Protesting mother back at Crawford - Sheehan returns as opposing camp gains momentum

Houston Chronicle ^ | August 25, 2005 | Julie Mason

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CRAWFORD - With singing and tears, protest mom Cindy Sheehan returned to her vigil near President Bush's ranch Wednesday, less than a week after leaving to care for her ailing mother.

Alighting with an armful of flowers from a van that brought her from the airport, Sheehan's first act on returning was to find the cross with her son's name on it amid dozens set in the ground at her new campsite.

"Does anybody know where Casey's cross is?" Sheehan said.

She placed the flowers, then joined other mothers of fallen service members for a group hug.

Rick Burnley, a New Mexico poet with bare feet and long, salt-and-pepper hair, played a Jethro Tull song on a soprano recorder while a small clutch of women sobbed and hugged Sheehan.

"This is the center of the world," Burnley said.

Asked later how it felt to be back at "Camp Casey," Sheehan gave two thumbs up. Her supporters, who have dwindled significantly in numbers during her absence, are hoping that Sheehan's return will rejuvenate their anti-war effort by bringing more attention back to Crawford.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, is demanding a meeting with Bush so he can explain his statements that the war is a noble cause. She is vowing to remain at her encampment near the Western White House until he meets with her or returns to Washington.

In downtown Crawford, meanwhile, another grieving parent is gaining attention.

Gary Qualls, a Temple man whose son, Louis, was killed in Iraq, came to Crawford as a protest to Sheehan's protest. A soft-spoken veteran and Bush supporter, Qualls is presiding over an orderly series of tents dubbed "Fort Qualls" behind the Yellow Rose gift shop.

"I am here to bring back and keep respect for fallen heroes and for President Bush," Qualls said.

Opposition on the way

Of his counterparts at Camp Casey, Qualls said, "It's more than apparent they have come here to wage war against decent people."

This weekend, a caravan of demonstrators opposed to Sheehan's vigil are due to arrive in Crawford from San Diego. The "You Don't Speak for Us, Cindy" tour is expected to bring at least 10,000 more demonstrators to this tiny ranching community.

Gregg Garvey, whose son, Justin, was killed in Iraq, drove up to Crawford from Florida and pulled into town on Tuesday. He and Qualls have both retrieved from Sheehan's camp the memorial crosses bearing their sons' names.

"It didn't make me feel good that my son's cross was sitting in a ditch," Garvey said.

The two crosses joined those of several others whose parents also objected to Sheehan's memorial, in a small patch of dirt in front of the Fort Qualls tent.

Dueling protests

The two dueling protests have grown intensely hostile, with each side sharply criticizing how the other has chosen to grieve. Much of the back-and-forth has centered on the hundreds of small white crosses that Sheehan's camp built as part of their anti-war protest.

Qualls, who has challenged Sheehan to a debate, grows teary and emotional when describing his shock on learning his son, a Marine, was killed in Fallujah.

"The people on this side are righteous," Qualls said of his supporters and those in town to show support for Bush and the troops. "I have to stand up for what's right."

Barry Crimmins, a writer for the liberal radio network Air America, has been covering the Sheehan vigil and said he believes her efforts are serving as a "flashpoint" for a growing, national anti-war effort.

"They've turned Bush's vacation home into Baghdad airport," Crimmins said.

julie.mason@chron.com

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bethany Berry tapes a sign on a fence displaying support for President Bush at Camp Bush, a pro-Bush camp that is gathering across from Cindy Sheehan's anti-war camp near Crawford, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. Berry is a resident of Crawford and her father is serving in Iraq. AP Photo/ Donna McWilliam)

Cindy Sheehan, left, waves to supporters after arriving at Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Sheehan has returned to Texas and her anti-war vigil outside President Bush's ranch near Crawford, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Cindy Sheehan cries after seeing a portrait of her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq, at Camp Casey next to President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Sheehan returned to Texas and her anti-war vigil after a weeklong absence for a family emergency. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

[geopyg]

"....is expected to bring at least 10,000 more demonstrators to this tiny ranching community."

10 THOUSAND? If correct - WOOOHOOOO!

[Quinotto]

Protesting mother back at Crawford - Sheehan returns as opposing camp gains momentum

Is it me or the title insinuates that Sheehan will deflate the "opposing camp momentum" as if the only reason they gathered to show support for our troops and our president was due to the fact that Sheehan wasn't there.

[weegee]

Considering the number of reports that came out of Crawford over the past few days that didn't even mention she was gone, I don't see why this is news.

Bush left the ranch too.

The media is lying to us 24/7.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I read that as, I guess we need to mention the other side.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It looks like she got some new clothes while "taking care" of her mother.

[Mo1]

Seems like Cindy and her handlers have been monitoring the internet

Audio of Cindy's Welcome Back Speech

[kb2614]

Good grief, isn't this chick's 15 seconds of fame up already. I'm sure glad I don't watch the MSM anymore. I'd throw the TV out the window.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Parrish Stevens, right, a supporter of President Bush, holds a sign supporting the troops as a bus drives between Cindy Sheehan's anti-war camp, known as Camp Casey and Camp Bush, a pro-Bush camp near Crawford, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/ Donna McWilliam)

[MissouriConservative]

Those last two pictures say it all, laughing and then "boom" the water works open up. Reminds me of when Clinton was a funeral, walking out laughing until he saw the TV cameras and in the matter of step, the tears were flowing.

These people are as phony as a 3 dollar bill. Simply pathetic that she is treating the memory of her son like a political game....I'm betting her son is rotating like a globe in his grave.

[beyond the sea]

With singing and tears, protest mom Cindy Sheehan returned to her vigil near President Bush's ranch Wednesday

For some pretty fair satire:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1469879/posts

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"But it's not about me."

[beyond the sea]

Rick Burnley, a New Mexico poet with bare feet and long, salt-and-pepper hair

Peace and love, man.

[JLO]

"Considering the number of reports that came out of Crawford over the past few days that didn't even mention she was gone"

That's not so.

Search/click on keyword. I addded it here.

CINDYSHEEHAN

[A Jovial Cad]

My tagline sums the matter up in toto.

EOM.

[beyond the sea]

That picture at the airport is very illustrative. A real broken, concerned, and serious woman.

****

http://sj.blacksteel.com/

[beyond the sea]

Reminds me of when Clinton was a funeral, walking out laughing until he saw the TV cameras and in the matter of step, the tears were flowing.

Yeh, instant tears for Ron Brown.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks for the LINK (What a bunch of loons!)

Cindy Sheehan, foreground, shares a light moment other members of Gold Star Families for Peace, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005, in her trailer at Camp Casey near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Shown, from left, are Melanie House, holding her 8-month-old son, James; Melanie's mother, Susan House; and Karen Meredith. Baby James House was four weeks old when his father, John House, was killed in Iraq. The father and son never met. Sheehan returned to her anti-war vigil Wednesday after a week-long absence for a family emergency. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

The Crawford Peace House is shown in Crawford, Texas, Monday, Aug. 22, 2005. With only $3 in the bank, things looked pretty grim for the Crawford Peace House two weeks ago. The telephone had been cut off for nonpayment. The co-founders used their own money for the mortgage payment and electric bill. Then Cindy Sheehan arrived. The grieving California mother's quest for a meeting with President Bush inspired more than $150,000 in donations to the Crawford Peace House since Sheehan started a makeshift campsite Aug. 6 along the road to Bush's ranch. Not only are the phones back on, but the group plans to pay off its mortgage. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

[beyond the sea]

My tagline sums the matter up in toto.

Try mine.

[beyond the sea]

Looks like Cindy got into the hash.