Guest blogged by Winter Patriot
Here’s an important message from our ever-faithful behind-the-scenes news-gatherer, radio-show-producer, and all-around great-big-help, Kat L’Estrange:
It is important to remember that military members are not allowed to protest while in uniform.
In my brief conversation with Leon, he stated there were reporters there from all the major networks, and they’ve been running the story on the 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news. Yesterday, activists and journalists were ‘penned’ away from the fundraising event in a “first amendment zone” and not allowed to leave until after George W. Bush left the area. As well, Cindy stood along the road as the presidential motorcade passed by holding a black cross, and report is she was able to catch a glimpse of Laura Bush inside one of the vehicles.
For more details on Cindy Watch, please see this online coverage from The Lone Star Iconoclast.
More to follow…
Thanks, Kat. We’ll be watching.
UPDATE:
Things are happening … but we are still not sure what. We’ve changed the headline, which formerly said “Troops Coming To Crawford”, and we’re trying to find out now what happened. Did someone deliberately mislead us? [probably not] Were we informed about plans which subsequently changed? [could be] Were our sources misled? [maybe] And if so was it done intentionally? [who knows?] … We’ll get answers to zero or more of these questions along with some other good Texas dirt, and I will post the best of it, starting soon.
You can click on this photo to read a report on the events of the day, from The Lone Star Iconoclast.
SECOND UPDATE:
Here’s the newest from Kat, who has been on the phone with Leon Smith of The Lone Star Iconoclast.
At approximately 6:30 PM Central time a group of pro-Bush supporters pulled up in a chartered bus from the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex with about 50 people on board adjacent to Camp Cindy. Smith reports there may have been one active duty military member on board with other riders including Vietnam veterans, women and children. The rally was organized by radio talk show host Mike Gallagher, author of “Surrounded by Idiots — Fighting Liberal Lunacy in America,” (foreword by Sean Hannity) and lasted for about 30 minutes. The event was low key with individuals placing flags near the white crosses for those killed in Iraq that line the road for approximately one-quarter mile. According to Leon, the reporter at the scene says the group gave thanks to God in prayer for the opportunity to speak freely in America. The group reboarded the bus and headed off to another rally at a nearby base. Folks at Camp Cindy were respectful of the pro-Bush contingency during the brief visit.
It was unclear as to whether there would be any additional rallies in support of George W. Bush or war near Camp Casey or in Crawford.
Organizer Mike Gallagher of KRLD Dallas/Ft Worth promoted the event as a “Pro-America Bus Trip to Crawford.”
For more details on Cindy Watch, please visit this page at The Lone Star Iconoclast.
THIRD UPDATE:
The Waco Tribune Herald, which is probably the closest large newspaper, has a story online now: Bush supporters arrive in Crawford as anti-war protestors continue vigil. Here’s a quick sample:
The two sides were kept apart by a row of peace officers and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office squad cars. Even with the occasional heated exchange, both demonstrations remained peaceful and there were no arrests.
The Bush supporters were led by syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher in what he called a “pro-America bus trip.”
“This is not about Cindy Sheehan,” Gallagher said to reporters after leading a chorus of “God Bless America” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” “We’re here to support all our troops and all the men and women who died, including her son. She has the right to believe the way she believes, but we do, too, and that’s why we’re here.”
Yeah, right. Sure, Mike. You may be saying what you’re saying because of what you believe, but you’re standing where you’re standing because of Cindy Sheehan.
Ha ha! Another right-wing liar caught in the act. And you read it first right here, at The BRAD BLOG.
George Bush is the worst president in US history. The only reason he would meet with Cindy is after one of his advisors such as his cunt Carl Rove or dickless Cheney tell him it’s his best move for Bushit damage control at this time. He can take his Bushit agenda for our country and our world and stick it up his ass.
"I’m a uniter; not a divider" (george w. bush)
See how united this country is becoming?
Thanks Kat for pointing readers to the Lone Star Iconoclast link! I love them! Excellent group of photos of the current scene at Camp Casey.
Maybe these "out-of-uniform" military guys are the same guys who protested the counting of the chads in Florida 2000! Paid GOP operatives!
Can someone take names there? We all know about all the GOP "fake news", this may be more of it. Bet the MSM covers this one! But doesn’t check if the people there are really in the military.
Fine, if they really are. I wouldn’t want to be them if they are, though, going to Iraq in the war based on lies. A lot of them will be coming home in bodybags, and then their mothers will switch sides and protest with Cindy Sheehan.
ONE PROVEN WAY TO SILENCE A WINGNUT ABOUT CINDY SHEEHAN
(my experience at the Conservative Life blog)
The wingnuts wilt like vampires when they see polls like these.
