Where does this guy get off taking so much vacation as he sends our troops to get blown to bits? The last time he took a vacation his approval rating was low too. At the end of his relaxing we got 911 and his approval rating soared. What do we get this time George? Maybe you can kiss my ass mister president?
–cd
Anti-war protesters march toward Bush ranch – Yahoo! News
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) – About 70 anti-war protesters marched toward
President Bush’s ranch on Saturday shouting “bring the troops home now” from
Iraq, led by a California mother whose son was killed in combat in Baghdad.
The protest coincided with release of a Newsweek poll that said 61 percent of Americans disapproved of the way Bush was handling the situation in Iraq. The poll came after more than two dozen Americans were killed in the past week in Iraq.
Newsweek said it was Bush’s lowest rating on Iraq and the first time it had dropped below 40 percent in its poll.
Pentagon officials have said maintaining public support for the war is key to the troops’ morale.
The group of protesters, including U.S. veterans from the Iraq and Vietnam wars, were loud yet peaceful and McClellan County sheriff’s deputies, trying to avoid arrests, stopped them on a road about 5 miles from Bush’s ranch on a hot August day.
The march was led by Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, California, who blames Bush for the death of her son, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, 24, killed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad.
“I want to ask the president, why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?” Sheehan, carrying a picture of her son, told reporters.
“W. killed her son! W. killed her son!” the crowd shouted. They also shouted “Bring the troops home now” and held up signs with slogans such as “Impeach the Chicken-Hawk-in-Chief.”
The protesters, many who came from a peace rally in Dallas, first drove toward the ranch in a school bus painted red, white and blue. It was stopped at a police checkpoint and the protesters got out and walked.
Police allowed the group to walk on the side of the road for about a half mile but then stopped them when some in the group walked on the street itself.
After some protesters left, a small group led by Sheehan vowed to stage a vigil on the side of the road until someone representing the White House came out to talk to her.
While no one from the White House immediately emerged, White House officials were aware of the protest.
“We mourn the loss of every life and Americans deeply appreciate those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The way to honor that sacrifice is to complete the mission so that their lives were not lost in vain,” said White House spokesman Trent Duffy.
“The president has met with hundreds of families of those fallen. He grieves with all those who have lost loved ones,” he said.
