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TechnoratiProtest To Meet Bush At Legion meeting
Scores of anti-war demonstrators are expected to greet President Bush when he arrives Tuesday in Reno to address the American Legion's national convention.
Local activists, including some veterans and military families, plan to wave "Support the Troops, End the War" placards outside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, said Greg Richardson, Nevada field director for a sponsoring group Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.
"We'll be polite and respectful and do what we're asked to do by the Secret Service," Richardson said. "Our main message is 'It's time to change the direction in Iraq.' We're in the middle of a religious civil war in Iraq, and it's time for us to redeploy our troops."
Bush is scheduled to address the Legion at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the convention center. He addressed the American Legion last year in Salt Lake City.
In his remarks to a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention last week in Kansas City, Mo., Bush said that a hasty retreat from Iraq would lead to terrible violence.
In his Reno speech, the president plans to discuss the war in Iraq in the context of its implications for the broader Middle East.
The Legion supports the U.S. strategy in Iraq and plans to give Bush a warm welcome, said Paul Morin, national commander of the 2.7-million-member organization.
The Legion opposes calls in Congress for a troop withdrawal timetable in Iraq, he added.
"We're in support of the president and what needs to be done," Morin said. "When in the heck do you tell the enemy your date of withdrawal?"
About 10,000 people are expected to attend the Legion's 89th convention Tuesday through Thursday.
Unlike the VFW convention, the Legion gathering will feature no presidential candidates.
In advance of the convention, anti-war protesters held a weekend vigil outside the Reno office of U.S. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., who has opposed setting a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Heller and U.S. Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., were among 40 congressmen in 15 states targeted for protests this summer by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.
"Over 70 percent of Americans oppose the war, and these congressmen are defying the will of the people," Richardson said.
© 2007 The Associated Press
26 Comments so far
Show AllFirst we need to get off this impeachment tack. They have done no worse than Bill Clinton, as far as foreign policy and in fact have made the effort to make this country safer.
liberalboy, expand on your thought. exactly what is it you want us to do? should we storm the white house and capitol building or what? actually I believe we may be the ones with brains as we can see what destruction is taking place in our country and around the world at the hands and guns of the neocon administration. Impeachment for Cheney and Bush is the least that we can expect of our Congress. Better still would be trial before the Court in The Hague. After all, they are international war criminals....
All talk no action. When you people actually do something for the country, other than advance your liberal agenda, then maybe someone with brains will listen.
Protest in Bellevue, WA was good on Mon. We outnumbered them many times and were much smarter and more innovative. Most of them had signs saying "Bush, Cheney 04" how original. Kudos to the Bell-town PD who were all polite and not too pushy the SWAT TEAM was impressively DARTH Looking for whatever reason. The PD Chief, I am told it was her,was out walking and talking with us--I think she IS one of us as are many of her troops.The women of Code Pink took the prize for originality and style however. The Miss America gowns and the sash that read " I MISS AMERICA" were right on and way smart/cool--good on you ladies. I hope the photo I asked a guy to take of me with you comes over the net. I will continue to support your group. DC-- 15 Sep!
Protest in Bellevue, WA was good on Mon. We outnumbered them many times and were much smarter and more innovative. Most of them had signs saying "Bush, Cheney 04" how original. Kudos to the Bell-town PD who were all polite and not too pushy the SWAT TEAM was impressively DARTH Looking for whatever reason. The PD Chief. I am told it was her out walking and talking with us--I think she IS one of us as are many of her troops.The women of Code Pink took the prize for originality and style however. The Miss America gowns and the sash that read " I MISS AMERICA" were right on and way smart/cool--good on you ladies. I hope the photo I asked a guy to take of me with you comes over the net. I will continue to support your group. DC 15 Sep!
Happystead happystead
This is American style democracy. As all Americans know there is a huge difference between democracy and American style democracy. In a true democratic society the people are free to choose their own candidates. In American style democracy the corporations make the choices for us, and make us think we are making the choice ourselves, huge difference.