Dubbya is a lying murderer who must be impeached. Him and his administration must be tried for crimes against the people of the United States and jailed.
Law enforcement wore riot gear? C’mon, must have been for the photos. But it looks silly.
Thanks Kat!
It’s official! Day III Lou Dobbs/CNN leads with several "Iran-scare" stories!!! I’ll keep monitoring this…
Who at CNN decided this?
Hi All!
Big Dan #4 — my thoughts too! The group should be referred to as The Texas Strike Force, the same group that found its way to Ohio prior to the election to intimidate and lie to voters!
I’m curious how these individuals are being rounded up to make their way to Crawford, which is approximately 6 miles from where Cindy has set up camp. Unless it’s the pro-war military mothers who are doing the organizing, I would think it would be very dangerous, if not illegal, for our military members to be rounded up in order to confront or challenge or outshout (call it what you want) civilians, even out of uniform. My military commander would never have approved such a thing when I was active duty. We would have been warned to stay clearly away from such an event. And because the unelected one isn’t man enough to do what’s right, he’s bringing ’em on to Crawford for backup, and the photo op.
For some reason, I’m envisioning a whole lot of military haircuts taking place somewhere in the Dallas vicinity!! Well, all I gotta say is:
DISCREDIT CINDY, DISHONOR CASEY!
I’m waiting for some input from Topanga Peace Alliance as far as a proposal of support to get Iraqi War Vets for peace down to stand with Cindy. Will post it when I receive it.
Where’s Brad when you need him? 😉
I forgot to mention that there’s supposed to be a pro-war rally in Crawford all day tomorrow as well. This news from Tonia at Topanga Peace Alliance.
Can you imagine? Let this woman have a voice!
DISCREDIT CINDY, DISHONOR CASEY!
Also for Big Dan #4, Kat #9.
I agree completely that it is important to "take names" (and photos) of those participating in the pro-war demonstration.
Oh, BTW, if any of you have direct email or phone contact with Nathan Diebenow of Lone Star Iconoclast, maybe you should contact him with this info about the possible breach of military ethics, and encourage him to "take names".
Cindy has got King George up against the ropes, if he meets with her he loses and if he doesn’t he loses. I declare Cindy the winner of the first round. I am ready for round two, looking for a knock out as Cindy’s movement gains momentum, and the support of the war wains.
I am an old timer and I remember the Vietnam war. We were told we must fight communism in Vietnam or we will be fighting them in our streets. It is funny how the war mongering Republican party can keep saying that, what fools. We just kicked the hornets nest by attacking Iraq. Even if we pay and fight for that country the outcome will be the same…………a total failure. They will turn to their islamic brothers like Iran and Saudi Arabia as soon as we leave. So we need to leave a cut our losses as soon as possible, to bad we can’t cut our losses at home a dump that lousy worthless lying administration that got us into this mess. I want King George held accountable Too!!!!!
GOOOOO Cindy, keep up the good work!!
A "pro-war" rally is a disgusting thing all on its own — PRO WAR ??? — please give the majority of humans on the planet, who happen to understand that war is not a "good" thing, a break — these "pro-war" fools will just make fools of themseves — in fact, after watching them, the polls will show an increase in the percentage of Americans who are against this war.
Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst with gold star credentials, was interviewed early June of this year by Brad on The Brad Show. If you click the link you can find an MP3 file as well as a written transcript of this interview.
My view: he is the best– articulate, knowledgeable, erudite, with a warm thoughtfulness and a quiet but unmistakable sense of humor. (Do I have a crush on him? Nah. Serious people don’t say that silly kind of thing on the Brad Blog, anyway.)
He’s written a letter to Cindy Sheehan– Ray McGovern to Cindy Sheehan –August 11, 2005
—-snip—
Letter to Cindy Sheehan
by Ray McGovern
Dear Cindy,
You are, in biblical terms, salt that has not lost its flavor…or its ability to catalyze! You certainly have catalyzed me.
Oddly, two things have kept rumbling through my mind this past week.
~ A poem by a Russian poet Nekrasov, the poet of Russian pain. The poem is titled Vnimaya Uzhazom Voiny –‘Paying Attention to the Horrors of War’. Nekrasov singles out mothers: ‘Mothers are the only ones who will never forget their children fallen on the battlefield, just as a willow tree will never be able to lift its drooping branches.’
It sounds a lot better in Russian. I look forward to sharing the whole poem and translation with you after I arrive at Camp Casey outside of Crawford on Saturday.
