John wrote on Feb 20, 2007 3:32 AM:Ever wonder what old Hippies do when and if they ever grow up?

Stacey wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:20 AM:Do these people work for a living?

Jim USN-Retired wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:53 AM:As a Vietnam Veteran and one who spent his youth and most productive years serving his country in the U.S. Navy, I will always defend the right of Americans to protest and disagree with anything. However, 300 people out of a County numbering in the Millions, only reflects the opinion of a very small minority. On this one issue, I support our President's decisions and authority in conducting a war against those who would kill or subjigate us in the name of any Radical Religious Cause. The unbalanced media coverage of this small minority gives the impression to our troops that America does not support them or their cause. In fact, I strongly believe, that just like during the Vietnam War, it gives aid, comfort and encouragement to the enemy. This enourages them to attact and kill American Service Members - the end result is more Americans die because you encouraged our enemy. Great Support For Our Troops in the spirit of Jane Fonda and John F. Kerry!

To the Marchers wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:55 AM:Put your efforts into marching against illegal immigration. Now thats a worthy subject.

Ken wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:22 AM:It's evident the people want peace. As the forgotten saying goes, "War breeds war." Common people know this. Do our leaders?

Ron wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:23 AM:I'm wondering if their time could have been spent a little more constructive. Perhaps visiting wounded, disabled, or retired military veterans. I mean, what did they actually accomplish? What good did they actually do for another?

To all peace loving treehuggers: wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:41 AM:OK supposedly educated people. Do you really think that pulling our troops out is the answer? WE ARE THE LINE! WE PULL OUT AND A IT WILL EMBOLDEN OUR ENEMIES LIKE YOU CAN'T IMAGINE IN YOUR WORST NIGHTMARES. PULL OUT AND THESE COCKROACHES WILL FIND EVERY PLANE, TRAIN, SHIP OR MAGIC CARPET AND COME FOR YOU! BUT OF COURSE NONE OF YOU HAVE NEVER SERVED BLED OUR FOUGHT! AND IF YOU HAVE YOU'RE A BUNCH OF CRYBABIES. EVERY PERSON SERVING IS A VOLUNTEER! WE KNEW THE RISKS! I KNEW THE RISKS I LOST THE ABILITY TO WALK OVER THERE! AND I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN GIVEN THE CHANCE BECAUSE I AM AN AMERICAN MAN! WHO KNOWS THIS IS THE WAR THAT WILL DETERMINE OUR EXISTENCE AS A PEOPLE AND A COUNTRY!

Some will never learn... wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:49 AM:These terrorists we are fightingWILL NEVER STOP. If you knew the devil lived and breathed next door you'd do everything possible to kill it. WELL THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THEY SEE US AS A NATION! They will cut your throat as mandated by the koran they have killed ny friends slaughtered those who don't agree with them. Oh and by the way you STINKING LITTLE PROTEST was brought to you by those that have grabbed a weapon and stood a post. OUR BLOOD NOT YOURS WE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE. History will prove us right. God bless America.

Izzie wrote on Feb 20, 2007 7:07 AM:God Bless these modern day prophets, reminding us, that each of us can make a difference, if we stand for Peace and speak for Peace each day.

Vista Granny wrote on Feb 20, 2007 7:08 AM:Some people act on their convictions. Maybe more of us should do so. Thank you to these brave folk.

Just aTest wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:01 AM:As a grade school drop out, I'm fascinated by the way simply hitting the "caps lock" key can majically turn my misinformed opinion into FACT (SEEMS TO WORK FINE).

Do they work? wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:17 AM:Yes they work. Stacey, Hellooooo!!! it was a holiday. More people would have turned out except for the rain. I agree that we should also protest the ILLEGAL invasion across our borders. So for the sake of the American people we should protest the Iraq war, the outsourcing of jobs, illegal aliens, unsecured ports and borders. Those who are beating the drums of war can sign up, the soldiers are getting tired of being redeployed. Those who support ILLEGAL aliens can take them into their homes, feed, clothe, pay their medical, and schooling.