In a true democracy there would be an array of candidates to choose from in American style democracy there are only two or three in the primaries and only two in the general election, if anyone votes any other way they are labeled an extremist and wasting their vote. No one wants to bear that kind of burden so they choice between the two corporate candidates. It is amazing that we have a nation of 300 million people and we always seem to be voting for the lesser of the 2 evils. How I digress.
Finally the corner stone of American style democracy is that given all of the above sometimes the wrong candidate will win anyway so the election is fixed. Then they label anyone who questions the fix as a conspiracy nut.
And the MSM makes sure it is simply laughed off. Rather than have a reelection such as the newly democrat Ukrainians just had. Man what a bunch of rooks.
These are only some of the many differences in the United States system from a true democratic republic.
Land of the .....and home of the.....
you can fill in the blanks...
"The question is how many protesters will it take before he finally starts to care?"
one with a bullet
Peaceman...
Keep on marchin' and protestin'. Sometimes it's not discernable that your activism is having an affect on a micro-scale. It's like voting. Your vote, by itself, has little meaning. However your vote, in conjunction with many others (assuming no foul play, of course) means a lot. That's what's frustrating with being part of a grassroots movement -- it's not always apparent that your work is even being acknowledged. Keep fightin' the good fight.
Everyone else reading this thread...
Please express your feelings regarding this unjust and illegal occupation (AKA Iraq War), by participating in the September 15th festivities in Washington D.C. Go to www.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=S15_homepage for additional information and details on how you can volunteer, travel to D.C., and ultimately participate.
Just a few hundred-thousand participants, unfortunately, will indicate to this government that the American people will tolerate this occupation a lot longer. However, a million marchers, or more, will show them we want our military personnel out right now. Put all those angry feelings that you've been expressing on CD, these past months, into action. Go to D.C. and tell this government what you want.
Peace to all...
I'v been marchin' and protestin' since two thousand and two and nothin's been effective. More books have been written about the Bush Administration than any other one in U.S. history. More articles, more films, more lectures, all about the Bushies, the republican hypocrites and the democrats who collaborate with them. Have any of you, especially older folks like me who remember television's infancy, ( compared to today, I loved the commercials back in the fifties, beer, cigarettes, soap, cars, etc. rather than zkillions of drug commercials that "you have to ask your doctor about" plus the "side effects" of these drugs that your doctor knows nothing about unless he reads the literature that the drug salesman furnishes him with ) where was I?...oh, when did you ever see a President on television seven days a week, micromanaging the country? NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!
Ask yourselves why? Ask yourselves why we peaceful progressives here at home and overseas have not done diddly to stop Bush and the republirats all these years.
Seven Magical Words folks. " Take To The Streets, Withhold Your Labor! " The ruling class parts with nothing without a fight. Study American History and study American ( and International ) Labor History and see why we have what we have now and how quickly we are willing to give it all back to "the haves and have mores".
When I returned from Vietnam, my uncle wanted me to join his VFW post but I declined that organization as well as the American Legion. "MY country right or wrong" is the worse kind of jingoism. A mantra I can't tolerate. But, it's only my opinion.
Let's hope the mobs of protestors unnerve this callous President, for once. Wonder if anyone will see this parade on tv. I haven't seen one protest on tv during Bush dog's Presidency because he has Corporate in his back. I also wonder just how much money Bush has made personally with this illegal war.
"Well", to quote Reagan, I guess you tell the Iraqi minutemen your withdrawal date when you're a Bushist collaborator like give 'em heck Harry, that's when The HECK!
But Bush illegal warrin' policy vets and legionnaires could fool 'em completely by demanding Bush withdrawal TOMORROW, effective immediately! Otherwise VFW and AL; just past and present war criminals. No future (in 'em)!
Friends...all of you. Go to impeachforpeace.org and download the do-it-yourself petition to impeach Bush. Send it in immediately as they suggest, because it is completely legal and has case law behind it. Finally power back in the people's hands.
Please don't stop the war,never have I made more easy money thean in these times. War is my ATM machine.
