these dinners for years and just quietly sitting there. I've got a few things I want to say for a change."
The president sat down and she proceeded to note that he is "usually in bed by now" and said she told him recently, "If you really want to end tyranny in the world you're going to have to stay up later."
She outlined a typical evening: "Nine o'clock, Mr. Excitement here is sound asleep and I'm watching `Desperate Housewives'." Comedic pause. "With Lynne Cheney. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife."
But she said they obviously were destined to be together as a couple because "I was the librarian who spent 12 hours a day in library and yet somehow I met George."
Joining the Bushes were Vice President Dick Cheney and wife Lynne, nine Cabinet members and two Supreme Court justices, Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer.
News organizations hosted show business and sports stars such as Goldie Hawn, LL Cool J, Richard Gere, Jane Fonda and the starting quarterbacks of this year's Super Bowl, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Award winners announced earlier this month:
_Ron Fournier of The Associated Press, the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure for his stories on Bush's victory over John Kerry.
_Susan Page of USA Today, the Aldo Beckman Award for her stories on the presidency and the presidential campaign.
_Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Edgar A. Poe Award for a series of stories on athletes' steroid use.
Presidents since Calvin Coolidge have attended the dinner hosted by the association, which was established in 1914 as a bridge between the press corps and the White House.
As if Randi Rhodes on Air America hasn't demonstrated it so well within the last week.
"and I don't think that I have ever seen her look more beautiful."
I was thinking that same thing. Extremely pretty lady.
I thought she said "Dollar Bill" was Justice Ginsberg :)
Wow! Mrs Bush was great. What a refreshing thing to have such a first lady. The Country should be proud.
I must say though... Cedric did rely on the "glad to be here" line a few too many times. Toward the end I swore he'd say he was in Vietnam.
Thanks to Joe and Jane Republican - we are not listening to TAYreza but this beautiful (inside and out) First Lady instead.
She just might be the best ever 1st Lady.
She was hilarious! Who knew?!
She doesn't look like a desperate housewife to me. She looks pretty darned contented, if you know what I mean and I think you do. That glow comes from George.
Indeed!
She was terrific. I burned a DVD of it and watched it again. Laura Bush stole the show
Yes, she was in top form tonight. And she managed to make the President blush twice and the Vice President blush once.
Laura Rocks! She's a class act!
She was very funny .. Good Job Laura
I agree!!!! She's far more beautiful than Kennedy. Just look at pictures of Kennedy at Laura's age.
Can ANYONE explain to me why Jane Fonda was in attendance??? Richard Freakin' Gere also.
They have to be a member of the White House Correspondence Association that invites them. Since most are lefties it is not suprising to see them invited.
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