Is this the shift?

[ewagner]

I have a different perspective on what's going on in Crawford with Cindy Sheehan right now.

Let me share it with you.

I was in college from th mid-to-late '60's. Those who were against the war were a clear minority in '65 but by '68 it was a full-blown popular movement and by '70, the anti-war movement was clearly the will of the people. What changed it? What was the tipping point? What (or for that matter who?) was the catalyst?

Two things stick out in my mind: First, the Tet Offensive, which brought the horror of that war into every living room in the country and, second, Walter Cronkite, who came into those same living rooms and gave America his trusted opinion that the war could not be won.

In the back of my mind, I see 1968 being played out again in Crawford, Texas this week. I see one person, Cindy Sheehan, tipping the scales of public opinion. I see the slaughter of 21 Marines last week as a small scale Tet Offensive and the saccharin sweetness of the Bush Administration kool-aid growing sour in the mouths of those who drank it so willingly just last November.

I don't know for sure that Cindy will be the catalyst to change the chemistry of American politics. In some ways, I hope she, alone, isn't that catalyst because the burden will be heavy, and, if we know anything about the Bush* political machine, it will be brutal.

The next five days in Crawford will tell us a lot about where our country is going. I'll have the feelers out to detect the shift if it is to come...

[eleny]

1. I think that she could be a line in the sand for some

People probably have a hard time admitting to themselves that they made a huge mistake voting for W. But treating a mother like this gives them the out. They can say that the administration has crossed a line of decency and they've had it with him. This is about a mom.

[getmeouttahere]

2. I've never had to bury a child....

so I can't imagine her grief. With that in mind, I have a feeling that no matter how brutal it gets in this fight, Cindy will make it through, because, what can be worse than losing a child.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. Could she be the Rosa Parks of the anti-Iraq War movement?

[A Simple Game]

4. Could be, let's hope so.

[MuseRider]

5. I am just behind

you a bit age wise so I was not as aware as you were early on in the war. Aware but not really thinking about it as much. I do feel a shift too. Not a large one yet but it could be, could be. It is like a gathering rumble rather than a clap. I must say, I am feeling encouraged by it but as you said, it could get really brutal. In fact I don't see us coming out on the other side of this without it being very brutal. I also share your concern for Cindy but I think she is ready for whatever comes.

[Ripley]

6. I hate to say no, but I do.

I guess I've become cynical of the "shift" or "tide is turning" or "worm has turned" feelings, because we've been burned so many damned times. Each time...it was a SURE THING. I must agree Cindy is helping to put a face on this war and the huge casualty jump also is waking people up.

However, I don't think this is enough. I think those who still support the War and Smirk will hang on to the ledge of the cliff with their last fungus infected pinky toenail. It is going to take something really really big to make them jump into the cool blue lake below.

America has to feel real pain again. I am so sorry to say that, but that's what I feel in my gut.

Only then will the Backlash Cometh.

[ewagner]

7. I completely understand

your skepticism, and, to some extent, I share it. But something is a bit different here. I'm looking at the mass of people rallying to join Cindy in Crawford. It seems so spontaneous.

And

the MSM is paying attention.

It's different from a lot of the other scandals/movements, etc. There is something genuine about it.

[Ripley]

12. Yes IT is genuine, but is the media's coverage genuine?

I don't watch much TV news. Are they there round the clock like they were outside Schiavo's hospice?

[kentuck]

8. I haven't seen or heard any coverage on the MSM...

It seems that at this time it is mostly an Internet story. Bush flew down to Albuquerque today to sign the "Energy Bill" with Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici...totally ignoring the story. Perhaps it is being reported and I haven't heard? But that does not mean it is not a story. It could mean that the Internet is ahead of the MSM...

[msongs]

9. nice interview last night on cbs radio news KNX in Los Angeles - >

the guy asked her a few questions and just let her talk about 4 minutes without interrupting her. she sounded very sincere and confident in her views, and unlike many dems, she did NOT APOLOGIZE for her beliefs.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[cmd]

10. Your 60's time line rings very true

I graduated in 65. People were just beginning to be aware of Viet Nam. Most thought it would just go away. We were much more involved with Civil Rights at the time. It wasn't until things really started cooking in Viet Nam that people began to get angry.

