LIVE Report From Crawford (3,000 folks now and STILL COMING!)

Basil in Crawford | 8-27-05 | TxBubba

[TXBubba]

Just talked to Basil on site in Crawford, Texas. Currently there are about 100 folks there helping to set up. They have not received word about the caravan arrival in Waco yet. JimRob is riding with the caravan. She thinks it might get to Crawford around 1:00 p.m.

Basil says the stage is set up, the sound system is excellent and they have hung the most beautiful banners overnighted by W04Man on the stage. A big thanks for the banners, they are much appreciated!

Someone arrived early and hung yellow ribbons everywhere.

They have an American flag that is about 50 feet by 40 feet. Children of military personnel serving in the Middle East have written notes to their parents on the stripes of this flag. A very touching thing to behold.

The HOT Chapter booth is being unloaded right now. The will sell buttons made by Angelwood to help off set costs.

Someone rented the Community Center for our use so there is access to AC. However, they also have 10 tents set up. And there is a Moonwalk for the kiddos.

To top everything else there is BBQ on the grill! Basil is the official taster and says it is great!

That is all the news I have at the moment. It is hard to get a cell phone connection to Crawford but when I hear more I will try to update everyone.

[Txsleuth]

Gee, thanks, you just made my day!!!! LOL

[centexan]

Yeah, I found out before I left they were protest warriors signs. But from back in the crowd most folks couldn't see the whole sign and assumed the worst. No worries, it was a great day all around.

[bellas_sister]

All hurricane reports should be on the weather channel~~!!

[JulieRNR21]

Great video......thanks for posting something we'd never see on the MSM.

Deborah Johns' message is right on!

And our JimRob looks sooooooooooo handsome!

Is Gary Knapp's show broadcast in Waco.

[Mo1]

WOO HOO!!

Great Video !!!

[Zacs Mom]

Alright!!! You rock, SD!!!

Thanks for helping us catch up to the caravan!

Man, when we pulled into that Wal_Mart parking lot I about cried!!! All those flags waving was truly a sight for sore eyes!

[pollyannaish]

Let's just say that my husband is happy that he doesn't have to listen to my responses now. ; )

I have a harder time now, but sometimes I delete things I've started to post, just because I am trying to be disciplined. But most of the time... : D

And here's to getting to keep your current screen name for a very, very long time.

[eastforker]

Trust me, a sign in the heart of Bush country proclaiming him to be a dictator the small print never got read, this was a very charged group today, many in mourning of loved ones, this was not a political rally today per se.

[Thumbellina]

Yep, that would be a nice gester. I just read something on Blackfive that is just beyond words and left me disguisted and speechless. We have to stop this crap. This is WAY out of hand! read this:

FORCE PROTECTION (FP) ADVISORY MESSAGE 05-180

(THREAT TO MILITARY FUNERALS)// REF/A/MSG/CMC/051956Z JUL 05//REF A IS HQ USNORTHCOM FORCE PROTECTION (FP) ADVISORY MESSAGE 05-180 (THREAT TO MILITARY FUNERALS)// RMKS/

1. REQUEST WIDEST DISSEMINATION POSSIBLE TO ALL COMMANDS, UNITS AND PERSONNEL. ENSURE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR ALL DOD PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN OR ATTENDING FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS.

2. USNORTHCOM IS TRANSMITTING THIS FP ADVISORY BASED ON RECENT
REPORTS OF PROTEST GROUP ACTIVITIES TO PICKET MILITARY FUNERALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

2.A. A GROUP FROM WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH (WBC) LOCATED IN
TOPEKA, KANSAS HAS PROTESTED OR IS PLANNING TO PICKET AND PROTEST AT PUBLIC FUNERALS OF PERSONNEL KILLED IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM. THIS GROUP HAS REPORTEDLY ANNOUNCED VIA THEIR WEBSITE THAT THEY INTEND TO PROTEST FUNERALS IN ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, KANSAS, MICHIGAN,
MINNESOTA, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

2.B. THERE IS NO INFORMATION TO INDICATE THAT THIS GROUP PLANS ANY FORM OF VIOLENT ACTIVITY AND THEY ARE NOT KNOWN TO INITIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT. HOWEVER, THIS GROUP DOES EMPLOY PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE TECHNIQUES INTENDED TO PROVOKE A HOSTILE RESPONSE OR OFFENSIVE REACTION FROM OTHERS. THEY WILL EMPLOY WRITTEN AND VERBAL INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE AGAINST THE DECEASED PERSON, THEIR FAMILY, AND MILITARY PERSONNEL TO ELICIT DESIRED RESPONSES. THIS GROUP WILL THEN FILE A CIVIL ACTION IN AN EFFORT TO REACH A SETTLEMENT IN ORDER TO FUND FUTURE ACTIVITIES.

