UH-OH, THEY'RE ON TO HIM:

Crowds in S.F. protest Iraq war, bank bailouts (Heather Knight,Steve Rubenstein, March 22, 2009, SF Chronicle)

"It's really important for people around the world to see Americans standing up against this war," said Noel Juan, 52, of the Mission District, as he stood near a 10-foot cardboard figure of Uncle Sam wearing President Obama's likeness.

"Obama has rebranded this war and made it cool for people to wave the flag again," Juan said. "But all the things people hated about Bush are being continued with a slightly different flavor."

Richard Ivanhoe and Cathy Bellin of San Francisco enjoyed the protest from a metal table at Justin Herman Plaza, taking in the "1, 2, 3, 4, we don't want your racist war" chants while snacking on blueberry muffins and coffee.

"My heart goes out to the Iraqi civilians," Bellin said. "The election of Obama doesn't mean we don't have to be here. The war is still happening."