Cindy Sheehan buys land in Crawford

Her stalking of President Bush takes another turn following her fall out with the guy who let her and her supporters camp out on his land:

The Gold Star Families for Peace says on its Web site that its members will again flock to Crawford in August to protest Bush's wartime decisions. Leader Cindy Sheehan is again demanding to meet with the president -- a replay of a year ago -- garnering worldwide attention and making Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier, the most familiar face of anti-war protesters.

But Sheehan and Mark Mattlage, owner of the 1-acre property where protesters have been allowed to gather, have had a falling out over scheduling and increased costs for liability insurance.

So, Sheehan has purchased a 5-acre plot in Crawford, saying she did so with some of the insurance money she received after her son, Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq.

So she has bought this land and a new car with the insurance money, but she couldn't be bothered to buy a headstone for her son's grave???

"We decided to buy property in Crawford to use until George's resignation or impeachment, which we all hope is soon for the sake of the world," Sheehan said in a newsletter, scheduled to be sent to her supporters today.

Is January of 2009 soon enough, because he won't be leaving office anytime before then.

The article goes on to describe the fall out between Sheehan and the owner of the land she previously camped out on:

He said he eventually agreed to let Gold Star Families for Peace use his land in August but only with the understanding that, because of the expected huge crowds, liability insurance costs were going to increase significantly to between $5,500 and $6,000. Mattlage said that, on the advice of his lawyer, he also told the protest group to sign a "hold harmless" agreement that would further free him of liability if something went wrong.

In a newsletter e-mailed to Mattlage and protest organizers on June 23, Sheehan told Mattlage, "I cannot in good faith accept the terms that you and your lawyers are holding us hostage with. ... I fear we will have to find alternatives to using your land ... "

Mattlage, in a phone interview, said Sheehan had initially agreed to pay the higher insurance costs. It made him mad, he said, when she later sent an e-mail to organizers suggesting he was holding her "hostage."

Mattlage sent his one-time friend an e-mail back that said, "You can go away now."

And Sheehan replied: "Okay. Bye."

So how much do 5 acres of land in Crawford cost? Certainly not less than what it would've cost to help pay for the liability insurance! I think this is more about Cindy being the center of attention than money or "peace."

One has to wonder after this year's party protest, how many people will they get to help clean up the site? Hopefully way more than last time.

UPDATE: Michelle has more, including Sheehan's statement about the land purchase on the Gold Star Mothers for Peace site.