Bush touts benefit plan in Rancho Cucamonga (CA)

[question everything]

Bush touts benefit plan in Rancho Cucamonga

05:01 PM PDT on Monday, August 29, 2005

By CLAIRE VITUCCI and LISA B. McPHERON / The Press-Enterprise

President Bush encouraged an invited audience gathered at a Rancho Cucamonga senior center on Monday to learn and hopefully enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug plan... The president also said he would work with Gov. Schwarzenegger and other border-state governors to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. Political leaders have been pleading with Washington for more help to stop the flow of illegal immigrants.

(snip)

Hours before Bush arrived, about 200 flag-waving supporters and slogan-chanting protestors lined Milliken Avenue across from the senior center. By the time of the president appeared, the crowd had swelled to nearly 1,000. Several skirmishes broke out after the president's motorcade drove past the crowd following his speech.

Bush supporters walked amid the demonstrators and were quickly mobbed. Placards on both sides were destroyed and it appeared that police made several arrests. About a dozen motorcycle officers drove into the protestors and sounded their sirens for several minutes in a vain effort to disperse the crowd. Before the scuffles erupted, Margaret Lindgren, a 74-year-old Culver City woman, said her opposition to the war compelled her to drive to the Inland region to join demonstrators decrying Bush's domestic and international policies.

"I do have a lot of hope. I haven't seen so many people participate in something since the 1960s," said Lindgren, clutching a pink umbrella as other protestors hoisted placards reading "No war for oil" or accusing the president of lying.

(snip)


Staff writers Michelle DeArmond, Duane Gang and Lisa McPheron contributed to this report.

Online at: http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_D_webbush30.7c2e5a0.html

[LibDemAlways]

1. Interesting how there is no break down of

numbers of pro-chimp supporters vs protestors. If the heat and traffic couldn't keep a 74 year old woman from driving more than hour to add her voice to the anti-war chorus, the protest contingent must have been large.

Also, typically biased reporting: "flag-waving supporters" vs "slogan-chanting protestors." Give me a break.

[not fooled]

2. The perfect town...

...for Commander CucamongaBananas.:crazy:

[3waygeek]

4. Tell me about it...

my wingnut parents live there.

[PlanetBev]

15. Hot, smoggy, bleak, culturally devoid RC

More knuckles are dragged there than almost anyplace in Southern California. Where intellect goes to die.

[Hekate]

18. ROFL-- you guys are being so mean to Cucamonga you're making me laugh

Reminds me of why I left in 1968 -- my folks had moved there because of Lockheed at Ontario, but I hadn't grown up there and I left as soon as I was ready to transfer out of Chaffey Community College. The smog and heat are awful -- I lived there several months before I even saw Mt. Baldy through the haze, and then I was staggered at the size and closeness of the mountains. Then they disappeared again in the haze.

Ah, the good citizens of the Inland Empire.

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#

[Megahurtz]

24. In Rancho there is a Cucamongus!!!

:silly:

[Kerrytravelers]

3. I was there. We outnumbered them.

They were completly out of control. When leaving, some lady took her flag and hit me in the face. I looked at her and said "typical violent republican. Using the flag to hit someone. Nice."

She says "I thought you were about peace and love."

I replied "You hit me, idiot." And I walked on my merry way.



When we first got there, while waiting at the corner where it was quiet, this one guy (I'm a tiny thing... 5'3" 115 maybe 120 pounds tops and this guy was huge and Hispanic - that's important later) he just gets in my face, screaming at me, calling me an idiot. LIttle did he know, but honey, I have taught in some of the worse neighborhoods, so some overweight 101st keyboard brigade member doesn't scare me. I asked him while bush hasn't attended any funerals yet. He was still cursing and screaming. I let himn know that the military was desperate, so much so that they'd even take him, so perhaps he should enlist. He got even madder then. I stood strong, but inside I thought he was going to hit me. A young Hispanic guy stood up and said the man needed to take a step away from me. The young HIspanic guy was holding a peace flag and a protest sign. The 101st keyboard brigade member told him to get his wetback ass back to Mexico. So, one Hispanic guy tells another to get back to Mexico. How dumb. The young guy said he'd never been to Mexico. We looked at the 101st member and said racist. Then he called us fags. So now, on top of being a chickenhawk and a racist, you're also a homophobic biggot? You're an excellent bush supporter.

The light changed and we walked away to him still cursing.

The young shrub-lovers that came by were asked why they didn't enlist. Their response? Usually the middle finger. They should be careful with that finger. They may need it to type. That's the important skill of the 101st keyboard brigade.

There was a 12 year old in full camoflague. They had a poster "Future soldier for bush." How long do these people plan to keep the little terrorist in office?

