Over 100 protestors greeted George Bush’s visit to Idaho to meet up with Idaho military families. The protests were part of a massive blitz by Democrats and anti-war activists to counter the Bush visit.
I suggest that Bush visited these military families in order to thumb his nose up at Cindy Sheehan. Like I said yesterday, Bush only hears what he wants to hear. So, the people selected to meet with the President are carefully screened for their views. Then, the President can turn around and say that the military families he met with do not reflect Sheehan’s views.
In response to the President’s visit to Idaho, here is the local response:
—The Idaho Democratic Party accused the President of "playing ostrich." From their news release:
On Wednesday, Bush is scheduled to appear before a crowd of carefully selected military families and political friends at the Idaho Center. Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings is calling upon the president to take that opportunity to announce America’s plan to reduce troop numbers in Iraq and to bring Idaho’s National Guardsmen back home where they belong.
"When he leaves Idaho tomorrow, the president should quit playing around and go back to work!” Stallings said. "We’ve got a war to win, we’ve got thousands of veterans who aren’t getting their benefits, we’ve got record fuel prices approaching a critical level. These emergencies demand someone who is willing to step up and solve these problems – today, not tomorrow.”
–The Idaho Peace Coalition held vigils both yesterday and today:
Vigil at Flower Peoples’ Park next to Somerton Realty on Hwy 55 in Donnelly
Tuesday, August 23 – Capitol Park across from the Statehouse in Boise.
Iraq War Memorial dedication at 12:00 pm, open all day.
Peace Rally with music, speakers, and a Memorial Procession.
Music starts at 6 pm, Rally starts at 7 pm.Wednesday, August 24 – Peace Vigil in Nampa to coincide with
the President’s speech. This is a sidewalk event starting at 7:30 am
on CanAda Road in front of the Idaho Center. Please carpool from the Park
and Ride lot near the Eagle Rd./I-84. Meet there at 7:00 am.
Watch for parking directions as you approach the Center.
—Here is the news report of the Donnelly vigil:
“We support the troops, we want those troops taken care of, we want people to care about them, but particularly we want the president to really care about them and respond to their needs,” said Chuck Davis, rally organizer. “The biggest part of his doing that is going to be go about the business, burn the midnight oil if necessary, but resolve this conflict in Iraq.”
–From the Boise rally, same link as above:
At a rally in Boise, one demonstrator declared, "He’s going to find a Cindy Sheehan in every community across the United States."
Demonstrators set up a memorial to the more than 1,800 U.S. troops who’ve died in Iraq — rows of white wooden crosses in Capital Park across the street from the Statehouse.
Bush told reporters today those who seek an immediate pullout from Iraq would weaken America.
However, Melanie House, whose Navy husband was killed in Iraq in January, says Bush owes her and others an explanation of what the mission is in Iraq. She says, "I want to know why my husband had to die."
—All four Boise TV stations ran Cindy Sheehan’s ad protesting the war:
The 60-second ad that accuses Bush of lying to the American people about the war in Iraq will air through tomorrow after supporters contributed $10,000 to buy the air time.
The ad aired earlier this week in Salt Lake City, but one station refused to run it, saying it was offensive to the community.
The Idaho Democratic Party is right on the money with their Ostrich comment. Furthermore, Hillary Clinton is pulling an ostrich act by refusing to address the problems we are having in Iraq. In the 2006 and 2008 elections, our goal as Progressives will be to separate the leaders like Feingold, Dean, Clark, and Obama from the ostriches like Hillary Clinton who do an excellent job of service to their constituents on other issues but who refuse to talk about Iraq.
