Muhahahahahahaha

Prankster strikes bowling alley

By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff WriterWATERLOO ---

A bowling alley operator is asking for the safe return of a cardboard candidate that was carted off last week.Bruce Strom set up a life-sized cutout of presumed Democratic nominee Barack Obama at his Maple Lanes alley on University Avenue for a promotion.Obama had bowled a 37 while campaigning in Pennsylvania, and Strom's deal offered "I Beat Obama" certificates to any patron who bested the candidate's score.Bowlers also had their pictures taken with the cardboard senator from Illinois, said Strom.But on Thursday evening, staff noticed the two-dimensional Obama was gone from the concourse where it stood."It just mystically disappeared," Strom said. He suspects a "Quartermania" participant borrowed it without permission.He was disappointed but not surprised by the theft. He hasn't filed a police report."In my heart of hearts, I think someone will return it," Strom said.The disappearance was the second case of skullduggery for the Obama cutout.A week earlier, someone dragged it out of the bowling alley and left it in the middle of University Avenue.Employees rescued him, Strom said.Another cardboard Obama remains safe at Strom's Valley Park Lanes in Cedar Falls.The cutouts are part of a National Bowling Week promotion that includes an combined effort by alleys across the country to get in the Guinness World Book with a record for most games bowled in a single day on Saturday. The promotion includes one free game and shoe rental.Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.\

I think we should all ban together and steal all of these cardboard cut outs and send ransom notes....this guy seemed pretty attached to his!! :) Plus then we would save people from having to see him, eye to eye.