RAy wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:17 AM:Whose interest are we fighting for? We have put our fine troops in harms way for finantial interests it's proven over and over again, war has not been and will never be the answer. Do you think our country is better today than before the war? Please think before you answer.....

Temecula Infidel wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:19 AM:At best, Jeeni Criscenzo and her band of Age of Aquarius hippie renegades are simpletons who play into the hands of the Islamic terrorists who would subjugate all of us 'infidels' to a slave-like status. This silly symbolism over substance 'peace' vigil does absolutely nothing to advance peace throughout the world. It is cowardly that Criscenzo and her ilk protest the U.S. policy...America is a benign country that does not throw dissidents into prisons or mass graves. If these people really supported peace, then they would conduct peace vigils outside the embassies and consulates of countries like Iran and Syria; countries which harbor terrorists and advance this twisted Islamic ideology around the world. Come on Jeeni, be bold and brave. Take your group and demand that Iran and Syria renounce terrorism and radical Islamofascism. You and your band can drive that 'peace bus' to New York City or Washington, D.C. and protest the polices of Iran and Syria in front of their embassies. Better yet, why don't you really act bold and take a trip to Iran or Syria then you can protest these governments' policies outside their dicators palaces? Are you getting cold feet Jeeni? Yes...it is far safer to just protest America which is in effect biting the hand that feeds you. Please bring your troupe back to Temecula so we can upstage you again.

Temecula Infidel wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:28 AM:At best, Jeeni Criscenzo and her band of Age of Aquarius hippie renegades are simpletons who play into the hands of the Islamic terrorists who would subjugate all of us 'infidels' to a slave-like status. This silly symbolism over substance 'peace' vigil does absolutely nothing to advance peace throughout the world. It is cowardly that Criscenzo and her ilk protest the U.S. policy...America is a benign country that does not throw dissidents into prisons or mass graves. If these people really supported peace, then they would conduct peace vigils outside the embassies and consulates of countries like Iran and Syria; countries which harbor terrorists and advance this twisted Islamic ideology around the world. Come on Jeeni, be bold and brave. Take your group and demand that Iran and Syria renounce terrorism and radical Islamofascism. You and your band can drive that 'peace bus' to New York City or Washington, D.C. and protest the polices of Iran and Syria in front of their embassies. Better yet, why don't you really act bold and take a trip to Iran or Syria then you can protest these governments' policies outside their dicators' palaces? Are you getting cold feet Jeeni? Yes...it is far safer to just protest America which is in effect biting the hand that feeds you. Please bring your troupe back to Temecula so we can upstage you again.

Jr to Jim wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:02 AM:I'm sorry you support Bush. I'm sorry I was right about the war and it's outcome. I actively protested before it started. I'm sorry I missed the protest yesterday. It is not the protesters that enourage the enemy to kill American Service Members. It is a failed foreign policy that have put our military in the cross hairs of a civil war. We won the war, but now our troops are asked to be part of an unending peace keeping force - a new police state made by America in order to socially engineer a new democracy in the middle east. Did conservatives really come up with this liberal socialist pipe dream??? I don't think it is fair to ask the troops to sacrifice for this failed experiment. Bring 'em home.

Jr to Ron wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:04 AM:Yes Ron, they should have been helping the wounded vets because our government has sure hung them out to dry. You been following the news about outpatients at Walter Reed? What have you don lately Ron?

esteban wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:06 AM:peace sometimes is not the answer. Look what the peaceful Clinton years wrought.

Cal wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:11 AM:No matter what the cause... Abortion or anti-abortion, war or peace, innocent soldiers or war criminals... my hat's off to those of you who stand up for your beliefs. It takes REAL courage to stand up in your community and take a public stand. As shown in these blog comments, the protesters faced fear and ignorance to bring their point of view to others. So... don't be so angry bloggers - be happy. This protest is why we are fighting for freedom. Enjoy it.

