Mainz Residents Told Not To Take a Peek at President Bush-

[chlamor]

Mainz residents told not to take a peek at president
By Bertrand Benoit in Berlin, George Parker in Brussels and Robert Anderson in Prague
Published: February 21 2005 22:28 | Last updated: February 21 2005 22:28

For residents of Mainz, George W. Bush's seven-hour visit to Germany on Wednesday and his short meeting with Gerhard Schröder, chancellor, will mean one of two things: a headache or a holiday.

Between the US president's 9.45am landing at Frankfurt airport and his afternoon departure, the sleepy Rhineland town and birthplace of Gutenberg will turn into a steel fortress.

In a contemporary echo of the Lady Godiva legend, anyone living on the route of the presidential motorcade is being discouraged from taking a peek at the 60- to 80-strong column of vehicles conveying the US president. In police leaflets, residents have been asked to keep their windows shut and stay clear of balconies “to avoid misunderstandings”.

Stores and restaurants in the “red zone”, the high-security area centred on Mainz's electoral palace, have been advised to close for the day as part of the biggest security operation in the country's postwar history. “They told us we could stay open if we liked but that nobody would be allowed in the area. It did not seem to make much business sense,” said Bozo Vukoja, owner of the Am-Fischtor Croatian restaurant in the red zone.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ca1d3720-8457-11d9-ad81-00000e2511c8.html

[Bethany Rockafella]

1. The bushies are paranoid.

But that's how it is when there are too many folks out there gunning for their guy.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. They might notice the emperor is wearing no clothes. n/t

[LiberalEsto]

3. So they can't see the Emperor's new clothes?

Unbelievable! The arrogance of it all.

[Benhurst]

4. What a farce! But I guess that's what has to be done when the

most hated man in the world pays a visit.

[applegrove]

21. Correction: The most hated man the world has ever seen

[hootinholler]

5. Wouldn't it be funny if

They all put broomsticks pointing out of thier balconies?

-Hoot

[JHB]

6. Whatta way to call for "New Era of Western Unity", Bubble-Boy!

Show up in their city, and make everybody hide in their homes! Wat to go!

[HereSince1628]

7. I'll bet bubbleboy feels a lot safer with Saddam gone...

I know the people of Mainz do.

[nostamj]

8. THE MOST HATED MAN ON EARTH

60-80 vehicles to protect one sagging pantload...

THE MOST HATED MAN ON EARTH

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE
THE MOST HATED MAN ON THE EARTH?
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW
THAT THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD GAGS ON YOUR NAME?
HISTORY DOES NOT REMEMBER
PROTESTS OF SUCH MASSIVE NUMBERS.
YOU SAID YOU'D UNITE US...
HEY!
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE
THE MOST HATED MAN ON THE EARTH?
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW
THAT THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD THINKS YOU'RE INSANE?
YOU CAN'T SHOW YOUR FACE IN PUBLIC.
WHEN YOU SPEAK, IT'S JUST MORONIC.
STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, IN YOUR BUBBLE!

[paineinthearse]

9. Bozo Vukoja?

That makes two bozo's in town!

[CottonBear]

10. I am so embarassed for America.

I send my apologies to the German people.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. his post-presidency is going to be very interesting

Clinton can go into throngs of people in Africa and Indonesia and be mobbed.

Bush can't drive by a town without it going into lockdown.

What's going to happen when Bush becomes an ex-President and he only has two or three secret service agents guarding him. Are they going to shut down every place he goes just because he'll be the most hated ex-president in U.S. history?

Man, I'd hate to be one of the guy's guarding him when he gets out of office.

[CottonBear]

23. He'll have lots of time to clear brush.

If we're lucky, he'll rarely ever leave the ranch.

[Chipper Chat]

25. Haven't you heard? On January 19, 2009:

Martial law will be declared and newly-elected president Boxer will not be inaugerated. Rummy will declare her "unfit," the National Guard will be deployed to control our cities. Bush will remain in power until at least 2017.

[Skidmore]

12. What gives him the right to go to another country and dictate

how they conduct their security. I'd like to see one of these countries refuse. What option would he have? Stay his ass home?

[No Exit]

18. Some of the Chileans refused.

Remember? When he went to Chile, his minions demanded that for a state dinner in a frikkin' MAIN GOVERNMENT BUILDING of theirs, that even the very highest officials of the Chilean government (AND their spouses) go through a metal detector before entering!

The Chilean high officials refused, so the state dinner was cancelled. I hope they sent notices saying, "Cancelled due to the fright of the manly U.S. president of being assassinated!"

I saw footage where Bush accompanied their leader into a formation of Chilean military. Bush had to walk through a bunch of guys carrying rifles, and he looked absolutely petrified.

[daydreamer]

13. Over 1300 gully and canal covers had to be soldered up

Unbelievable.

[apple_ridge]

14. What a coward!

[woofless]

15. 'twould make them blind!

[No Exit]

16. Does that include the prostitutes in the windows at the "Crazy Sexy",

the whorehouse they used to have over there for American servicemen?

It's so typical that the Frightened Little Kennebunkport Cowboy would hang out in Mainz. It's practically part of the U.S., it's so filled with the signs of American occupation.

I'm so DAMNED SICK of everyone in the world bowing down and kowtowing to the fears of this pathetic, demented mistake-of-nature.

[AlCzervik]

17. oh please don't look, Chimpoleon lives in a bubble made of

opaque plastic and if you look at him he'll figure he's hated and that will harsh his mellow.

[applegrove]

19. Didn't Bush want people to not stare at him at the inarguration? Something

is very wrong. This is just another way for Bush to 'remain in his bubble'. In Ottawa, he witnessed many a 'one finger salute' as he drove by. So now - for security purposes, you are not allowed to be outside when that ***hole drives by your house.

They should have done the whole trip in a sound stage.

He gets to destabilize the world but 'no looking at him drive by'.

***hole.

[oldtime dfl_er]

20. so how much is this invisible presidential visit costing us?

and how much is it costing the poor citizens of the cities who aren't even allowed to lay eyes on the bastard they're paying to protect?

www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[Octafish]

22. Fickst Du, Scheisskopf!

Fuck You, Bush!

[NashVegas]

24. It'll Be Like the Ringwraiths Riding Through Bree in FotR

from the sound of it.

[onecent]

26. WHY doesn't this kind of news hit the main stream media in Amer? n/t

[paineinthearse]

27. .

[PassingFair]

28. Quick, somebody photoshop Lady Godiva with a * head, please?

[Eric J in MN]

29. This sounds like the inauguration when musicians in the band

were told not to look at Bush.

It's bizarre.

[SoCalDem]

30. Clinton's 2000 trip to Germany.. They sure looked back then