Bush starts Australia visit marked by protests

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22349454.htm

CANBERRA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Anti-U.S. protesters were descending on the Australian capital on Thursday ready for a whirlwind visit by President George W. Bush to thank his close ally for helping in the U.S.-led war on terror and Iraq war.

Bush arrived with words of praise for Prime Minister John Howard, calling him a "man of steel".

The president's 20-hour visit, ending a six-nation Asia tour, has triggered a massive security operation in the usually sleepy capital, with air force jets escorting him into Canberra on Wednesday night and patrolling the city's skies on Thursday.

Authorities have taken the unprecedented step of barring the public from the national parliament, where Bush is due to speak later on Thursday, and encircled the hill-top building with crowd control barriers to keep protesters away.

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[Parche]

1. Australia

They are not anti US protesters
They are ANTI BUSH protesters

[jonoboy]

2. Stalin means 'Man of Steel'

I'm one of the protestors. Our gripe is not with the American people it's the Bush administration.

These are anti-BUSH demonstrations.

[Eureka]

3. jonoboy is right

I agree, almost everyone I know has no problem with Americans, but at the same time is disgusted with Bush and his cohorts.

As per usual, demonstrators will be kept well away, and nobody is allowed to ask questions (no Aussie journalists allowed in the inner circle of journos with Bush)

Hopefully some of our parliamentarians will protest as well, interested parties can watch Bush's address to parliament here, http://www.aph.gov.au/live/webcast1.asp, it starts in about 45 minutes.

I wonder if anyone will explain to Bush that the Parliament has already voted to censure Howard for misleading us over the war?

Also interesting to note the differences between this Presidential visit and the last (Clinton, 1996).

For Bush: Armed military aircraft deployed over Australia for only the second time since WWII

For Bush: Parliament House closed to the Australian public for the first time

For Bush: Protestors moved out of sight.

For Clinton: He was able to walk into the crowds and sign autographs.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Hello and welcome to DU Eureka!

:hi:

[colorado_ufo]

5. Welcome Eureka!

Here you will find hope!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

13. Appreciate it, Aussies. Tell me, How's the job market over there

for people running away from the Bush Junta?

[Eureka]

14. Depends on how long you want to run for

Our unemployment situation isn't too bad, been better, and been heaps worse. The problem as I see it is John Howard is kissing up to Bush so badly I'm not sure how long the relief would last. I can say, though, that Americans would be welcomed by most Aussies I know with open arms, so long as you promise to keep Bush at home from now on :-)

On the up side, we do have some politicians willing to make a stand and we get, IHMO, some variety and scepticism in our media, particularly the publicly funded stations ABC and SBS (all that despite one of our own practically inventing Big Media, thanks Rupert)

[lostnfound]

28. You guys sent us Rupert & we kept him; can't you return the favor? n/t

[Matilda]

15. Yep .... what a difference!

Clinton spoke to tens of thousands out in the open air, and mixed
freely everywhere he went. He said himself "I love this place", and
Australia loves him. Whereas this little creep doesn't dare to show
his face - I've never seen anything like it before, a visit by a
Head of State who's too scared to be seen in public.

I went to the Sydney protest last night (Wednesday), and the crowd's
sentiment is anti-Bush, not anti-U.S. And it's also anti-Howard, of
course, for being such a crawling little twerp. Senator Bob Brown
of The Greens got a huge ovation from the crowd - he's the only
MP with any real moral courage. We also had an address from Harry
Quick, the Labor MP who was planning to wear a white armband, and he
also got a good reception, once the crowd realised who he was; no-one
had ever heard of him before this, but good for him.

I know that Bob Brown and Kerrie Nettle of The Greens were both
ejected from Parliament during Shrub's speech today for calling out
protests against the Iraq invasion. I've also heard that there has
been some violence at the protest in Canberra - of course there would
be - there's a great deal of outrage at people being banned from
Parliament House and being coralled like sheep well away from these
butchers. Even at the height of the Vietnam protests, which were
often violent, nobody ever tried to stop the democratic right to
demonstrate - it's taken a nerdy little geek with a tiny mind and
no spirit to do that.

Grrrrr.

On edit - Bob Brown is the only party leader with any moral courage.
There are some others willing to follow his example.

[jonoboy]

16. Greens will be in

I have no doubt that the Greens will hold the balance of power in the Senate after the next election Matilda...why else would Howard want to 'reform' the Senate and take away their power.

They forever rabbit on about mandates and conveniently forget that Australians vote for a package..that is the House of Reps and Senate at every election, whatever the mix ends up as. And look at the stable government it's given us since federation..why can't these reactionary bastards leave things as they are.

