Bush neighbors to seek court order

[kskiska]

Some residents of the corn and cattle town of Crawford, Texas, are expressing resentment as hundreds of anti-war protesters descend upon President George W. Bush's adopted hometown.

After nine days of watching as one woman's protest has grown into a national event, dozens of the farmers and ranchers neighboring Bush's 1,600-acre Prairie Chapel Ranch plan to petition a county court in nearby Waco, according to one, Pete Martinka. They want to prevent anyone from parking or stopping within two miles of the makeshift campsite erected by Cindy Sheehan, the Vacaville, Calif., woman whose son, Casey, was killed in the war in Iraq.

"She's pitching tents on private property," said Martinka, who lives on a 104-acre ranch near the Bush property.

Sheehan, 48, has become an icon for a revived anti-war movement and her so-called Camp Casey outside the Bush ranch has become a small village. Her demonstration now includes a procession of TV satellite trucks, political operatives and public relations professionals. There are rallies and folk songs.

"People are very fed up," said another neighbor, Sgt. Vernon Harrison, 42, a National Guard nurse who returned from Iraq in February.

more…
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usmom16,0,1212138.story?coll=ny-nation-big-pix

[Horse with no Name]

1. The side of the roads are PUBLIC property

and she is covered by the First Amendment.
So..what exactly is their argument?

[eleny]

3. They don't care

That's their bottom line. And I hope they choke on it.

[Journeyman]

10. I imagine they'll base their argument on "loitering". . .

or "creating a road hazard," or they'll try to bring the health department back into it. Ironically, I can foresee a potential intercession from the White House, who will be looking at this as a public relations nightmare, rather than the "inconvenience" which the neighbors see it as.

[Roy]

34. Doesn't that road basically dead end at Bush's' ranch

It's not an inconvenience to them except as a danger to get the truth out in the eye of the national public.

Health inspectors
Smear campaign
shotgun intimidation
lawsuit lying about them being on private property

You don't grasp at straws because of inconvenience, and after all it's only a few more days.

What about the boost to their economy??? It must have at least doubled, with all these people convening with nothing, causing most everything to be purchased locally.

Damn!!! These folks are almost as ungrateful as those darn Iraqis!

[Smarmie Doofus]

40. "Loitering": if impeachment doesn't work, maybe we can try that.

Can one "loiter" in that job for five and a half years?

[hallc]

70. Ha!

I wish...That one cracked me up!:rofl:

[Solo_in_MD]

30. Maybe, maybe not

I have no specific information about Crawford, but the protest site could well not be on public land. It would take some research by someone knowledgeable about the Texas law at a minimum, and preferable some local experience to get an accurate determination. It could go so far as to benefit from a survey.

The roads may be on easements or right of ways, not owned outright by the Government. Another possibility is that the paved road is right at the edge of private property, something that is common in areas where where the road was expanded after it was originally put in (BTDT).

Whenever a large protest is put on, the organizers (if they are smart) work through trespass, security, and other potential issues ahead of time. This protest is more or less ad hoc, certainly its current scale. While I think that is a very good thing to see, it can lead to logistical problems, which could cripple an otherwise excellent protest events.

[Horse with no Name]

35. Well I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV

but the easements in Texas are public property and the county generally maintains mowing, etc., however, many of the property owners do it out of convenience and for aesthetic reasons.
I mow the easement in front of my house because I hate for the grass to be two levels,lol. Same reason I try to coordinate mowing my lawn with my neighbor.
In fact--I highly doubt the triangle of land is owned by that woman. All she has to do is have a complicit law enforcement agency to say that property belongs to her and show a deed. Much of the land here in Texas is listed by the original owner...hence on my house, it is tract xyz of Wheeler Ranch, even though Wheeler Ranch hasn't owned it for over 100 years. There isn't a soul in Crawford who will dispute it, but it is VERY odd that the county would purchase the land for the roads and NOT the center or the easements...would be interesting for someone to actually research this, but smells like alot of horseshit.

[snooper2]

66. Not always...

FYI, just bought a house in Plano a couple months back and at closing, I found out that the property has 0 easement. Basically, the city made the street wider many years ago, and that took away from the original easement. So, now I have to call Encore Energy and see why the hell they decided to put a pole in my yard. (actually on the house side of the sidewalk, which is all my property apparently.)

Of course, I think if someone broke there foot on the sidewalk, they could sue me. I guess that's what homeowners insurance is for :)

But, in this case, in the middle of no-where Crawford, I'm sure there is at lease a 6 foot easement on both sides of that road.

[texpatriot2004]

75. Exactly, plus they are being really good about not blocking the

road.

Go Cindy.

[Catch22Dem]

2. The ditch is private property?

I beg to differ.

[ShockediSay]

31. I always thought that as a matter of state/municipal law -

a certain amount of setback from a public road was "public access" property. If some Crawford legal beagle could yay or nay me on this, I'm sure there are some who'd like to know.

[goforit]

4. Our men are dying and they whine about their privacy???

:argh:

[davidinalameda]

5. they should blame Bush

not Cindy

[Bumblebee]

9. C'mon, Bush is probably paying for their lawyers!

[koopie57]

21. They might not even know

that they are doing this. It will be news to them when they hear their names on FOX.