GK wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:14 AM:We have a right to petition Congress (and/or the President) to redress a grievance. So why don’t we do that? Why not discretely collect tens of millions of signatures on a petition and sent it to Washington? Why stand on the street and create a media event ... and why does the media publish and broadcast an event that serves to embolden our deadly enemy and make the lives of our servicemen and women more difficult and dangerous? Are we that stupid, or is our partisan politics that important to us?

John wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:37 AM:Clinton years were great for me. Seems like ever since Bush took over America has gone to hell. Even Iraq has gone to hell since Bush took over.

Emboldened wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:44 AM:I'm going to choke on my freedom fries if I hear one more flag draped "patriot" claim that protesting this pointless war in Iraq emboldens the terrorists. Osama has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams thanks to W. and his bunglers and you anti-protesters just embolden him by continuing the madness.

Answer to GK wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:45 AM:It's not partisan politics that are important to me. It is the lives of my countrymen that are being wasted on a farce. My tax dollars are being used to put American troops into a bogus war and pay billions to a reconstruction scam - while Bin Laden goes scott-free. The war on terror was and is in Afghanistan. Let's get out of the civil war in Iraq and finish the hunt for Al Queda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thank you protestors fort keeping this in the public view and reminding everyone that the war needs to be concluded.

I worked on Monday wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:53 AM:They have the right to protest. I have the right not to respect them for their misguided and ignorant convictions. I wish nothing but success in every endeavor for all of our servicemen and women. I wish nothing but failure and defeat for all of those who oppose them, foreign and domestic - period.

esteban wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:54 AM:Clinton years were great for me personally too. But his 8 years of turning a blind eye to bad Muslims has made Bush's group have to clean up the mess from years of passivity. I am no Bush supporter either.

Surprised but pleased wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:18 AM:This may come as a huge shock to the misguided populace of southern California, but you live in a democracy, and this is what democracy looks like! your opinions and views are just as outdated and antiquated as every other vile word that escapes your lips in reference to the interests of common Americans. Your support of this war is nothing but the bleatings of lost sheep searching for a quick, corporate slaughter. Am I a little lost here, but when does it become necessary to cheer on the deaths of other human beings to support a handful of maddeningly wealthy oil companies and military subcontractors? Send those cheers from the sidelines of another IED explosion or the funeral of one more young adult blown apart by your greed.

Harry wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:26 AM:The idiot policies of the Bush Administration not only embolden the enemy--they advance the enemy's cause. Bush is a dangerous egomanic and must be stopped from further threatening America's survival. Yes it is a mess and leaving now will leave a mess for generations to come, but staying the course is even more dire! The consequences should have been considered before the "bring em on" cowboy president decided to take us to war.

Smilin' Jack wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:30 AM:This was a small protest, true... I'm sorry I wasn't aware of it ahead of time, I would have joined. Just several weeks ago, a much larger protest was held at Horton Plaza which had well over 5000 people attending. Not only that, the overwhelming majority of those who passed by on the street showed their support by honking or waving or flashing the peace sign. The more people who show their opposition, the more will have the courage to join them. The pressure against those of us who have been against this war from the beginning has been tremondous. The cheerleaders for war have never been able to justify a preemptive war responsible for the deaths of half million plus human beings so they attack our patriotism and attempt to rally others to their warped view by vague scare tactics of fear: eg.: "THESE COCKROACHES WILL FIND EVERY PLANE, TRAIN, SHIP OR MAGIC CARPET AND COME FOR YOU!" This is the ranting and raving of a madman! Be strong! Voice your opposition! Your neighbors agree with you; they are frightened to exercise their free speech. Help give them the strength to make their stand known!

