When the press out number the "protesters", it's no longer a protest.
Posted on 09/04/2006 3:04:27 PM PDT by mylife
Sheehan's Texas protests die down Nation: Anti-war demonstrations smaller; critics say movement lost fire. By Angela K. Brown, Associated Press Long Beach Press Telegram
CRAWFORD, Texas - This one-stoplight town, especially the road leading to President Bush's ranch, turned out to be much quieter than it was last summer.
The 700-resident town's streets were clogged last year as more than 10,000 people began streaming in over the 26-day vigil, which started when Cindy Sheehan demanded to talk to Bush about the war that claimed her oldest son's life in 2004.
It was a different picture last month when war protesters returned, this time on a 5-acre lot closer to downtown. A couple of weekend events drew about 100 people, but the group held most activities in other cities.
"We always knew that last August could never be replicated. It was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon," said retired Army Col. Ann Wright, who resigned as a senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia in 2003 to protest the war with Iraq.
The group attributed lower numbers to Bush's absence.
Also, Sheehan was hospitalized twice, lessening her time at the camp that officially ended Sunday.
But some conservatives say the attendance shows Sheehan's support is fading.
"I think generally people are bored with Cindy Sheehan on one hand, just because they've gotten to know her and her extreme politics," Kristinn Taylor, spokesman for FreeRepublic.com, said Sunday.
Lawrence S. Wittner, a history professor at the State University of New York at Albany, said the anti-war movement is taking several types of actions, such as backing political candidates and lobbying Congress.
"While there was a sudden flare-up around Cindy Sheehan, a lot of the fuel for that is lighting other fires at this point," Wittner said.
Among the Crawford group's actions this summer was disrupting a reception before White House adviser Karl Rove spoke at a fundraising dinner in Austin.
Sheehan, of Berkeley, said she wanted "Camp Casey" to become a refuge for soldiers who don't want to deploy to Iraq. She said her lot, which she bought in July with $52,500 in insurance money after her son Casey's death, would provide information and moral support to war resisters.
"If he had met with me last year, I would have gone away," she said. "This year, we have to keep plugging away, keeping peace in front of us."
This hag's 15 minutes are over.
Golly, said the little girl, if he had just given me the cookie, I wouldn't have stolen his wallet. ROFLMAO.
Last year we drew the crowds. This year we just ignored her.
When the press out number the "protesters", it's no longer a protest.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Dont discount her yet.
Her megablockbuster book is due out on the 19th.
Thats sure to rocket her back to stardom ;)
Kristinn, looks like the rest of your statement got chopped, or do you only have one hand? :)
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Thanks to people like Kristinn getting the truth out! I suspect that lot in Crawford will be sold at a loss after the 2008 election.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Smart career move.
"I want you puppy dawg."
The look on those faces are priceless
Is elephant man hands wearing eye shadow? Disturbing picture all around!
Oh, that's great! My military record is totally SHOT, but I've got their "moral support"....!
Sounds like an attack of hemorrhoids!
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