Sometimes you really don’t need a weatherman — or a pollster — to see which way the wind’s blowing. Support for the United States’ war in Iraq has come full circle in St. Augustine, Fla., the “Nation�s Oldest City.”

Protests have taken place weekly or monthly since before the invasion and occupation, from the time Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld, and Rice began beating the drums of war. In the beginning the protestors got flipped off. Now they’re being high-fived.

Now, in the fourth year of protests, the reaction demonstrators are getting is overwhelming positive, they say…

In the two hours the protesters spent under the hot sun Saturday, the number of people who screamed pro-Bush phrases and hateful words could be counted on one hand. The number of approving honks, thumbs up, thank yous, smiles and words of encouragement were in the hundreds.

“There’s another whole sector that’s changed their minds in the last six months,” [71-year-old protestor Pattie] Hunt said.

Still, protesting is oldster territory in my adopted hometown, and I suspect, in the larger environs. Younger people seem content, for whatever reason, to leave the heavy lifting to others.

“Most people are not supporting the war and not supporting Bush, but they’re not coming out,” [56-year-old Barbara] Mitchell said.

The protesters, who are mostly ages 50 to 80, said they keep showing up at the peace rallies to make their message seen, make someone stop and think, or even encourage someone to start a conversation with those near them about Bush and the war in Iraq.

[St. Augustine People for Peace and Justice] member Anne Galloway, 60, who also protested during the Vietnam war, said, “No one expects immediate gratification out here. I know there’s not a whole lot I can actually do, but I can do this.”

Nearby, Sue Davis, 54, held a sign reading “Honorable soldiers. Dishonorable ‘leader.’” Her son is in the military and is expected to be leaving for Iraq soon.