GK wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:47 AM:Answer to GK was not an answer. Why take your protest to the street? Why the public spectacle? While there are sound reasons to object to our military presence in Iraq, I see only two reasons for making that view blatantly public: Stupidity or a partisan zeal that makes lives less important than making the Administration look bad. And don’t tell me that the protesters’ aim is to save lives ... I know there are better ways to protest. I’ve done it.

quinn wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:50 AM:bil clinton engaged the US in more military actions than any other president before him. one of those actions was the continuing war in iraq that hasn't stopped since 1990. Those kids over there fighting a war to keep the region from becoming an economic union that didn't include israel as its centerpiece. our soldiers and marnes do one thing: catch bullets for private contractors who are profiting from this war. one solution to this war is to extend term limits to all areas of government. the Cheney-led US has gone too long.

Never ask wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:53 AM:the Pod People to think. It's anathema to them. As long as they've got Fox and Limbaugh, et. al. to do their thinking for them, they pride themselves in how many of those stupid, ignorant, lying, hateful talking points they can regurgitate. I've even seen them at private BBQ's competing with each other for how many talking points they can repeat from memory, as if trying to outdo each other for bragging rights. It's a sorry, sick, and twisted state of affairs.

No Name wrote on Feb 20, 2007 10:58 AM:Could you imagine being a soldier in Iraq and having a few precious moments to relax. Only to hear that the very people that they are fighting for are protesting against what they are putting their lives on the line for. SUPPORT our troops, get the 300+ people that were there and spend the time getting things together and ship those items to these men and women. It is time to support them, like it was said in another statement above, it was an extremely small amount of people compared to the million that actually live here. To our vets...thank you for your service.

Everyone has a cause wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:05 AM:Protest, Protest, Protest........Is that all anyone does anymore? Where does your protest get you? No where. Our government sucks and don't really care what we have to say. They do what THEY want and the heck with what we want.

to To Treehuggers etc. wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:17 AM:Don't take your anger out on those who want this war to end. All the anger in the world won't change the fact that we are over there under false or incorrect pretenses and you will spend your life in a wheel chair because of it. This administration and it's supporters embolden the enemy. So stop your crying and whining.

where does it get you wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:20 AM:lot's of folks want to know where protesting gets you. College for one. People protested to allow african americans the same rights as all other americans. It got them a lot. Women protested for the ability to vote. Just a few examples. Keep up the good work.

To all peace loving treehuggers wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:28 AM: I am sorry for your injury, and I hope you good luck (especially knowing that the Bush budget plans to cut veterans benefits over the next two years, inorder to sustain his tax breaks for Paris Hilton and his twins and the Kerry and Heinz and Clintons and the Cheney's kids. Why should wounded veterans come before the kids of the superwealthy. If we cut the veterans we can protect against the estate tax.

davo wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:34 AM:What happened to the WMD's, oh now we a spreading democracy????

No Name or No Brain wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:40 AM:When I was a soldier, my thoughts when relaxing were of getting home and not of corn nuts and baby wipes. Support them by bringing them home (they'll thank you later).

To the cry babies wrote on Feb 20, 2007 11:54 AM:No one is forced to join the military, you voluntarily join. So if you are going to support them this is not the way. If they don't like it after they join it’s their fault for joining. Let them do the job they signed up for.

Better ways to protest? wrote on Feb 20, 2007 12:05 PM:Please GK - enlighten us. What is the proper way to protest? Seems to me that the good these protestors do is making folks pay attention. It is harder to ignore the issue when people are so fed up with the mess that they start coming out on the streets to voice concern. And as for partisanship goes - well, that is just how the cow eats the cabbage in America. We have a partisan poiltical system. It worked prettty good in the last election. It beats the hell out of any other country. If you can't take the partisan heat, get out of the kitchen.

Pinky and the Brain wrote on Feb 20, 2007 12:11 PM:If I had known about it I would have been there. Here stands two of our last great American freedoms: Right to Peaceful Assembly and Right to Free Speech. You who wish to silence the American People are the ones who embolden the enemy and steal our freedoms.

