President Bush is Coming to Hartford
AND THEN:
President Bush is appearing at Henry Kissinger's house for a fundraiser for David Cappiello, who is challenging freshman Chris Murphy (D5-CT). Fundraiser guests are being told to arrive by 12 noon so they can be checked in by security. Bush is coming at 1 PM.
At 3 PM we will march against the War on Iraq on Main Street (Route 7) in the center of Kent. Even if you can't make it until the end, it is important to come and make a statement against the war.
We will be protesting Bush's wrongheaded war without end, which has cost taxpayers over $3 trillion and has wrecked our economy.
At this point, we are telling people to gather at the home of Henry Kissinger, 50 Henderson Road, Kent, CT
(Google will call it Cornwall Bridge; the town is wrong but the map and directions are correct).
If you need a ride or can offer one or more other people a ride, please use the registration link below and let us know
We expect the authorities to push us back from this point but we expect to be nearby. People should go to the Connecticut Opposes the War (COW) www.ctcow.org website to register, rideshare and to keep up to date with the latest logistics as details for the event change -- and they will.
When April 25th, 2008 12:00 PM through 3:00 PM
Location 50 Henderson Road
Kent, CT 06754
From:
http://ctcow.org/, where more info may be obtained
COW's Mission Statement: "Nothing less than to end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home safely, and change our national priorities from a war based on lies to health care, jobs and proper treatment of our suffering vets."
From the local newspaper, I find (with my editorial italics):
"The president is coming, but no one in Kent seems to notice"
(More obvious evidence that the Waterbury paper has no proof reader and relies solely on spell check - a paper that calls itself the "Republican" but fails to capitalize this particular President?)
BY GEORGE KRIMSKY
WTBY REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
(KENT) -- "If this bustling little village in the Litchfield Hills is excited about the upcoming visit of the president, it's sure doing a good job of hiding it.
A visit downtown earlier this week showed no preparations under way, no special sprucing up, no signs of welcome or protest, and very little chatter about George W. Bush's expected arrival Friday for a brief Republican fundraiser at the home of Henry and Nancy Kissinger.
"Of course it's a big deal, but there's more interest around town in what's happening with the budget," said liquor store owner Ira Smith, referring to local angst over the size of the 2008-09 municipal and education budget proposals.
Although the reasons differed, the general feeling of apathy was confirmed in interviews with trade and service people around town. "From what I've heard, more people got excited about the Pope in New York," said hairdresser Jennifer Yodkin."
This is a Democratic town, and becoming more so every day," explained Carol McCann, who runs a fabric shop off Main Street. Although Republicans used to dominate politics here and in other Litchfield County towns, registered Democrats now outnumber Republicans 663 to 519 in Kent. But unaffiliated voters number 728.Over at Town Hall, First Selectman Ruth Epstein was more upbeat about the visit, based on calls she had been receiving in recent days. "I think a lot of people are excited. It's not often a sitting president comes to a small town like ours," said the chief elected official, who is a Democrat.
But Epstein said she knew only one local person who planned to go to the fund-raiser, which will cost $1,000 per head to attend and $10,000 to have one's picture taken with the president. "Some people wanted to know if I was going, but I haven't been invited. You'd think it would be protocol," she said.
"Yes, I'm going," GOP Town Chairman Anthony DiPentima said. "Obviously it's a great honor to have the president of the United States come to Kent."
Basically, this is a fairly sophisticated community that doesn't gawk over such things. More than most towns in northwestern Connecticut, Kent is quite accustomed to visitors, including celebrities, given its location on busy Route 7, its reputation as a haven for New Yorkers, and its plethora of high-end galleries, shops and restaurants.
Also, the village itself is not likely to be directly impacted by President Bush's visit. He will reportedly fly by helicopter directly to the Kissinger home, which has its own helipad. Their house is nearly five miles east on the border with Warren, tucked away in a wood-rimmed clearing off a long dirt road.Indirectly, downtown commerce could thrive from an influx of fat-cat Republicans.
And then there are the demonstrators, who have announced their intention to gather here Friday to peacefully protest the Iraq War and other administration policies. They've scheduled a march down Main Street.
"They don't spend much," Smith said with shrug. "The coffee and doughnut trade will do well."
None of the dozen vendors interviewed in town had been asked to supply or cater the fundraiser, although there were unconfirmed rumors that local chocolate maker Belgique was sending sweets, after it provided the dessert at the White House for Queen Elizabeth's visit a year ago. Belgique was closed for the first three days of the week.
But local florist Jessie Rundall said she gave her business card to some groundskeepers at the Kissinger estate in hopes of handling the flower arrangements. "I'd like some of that business," she smiled."
My google search on "Nuremberg, Germany + distance from Kent, CT" reveals that the two cities are 3,904 miles apart...
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