Pro-War Rally Scheduled This Evening!!
Lone Star Iconoclast has online coverage
By Winter Patriot on 8/12/2005, 1:54pm PT  

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:

According to Leon Smith, Editor of The Lone Star Iconoclast, a pro-war rally comprised of military members out of Dallas will take place approximately 6 PM Central time today in Crawford where Cindy Sheehan set up camp Saturday August 6 and is demanding a meeting with George W. Bush regarding the death of her son, Casey, who died in Iraq in April 2004. No further details are known at this time. The Iconoclast is receiving continuous updates from a reporter at the site, however.

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.

Here's an update from Leon Smith just minutes ago.

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:

CRAWFORD "More than 100 supporters of President Bush traveled to Crawford Friday to stage a counter protest as anti-war activists continued their vigil near the Western White House.

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.

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