Cindy Sheehan interrupts Democratic press conference - Demands Troops Come Home

[kpete]

Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Sheehan, war-protesters interrupt Dem press conference

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- While discussing the Democratic ethics legislation, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Democratic Caucus chairman, was interrupted by anti-war protestors lead by Cindy Sheehan, a well-known activist whose son was killed in Iraq.

"We're here to let the Democrats know that the grass roots and the anti-war movement elected them to create change," said Sheehan.

Sheehan said that she was joined by 70 protestors to hold the Democrats accountable, saying are pressing incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the new Democratic leadership to stop authorizing additional funds for the Iraq war.

Sheehan said any additional authorizations would make the Democrats "co-conspirators" with the Republican in what she described as war crimes.

"There is already enough money in their killing budget to bring the troops home," Sheehan said.
-- CNN.com Senior Producer Scott Anderson

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/01/sheehan-war-protesters-interrupt-dem.html

[babylonsister]

1. Cindy speaks for me, and I thank her for telling the pols what

I want them to hear. No more troops, no more money, out now!:patriot:

[rodeodance]

12. yes, good for her. Keep this issue UPfront and ON the table.

[rodeodance]

15. oh, and THank you Cindy

[nini]

2. Can't she wait until they actually get going?

:eyes:


I am always concerned that her methods are killing her message. The first day is a bit much since they haven't had a chance to even get started.


I'll put my flamesuit on now. :D

[cali]

5. No flames with me.

All Sheehan does lately is irritate the living daylights out of me.

[xultar]

53. I like Cindy but she is doing what the MSM is doing. Dems aren't even in office yet.

[earth mom]

147. Why does Cindy irrate you? What, you don't like the TRUTH?

:wtf:

Oh yeah, that's right, you're against impeachment too.

Why am I not surprised you are also against Cindy....?! :eyes:


p.s. IMNSHO, CINDY ROCKS! :woohoo:

[Beaverhausen]

6. I love Cindy but I agree with you

No flames from me.

[ronnykmarshall]

29. Same here.

[Lerkfish]

9. I agree with her, and I agree with you

she speaks for me, content-wise, but i also agree waiting longer than a few hours would have been good, too.

[nini]

23. exactly.. her message is on target

it's the timing etc..

People only see the hysteria in the context of what she did - not the message itself.

[NeedleCast]

67. Good Point

When the Drama overshadows the message, the message becomes the drama.

[BuyingThyme]

72. If war is not dramatic enough, you're not capable

of getting the message anyways.

[NeedleCast]

84. If you walk into a crowded room...

...and yell fire, then give the Gettysburg Address, guess which one people are going to pay attention to. The message *IS* important, which is why the method of delivery is important too. When the method of entry gets more attention than the message, you've chosen poorly.

[BuyingThyme]

87. You've proven her methods work.

The problem is in that you do not understand the message.

The fire analogy does not apply -- that has to do with balancing the freedom of speech with other rights.

[NeedleCast]

90. The message is a pretty simple one

and I think I do understand it.

I guess I'd equate it to people throwing red paint on people wearing fur coats. The recpient of the message is much more likely to notice and pay attention to the deliver method vice the message. Same thing applies here.

[BuyingThyme]

92. These are real human beings being killed in Iraq,

not members of the weasel family.

Once you get that, there's no way Cindy's methods can be seen as anything other than measured and effective.

[Tsiyu]

150. Good Answer BT

No matter how eloquent the speech or address, the BUILDING IS ON FIRE at this point.

Just ask our troops.

It's easy to ponder the pretty words when YOUR ass isn't on the line...

[AikidoSoul]

129. So she should be polite and keep quiet while the Dems talk about

funding the war? Cindy is reminding them that the public elected them to stop the travesty of destruction that is ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

If people really took the time to think about the real evil of ALL of it, they would protest at every opportunity. But people need their happy thoughts... and they want us all to be polite and well behaved when we complain.

You know what gets me the most? It's the genocide that is being done to the middle east with depleted uranium. It destroys DNA. It's half life is 4.5 billion years. This tears me apart... the fact that both Bushes approved the use of depleted uranium -- hundreds of thousands of tons of this stuff are blowing in the wind in the middle east.

Polite?

[bigluckyfeet]

142. If the Dems

Do anything but fund the war,I will be very surprised.I just see more of the same.

[Nihil]

159. Hence the protest?

Maybe she's been so used to seeing the Dem leaders over the last 6 years
that when she hears the hypocrisy & paid-for interests rearing their heads,
it deserves a protest rather than yet more empty back-slapping praise ...

