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Protesting mother back at Crawford - Sheehan returns as opposing camp gains momentum
Houston Chronicle ^ | August 25, 2005 | Julie Mason

Posted on 08/25/2005 1:01:05 AM PDT by 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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antiwar; campqualls; caravan; cindysheehan; crawford; fortqualls; mediahos; qualls; sheehan; wankers; wot
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan

This whole strange trip reminds me of the episode of King of the Hill when Hank embarrasingly and forelornly says to Bobby:

"No, Bobby...they're...er...hippies."


81 posted on 08/25/2005 4:43:20 AM PDT by Warren_Piece (Large buttocks are pleasing to me, nor am I able to lie concerning this matter)
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To: Mo1

MY EARS! MY EARS! You should have posted a warning on that! That, my friend, should be listed in the audio dictionary as the definition for 'caterwauling'. I heard the first few lines and had to turn it off. Was that Joan Baez? If it was, she has lost any voice she ever had.


82 posted on 08/25/2005 4:45:49 AM PDT by Elyse
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Can't get much more American than that: brand new John Deere ballcap, brand new Marine T-shirt and brand new blue jeans. Whoo! Now, there's a real American patriot! /sarc
83 posted on 08/25/2005 4:46:18 AM PDT by rabidralph
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

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............

Someone needs to tell Mr. Burnley the 60's and 70's are in the past. The 21st century has arrived.


84 posted on 08/25/2005 4:48:14 AM PDT by EmilyGeiger
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To: Warren_Piece

LOL! I love that show. All of life can be explained by watching "King of the Hill"!


85 posted on 08/25/2005 4:54:57 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Count Petofi will not be denied!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I stand at attention, with my right hand over my heart, facing the American flag, with respect, admiration and gratitude to the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands and wives of our brave service men and women who proudly fight for and defend the United States of America.
God bless you all. God bless President Bush. God bless America.

-Riptides


86 posted on 08/25/2005 5:02:08 AM PDT by Riptides
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To: Zacs Mom

She looks like a she-male


87 posted on 08/25/2005 5:06:29 AM PDT by DarthVader (Islam is not something to be understood, it is something that must be utterly destroyed)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

10000 coming in for the anti-Cindy rally? That's awesome! Anyone know how many idiots are shacked up in Camp Casey?


88 posted on 08/25/2005 5:18:07 AM PDT by mosquitobite
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To: Warren_Piece

One of the best shows on t.v. :)


89 posted on 08/25/2005 5:22:37 AM PDT by EmilyGeiger
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To: Quinotto
Is it me

I don't know if it's you or not, but I found the article to be fair and objective.

I especially like that the article, without taking sides, makes note that Sheehan et al are using the names of fallen troops against their families' wishes.

90 posted on 08/25/2005 5:26:44 AM PDT by alnick
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To: DainBramage

Thanks for the "stolen valor" type research.

Please, put a perversion alert on the link.


91 posted on 08/25/2005 5:29:12 AM PDT by chgomac
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To: beyond the sea

good catch, I didn't pay much attentio to her demeanor, I'm sick of her too much to pay that much attention to her photos.


92 posted on 08/25/2005 5:39:19 AM PDT by buckeye27 (You can't spell Liberal without Libel)
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To: JLO

... and anyone can buy and wear a t-shirt.

Screw the liars.

Andy--(USMC 69-75)


93 posted on 08/25/2005 5:40:10 AM PDT by BamaAndy (Heart & Iron--the story of America through an ordinary family. ISBN: 1-4137-5397-3)
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To: maggief
What a vile woman. This drama arrives so conveniently for the midlife crisis stage.
94 posted on 08/25/2005 5:43:19 AM PDT by mother22wife21 (Welcoming Caleb 6lbs 10ozs 19.75 in at 9:20pm on 07/06/05.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
"This is the center of the world," Burnley said.

The deluded think they're the center of the world - sheesh.

95 posted on 08/25/2005 5:53:31 AM PDT by randita
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To: maggief
What a vile woman. This drama arrives so conveniently for the midlife crisis stage.
96 posted on 08/25/2005 5:54:21 AM PDT by mother22wife21 (Welcoming Caleb 6lbs 10ozs 19.75 in at 9:20pm on 07/06/05.)
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To: MissouriConservative
These people are as phony as a 3 dollar bill.

Most are bought and paid for. Does anyone think Sheehan is paying her own expenses or airfare? The same is true of many of the others. At lots of protest like this the players fly in, hop in rented vans, and then go protest "big oil" or something similar. They get enough publicity to attrack local sympathizers but it is all arranged elsewhere.

97 posted on 08/25/2005 5:55:41 AM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government.)
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To: gridlock

Last week there was a picture of a different man messaging her her poor, tired feet.


98 posted on 08/25/2005 5:56:34 AM PDT by jennyjenny
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To: MNJohnnie

I'm glad someone else caught that too.


99 posted on 08/25/2005 6:02:47 AM PDT by buckeye27 (You can't spell Liberal without Libel)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

They are begging for money again, I think this is just a big fund raising opportunity for them:
"According to Johnny Wolf, founder of The Peace House, most of the donations have been small. "But there have been so very, very many, we have been able to provide the tent, supplies to provide the meals, the kitchen facilities at Camp II, the supplies for both camps and The Peace House. We have used as many volunteers as possible to stretch the donations as far as we can. If new donations don't come in, by the time Cindy leaves, we expect to be almost bankrupt again."


100 posted on 08/25/2005 6:06:41 AM PDT by texjan
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