3. SERVICES AND MILITARY UNITS PERFORMING AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC ACCESSIBLE FUNERAL DETAILS SHOULD:

3.A. ENSURE LOCAL AREA THREAT ASSESSMENTS CONSIDER THIS AS A POTENTIAL THREAT.

3.B. COORDINATE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT/CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES AT ANY TIME WBC MEMBERS OR SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS ARE BELIEVED TO BE PROTESTING.

4. ALL DOD PERSONNEL/FAMILY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN OR
ATTENDING MILITARY FUNERALS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

4.A. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF REPORTED ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WBC AND THEIR METHODS.

4.B. DO NOT PERSONALLY ENGAGE PROTESTORS IN ANY WAY; VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY.

4.C. ALLOW CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS ANY INFLAMMATORY SITUATIONS OR EFFORTS TO IMPEDE THE FUNERAL PROCESSIONAL

[trussell]

He was arrested for refusing to move to the approved on protest area. Some of us believe he may be a "camp Cindy plant"

[trussell]

He was arrested for refusing to move to the approved on protest area. Some of us believe he may be a "camp Cindy plant"

[plewis1250]

That was pretty pathetic....
Fox is torkin' me off with this lack of coverage. I would say there were EASILY 1000-1500 people out there.... MUCH MUCH larger than Cindy's.... (drove out to the camps)
Pretty pathetic Fox. I really wish a media outlet would have a conservative voice... so we could at least stand a CHANCE in the media. (One would think they would want to cater to a niche market like the majority... oh well...)
- plewis1250

[mylife]

Hey you werent there. the signs are designed to APPEAR Pro Left. Add in the fact that you have a thousand booing freepers there that cant read the sly message at the bottom because it is out of view because it is blocked by the crowd.

This caused some people to react.

No one was hurt and under the circumstances it is easy to see how a mistake was made.

[Txsleuth]

I guess Sheree Kirsch of Mansfield has been so busy making her barbeque sauce she hasn't turned on the radio or TV for like a month!!!!

[silent_jonny]

Why does even the conservative world have to cater to least common denominator (i.e., stupid people)?

The signs aren't meant for conservatives. They're designed a certain way so at first glance they look leftists--this is what allows the Warriors to infiltrate the enemy camp.

Using it in Freeper camps is just wasting ammunition.

[ScreamingFist]

Exactly right, there was no place for them at this rally today.

Errr, no reason to eat our own E.F. The signs were "subtle", so? I hope we've bailed our own out of the clink.......

[lormand]

A neighbor of mine drove with me to the rally point in Waco to meet up with the caravan from California and the "You Don't Speak For Me" tour.

When we arrived at the Walmart, our jaws dropped from the sheer mass of cars decked with ribbon, flags and shoe polish on the auto glass. It was an awe inspiring sight.

Here are a few pictures taken by my neighbor Robert and I.

The Large Flag in the background was made from children of current military serving in Iraq.

I was floored by the turnout. JimRob sighting in the front!

Crawford is located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. This park was located just across the street from today's rally.

One of my heroes, JimRob! Picture taken by Basil (thanks!)

[AmericanInTokyo]

But the enemy will LOVE it and eat it up and laugh, as they read this thread. Unfortunate turn of events indeed.

[Sloth]

But from back in the crowd most folks couldn't see the whole sign and assumed the worst.

I think we can pretty much deduce that the people 'back in the crowd' who were too distant to read the signs were ALSO too distant to be the ones knocking them down and damaging them.

[Zacs Mom]

I was about midway back in the main tent and all I could actually see of that sign was the huge "Bush is a Dictator!" ~ I thought they were skin heads there to disrupt the rally.