I’ve been discussing with some folks how I plan to go to one of Bush’s book signings this November/ December where he’ll be promoting his new memoir. More often than not, this explanation is met with horror and shock. Apparently, because I’m a liberal who loves my signed Clinton memoir so deeply, it’s just plain scandalous that I’d ever set foot in a Bush book signing. Well, it’s either that, or people repremanding me for encouraging such a mean, evil man.
As I see it: a President’s a President. Sure, I love me some Clinton and spent 8 years rolling my eyes at Bush, but my respect for the office is still there.
Plus, I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to add this to my little collection of signed books (I’ve seen the Clinton one selling for anywhere from $500-$2500, so it’s not a bad investment, either).
So, Dopers, would you go to Dubya’s book signing, too?
No, I wouldn’t go out and spend money on a book by someone I don’t respect, not even if he signed it.
You gotta know he didn’t really write the damn thing, and there’ll be nothing new in it, just the same old story.
But then, I’ve never really understood the appeal of autographs. I mean if I just happened upon someone I deeply respected or admired I might ask, but to go out of my way to get one, yeah, not really me.
No, I would not go to Bush the Younger’s book signing. Probably going to be crowded, lots of hassle, standing in line, all for a book I don’t care to read by a guy I don’t particularly like.
For that matter, I probably wouldn’t go to a book signing for a book I did want to read by a guy I liked, either. Book signings just aren’t my thing.
This. I don’t agree with the vast majority of his policies, if that wasn’t clear in the OP. I just am a political buff and there is appeal to me to have a relic of a presidency, even if I’m not the biggest fan of the President in question.
I’ve mentioned before that I was invited to a reception at the US Embassy in Sofia to meet Bush when he was still president and was on a swing through Eastern Europe. I did not go. It wasn’t only because I hate his guts (I lived about 3 hours from Sofia, I would have had to miss two days of school at the very end of the year, security would have been a nightmare, etc.), but I would have made the effort if it had been Obama or someone I respect.
I said no without reading the OP. After reading the OP, if I had money to blow I think I might wind up going. I mean, a signed copy of a president’s book? I wouldn’t mind having that around. Uh, forgive my ignorance, but do you usually have to pay extra for a signed copy at these signing events? If I had to pay more than just the cost of the book I might wind up deciding against.
With Clinton, I just bought the book at a presale (which was full price, no discounts, but just the cover price), then got a ticket to the signing by requesting one. Since they weren’t out yet, I got one. Then, a few days later, I lined up all day at the Clinton thing and never had to take out my wallet once.
I have heard of book signings that charge a fee for the pleasure of signing, but in the OP here, I’m assuming that things are like when I went to Clinton- no additional fee.
Now, my point about the book being worth more is that, well, it’s worth more than a regular book. My signed copy is obviously now worth more, at resale, then a regular ol’ copy.
Even the Glenn Beck signings had lines hours long. I have no idea how bad the Bush signings will be. Having said that, if the line was less than 6 hours I’d go.
Fuck no, I wouldn’t go to a GWB book-signing. That said, I can understand why someone else might want to, and I wouldn’t be so rude as to give someone else crap about going.
I selected “Other”. I might have gone to a Nixon signing, even though I disapproved of a lot of his actions. However, he was an extremely intelligent man, and I’m sure that he wouldn’t use a ghost writer. I didn’t like him, but I do respect him.
I don’t respect Shrub, though. Not even a little bit, though I do respect the office that he held. He’s probably a nice guy, when he’s not busy being a Politician, but I don’t respect him and I disagree with most of what he’s done. If I was a political buff, I probably would go to the signing and get the autograph, if only because he did influence politics in a major way.
Ha! Perhaps being from Santa Maria* has given me my high tolerance for loopy people, then? Now I personally wouldn’t bother to go to the Bush signing, but I’m not a political junkie. My husband is–I wonder if he would?
*Partly anyway; not denying my Okie/Bakersfield roots here.
Personally, I’m not interested in politics and am not a fan of Bush.
But it sounds to me like you would enjoy having a signed copy of the book, and as someone interested in politics you’d likely have a bit of fun attending the signing. FWIW, I think you should go and enjoy yourself, and your autographed book.
(I’ve seen the Clinton one selling for anywhere from $500-$2500, so it’s not a bad investment, either).