How did the * thing start?

[Book Lover]

As you can see from the number of posts I've made, I'm pretty new here. When and how did the * thing for the current head of the administrative branch of the federal government start up? Thanks!

[Wonk]

1. I think Gary Trudeau did it first in Doonesbury.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. Cause he will always he a *

in the history books...

first unelected president
son of 41
first US president to invade a foreign country that presented no danger to the US

whatever.

[Book Lover]

3. Man, 2 replies within two minutes!

All you guys rock! Thanks.

[Girlfriday]

4. Welcome Book Lover

:hi:

[Book Lover]

5. Thank you. It is lovely to be here :-) (nm)

[On the Road]

6. Trudeau Sometimes Showed Bush Sr. as Empty Space

to emphasize his lack of personal presence.

The depiction of Bush Jr. was an outgrowth of that. After the selection, Trudeau began drawing him as a asterisk under a cowboy hat. (The asterisk, of course, meaning that the "win" wasn't really a win and needed explanation in a footnote.)

And if you haven't followed Doonesbuty for awhile, check out www.doonesbury.com. You can browse all 30 years of strips, or catch any recent dates you've missed. Very nice site.

On Edit: Oh, and welcome. Didn't notice the post count. (See, you fit right in.)
:hi:

[Swede]

7. And it looks like an asshole

******************** see.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Bush will always have an askerisk beside his name in the list

of presidents of the U.S. because of the extrordinary way he "won'' the office. He was not elected by the people, having lost the popular vote, but was ``selected'' by the U.S. Supreme Court. This is the only time in history that a U.S. president obtained the office in this way. The * is used to say that he will always be a * in the history books.:shrug:

Welcome to DU, Book Lover! Me too! Ande an excellent question!:toast: