W, The Doll

Max Power · 12-14-2002, 09:48 PM

G.I. Joe would still kick his fannie............

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 14) - A President Bush doll that says ``We're working hard to put food on your family'' and ``I will not hold this nation hostile'' has turned into a huge hit for a small company.

The 12.5-inch-tall likeness, which features clips from Bush speeches and campaign stops, sold out a first shipment of 12,000 this week. A second shipment of the $29.99 doll won't arrive until after Christmas.

``We anticipated it being a very popular item but we just didn't think it was going to take off that quick,'' said Jim Wessling, co-founder of Irvine-based Talking Presidents.com Inc.

Most of the 17 sound clips are straightforward quotes about the war on terrorism and other topics - such as ``Terrorism against our nation will not stand'' - although the doll does utter some of Bush's malapropisms.

``There's nothing derogatory, everything is complimentary, there's nothing to make fun of him ... (but) the doll is a good representation of the president, there are two or three of his Bushisms,'' Wessling said.

It's unclear what Bush the president thinks of Bush the doll - the White House press office did not immediately return a call for comment.

Wessling and son-in-law John Warnock, the other co-founder, are ``staunch Republicans,'' Wessling said. Warnock came up with the idea partly out of admiration for Bush.

``Nobody had done what he considered the true action heroes, which would be George W. Bush,'' Wessling said.

A picture of the Bush doll appeared on the Drudge Report Web site last week, and the company got 600,000 Web hits in a single day and media calls from around the world. It took its phone number off the Web site and posted a message cautioning that no more dolls were immediately available.

The next group of 12,000 should ship from Hong Kong on Dec. 30 with a third shipment on its heels, but that won't satisfy disappointed Christmas shoppers.

The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace ordered two cases but sold them out within days, said spokeswoman Arianna Barrios.

``It's so out of control,'' she said.

The fledgling company isn't planning to stop with Bush. A talking Ronald Reagan is in the works for the spring. After that, Wessling and Warnock plan to manufacture talking Richard Nixons, Bill Clintons, John F. Kennedys and George H.W. Bushes.

12/13/02 08:31 EST

hmrsf · 12-14-2002, 10:05 PM

I Vant one.......BAD!!!!

Bet I can't get a hold of one.....drats!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig S. · 12-15-2002, 12:19 PM

There's one on E-bay ending this afternoon, and the price is currently at $202.50. I can't believe the lengths people go to for crap.

JamesI · 12-15-2002, 03:28 PM

Skip · 12-15-2002, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hmrsf
I Vant one.......BAD!!!!

Bet I can't get a hold of one.....drats!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig S.
There's one on E-bay ending this afternoon, and the price is currently at $202.50. I can't believe the lengths people go to for crap.

Hey hm ... I've, uhhh, got one I'll sell ya for $500 even. Whaddaya say?

Craig S. · 12-15-2002, 04:43 PM

Up until the story broke in the past day, the demand wasn't even there. Somone had a bunch selling for $100 apiece, and there weren't even bidders. Guess we missed a chance there!

Duque · 12-16-2002, 08:46 PM

There is a whole untapped market for talking presidential dolls here. Except maybe the Calvin Coolidge one, who wouldn't say anything.

Skip · 12-16-2002, 10:39 PM

Clever Duque. Subtle. Good. Someday I will learn subtle.

pwdennis · 12-17-2002, 01:09 AM

Actually, I want the Ronald Reagan model or the Theodore Roosevelt model

Gosfgiants · 12-17-2002, 01:39 AM

If I had a George W. Bush doll I would have to find new and interesting ways to destroy it. Nothing makes me shake my head in wonder about the lowest common denominator than fads like this.

12-14-2002, 09:48 PM	#1
Max Power NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: May 2002 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 5,548	W, The Doll G.I. Joe would still kick his fannie............ LOS ANGELES (Dec. 14) - A President Bush doll that says ``We're working hard to put food on your family'' and ``I will not hold this nation hostile'' has turned into a huge hit for a small company. The 12.5-inch-tall likeness, which features clips from Bush speeches and campaign stops, sold out a first shipment of 12,000 this week. A second shipment of the $29.99 doll won't arrive until after Christmas. ``We anticipated it being a very popular item but we just didn't think it was going to take off that quick,'' said Jim Wessling, co-founder of Irvine-based Talking Presidents.com Inc. Most of the 17 sound clips are straightforward quotes about the war on terrorism and other topics - such as ``Terrorism against our nation will not stand'' - although the doll does utter some of Bush's malapropisms. ``There's nothing derogatory, everything is complimentary, there's nothing to make fun of him ... (but) the doll is a good representation of the president, there are two or three of his Bushisms,'' Wessling said. It's unclear what Bush the president thinks of Bush the doll - the White House press office did not immediately return a call for comment. Wessling and son-in-law John Warnock, the other co-founder, are ``staunch Republicans,'' Wessling said. Warnock came up with the idea partly out of admiration for Bush. ``Nobody had done what he considered the true action heroes, which would be George W. Bush,'' Wessling said. A picture of the Bush doll appeared on the Drudge Report Web site last week, and the company got 600,000 Web hits in a single day and media calls from around the world. It took its phone number off the Web site and posted a message cautioning that no more dolls were immediately available. The next group of 12,000 should ship from Hong Kong on Dec. 30 with a third shipment on its heels, but that won't satisfy disappointed Christmas shoppers. The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace ordered two cases but sold them out within days, said spokeswoman Arianna Barrios. ``It's so out of control,'' she said. The fledgling company isn't planning to stop with Bush. A talking Ronald Reagan is in the works for the spring. After that, Wessling and Warnock plan to manufacture talking Richard Nixons, Bill Clintons, John F. Kennedys and George H.W. Bushes. 12/13/02 08:31 EST __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator "They come and they go, Hobbs. They come and they go." That's why there's NetShrine.com

12-14-2002, 10:05 PM	#2
hmrsf forum mom Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: relocation Posts: 4,298	I Vant one.......BAD!!!! Bet I can't get a hold of one.....drats!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ NDF who shares good karma! Get a coaster! My cup is not only 1/2 full it is brimming! We don't need no stinking Arods!

12-15-2002, 03:28 PM	#4
JamesI Netshrine Vacuum Cleaner Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Potsdam, N.Y. Posts: 3,723	WHY?

12-16-2002, 08:46 PM	#7
Duque NetShrine's Desperado Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Southern CA Posts: 2,638	There is a whole untapped market for talking presidential dolls here. Except maybe the Calvin Coolidge one, who wouldn't say anything. __________________ Bad Andy It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

12-17-2002, 01:09 AM	#9
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	Actually, I want the Ronald Reagan model or the Theodore Roosevelt model __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears

12-15-2002, 12:19 PM	#3
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	There's one on E-bay ending this afternoon, and the price is currently at $202.50. I can't believe the lengths people go to for crap.

12-15-2002, 04:43 PM	#6
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	Up until the story broke in the past day, the demand wasn't even there. Somone had a bunch selling for $100 apiece, and there weren't even bidders. Guess we missed a chance there!

12-16-2002, 10:39 PM	#8
Skip NetShrine Vagabond Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Louisville Posts: 7,866	Clever Duque. Subtle. Good. Someday I will learn subtle.

12-17-2002, 01:39 AM	#10
Gosfgiants NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,136	If I had a George W. Bush doll I would have to find new and interesting ways to destroy it. Nothing makes me shake my head in wonder about the lowest common denominator than fads like this. __________________ It'll always be Pacbell Park Beat LA!!!

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