Bush keeps S.F. at bay

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/21/5 | Marc Sandalow

[SmithL]

President not expected to return to city after 5-year absence on upcoming trip to California.

Washington -- Presidential visits to San Francisco have been a tradition since Rutherford Hayes lunched at the Cliff House in 1880.

Presidents arrived by stagecoach and jet. One was shot at. Another died. In all, 20 presidents have visited the city, including every chief executive for the past 75 years.

Except George W. Bush.

Now in the fifth year of his presidency, Bush has yet to set a foot in the city that was home to his childhood baseball idol, Willie Mays, and shows no inclination to do so. The White House is planning a California visit by the end of the month, and San Francisco is not on the itinerary.

San Francisco, with roughly three-quarters of a million residents, is the only city among the nation's 25 largest that has not been host for a Bush presidential visit. If he avoids San Francisco for the rest of his term, he will be the first president not to visit since Calvin Coolidge, and only the second in more than a century.

The reason seems plain to even casual observers of American politics.

San Francisco is as politically, culturally and geographically distant from the president as anyplace in America. Eighty-four percent of the city's voters cast ballots against Bush in 2000, and 85 percent voted against him in 2004. The city has voted Democratic in 12 consecutive presidential elections.

"He'd be crazy to come,"

[SmithL]

SF loses.

Again.

[Hexenhammer]

Why the hell would he want to go to San Fran> Hell, why would anyone?

[ArmyTeach]

SF is an enemy to Bush. He would only receive hostility and contempt if he were to visit.
Anyone have any information about SF's declaring itself a military free city? As well as the airport, SFO?

[Names Ash Housewares]

He should come to San Diego. Reagan's lucky city!

[Phantasy]

One was shot at. Another died.

*scratches head* I wonder what reason he could possibly have for not wanting to go there....

[Flux Capacitor]

Bush hasn't visited Pyongyang during his presidency, either, S.F. Chronicle, but you don't see anybody scratching their heads and wondering why.

-Dan

[Flux Capacitor]

Harding wasn't even the victim of violence. All he had to do was hang around in San Fran for a while, and *pfft*, he keeled over dead. :)

-Dan

[GSlob]

Well, it would not be right to place the President into a known seismic zone - there are enough other worries as it already is. So let the Gomorrah have its Big One - and he could visit later.

[Phantasy]

Hmm. I think I've decided where NOT to go on my next vacation.

[danmar]

is the only city among the nation's 25 largest that has not been host for a Bush presidential visit. If he avoids San Francisco for the rest of his term, he will be the first president not to visit since Calvin Coolidge, and only the second in more than a century.

Since when is the city of San Francisco entitled to be visited by any President.
What the hell is so important about that "Sodom" of a city?

BTW if you can imagine the city without the people, it is beautiful...

[konaice]

receive hostility and contempt

And given San Francisco's voting record, he would probably return the same sentiments.

[digger48]

and *pfft*, he keeled over dead. :)

is "pfft" a gay fart?

[Racehorse]

Why the hell would he want to go to San Fran> Hell, why would anyone?

Dinner at Fisherman's Wharf?

[Lurker]

It's waaaay overrated.

L

[dc-zoo]

Wait til Karl Rove has his way with SF and triggers "the big one". It will be "Karl's Fault".

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Your can take this two ways:

First, President Bush isn't dumb enough to place himself in the middle of what would undoubtedly be a massive left wing demonstration and a marvelous propaganda opportunity for his political opponents, including the management and staff of the San Francisco Chronicle, and this fact frustrates them to no end.

Second, President Bush DID visit a defense plant in San Jose during his first term. Maybe the folks at the Chron are beginning to worry that San Francisco, which contributes very little to the American economy beyond law suits, mortgage loans and tourist snapshots just isn't very important in the national scheme of things. This fact no doubt has some people who think of San Francisco as the center of the universe twitching with jealousy.

[SmithL]

Don't forget to visit the USS Pampanito. It's very worthwhile.

[Aussiebabe]

On my visit to SF last year I was amazed at all the homeless panhandlers. It was a beautiful city, but I didn't see so many homeless beggars in any of the other American cities I visited. I thought it was kind of sad that a city so rich couldn't take care of its own people.

[sine_nomine]

They didn't want a heroic battleship with all its great memories. Why would they want a competent president? Send them Clinton and Carter. Or Kerry and Dean. Or Cindy.

And plenty of pot for them.

[Cobra64]

He probably does not want to go because he loves his lovely wife and does not want to meet a bunch of those guys that like guys.