Monica wrote on Feb 20, 2007 12:51 PM:I would have gone if I had know about it. I support the troops( yes I do have family and friends who have gone over there), but not the war or this administration. There are more people than we know who feel the same who may not do the protest thing or who didn't know or couldn't go. Even if it was a "small" protest, at least these fine people had the backbone to stand up and say "enough". Btw, I miss the Clinton years. You wingnuts can yell and insult all you want, I won't be listening.

Georgia wrote on Feb 20, 2007 12:52 PM:ANTI IRAQ WAR IS THE MAJORITY of this country. Jim USN Retired needs to realize that. This little area in San Diego County is very right wing and I believe it is very biased towards pro war activities because of the defense contractors around here and some who are brainwashed. Most military I talk to think this was a stupid war and it is a mess, but they can't say much. Calling people who care about the enviornment and peace treehuggers is very ignorant. Those trees keep everyone alive. Everyone should be for peace and not war as well. If you educate yourself about the facts from non biased sources, you would stop spewing rhetoric and mean-spirited name calling. We are all citizens in this supposed democracy and have rights to speak as we wish without being attacked.

rg wrote on Feb 20, 2007 1:28 PM:I think this newsworthy, but overplayed. The war itself will prove to be a mistake, but one that is most difficult to correct. Every solution eventually requires a withdrawal. We need our splendid Marines for future warfighting, not as MPs trying to referee a centuries-old religious civil war.

MORTYY wrote on Feb 20, 2007 1:54 PM:YES STACEY THERE IS A REAL WORLD OUT THERE DONT HIT THE TREE ON YOUR WAY DOWN.

One American to another wrote on Feb 20, 2007 2:08 PM:It takes courage to hit the streets as an anti-war protestor and as Americans, they have every right to protest without being denigrated by the corralled herd of the Limbaugh crowd (recently turned into the Duncan mob). This is still America, or has the herd mentality already made up a rule that our constitutional rights are only good for the chosen herd - as only they see fit...

Hung Out to Dry in Carlsbad? wrote on Feb 20, 2007 2:38 PM:I stood out in the biting rain yesterday for what I thought was a tribute to our fallen. It was a proud and emotional moment for me. I asked specifically if this was an anti-war protest before I took my soldier's name. I was ASSURED IT WAS NOT. My politics are unimportant when it come to the respect I feel for our service men and women and I would never participate in anything that would dishonor those who have served or those who are serving us currently. Sooo...did I get it wrong? Did the organizers mislead? or, did the North County Time's seek to sensationalize with a provocative headline on Monday morning?

Do you think... wrote on Feb 20, 2007 3:26 PM:To those who claim to be representing the troops by these protests, how many of you actually know anyone who's been deployed? Have any military background? Ever been on a military base or a navy ship? Have ANY IDEA what the troops in the field are thinking? Since a majority of them seem to think this war is worth fighting for (and after all, are part of a volunteer military), shouldnt you protesters get your facts straight? God bless our troops, keep them safe, and bring them home soon to their families.

Chuck wrote on Feb 20, 2007 3:44 PM:Hung Out to Dry: It WAS a tribute. The NCTimes headline WAS provocative. The rest of the article seemed accurate and reflected who we were out there, and what our message was. Both of the gentlemen in the photo are military veterans, and their message is the same as yours. Note that most of the whiners/wingnuts/UPPER CASERS above only sat at their computers and spewed. You and I got off our butts and stood up to be counted. THEY went back to their tv's and picked up some more slogans from Rush and Bill. I'm so happy I went, and I know 300 others who are as well.

Former medic wrote on Feb 20, 2007 3:56 PM:I have seen the death a war causes. Instead of the worn out jingoism of yesteryear (does every anti war protester have to be a hippie?), why not engage in an honest debate. It never happened in Viet Nam but it could now. Whoa, I must be on something to think that these people will get a clue and engage in a real debate. How many of you have heard a dying Marine's screams? Once you do it haunts you forever and you will never support another stupid war again.

