Tiny Crawford Braces for Dueling Protests (UPDATE)

AP - Yahoo ^ | 8/27/05 | Angela K. Brown - AP

[NormsRevenge]

CRAWFORD, Texas - Several thousand people descended on President Bush's adopted hometown Saturday, most in a cross-country caravan for a pro-Bush rally and others to support an anti-war demonstration led by grieving mother Cindy Sheehan.

Bush supporters gathered for an event marking the culmination of the "You don't speak for me, Cindy!" tour, which started last week in California. The crowd of about 1,500 chanted, "Cindy, go home!"

"You are giving hope and encouragement to the enemies of America," said former California Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, a Republican who co-founded the group that coordinated the rally.

Meanwhile, busloads of war protesters gathered several miles away at "Camp Casey," named for Sheehan's 24-year-old son who died in Iraq last year.

A bell-ringing ceremony on Saturday honored soldiers serving in Iraq. Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 2,000 but it appeared smaller.

"I know that the Camp Casey movement is going to end the war in Iraq," Sheehan said, adding that no other families should have to suffer the loss of a relative. She led the crowd in chanting "Not one more!"

At the pro-Bush rally several miles away, there were some heated moments when two members of Protest Warrior, a group that frequently holds counter protests to anti-war rallies, walked in with a sign that read "Say No to War — Unless a Democrat is President."

Many Bush supporters only saw the top of the sign and believed the men were war protesters, so they began shouting and chasing the pair out. One man tore up their signs. When Will Marean of Minneapolis kept repeating that he was on the Bush side and tried to explain Protest Warrior's mission, one Bush supporter shook his hand and apologized.

Sheehan, of Vacaville, Calif. started camping out off the road leading to Bush's ranch on Aug. 6, soon after the president's Texas vacation began. She vowed to remain unless he talked to her about the war with Iraq that claimed the life of her son Casey and more than 1,870 other U.S. soldiers.

Sheehan said that after the protest ends Wednesday, some of the group will spread its message on a tour, with the first stop probably in the Texas district of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Republican.

Bush has said he appreciates Sheehan's right to protest and understands her anguish but will not change his schedule to meet with her. His vacation is to end Sept. 2.

Sheehan and other grieving families met with Bush about two months after her son died last year, before she became a vocal opponent of the war.

[NormsRevenge]

Some pics follow

Jim Faulkner, a Vietnam veteran from San Antonio, holds a sign in support of the troops at a gathering of Pro-Bush supporters, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005, in Crawford, Texas. Thousand of pro-Bush supporters are expected in Crawford to counter the supporters of Cindy Sheehan. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Bush supporter Chris Duncan of Dallas yells across the road to anti-war protestors at the original Camp Casey, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005. Several thousand people descended on President Bush's adopted hometown Saturday, most in a cross-country caravan for a pro-Bush rally and others to support an anti-war demonstration led by grieving mother Cindy Sheehan. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Cindy Sheehan gestures during a rally at under the big tent at her anti-war camp near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

[NormsRevenge]

FReepers in Crawford - Eaker, Syncro, JimRob, Sheila

[atomicpossum]

So did the Neo-Nazis make it?

[Peace will be here soon]

"Many Bush supporters only saw the top of the sign and believed the men were war protesters, so they began shouting and chasing the pair out. One man tore up their signs."

There`s always a few in the crowd. ( sigh )

These are the type of folks that give the rest of us a bad name.

Wanna bet this ends up on CNN?

[Peace will be here soon]

"So did the Neo-Nazis make it?"

I was wondering that as well. They will be on the other side of the aisle though. Lets see how the liberal media spins this one.....

[shezza]

Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 2,000 but it appeared smaller.

And yet people on the ground are saying 4,000+. The AP continues their undisguised bias.

[Clara Lou]

Ugh-- I thought Sheehan had a twin for a minute.

[digger48]

Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 2,000 but it appeared smaller.

We always see this disclaimer when we're talking about the Leftie protests, don't we?

[shezza]

Kind of like the Million Man March, eh what?

[tet68]

Damn, jim looks good, that trip had to get long.

[NormsRevenge]

I thought Sheehan had a twin for a minute.

--- she actually went to get cloned last week. :-o

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

All of you are not going to like this, but it is true: All of these people will coordinate, organize, spend a good sum of money and travel to Crawford to support one side or the other. But many will not step foot in a church building tomorrow to worship God, who certainly deserves praise and honor. What a tragedy the whole thing has become.

[Khepera]

so now it would be nice to just kick the CS crowds collective ass to see just how peaceful they really are.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BUMP!

[Clara Lou]

Lower life forms are easier to clone, aren't they?

[Boazo]

[jmaroneps37]

These people are not patriots. The are quislings.
The rest is just details.

[Eaker]

MeneMeneTekelUpharsin,

You don't speak for me either.

Go judge somebody else.

Or get off your ass and help us save this nation. What has your church done this week in the War on Terror?

[Flyer]

Yeah, that comment and attitude kinda pissed me off, too.

[humblegunner]

But many will not step foot in a church building tomorrow to worship God, who certainly deserves praise and honor.

Well, I won't presume to know what the Lord might
want from you, as that's His business and not mine.

I do feel very strongly that the Lord made me what I am and
is pleased with His work as it is, flawed though it may seem to you.

I reckon maybe He'll need me to do what he made me for before long.

And no, I didn't set foot in a church today, or most others.

I ain't necessarily the best Christian, but I know what side to fight on.