Posted on 08/16/2005 9:08:24 PM PDT by LM_Guy
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - One of President Bush's neighbors will allow use of his land by dozens of war protesters who have camped in roadside ditches the past 11 days, giving them more room and halving their distance from Bush's ranch.
Fred Mattlage, an Army veteran, said he sympathizes with the demonstrators whose makeshift camp off the winding, two-lane road leading to Bush's ranch has angered most residents. Mattlage said the group will be safer on his corner 1-acre lot.
"I just think people should have a right to protest without being harassed," Mattlage told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "And I'm against the war. I don't think it's a war we need to be in."
Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., started the vigil Aug. 6 to honor her son Casey, who was killed in Iraq last year. Sheehan has vowed to remain through Bush's monthlong ranch visit unless he meets with her and other
Mattlage's Monday night offer, accepted by protesters Tuesday, will put them about a mile from Bush's ranch, said Hadi Jawad of the Crawford Peace House, which is helping the group.
Demonstrators said they would start moving their tents, anti-war banners and portable toilets to the new site Wednesday and hope to have the new camp set up in time for a dusk candlelight vigil.
The vigil will be one of about 1,000 to be held across the country, an effort organized by liberal advocacy groups MoveOn.org Political Action, TrueMajority and Democracy for America.
Larry Mattlage, a distant cousin of Mattlage's who owns nearby land, fired a shotgun twice into the air Sunday but no one was injured. But Fred Mattlage does not share his cousin's frustrations with the group.
For more than a week, the rural area has been a traffic nightmare as the camp attracted hundreds more protesters as well as Bush supporters holding counter-rallies.
A resident was arrested Monday night after authorities say he ran over hundreds of small wooden crosses bearing names of fallen U.S. soldiers.
Tuesday morning, several landowners asked county commissioners to extend for at least two miles the public "no parking" zone around Bush's ranch. The ordinance now prohibits cars from stopping on the road within about a quarter of a mile.
Bush, who said he sympathizes with Sheehan, has made no indication that he will meet with her. Sheehan and other families met with Bush two months after her son's death before she became a vocal opponent of the war.
Traitorous SOB.
Mayne he'll lease it out for the hunt or something...or bring those game hunters in and act as a guide.
hehe. Do people actually listen to what comes out of their own mouths?
Yes Virginia, there are Rat veterans too.
I was all set to get upset, not knowing this was a different Mattlage. Well, like in most families, and certainly in Cindy Sheehans, there are those of opposing viewpoints.
BTW, I'm from CA, the land of Babs Boxarox, so I'm ashamed to be a Californian sometimes.
Sounds to me like Freddy "the Army veteran" is out after a little publicity and maybe some "celebrity" nookie if he can get "lucky." No big deal.
I might have believed him if he didn't then admit he's against the war.
Let's see how interested he is in the rights of people to protest when the pro-Bush folks show up on the 27th--wonder if he'll let them on his property. After all he thinks people should have the right to protest without being harassed, right?
The publicity that CS bought to the 'peace house' created enough donations to pay their mortgage. May be what he's looking for.
New Age whacko.
I bet Larry Mattaldge is ashamed to call this dope kin tonight. I know I sure would be.
You're probably right. I just hope Freddy "the Army veteran" doesn't demand that the county pay to clean up the mess when Cindy's Circus moves on to D.C. Wish I could be there. I'd like a chance to compare DD 214s with Freddy "the Army veteran."
I just keep thinking about the people who live around Crawford. Those poor people. I can only imagine the garbage, the noise, and all the other shenanigans that go with these kinds of protests.
I can see why some of them are starting to come undone.
I don't think that the vet who let these folks use his land has any idea what happens with these affairs, either. He's just the latest drama queen entering the circus.
Maybe he is just letting the sheehanigans continue. She is getting tired and making an ass of herself. Let this go on until the elections.
He may regret what he's done. This won't set good with a lot of vets.
You could be right too. Americans aren't really turned on by "The Face of Protest." Normal Americans see her as "The Mouth of the anti-American/pro-terrorist Wackos."
The owner of the land is referred to as "an Army veteran." I wonder what kind of record he had. Did he serve honorably? Was he a good soldier or was he always in trouble? I'm getting vibes that he was a "high-maintenance" soldier, one who kept his officers and NCOs busy preparing counseling statements.
They have a right to protest. This is America and a lot of men and women are risking their lives every day to give them that right. Don't begrudge them the right.
Now really, would he allow war supporters to utilize his property? And I'm against the war. I don't think it's a war we need to be in."
hehe. Do people actually listen to what comes out of their own mouths?
One would think wouldn't you? How dare a veteran suggest that people should have the right to protest their government's actions without being harrassed by those with differing views...Not very 'patriotic' at all is it?
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