Posted on 08/23/2005 7:50:03 AM PDT by finnman69
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - A patriotic camp with a "God Bless Our President!" banner sprung up downtown Saturday, countering the anti-war demonstration started by a fallen soldier's mother two weeks ago near President Bush's ranch. The camp is named "Fort Qualls," in memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls, 20, who died in Iraq last fall.
"If I have to sacrifice my whole family for the sake of our country and world, other countries that want freedom, I'll do that," said the soldier's father, Gary Qualls, a friend of the local business owner who started the pro-Bush camp. He said his 16-year-old son now wants to enlist, and he supports that decision.
Qualls' frustration with the anti-war demonstrators erupted last week when he removed a cross bearing his son's name that was among hundreds the group had put up along the road to Bush's ranch.
Qualls called the protesters' views disrespectful to soldiers, and said he had to yank out two more crosses after protesters kept replacing them.
Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, died last year in Iraq, started the anti-war demonstration along the roadside on Aug. 6. "Camp Casey" has since grown to about 100 core participants, and hundreds more from across the nation have visited.
Sheehan vowed to remain there until Bush agreed to meet with her or until his monthlong vacation ended, but she flew to Los Angeles last week after her 74-year-old mother had a stroke. Her mother has some paralysis but is in good spirits, and if she improves, Sheehan may return to Texas in a few days, some demonstrators said.
In her absence, the rest of the group will keep camping out for the unlikely chance to question the president about the war that has claimed the lives of about 1,850 U.S. soldiers.
Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan but won't change his schedule to meet with her. She and other families met with Bush about two months after Casey Sheehan died, before she became a vocal opponent of the war.
Large counter-protests were held in a ditch near Sheehan's site a week after she arrived, and since then, a few Bush supporters have stood in the sun holding signs for several hours each day.
Bill Johnson, a local gift shop owner who created "Fort Qualls," said he wanted to offer a larger, more convenient place for Bush supporters to gather.
He and others at "Fort Qualls" have asked for a debate with those at the Crawford Peace House, which is helping Sheehan.
It's unclear if that will happen. But a member of Gold Star Families for Peace, co-founded by Sheehan and comprised of relatives of fallen soldiers, said her group would not participate.
"We're asking for a meeting with the president, period," said Michelle DeFord, whose 37-year-old son, Sgt. David W. Johnson, was in the Army National Guard from Oregon when he was killed in Iraq last fall. "We don't want to debate with people who don't understand our point of view."
The truth always gets the libs angry. They hate it when facts get in the way of their lies. I love it!
Hat tip to finnman69 for the link.
Why must u insult moonbats?
Freedom of the press only applies if you are reporting liberal viewpoints.
Why the hell should Bush listen to these a-holes when they clearly wont listen to anybody.
They still managed to get in a shot at BUSH by failing to mention that BUSH has already met with Sheehan...
Here is my humble opinion. Leave the President's vacation area alone.
I do not recall (someone please tell me if I'm wrong!) any President's place of retreat being inundated with giant globs of idiots.
Was Roosevelt bugged at Warm Springs or Hyde Park? Truman at Key West? Eisenhower--was he harassed at the golf course? Did people camp outside the Kennedy compound all pissed off because of Cuba?
LBJ didn't have people following him all over Texas--and HE was micro-managing our first military loss in history! Nixon had protestors outside the White House, yes, but did they keep bugging him at Key Biscayne, Florida? I've never read about it.
Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter never had campouts when they were vacationing, did they? Reagan, Bush I and Clinton were spared, too. (Although Clinton always vacationed in gated communities, didn't he? ;-) )
I just wish people of all sides would let the guy just have his vacation. Of course the press loves it--they are bored out of their gourd in Crawford, so they hype it up.
But the activities of these anti-war jerkweeds and their assistance in the press just encourages the terrorists.
Go home, already.
The ARROGANCE just makes my blood BOIL. What is a debate other than an attempt to exchange ideas and help others understand your point ? This is the example of fanatic elitism - they're the only ones that know anything and the rest of "us" common folk better submit to being "guided" by the "enlightened". I swear it takes so much effort not to pop a gasket hearing this stuff. These people are waste of space and oxygen.
This is from the FRont page of the N Y Times right?< sarcasm ON >
"We don't want to debate people who don't understand our point of view"....this is based on the false assumption they have a point of view that is comprehesible in the first place, I say it's not worth casting pearls before these swine.
hmmm one camp is now the Anti-war Camp and the other camp is the Patriot Camp.
so much for the left trying to spin themselves as loyal opposition.
Camp Casey should be renamed "Camp koo koo"
Patriotic Camp Springs Up to Counter Peace Mom's Anti-War Demonstration Near President's Ranch
thanks AP
On the bright side I'm sure the local economy in Crawford is booming, thanks to Bush of course, it's his fault.
ROFLOL!
They only want to debate with people who 'understand' their point of view! Hey, jerk! I understand your point of view! You're an idiot! LOL.
The left is so absurd!
I prefer 'Camp Fruitbag' to quote Christopher Hitchens mysef.
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