



Forget beanie babies, Tickle Me Elmo and babbling Spongebobs, the must-have toy for politicos this Christmas season is a talking George W Bush doll.

That's right. Dubya has a doll, or rather an "action figure" featuring some 17 Bushisms, from patriotic to painful.

The California creator of the Dubya doll has been overwhelmed with orders and interview requests.

Better hurry. You will have to order on the website soon to guarantee delivery by Christmas.

Bushisms

The super-smiley presidential poppet utters some of Mr Bush's inspiring statements after the 11 September attacks in his own voice.

"Freedom itself was attacked by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended," the doll says at a push of a button.

Sales of the dolls really took off when they were featured on the Drudge Report website and described as the "hottest political stocking-stuffer this holiday season" by the conservative Washington Times newspaper.



You're working hard to put food on your family

One of the doll's 17 Dubya soundbites

But even Democrats can find something to love.

The doll also features some of Mr Bush's infamous gaffes, such as, "You're working hard to put food on your family."

And it is the buzz of Washington.

One Washington DJ lists the George W Bush talking "action figure" on her list of holiday gift suggestions, right up there with a Victoria's Secret musical holiday thong, which plays a medley of carols at the touch of a button.

Flying off the shelves

The Dubya talking action figure is the brain child of John Warnock. When he is not coming up with in demand dolls, he remodels garages.

But he and his father-in-law have been inundated and he has had to hire a publicist to handle all the media requests for interviews.

Mr Warnock had 20,000 of the dolls made in a factory in China, and he said he is selling them by the thousands. He is already in talks with several retailers who want the $30 doll on their shelves, including mega-retailer Wal-Mart.

And politically oriented stores in Washington are being overwhelmed by shoppers looking for the doll.

"I've been taking calls about it all morning," said Linda Gross, a manager for Made in America, which sells political and patriotic gifts in Washington's Union Station.

She expected a shipment of the dolls in the next day and expects it will be on store shelves before the end of the week.

The store's website, Americastore.com, has already been selling the doll, said district manager Andrea McNiff.

"The interest has been phenomenal. We download the orders every hour, and we continue to double our orders" hour to hour, she said.

They have already sold thousands of the dolls through their website, and shoppers have overwhelmed their offices with calls.

What does Dubya think about his action figure?

No comment yet. Mr Warnock sent an e-mail to the White House but has yet to receive a reply.