To GK wrote on Feb 20, 2007 3:56 PM:We have a right to petition Congress (and/or the President) to redress a grievance. So why don’t we do that? Why not discretely collect tens of millions of signatures on a petition and sent it to Washington? Why stand on the street and create a media event ... and why does the media publish and broadcast an event that serves to embolden our deadly enemy and make the lives of our servicemen and women more difficult and dangerous? Are we that stupid, or is our partisan politics that important to us?" Good question, GK. Now, can you apply that to the illegal immigration problem and the Minutemen? Why all the public events? Why all the hate-mongering? Why not just 100,000 discreetly collected signatures sent to The Decider? Oh, I forgot. He decides. We don't. I guess I will just have to go back to the street corner to be heard.

Pinky and the Brain wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:04 PM:These terrorists we are fighting WILL NEVER STOP." Gotcha! So, in essence, you are an Imperialist. Your idea of the future for the United States is to be militarily in control of every country in the world so they don't come and get us. I am sorry for the sad, paranoid world you and your Bush Buddies live in.

To Do you think wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:21 PM:God bless our troops, keep them safe, and bring them home soon to their families....... is what the vigil was all about yesterday. We stood out there in the rain in support of the troops, we want them to come home alive. No one should have to die for oil. I had the name of a 21 year old soldier on me yesterday who died for an unjust war. All I could think of was my 4 year old son, he could be that soldier some day. I wouldn't want my own child who I nurture to be a grown man, and barely into manhood die for oil.

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:24 PM:To Never ask: Pod People? Do you like anybody or only those who agree with you? My Pod leans to the right. Your Pod seems to lean way, way over to the far left. Dude; your Pod is about to fall over, it's leaning so far. I listen to Limbaugh, I watch Fox News, and guess what? I also watch CNN and MSNBC. I like Kyra Phillips at CNN. She's not only intelligent, she's always polite to everyone she interviews. I used to like Hannity on Fox but I got sick and tired of him interrupting guests before they could finish their thoughts. I want to hear all sides of an issue; not ignorant spewing such as your comments. Colmes is obnoxious. He makes an idiot out of himself, chomping at the bit to interrupt if he thinks there's something substantial a conservative guest might say. He jumps in and talks over the guest. Frankly; I'm fed up with both Pods when it comes to the media. What the heck are you doing at BBQ's listening to other Pods talking points? Anyway; I thought talking points were O'Reilly's thing. You must be a right leaning Pod wannabe! Else, why put yourself through such Pod torture? Yep; it sure is a sick and twisted state of affairs.

AW4cryinoutlod wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:29 PM:To Jim USN-Retired: I agree with every word you said. Has anybody told you lately that they appreciate your being there for this country? We do!!!! AW4.

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 20, 2007 4:45 PM:To Pinky and the Brain: I'm thinkin' the "Brain" part might have been omitted. Excuse me but I was under the impression, as evidenced by many so-called peaceful protests, that the ones who usually try to silence the American people are the peace protestors. The majority of the time they're the ones out there with the signs screaming and initiating fights. Peaceful protests? Code Pink is an example. Ask the wounded warriors at Walter Reed Hospital how "peaceful" your people are. Monday's protest is the exception. A "welcome" exception. You're right about one thing; the terrorists will never stop. So, in essence, you may appear to be a Yellowbelly. I have a reality check for you. IF the United States doesn't maintain its military superiority over the rest of the world, then get ready to give up all the freedoms you have right now, get ready to give up your right to protest "any" thing ever again, get ready to give up gasoline for your car, heat for your house...Hell get ready to give up your house. Actually...Get ready to give up your life, because the terrorists want it. All the "peaceful" protests in the world will not stop it. Now, tell me why you want this country to "give up" its superiority!!!!

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:02 PM:To 'to all peaceloving treehuggers' who posted at 6:41AM: Americans who love this country and want it to remain strong thank you for being there for us and fighting for what you believe in. I'd like nothing more than to have peace throughout the world but that will never happen. It goes against the nature of humans. The peace protestors scare me because what will they do if the terrorists come here to try and physically take over? Are the peaceful ones going to fight for this country and for their lives or are they going to get out there with their signs and "protest" and scream for the rest of us to do it for them?

