Posted on 08/12/2005 12:43:42 PM PDT by mdittmar
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush got his first look at an anti-war vigil near his ranch on Friday as his motorcade took him by the protest site lined with small white crosses representing fallen American soldiers in Iraq.
When Bush's black sport utility vehicle carried him past the site to a Republican fund-raiser, the protest leader, Cindy Sheehan, whose son was one of the nearly 1,850 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, held up a sign that said: "Why do you make time for donors and not for me?"
Other signs said: "Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam" and "Bring Them Home Now." Some protesters held up white crosses as well.
The protest vigil began last Saturday and is being led by Sheehan, who has been demanding a meeting with Bush to discuss her opposition to the Iraq war.
Two rows of police officers faced the estimated 50 roadside protesters as Bush's 15-vehicle motorcade cruised by without slowing down.
He was headed to Stan and Kathy Hickey's Broken Spoke Ranch for a barbecue and ribs lunch to raise more than $2 million for the Republican National Committee. The 230 people attending were among the party's biggest donors.
Hundreds of small white crosses had been erected along the side of Prairie Chapel Road, each hand-painted with the name of a fallen soldier.
Sheehan's son, Casey, was killed in combat in Iraq in April 2004 and she met with Bush in June 2004, but she wants another meeting. The White House has refused.
With Americans increasingly questioning the U.S. involvement in Iraq, Bush tried to address Sheehan's concerns on Thursday.
"Listen, I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan," Bush told reporters. "She feels strongly about her position. And she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America."
He said he has thought "long and hard" about her demand to "get out of Iraq now" and strongly disagreed, saying a premature withdrawal would betray the Iraqis just as they are being trained to defend themselves and allow for a U.S. pullout.
Sheehan's group, Gold Star Families for Peace, released a protest ad that the organization said would run on cable television channels near Bush's ranch during August.
"Mr. President, I want to tell you face to face how much this hurts. I love my country, but how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war? How many more soldiers have to die before we say enough?" she said in the ad.
The total ad buy was put at $15,000.
IIRC, King William IV once noisily spat out of the window of his state coach - and right into less-than-admiring crowd...
Gee, didn't one of the DUmmies say there were around 700 protestors? Maybe they were counting the fire ants that were biting their feet..
50 people?! My check-out line at Wal-Mart last night was that long! Well almost!
The silent majority of Americans are overwhelmingly supporting the troops and the war in Iraq. We are not in favor of returning the troops home until the job is done. Or else we will have to send our children and nephews back there.
I don't like the vague labeling of ingredients on dog food bags and I DEMAND THAT THE PRESIDENT MEET ME FACE TO FACE!!!!!!
Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan (L) of Vacaville, California, a mother who lost her son U.S. Army Specialist Casey Austin Sheehan who was serving in Iraq, holds up a cross bearing her son's name as the motorcade of U.S. President George W. Bush passes by her protest in Crawford, Texas August 12, 2005. Dozens of protesters voiced their opposition to the Iraq war as Bush was travelling to a neighbouring ranch for a Republican Party fundraiser. REUTERS/Jason Reed
That's what's known as a "target-rich environment."
"When Bush's black sport utility vehicle carried him past the site to a Republican fund-raiser, the protest leader, Cindy Sheehan, whose son was one of the nearly 1,850 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, held up a sign that said: "Why do you make time for donors and not for me?"
"Everything is all about ME, ME, ME!" He did make time for you, Cindy Moonbat. So did the national security advisor a few days ago, and we all know he doesn't have anything better to do than chew the fat for almost an hour with doofuses like you.
50 fruitcakes cooking in the Texas sun - hope they fry in the heat....stay in the tent Cindy, bet you're smelling really good about now goofball!!
She says things like, "this country is not worth dieing for", in her speeches and besmirches the military, the President, and our war effort.
Until researching her activities more, I was willing to cut her a lot of slack as a "grieving" mother. But I do not believe that is what she is any longer. She and the left are using that status to attack everything her son died to defend...and that crosses a horrible, disgusting and despicable line for me.
This has been the media message since Day One. In fact, this was the media message about Afghanistan as well. Funny, though, I don't remember hearing it about Kosovo.
COUNTER PROTEST: WE NEED TO PROVIDE THIS HERO WITH MORE PUBLICITY (AND APPRECIATION)!:
Phil Kiver, an Iraqi war veteran who served from July 2004 to February 2005, holds a placard showing his support for the war during an interview on the side of a country road, near the ranch of US President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas. Iraq's ousted Sunni Arab elite expressed anger after the country's Shiite majority made a surprise move towards Kurdish-style autonomy, just days before a crucial deadline for agreement on a new constitution.(AFP/Mandel Ngan)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050812/photos_wl_me_afp/050812165403_0nfqxmke_photo1
If Secretary Rumsfeld had testified in 2001 that he could wage war on the Taliban and Iraq for four years and only lose 1500 casualties, he would have been ridiculed and laughed off of the hill as some pie in the sky Polyanna. A truly remarkable accomplishment is the low casualties.
If this were a pro-war group they'd have had a far more accurate count, like "up to thirty-six protesters".
Bush told reporters. "She feels strongly about her position. And she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America."
A correct response.
Remember, that the anti-war protesters in Vietnam destroyed the morale of our soldiers. And the anti-war crowd didn't care. They loathed the military and its people.
Yep. They are inflating numbers. I was over there checking out a certain post. They don't like me over there. LOL,
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