Good move? That's a matter of opinion (i.e., whether you believe that the
"majority (of one Lieberman)" will make a difference in terms of spine or
whether you believe that it is still business as usual).

Me, I'm undecided as I can understand the frustration on both sides of
the argument but I suspect that the next few weeks will prove who was
really right.

:shrug:

[LynzM]

68. I agree, nini

Great message, poor timing. Give them a day or two to get settled, I think?

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Tom Joad]

10. Pelosi has not yet said how she plans to force bush to get the troops home

they have had plenty of opportunity to do so. Glad Cindy is doing what she is doing. I wish Pelosi would represent her constituents in San Francisco and most of the country, who want the troops home NOW!

[BearSquirrel2]

157. This is because ...

This is because Nancy Pelosi is a shrewed politician. She realizes that Congress has very little ability to stop the war at this point. GW Bush is commander in chief. Any bill de-authorizing the war would be fili-bustered in the Senate or vetoed by GW Bush himself. So the war will go on as long as GW Bush (or Dick Cheney (or pretty much ANY Republican)) is president. I expect Republicans running in '08 will speak about "secret plans" to get us out of Iraq. Until then we're stuck with Chimpy.

[Tom Joad]

13. Although Harry Reid has indicated that he would support an escalation of the war.

Temporary, mind you. But he did say he would support MORE troops in Iraq. I hope he has taken that idiocy back by now.

[cali]

20. He has rescinded that

and it was actually a pretty clever piece of political maneuvering on his part.

[Tom Joad]

61. Oh yeah, it sure was clever. He wants the opposition to think he is insane.

Even i was fooled.

[dogday]

14. The Message I see is more troops going

to Iraq... Now that was not the message I wanted to send by voting for the Democrats...

[nini]

30. I agree.. I want them to fight it tooth and nail

Let's see what we hear these first few days of the session.

[azndndude]

19. Wait for what ?Our soldiers are dying by the minute.

[Beaverhausen]

24. everyone is paying attention to Cindy instead of this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3032493

[nini]

28. THANK YOU

This is Exactly what bothers me.



:hi:

[Beaverhausen]

31. Yeah, where's all the "way to go, Russ" posts?

:eyes:

[nini]

36. I put my comments

I love that guy!!!



:bounce:

[dogday]

33. I should of known it would be Russ

who would step up to the plate.... He walks the walk...

[frazzledmom]

45. Yeah cause you know we on DU can only pay attention

to one thing at a time... :eyes:

[BuyingThyme]

76. Yes, how can we pay attention to two tiny stories at one time?

[IronLionZion]

153. YES Thank you. Some Democrats ARE doin something. nt

[nini]

25. Wait for congress to come to session and they get off the ground

I'm not saying wait until next year and you know it.

[midnight]

41. I don't want to wait for all the formalities while soldiers die

needlessly untill we all get our paper and penicls in the upright position. We love ya Cindy. Bring them home now!

[LittleClarkie]

70. And the Dems can do exactly what until Congress actually gets going?

Wait until they're in their places and can actually act, that's for what.

[johncoby2]

35. Agreed. Her methods are killing the message. EOM

[mopinko]

88. oh, more concern

yeah, that's what we need.
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[nini]

109. When I figure out why my concern is a bad thing

I'll get back to you :shrug:

[omega minimo]

93. Their passive/aggressive stance has forced people to speak out LOUDLY

Maybe that's what they wanted?

[nini]

110. I'm not against speaking out

I don't want the message lost in the way it is done.

The focus is on the hype not the message now.. this thread is proving it.

[omega minimo]

113. How else IS it being done? Is it being done? A stronger position from the new Majority could have

precluded anyone's sense that this sort of action might be NECESSARY.

[LongTomH]

3. I hope she got applause!

Including at least some members of the Democratic caucus.

[Tom Joad]

4. Defunding the war must be the priority of the new congress.

Support Rep. Jim McGovern's bill to defund the war except those funds necessary to bring the troops out of Iraq.

[dogday]

7. Damn that Woman never ceases to

amaze me.... I give her a :thumbsup:

[Jacobin]

8. good for her

I hope she never stops until they are all home.
I don't care if its democrats, republicans, joeliebermans, shmucklicans, or whoever, this clusterfuck has got to end

[shance]

11. WAY TO GO CINDY!!!*****

Imagine if we all had as much conviction as she did.

"What a wonderful world this would be".

[malaise]

96. BIngo! n/t

[judaspriestess]

16. why she would irritate someone is beyond me

this woman has the GUTS AND COURAGE to stand up and say whats on many peoples minds. Thank you Cindy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

22. Why?

Because some people still don't want the troops to come home.

