Code name's set, now let jokes start

WASHINGTON -- It's out: President-elect Barack Obama's Secret Service code name is Renegade.

Michelle's is Renaissance and daughters Sasha and Malia are known as Rosebud and Radiance, respectively.

Thank heaven for Secret Service code names. What would late-night comics and joke-seeking politicians do without them?

Here are a few samples:

•  CAMPAIGN LAUGH LINE, 2008

''Jerk.''

--John McCain, telling Jon Stewart what his Secret Service code name is. (It was really Phoenix.)

•  WHAT HAPPENS AT CHIPPENDALES, 2005 . . .

First lady Laura Bush, speaking at a 2005 event, said she'd gone out one night with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush confidante Karen Hughes and Lynne Cheney, wife of the vice president, to Chippendales.

''I won't tell you what happened, but Lynne's Secret Service code name is now 'Dollar Bill.' '' (Cheney's real code name is Author.)

•  CUTE COUPLE, 2004

''The Bush daughters have joined the campaign to help their father in his election for president and it was announced that their Secret Service code names are Twinkle and Turquoise. Twinkle and Turquoise? To which Kerry and Edwards said: 'Hey! Those are our code names; that's what we call each other!' ''

-- Jay Leno on the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards in July 2004.

•  CAMPAIGN LINE, 1996

''Al Gore is so boring, his Secret Service code name is Al Gore.''

--Vice President Al Gore jokes at his own expense. (In fact, Gore's code name was Sundance.)

AP