http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/28/idol.bush.ap/index.html
Bush meets with 'American Idol' singers
Friday, July 28, 2006; Posted: 6:17 p.m. EDT (22:17 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- After discussing war and peace in the Middle East, President Bush squeezed in a 10-minute photo-op Friday with finalists in the hit television show "American Idol."
They got the photos. Bush got a harmonica engraved with "American Idol 2006." [The perfect gift for a blow hard. He probably missed the dig completely]
The 10 finalists dropped into the Oval Office to see Bush in between his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and another photo session with top high school students in the nation.
The president gave the performers a quick tour of the Oval Office and talked about his job. [Which was quick and easy, describing what he does only took one a few seconds -- eat breakfast, "go potty," respond to string pulls, lie his arse off (which makes his favorite past-time, sitting on his arse, difficult but not impossible), same basic program every day] Bush posed for a group photo in front of his desk, and then individual photos with each finalist. He urged them to stick to their beliefs, even if their celebrity status grows.
Taylor Hicks of Birmingham, Alabama, the most recent winner on the show, also gave Bush a black T-shirt emblazoned with "Soul Patrol" -- the name of Hicks' fan club. [Closest he'll get to having a soul probably. I'm sure he missed that dig too] Hicks has a personal connection inside the White House: Susan Whitson, Laura Bush's press secretary, taught him ninth grade English at Hoover High School in Birmingham.
Besides Hicks, the finalists from last season who met with Bush were: Katharine McPhee of Los Angeles, California; Chris Daughtry of McLeansville, North Carolina; Paris Bennett of Fayetteville, Georgia; Kellie Pickler of Albemarle, North Carolina; Ace Young of Denver, Colorado; Bucky Covington of Rockingham, North Carolina; Mandisa Hundley of Antioch, Tennessee; Lisa Tucker of Anaheim, California; and Elliott Yamin of Richmond, Virginia, who arrived a bit late for the meeting.
Their tour and photo opportunity with Bush -- with still cameras only, no reporters allowed -- came during their one-day visit to Washington for their "American Idols Live" tour.
It's unclear how familiar Bush is with their talents. [Or reality for that matter] Asked whether he had ever seen the show, the White House responded that he was "aware" of it.
[Asked whether he was aware of the civilian deaths in Lebanon and Palestine, the White House (houses can talk these days) responded that he was "aware" of it.]
Bush meets with 'American Idol' singers
Friday, July 28, 2006; Posted: 6:17 p.m. EDT (22:17 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- After discussing war and peace in the Middle East, President Bush squeezed in a 10-minute photo-op Friday with finalists in the hit television show "American Idol."
They got the photos. Bush got a harmonica engraved with "American Idol 2006." [The perfect gift for a blow hard. He probably missed the dig completely]
The 10 finalists dropped into the Oval Office to see Bush in between his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and another photo session with top high school students in the nation.
The president gave the performers a quick tour of the Oval Office and talked about his job. [Which was quick and easy, describing what he does only took one a few seconds -- eat breakfast, "go potty," respond to string pulls, lie his arse off (which makes his favorite past-time, sitting on his arse, difficult but not impossible), same basic program every day] Bush posed for a group photo in front of his desk, and then individual photos with each finalist. He urged them to stick to their beliefs, even if their celebrity status grows.
Taylor Hicks of Birmingham, Alabama, the most recent winner on the show, also gave Bush a black T-shirt emblazoned with "Soul Patrol" -- the name of Hicks' fan club. [Closest he'll get to having a soul probably. I'm sure he missed that dig too] Hicks has a personal connection inside the White House: Susan Whitson, Laura Bush's press secretary, taught him ninth grade English at Hoover High School in Birmingham.
Besides Hicks, the finalists from last season who met with Bush were: Katharine McPhee of Los Angeles, California; Chris Daughtry of McLeansville, North Carolina; Paris Bennett of Fayetteville, Georgia; Kellie Pickler of Albemarle, North Carolina; Ace Young of Denver, Colorado; Bucky Covington of Rockingham, North Carolina; Mandisa Hundley of Antioch, Tennessee; Lisa Tucker of Anaheim, California; and Elliott Yamin of Richmond, Virginia, who arrived a bit late for the meeting.
Their tour and photo opportunity with Bush -- with still cameras only, no reporters allowed -- came during their one-day visit to Washington for their "American Idols Live" tour.
It's unclear how familiar Bush is with their talents. [Or reality for that matter] Asked whether he had ever seen the show, the White House responded that he was "aware" of it.
[Asked whether he was aware of the civilian deaths in Lebanon and Palestine, the White House (houses can talk these days) responded that he was "aware" of it.]