Hundreds protest outside Bush speech in Springfield

[fearnobush]

Posted on Fri, Jul. 30, 2004
Hundreds protest outside Bush speech in Springfield

CONNIE FARROW
Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Hundreds of protesters, carrying signs and chanting, gathered Friday outside the minor-league baseball stadium where President Bush kicked off the new phase of his campaign.

"I'm so frightened about what's happening to the country," said Joan Wagnon, 72, of Springfield.

Wagnon said it was the first time she's attended a protest, and was doing so now because she is "so frustrated and concerned about the way the country is going."

Her sign - "Don't waive your rights while waving your flag" - was among the many displayed by the protesters, some of whom were taken into custody by police for refusing to move to an area several hundred feet from the field, across an adjacent street.

Others signs read, "No more Bush, no more lies" and "Draft dodgers shouldn't start wars." Boos from the protesters could be heard on television whenever the crowd inside the stadium cheered one of Bush's remarks.

Bush's visit to Springfield was the president's first campaign event since taking a week off as the Democratic Party meet in Boston to formally nominate John Kerry. From Missouri, Bush was headed to an event in Michigan.

<http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/9282569.htm?1c>

[GCP]

1. Wow- they're actually reporting a protest

We're finally getting somewhere with the media.

[0007]

27. Don't hold you breath, but lets hope against hope things are changing

[snowFLAKE]

2. Wonder if The Simpsons were there

They seem a bit disgruntled about The Chimp from time to time.

[MidwestTransplant]

6. They are from Springfield PA in my opinion!

[stanwyck]

31. No, I'm sure it's Springfield, Illinois n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

36. The reason I think it's Springfield PA is because they are always

within a drive from the ocean. Seems like they either go to the Jersey Shore or Ocean City MD.

[stanwyck]

39. well, that could also be Springfield

Illinois. No, wait. It couldn't. No ocean. Not that many lakes, either. OK. OK. I concede.

[stevedeshazer]

37. Two words

Nelson Muntz

HA HA!

[MurrayDelph]

38. I'm sure Comic Book Guy

was there with his sign:

Worst

President

EVER!

[AspenRose]

3. "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore."

Get used to seeing this at all your major campaign stops, Mr. Bush.

[AFSCME girl]

16. Damn straight

:mad:

[lebkuchen]

4. Ideally, we can give Bush a nervous breakdown before the election

Keep the pressure on, in protests, in letters to the editor, phone calls to CNNI, you name it.

[K8-EEE]

9. He Seems Like He's Hanging On A String Of Dental Floss...

sanity wise these days. Prob having some nice talks with the WH portraits a la Nixon. Really, he's alwasy been able to control his environment but it's getting a little to big for that now.

YEOW!

[mom cat]

10. Let him eat Prozac..

:dem:

[leftchick]

14. I had a wonderful vision today of him imploding during......

the first debate with John Kerry.... :bounce:

[qwlauren35]

35. Goodness!

I actually LIKE that strategy... in fact, it's what I'm hoping will happen. That he'll crack up by mid-September. Not to the point where he's hospitalized, but to the point where he starts saying INCREDIBLY STUPID things during his speeches, and turning off his own fan club.

[K8-EEE]

5. Major Kick For Springfield MO!!

That's awesome and my fave part:

Boos from the protesters could be heard on television whenever the crowd inside the stadium cheered one of Bush's remarks.

He ALWAYS distances himself from any dissent, good for them!

[hatrack]

21. My thoughts exactly - this happened in Springfield MO?!?! WTF?!?

Outstanding!! :toast:

[Cha]

7. And I just read on my roadrunner headline thing that

"bush promises fresh ideas for the economy"...yeah, like that's gonna happen!

[goforit]

8. Way to go Mid West!!!!.......Fascists are not welcome in this Country!!!

[MaryH]

13. Midwesterners may be conservative but

they really understand "freedom" and would fight in a second to preserve it.

