Angry in the Great White North

Word of the counter protest taking place in Crawford, Texas:

12:25pm

The California caravan has not yet arrived, but the number individuals here is currently estimated at over 500, and people are constantly streaming in.

Thus-far, traffic congestion is not a big problem.

The weather is unbelievably hot. With the high humidity, standing in the sun is nearly unbearable.

About 200 people were at Camp Qualls prior to my moving to Pirate Field. They had been there for a dedication ceremony, according to attendees.

The rally was initially planned for 1 p.m., but with a delay in the California caravan arriving it might be slightly delayed. Musical entertainment is being held on the stage.

1:15pm

There are upwards of a thousand people here now.

A group of three people were walking away from the rally carrying a sign tucked into her pants that said, "Liar, liar, pants on fire, George W. Bush, is it burning yet?"

American flags are in hats, red, white, and blue on clothes. People are carrying signs.

The chairs under the tent are full. Barbecue is being sold, a tent is set up for Gold Star Families.

People of all ages and types are here.

One shirt said, "I hate hippies."

One sign says, "We support President Bush. Period."

1:45pm

One sign says, "Cindy Sheehan, the bitch in the ditch."

There are now 2,000 plus people out here.

Cindy Morgan said, "Let's get this show running, keep it running, because afterwards, we taking the fight to Cindy."

Fireman whose twin brother was killed in Iraq just delivered a speech. He said that about two week short of retirement the brother was killed and "this is a war about good and evil, and we are winning it. My brother died for what he believed in."

Someone is yelling, "Those of you that were spit on, brutalized, had your soul stolen after returning from Vietnam... That is not going to happen again."

There is a huge mob around the stage, and a lot of flatbed trailers filled with everybody from the media to Uncle Sam clones.

There is the policeman who escorted the Cindy Sheehan supporters away.

(moments later)

I just asked him, "Was there any violence," and he said, "I can't..." (and paused) Then smiled and said "Are you a reporter." I said, "Yes." Then he walked off and said, "Oh, that explains it." I didn't get an answer.

It is intense here. Intense is a mild word.

2:20pm

"Thankfully, our leaders didn't sway with public opinion and not fight. I stand in support of our troops," she continued. "Our troops are promoting a better quality of life for the people in Iraq. I commend them for that and I thank them for their service to America and the world."

The mother of Army CWO Eric Kesterson, said, "My husband and I are not here speaking out. We are speaking up."

People are still coming in by droves. There are probably 3,000-4,000 people here now and still coming.

3:00 p.m.

The rally is now complete and people are disbursing. People are making their way toward vehicles. Members of Gold Star Families are headed toward Camp Casey I, accompanied by law enforcement, to remove crosses bearing names of their family members that have been planted in the ditch.

Well, this could get interesting.

The last entry is a bit confusing. I assume that the people going to remove crosses, named Gold Star Families, are not Gold Star Families for Peace.

The main stream news sources aren't carrying any details yet.

New information:

4:20 p.m.

At and around the Yellow Rose, people are milling around watching the goings-on. Right now, there are several hundred there. Some boys about high school age walking in the direction of Pirate Field just yelled, "Cindy, the fucking whore, get out."

People are pulling on a rope that has been tied to the gong on the Liberty bell at the Yellow Rose. This is happening frequently.

This is certainly not what I expected, not this level of passion and intensity on both sides.