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.
Then I guess he won't mind giving FReepers and such equal time on his property?
Was that for free?, or is he well paid (etc.?)?
In the very near future Cindy will no longer be an of any use to the groups who are using her for their Bush bashing agenda by dint of her becoming a media clown. MoveOn and the rest of the ungrateful and ignorant dunce corps will Move On.
Cindy will be left with no husband, no job, no money, and no media attention.
TS
Absolutely.
In other words, he's protesting from the comfort of his home. I hope they trash his property.
Fox just said he lives in Austin..So he won't even be near the circus..
from http://www.zabasearch.com
Is this the guy?
FRED W MATTLAGE Born Aug 1952
904 ROSEDALE DR
HEWITT, TX (254) 857-xxxx
That's not very large for that filthy mob. I'd like to see the condition of the property after they finally leave.
He's just trying to be another cool war protester by mouthing a cliche.
That's a maybe. But he's right. The citizens of the respective states should have the right to protest the federal government's actions without the threat of being run over. If the government disagrees with the stance of Sheehan and protests against it, let them take care of it. But it should not be the right of a citizen to take the issue into their own hands either.
He was a big hero last week when he fired off his shotgun. Oh well. I have met more liberals from Texas than conservatives. I guess being a Texan isn't what it once was.
Different person. That was Larry, this is Fred. Apparently, they are cousins. Unlike Fred, Larry actually has to live near where these freaks are protesting.
Fred just owns the land so he doesn't really care. Unless someone sues him. He is liable for whatever they do.
I certainly don't want to see any violence done against the protesters but beyond that, I just don't care about them. I had my full of this crap back in the 60s and 70s.
He has a right to do what he wants with his land...oh wait, Hilton might be taking the land for a hotel.
Actually, I am glad he is doing this. When the month is over, all of these protestors will leave...the place will be covered in filth and garbage. The farmer will realize how selfish and ungrateful these people are, and he will become a supporter of the President.
Or, some left wingnut will decide it was a historic sit in and the place will become a historic land mark and the farmer will lose his land.
Any bets as to which scenario will happen?
My bet is on a tri-fecta, $10, that they will leave the place in shambles. Then, after the farmer spends thousands cleaning it up, it will be declared a historic landmark. Angered, the farmer will become pro-Bush.
I hope he's still happy after he has to pay to clean up his land. Protesters are notorious for trashing everything they touch.
Thanksgiving dinner this year will be a real hoot!
I think your picture of Casey in that picture is disrespectful. If you think she's dis-honoring his memory, just what are you doing? He is one of our fallen, no matter what the mother is doing, and not be the subject of ridicule.
Is he an American Vet or an American enemy Vet?
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