——-more at the link—–
Comment #8
Yesterday in the Orange County Register there was an AP big story picked up about Iran defying the UN, US, and Euro with a pic implying building the nukes. Lets see, we bombed Hiroshima. This showed we had the bomb. 3 day later we bombed Nagasaki to show we’re irresponsible humans with a weapon of mass destruction. Now the Bushits need a way to deflect the massive holes in their Bushit dam. They know if they can push the nukes card on the stupid Americans who believe their mass media propaganda they can scare into another war and take the heat off these cock suckers. Who made the US to decide who gets the bomb? Like our inbred leader on testoceron boost who thinks he’s the only one with the big bad bomb and he’s gonna control the world. WRONG!!! The way is to put the nukes away. The whole reason we did the BRAVO bomb experiments in the Marshall Islands in the 1950’s was so we(Fcking stupid humans) would learn of the destructive force and not use these weapons. The US as an aggressor is a sinking ship. We the people must impeach and jail these corrupt cheating crooks to restore trust in the world and work for world peace.
It is amazing that it takes the enter neo-con attack machine to take down exactly one middle America mother.
The Bush empire is beginning to crumble. Thank God for Cindy.
Hi, Superman – But the neo-con attack machine CANNOT take down one middle America mother — She is pointing the finger at their own crimes and misdemeanors — and as a result, the neo-cons have ensured their own demise — of course, the sooner the better before more innocent people die.
Hi, Valley Girl #17 – That pic belongs in Winter’s whispering campaign, for world-wide distribution!
Hi, Peggy #21 —
Well, that’s a great idea! Hey, WP….
There are more cartoons by the same artist at the link here, including, but not limited to, more pix of Bush in his underpants. I thought that this was the best of the bunch.
Oh, Kira!!!! Thanks for your instructions as to how to post images using CA. I finally got it right!!!
VG
Thanks VG — for the link to McGovern’s beautiful letter to Cindy. Wow – very poetic and uplifting. Thank you, Ray McGovern.
Also – the "Lying King" photo’s too cute. But – at least he gets a turn having a pic taken in his undies (after doing it to Saddam.)
And – you’re welcome for the instructions. I apologize if they were confusing. As I remember I was in a rush. Glad you got it figured out.
Hi Kira!!!
Actually, your instructions were not confusing, as it turns out. I confused myself. I just didn’t pay proper attention to one teeny bit of what you said. I thought that the addy in the properties box was the same as the actual address, and since the properties box looked too small, and the addy was not completely shown in the small box, I kept trying to paste the original address. Silly me. I finally thought, well, why don’t I do *exactly* what Kira said. And, hey presto, it worked.
VG
These idiots gave thanks to god for freedom of speech?
They should be giving thanks to the left, we’re the only ones fighting for their freedom. We’re the only ones who are going to repair the problem and fight the tyranny.
Like Jack, I remember Vietnam and Johnson was prez. The scare tactic was communism and we know how that went. We weren’t threatened, we "helped" them. Sound familiar? Why can’t politicians learn from past mistakes? The evening news was about coffins and protesters – myself being one. It is so sad, a guy who wasn’t even ligitimately elected got us in this mess. He was a failure as gov of Texas, a failure as a businessman, and now a failure as prez. What’s next?
It’s been quite a while since we had a good old-fashioned Winter Patriot essay to sneer at. Remember how the worst of them used to be? … full of surprisingly awkward twists and barely held together with obscure rock lyrics? Well …
Today there’s a new one at Booman Tribune and some of you may wish to avoid it … so if you’re one of those people, please don’t read Cindy Sheehan is at the plate.
Thanks very much to Kat for saying one of the things I’ve been thinking, so I don’t have to say it myself, I can just quote her:
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Probably a lot worse! 😉
I am ashamed that our local tv channels here in Texas, Montgomery-Conroe just outside of Houston allowed a whole 15 seconds at 10:00 P.M. on one channel to Cindy Sheehan.
It is a good thing tho, that the Houston Chronicle is finally telling us some truths.
How many of us have $25,000.00 to contribute to a single function to "strengthen" their party. Although with oil at $66.00 a barrel and tax "relief" provided to the very rich $25 K is a drop in the bucket.
My point is look down the road, a billion a week borrowed from China, America weakened financially, how many friends will we have once we have no more lending money?
Doesn’t even the staunchist supporter of Bush and the war think about how weakened America is?
I am Thankful that I saw another powerful administration toppled, Johnson, Nixon because it gives me a ray of hope for all of us, does anyone else remember the dissenters being told "America love it or leave it" Why not love America enough to save it.
Maybe one way to get people to think would be to e-mail and call the National media to get attention drawn….I have and will continue someone might listen..Keith Olbermann did.
#30,
Thanks, WP, for more great lyrics & inspiring words! Yeah, we are all on Cindy’s shoulders right now. Bless her & all those sweating out there with her!
