Posted on 08/06/2005 1:39:55 PM PDT by kristinn
CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug 6 (Reuters) - About 70 anti-war protesters marched toward President George W. Bush's ranch on Saturday shouting "bring the troops home now" from Iraq, led by a California mother whose son was killed in combat in Baghdad.
The protest coincided with release of a Newsweek poll that said 61 percent of Americans disapproved of the way Bush was handling the situation in Iraq. The poll came after more than two dozen Americans were killed in the past week in Iraq.
Newsweek said it was Bush's lowest rating on Iraq and the first time it had dropped below 40 percent in its poll. Pentagon officials have said maintaining public support for the war is key to the troops' morale.
The group of protesters, including U.S. veterans from the Iraq and Vietnam wars, were loud yet peaceful and McLennan County sheriff's deputies, trying to avoid arrests, stopped them on a road about 5 miles (8 km) from Bush's ranch on a hot August day.
The march was led by Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, California, who blames Bush for the death of her son, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, 24, killed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad.
"I want to ask the president, why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?" Sheehan, carrying a picture of her son, told reporters.
"W. killed her son! W. killed her son!" the crowd shouted. They also shouted "Bring the troops home now" and held up signs with slogans such as "Impeach the Chicken-Hawk-in-Chief."
The protesters, many who came from a peace rally in Dallas, first drove toward the ranch in a school bus painted red, white and blue. It was stopped at a police checkpoint and the protesters got out and walked.
Police allowed the group to walk on the side of the road for about a half mile but then stopped them when some in the group walked on the street itself.
After some protesters left, a small group led by Sheehan vowed to stage a vigil on the side of the road until someone representing the White House came out to talk to her.
While no one from the White House immediately emerged, White House officials were aware of the protest.
"We mourn the loss of every life and Americans deeply appreciate those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The way to honor that sacrifice is to complete the mission so that their lives were not lost in vain," said White House spokesman Trent Duffy.
"The president has met with hundreds of families of those fallen. He grieves with all those who have lost loved ones," he said.
UPBEAT ON ECONOMY
As Americans question his Iraq policy, Bush crowed about the strength of the U.S. economy on Saturday and credited his hotly debated tax cuts for the growth.
Bush was upbeat in his weekly radio address a day after the Labor Department reported the U.S. economy added 207,000 jobs last month, a stronger-than-expected gain.
"Recent economic reports show that our economy is growing faster than any other major industrialized nation," he said from his ranch.
Bush renewed his call for making permanent the tax cuts he pushed through Congress in his first term. Democrats believe the tax cuts have done little more than drain the U.S. budget and even some Republicans doubt the wisdom of extending them.
"The tax relief stimulated economic vitality and growth and it has helped increase revenues to the Treasury," Bush said, adding later, "We need to make the tax relief permanent."
Bush spoke at the end of the first week of his 33-day working vacation.
Apparently no one from our side was able to rise to the occasion and offer an opposing view.
This is how it went during Vietnam. If we don't push back, the left and the terrorists will win the propaganda battle. Americans don't lose wars on the battlefield--we lose them at home.
Bump
One of the most useless sentences in the English language begins with this phrase: "According to a Newsweek Poll,..."
No one cares about 70 losers in Texas or another Fake Poll from the land of 'Koran Flush'.
Darn. I was hoping some FReepers might have gotten out there to provide a reality check.
Right, but instead of 70 there was 70,000!
I still believe a majority of Americans support our continued presence in Iraq and want the job completed before we begin pulling out troops. Throughout American history, fighting the anti-war propagandists has always been a struggle.
I think that W would like to meet with her. I have witnessed Bush's compassion for the men and women in the miliary and their families. It would mean a lot, I think to spend an some time listening to her.
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
LOL! chiggers, snakes, & stickers are in the ditch, too....
I hope some of our people from Texas can start paying attention to Crawford, and have a group ready to go when the protesters show up.
Crawford is far enough away that it's hard to get people there in a hurry.
You guys in DC do yeoman's work, for sure. I haven't told you lately how grateful I am for all that you and the other DC Freepers do. Thanks!
And while you sit around in comfort, our soldiers overseas are being undermined by the enemy within.
This makes me think of 70 cock roaches heading for an empty cupboard hoping to find a stale piece of old bread.
Does anyone really care about a bunch of unemployed losers bitching about the world not listening to them? These left wing nuts probably have body lice for crying out loud! Who cares what they want? Should it matter?
Gawd! They embarrass the heck out of normal Americans.
The left smells weakness on the homefront and is working to exploit that. The images of Bush being protested in his hometown by the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq without a counter view is golden for our enemies overseas.
When we go out and counter-protest the left, the media always gives us space in their reports. Because no one from our side was there, the left got a free ride in the media today.
Were they burning their draftcards?
kristinn,I respect the great work you do,but these twits in Texas hardly compare to the twisted moonbats of the '60s.
Thanks. Even a handful would have been enough to change the situation there. Hopefully folks will be better prepared next time (and there will be a next time.)
Yes they do and they will grow unless normal Americans get out there and tell them to take a hike. The media does pay attention to them and overplays the numbers to help sway public opinion.
By the way, I think this woman whose son was killed has been in the news before. I believe she is following the template of the Jersey Girls...converting her grief into professional victimhood.
The poor woman is probably really confused right now, and the left is talking advantage of her loss. They're using her. DU was full of articles pushing her and support for her.
Her son chose to go into the military, and when she eventually gets free from the democrat wolves, she'll remember this and probably never recover from what they've done to her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.