Bush gives Sharpie pens emblazoned with "White House" & his sig as gifts

[Human Torch]

Washington Whispers

By Paul Bedard

Posted Sunday, September 17, 2006

Better Make It a Sharpie-or Else

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/articles/060917/25whisplead.htm

A father's influence on his son can be incredible, from shaping a boy's outlook on life to the tiny, seemingly unimportant things like choosing between Bic and Sharpie. That's certainly been the case in the Bush family, where President Bush has sometimes gone Texas-big with his dad's lessons. Where the 41st president played baseball, the 43rd owned a baseball team; while Dad stopped troops short of invading Baghdad, W made it his target; and as the former prez prefers to use Sharpies, the current prez demands them-and even gives them as presents.

"He asks for them by name," says a Bush insider, "and if someone hands him something else, he barks, 'Where's the Sharpie?'" How come? "They're so easy to use," says another Bushie. "And you can see what you've written." Bush's isn't just any Sharpie. Like those famous boxes of peanut M&Ms, Bush's Sharpies carry his signature and the words The White House. He even has Camp David Sharpies. If you're an important aide, the presidential Sharpies are included with a signed golf ball, baseball, tie clip, and cuff links in the White House trinket bag each gets.

Sharpie boss Howard Heckes, president of Sanford Brands North America, says lots of celebs-like tennis star Maria Sharapova-have personalized pens, but "it's pretty cool" to supply the prez. "Sharpies are good for the president of the United States or the president of the PTA."

[Stinky The Clown]

1. He's moved up from caryons, huh?

How special.

[Kutjara]

2. Petulant, spoiled, infantile bastard.

I can just imagine him throwing a hissy-fit on the Oval Office carpet if someone dares to hand His Majesty the wrong pen. Oh, how he'd cry and scream. "Off with his head!" he'd roar.

Every morning I wake up and am freshly shocked and dismayed that this 'man' is President.

[HopeFor2006]

3. Sounds like a two year old

"Where's my sharpie!"

[countingbluecars]

4. He probably sniffs them

to get high.

[Human Torch]

5. That was my first thought...that's why I don't like to use them.

Unless they've changed since the last time I used one, they used to have a smell worse than a full-sized, fat Magic Marker.

:toast:

[grilled onions]

6. A Sharpie For One Less Then...

Oh never mind--but Ooooh the irony!!

[newspeak]

7. wow, an important aide might get cuff links, golf ball, tie clip

so now you have to be an important aide. My hubby installed the phone systems when President Ford visited, and he was given cuff links. I guess now you have to be an important aide. I am so not impressed.

[Major Hogwash]

8. Better than an autographed whoopie cushion!

That's what I would expect if I visited that clown's home.

[Fierce]

9. Good God, what a stupid article.

"Thanks for the free advertising!" Heckes added. "Obviously, our press release did its work!"