Former President George W. Bush's appearance at the River Oaks Barnes & Noble Wednesday turned into an event — for his lovers and haters. Fans showed up as early as 2 a.m. and camped out for a book signing that started after 8 a.m. They wanted to be sure they left with W.'s signature, knowing that the wristbands to get in sold out in less than three hours last Saturday.

The protestors slept in much later. W. was about a half hour into his signing, when a small group of protestors arrived and soon started throwing shoes at a hastily put together Bush cardboard cutout.

Planted in collapsible chairs on the parking lot, determined Bush fans waited in their fall jackets for his arrival — the secret service was there long before Bush. Around 8 a.m., Bush started signing copies of his new book Decision Points.

Bush seemed especially chipper during the signing. He went through the first slew of groupies rather quickly, tossing aside signed books in true cowboy manner.

See for yourself:

Brit Redfield, 24, drove four hours from Arlington to get the former president's signature.

"It's going to make the perfect Christmas present," Redfield said.

Thirty-minutes into the signing, the lined escalated and snaked around outside the bookstore. Then, the protestors showed up.

Code Pink, a women's peace group, stood out the most. The group came armed with a stage, a bag of shoes and a cutout of the former president. In reference to the Iraqi journalist who infamously threw a shoe at the former president during a press conference in Baghdad, the group chucked sandals and Crocs at the cutout of Bush.

Passing Bush backers booed and egged the protestors on — yelling things like, "Get a job!" "Shut up" and "Go back to your country."