There were only about 1000 people on Parliament Hill today to greet President Obama as much of downtown was locked down. There were barricades and security officials on the MacKenzie King bridge and checkpoints a plenty as the Parliamentary precinct was secured for Obama’s seven hour visit. Barricades also line Wellington street past Sussex through Rideau and also cover the street to the US embassy.
Staying away from the fray, I’m tracking the Obama visit passively via status updates on Facebook. Here’s a sample.
F – if this was Bush, they’d be calling it a police state.
J is irritated that Air Force One delayed flights at Ottawa International today, and that all of Ottawa is going crazy b/c of President Obama…
S is chuckling at the Canadian news media who are all experiencing the big O.
R can’t shake the feeling that there’s something going on here today. I guess everyone else is excited about the Oilers taking on the Stars tonight too.
N saw obama in his motorcade, and did not experience any change.
B is demanding 20 minutes with Obama as well.
A is happy for Ottawa’s leper community today.
R is Obamatastic!
E just missed barack in the stairwell… saw his entourage.
S questions the sanity of the people calling in to cpac.
C counted from his office window 40 vehicles and 2 helicopters in the Obama entourage
B is stuck in traffic, why didn’t the President just fly to the Hill like a superhero? Or he could have walked on the canal proving he can walk on water.
L just saw the motorcade go by! Video to follow!
H is going to the Obama press conference!
J is wondering – can Canadian media get any stupider over a Presidential visit? “Yes they Canada!”
Z thinks that if they’re going to close the city down, it might as well be a holiday.
J is wondering were the anti-war protesters are?
E – OBAMA IS HERE! EVERYBODY FREAK OUT