gid

February 22, 2007

I ate lunch with the leader of the free world.

President Bush came to Chattanooga today to promote his new policies aimed at making health care more affordable. Since we (David Blackburn and I) were not invited to hear him speak we decided to head down to see the Presidential motorcade as it went by the Chattanooga Trade and Convention center. The motorcade was really disappointing. It went by in about 8 seconds and I could not really get any pictures. By the time the motorcade made it to where I was standing Ben and Jason had also shown up and we headed over to Porkers BBQ for lunch.

President-Bush-at-PorkersBBQ-1.jpg
President Bush as Porkers BBQ

We had been at Porkers about a half hour when our waitress came by and whispered to us that the secret service was there scoping the place out. After hearing that bit of news we started eating as slowly as possible hoping to be able to stick around. Within just a few minutes the Secret Service were walking around, and they began setting up tables. By that point we were done eating and the bill was sitting on our table, so in an effort to stick around Ben and I took one for the team and ordered dessert. We tried to eat as slowly as possible and we tried to make small talk. But by that point everyone left in the restaurant knew he was coming and were just trying to kill time.

President-Bush-at-PorkersBBQ-2.jpg
President Bush Porkers BBQ

After a little more time had passed he and his entourage came in. There was a really great round of applause as he entered, and you could tell everyone there was genuinely excited about seeing him. It seemed to be a nice warm welcome. I was a bit nervous at first about taking picutures, but at some point one of the Secret Service Guys warned the President that they were getting ready to take pictures, he said okay, and before I new what was happening about 10 or so photographers rushed in and began taking pictures. It was at that point I stood up and tried to get a few shots. The lighting was bad so none of them really turned out, but I am posting them anyway.

President-Bush-at-PorkersBBQ-3.jpg
President Bush in Chattanooga

They eventually sat down to eat and one of the Secret Service members told us to just sit tight and we could meet the President after he finished eating. He really never got a chance to eat much because every time someone would get up and start walking out the door he would jump up to greet them before they left. He was just a really nice guy.

Karl-Rove.jpg
Karl Rove in Chattanooga

After he was done eating he started to make his rounds. He walked up to our table and shook our hands. All I could think to say was "It is an honor to meet you Mr. President". I think he said something to the three of us at the table but I really can't remember what. At the point he started to walk off I asked if I could get a picture.

He said sure, and pulled Me, David, and Ben in close and Bush took my camera and handed it to his photographer. The photographer took the picture, or thought that he had, and the President gave me a little punch in the stomach and walked off. Remembering what happened when I got a picture with Ford when he visited Chattanooga, I decided to look real quick at the picture, but it had not taken. So I looked at his photographer and told him it had not taken. The photographer got Mr. Bush's attention and he came back and took two quick pictures with the Presidents photographer's camera. The photographer then gave me a card that I have to mail in and they are going to send me a copy of the picture. How cool. I will post it when I get it in. Until then you will have to make due with the lame pictures I took.

After the President walked out Karl Rove started to walked by and I took his picture. Once the picture was taken I stuck out my hand and he shook it and said "Karl Rove". I guess I should have said my name but my reply was "Oh, I know, great to meet you."

At that point there were only about 20 or 30 people left in the restaurant and the President was walking out to get in his limo. We really knew we were fortunate to be sitting just 12 feet from him for more than a half hour, but it was not until I looked out the window and noticed several hundred people standing outside trying to get a peek, until it really hit me. I can't tell you how fortunate we were. What a honor to meet all these people.

Zack-Wamp.jpg
Zack Wamp outside of Porkers

Oh yeah, after the President had pulled away we paid our bill and left Porkers. As we got outside I noticed Zach Wamp standing outside, so I got a quick picture with him as well.

What a really great experience.

I don't know if most people who visit this site know that we have a store where we sell baby carriers like baby slings. A popular baby carrier for summer time is the solarveil sling. They are made to block some of the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Please feel free to follow a link or two to see what we have available in our shop.

Posted by gid at February 22, 2007 02:00 AM
Comments

How cool. I am going to mention this on my blog so people can go see the pictures. My brother and the president. You are moving up bro!

Posted by: Sharon at February 21, 2007 05:35 PM

WHAT A BLAST!! Dad & I really enjoyed this. We laughed and had such pleasure at hearing your story. Can't wait to get the pictures. You were really at the right place at the right time.

Posted by: Mom & Dad Gidcumb at February 21, 2007 05:56 PM

Great story, good shots. Thanks for sharing the experience with the rest of us.

Posted by: joe lance at February 21, 2007 09:36 PM

awesome!

