WALKER'S POINT, KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE
Posted on 08/06/2007 11:25:28 PM PDT by Cincinna
KENNEBUNKPORT -- President Bush is headed to the family estate in Maine this weekend, prompting speculation he may visit with another world leader vacationing nearby. Bush is scheduled to visit for a family wedding while French President Nicolas Sarkozy vacations at an estate on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H. -- just 50 miles away by car.
Neither the White House nor the Elysee have commented on a possible meeting, and Sarkozy declined to say during a press conference Sunday whether he planned to visit with Bush this weekend. White House officials did not return calls seeking comment Monday.
A Bush-Sarkozy meeting in Kennebunkport would be the second summit of the summer for the coastal resort town.
Russian President Vladimir Putin became the first world leader to meet with the president at Walker's Point during the current Bush administration; he spent a day there in July. (SNIP)
There was little buzz Monday about the upcoming wedding visit, but many visitors knew Sarkozy was vacationing nearby.
Kennebunkport would be a good place for the two leaders to talk about Iraq and work to solidify U.S.-French relations, said Sharon Cullen of Peabody, Mass., who stood under an awning in Dock Square with her husband, Joe, during a driving rainstorm.
The recently elected Sarkozy has been described as pro-American. Sarkozy aides have told the American press the new president wants to improve France's relationship with the U.S., which soured amid differences over Iraq during Jacques Chirac's presidency.
Jim Corrado, visiting Kennebunkport from Milford, Conn., said he hopes the two make progress on Iraq and the global economy if they meet this weekend.
While Sarkozy's presence is no guarantee, local anti-war activists vowed to stage a small protest near the Bush family compound.
(SNIP)Kennebunkport Peace Department Organizer Jamilla el Shafei said her group is planning a large event on Aug. 25 with the Indigo Girls music group and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan at a local farm.
They both face a Leftist opposition suffering from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) and now SDS.
Nice picture. I could definite imagine some wind turbines in the distance.
Nice picture. I could definitely imagine some wind turbines in the distance.
Have you considered underwater turbines using tidal current? Would that not be more efficient and consistent than wind, given the reliability of the tides and the far greater viscosity of water over air?
Yes it would be interesting. We as conservatives suddenly have a great deal in common with the French leadership, and the rise of Sarkozy ushers in a new era of mutual respect between our two nations. Together we can accomplish some great things.
To a certain extent you are right. But, the technology for underwater turbines are not as far along as the wind turbines and naturally the installation and maitenance costs are far higher underwater.
There is plenty of energy out there though.
Storing that energy is really the trick. In Europe, we might be able to use the cheap energy available at night to run water pumps to fill up Norwegian resevoirs. Then, the run the generators to power the rest of Europe during the day. Problem of course is linking the continent and the transmission losses over such a distance. Turns out that Edison may have been right to promote Direct Current.
In the US in lew of resevoirs, perhaps compressed air storage is a way to take advantage of irregular wind.
Key is to get the base power running on the renewables. Dramatic increaes in marginal cost issues (once the infrastructure is there, the cost is essentially zero) and naturally a vast decrease in emissions is a nice side-effect.
I was there last summer with my fiance. We drove down the road there and saw 41 outside in a yellow shirt walking across the lawn. Also saw a couple guys in suits fishing off the rocks.
Bush is just stubborn, he refuses to accept the fact that his administration has been a failure and that the Democratic administration which follows will have to rebuild all of our relationships with the community of nations, while also rebuilding the national consensus. /sarc
Thanks Cincinna.
There's quite a bit of security out on the lake, there was a large inflatable doing figure 8s in the bay, much bigger than NH Marine Patrol deploys.
Maybe they'll meet up over here?
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