Gary Hart: "Remember her name. It is Cindy Sheehan."

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/gary-hart/a-voice-crying-in-the-wil_5482.html

If democracy only works when there is open discussion of opposing ideas and policies, and if the opposition party, in this case the Democrats, has hand-cuffed, blind-folded, gagged, and hog-tied itself to a failed invasion and occupation in the Middle East, where will the expanding majority of Americans look for a representative, a spokesperson, a voice for their anger, frustration, and distrust at being misled?

The circumstances suggest it should be a Senate or House Democratic leader, a recognized authority on foreign policy constantly seen on the Sunday talk shows, certainly one of the many “leaders” lining up to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in 2008. Strangely, no one in any of those categories comes to mind. Their voices are silent. Thus, both they and the party they claim or presume to represent look dumbstruck, awkward, pitiful, and timid. Where the single greatest issue of the day, and one of the most potent issues of our time, is concerned, there is no courageous opposition.

<>But wait. There is someone to hold the emperor to account. There is someone willing to look ridiculous, to be mocked and made a fool of, to challenge the conventional wisdom of the court. She, unfortunately, is not a Senator. She is not a party leader. She is not in the regular establishment Rolodex of the Sunday talk producers. Yet, she holds the highest office available in a republic, that of citizen.

And to the embarrassment of both Republican and Democratic establishments, she takes that office more seriously than they—the silent “leaders”—do theirs. When the last Marine leaves Iraq, dead or alive, she can claim more credit than them all. Because of the courage of one brave woman, she quite possible will have had more to do with finally bringing this great nation back to its senses... and to its principles.

Remember her name. It is Cindy Sheehan.

[MaineDem]

1. Most excellent!

Cindy will go down in history as a GREAT citizen.

[Nite Owl]

2. Just how I feel

Cindy speaks for us, for the real America, while the dem 'leadership 'remains silent and afraid.

[NewJeffCT]

3. good article

Hart has become an excellent elder statesmen with his voice on anti-terrorism measures (Hart-Rudman report still collecting dust in Cheney's office??)

[speedoo]

4. We need to hear more from Gary Hart.

A lot more.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Screw his old scandals...

Donna Rice has since then became a fundie...

I want him running against Mallard in 2008. Or even take the governorship for 2006. It's his choice. He's still very well-respected and well-liked in Colorado.

Hawkeye-X

[StudentOfDarrow]

6. Wonderful.

The man is a genius.

[bvar22]

7. There ARE Democrats who have carried our Banner.

They just don't have the Corporate Connections to get on the Pro-War Anti-Labor CorpoMedia Talk Shows.
You can find the Opposition Party here:

http://www.pdamerica.org/

[flpoljunkie]

8. Any of them leaders lining up to seek the Dem nomination for prez in '08?

As former Senator Gary Hart noted above in his piece for the Huffington blog.

Answer: None. Case in point, Senator Joe Biden, Dem war hawk, repudiated Cindy Sheehan today in so many words on "Meet the Press" when he said he did not agree with what she was doing in Crawford.

[slay]

9. Wanted: Anit-war Dem leaders NOW

Wonder how long I'll be waiting... :eyes:

[ClassWarrior]

12. Wow, four minutes. That was long wasn't it?

Four minutes between your post above and my post citing three anti-war Dems below.

NGU.

[slay]

20. I'm all for Boxer, Conyers, and Fiengold

but I don't see any big push by them to get to the front of the Dem line. :shrug:

[rucky]

23. Maxine Waters is in Crawford as I type.

there has been plenty of antiwar dem leadership, they just don't get any press.

[slay]

27. Then we need some real alternative media to start covering these Dems

and get their names and actions out to the general public in preparation for 2008. I'd bet most people have no idea who Maxine Waters is.

[kestrel91316]

32. Maxine is a Congressional Representative, not a Senator.

[ClassWarrior]

11. There's a Draft Feingold movement underway... and I'd like to see...

...a Conyers/Boxer 2008 ticket.

It's up to us. We have the power.

NGU.

[bvar22]

14. I agree on Biden, and you WON'T find "hair plugs" Joe

at Progressive Democrats of America.

