Posted on 12/01/2003 8:27:16 PM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
I was assigned to help out with the Bush Fundraiser at the Hyatt in Dearborn, Michigan. I arrived at the venue with a friend much later than the required 8:30am. ( he just HAD to stop for Gas Station Coffee).
My duty for the day was to work the registration table for the attendees. Unfortunately ( or fortunately depending on your point of view) there wasn't enough room for my friend and I at the table, so we hung around reading a ratty old newspaper that he found at the payphones, and kibbitzing with the guests.
After an hour of this boredom, my friend and I decided to take off our nametags and go into the ballroom and wait for Bush.
We found ourselves a cocktail table by the press area, and hid from anyone who would dare try to give us an assignment. We downed a couple of cokes and were served some of the most god awful hor'derves. We averaged out the price per bite of the food that we ate, and it came out to about $600 per nibble.
An interesting aside. This was a $2000 a head event. I knew many of the attendees and their worth, but there was this man. He wasn't an ordinary man. He was a very strange man. Picture this.... a skinny 60 something dude, with flat white hair in the weirdest outfit I have ever seen. Some sort of wild green print shirt and suit and a big bolo tie with a huge green agate stone at the collar.
That's not the weird It was his hat. Or his toupee. Or maybe it's best described as a Hair Hat. I couldn't figure out if it was on backwards or sideways but it definately wasn't on right. I also think that it made a few trips through the dryer at the local laundry mat. This toupee made James Trafficant's mess look like Mel Gibson.
I just couldn't stop staring, but even worse, neither could anyone else in the room. Well, this guy certainly was a highlight.
About 15 minutes before Bush was to arrive, the VIPs came in and that was our cue to go up to the front of the ballroom. I was able to get directly in front of the president. All that separated us was a thin blue velvet rope. I was stoked.
I had my camera in hand awaiting the president's arrival. My goal for the day was to take a picture of my friend with the president, and if God willing, one of Bush and me. I was limited on exposures because I left my extra roll of film in my coat in the coat check, and couldn't get out of the room for fear of being caught.
So there I was, 10 feet from Bush, and 12 photos left on my camera. This is VITAL to the story.
Bush came out and gave a great speech. I took four photos of him at the podium. Those photos are featured above.
After the speech, Bush came down into my area to shake hands. A man in front of me saw that I had a camera and asked if I would take his picture. I looked at him and asked WHY? Dude, I don't know who you are, why do I want your picture with Bush?
No, no, no, he wanted me to use my camera and take his photo and then mail it to him. Gee, how generous of him. He gave me his card and I agreed. Ok, one less photo for me.
Another interesting aside about this man, I did an internet search on his name when I got home, and the guy is an Albanian Socialist-Communist sympathizer. Oh great, I am taking photos of nutcases with my film!
When the president came by, I took the man's photo with Bush. Then my friend was able to weasle his way to Bush, and said "I'm Bob Jones, You are doing a great job, can you make the Tigers win". I then shot his picture, which is gloriously fabulously excellent.
Now was my turn. " Mr President, may I please have my photo taken with you". He was delighted at the prospect and he put his arm around me and my friend took the photo.
My photo is not as fabulously, gloriously, excellent, because he left off the top of Bushes' cranium. He said he was going for something more 'artsy'. I was not amused.
So my mission was accomplished. I saw the president, I ate bad food and got my photo taken.
On my way out, I was interviewed by the Detroit News. My quotes should be published on December 2. Earlier in the day I was interviewed by a local paper about the president's visit and my support.
I am the gal with the 'Glamour Don't' black box over my eyes. It is there to protect the innocent.
Have you told Wesley Clark about this?
I did make a salad for President Reagan, though, with my own bare hands and a Secret Service dog behind me.
I had my picture taken with W too-well sorta, it was his wax figure at Madame Tussand's museum..lol...he looked great though and I pulled up his trouser leg for the photo to show off the boots he was wearing.
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