BUSH PANNED ON TAX CUTS, ENVIRONMENT

50 Protesters Gather At Convention Center

Saturday, February 09, 2002 - Protesters outside the Colorado Convention
Center urged President Bush to protect wild lands, legalize "industrial
hemp" and dump "Enronomics."

"Tax cuts are nothing but a gift to Bush contributors like the people at
Enron," Denver freelance writer Dana Parker said while holding a sign
reading, "Don't Enronize Social Security."

Parker said Bush should restore taxes already rescinded, stop raiding
Social Security and forget about passing new tax breaks.

She and another friend stood across the street south of the convention
center amid a group of boisterous student protesters from East High School,
equally upset about the Enron financial debacle.

While about 50 protesters waved signs outside, Bush addressed participants
in the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show inside.

The largest protest group was the Sierra Club, which mixed Olympic slogans
with environmental goals.

"While he is here, the president should look around at the beautiful public
lands that are threatened by his shortsighted, Enron-influenced energy
policy proposals," said Steve Smith, the club's associate Southwest
regional representative.

Sign waver Aron Sims Jr., 40, a Denver window washer, preferred not to call
the product he wanted legalized "marijuana."

"It's industrial hemp," Sims said. "There's a difference."

The plant could help turn the economy around, he said. It could be used to
produce diesel fuel, electricity and animal feed.

"It could also be molded into sculptures," Sims said.

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Kirkland didn't ride his bike 2 miles at 6 a.m. to
protest. He just wanted to see the president.

"I'm a big fan of Bush," Kirkland said. As Bush's motorcade passed in front
of the convention center, he waved.

"I've never seen a president before in my real life," he said. "My knees
started shaking. He looked straight at me and waved. That was pretty cool."