Posted on 08/16/2005 3:38:24 PM PDT by QQQQQ
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - Antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, is moving her camp closer to President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.
The piece of private property was offered by a relative of a man who had a fired shotgun in frustration over the protests, a source in the Sheehan camp said. The property owner is also a veteran.
"A neighbour of President Bush's has offered us his land," the source said. "It's got plenty of acreage for us, it's private land, we would have legal permission to be on it, it's much closer to the ranch -- in fact it's across the street from his (Bush's) church."
"We have taken him up on his offer," the source added.
Sheehan was not immediately available for comment.
Sheehan was expected to begin moving as early as Wednesday morning.
She is in the 10th day of her vigil on Prairie Chapel Road, which leads to Bush's 1,600-acre (647.5-hectare) ranch. She calls her site "Camp Casey," after her 24-year-old son who was killed in combat in Iraq.
According to the source, the land offered to Sheehan is owned by Fred Mattlage, who is a distant cousin of Larry Mattlage, a man who fired a shotgun over the weekend in frustration over the commotion caused by the vigil.
The source said Fred Mattlage made the offer saying "I'm a veteran, I support what you all are doing and I want to offer you my land."
Sheehan, of Vacaville, California, has demanded a meeting with Bush at which she said she wants to call for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq.
While Bush has expressed sympathy for Sheehan's grief, the White House has declined a meeting. Sheehan previously met with Bush in 2004 but wants to talk to him face-to-face again.
Sheehan's vigil has attracted anti-war activists from across the United States -- many of them also relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq -- who arrived to offer support, share a hug with Sheehan and join in her daily media events.
But in this quiet farming town of just over 700 people, many residents have found the activity disruptive.
In the latest sign of tension, a man in a pickup trunk on Monday night ran over crosses at Sheehan's campsite.
Some 800 white wooden crosses, bearing the names of soldiers killed in Iraq have lined the road near the area where Sheehan has pitched a tent. Witnesses said they saw a lorry dragging a pipe and chains drive over some of the crosses.
Larry Northern, 46, of nearby Waco, Texas, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief in connection with the incident.
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of residents showed up at a hearing of county officials to complain about the traffic caused by activists and reporters who shuttle back and forth to the camp site.
They brought a petition seeking to ban parking and camping along Prairie Chapel Road.
Displayed in front of one resident's house was a big sign that read, "We support our commander-in-chief."
Did anyone see the latest poll being touted??
Do you support Cindy Sheehan:
Yes: 78%
No: 0%
Duuude..what was the question again?: 22%
(sample size 1000, likely voters, 100% democrat 0% repub)
Camp Quagmire
What kind of fool is this? She looks like she should be dancing with the other "Oompa Loompas" by a chocolate river.
Displayed in front of one resident's house was a big sign that read, "We support our commander-in-chief."
EXCELLENT! Whereas one Crawford resident is an idiot; another is a patriot.
He's gonna regret that cause they are gonna trash his propety
Doesn't she know that the left will drop her like a bad habit the second they are done using her?
This is so sad ... and funny.
That's what I think. But after the whacko's leave he isn't going to be a popular guy. All of the people of Crawford might not like the President personally. But the protestors are ruining their quiet town.
ok Juan Williams just really got on my last nerve on Fox
He has a way of doing that.
Source? I've reread all of the articles and can't find the psychiatrist who made that diagnosis. (yes, I could have missed that article)
Looks like someone's looking to make a fast buck off the Psycho Sheehan gravy train!
This land is Sheehan's, no longer Fred's land
They'll sue his pants off
'cause he invited them in
Fred was a vet'ran, now he's in no-man's land
Now this land belongs to Casey's mom.
Wait! That cash is for Cindy's soon to be ex-hubby!
My gawd. Don't they have home owner's covenants or something? (sarcasm, of course)
lol!!!!!!!
She? I thought it was some dude in a fright wig.
If one of the antiwar nut case protester's gets hurt on this man's property, or the protester's he invited were to hurt someone, can they take this man to court and clean him out?
Is he now legally responsible for something that may happen on his property?
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