The best known is Dennis Kucinich, but he won't be getting any Big Air time from the CorpoMedia because he has pledged to break up the Media cartel.
It is too early to be committing to a particular candidate. There is much talent in the Democratic Wing of the Party, but you won't be seeing them on Meet the Press. We can't let the CorpoMedia choose the Democratic Nominee for 2008 again (they have already chosen Hillary). It is up to us to educate ourselves and pass that knowledge on to the rest of the Democratic Party.

[fujiyama]

31. Biden's son should be in Iraq

He's in his thirties I think. He'd be the perfect age.

I really am starting to dislike that smug son of a bitch!

[longship]

10. A Pilgrimage to Crawford

Who will write that story?

Maxine Waters is making the pilgrimage today. Who will follow her? Sens. Kennedy, Kerry, and Boxer have voiced support, but will they also make the pilgrimage to honor Ms. Sheehan's bravery?

The Iraq war is the most important issue on the table. It is everything to this administration and it is going extraordinarily badly. The extent to which our representatives ignore Cindy Sheehan is the extent to which they are ignoring their responsibilities.

They all need to make the pilgrimage and listen to what she has to say. Those hundreds of cars on Prairie Chapel Road should contain our Senators and Congressmen.

[ClassWarrior]

13. Why don't you ask them? Last time I looked in the mirror...

...I wasn't Sens. Kennedy, Kerry, or Boxer.

:rofl:

NGU.

[maddezmom]

15. great piece

Cindy Sheehan and all of those at Camp Casey should be proud.

[Skidmore]

16. Gary Hart has very much stated why I am so angry at

the Dem party. NOT EFFIN' ONE of the legislators have done or said ANYTHING since the beginning of this debacle except defer to * and his war mongers. Watch them be lead by their noses into Iran and then bait Korea and Syria.

Something needs to turn around with this party and SOON.

When it comes to Iran, who will be the first Dem legislator to sign away war powers to * again? Anyone care to take bets?

[ClassWarrior]

17. Not one? I cited three in post #11.

Nice try.

NGU.

[Skidmore]

18. I didn't read your post.

I was responding to Hart's article. Thus far I've seen Biden xtoo many and Nelson--not anyone else. Hardly opposition. And what the heck do you mean with "nice try". Because I'm a little disgusted with Dems, does that imply that I'm not one?

[ClassWarrior]

22. So because you haven't SEEN the others on your corporate box...

..."NOT EFFIN' ONE of the legislators have done or said ANYTHING since the beginning of this debacle except defer to * and his war mongers??"

And no, "a little disgust" with Dems doesn't imply that you're not one. Sentences like the one above, even though patently false, do.

NGU.

[Skidmore]

34. Please clarify...

What is my "corporate box"? I wasn't aware I had one.

[mtnsnake]

29. My exact sentiments, too, Skidmore

I even posted similar frustrations a couple days ago about this very subject with this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4331935

[meg]

19. great post! (eom)

[Al-CIAda]

21. .

[wli]

24. the Dems are all terrified of getting Wellstoned n/t

[AuntiBush]

25. Senator Sheehan. Sounds Pretty Good to Me!

[AuntiBush]

26. Matter-of-Fact: Hackett Should Re-Run For Office! 48+% Not Bad

In an historically "red" district. What's that tell everyone... Matter-of-fact, it's time for a change. Can't think of better people to vote in to office to clean-up, bring on the changes of getting rid of so much Corporate power then those that served and lost.

Who better to represent the 98% of us all!

Excellent Post!

P.S. t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By Scott Galindez Sunday 14 August 200512:55 PM

Maxine Waters has arrived at Camp Casey. She brought a basket of fruit to present to Cindy along with water and food for the camp. Congresswoman Waters is now meeting with the Gold Star Families, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Military Families Speak Out. After her meeting Ms. Waters plans to tour Camp Casey.

http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml
http://www.angelfire.com/de3/4osad/osad.html

[Gregorian]

28. We all have to be Sheenans, or it's not America.

Not the faux phoney-reaction of republicans. That is not dissent. It is just the opposite. America was born of this rebellion for the betterment of a society. From the bottom up, is how it works. And fails.

It is our duty.

[BigBearJohn]

30. Outstanding!

[Imagevision]

33. I'll be joining Cindy in Washington!!