“”Grandma’s going to talk to the president so my daddy doesn’t have to go away again.” said her 5-year-old grandchild just before Lietta Ruger “caught a Texas-bound red-eye out of SeaTac,” writes Susan Paynter, popular Seattle P.I. columnist.
Lietta Ruger of Bay Center in southwest Washington admits she didn’t know what she was getting into when her feet hit the ground in Crawford, Texas, at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
But soon, by cell phone, she was describing the scene around her. The way daylight sketched the emerging shapes of five tents. The early rising figure of the suddenly famous Cindy Sheehan. And the outlines of the growing numbers of her supporters. […]
Ruger’s son-in-law and nephew already have served 15-month stretches in Iraq and thankfully, so far, stayed alive. But both still face second “stop-loss” deployments. […]
Ruger has no desire to join Sheehan’s Gold Star club. The dues — the loss of a cherished child — are simply too high.
“People just need to do something hands-on to help,” Ruger told Susan Paynter about the swelling numbers of people coming. “I think it reflects how powerless they have felt, until now, about this war.” Ruger is a member of Northwest Military Families Speak Out.
Update [2005-8-12 13:10:4 by susanhu]: Raw Story has the exclusive tip that Cindy Sheehan is now “running a sixty second ad on cable channels in the area.” Scour the Raw Story site — they’ve got links to great stories and events re Cindy — from “VIDEO: IN AD, MOTHER BEGS FOR ANSWERS” to “ Kennedy, Kerry throw Sheehan support” to “Ralph Nader Writes Sheehan.”
Another Must-Read: “[W]ho would believe that a sitting President who had ordered soldiers off to war would not meet with the grieving mother of a fallen hero. Who could imagine that America could turn so cold and callous in a searing hot and dusty place?” — Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
… And, journalist Amy Goodman, an exceptionally capable interviewer, talks to Cindy today. Details BELOW:
“Protest on the Range: Cindy Sheehan Calls for Mass Demos at Bush’s Crawford Ranch”
Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed last year in Iraq, is finally getting major media coverage after months of protesting George Bush’s policies in Iraq. We go live to Crawford, Texas to speak with Cindy Sheehan. […]Sheehan’s protest has generated headlines around the world. Military families from around the country are heading to Crawford to join her vigil. Meanwhile Sheehan has come under attack by right-wing websites and commentators. Earlier this week Bill O’Reilly of Fox News suggested that Sheehan was committing treason.
Listen or watch via Democracy Now!‘s Web site. The transcript should be up by noon PDT.
Note: Olivia has posted a very important diary, “Sheehan’s Response To Letter From Aunt.” Since the rightwing spreads negative rumors like an out-of-control wildfire, we must be aware of counter-arguments so we can speak up for Cindy. And, Amy asks Cindy about those relatives in the interview.
Thanks to blogger Howie Martin for the tips on Jim McDermott’s and Susan Paynter’s column today!