[davidinalameda]

39. it doesn't change the fact

if Bush would meet with Cindy, she'd pack up and go home

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

67. They should handle it like neighbors before enlisting legal help.

Call Bush and tell him to meet with Cindy so she will go home. So easy.....and cheap!

[cliss]

62. How true.

I wrote in another post that I believe the neighbors are secretly wishing Bush's vacation will be cut short. Bush is being badgered, and he probably isn't enjoying himself very much.

He might be shamed into going back to Washington. After all, Cindy Sheehan has vowed to follow George back to the White House when he goes.

[BulletproofLandshark]

6. Cowards

Yellow-bellied free speech-hating cowards. That is all.

[KittyWampus]

7. "People are very fed up,"???? You Got THAT Right Vernon.

"People are very fed up," said another neighbor, Sgt. Vernon Harrison, 42, a National Guard nurse who returned from Iraq in February.

[KansDem]

60. "Sgt. Vernon Harrison, 42, a National Guard nurse who returned from Iraq"

Welcome home! And glad you made it!!! :hi: Now, could you show a little empathy for the mother whose son didn't?

[Bozita]

8. Remember when Nixon wanted to buy a place in NYC?

The members of the condo/co-op association voted him down.

Why ain't Crawfordians that smart?

[Lars39]

11. Is Newsday a credible source?

[quiet.american]

20. Yes -- more so than NYT. n/t

[Gary Boatwright]

24. No way. Newsday is like NY Post... Tabloid.

eom

[quiet.american]

46. I'll split the difference --

Step up from the Post, step down from the more genteel NYT -- but at least Newsday didn't feature any articles from certain reporters swearing Saddam had WMD based on some shadowy figure in a field wearing a baseball cap.... like a certain "paper of record" we know.... :)

[Beetwasher]

54. Bullshit!

You don't have a clue what you're talking about. Newsday is a very legit source and NOTHING like the Post.

[nodehopper]

27. uh...no. I have no love lost for NYT but Newsday is more of a tabloid.

[quiet.american]

47. Tabloid or no, they've had no scandals on the scale of Jayson Blair --

-- and Judith Miller, like a certain "paper of record" we're familiar with. They used to be very good, must admit, I read all my news online now and haven't picked up a print paper lately, so perhaps they've deteriorated -- especially after Jimmy Breslin retired.... he's the best... but I do remember reading Newsday online articles during the "March to War," and many of them were not in lockstep with Bushco over the so-called "evidence" to justify invading Iraq.

[FourStarDemocrat]

49. Newsday is a 'Daily' not a tabloid.

Newsday regularly has responsible coverage that is not considered sensational. It has been a staple newspaper for New Yorkers for a few decades already. It is not as indepth as the Times obviously , but has never been considered a tabloid by New Yorkers.

[Beetwasher]

55. No, It Is Not a Tabloid, Not At All

n/t

[sintax]

12. What they really meant was

"We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."



Seeing things and remaining quiet about them will change nothing, not even ourselves. But saying things - having the courage to testify to our own forbidden knowledge - could be the way the world changes.

[SoCalDem]

13. Well that's one way to get a correct total. In oreder to show a big impact

the will not want to "low-ball" the attendance..

Let's hope that Cindy's lawyers are ready with a counter suit for infringement of constitutional rights

[Stil]

14. If only

They would let them move closer in front of *'s place. Problem taken care of.

[hayu_lol]

17. Aw...the poor 'turkeys' are just not selling enough...

Bush T-shirts and coffee mugs. They were sure happy Bush moved in with them a few years ago...with his 'turnkey' ranch.

[Massacure]

15. Um, aren't they camped at the Peace House?

As long as they have permission to be there, the court can't do anything.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. Why don't they just ask Bush to meet with her?

[KDLarsen]

43. Yeah, that would solve things much faster..

saw a bit on CNN last night, where Cindy mentioned that they just had to ask their neighbor to meet her & talk to her, then they would all go away.

But oh no, can't bother ones neighbor with a griefing mothers loss these days :sarcasm:

[leesa]

18. They should be happy. People are spending money there.

This is good news. Crank it up a notch.

[Zenlitened]

19. If Bush had any sense of decency he would...

... oh, heck -- I can't even type the whole sentence without cracking up! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Jim Sagle]

29. My eyeballs almost exploded seeing your subject line.

:wtf:

[Zenlitened]

57. Hee hee hee.

I'm surprised my keyboard didn't lock up from trying to type "Bush" and "decency" so close together. :D

Man, that guy has SO completely bungled this whole episode, precisely because he doesn't have a single decent human impulse within him.

[Gary Boatwright]

22. Heaven forbid these idiots part with 1 or two acres...

Of their 100 acre LAWNS.

[all.of.me]

23. well then, they should get bush to move!

i get the feeling that this is not the first OR last demostration near his 'ranch'....

[Gregorian]

25. I love it when the tables are turned.

Anything goes, when it's happening to someone else. But just look at them whine, when something inconvenient happens to them. You know, like a mother who just lost her son, sits in a ditch outside their property.