[nini]

Yes.. that's it!! We don't want the troops to come home!!!!!

:eyes:



It really is possible to agree with her message but question some of her methods.

[cali]

34. And you would be wrong.

Sorry, I do indeed want the troops to come home. I simply don't think Cindy Sheehan helps towards that goal at this point. And I'm sick of her hyperbole and imperious manner, not to mention her factual errors and her insistence on speaking for the voters. She doesn't speak for me.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. ...

"I do indeed want the troops to come home."

"She doesn't speak for me."

Well now you've gone and contradicted yourself. So which am I going to believe? Hmm. I'll pick the latter.

[cali]

43. What bullshit.

There's nothing contradictory about finding her delivery and her timing and the way she expresses herself counterproductive, and wanting the troops out immediately.

Who speaks for me? My elected reps in D.C., that's who.

[LiberalUprising]

118. Your elected reps in D.C.

are the problem

:wtf:

[AikidoSoul]

130. Imperious manner? Imperious means tyrannical, despotic and arrogant.

OMG...do you think she's being unduly influenced by getting too close to the Busheviks' imperial dynasty? Maybe it's from sitting in the dirt during all kinds of extreme wheather near the Crawford ranchero -- and it's making her feel royal and tyrannical?

[rodeodance]

17. a big REC

[DeeDeeNY]

18. Good for Cindy

It doesn't hurt to stop and remind them right now who their "bosses" are and to keep in mind that the voters overwhelmingly had
Iraq on their minds when they voted for change.

[lies and propaganda]

21. she fucking rocks so hard.

I hope Im an eighth of the mother she is one day.

[Nutmegger]

26. We're so lucky to have her.

:kick: for Cindy.

[williesgirl]

27. I think she needs to give them a chance to do their jobs and bring the troops home. Interrupting

their news conference isn't the way to do that.

[judaspriestess]

39. so maybe she should call in advance and set up an appt?

what other methods does she have?

[NYCGirl]

71. If she did that, the might be pleasantly surprised at the response. This isn't the

GOP she's dealing with, you know.

[AikidoSoul]

131. Good luck. What a hopeful thing. A meeting.

I'd rather hear the noise thank you. People remember noise -- not polite meetings.

And politicians understand noise. They're professional noisemakers.

[orleans]

32. ALRIGHT CINDY! thank you sweetie.

(and to think she interrupted rahm! haha!)

[tridim]

37. At least she's addressing the right people now

She fully understands it's a waste of time to demand the Repukes do the right thing.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

40. Give it to 'em Cindy. Don't let them weasel out of the responsibilities.

The delicious irony is that she's speaking at a discussion of "ethics" held by politicians.

[frazzledmom]

42. So many of you agree with her message but not her

methods. Well, points for you, because your method seems to be shining a seat with your ass and complaining while she does all the work. How many of you who are complaining about her not waiting, complained about Bush waiting to make his "surge" decision? Are you going to tell that to the kid who gets killed in Iraq tomorrow or next week or next month that "Cindy didn't wait long enough"? Or maybe you want to call some of the parents that sit up at night waiting to see if their child is sent home in a body bag that Cindy needs to "wait" till you feel it's politically expedient to get their kids home..

[madfloridian]

44. Excuse me? "Shining a seat" with our asses? Excuse me?

:think:

[frazzledmom]

47. Yeah... Did you need that in a dfferent language?

Or is it just me that finds it ironic that people will complain about someone who is actually out there doing something while they bitch about it on the internet?

[madfloridian]

69. Who are you to judge other people? What a smart-ass answer.

:puke:

What do you mean do I "need that in another language." ?

What the hell does that mean?

[Lerkfish]

46. well, usually to hold someone accountable, they have to have been in

power longer than a few hours.

:shrug:

[frazzledmom]

49. Who is she holding accountable?

The Bush administration. She's out there demanding that the Dems do what they were voted in for, and she's doing it as fast as possible to save as many lives as she can. What a horrible person she is :eyes:

[Lerkfish]

55. ummm

Sheehan said that she was joined by 70 protestors to hold the Democrats accountable, saying are pressing incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the new Democratic leadership to stop authorizing additional funds for the Iraq war.

[Ediacara]

60. You know she could just ask to speak with Pelosi

I bet she'd agree to meet with Sheehan, instead of Sheehan needing to make an asinine spectacle out of herself.... Doesn't she understand we won? She needn't aim the weapons at her allies.

