Residents crowd downtown for glimpse of history

More than a thousand people waited outside in the sun Thursday afternoon hoping to give President Bush a piece of their minds – or at least catch a glimpse of him.

But the bulk of the disappointed crowd wandered off soon after they realized that Bush had bypassed them and entered the Spokane Convention Center through a back door.

In fact, frustration that Bush’s motorcade didn’t pass by them was the one thing that united the disparate group of anti-war protesters, John Kerry fans, Bush supporters and curious onlookers.

“In a way it’s kind of mean. Doesn’t he represent the ordinary man, too?” asked Diana Spitzer.

Whitworth College student Jennifer Morehouse said she plans to cast her first presidential ballot for Bush.

“I just wanted to see the person who gets my vote,” Morehouse said.

Police stood by and others watched from nearby rooftops, but there was little trouble.

Early on, the crowd was energized and the atmosphere festive.

The smell of permanent markers filled the air. Protesters outnumbered the president’s supporters by about 3 to 1. Their “Bye George” T-shirts served a dual purpose.

Bush was in Spokane to speak at a fund-raising dinner for Rep. George Nethercutt, but it was his actions related to the war in Iraq that brought out most of the people outside.

Bush supporters attending the dinner had to walk a path cleared by police tape, with hundreds of protesters on either side waving signs and chanting anti-Bush slogans.

The “Radical Cheerleaders,” a group of young people dressed in red and black, chanted anti-Bush cheers: “When we say, ‘Bush,’ you say ‘Out,’ ” they chanted. “Bush – out! Bush – out!”

Bush supporters had their own cheers.

“I’m in love with him. This is my little saying: ‘Bush is hot. Kerry’s not,’ ” said Cathy Sparks.

For $1,000, Bush and Nethercutt donors got a ticket to the dinner. Another $9,000 bought them access to the president at a reception before the dinner.

Across the street, 50 cents bought people a Popsicle. For a $4 donation, you could get a burger (meat or veggie) at the Burgers Against Bush rally in Riverfront Park.

An estimated 1,500 people came to that Democratic party.

Eating a burger was Charlene Taft, a 97-year old Democrat who cast her first vote for Roosevelt in 1932.

Curt Koegan, a union representative who helped with the barbecue, said organizers were prepared for about 600 people.

“We had to go and get more food twice,” Koegan said. “I think we have a lot of people in Spokane who are not happy with the current administration. That’s the nice way of saying it.”

Back at the Convention Center, the protesters’ signs called upon all their wit: “Dinner with a shrub, $1,000. New president in 2004, priceless.”

Bush fans bedecked in red, white and blue waved Bush-Cheney placards and held Mylar balloons decorated with bald eagles.

“I just found out a few days ago he was coming, and wanted to show my kids how to honor and respect the people who run our country,” said Christy Brandley.

Rusty Nelson, who leads Spokane’s Peace and Justice Action League, said his group had a permit to demonstrate, but the crowds blocked the sidewalk and prevented his group from marching in opposition to the war in Iraq.

“This is the biggest zoo I’ve ever seen,” Nelson said.

Some just wanted to be a part of the action.

Spitzer and her husband, Wayne, tried to see the president in both Airway Heights and downtown Spokane, even though both said they won’t vote for him this fall.

“It’s a matter of touching history,” Wayne Spitzer said.

The two waited patiently outside the Convention Center, camera at the ready, hoping. Maybe he would come outside.