I don’t think she at all expected the burgeoning event that her brave & personal journey to Crawford has become, this strange & moving anti-war/pro-war, grief & compassion/smearing & scorn crazy dance playing out in the dust & heat.
I weep with her & sing with her & cheer for her!
CNN’s coverage of Cindy Sheehan’s Crawford protest.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer gives Cindy a good run.
Oh, and btw, WP, all hail to "freaks and hairies, dykes and fairies" yeah!
Winter! You’re so fab! 😉
As hard as the Bush handlers are trying to keep their boss off the front page and lead story regarding the false reasons this nation was led to war, Cindy Sheehan brings the focus right back where it belongs!
I think about the Bush Doctrine being shoved through Congress prior to the 2002 midterm election, and one thing is clear even though reasons for invading a sovereign nation are not: George W. Bush made himself the ultimate supreme decision maker. No amount of spin will release him from accepting responsibility for the mistakes he has made regarding war, regardless of "bad" intelligence or Clinton’s so-called weak position on terrorism.
Oh, but isn’t he so tough acting strong as he insulates himself from crowds of people who oppose him and his incredibly self-interested and corporate-interested policies.
Enough of this stuff in America!
Lots of Cow Patties in TX
M3 #25 said something I’ve been thinking for a long time. If the "right" "wins", those who support the "right" now will soon be in very grave danger. Or at least that’s what anyone would think who’s read a little history.
re #22 thanks for the suggestion but we’re pretty well locked into what we’re doing. Copy and send it around for sure, though! 😉
Wow Cindy Sheehan what you have started. Your son still has a voice. I wonder if a movement could be started to find out the true figures of wounded and killed are. Would the true numbers wake up the believers?
Ted Rall a cartoonist pulled his cartoon of a wounded soldier helping his buddy into the helicopter and and saying you can’t die here it will be counted. Said his sources were incorrect yet he believed in them enough to do the cartoon. Checking sources at TRG.org says figures are being misled (what a surprise) to the public. John Pike of Global Security.org is questioning the pentagon release numbers.
I guess when the media doesn’t tell us and you can’t trust the administration who does someone seeking the truth look too?
I’ve been thinking about this for the past few hours and have been too busy to follow up, but now that my youngest is fast asleep here goes.
I’m thankful there wasn’t a dreadful confrontation in Crawford today, and that both sides seemingly handled themselves responsibly.
But the truth is, I’m bothered that this bus full of pro-Bush (war) activists had the gall to parade out quite a distance from Crawford to where Cindy is camped, do what it was they felt necessary to do to counter her message, place their symbols, pray to their God as though some how that was in anyway more meaningful and "American" than what Cindy Sheehan has to say.
I think about the citizen activists, and the journalists reporting, who were held back from Bush’s fundraising event yesterday in the hot sun in an area we’ve come to refer to as "first amendment zones," which typically places the citizenry outside of shouting distance from Bush, and other times when citizen activists have been fortunate enough to find a way inside, but then are discovered, grabbed by the hair, roughed up and arrested, and removed after incredible humiliation.
sigh
Here’s another story on today’s incident. It appears there will be a pro-war rally tomorrow, or two or three.
"More demonstrators are expected to arrive in Crawford today, both for and against Bush and his policies in Iraq. Another Dallas-area radio station has asked its listeners to rally for the president Saturday morning on Prairie Chapel Road. Also, the conservative group Free Republic has a rally set for noon in downtown Crawford. "
I send lots of good thoughts to Camp Casey this evening, to Cindy Sheehan and all those there supporting her.
anybody know what happened after Larry Mattlage (property owner) fired his gun 5 times into the air while standing next to his fence, a mere 30 feet from the protestors, and then made his threatening comments? Why was he not detained? I have seen only 1 story, from the Iconoclast.
re #39 there’s more on that incident here
Curious –
Been following as well, he fired 5 shots on his own property not into the crowd. The Sheriff came immediately and difused the situation.
I support Cindy totally I am thrilled that finally other voices are joining hers. Mr. Mattlage is not angry at Cindy or defending Bush, he just wants his barca lounger and something good on t.v.
Hey, I bet you have some Mr. Mattlages in your neighborhood too.
All the Mr. Mattlages need to sober up and look long and hard at the pictures of the wounded, maimed, dead and dying bodies of the real soldiers who are sacrificing themselves and their lives by joining the US Military which is supposed to be the Guardian Forces dedicated to protecting all Americans (like Mr. M.)
Until they quit acting like children having temper tantrums because they don’t get their own way (like kids who pitch a fit because their sibling gets over the imaginary line in the back seat of a car while traveling to a destination), they don’t deserve my respect.
Sorry — I think Mr. M. should GROW UP.