Posted by: Josiah at February 21, 2007 10:50 PM

Thanks everyone. It was a lot of fun and I will post the picture when I get it.

Posted by: gid at February 22, 2007 02:04 PM

Amazing! Thank you for posting the pictures, hope to see the other picture when you get it :)

How'd you feel afterward?

Posted by: Andy Duncan at February 26, 2007 03:36 PM

High as a kite :-)

Posted by: gid at February 26, 2007 03:43 PM

O.k, I know being the daddy of three is a little overwhelming but you got to keep up with this blogging thing. I keep coming back for some new exciting tid bit and what do I find-------nothing.
I came for a visit and you were not ready for me.

Love Ya!

Posted by: Sharon at February 27, 2007 11:59 AM

Wow! what a great blog! Can't wait to see the pictures of you and Mr. President!
We will have to visit Porkers if we are ever in the area.

Posted by: Sandy at March 1, 2007 08:39 AM

Hey Gid - bring the shot in when ya get it and I'll scan it in gratis.

Posted by: Jon at March 1, 2007 02:51 PM

I will most certainly take you up on that Jon.

Thanks

Posted by: gid at March 1, 2007 03:02 PM

Lucky you.
Must go rub my hands on yr head to 'steal' that good luck outta you considering what happened to me.

Azrin @ http://www.azrin.net
There is no stopping the geek!Injured or not!

Posted by: azrin at March 10, 2007 10:35 PM

Oh, Wow! How very, very cool!

Pres. Bush thinks we have cute boys. That we do. Then again, we were in San Angelo and he was Gov. Bush when he remarked on them. I got a pic of him shaking Hubby's hand. Unfortunately, I just got their hands. *blush*

I'm still saying, WOW!

Posted by: TulipGirl at March 13, 2007 01:17 AM

>>I just got their hands
That is funny. I am just hoping that when we get the picture that I am not doing anything embarrassing!

Posted by: gid at March 13, 2007 10:33 AM

I'm actually really jealous! How cool. :^D I did meet his Dad though!

Posted by: Nan at March 14, 2007 02:03 AM

I couldn't think of a better representative for our fair city than our beloved Gid.

Ben, on the other hand...

:)

Congrats man...

Posted by: AJ at March 15, 2007 11:21 AM

HOW COOL IS THAT??????

Maybe politics is in your future!

Debi

Posted by: Debi at March 22, 2007 11:39 AM

Monster props on the photos.

Posted by: lambert strether at March 30, 2007 10:10 PM

What's Mr. Rove got under his arm?

Posted by: anonymous at March 31, 2007 01:40 PM

i share lambert's sentiment. thank you so much for posting the pix of karl. hopefully it will lead to a better america and more transparency in government.

Posted by: annie at March 31, 2007 04:46 PM

Did you notice the smell of brimstone? Also, if you look closely, you'll see that Karl Rove had 6 fingers on each hand and a very small "666" on his forehead, covered with Max Factor Blemish Remover.

Posted by: Pope Ratzo at March 31, 2007 05:24 PM

Gee Dave - you're about to become a prime source of evidence to the conspiracy theorists...
I'd make sure nobody snags your pic & reposts - copyright and all that. May be valuable property soon! ;-)

Posted by: Jon at March 31, 2007 09:05 PM

Dave kindly posts in my UK forum www.davidcastle.org/BB/ so I'm grabbing the opportunity LOL
Cooool pics Dave, fame at last, thanks for sharing.

Posted by: David Castle at April 3, 2007 03:33 AM

What's Rove got under his arm? THIS is what Rove has got under his arm:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/04/02/above-the-law-2/

Posted by: Avenging_Angel at April 3, 2007 09:46 AM

You need not have waited for Bush to visit Chattanooga. You could have your photo taken with a chimp at any number of zoos any time convenient to you...

Posted by: Luke Skywalker at April 3, 2007 12:12 PM

Are you people for real?? Bush is a monster! He's destroyed the USA!

Posted by: J R at April 3, 2007 02:02 PM

Love the sleestacks on the TV. Nice touch.

Posted by: WIDTAP at April 3, 2007 08:03 PM

http://wonkette.com/politics/top/about-that-karl-rove-picture-with-the-sleestaks--249411.php

Posted by: Stu at April 3, 2007 08:32 PM

google search "skull and bones", click 'images', the first pic to come up is what was pasted, scaled, and skewed in photoshop to make the pin on his lapel.

