Adventures in LA part 2 (Clintons book signing)

Madmartagen · **Adventures in LA part 2 (Clintons book signing) -** 06-27-2004, 01:58 PM

I went to Santa Monica yesterday to buy and have Bill Clintons autobiography signed. The whole thing was supposed to start at 5pm, so I showed up around 1. I was number 1505 in line and my mom was 1504. We were told that the first 1000 were guaranteed a signing, so we took a chance and stayed there because Clinton had reportedly signed 2000 in New York. This is how Brentnanos book store set up the rules: No cameras, phones or anything electronic. No purses, bags or packages. Books will not be personalized, and there is to be no talking to Mr. Clinton, no hand shaking or taking pictures. You will be scanned and can only enter the bookstore with the book (1 per person), the receipt proving you bought it from that store (the only kind of book allowed) and your number in line. The book store closed early at 3 to set up the area and to ensure no one would be in the store except those getting books signed.

A bunch of reporters started walking up the street and started interviewing people in line with the camera and mic. Eventually they came up to me and asked me for an interview. It was pretty cliche; "Why are you here?, who is your favorite President and why? Do you have any special messages for Mr. Clinton?" The guy was really starting to annoy me because he kept correcting everything I was saying, like instead of just answering the question, he wanted me to say "I am here in line because of...., My favorite president is...." bla bla bla. Anyways, out of nowhere this total fag (not gay, just an asshole) comes out of nowhere all dressed up in 'Support Michael Jackson' bullshit and puts his arm around my shoulder and looks into the camera and started spouting all this anti-Bush bullshit. Apparently because since this was a Clinton event, alot of jackasses automatically assumed that everyone in line hated Bush and wanted to make fun of him either on camera or just in general. This guy really bothered me because he had his arm around me and his head was next to mine so he can be in the camera shot. He didnt shave, and so his disgusting facial hair was poking me. I started shoving him off camera and I yelled at him for being such an idiot and proceeded to verbally assault him with words that I didnt realize at the time would probably end up being edited out. Some other people in line also became annoyed with this hipster doofus and so we shoved him out onto the street. He gave us the finger and walked away. The cameraman and interviewer apologized and then walked away with homo in hot pursuit.

Around 530 Clinton finally shows up half an hour behind schedule. I had my back turned to the street he was on, but I heard the escort sirens and so I turned around to see his silver head and face poking out the window and his hand was waving to the almost 2000 people present. The entire area errupted into cheers as if they had just seen Jesus. At that point, I had been in line for over 5 hours and we hadnt moved much except for when gaps in the line had been closed. My feet were starting to get tired, it was pretty warm and sunny, and we were on a sidewalk that didnt have any chairs or things we could sit on. The line was stretched out over a couple of blocks and wrapped around the MGM towers, so even if Clinton was capable of signing 2000 books, we still had a good long wait ahead. News came that they had stopped issuing tickets at 1548 when the store closed at 3. A couple of hundred people were still showing up though, so salesmen with books on carts were running to the end of the line to sell books w/o tickets being issued. Fast forward to about 945, they had just let another batch go into the bookstore. My mom and I put all our belongings into a bag and got it ready for check in. Ushers checked all tickets to make sure each person was in numerical order. The last person to go inside was 1500, a person we had chatted with the entire time. We were waiting in line on the steps when the store manager comes out and says "Mr. Clinton is done for the day, no more books will be signed." I couldnt believe it, they stopped at exactly 1500 books, there were only 4 people in front of me. I had just wasted nearly 11 hours, GG me. Everyone started yelling at the manager, the mall security and so we pushed up the stairs and walked to the front of the bookstore and started arguing with management about letting the last 48 people with tickets in to get the book signed. Even though the line had been cut off, you could still see people from the previous batch inside the store waiting in line to have their book signed. Everyone stayed there for another half hour arguing with management, mall security and even the Secret Service agents that were there. It wasnt an angry mob and everyone had kept their cool, but these two people started shouting some hippie crap about the last election, Iraq, Al Gore, Bush and anyone else they could think of. Everyone started laughing at them and when we turned around to see who it was, my mom told one of them "Hey you dont even have a ticket, so what are you doing up here? If im not getting my book signed, there is no way in hell you are either!" Well this woman and her husband wouldnt let it go, they called everyone facists, communists, just about everying. The LAPD was there, and they just laughed at them. The manager came out again and said that Mr. Clinton had left already and that we should all just go home. Everyone stayed for another 20 minutes or so to complain, so we just went back to our car and left. On the way we passed 1501, and she was spacing out somewhere in the parking lot.

