President Bush Visits Southern Indiana; Protestors, Supporters Line New Albany Streets

President Bush arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday morning at 10:30 AM, with several area dignitaries at the airport to meet him as he exited Air Force One on his way to a speaking engagement in Southern Indiana. According to a Courier Journal Newspaper report, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher along with his wife, Representative Baron Hill from Indiana's 9^th District, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer were among those in attendance.

President Bush was in the area to speak to One Southern Indiana, which is the chamber of commerce for both Clark and Floyd Counties in Southern Indiana. On his way to The Grand in New Albany for his speaking engagement, he first stopped off for lunch with several area leaders at Sam's Tavern, a very casual restaurant located in New Albany.

Although I was not privileged enough to be a guest at the President's Speaking Engagement at The Grand, I was however in New Albany, and able to witness the throngs of protestors and supporters who had lined up along the streets of town in order to showcase their beliefs on many "hot button" political issues.

Protestors held signs mainly showing their lack of support for the war, calling that the war in Iraq come to a quick end, and that our troops be brought home swiftly. While some supporters held signs thanking President Bush for once again returning to the area (it is the President's third trip to the area), other supporters held signs supporting the was. One of the supporters that I noticed in particular was an elderly gentleman, whose appearance and dress led one to believe that he was a veteran himself, holding a sign that said "Support the War, Remember 9-11".