Texas County bans parking on roads near Bush ranch

Two weeks after Cindy Sheehan left her anti-war campsite by the road leading to President Bush's ranch, county commissioners have banned parking along 23 miles of roads in the area.

Before the 4-1 vote Tuesday, McLennan County Commissioner Ray Meadows said about 80 residents had complained of blocked roads, loud music and public health and safety concerns during the 26-day protest near Bush's ranch outside Crawford, about 20 miles west of Waco.

"It's not a First Amendment issue. It's a safety issue," Meadows said, adding that "no parking" signs could be put up this week.

Sheehan began camping in ditches near Bush's ranch Aug. 6, vowing to stay until his monthlong vacation ended unless he talked to her about the Iraq war that claimed her son Casey's life.

Her vigil drew thousands of fellow protesters, counter rallies of Bush supporters and sightseers whose parked cars stretched for miles on the side of the winding, two-lane road. Since most of Sheehan's group left Aug. 31, a few Veterans for Peace members have continued camping there.

Paul McDaniel, a Vietnam combat veteran, told commissioners the campsite is "sacred ground hallowed by the tears of families and mothers of our fallen heroes and the blood of our fallen sons and daughters."

"The First Amendment allows us reasonable access to the president to express our rights," McDaniel said.

Years ago on a very cold night my father had placed cardboard in front of his radiator so it would heat faster. He stopped beside the road to pull it out and it wasn't long before he had government attention. He was not aware that he had stopped outside LBJ's ranch.

In short, this is not uncommon.

Hell, I was watching a documentary on Missouri's prisons and they showed the first 2 women incarcerated in their state pen. Both were in jail for speaking out against World War One, so I don't think what is happening here compares to the past.

AP in Houston Chonicle:

WACO - Two weeks after a fallen soldier's mother left her makeshift anti-war campsite along the road leading to President Bush's ranch, McLennan County commissioners have banned parking along 23 miles of county roads in the area.

Before the 4-1 vote Tuesday, Commissioner Ray Meadows said about 80 residents in the rural area complained of blocked roads, loud music and public health and safety concerns during the 26-day protest near Bush's ranch outside Crawford, about 20 miles west of Waco.

Before commissioners voted, they held a public hearing and saw slides showing traffic congestion.

"It's not a First Amendment issue. It's a safety issue," Meadows said, adding that the "no parking" signs could be put up this week.

The lone standout, Commissioner Joe Mashek, read aloud the First Amendment and said limiting parking along large portions of 13 streets is "too extreme."

Cindy Sheehan began camping in ditches near Bush's ranch Aug. 6, vowing to stay until his monthlong vacation ended unless he talked to her about the war that claimed her son Casey's life.

Her vigil drew thousands of fellow protesters, counter rallies of Bush supporters, and sightseers whose parked cars stretched for miles on the side of the winding, two-lane road.

Commissioners deferred action on Meadows' proposal to prohibit residing, erecting shelters or placing sewage receptacles in right-of-way areas on all county roads. So for now, camping in the ditches is not banned.

"They can do everything that they have been doing, except they can't park there," County Judge Jim Lewis said. "You can still protest; you can still march. You can do the whole nine yards. Just don't block the traffic, and you can't park in that particular area."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3354536

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