[shance]

48. Well said Frazzledmom. Thank you.

It amazes me the guilded tower criticisms and the judgement coming from those who know nothing about what these families are experiencing, but boy they can criticize, while as you so eloquently put it, shining a seat with their asses.

Its easy for any of us to criticize those who are doing the 'real work' while comfortably shining our seats.

What separates the men/women from the boys/girls is the act of lifting out butts out of the seats and taking action.

Thank you again for posting.

[madfloridian]

73. Do you really agree with that judgemental statement about shining asses?

Do you really? If you do, then realize she is including a lot of good people. Myself as well. People who have fought against the war from the beginning.

It was not a nice thing to say.

[walldude]

117. NO less nice than calling Cindy a Crackpot, Crazy

or asinine spectacle".

[madfloridian]

124. Well, I did not do that. This is love Cindy or die day at DU.

.

[Beaverhausen]

50. Do you know who Russ Feingold is?

well, there is a thread about him somewhere here introducing legislation for a timetable to get out of Iraq. You might want to check it out before you spout off any more crap.

[frazzledmom]

52. Gimme a break... I responded to your Feingold response

where it belonged. Sorry if you can only handle talking about one thing at a time, most of us can manage to multitask.

[Beaverhausen]

57. She is diverting attention from a senator who is actually doing something

about getting us out of Iraq. How is that helping?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

59. Wasn't she talking to the House of Reps? Not the senate?

It sounds like she's aligning herself with Feingold rather than "diverting attention".

[AikidoSoul]

132. Diverting attention? Her words didn't take more than 20 secs

Do you really think that she stole the attention and that now Feingold's propsal will die? That is so wrongheaded. She has every right to "steal" a minute or less to try to save lives and stop this evil.

Just as you have a right to "steal" attention with your opinion.

Geez

[nini]

114. the point is - SOMETHING IS BEING DONE!!

Feingold is trying to get it done and he needs the attention now.

[Greyhound]

56. WTF are you talking about? Did you reply in the right place?

The OP is simply the article from CNN with no commentary attached.

[frazzledmom]

58. Apologies.. this was not meant for Kpete but all the people

in this thread who seem to think that her "timing" is all wrong... She's drawing attention away from poor Russ Feingold who is doing his job. Pssst.. if you are so worried that she is drawing attention from Russ Feingold then don't pay attention to her, if you can't avoid it then complain to the media.

[nini]

115. So are you saying Sheehan deserves the attention for saying ...

congress needs to bring the troops home by interrupting a press conference instead of the person ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIX IT?


:rofl:

[walldude]

116. No.. what I'm saying is the press conference had nothing

to do with Iraq and thats why she was there. This wasn't a press conference for Feingolds legislation... Don't make me waste my time...

[Greyhound]

51. Nothing in the story about Rahm's reaction.

Anybody got the 411? A video would be even better. I'm curious to see if has become better at hiding his anger when a "nobody" interrupts him.

[mzteris]

54. oh good grief

she's losing credibility by the stunt, imo.

I'm beginning to think she's doing more harm than good anymore. I think it's time she got off the front pages for a while. She's beginning to come off like a crackpot.


Guess I'd better put on my flame suit now.

:hide:

[BuyingThyme]

62. Pelosi is the crackpot.

It's the likes of Cindy Sheehan who lead this country while the Emanuels and Pelosis of the world have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, towards what used to be our standards of democracy.

[Phillycat]

81. You know what, it's unnecessary to call either of these amazing women

crackpots. Why must we always, inevitably eat our own? This thread makes me sad.

[BuyingThyme]

89. We must support the people who do the right thing, and

attack those who don't.

It's ain't pretty, but some think it's worth dying for.

[Morgana LaFey]

103. Well then who died and left YOU sole arbiter of "what's right"?

Eh?

[BuyingThyme]

105. I didn't even cite an example. You should save your

silly, appropriated response for a time when it might make sense.

In the meantime, look up the word democracy.

[Morgana LaFey]

102. There are so many DUers -- too many -- who just don't understand

the nature of PROTEST.

PROTEST isn't intended to make nice and get along good. It's intended to rock the damn boat, and rock it hard, and to wake people the fuck UP. And, frankly, it's a little like that line about publicity: any publicity is good, just be sure to spell my name right. There will ALWAYS be people who blame her; there will ALWAYS be a few people who don't agree (hell! There are still people who think we shouldn't have given up on Vietnam!!!!!!!). Her job as a protester isn't to gain praise from THOSE folks, OR the people who are too dainty and ladylike to ever want to get their own hands dirty or witness others doing so.

Get a clue, people.

[mzteris]

104. I understand about

not alienating the public.

