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.

[texianyankee]

It was an outstanding event. I woulda loved to have been up close to the stage but we had a youngin' we had to keep cool. We stayed for a few hours & then took a tour thru Crawford - the traffic was horrendous. I am taking liberty in posting this pic of a very intelligent lady we saw in downtown Crawford

[Angelwood]

Thanks for the photos -- great signs and MOAB!

[jennyjenny]

I just watched the video with the PW at the Today show and I am cracking up! That is hilarious.

[rodguy911]

Hope you don't mind is just sent a couple of those photos to rush.

[Moiraine]

Actually, there was an announcement at the beginning of the rally that said something like the PW signs were worded in their own special way and not to jump to the wrong conclusion about them. I doubt that everyone heard, given the quality of the sound system and the crowd noise.

I was very close to the first incident and was shocked by the way people swarmed and how mad they were. I'm not used to seeing that kind of thing at the rallies I've been to. When it all settled down, I did hear some of the folks that had been part of the 'swarm' explaining to the people around them that it was a PW guy and it was a misunderstanding.

[TxBec]

Hey Ms. Rika.

Thanks. I was glad to be able to drive up.

[Loud Mime]

When a person believes that giving evil persons their way, instead of their due, they have NO spirituality. Cindy's using that cross is blasphemy.

[Angelwood]

"Sleep well America, my boys have your back!"

I really LOVE this shirt. Thanks for the photos.

God Bless America, God Bless President Bush and God Bless our Troops!!!

And....God Bless Everyone Who Supported Our Troops in Crawford on Saturday!

FReep On!

[RebelTex]

Thanks for that great heartwarming picture.
I've got it saved for posterity.

This was an awesome event which, I hope, will be repeated around the country again and again. FReepers Rock!

[Albion Wilde]

When I saw her with that cross I immediately thought of the scene from the exorcist....ycch....

The Lord will not be mocked.

[Valin]

I am taking liberty in posting this pic of a very intelligent lady we saw in downtown Crawford

Indeed!
Can these anti-war people really be as stupid as they appear? (no answer required..I think we all no the answer to that.)

[ArmyBratproud]

They are all a bunch of liberals at the stations here in Dallas. Especially Channel 8 and their pals the Dallas Morning News. They are owned by the mother of all liberals, BELO.

Even Fox 4 is liberal. They pull most of their national footage from CNN.

[mathluv]

8 is the channel we don't get on cable. The only one I ever watch is 5. I enjoyed the tour of the Oval Office in 2001. When I do turn to them for news, it is local - like the plant explosion in Ft. Worth. I had hoped they might have someone in Crawford. Since Karen used to work there, I guess I expected more from them.

[jddrive]

You only have to look back at history and remember what Lenin said about 'defenders of socialism' in Western Democracies who voice their dissent against America, i.e., for communism or whatever form of *ism they claimed to represent.

He called them, "Useful idiots". In this case you know Al Jazeera is playing the Cindy Sheehan stuff 24.7.

[ArmyBratproud]

Check this one out. Ankarlo had a spy at Cindy Sheehan's group.

There is an audio link. This dude is exposing their real intentions!

Spy at Camp Casey

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1471728/posts

PASS IT ON TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW!

[deport]

I just watched the video with the PW at the Today show and I am cracking up! That is hilarious.

---

What was your impressions?... I haven't watched it and most likely won't.

[cyncooper]

Who attacked the protestwarrior sign? They always have irony, hard to tell. I should have warned you guys.

Sorry, but it is not hard to tell, and the freepers who attacked PW attendees and are making lame excuses about it are hotheaded idiots who did a grave disservice to the purported cause.

What a complete disgrace.

[Allegra]

I didn't get to make any actual contact with any peace hippies, though.. Eaker stopped me.

It would have been the media I'd have been trying to confront. They won't let me near them in Baghdad either.

I'm so enjoying all of these pictures and can't wait to see all of yours.

Y'all did GREAT!!

[El Gato]

starting to sound like a bunch of high schoolers....sheesh..

Actually I think they have a Goebbels over there advising them. By preemptively removing those crosses, they deny our side the propaganda value of pictures of other grieving family members, who support the mission of their lost loved ones, removing them.

[ChefKeith]

From KXXV TV25 Waco (the ones I contacted yesterday):

10:00 Saturday Newscast- Lead story

"Jenny Kent spent the day in Crawford here is her report"

"Crowds and tempers flared in Crawford today, thousands are here in the largest counter protest here yet, Tension is high on the "Pro-War side", "calm at camp casey".

Bla bla bla sheehan leaves when Bush does and will continue her stupid claims with congress (the opposite of PROGRESS)

"Reporterette Jenny Kent live from the newsroom."

(I was busy at work but jotted down a few notes during the broadcast)

---

From the website:

Fed Up Crawford Residents — (08/26/2005)

Saturday Crawford will swell to close to ten times it's normal size.

That crowd will include demonstrators, national media, security forces, and last but not least, people who make Crawford their home.

Most of the people we spoke to who live in Crawford area ready for this to be over. Thousands more demonstrators -- from both sides are coming Saturday, on top of the hundreds who are already in Crawford. Most of the residents we talked to Friday them told us they are tired of adjusting their lifestyles for demonstrators.

Crawford resident Pattie True says, "Like last weekend we could hear the music all the way up here and some of us have to work on the weekends.""

She also says Crawford is like one big family, but since the protestors arrived- there are many more unfamiliar faces. So she and her neighbors have started taking precautions to protect their families, like locking their doors that haven't been locked in years.

She did tell us that dealing with an overwhelming crowd of visitors may be the price she has to pay for being the president's neighbor.

War protestors have vigils and rallies scheduled throughout the day Saturday at both protest sites. Bush supporters also have a full day planned for Saturday starting at 11:00 in the morning.

Bush supporters and war protestors are expected to debate in downtown Crawford Saturday afternoon at 2:00.

---

Bush supporters and war protestors plan debate — (08/25/2005)
Supporters of President Bush and war protestors have agreed to a face-off.

More Bush supporters are expected to be in Crawford this weekend, just in time for a debate between the opposing camps.

During a press conference earlier today, Cindy Sheehan agreed to debate supporters of President Bush.

A group from San Diego called "You Don't Speak for Me Cindy" spent Thursday night in Amarillo. They are expected to be in Crawford for the debate Saturday.

The group already made a stop in Sheehan's hometown of Vacaville, California. They want to show that not all Gold Star Families feel the same way Sheehan does.

Gary Qually is the father of a soldier who was killed in Iraq, and he has headed up the Bush supporters camp in Crawford.

Sheehan agreed to the debate under one condition, she does not want the media to attend and she has not given a reason as to why yet.

Gary Qualls says he will still debate Sheehan even if the media is not there.

A time and a place for the debate has not been determined yet.

Sheehan is expected to remain in Crawford until the end of the month, when President Bush leaves his ranch. She is planning a bus caravan to follow the President back to Washington where she will continue her protest.

---

the TV25 website:http://www.kxxv.com/

I was hoping to find some video clips from the newscast but all I found was this above.