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| Fifth Column |
| Sheehan Demands Trial On Protest Charge |
| 2005-11-16 |
| Today's posting theme - Attention Whores! War protester Cindy Sheehan said Wednesday she was demanding a trial for demonstrating without a permit outside the White House. She doesn't want a trial; she wants a platform. Sheehan also plans to revive her protest near President Bush's Texas ranch during Thanksgiving week, despite new county ordinances banning roadside camping. So she can get arrested again. Sheehan and other anti-war activists arrested with her Sept. 26 in Washington conducted a news conference in front of the federal courthouse Wednesday before heading to a court appearance on the misdemeanor charge. Fine / slap on wrist. Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son Casey was killed while serving in Iraq last year, said "2,062 people have been killed as of today in this monstrosity." "So we should never, ever go to war because people die." She and more than 300 others were arrested as they gathered near an entrance to the White House grounds. Each carried a board bearing the name of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. The arrests outside the White House concluded a weekend of protests that drew over 100,000 anti-war activists, really? and a smaller group of counterprotesters. It was the largest anti-war demonstration since the Vietnam War. How long has the reporter been waiting to use that line? Those arrested got $50 tickets and authorities charged them with protesting without a permit. All were released. Tough call... In Texas next week, Sheehan and at least a dozen supporters are prepared to be arrested as they return to the makeshift campsite along the road leading to Bush's ranch, where he is expected to spend the holiday. "It is critical for our democracy that we continue to ask the same questions that Cindy Sheehan asked this summer: What is the noble cause for the war with Iraq, and at what point do we say enough bloodshed has happened?" Hadi Jawad, co-founder of the Crawford Peace House, said Tuesday. You keep asking the questions because you don't like the answers and you hope it'll change. Bush defends the decision to go into Iraq in 2003, citing the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. The president says troops will remain in Iraq as long as necessary. Sheehan was not arrested during her 26-day vigil that coincided with Bush's working vacation at his ranch just outside Crawford. She will be this time. A real Martyr for The Cause! But dozens of residents in the rural area complained of noise and traffic congestion as the protesters pitched tents in shallow ditches about 2 1/2 miles away from the ranch. Some traffic was from counter protests of hundreds of Bush supporters who said Sheehan's group was hurting troop morale. Dump manure in the ditches this time. A month later, McLennan County commissioners approved the new ordinances, which prohibit parking on parts of 14 roads near the ranch _ roughly a 5-mile radius _ and prohibit camping in any county ditch. The laws also ban portable toilets in ditches. Too bad they can't move Crawford to, say, Minnesota, for this event. You'd be able to count the protestors on one hand. |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #19 I was thinking more along the lines of several squirt guns loaded with cat urine, but either way is fine.z I'd pay $10 USD just to watch you make a cat piss into a water pistol. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-11-16 20:09 |
| #18 They should have planted cactus and sentry plants between the shoulder of the road and the fence lines. Really good for stopping intruders and I bet it'd ruin the campout as well. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2005-11-16 17:35 |
| #17 I would like to invite Ms Sheehan to protest at my campaign appearances. Well, maybe not in Iowa. And only at selected ones in New Hampshire. But definetly in South Carolina, and other southern primaries. And even in New York. And assuming, praise be to Goddess,, I get the nomination, she should protest at the convention, and at all my campaign stops in the general election. |
| Posted by: Hillary Rodham Clinton 2005-11-16 17:13 |
| #16 Who? |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2005-11-16 16:46 |
| #15 "You keep asking the questions because you don't like the answers and you hope it'll change" They keep asking the questions, then refuse to hear. They scream to be heard, but have nothing to say. |
| Posted by: Hyper 2005-11-16 15:55 |
| #14 two words: Poison Oak |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-11-16 14:50 |
| #13 But that would get PETA all upset. And for once I might agree with them - why be so cruel to fireants and skunks? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-11-16 14:49 |
| #12 I'm tellin' ya - plant some fire ant nests in strategic ditches around the ranch, then watch the fun. As to demanding a trial over a $50 fine, sure - give her one. Find her guilty and charge her court costs. Oughta take all of 4-5 hours. |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-11-16 14:47 |
| #11 Seed the area around the road with essence of skunk and when the hippies show up they will have some company Skunks will be unable to stand the smell of hippies. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-11-16 14:23 |
| #10 I'm thinking this would be a fine time to relocate a couple hundred fire ant nests to cover those camping areas. They really don't like being stepped on. Heh. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-11-16 13:54 |
| #9 I was thinking more along the lines of several squirt guns loaded with cat urine, but either way is fine. |
| Posted by: hairofthedawg 2005-11-16 12:50 |
| #8 CF, She destroyed her family when her hubby got fed up with her antics and divorced her. |
| Posted by: Thomotch Thralet7447 2005-11-16 12:46 |
| #7 She has no family. She destroyed it. One wonders if Shithan did this literally -- driving her son to re-enlist and go to Iraq to get away from her just as she drove her husband and family away... Perhaps her son might have thought Iraq was the better choice..... And no, I do not feel sorry for her - she made her choice she can live with it. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-11-16 12:45 |
| #6 Folks usually like to return home and spend Thanskgiving with family. I guess Cindy is just different. She has no family. She destroyed it. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-11-16 12:23 |
| #5 Did someone say skunk? I'm so there. How much for a bag? |
| Posted by: Ageing Hippy 2005-11-16 12:16 |
| #4 I said it before, but I will say it again: "Take care of the problem with nature." Seed the area around the road with essence of skunk and when the hippies show up they will have some company. I can almost gurantee that at least one of the skunks will take offense to them being there and let loose a shot of skunk spunk. Short of that I think they should whack this witch (and her friends) when they arrest them. BTW anyone want to bet that a couple of members of Congress might show up next week in support in hopes of arrest and detention? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-11-16 12:09 |
| #3 Laura should send a nice plastic turkey out to the drainage ditch... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-11-16 11:32 |
| #2 Folks usually like to return home and spend Thanskgiving with family. I guess Cindy is just different. |
| Posted by: john 2005-11-16 11:30 |
| #1 I think she's gone beyond attention whore to full-fledged stalker right about now. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-11-16 10:34 |