Barack Obama's Big Adventure rolls into Berlin today, and an estimated 100,000 - 1 million Germans are expected to turn out to hear Obama speak at the base of a monument dedicated to German Domination of it's European neighbors. The monument was Hitler's favorite, who had it moved to it's current location and made it even grander in his day by giving it a taller pedestal.

Now we have word that the Obama Campaign is forbidding signs or placards at the rally, probably because they don't want any anti-American messages to spoil the photo-op value of the event:

But not everyone, of course, is euphoric about the conditions under which Obama will appear in Berlin.

Those wishing to attend have been advised that signs and posters will be prohibited at the speech -- a move that has come in for criticism particularly from the left. There has been speculation that the Obama camps wants to avoid pictures of Germans making anti-American statements that could hurt the candidate back home.

Others say the ban is aimed at preventing political activists from making demands of Obama on uncomfortable issues. The World Wide Fund for Nature plans to flout the prohibition by issuing members T-shirts with pictures of polar bears and the words "Yes, You Can!" as a way of encouraging Obama to take a tougher line on environmental protection.

Moreover, some residents of Germany's perennially cash-strapped capital have taken umbrage at the fact that Obama's visit will cost a half-million euros ($786,000) -- half of which will be born by German public funds.

"How come the German and the Berlin taxpayer has to pony up 250,000 euros so that Obama gets a nice television backdrop for his campaign?" asked one irritated blogger on the website of a local newspaper.

But another was quick to respond.

"What do want, McCain to win?" that person asked. "It would be good if Obama won, and he can only do that if he convinces voters back home via the TV. So let the cameras show masses of people flocking to Obama through the Brandenburg Gate."

Obama originally wanted to speak at that symbolic location, but the event was moved after concerns that the Gate shouldn't be used for political purposes. Now the Democratic candidate hopes that huge crowds of cheering supporters, mostly foreign, at Victory Column will help him win November's election in the US.