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San Francisco is to hold a vote on whether to rename one of its largest sewage treatment facilities after George W. Bush, in what supporters describe as “a fitting monument to the President’s work”.
More than 8,500 signatures have already been gathered in support of the plan — 1,300 more than the minimum required to get the proposal on the November ballot. The scheme was devised by an official-sounding group called the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco.
“On matters ranging from foreign relations to fiscal and environmental stewardship, no other president in American history has accomplished so much in such a short time,” says the group on its website. “We believe this is an appropriate honour for a truly unique president. If you think so too, join this grassroots movement to rename this important and iconic landmark in his honour.”
The official renaming ceremony — the sewage facility is currently named the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant — would take place in January, when the next President is sworn in. Part of it would include a “synchronised flush”, described as a way to send a gift to the renamed plant.
“It’s a very simple yes or no question and there’s no real fiscal impact - just the cost of relettering the sign in front of the plant,” Brian McConnell, one of the organisers, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
“This is the way the democratic process is supposed to work, even though it’s a silly idea in some people’s eyes.” Howard Epstein, chair of the San Francisco Republican Party, has called the measure an abuse of the system and the work of “typical San Francisco crazies”.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which owns the plant, says it gets the joke but is nevertheless dismayed. It points to the awards it has won for keeping the streets and the ocean clean.
“If you are looking for a place to make a negative statement about the Bush administration’s impact on the environment, this would be the last place to do it,” said spokesman Tony Winnicker.
Undeterred, the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco will continue gathering signatures from disaffected voters on the streets of San Francisco this weekend.
Campaigners will wear Uncle Sam top hats and suits and carry boom-boxes playing patriotic American music.
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There are parts of the world where people needing to defacate go "into the Bush". I vote that we adopt this highly appropriate expression.
joe, birmingham, uk
Reaming it in honor of Bush is a great idea. And, I hope other cities pick up on this notion by recognizing Bush in the same manner.
I can envision the names now, "The GW Bush Denver Sewage Plant", "The GW Bush Telluride Sewage Plant", "National The Association of GW Bush Sewage Plant Operators"
JIm, Tokyo, Japan
its not about to remember him, its about to get a lesson to be carfeul when you want to choose your representive of country next time.
Reza, coventry,
George Bush will go down in history as one of Americas greatest Presidents. "FORESIGHT" Wait watch and see what happens when you start ignoring a real threat to freedoms way of life. Radical Islam is no joke you stupid idiots. The first place they would blow up is San Francisco. Fine by me.
Jax, Chandler, USA
I don't want to remember him at all! I think that this memorial is too much honor for George W. Bush.
The only time I want to see his name after January, 2009 is when he is called to account for his crimes, national and international.
His (and Cheney's) administration is a debacle.
LaFaye Sutkin, Redlands, USA
Suggested reading: Shrub by Molly Ivins written Dec 1999 p. xxii predicting what Bush would do to Iraq, Worse Than Watergate by John Dean former White House Counsel to President Nixon, see pages 140, 136 in that order; Dick the Man Who Is President by John Nichols ex-US marine; Against All Enemies by Richard Clarke, former counter terrorism czar and articles of impeachment by Congressman Dennis Kucinich http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=93581
David Schneider, San Francisco, United States of America
You guys act like liberals are a horde of Zombies sent to destroy the nation when obviously its the right thats caused all the problems in the US.
Seriously, can anyone name one good thing thats come out of the last 8 years in the US? Besides are you smarter than a 5th grader that is..
Steve, St. John's, Canada
It would be fitting and proper for all citizens of the US and anywhere else in the world to remember George and Condoleezza every time they park their behinds on a toilet stool.
Ray, Venice, USA
A fitting tribute, except that a sewage treatment plant does good,and Bush does not!
Ron Dziewit, Ontario,
What is a fitting monument for a War Criminal?
What are the monuments for those executed at Nuremburg in 1946?
Steve Meikle, Christchurch, New Zealand
I think Texas should dedicate the G.W. Bush Memorial Execution Chamber as a symbol of the one consistant attribute of his - total lack of empathy or compassion.
James A. DePaulo, Denver,
Sewage treatment plants are valuable protectors of nature. Naming one after George Bush does him too much honor.
Lawrence Kolb, Oakland, California, USA
What a perfect place to process "Bush policy."
Thomas Mc, Colorado Springs, USA
Right idea, wrong city. Much better in New Orleans - they were up to their armpits in the stuff in 2005.
Tony, Prescot, UK
Hm.. I would be afraid of renaming the treatment plant after Bush . It would jinks it and reduce SF water quality. And maybe an accidental bombing of the facility driven by fear of a possible "WMD" hidden inside the plan. Anything is possible, Bush's administration has proven it over and over again
Vicki, Dallas,
Have you been to San Francisco - not sure, think I trod in it once !
Wills, Soton, UK
San Francisco will not be the first city to so honor Bush.
May I call your attention to http://home.earthlink.net/~yuba-yada-yada/whatplug.html
Cyrious Garnetski, Yuba City, USA
@ Matt
I don't think it's a liberal/conservative issue. At this point, there are plenty of us conservatives who would be happy to contribute to the cost of the sign change.
JP, Alexandria, VA, USA
If the sewage treatment system works then why name it after W?
T. J. Cassidy, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.
Its a little baffling, but encouraging that President Bush is being recognized for producing CLEAN WATER!!! Way to go SF!!! Never thought the PRESIDENT would be hailed` as an ENVIRONMENTALIST--but, I guess, once you set aside an EXTREMELY LARGE MARINE RESERVE IN THE PACIFIC anything is possible!!!
stephen grabe, seminole, US
I do support it, but I feel that even this Sewerage name tag honour is too high for Bush, he has fallen way below. Give him a retirement job to clean the gutters & sewers in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Pushpa, Brisbane, Australia
How mature! San Francisco continues to impress with its commitment to maintaining the integrity of public institutions...
Matt, Chicago, IL, USA
The entire city is a sewage plant, just rename the city. Typical liberal behavior. Keep it up, you won;t have any moderate democrats left..
Indy, San Diego,