Last week a group called the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco submitted a petition bearing 11 999 signatures to election officials, in a bid to have their proposal placed on the ballot in November. Their aim? To have the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant rechristened the George W Bush Sewage Plant.
This scheme to commemorate the political and environmental ”mess” that is George Bush’s legacy after eight years in office has not gone down well with local Republicans, who have dismissed the initiative as a waste of time and money. The group does, however, have enough signatures (they need only a weirdly specific 7 168) required under California law to put such a measure before voters in November.
The name change may be slightly inappropriate (the plant does, after all, actually control pollution), but it does set a precedent for dishonouring public figures with suitable memorials. The initiatives below await your signature:
The Donald H Rumsfeld Memorial Detainment Camp at Guantánamo Bay: Known affectionately as Camp Rummy by detainees who have been there long enough to remember it being built.
The Baroness Thatcher Museum of Colliery: Closed 9 to 5 Monday to Saturday and most weekends.
The Rt Hon Jacqueline Smith International 42-Day Secure Hotel: Purpose-built, secluded, high-occupancy hotel with many state-of-the-art security features, where specially selected guests of Her Majesty may stay for up to 42 days without being charged for anything, or with anything.
Tony Blair’s War: President Bush is reportedly ”only too happy” to dedicate the Iraq war to his old friend and sidekick.
The Timothy Henman Memorial Exit: New quick way out of the Wimbledon tournament grounds for anyone who has to leave early.
The Gordon Brown Experience: Formerly Terminal 5. – guardian.co.uk