War Foes Intensify Texas Vigil

By Helen Kennedy

The New York Daily News

Saturday 13 August 2005

President Bush got his first look yesterday at the anti-war protest growing outside his Texas ranch when, on his way to a fund-raiser, he drove by the vigil staged by a slain soldier's mother.

As Bush went to party with fat cats who gave $2 million to the GOP, his motorcade didn't slow as it went by Cindy Sheehan and her sign: "Why do you make time for donors and not for me?"

"I'm glad that we were there because he rarely gets to see the faces of people who don't agree with him 100%," Sheehan said.

The President's black Chevrolet SUV has tinted windows, so it was not clear if he looked at her, or the growing ranks of demonstrators, or the hundreds of plain white crosses, painted with the names of the dead, they have planted.

But it's a sight that may become familiar to the President: demonstrators energized by the unexpected success of Sheehan's protest now plan to follow him back to Washington at the end of the month.

Sheehan began her dramatic vigil last Saturday. She says she wants to meet Bush face to face so she can tell him to bring home the troops from Iraq and ask him what the death of her 24-year-old son Casey accomplished.

Various factors - including the shocking deaths of 14 Marines, a press corps bored in Crawford while Bush takes a five-week vacation and the simple symbolism of a grieving mother challenging the President - have turned Sheehan into a phenomenon.

"This is the moment. This may be the time when we finally get the attention of the American people," said Linda Waste of Georgia, who stood with Sheehan and about 50 others yesterday as Bush went by.

Waste has three sons, a grandson and a granddaughter either in Iraq or just back. Last week she joined Military Families Speak Out, a group that wants the troops brought home.

Other parents who have lost children are converging on Crawford to join Sheehan today, and supporters of the war in Iraq are staging a counterdemonstration.

"I hope the mainstream media will give as much attention to those of us who think we should stay the course as those who want to create another Vietnam," said Dallas talk show host Darrell Ankarlo.

Bush said Thursday that he feels for mourning parents. "I've thought about their cry and their sincere desire to reduce the loss of life by pulling our troops out. I just strongly disagree," he said.

Disclaimer...I have no leanings toward Bush...and I don't know what all I think about the war.

However, regarding whether or not he should meet with these specific protesters, the particular mom that's getting the media attention...I say no.

There is nothing to accomplish by this from political standpoint. Hell, I'm not sure there is anything from a human compassion standpoint either...cause the protest is political. If it is just a personal protest, they wouldn't be organized with a name. Furthermore, if it was purely personal, I think there would be less credence to a meeting.

Again, I'm not a Bush fan.. but from him as the President, I'm satisfied with

==Bush said Thursday that he feels for mourning parents. "I've thought about their cry and their sincere desire to reduce the loss of life by pulling our troops out. I just strongly disagree," he said.==

What more can be said or accomplished face to face other than a potentially volatile situation. Remember this woman disrupted Laura Bush's speech and had to be removed by Secret Service.

Maybe if Clinton would have just 'driven by' McDonalds and Monica, he wouldn't have had a heart attack, a plump intern, and a purgery charge.

Seriously Tey, is the President suppose to stop and talk to each wife, mother, father, brother, grandmother, grandfather, cousin, second cousin, cousin by marriage, ex wife, ex-wife's spouse, ex wife's step son, ex wife's step daughter, best friend, first girl they dateed, first guy they dated, priest, pastor, clergy, neighbor, college roommate, first girl he "did".... where would it all stop?

Should all of the presidents in all past wars be required to meet with "X" amount of family members?

There would have been 650,000 stops to be made by Lincoln, Johnson and Jeff Davis if that were to be the case during the Civil War alone.

1,800 dead in this war sucks. I agree. But if Bush stopped to see one Mom, where would it end? It would just turn out to be nothing less than a photo op the Dems would use in the 2008 election.

It's all political and you are smart enough to know better.

On "World News Tonight...with Peter Jennings, Huh, isn't he dead, a Reporter asked Cindy Sheehan as President Bush's caravan drove by if she was dissapointed that he didn't stop to talk to her, her reply on National Television was:"No,I don't want to talk to him anyway"! Huh well then why is she there? The reporter later said that Cindy Sheean has a Public Relation firm handling her, hmmmmmm do I smell a book and talk show appearances or maybe a political run for office, hmmmmm.

After what she said about President Bush after their first meeting he would have to be looking for trouble if he had a private meeting with Sheehan.

JonR

So when will Bush call in the "blue helmets" and share the security burden and oil services wealth with Europe ands others?

I'm sure the plunder still left in the ground is more enough to motivate the Poles, the French, the Indians, the Paks...

Or not?

Perhaps the price tag has not been fully met?

May you live in interesting times...

strangely enough, i agree that bush should not meet with her again.

it would serve neither of them any good purpose.

she should maintain her position outside of the farm and some of the politicians that are against the war should get thier rear ends down there, photo op or not.

where is striesand, and why isn't she there.

where the hell are the "hollywood" people, with the big mouths. were is jane fonda.

there are people alive today that say with pride,

"i walked with martin luther king"

what are the no shows going to say later when asked

"why weren't you there?"

"i was with her all the way, but i had other commitments." i believe that was cheney's answer to why he didn't go to vietnam.

No draft has been implemented for the military, her son was on his second enlistment, he told his mom that it was his duty to serve his country, so what is this womans problem? She is only disgracing the memory of her son. A number of parents have lost their sons and daughters in this war, what makes her special? Just because she feels that she has been lied to? She would do better mourning in private rather than being used by bozos like Micheal Moore for their pitiful efforts. I'm sure a book deal pulling in a cool million will make her suffering go away quick. I have no sympathy for this woman. This kind of mourning requires a trip to a psychiatrist and an inpatient unit.

I think the Rolling Stones should do a concert outside Bush's ranch in protest of his administration..................with free admission.

They can hire Hell's angels for security since it seemed to work well for them in the past.

(that's funny, Andy. Well done).

Rick, genuinely curious, did you serve in the military? How old are you?

Hell yeah the Stones should do a free concert. I live in Waco and I'd go. Protest or not...they can't sing that one song over and over. I'd love to hear the classics!

But no Hell's Angels. If it was a protest, they'd kill everyone. And I might get mistaken for someone who cares about the ranting.

Krubs

born in brooklyn, ny 8/15/32. lived in different rooms and apartments in and around coney island. finally moved to one of the first housing project built in queens, ny, in 1939. public school until age 13 in queens and moved to tinton falls, nj at 13 and was slammed by culture shock.

kids used to come to school on horesback. they didn't understand my accent.

graduated red bank hi school, red bank nj, in 1950.

1 year college at muhlenberg, pa, and second year at hofstra college on long island.

joined the air force in jan 1953 when i lost my student deferment. saw no combat, and worked a job like radar, running an orderly room on guam, attached to 54th weather recon. flew only two mission, both as search and rescue volunteer. seperated, strangely enough with a good conduct medal in spite of half a dozen or more article 15's. honorable discharge jan 1961

celebrated a triple birthday party today. ross 7/30/1964, bradley, 8/1/1966. sort of like christmas in the summer. bradley's wife baked three different cakes. toby made the potato salad and i cooked 9 filet mignons with the help of george foreman's magic grill.

great party from 1:00 pm until 11:00 pm when all the young ones pooped out.

RICKAMAVEN

@HOTMAIL.COM

if you are more curious.

I found this interesting regarding this thread.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8941525/site/newsweek/page/3/ 

Either this sheds some positive light on Bush (which I'm ambivalent about) or it is packed full of lies.