Texas Editor Defends Endorsing Kerry

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - The editor of the Crawford, Texas, weekly that bills itself as President Bush (news - web sites)'s hometown newspaper says he has no regrets about endorsing Bush's Democratic opponent John Kerry (news - web sites), even after a dozen business pulled their advertising from the publication.

"I'd do it again," Leon Smith, publisher of the Lone Star Iconoclast, told the Waco Tribune-Herald in Sunday's editions.

The Iconoclast, which endorsed Bush in 2000, said it now supports the Democrat because of disillusionment with the war and Bush's actions on Social Security (news - web sites), the economy and other issues. An editorial dated Sept. 29 accuses the president of having a "smoke-screened agenda" and leading the United States into a "quagmire" in Iraq (news - web sites) on flimsy pretenses.
.............
Business leaders in Bush's adopted hometown of 705 residents about 20 miles west of Waco say they support the president and are critical of the upstart newspaper.

"I think what's his name, Leon Smith, is entitled to his own opinion," said Vicki Martin, an employee at the Coffee Station convenience store and cafe, where Bush sometimes stops during stays at his ranch. "Unfortunately, his opinion hurt a lot of feelings around here. Bush is our neighbor."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=696&e=1&u=/ap/20041004/ap_on_el_pr/bush_hometown_snub

[jdj]

1. off with his head.

He hurt their feelings.

[mbperrin]

2. Vicki, isn't Leon (or as you say, what's his name)

your neighbor as well?

Mighty friendly, these small towns, ain't they?

[MatrixEscape]

3. "Bush is our neighbor."

Good, he will be back soon to live there permanently. We don't want him as pResident. You can have him. Enjoy!

[Maestro]

13. No, he is going back East! eom

[MatrixEscape]

14. Ah, so there will be a VI vacancy there then :)

[w4rma]

26. Yeah, Bush'll probably move back to Connecticut. (I'm serious) (nt)

[Carla in Ca]

25. That is what I was thinking...'He is our neighbor'?

so what, she makes it sound like * wasn't invited to the hootenanny!

[Catherine Vincent]

4. So Ms. Vicki Martin, if Hitler was your neighbor

would you endorse him? I'll answer for you. Probably.

[jdj]

11. Hitler is her neighbor.

[are_we_united_yet]

5. Vicki: In the words of Clint Eastwood,

YOU DUMBASS!

[FightingIrish]

6. We get our country back and

the village of Crawford gets its idiot back. Sounds like a win - win deal to me.

[billybob537]

8. Lmao

welcome aboard!

[Tight_rope]

17. LMBAO....Good one.....Welcome to DU FightingIrish

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I guess the business leaders didn't think it was

an "upstart newspaper" in 2000. :eyes:

[dweller]

9. sounds like a good space for

a DU ad.

still hope Skinner is considering it.
dp

edit: read about it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x22474

and here:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x946927

[Erika]

10. This Guy Endorsed Bush in 2000. Now he's seen the light!

I guess the shallow only support free enterprise as long as it's a GOP enterprise marching in the vacuum of Bushie mindset.

[bluestateguy]

12. Bush's policies have hurt millions more

Much more than feelings too. Lost jobs, lost limbs and lost lives.

[UpInArms]

15. how would Vicki Martin like to talk

with someone whose feelings are hurting in a genuine way?

Maybe she can write a letter of condolence to the family of Spc. Rodney A. Jones, 21, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041003-1345.html

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Rodney A. Jones, 21, of Philadelphia, Penn., died Sept. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded near his dismounted patrol. Jones was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

or perhaps she would like to volunteer to go over and help all those people who lost family members in the Falluja "mop-up"?

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041003/asp/foreign/story_3835237.asp

Falluja, Oct. 2 (Reuters): After the latest US air strike on Falluja, enraged residents clasped wounded children and challenged Iraq’s Prime Minister to visit the town to see how bombs were hitting civilians, not “terrorists”.

“Is this a terrorist? Is this a terrorist? Iyad Allawi come and show us the terrorists,” screamed a man as he fixed a bandage on the head of a small boy in his arms.

A US warplane struck Falluja late last night, the latest in a weeks-long campaign of bombardments the US military says are targeting hideouts used by followers of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most hunted man in Iraq.

Today, US forces launched a “precision strike” on a building in Falluja where 15 to 20 guerrillas were training for attacks. After yesterday’s attack, hospital officials said at least seven civilians were killed and 13 wounded. Reuters television pictures showed Iraqis digging through mounds of rubble and twisted metal hoping to find survivors. At one point, a child no older than 10 was pulled alive from under a pile of bricks and dust. US military officials have suggested that insurgents have pressured doctors into exaggerating casualty tolls.

...more...

To Vicki Martin, I say: Go and Cheney yourself.

[Tight_rope]

16. "I'd do it again,"...That's right stand and be proud of what's right!

[pfitz59]

18. Bush* will sell the ranch......

The minute he leaves the White House. Like so much of his life, its merely a prop. (Ronnie Reagan 'faux ranch'.) At least Reagan rode horses!

[bluestateguy]

22. I agree

I think he'll sell the ranch or turn it over to the state of Texas as some kind of a "museum site" where Bush loving sychophants can go and masturbate. He'll quietly buy some mansion in a gated community in some lily-white Republican suburb in the Dallas or Houston area.

[LynnTheDem]

19. Rightwingnuts are such babies

Have some cheese with that WHINE.

[Voltaire99]

20. Here's a hint, Crawford: the paper's called The Iconoclast

Not the Daily Ass Kisser.

[Endangered Specie]

21. someone Call the S.A.!

Hang him!

:eyes:

[expatriot]

23. DU should buy an ad in the paper.

Skinner should start an "Iconoclast Support Fund" and raise a few dollars to buy an ad celebrating free speech. Let's help keep this guy in business.

[struggle4progress]

24. kick

:kick:

[anarchy1999]

27. I called and subscribed this morning for 6 months and told them to

do with the sub what they felt best. The staffer I spoke with said they have received over 100 new subs in the last few days. DU'ers, this town is not a nice town. I've been there more than once and I knew about the Crawford Peace House before anyone could say anything about it.

There are many good people in the area, they are intimidated, they have family and friends, and so on and so forth.

Someone yesterday put up a post, just send them $5.00. Taking out an ad is good, but the dollars over the long term, with many subscriptions or just donations will stand the paper well.

The potential for it to get more hostile is far too great.

This is a small town deeply divided, this is a larger community (as in Waco) deeply divided as in a state, Texas, even more deeply divided. Oh, yes, George is a uniter all right. NOT!

Dubya and his cronies have torn this state apart. They went on to do the same to this nation. I'm not sure we are going to be able to stop them, but I sure as hell am going to try.

[SoCalDem]

28. He DID tell us all in 1999

That he wanted to do TO the country what he did TO Texas..

He's a divider, and a fool...but that time he did not lie:(