[dooner]

26. I hope Cindy's lawyer/s are aware of this... n/t

[tblue37]

28. If Bush would spare her 15 minutes of his precious time it would all be

over with. They should be squawking at him, not her.

[eleny]

32. Right! He's such a bad neighbor

But remember - they don't care.

[napi21]

33. Don't ya think they should get the bad neighbor to move?

If it wasn't Shrub living in the neighborhood, there wouldn't be any problmes there. Sounds to me like their best bet would be to get Shrub to move out! It's really sad what happens to a nice neighborhood when the rif-raf move in!!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

36. Why don't they just aske their "neighbor"

to talk with the lady?

[librechik]

37. Shrimp Boats are a'comin...

sae this one headed our way awhile back

[NVMojo]

38. $100. Rove is behind this ....

[The Backlash Cometh]

41. We are about to see the clash between public interest vs. property rights.

In Texas no less.

[MADem]

51. Those people seem to forget that it was this administration's Supreme

Court that basically said "If we don't like your property, we will TAKE it." This administration has NO respect for private property, if they can force you to sell at a discount and turn it into some profit-making endeavor for themselves!

[The Backlash Cometh]

58. Oh, the irony.

[JNelson6563]

42. Support our Troops!

But once they're dead who wants to hear about it?? :sarcasm:

[mbperrin]

44. No Texas county nor the state would pave or pay for

just an easement. That road is public property all the way to the fenceline. Oughta take a Waco judge about ten minutes to toss it out.

I've lived in Texas my whole life, and PROPERTY is supreme. These folks filing are trying to use PUBLIC property as their own. Won't fly.

[GOPisEvil]

45. Yeah, well, take THIS idiots: neighbor offers his land for Camp Casey!

http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml

There is a meeting tomorrow at the County Commissioner's meeting to vote on closing Prairie Chapel Road and then evicting us. We were all worried about that and planning on being arrested when we got the best news yet. The property owner who owns property near Bush's ranch and right across the street from Bush's church will let us move Camp Casey there!! He has property on both sides of the road ... a full acre for us to camp! We are so excited!!! We can fit more people and we will be closer to the ranch. Miracles, miracles.

[meganmonkey]

48. Yeah!

That's so awesome I have to bounce :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[MADem]

53. How WONDERFUL!!!!

More room, for MORE FOLKS!!! Get that party started!!!!

[NuttyFluffers]

56. When a door is closed, God opens a window.

I'm so happy to hear that. I wonder what kindness can we give these kind people to reciprocate their generosity? Brownies? Group pictures?
O8)

[Zenlitened]

59. Sweeeet! Wow, that is wonderful news!

:applause:

[peacebird]

63. Out of the ditches, closer to *, and INVITED to camp there by owner!!!

:toast:
:grouphug:

Fantastic!

[0007]

50. I love it when people hate it........

and is the time to call the Marching Bands.

......or maybe even have another Woodstock!

[0007]

52. I love it!

now is the time to call in the Marching Bands.

......or maybe even have another Woodstock!

[texpatriot2004]

61. How can we stop those sick people from getting court order?

What can we do to support Camp Casey and protect it from the idiots who would shut it down? Who do they think they are? These are the families of soldiers (SUPPORT OUR TROOPS) who died for this war which was perpetrated on the American (& Iraqi) people. The "President" the one who is always on vacation or working out in his gym LIED to the Congress and to the American people - not about his private parts, but about matters related to the country! Cindy should be allowed to stay until the lying-sack-of-____ has the balls to talk to her.

BTW
As I write this Ray Charles sings America the Beautiful...a very moving rendition.

[demo dutch]

64. Too bad! They'll just have to deal with it!

[Megahurtz]

65. Ha! Bush is probably paying them to do this!

Ya never know!

[texpatriot2004]

71. I'd believe it. I thought that too. n/t

[shayes51]

68. Probably the very ones with the

Support the Troops stickes on their cars/trucks.

[texpatriot2004]

72. Yeah. I am sure of it. I hate those stickers...empty sentiment

that's what they are. The money from the sales doesn't even go to the soldiers. How pathetic.

[gmoore]

69. Cindy needs your help in Crawford - van/camper/RV

Cindy and the folks at Crawford need your help. We need the use of some type of van/camper/RV that can be used as a mini-office for the remainder of her stay here in Crawford. We need a place to get Cindy out of the sun, while she conducts phone interviews and other meetings.

The sun is taking it's toll on the protesters, with several people already suffering from sun poison.

If you have a vehicle that you can bring to Crawford (feel free to stay with us) - please call 707-365-7750!

Thanks for your help and your support.

Please forward this on to whatever forums you think appropriate!

[DFWJock]

74. To this

I would like to quote something Ive been hearing for the last 5 and a half years:

"Get over it."

[texpatriot2004]

73. I heard an interview with Cindy on the radio today...she said

that they are trying to be good neighbors at the Camp. I am sure that they are doing so too. Can't say that for everyone in Crawford though. Some of them are being really horrid...probably at the request of Bush. Anyway, Cindy's getting good press coverage it made the people look really bad who are against her.

Go Cindy!