04:07 PM PDT on Thursday, August 21, 2003

By TERESA BELL and DOUG IRVING, kgw.com Staff

President Bush spoke before a crowd of supporters in Redmond, Ore. about his forest policy following a successful fund-raising event in Portland earlier in the day.

Bush took time to fly over the Booth and Bear Butte wildfires just before his speech in Central Oregon. He spotted some flames but thick smoke blocked much of his view from the plane's windows.

President Bush talks about his forest police in Central Oregon. (KGW Photo)

The President said forests need to be a higher priority in America and thinning brush makes the most sense.

“We have a problem in Oregon and around our country that we must start solving,” he said. “You see, the heavy undergrowth causes conditions for large, hot fires. The undergrowth chokes off nutrients for older trees, it makes Oregon forests more susceptible to disease. We have a problem, it’s time to deal with that problem.”

Bush lands in Redmond:

The President stepped out of Airforce One in casual clothing with his sleeves rolled up, a big change from his formal image earlier in Portland. He looked like he was practically ready to walk the fire lines himself.

He was originally scheduled to tour a U.S. Forest Service thinning project near Camp Sherman and urge support for his Healthy Forests Initiative. But plans changed after the Booth and Bear Butte Complex fires grew to 4,000 acres, putting area residents on evacuation alert and closing U.S. Highway 20.

One of two new wildfires that broke out Tuesday in the Deschutes National Forest. (KGW Sky 8 Photo)

Bush's Portland visit:

Hours earlier, a motorcade had swept President Bush quickly out of North Portland following his $1 million fund-raising event at the University of Portland campus.

He shook hands and posed for photos with children and military personnel before boarding Airfoce One and heading to his next stop in Central Oregon.

Bush's Portland speech focused on terrorism, education and the economy.

President Bush waves to crowds before boarding Airforce One bound for Central Oregon.

The President also said his recently-adopted tax cut plan will help stimulate the economy and schools are improving across the country due to educational reform.

"I have set great goals for a great America... It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depends on the actions of America," he said. "We believe that freedom is the right of every person and we believe that freedom is the future of every nation."

More than 500 people paid $2,000 per plate to attend the luncheon and hear the President speak for about 30 minutes inside the Chiles Center.

Oregon Senator Gordon Smith introduces President Bush to contributors at the fund-raising luncheon. (KGW Photo)

Portland police reported ten arrests by Thursday afternoon, on charges of disorderly conduct, failing to disperse, interfering with a police officer or resisting arrest.

The demonstrators shouted "Bush, go home," waved signs with slogans like "He lied, they died," yelled, and pounded on drums as the motorcade rolled by. Some of the officers gripped batons while others held weapons designed to fire non-lethal rounds and pepper spray.

A mass of protesters yelled and waved anti-Bush signs as the Presidential motorcade arrived in North Portland.

Seth Blowers, a 22-year-old protester from Portland said it felt good to be able to express his views and he’s proud that the city allowed it.

“I just wanted to be a representative voice of my city, make Bush know he’s not welcome here, at least he’ll know,” said 22-year-old protester Seth Blowers. “That’s the most we can ask.”

Most of the protesters dispersed after Bush left Portland. But one group of demonstrators gathering in Columbia Park did appear to clash with police. A view from Sky-8 showed officers rushing to the area and making some arrests at about 2:30 p.m.

Protest march:

Earlier in the day, the demonstrators spilled into Willamette Boulevard in North Portland, despite yells from police to stay on the sidewalk, as a march and rally began to heat up.

Police converged on the area with three SWAT vans, more than 50 officers on bicycles and about 40 officers dressed in full riot gear. They were positioned along Woolsey Avenue and Willamette Boulevard, just outside the University of Portland campus.

Police in full riot gear watch crowds at the University of Portland campus. (KGW Photo)

Several hundred protesters marched about ten blocks along Willamette Blvd. toward the campus at about 10:30 a.m. They strolled past a support rally on Willamette and Woolsey Avenue, yelling at the Bush supporters, but not getting too close. So far, police were not moving in for any arrests.

“They have a right to their opinions, I’m all for this,” said North Portland Deborah Scofield as she watched the protesters walk by her front yard.

"I'm mad and I'm embarrassed. We just need to make clear that we're not all supportive of this regime and what it's doing," said protester Jennifer Murdock, of Portland, who was there with her 2-year-old daughter. Murdock said she strongly opposed the war in Iraq.

Protesters spill into the street despite yells from police to stay on the sidewalk. (KGW Photo)

The supporters dwarfed the mass of protesters. Less than 50 people stood near a 13-foot banner that read: “Welcome to Portland President Bush."

The protesters had countless hand-made banners.

Activist Carol Berg of Pleasant Hill spent all night painting signs and held an eight-foot banner that read: “impeach” in huge red letters.

“It’s an opportunity for thousands of people to really express to the ‘commander-in-thief’ that his government is illegitimate and certainly his war is illegitimate,” she said.

President Bush took a moment to chat with 15-year-old Kelly MacKenzie after arriving in Portland on Airforce One. (KGW Photo)

Airforce One landed at PDX at 11 a.m. Bush took advantage of the photo opportunity, too. He posed with 15-year-old Kelly MacKenzie of Hillsboro, selected for her dedication to volunteer service before heading on to the UP campus.

Thursday's visit marks Bush's eighth trip in the past four years to Oregon, a traditionally Democratic state that Bush narrowly lost to Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 election.

North Portland resident John Keenan sat on the grass in Columbia Park, watching the crowds move and grow. "I was just thinking about the $2,000-a-plate fundraiser," he said. "With all the things going on in the world, it’s a pity the President has to be going around collecting money. You would think he would have better things to do."

Molly Bordonaro, northwest regional chairwoman for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, said many of the people at Bush's luncheon were first-time contributors to a Republican candidate.

"It shows the depth of support that this president has in Oregon," Bordonaro said.

Supporters hold small rally:

Nancy Dorr of Portland helped organize the support rally. She said it took about a month to plan the event.

Some of the protesters wore costumes to bring attention to their cause, like this person who dressed up like a huge salmon. (kgw.com photo/Doug Irving)

Dorr campaigned for Ralph Nader, voted for Gore but decided she’d been taking her country for granted after 9/11 and “I just feel that there is so much going on in the world right now.”

“People need to come together,” she said. “There are so many forces in the world that are un-American… He’s our Commander-in-Chief, it’s irrelevant to me that he’s a Republican. He’s the President.”

Supporters wave flags before Bush arrives at the University of Portland campus. (KGW Photo)

“Bush is the Commander-in-Chief, the decisions that come spilling out of his head are important,” Hill said. “He needs to be happy and relaxed…. I don’t care who the guy is… he’s one of the troops.”

Only one group had gone through the correct legal channels to obtain march permit. The Portland Peaceful Response Coalition was approved to march from Portsmouth Park, westbound on Hodge to Willamette Blvd., beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Officers dressed in riot gear watched over the crowd of protesters. (KGW Photo)

Campaign sweep:

The President plans to overnight at an undisclosed location in Central Oregon, then leave for Washington state Friday morning.

All sides agree campaign efforts are important as Oregon will be highly competitive in the 2004 presidential sweepstakes.

As if to underscore the point, Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean will be visiting Oregon only a few days after the Bush visit.

(The Associated Press also contributed to this report)