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:09 PM:To Temecula Infidel: I agree at 8:19AM and even at 8:28AM. Don't feel bad. I've hit the comment button twice also. I hate when that happens. Bottom line is that I doubly agree with you.

OSIDE SR wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:19 PM:Declare war on Iraq- so easy even a caveman can do it.

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:27 PM:To 'To Treehuggers etc.: Your comments at 11:17AM represent how low one can go. The ones doing the crying and whining are the ones who stand and protest for peace when they are clueless as to how that is going to bring about any peace. It isn't. You and your peaceful ineffective protestors are the ones who are putting a smile on the face of Bin Laden and the terrorists. To make a below the belt comment to a man who has been to hell and back and sacrificed for this country is shameful. Be a MAN and APLOGIZE! Isn't that what a peaceful person, who cares so much for the peaceful solution to everything, would do?

Wart Hog Brigade wrote on Feb 20, 2007 5:47 PM:Reading various comment sections in the NCT for the first time for the past couple of months it's dawned on me that the pro-war people were far more creative with their insults during the Vietnam war than the anti-war demonstrators. Today it's the other way around. The pro-war people are always pretending that the "lefties" do all the insulting, but I've noticed rather that the "lefties" do all the newly creative insulting. The "righties" have no imagination - they just regurgitate old Vietnam era insults, for example: "Age of Aquaries hippie renegades"; "simpletons"; "cowardly" "your band can drive that peace bus"; "radicals"; "libs"; "crybabies"; and one was actually inspired by an article about global warming to excrete the following clot: “We need to roundup all the tree huggers, save-the-earth and hate-America-first crowd and ship them off to New Guinea". On the other hand the anti-war crowd of the Vietnam era was pretty unimaginative - "war monger" and "redneck" were the only arrows in their quiver. Now however, we're seeing stuff like "right-wingnut", "Bushbot", "Limbaugh-endless-tape-loop" and "Pod People". I would suggest a new arrow be added to that already creative quiver: "Wart Hog Brigade". You know how wart hogs relieve themselves? They run around in cicles splattering the stuff on anything and anyone around them. Pretty much sums up the behavior of the target group to me.

Tj-Hung out... wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:07 PM:Thanks Chuck for your comments. Yes, I am glad I went. I know why I was there. Too bad others feel the way they feel. In the defense of the organizer, Ms. Crisenzo, she returned my call promptly, and reiterated her conversation with the reporter from the NCT's. This was not a War Protest, it was an attempt to show the human price of war which I think was very appropriate. So, big surprise the media stirred it's ever powerful pot.

Ken wrote on Feb 20, 2007 6:31 PM:I wrote this early this morning: "It's evident the people want peace. As the forgotten saying goes, "War breeds war." Common people know this. Do our leaders? " Noone has commented on this. I stood in the rain with these fellow peacelovers, near several veterans -a Korean War Vet even-, on my day off as a teacher of many middle school students whose parents are in this war. I love my students, and I love the marines. I think if President Bush would spend just one evening in a Wal Mart, watching these beautiful families in the days before the moms and/or dads deploy. . .he'd bring them all home. But he has probably never been in a Wal Mart, and he will never see these are real lives, real families. We will stay in battle until the people's will prevail

no name... wrote on Feb 20, 2007 7:57 PM:for those who asked I was raised military with a father who served for over 30 years. I have also lost 2 friends in Iraq. My husband went to NY and worked ground zero. This war has hit home for me, I am not saying support the war, I am saying support those who HAVE to be there. They deserve that and NOTHING less.

Carlsbad wrote on Feb 20, 2007 8:10 PM:This protest makes me PROUD to live and raise my kids in C'bad! Whats tha matta with people who posted these narrow minded and insecure comments immediately after this article? Hey folks, WAKE UP, this is Cheney's war and our young kids are dying. We are trying to build a model democracy on infertile ground...This is NOT about alquida!