...[or *Ms* Mediator ?]
_________________
Nice post Poet, and as re: "If I were president..." ~okay President Poet, you got the job! No way can you do any worse than the present fool, and like as not you'll do a whole lot better! :)
From the article: "Bush said that a hasty retreat from Iraq would lead to terrible violence."
Bwahahaha!
Snort!!
CHOKE!!!!
Whaddya got *at the moment* -ya Dummy!
:(
To Blessthebeasts, per your post;
To Greg Richardson, the director of the group sponsoring the protest: I'm not sure "polite and respectful" is the most effective strategy at this stage!
The difference between Greg Richardson's strategy and your blog comment is, Mr. Richardson is taking a public position using his true identity. He will risk
public scrutiny and Bush's Gestapo-like monitoring for his position.
Stands out as a tad bolder when weighed in against what ever "Blessthebeasts said" today, full blog at 1:53pm!
Just saying - and paying public respects to the man.
I am John Rosina and signing this note is the point of this note, Mr Mediator.
A hasy invasion led to violence.
The Iraqi people are not our enemy.
If a handwriting analyst took a look at Bush's writing and rendered an opinion, it would be "Don't hire this guy, particularly for any position of responsibility. This person would need constant observation and supervision, to prevent serious mistakes being made."
The American Legion and the VFW are more and more resembling wing-nut cults as the nation moves on and they do not. If I were presidemt (I know it's absurd but anyway) I would have a conference of Latino, African-American, and working women of all persuasions and christen it the "Ignored Majority".
To hell with the VFW, American Legion, Service acadamies, and Ivy League and Seven Sisters universities. Give keynotes at some working poor and homeless coalition conferences, and commencements at State Universities with open admissions policies. That's where the real America is at!
Bush doesn't care. He never has. He doesn't care about what the American people think, he doesn't care about what Congree thinks, and he doesn't care what the UN thinks. He's even made rude gestures (flipping the bird) at protesters.
http://jiveturky.livejournal.com/185733.html
Every man has a breaking point though. The question is how many protesters will it take before he finally starts to care?
Protest is good, but it must be very discouraging to those protesting to know in their guts that BushCo will never leave Iraq while there's oil to be stolen. Bush let slip the truth when he mentioned the oil law, in his remarks about the Maliki government earlier this month. If the Iraqi "government" agreed tomorrow upon a law giving oil rights to international (i.e. U.S., et al.) corporations, our troops would be flying home the next day, or soon after.
Conservatives cause terrorism.
To Greg Richardson, the director of the group sponsoring the protest: I'm not sure "polite and respectful" is the most effective strategy at this stage!
Nice comment happystead, just remember when your grandkids don't hear about any of those deaths when they are in school just remember it isn't you or I who get to write history, its the rich, famous, and elite who do it, oh and the winners to.
With the way this country is, we're always the "winners" so whoever is the head honcho in our oh so grand country tells the historians what to write.
Just look at China, they were so effective about it the tiananmen square riots. Ask a teenager today in China and they have no idea the significance of that place or who or what "tankman" is. Along the lines blame some corporations who are helping China with it such as Google. If you are in china and search the square you will get nice pictures of couples vacationing there, not the pictures of "tankman" or of the army mowing down innocent protesters.
Make sure the protesters aren't anywhere near the actual event, nor can be seen and heard by the President. Make sure they're in their correct "free speech" zones, where they will be completely out of sight and unreported by the Media, and unviewed by the public.
Save for a few Agent Provacateurs who will undoubtidly gain extenstive media exposure from the 'ministry of information' if anything should happen.
http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/freespeech/presid...ance_manual.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zones
"Free speech zones" in America... Wow, we might as well just call ourselves Soviets at this point.
There are 450,000 dead and 2 million homeless in Darfur and that is a genocide.
There are 4 million either, dead, wounded or homeless in Iraq and we call that "democracy."
Ain't being the "good guys" grand???
Peace to you and yours.
Jess
Yes, he ought to be under observation.