Protesters greet President Bush in Fort Lauderdale

[Judi Lynn]

Tuesday, Sep 09, 2003

Posted on Tue, Sep. 09, 2003

Protesters greet President Bush in Fort Lauderdale
BY PETER WALLSTEN ERIKA BOLSTAD AND PHIL LONG
[e-mail]

Broward's Democratic political activists used President Bush's Fort Lauderdale visit today as a forum to criticize the war in Iraq and to organize support for Democratic presidential candidates.

Air Force One landed at Fort Lauderdale Jet Center at 4 p.m., and Bush was whisked to the Hyatt Pier 66 hotel for a 5:30 p.m. reception.

An estimated 400 protesters crowded 17th Street opposite the hotel, lining the sidewalk in front of a nearby Hess gas station and chanting slogans such as ``1-2-3-4, Bush and Cheney out the door!''

Fort Lauderdale police, including officers on horseback and in boats in nearby canals, kept a tight rein on the crowd, which grew throughout the afternoon as people finished work for the day. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6729857.htm

[mbperrin]

1. Good on 'em!

Nice job, guys (and got reported, TOO!)

[Kolesar]

2. Now they are sending in cavalry

Bush must not sleep very well at night anymore. Good.

[JPace]

3. Good show!

I can't wait to see his popularity numbers
break record lows and protesters at everyone
of his events.

[izzie]

4. Are we not seeing more of this?

I see a tone of making fun of Bush now or is that just hope on my part?

[Atlant]

13. It's been going on all along; now you're being allowed to "see" it. (NT)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Has anybody noticed that the so-called "protest zones" are not being...

...enforced by local law enforcement, or at least that's what it appears to me lately?

If true, I hope the Bushies get everything Clinton got in the way of protests.

I also noticed that the evening news was actually reporting what was really going on in Iraq, especially with the interviews of the National Guard troops that have been extended.

On CBS, Dan Rather called GWB "Mr. Bush" instead of "President Bush". Historically, that has signaled rough weather ahead for the White House occupant.

Too, too bad for Junior.

[leesa]

8. Did I miss a million people in the streets against Clinton???

"If true, I hope the Bushies get everything Clinton got in the way of protests."

What are you talking about?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. Me confused, too.

Unless it was WTO.

[Gloria]

6. Is this the protest Randi Rhodes was organizing???? She was

taking suggestions for chants; suggested people carry white crosses and black tee shirts to remind Bush of the soldiers that are dying in Iraq....They were getting busses filled last week....

[kayleybeth]

7. That's the one

Randi said 800 to 1,000 people showed up. Wish I could've been there.

[TahitiNut]

9. That's a good idea for a protest.

Black T-shirts (size 4XLT like a shroud), and an individual placard for each and every one of the Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, with picture, name, age, and hometown.

For larger protests, include the Iraqis and Afghanis killed.

It also might "help" the meida whores to more accurately (misunder)estimate the number of protesters!

[KoKo]

10. Read the whole article......it's hilarious with Bush Mis-speaks! It's

written "tongue-in-cheek" and makes you chuckle......Really! These reporters see him as the ass he is!

[E_Zapata]

11. Quote of the year - perhaps the millennium:

"''Imagine what the world would be like had my brother not been elected three years ago,'' the governor (Jeb) said.

The John Lennon song comes to mind. Just Imagine! Oh, if only . . . .

[Arugula Latte]

15. "Imagine what would have happened had I not purged tens of thousands

of legal voters from the rolls," mused Jeb. "Gosh, we might have had some democracy and some decent leadership instead of a fascist/corporate state. (Shudder!)"

[Kool Kitty]

19. "Imagine what the world would be like had my brother not been

elected three years ago..." I imagine that maybe I could have gone to "Windows on the World" for dinner on my birthday, John Ashcroft would be just a private citizen, no Patriot Act, lots of families would be together for the holidays instead of attending candlelight vigils to mourn and honor their beloved dead, etc.

[Paschall]

12. He's repeating this more often

"'We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country,' the president said."

Excuse me, but IMHO this is basically the equivalent of "Bring 'em on!"?

We know a certain number of terror organizations would like to hurt Shrub bad. What better way to prove his logic wrong by perpetrating another attack on America? Particularly as the campaign heats up.

Although his rhetoric harkens back to the Cold War, the situation is much different. Again, ShrubCo is misjudging the danger. And placing America at risk.

