War Debate, and Emotions, Spill Over in Texas

[Judi Lynn]

August 28, 2005

THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ
War Debate, and Emotions, Spill Over in Texas
Thousands of activists vent anger at dueling rallies near the president's ranch.

By Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer


CRAWFORD, Texas — Pent-up fervor fueling both sides of the national debate over President Bush's Iraq policies erupted Saturday near his vacation home, with thousands of protesters venting frustrations and using parents of fallen soldiers as icons of their dueling movements.

Both the president's supporters and critics endured 100degree temperatures to rally in separate locations miles apart, and several hundred engaged in an emotional standoff at the fork in a road on the fringe of the Bush property — singing, chanting and yelling epithets.

Separated by at least nine sheriff's deputies and a traffic island guarded by authorities as "no man's land," the scene served as a microcosm for the state of the national debate.

On one side of the street sat the original Camp Casey, set up three weeks ago by Cindy Sheehan, whose son Army Spc. Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq in 2004. She has since emerged as the leader of the antiwar movement. There, dozens cheered and belted out anti-Bush lyrics to the tune of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." A banner branded Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld "war pigs."

On the other side stood flag-waving Bush backers chanting, "Cindy, go home." One sign read: "Repent, you treasonous scum."
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-protest28aug28,1,1001783.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
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[BQueen]

1. Did they *really* fill a stadium? Where?

"Emotions ran high at the competing rally, where thousands of the president's supporters filled a football stadium to praise efforts in Iraq and chastise Sheehan as an opportunist exploiting her dead son. The crowd chanted slogans against those who oppose the war, at one point turning against a member of the media. One reporter was grabbed by a protester who accused the media of propping up the antiwar movement."

Sudden flashback to "Triumph of the Will" yikes, hope that reporter is okay...maybe agreeing to report that they "filled a football stadium" got him/her out alive...;-)

[AtomicKitten]

2. "... accused the media of propping up the anti-war movement..."

Are you kidding me? Are these people high? They won't be happy until there is no dissent in this country, which is ironic since they seek to suppress the very freedoms they claim they are fighting this war for. They should be choking on their hypocrisy.

[watrwefitinfor]

3. "Thousands for Bush - Hundreds for Cindy."

This is being reported all over.

Last night on local tv news they showed buses unloading at Camp Casey while the "reporter" talked about the thousands who came to Crawford to support Bush.

Disgusting.

Wat

[pamela]

4. My local news said 3000 for Cindy, 1500 for War.

It was the Baltimore NBC station.