BRIDGEPORT - Streets were barricaded before 8 a. m. and police loomed large Wednesday morning. "Bridgeport Welcomes President Bush," said a sign outside the Playhouse on the Green.

By 10 a. m. the 220-seat theater in downtown Bridgeport was packed with business executives and the media waiting to see the president discuss the topic of the day - health savings accounts. Just after 11 a.

m. the loud speaker boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States," to applause from the audience. Though George W. Bush was clearly the guest of honor, he played the role of a talk show host on stage, asking questions of five panelists with expertise on health accounts.

"Theres nothing worse than a guy blowing away at a lecture," Bush joked at one point. Lecture or not, Bush made it clear that he supports the health savings accounts over traditional insurance plans. The accounts are tax-free and consumers can use them to pay routine medical bills. They buy a low-cost insurance policy to cover major injuries and illnesses.

Bush said he wants to allow consumers to save