I think we experienced the turning point last week in Ohio when we lost so many men in one week. I think there will be many turning points in the next few months.

[bejammin075]

11. Yes, It IS The Shift!

A year and a half ago, I was just a regular person, enjoying life, going about my own business.

Now, all I can think about 24-7 is how to hold Bush accountable for the evil he's perpetrated across the Earth.

[Independent_Liberal]

13. I think you've nailed it...

It is the shift indeed.

[walldude]

14. You know I didn't think it was until

the Conservative Media started on her. They think their tactics of personal defemation are going to work in this situtation. Well they are in for a suprise. Not alot of Americans are going to get behind bashing a greiving mother for wanting closure on her sons death. (ok the freepers and a few talk show hosts maybe but nobody else).

I'm just so proud that Denvers own Bob Newman started the bashing with his brilliant assesment:
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/m-n/newman/2005/newman080805.htm
:sarcasm:

[Peace Patriot]

15. 58% of the American people opposed the Iraq war BEFORE the invasion.

I will never forget that stat. Feb. '03. Across the board, in all polls. Before all the lies were exposed; before the true costs were known. 58%!

The American people were not fooled. We were DISENFRANCHISED! And it will only take a catalyst--a Cindy Sheehan--to spark a revolt against this horrendous regime.

And big disapproval of Bush holds true on every major issue, in every poll. The Iraq war. Torture policy (63% of Americans oppose torture UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES--May '04). Social Security. The deficit. Women's rights. You name it--the great majority of Americans oppose Bush policy on it, way up in the 60% to 70% range.

And that's not even to mention his 40% approval rating. (--a dismal 49% on the very day of his inauguration; miserable all last year--so much so that Zogby said he couldn't win.)

Bush has never represented the majority of Americans--ever--and even less so over the last year.

I won't get into how his "re-election" was manufactured (all you really need to know is that two Bushite electronic voting companies got control of 80% of the vote tabulation, using "trade secret," proprietary software. I mean, come on, kiddies...).

His support consists of hardcore of wingers and greedbags. That's all it amounts to. But that minority has been given a BIG TRUMPET to push their minority views and make them seem "mainstream." They are not.

Well, one other thing you need to know. The news monopolies, acting in concert, FALSIFIED the exit poll data on everybody's TV screens on election night; the exit polls had been showing a Kerry win all day; then they "adjusted" the exit poll data to fit the "official tally" coming mainly from two companies, Diebold and ES&S, both using secret, proprietary programming code to tabulate the votes; they hid the real exit poll numbers from the American people, thus depriving the public of major evidence of election fraud, and squelching protests and calls for investigation.

It's very strange how the news monopolies have the truth right under their own noses--their own exit polls showed a Kerry win; their own opinion polls show overwhelming disapproval of every major Bush policy--yet they can't (or, rather, they won't) put two and two together.

It's staring us all in the face. Bush DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY--on this damnable war, or on anything else!

So, like I said--a catalyst, a spark. They're history. And they're all going to jail for treason anyway. A bad lot. And the main question will be how far back do we get to go, in rescinding every one of their unamerican policies (hopefully as far back as May 3, 2001--their first tax cut for the rich!)

[GardeningGal]

16. I remember talking to my Mom 2 years ago in July...

when it came out that the State of the Union address used false information (thank you Joe Wilson). You must understand that we rarely agreed on politicians-she tended to vote republican and I didn't.

I went to her house on that night and was furious about the information Joe Wilson supplied and I told her then that if this turned out to be true, then if Clinton was impeached over lying about an affair - Bush should be impeached over lying about the reason to go to war. My Mom agreed with me. I'll never forget it.
She passed on in August the same year.

It seems to me there are a number of "turning point" issues that are coming to a point right now. I for one hope the point explodes so * and company are held accountable for the lies they have pushed on our country.

Mom - if you're seeing this, can you help things along a bit?