Posted on 08/16/2005 3:38:24 PM PDT by QQQQQ
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - Antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, is moving her camp closer to President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.
The piece of private property was offered by a relative of a man who had a fired shotgun in frustration over the protests, a source in the Sheehan camp said. The property owner is also a veteran.
"A neighbour of President Bush's has offered us his land," the source said. "It's got plenty of acreage for us, it's private land, we would have legal permission to be on it, it's much closer to the ranch -- in fact it's across the street from his (Bush's) church."
"We have taken him up on his offer," the source added.
Sheehan was not immediately available for comment.
Sheehan was expected to begin moving as early as Wednesday morning.
She is in the 10th day of her vigil on Prairie Chapel Road, which leads to Bush's 1,600-acre (647.5-hectare) ranch. She calls her site "Camp Casey," after her 24-year-old son who was killed in combat in Iraq.
According to the source, the land offered to Sheehan is owned by Fred Mattlage, who is a distant cousin of Larry Mattlage, a man who fired a shotgun over the weekend in frustration over the commotion caused by the vigil.
The source said Fred Mattlage made the offer saying "I'm a veteran, I support what you all are doing and I want to offer you my land."
Sheehan, of Vacaville, California, has demanded a meeting with Bush at which she said she wants to call for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq.
While Bush has expressed sympathy for Sheehan's grief, the White House has declined a meeting. Sheehan previously met with Bush in 2004 but wants to talk to him face-to-face again.
Sheehan's vigil has attracted anti-war activists from across the United States -- many of them also relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq -- who arrived to offer support, share a hug with Sheehan and join in her daily media events.
But in this quiet farming town of just over 700 people, many residents have found the activity disruptive.
In the latest sign of tension, a man in a pickup trunk on Monday night ran over crosses at Sheehan's campsite.
Some 800 white wooden crosses, bearing the names of soldiers killed in Iraq have lined the road near the area where Sheehan has pitched a tent. Witnesses said they saw a lorry dragging a pipe and chains drive over some of the crosses.
Larry Northern, 46, of nearby Waco, Texas, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief in connection with the incident.
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of residents showed up at a hearing of county officials to complain about the traffic caused by activists and reporters who shuttle back and forth to the camp site.
They brought a petition seeking to ban parking and camping along Prairie Chapel Road.
Displayed in front of one resident's house was a big sign that read, "We support our commander-in-chief."
Okay, now share with us what Juan Williams said... I could use a good blood pressure spike about now.
Antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq,
Doesn't Cindy pack up and go to a hotel every night?
Seems like the land is less for her, then, and more for her "ragtag supporters."
They're leftists, for God's sake, what else would they possibly leave in their wake??
If the people of Crawford had the cojones, they could make life very miserable for these nut cases. A few polite signs here and there won't do the job.
Well, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on t.v.-- but in answer to your question I would say: Oh, yeah. I hope he has one of those mega-liability policies...
More info in another article:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Bush_Peace_Mom.html
"They will start moving their tents, anti-war banners and portable toilets to the new site Wednesday and hope to have the new camp set up in time for a dusk candlelight vigil. It is one of about 1,000 to be held across the country, an effort organized by liberal advocacy groups MoveOn.org Political Action, TrueMajority and Democracy for America."
Rule of thumb: Buy up all the land around you so that you have control of it.
Rule of thumb: Buy up all the land around you so that you have control of it.
I wonder if there is some zoning restriction about using your property for such purposes.
typical 'this reflects what is happening in our country' and how we are questioning why we are in Iraq and how many troops were recently killed, and the President's approval rating and bla bla bla
Charles Krauthammer did a great job of putting him in his place.
You might start by calling LARRY Mattlage. I'll bet he'll give you the low down on his relative.
I found his phone number in an old Waco phone book if you want it.....
Anderson Copper just said that Cindy Sheehan letter to ABC could not be confirmed.
I'm sure Max Yasgur (Woodstock site) would have some advice.
Ok, I'll bite. What is a lorry?
Fine!
Just stay off the road and keep the noise down.
I think that some locals need to rustle-up some of them there mean Texas Bobcats, and a couple-a-baskets full of them mean ole "Copperheaded Water Rattlers" (Lewis Grizzard), and let them babies loose just outside of Camp Casey.
Yep, that ought to just about do it! ;-)
LLS
Now, y'all should be careful before jumping to conclusions. Maybe this guy's got a quicksand problem. Maybe he's looking for help grinding up all the dried cow patties in his pasture. Maybe he's trying to get a contract for a land fill and is using this as an opportunity to pre-pollute the place to speed the process.
Ya jest never know.
Never, ever trust a Reuter's article. It could be fact, and it could be fiction.
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