Well this was the first book signing I have been to, and it wasnt totally a loss. I did get to see him, we had a good talk with the people in line and I almost got an interview aired on tv. My former coworker text me saying he saw me standing in line on tv, so I got my 2 secs of fame. I almost went today for the other location in LA, but it was at 10 in the morning and I didnt want to wake up early and wait again. Plus I would have to buy another book from that store too. Oh well, has anyone read it? It better be good.

oOo:

[GDC]_Polemarcus · 06-27-2004, 02:10 PM

You should of read the book in line

Madmartagen · 06-27-2004, 02:14 PM

[quote="[GDC]_Polemarcus":16102]You should of read the book in line

[/quote:16102]

Yeah, I wanted to, but it was really uncomfortable sitting there in the heat. I didnt want to get it all scratched and dirty. Plus I cant read when the sun is beating my head in, I get headaches. Signed books are on ebay for $300 - $1000.

Pyro · 06-27-2004, 02:17 PM

Clinton is gangsta

Duke_of_Ray · 06-27-2004, 02:18 PM

[quote="[GDC]_Polemarcus":4e2e1]You should of read the book in line

[/quote:4e2e1]

You should not have bought it. annoy:

Coleman · 06-27-2004, 02:59 PM

1.) You're an idiot for buying that book
2.) You're an idiot for wanting an autograph by Clinton.
3.) See #1 and #2

[GDC]_Polemarcus · 06-27-2004, 03:19 PM

[quote="Garry Coleman":1f49a]1.) You're an idiot for buying that book
2.) You're an idiot for wanting an autograph by Clinton.
3.) See #1 and #2[/quote:1f49a]

30 years from now during some kind of state funeral for Clinton youll be the one sitting hear, bitching out some 15 year old punk like yourself for talking shit about the "Clinton Years." Personally Im not interested enough to wait in line for the book or his signature but when he's dead and is remembered for all the good things he did it'll be worth some money... and youll wish you had the opportunity to say you met the man.

I had Regan come to my highschool way back, didnt think much of it at the time. But now its one of those "wow" kind of things.

Pyro · 06-27-2004, 03:19 PM

[quote="Garry Coleman":c56bd]1.) You're an idiot for buying that book
2.) You're an idiot for wanting an autograph by Clinton.
3.) See #1 and #2[/quote:c56bd]

I;d rather get one by Clinton over Reagan or Bush anyday.

1080jibber · 06-27-2004, 03:29 PM

shit happen man, but that would have been cool to get it signed

Coleman · 06-27-2004, 03:29 PM

[quote="[GDC]_Polemarcus":4d632][quote="Garry Coleman":4d632]1.) You're an idiot for buying that book
2.) You're an idiot for wanting an autograph by Clinton.
3.) See #1 and #2[/quote:4d632]

30 years from now during some kind of state funeral for Clinton youll be the one sitting hear, bitching out some 15 year old punk like yourself for talking shit about the "Clinton Years." Personally Im not interested enough to wait in line for the book or his signature but when he's dead and is remembered for all the good things he did it'll be worth some money... and youll wish you had the opportunity to say you met the man.

I had Regan come to my highschool way back, didnt think much of it at the time. But now its one of those "wow" kind of things.[/quote:4d632]The whole dude is a lie. I personally hate that man (nothing you say will change my opinion; vice versa.)