[havocmom]

11. A big DU cheer for Joan Wagnon, of Springfield

who, at 72, attended her first protest. Dandy fine sign, Joan :toast:

"Don't waive your rights while waving your flag" would make a great bumper sticker!

A big cheer for the protesters in Springfield! A big cheer for refusing to be shunted off into a free speech zone. The Constitution defines the entire nation as a free speech zone!

We do not give up our rights because exercising our rights makes life uncomfortable for those who sell out America to the highest bidders!

Bravo, Springfield! You folks are fine, patriotic Americans! Mr. Truman's spirit must be smiling today.

[Search Party]

12. Salut! Fellow Mizzous!

I'm 58 miles SW of Springfield!

This is Rethug country...BIGTIME!

Fuck the Chimp!

It's OVER!

[FormerOstrich]

17. Hello!

I think that puts you in Joplin? I'm originally from Springfield. I use to commute to Monett. Sometimes I get a little homesick.

Good to see news from back home!

[Search Party]

29. Carthage!

You know how it is, some things never change!

But there are alot more Kerry/Edwards stickers these days.

[MODemocrat]

33. It makes me so happy to see this in the Bible Belt

I live just North of Kansas City, MO, and usually our news anchors are
just bubbling with joy over Bush being in Missouri. It surprises me that they would report the dissent.
:bounce: :bounce:

[stlchic]

15. Way to Go, Spfld!!

I grew up there, and I must say, after living in such an intensely conservative climate, this is fanstastic news! I'm sorry I underestimated the Queen City...

Dissent in Ashcroft's hometown - you gotta love it!

:bounce:

[Sequoia]

20. Welcome to Du stlchic

I didn't know it was Ash's hometown, wow!

[stlchic]

26. Thanks for the welcome...

Been a lurker for quite a while - thought I'd finally start throwing comments in every now and then.

Yeah, Ashcroft is quite the dubious claim to fame for Springfield, which is also the headquarters for the Assemblies of God Church.

Interesting story about the historical Spfld conversativism: In high school I remember some leaders of that church demanding the removal of a Venus de Milo replica from a Battlefield Mall store display because of its (and I kid you not) "pornographic nature." (Ashcroft was just continuing tradition with the blue curtains...)

[FormerOstrich]

28. oh yeah Sequoia

it is indeed. For that matter he was my business law professor at SMSU. A lunatic then and a lunatic now...

welcome to du stlchic!

[catmandu57]

18. With this happening down there,

it's a pretty good sign of what's in store for the tin horn dictator* this fall. That's country to stay the hell out of unless you're a dyed in the wool thumper. I hope this get's picked up and people everywhere refuse to be herded into the chimp's* comfort zones.

[brook]

19. Cheers!

And a mighty :kick: for our friends and fellow patriots of Missouri! Way to go, Ms. Wagnon!

[Jazzgirl]

22. Hey Hey hometown!!!

Glad to see a repuke town finally got fed up with the crap and protested. This is the first time in a long time anything like this has happened there. Cool! :toast:

[yellowcanine]

23. Is * still speaking to Potemkin crowds? I read in the WP this morning

he was going to be talking to other groups in addition to just his strong supporters. Guess not.

[Kolesar]

24. We're going to show him hell in Cleveland and Kirtland this afternoon

We have a bunch of demonstrations planned. I am working on my speech now.

[yellowcanine]

25. Rush Limbaugh's home state. Heh - Sorry Missouri - it is true but

no reflection on the rest of the state.

[MODemocrat]

34. Thanks for not holding that against us here in Missouri

I'm not proud of Limbozo being from my state, but at least he's a long way from Kansas City.

[dubyaD40web]

30. Holy Crap!!!

I lived in Springfield for a couple of years and that's the most right-wing town I've ever seen!

I can't imagine what the other towns across the country are doing if F*CKING SPRINGFIELD has Bush protesters!!! LOL

[WarNoMore]

32. Wahoo!

Way to go big Mo.--(from a native Carthage girl!)