[otohara]

14. Today On World Link TV - Florida 2000 Greg Palast

documentary was on, and I have seen it before. I could not watch it again, I know the whole dirty story by heart. It still makes me sick to my stomach knowing what they did to steal the election.

[Zo Zig]

16. Eye witness report

Randi Rhodes helped get it together along with the several other local groups. The police were very nice, and extremely professional which was well received. The crowd was an amazing group from young to old, some as old as 90. Rode a bus from Palm Beach County to the event, hot, and blocked off right across from the entrance to the hotel. The crowd by my count was closer to 700 directly across from the hotel, more were at the other side of the bridge on 17th. The resident theif was caught on video by local news waving as he left to the protestors. The moment of true was when the resident left, I hope he could feel the "love". It was great, more of us our friends and family members need to get out and share the love.
:thumbsdown: Feel the Love?

[jiacinto]

17. I was there

But I wasn't wearing black. I walked around the crowd.

[cliss]

18. Isn't it amazing...

Bush was scheduled to come to my state (Oregon) and hold a speech in Central Oregon about forestry management (the man has friends in all kinds of industries). The day before he was about to arrive, 2 large brush fires appeared in the exact spot where he was going to make his speech. Very mysterious. The authorities suspected arson. He was forced to cancel his visit.

Bottom line: this is a man who spreads destruction and mayhem wherever he goes. In the run-up to the war in Iraq, Bush and his "coalition of the killing" met on the very small island of Granada outside Spain. It was determined that he could not show his face anywhere, lest huge riots and demonstrations would follow.

What a legacy. Shortly after the war, advisors told him he could not leave Washington because he had inflamed so much animosity.

WHAT A GUY.

[He loved Big Brother]

20. Oh my...

I am a Florida native who lived in Ft. Lauderdale. I moved to the Pacific NW in 1999 because I grew tired of the apathetic political atmosphere in that area, the lack of activism, and general intellectual-free feeling about the place. 90% of my decision on whether to move or not was based on those factors.

The fact that people are now mobilizing there, against * no less, truly befuddles me.

Was that a slight twitch of optimism I just felt? ;)

[opihimoimoi]

21. It will soon escalate to RAMMING SPEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the bushies are in deep doo and trying to weasel out

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

22. Another jaw dropping Bush Quote:

''One aspect of security is to deal with people who hate America.'' Bush said. ``Let's go get them before they get us. And that is what we will continue to do.''

Infantile and paranoid. The Limbaugh & Hannity heads spout the "hate America" theme at all who disagree with this admin. Scary times for true patriots, folks.

Feel safe.
Ashcroft watches over us all.

[Greyskye]

23. Lovely quotes

This article is really wicked in a subtle sort of way. :evilgrin: I love this bit:
Bush told the crowd of nearly 900 business executives, lobbyists and political activists who gave $2,000 a piece that he would not be distracted by politics -- at least not yet.

Zing! :) Yep, no politics at a $2000 a plate luncheon!

Then, contrast this:
Fort Lauderdale police, including officers on horseback and in boats in nearby canals, kept a tight rein on the crowd, which grew throughout the afternoon as people finished work for the day.

Beginning at about 4 p.m., the protest attracted a broad spectrum of Democrats, supporting a variety of candidates and causes.

Many hearkened back to the 2000 presidential election and Florida's pivotal role in the recount with signs like ''Commander-in-Thief.'' Others referenced the ongoing California recall of Gov. Gray Davis with signs like ``Recall Bush.''

With this:
Only a handful of Bush supporters joined the protest, led by 13-year-old Pinecrest student Mackenzie Malcolm, whose parents, Jack and Lisa Malcolm, watched their eighth-grader proudly. Their 16-year-old son, Andrew was a volunteer worker inside the hotel.

Younger sister Mackenzie was so disturbed by some of the protest signs that she ran back to her nearby home to draw her own ''We Support Bush'' sign on neon-pink poster board.

Hmmmmm. Sounds like the * protestors were working class professionals, while the * supporters are either rich enough to afford a $2000 slab of tasteless chicken, or kids who just don't know any better. :evilgrin:

Nice way to start off my day!

[Occulus]

24. this says it all, IMHO

"The main purpose of Bush's visit was fundraising."

Was there ever any doubt?