It’s a lifelong goal to attend one of these things:

MSNBC – Bush, journalists trade barbs at banquet; President also pokes fun at himself during annual Gridiron roast

My favourites:

Bush said anyone looking for a transcript of the evening’s program should call Doug Wead, the longtime Bush family friend who recently made public tape recordings of private telephone conversations he had with Bush before he started running for president.

The president noted that former President Clinton was recovering from surgery and said that “when he woke up he was surrounded by his loved ones” — his wife, daughter and “my dad.” …

“Sixty-four teams start and they’re whittled down to just one,” [NM Gov Bill] Richardson said in prepared remarks. “Kind of reminds me of what we’ve done with our allies.”

Hagel paid tribute to Johnny Carson, a Nebraska legend, by impersonating “Carnac the Magnificent,” one of the late comedian’s characters.

“Answer: March Madness,” Hagel said. “What do Democrats call my Social Security plan?”

Having observed their routine, Bush called Richardson and Hagel “a couple of independent thinkers, which in my book is a negative.” …

To the tune of “Doo Wah Diddy Diddy,” a Karl Rove impersonator sang about the challenges of turning Bush into presidential timber. “He looked smug, he looked dim. How we gonna win with him?” he sang.   Rumsfeld was rapped for his Iraq war planning. “Rummy, have you some spare Teflon coating that we could wear?” soldiers sang to the tune of “Mister Sandman.” “You said we’d win Iraq with ease, Mr. Rumsfeld, we need Humvees.”

Other 2008-themed skits portrayed Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York singing about how she’ll “turn those red states blue” and Senate newcomer Barack Obama of Illinois, prancing around in a gold outfit and halo, urging the party to “go with a guy who walks on water.”

hehehe. I love the “independent thinkers” line.