LOL More than likely...he is asleep in the morning, and drunk in the afternoon.
Thousands in Atlanta rally for U.S. troops, Bush
By JENNIFER BRETT
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Thousands of flag-waving, Bush-backing, troop-loving patriots came from all around metro Atlanta on Saturday to cheer for their country at Centennial Olympic Park.
Most people at the "Rally for America" event, hosted by Newsradio 640 WGST, also waved signs in the air as local talk show host Kim Peterson and syndicated host Glenn Beck talked up the president and the military.
"I promise you, our troops hear your voice today," Beck said to the roaring crowd.
Police working the event couldn't give crowd estimates, but event organizers say more than 20,000 attended.
Signs tended to fall into one of two categories -- God Bless the U.S.A. or Down with a. France, b. Hollywood, or c. the Dixie Chicks.
Mary Martin of Kennesaw, who attended with her son Tim, carried one of each.
"We support our country and our president," she said. "I feel like we had to make a positive stand. Our president is doing a fantastic job. It takes a good leader to handle what he's going through."
The Martins' signs read "God Bless our country, president and brave military," and "Boycott France, the Hollywood left and Dixie Chicks."
Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines recently told a London audience the band is ashamed that President Bush is from Texas. She has apologized.
Cindy Ralston of Hiram wore a T-shirt that read, "I'm a military mom and proud of it." Her 20-year-old son is an Army Ranger. She didn't want to give his name or location, fearing for his safety.
Her sign read, "Troops: you make us free, you make us proud, you make us brave; We love you." She never thought she would attend a rally like Saturday's until last month, when she talked with her son about anti-war protesters.
" 'You can't imagine how it makes us feel to see Americans protesting what we're doing,' " her son told her.
"As a mother, that just broke my heart," Ralston said..
As Beck and Peterson talked, Girl Scouts sold more than 1,100 boxes of cookies to be shipped to U.S. troops.
Catherine Stein, 12, said she was happy to do what she could for her country's troops: "I would like to say thank you and keep up the good work."
Peterson led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at the event's close.
A few miles away, peace demonstrators held a rally. About 200 people stood near Piedmont Park chanting "No justice, no peace -- U.S. out of the Middle East" and carrying signs bearing slogans like "Draft the Rich" and "Bomb Texas -- they have oil too."
Jon Wexler, who was selling copies of the Socialist Worker newspaper, wore a button that read "Disarm the U.S." The Piedmont rally may have paled in size, but Wexler wasn't discouraged. "It shows that there is an anti-war movement in Atlanta," he said.
Back at Centennial Park, John Brady of Lawrenceville said anti-war protesters, particularly famous ones, get more attention than they merit. "The only ones you hear about are the Hollywood elites. They're the minority."
His sign read: "Je deteste la France." |