Mary wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:15 PM:To AW4 - because the Bush administration has fought this war on the cheap and did not buy $225K Cougar armored transport vehicles or $750K Rhino Runners rather than $175K for inferior armored or even worst $75K for unarmored Hummer vehicles there have been thousands of unneccesaary injured and maimed at Walter Reed. Recently Marine Brididage General (I think his name was Michael B.....) testifed before Congress that not one single soldier or marine has been killed by an IED in a Cougar. It is a sin not to buy the very best for our troops and I will NEVER forgive Bush and Rumsfeld for cutting taxes to the rich at the expense of the life and limb of America's finest - it's fightin men and women defending the right of everyone here to speak their mind. I am a tree hugging liberal who can not for the life of me see how anyone can tolerate this situation for one more minute. Call your representative and demand this equipment for a troops immediately.

John1 to Wart Hog wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:29 PM:Reading your comments reminds me of the Lewis Black phrase "I don't have enough breadcrumbs to get home"

It's all over wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:37 PM:Note the headlines about Blair announcing a pullout. The coalition is unraveling. Musical chairs is over. Stop being angry at tributes and smell the coffee. It's over baby. Get our troops out now.

John1 to Harry and Pinky wrote on Feb 20, 2007 9:41 PM:Pinky: The theory that the terrorists will never stop is different that the theory that America must control the world militarily. Harry: You're right. We should have taken down Osama when Sudanese diplomats offered him to us on a silver platter. Probably would have saved a lot of lives

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 22, 2007 11:21 AM:To no name: You Go Girl!!! That's what it's all about!

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 22, 2007 12:41 PM:To Mary: Am trying to figure out why you address comments about the troops to me. I have blogged myself silly in support of the troops for months. I've never commented against their having everything they need before they deploy. You have the wrong person on this issue. As for peace protestors; This group in Carlsbad is the first one I've read about that actually was "peaceful". The rest have earned their own reputation with their screams and threats against anyone who disagrees. If you care about the welfare of the troops then perhaps you could influence groups like Code Pink, who do nothing in a peaceful way; who stand outside a hospital of our injured troops and try to denigrate their honor.

to Aw4 wrote on Feb 26, 2007 4:50 PM:Just because one advocates peace doesn't mean they are not warriors. I'll show you how much of a MAN I am sweetheart. You want to whine and be a cry baby, then I gonna treat you like one.

Kelly wrote on Feb 27, 2007 7:40 PM:It's stunning that so many people mix their emotions, patriotism and understanding of politics into an incoherent/inconsistent outpouring and blather about troops and stuff of which they have no knowledge. If you haven't had a buddy's life run through your hands it doesn't mean you cannot feel compassion for the experience. If you have, it doesn't make you an expert on foreign policy. How many of you flag wavers are contributing something to YOUR troops: mail, donations, your time, a letter to your representative, a few extra bucks at tax time?? You folks, all critics, all talk, all the time don't comprehend the dynamics of Iraq, so do not pretend you do! You don't have a clue what the Marines, soldiers and sailors died for, and neither did they: they simply held their heads, cried for their mothers or wives and writhed until death became them! Did all those civilians in Iraq die for their country? What is this insanity? Iraqis want a THEOCRACY and voted for one. Without U.S. there would be no insurgency! Only the battle for religious control of the country... For goodness sakes, put your flags down and quit condoning behavior even wild animals avoid.

Spin Boldak wrote on Jul 11, 2007 1:09 PM:We'll soon see the true colors of our sunshine patriots when this war's wounded begin to complain in large numbers about the shoddy treatment they've received and are going to receive during their rehabilitation. I can almost now hear the chorus of "crybaby" and "whiner" from those who would fight to the death to get a chance to kiss the hairy, pimpled buttocks of Cheney and Rove.