[Matilda]

17. I hope the Greens will add at least one extra set in the Senate,

no matter who gets into power. I think there's a very good chance,
as they picked up extra votes last election, in spite of the late
swing to the Coalition. I can't see Australians ever agreeing to
abolish the upper house, the tradition of always keeping the two
main parties on a leash is too strong.

[anakie]

6. Bush's address now on CNNI

lots of arse licking by both Howard (PM) and Crean (opposition leader).

waiting to see if anyone in the chamber will boo

[anakie]

7. Leader of Australian Greens expelled from house during

shrubs speech.

His comments inaudible on Tv

[Eureka]

8. The full text

You've probably seen it by now, but the ABC have it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s973378.htm

[dudeness]

9. Bush in my city..

and i am stuck at work..grrrr..

[dudeness]

10. i have just spoken to a friend at the protests

he says the cops wont let them march and he is expecting a violent response when they attempt too..

[belab13]

11. "Man of Steel" "Axis of Evil" geez, one gets the impression that many of

these conservative leaders are deriving foreign policy on their comic book collections.

[jonoboy]

12. we love Clinton

say what you want about big Bill's love life..Australia loves the man. He's made 3 visits and been warmly received werever he goes..during his Presidential visit , as previously noted, none of the hysterical protection accompanying Bush was needed.

The principals of the Democratic Party are far more in line with the vast majority of Australian thinking.

Just like Bush, Howard has gained election through lies with fear thrown in.

[Buns_of_Fire]

18. Judging from the comments in this thread...

I have to assume that Australians aren't willing to take me up on my outstanding offer of US$138.62 (yes, that's $138.62 in cold, hard cash!) to keep his sorry ass. I've offered this to many countries over the last couple of years, and none of them seem to even want to consider it.

Obviously my marketing techniques need a little work. Would it help if we tied a pork chop around his neck?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

19. I'll throw in a DeWalt 18V Drill and Saw to your $138.62...

And a first edition of Carrie with Dust Jacket.

Don't hurt him, just give him something to keep him occuped until 2004 like the "catch your thumb" game or a snipe hunt.

[Buns_of_Fire]

20. THAT'S the spirit! Maybe I need to set up a web site...

to gather all the donations the American people would be willing to offer to any country willing to offer him permanent residency. "givegeorgeahome.com" -- yeah, that's the ticket!

Alas, even my GENEROUS DONATION OF US$138.62 (cash!), a DeWalt power drill, and a first edition of Carrie, don't seem to be making much of a dent in world opinion. I've even had my donation matched a few times -- and in previous posts, I've also thrown in Air Force 1 (without Harrison Ford), Barney, and a case of Rold Gold Pretzels. No luck (although I did have a few inquiries on the pretzels).

But maybe we could change the locks on the White House before he gets back... :evilgrin:

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. If you include Barney in the offer

then you'll have to up the cash element to make up for it. It's no use you trying to get us to take 2 loads of trash and making it look like one...

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. I meant Barney the pResidential DOG, not Barney the DINOSAUR

Heavens, no. If we can pawn Dubya (the Primate) on some other country, we can tolerate having Barney (the Dinosaur) for as long as necessary. Heck, we might even elect him President. :-)

[lostnfound]

29. Take the whole neocon bunch wouldya & I'd mortgage my house n/t

[Zhade]

21. I guess that would make Bush Lex Luthor

's stupid henchman in the first Superman movie...

[0007]

22. Thank You Australia!

I hope someone got some photos of junior and the protest.

Howard & junior must go!!

[heidiho]

25. Ta, Mates! We appreciate your efforts

Having lived in Sydney for three years I knew you guys wouldn't take this visit lightly. Our news agencies are not reporting any negativity from this visit by the biggest idiot ever to rule any country.

Please know that we in America hate this guy with a passion. He doesz not reflect our philosophies.

[vonk]

31. Bush

Not all Americans hate Bush...in fact, only a very small percentage do.

[Neecy]

26. ugh

How humiliating, as an American, to see this unelected fraud strut around the world, looking and sounding like an ignorant fool.

He's really a 'uniter, not a divider' as he's met with massive protests in every country he visits. What's really sad is that the majority of the American electorate did NOT vote for this idiot. And we'll make the world a safer place by throwing his dumbass OUT in November 2004.

[Matilda]

27. I understand exactly how you feel.

It embarrasses the hell out of me to have my country represented by
a stupid little toady trying to make out he's a big player on the
world stage. When Howard isn't fawning over the queen, he's
grovelling to Bush, begging to be allowed to play in his war games.
Thanks to him, Australia has now become a paranoid terrorist target.
Ridiculous little git.

[0007]

30. They were anti-junior protester not

Anti-U.S. protesters.