Posted by: paul at April 4, 2007 02:27 AM

dude, you're such a fucking pathetic liar. the karl rove picture on your blog is a photoshop-chop if i've ever seen one. the president half-heartedly & jokingly gave you a soft punch in the stomach, as if you guys are old fraternity buddies -- give me a break...not even in your wet dreams would that happen! do you realize how fucking ridiculous you sound...and to think that your family believes you...WOW! do you honestly think that anyone with more than 2 brain cells, is going to believe that a secret service agent told the president of the united states of america, to come back for a moment because "accidentally" the picture wasn't taken...and then give you some kind of stupid card thats going to tell you how to get the picture at a later date. you know what's interesting, it's so convienent how the one single picture that stands to solidify your lame story, is the one picture that you don't have...and will likely be the one picture that you'll inevitably say "must have gotten lost in the mail, or accidentally deleted when the one-hour-photo department in the white house got backed-up last week". you do know that purging anything related to what the president physically does during his presidency term, is a felony...right?

Posted by: erix at April 4, 2007 02:58 AM

Hello Mr. Blogger, I'm not even sure what your name is; however, I want to apologize for a comment that I've just found out was left on your website by one of my sons. Apparently he was reading an online editorial that made reference to whatever content was on your website. I'm not sure how my son was able to log onto your site and leave comments. It wasn't until I got back to my computer a short while ago, that I noticed several browser windows had been left open; one being your site. I apologize for anything offensive that may have been sent to you with my name and/or email addressed attached. Clearly my teenage son was wrong in leaving anything disrespectful on your website. Sincere Appologies

Posted by: EA at April 4, 2007 03:18 AM

Well, I'm not a teenager, and I'm here to call you a fucking asshole and a liar.

Posted by: Freddie Mercury at April 4, 2007 11:47 AM

Dude, Freddie, you're dead. What do you know about anything?

Posted by: Javier McGonigle at April 4, 2007 03:24 PM

Ha ha ha...too funny, and brilliant, 'specially leaving out part of the Coptix logo. Just enough to hook 'em. Whot a bunch of maroons are those lefties. So easy to tease, so trusting.

Posted by: T. Party at April 5, 2007 12:40 AM

Good one, dude! Hooked the suckers and reeled them in with the "shopped" pic. Dum-dum lefties! You made my day.

Posted by: WB at April 5, 2007 07:52 AM

Mmm, so we were ?had? by a fake picture, eh?

Was it the one that said ?Mission Accomplished??
Was it the one that showed a lovely stroll through an Iraqi marketplace?
Was it any of the ones that showed how strongly our federal government was responding to the devastation in Louisiana?
Was it the ones of the charts showing Iraqi weapons of mass destruction?

No?

Guess you?re right, we?ve been had. We should know better than to trust photographs that feature our dear leaders by now.

Posted by: Luke Skywalker at April 5, 2007 10:06 AM

Sleestax live!

Posted by: Kevin at April 6, 2007 03:32 PM

Libtards are such knee-jerk reactionaries that they make themselves such easy targets for this sort of tactical strike.

There is no logic on Planet Libtard. We are dealing with people who believe that it is entirely possible to pick a turd up from the clean end.

One need only look at the headlines displayed daily at the lunatic fringe sites run by the kos kids and Arianna. Their members never actually read the stories that accompany the intentionally dishonest headlines they display. Rather, they react to the heading or the picture with little regard given to facts and it's one hateful rant after another about the evil Bush cartel and Karl Rove.

You 'conserva-punked' their asses big time. Nice job!

Posted by: Senor Peer Pressure at April 6, 2007 06:38 PM

leader of the free world.. self appointed, cause i don?t have any recollection to have being able to vote for that, nor have the rest of world. oh.. i forgot.. it's only the Master People, the Yankees that have that right.. FUCK BUSH

Posted by: Boursin at April 8, 2007 11:04 AM

You guys were watching Land of the Lost on the tele? I used to LOVE that show! *wink* *wink*

Posted by: Jen at April 8, 2007 09:49 PM

awesome..bitter lefties make me laugh!!

Posted by: pete at April 9, 2007 02:27 AM

What sad, emoty lives you people lead!

Posted by: SIpu at April 11, 2007 08:36 AM

I read today that Zach Wamp is going to run for Governor of Tennessee. Good luck with that one, dude!

Posted by: Leishtek at January 6, 2009 11:55 AM

HI

Posted by: TABTHA at May 23, 2009 05:20 PM

wow!! If I receive a comment about my children from one of the presidents of the United States I would feel pretty flatered, but I wouldn't share it with the opposite parties!! Lol :)

Posted by: Mike Schultz at June 4, 2010 02:18 PM