Presidential motorcade or funeral?

This morning, while watching the news, I saw part of Bush's motorcade on the streets of Washington complete with black limousines and slowly walking secret service agents. My wife walked in to the room and immediately asked, "Is it a funeral?" If only.

His new black armoured vehicle with its half metre thick doors, a huge phalanx of motorcycle police, dozens of secret service cars and the aforementioned secret service agents all looked so sinister. It was like an outtake from "1984". The future is here and it is bleak. If he stands so much for liberty and freedom then why is he so cocooned by such a thick security shield? If that is his style of liberty and freedom then I don't want it. Surely Bush must realise that he must be doing something wrong if he needs so much protection. Years ago Jimmy Carter walked those few miles and shook hands with onlookers, etc.

Spending $USD40 million on the proceedings was obscene. I am sure that money would be better spent assisting people in poverty.

Perhaps it was a funeral... with the funeral director being Bush and the deceased being all fair minded, ordinary people of the world.