THe cops were so out of control. They had batons at us, wearing their face shields. The fascists were allowed to walk through us, doing whatever they wished. They arrested on of ours while she was crossing the street (apparents, she didn't make it acorss before the light changed.) It was crazy. They had guys driving trucks that had HUGE * signs constantly circling. I swear they had the same cars/trucks pass them time and again. It got to be funny after a while.

And yet, we were still louder and more truthful then they were.

The kicker. The real kicker was the two white guys driving a huge truck. Out of the passenger's window was an enormous American flag. The driver was driving and waving an equally large confederate flag. Then they parked and stood right out in front of the * crowd, with all the little shrubbie supporters cheering, their confederate flag. It was sickening.

I am so ashamed of the behavior of the rethugs... they are truly destroying this country.

[mshasta]

5. wow!!!

so sorry for the Hispanic incident. .they should know better.. ..and the KKK parade!!!

[question everything]

6. Thank you for a first hand report

I don't suppose there was a single police officer in sight when you were hit with the flag.

And, yes, I think that whenever we encounter able bodied supporting the war we need to offer them recruitment papers.

What losers!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

7. Print out enlistment forms and have them ready to pass out

give them a stamped envelope to unknown pobox
when they enlist and can mail you their
photo of graduation from bootcamp.
Start a website that show how many you give out
and how many keep their word.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. I had my enlistment forms with me today.

But the cops were clearly not going to protect us and were in arrest mode. It was a bit contentious, so I figured I'd better no approach anyone.

There are times where you just know it's not worth it. This was one of those times.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

10. Yup- pick battles

BTW in DC Sept 24-26, I understand there will be
a few talks on how to protest peacefully.

I really want to catch one of those.

All the other side knows how to do
is distort and bait. THey just want
us to engage. We are better than that
aren't we!

[Joebert]

11. Now if that isn't brainwashing, I don't know what is!

A Hispanic using that particular derogotory term.

He must watch Fox News so often that he's decided he's a rich white republican.

Wild.

[Hekate]

19. Thanks for being there and reporting back

Ye gods, what an experience.

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#

[Megahurtz]

25. What a Classy Bunch those Repukes are.

:puke:

I can't believe it!!! And this is 2005???:crazy:

[Proud_Lefty]

9. I wish I could have been there

I live in this area and sent out emails to all my friends to see if anyone else could get off work and join me. Not only could no one join me, but I couldn't get anyone to pick my kids up from school. The last time I went to a Moveon.org ralley in Riverside, as I was walking to the parking structure afterwards, I saw Homeland Security's van parked close by, taking notes and pictures. It's getting to be a scary area to live in.

[Kerrytravelers]

12. I had the same Homeland Security experience when Hilary came to Long Beach

My friend and I parked next to one another. My friend is a Navy vet and had her Navy and Kerry stickers all over her car.

When we came out of the event (we stayed late passing out fliers for the Kerry campaign) there was this van parked behind out cars and three were two people taking pictures of our cars. I asked if they'd like a close up of me in the car for their files. They didn't respond, but got in their van and drove away.

This is like living under a third world dictator.

[anitar1]

13. Well, we are living under a 3rd rate dictator, right? n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

14. After what I saw today from the shrubbers, we are definetly under

a dictatorship. Today wasn't a democracy... it was terrifying, it was surreal... but it was a controlled form of democracy that was under strict police survellience against us... but not those who "support" the dictatorship.

[Proud_Lefty]

16. Sounds horrible

While watching the inauguration on TV earlier in the year, I couldn't help but feel this was an evil dictator conquering our country. It felt extremely creepy to see so many high paid government employees protecting someone who is so vehemently hated by so many people while at the very same time, claiming he won a mandate in the election. What a horrible nightmare our country is experiencing. I've felt the same awful feeling you did today after seeing firsthand what should never happen in this country. I wish I could have been there to meet you today and stand with you. In spirit, I did and hopefully, I can meet you soon.

[Kerrytravelers]

20. Come to the big march on Sept. 24 in Los Angeles!

I'll be there!

[Proud_Lefty]

21. I'll be there

Last night, my dearest friend was telling me about her plans to be in D.C. at that time. I kept wishing there was a way I could go with her, but I've just got too many responsibilities here at home. Next best thing. L.A. That's a can do. I'll be looking for you, Kt!

[Kerrytravelers]

22. I'll be with the SESW (students and Educators to Stop the War) group.

I've invited DUers to join with us and march together. And I"m sure there will be a DU get together after the whole event! Hopefully at the nearest bar!

[Wizard777]

17. Lisa, Bush is in Rancho Cucubananas, California!

Dad that's where Bush lives. It's in Texas.

DOH!

[Megahurtz]

23. "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, buy my bullshit, blah, blah, blah..."

:boring: