Whammy of an opportunity
As President Bush’s motorcade rolled off Interstate 90 and into town, traffic stopped on Division.
Charlene Kay, an engineer, stood by Division near Dick’s Burgers with her 6-year-old daughter. They waved at the 19 black and white government vehicles that zipped by.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Kay said, while holding her daughter’s shoulders.
“You have to pay a million dollars to eat with him,” said Michaela Kay, 6.
They said Bush was in the motorcade’s second car and waved at the two dozen people standing beside the road.
“I liked the machine guns,” said the girl.
Big dance
The presidential visit wasn’t the only big event downtown Thursday.
Little girls in tutus and their families were forced to navigate throngs of Bush protesters to get to a dance recital at the Spokane Opera House.
One protester taunted them with, “Is one dinner worth $1,000?”
“They’re not going to the dinner. They’re going to a dance performance,” answered a Bush supporter.
“Oops.”
Signs of the times
Demonstrators of all political stripes carried signs and shouted slogans outside the fund-raiser at the Ag Trade Center.
Some of the signs:
• “Georgie Bush! Our SONS and DAUGHTERS are NOT your little green army. Find Another Toy.”
• “We (heart) Our President” – held up by 5-year-old Madelyn Brandley.
• “I pray for Bush.”
• “Thank God for Bush.”
• “Vote the Son-of-a-Bush out.”
• “Torture syntax, not people.”
• “Bush is Our Man – He Represents Our Stars and Stripes.”
Good advice
At Fairchild Air Force Base, members of the media assembled to be briefed before the arrival of Air Force One.
“Once the president lands,” a spokeswoman told reporters, “do not make any sudden movements or go running for something in your car… . The snipers will shoot.”
Cold comfort
Among the din of the demonstrators came the jingle of an ice cream truck. It could be heard above the cheering and jeering, the beating of drums – even the wail of bagpipes.
Dan Pereyo, 26, said he normally drives a North Side route for Steve West Ice Cream, but received his boss’s permission to sell downtown during the president’s visit.
Based on the signs some carried, Pereyo estimated that about 80 percent of his customers opposed the president.
“I guess Democrats like ice cream better,” said Pereyo.
The customer mix also might have had something to do with the Sierra Club sign that Pereyo posted on his truck.
Back to normal
Jeanne Ekvall, 52, wished she had brought her pro-Bush sign as she watched the motorcade head north on Division. She was in town from Brewster, Wash., and made plans with her daughter to see Bush. She wanted to show her support.
“I think our nation has gotten into a totally critical mode,” Ekvall said.
Within two minutes after Bush passed by, traffic flowed as usual. A woman appeared at the corner near Dick’s holding up a sign asking for money. A driver yelled out his window, “Go fill out a job application.”