In 4 hours, Bush packs a punch
Eric Black, Patricia Lopez and Glenn Howatt
In a four-hour, two-event stop in Minnesota on Tuesday, President Bush raised more than $500,000 for the congressional campaign of Michele Bachmann and promoted the major health care ideas of his administration at a forum in Minnetonka.
At the forum, attended by 300 people, Bush signed an executive order to advance efforts aimed at giving patients more information about health care costs and quality so they can make better decisions.

The Bachmann fundraiser, at the Lake Minnetonka home of Jim and Joann Jundt of Wayzata, was closed to media and the public. Those attending paid at least $1,000 to the Bachmann campaign.

Bush arrived in the Twin Cities on Air Force One shortly before 2 p.m. Near the forum, anti-Bush protesters on the sidewalk waved signs, calling for single-payer health insurance and for Bush's impeachment.

Later, another group of protesters on four boats floated in Brown's Bay, offshore from the fundraiser, holding peace signs and "dump Bachmann" signs. Supporters floated nearby.[...]"

Star Tribune

Small groups of protesters await Bush
Bob von Sternberg, Star Tribune staff writer

About two dozen protesters waited along the road leading to the Marriott Hotel in Minnetonka early this afternoon awaiting the arrival of President Bush. One group of protesters carried signs calling for single-payer health care reform. The second group was calling for Bush's impeachment. Three of the pro-impeachment protesters wore orange jumpsuits and black hoods, mimicking the infamous abuse scandal pictures from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

According to organizer Mikael Rudolph of south Minneapolis, "This prince [Bush], who considers himself above the law, is not worthy of public office and completely unworthy of our White House. He's a tyrant. He needs to go."

The single-payer protesters were led by Joel Albers, a pharmacist from Minneapolis, who said, "A majority of people in the country are in favor of single-payers. If this is not being talked about in Washington, they have to start listening to what the people want."

He said a nurses association favors it. His own organization did a survey of 1,000 physicians in Minnesota and two-thirds of them favor it, he said.

Lisa Grant, teacher from Minneapolis, carried sign demanding that Bush step down. "Of course, he won't. I just want him to know we don't approve of the things he's doing. He's the most destructive president of my lifetime." Several motorists honked their horns as they passed the protesters.