About not losing the message because the messenger is dismissed with disdain because they're just a liiiiiiiiiittle bit over the top.

[Morgana LaFey]

121. You understand nothing then.

"Not alienating the public" is a position that would have us still "enjoying" slavery." Not alienating the public" would have women still not being able to vote, and still being chattel under the ownership of their male "betters."

And in this particular instance, the public is probaby way ahead of you. Most of "the public" is against the war -- do you REALLY think they're going to object to a grieving mom "reminding" the Dems of what they were swept into office to do? I don't. Not for one minute.

Finally, I posted this in a different thread. You may want to ponder it at length. It couldn't be more true:


"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has, and never will.” - Frederick O. Douglass

[mzteris]

123. give me a break.

here's a quote for you:

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim. George Santayana.

[AikidoSoul]

134. Yes Morgana! You said it exactly right. And when you stand up

and speak out many people think that you're "loud", "obnoxious" or "not polite". Trying to win popularity by being cute and folding your hands nicely in your lap is not what Cindy does.

[Morgana LaFey]

161. Rocking the boat inevitably creates discomfort --

that's the risk AND the benefit of doing so.

[novalib]

63. GOOD ON CINDY!!!!

NOT ONE MORE!!!!

Not ONE MORE PERSON should DIE in *'s ILLEGAL WAR OF AGGRESSION!!!

If Cindy is PASSIONATE about THAT as an ISSUE -- I say GOOOD ON CINDY!!!!

Get out Troops THE FUCK OUT of Iraq!!

NOW!!!!!!!

[JNelson6563]

64. I'm here because I'm not ready for my 15 minutes to be up

Always sad to see when a great personality becomes the headline, instead of the cause they set out to represent.

Julie

[shadowknows69]

75. Cindy's about the only one who has been able or willing

to get out there and make the "Cause" get headlines. Keep it up. I'm sure Cindy would gladly trade her "fame" to have Casey back.

[madfloridian]

80. There are many of us who fight locally against the war...

and we have been since 2002, October, when they voted for Bush to have much more power than he could use wisely.

Attacking good people while defending Cindy is not a good thing.

I agree, she did this before, listened to some people who encouraged her to attack good Democrats who opposed the war and praise some who voted for it. Never did figure that out.

[shadowknows69]

83. I attacked who exactly?

I've been a fighter too. I don't think any of us need to post our activism resume but bottom line, she's out there working right now and we are here typing.

[madfloridian]

85. I have been working all day.

I have already made one newspaper editor snap at me for being insistent they start having decent coverage about Iraq. He said all I could think about was Iraq. He's right.

I have two reporters getting cross now, because they think everything is fine in Iraq. They don't like the facts I call and write them about.

But I am not going to say it is a good thing to interrupt our Demoratic press conferences when they have not even been given a chance yet.

[AikidoSoul]

135. What a total crock. You missed the point. You can't separate Cindy

from the message and they're both part of the story.

Your argument is not only weak, but specious.

[LWolf]

65. Good. n/t

[closeupready]

66. She helped make opposing the war more mainstream, whereas

the mainstream media wanted us all to sit down and shut up. She deserves lots of credit, she turned a personal tragedy into something positive for others, and while I wouldn't necessarily choose her tactics, I like her and admire her courage and determination.

[Lars39]

77. There is not one person here who would trade places with Cindy Sheehan.

She got their attention and was able to put her expectations(and a lot of ours)across to them.
Now let's see what they do to fulfill those expectations.

[rolleitreks]

78. The woman has had well past her 15 minutes. Bum's rush. n/t

[Alamom]

91. Do you mean that people who lose a son or daughter in B**h's

Invasion deserve only 15 minutes and then they should just "Shut up?"

[dogday]

94. It's a shame her Son Casey will never

get 15 minutes of anything in his life, ever...

Cindy's son died for a lie, a falsehood planted by this administration and Tony Blair...

How do you put a time limit on that?

Cindy is not going to stop until this lie of a war is over, it is that simple......

[mzmolly]

79. I love what she's doing. But it wasn't just the grass roots/anti war movement

that elected Dems for "change" it was a cross section of America.

Thanks for holding feet to the fire Cindy!

[EFerrari]

97. Tomorrow there is a demonstration outside Nancy's office.

My sign will read, "Nancy, YOU set the table now / Impeach Bush/Cheney"

You go, Cindy.

:loveya:

[Pastiche423]

98. Cindy speaks for me

Especially when it's to Rahm Emanuel. He is going to hurt the Dems - he's already been trying.

[Individualist]

122. and for me

[AikidoSoul]

136. Especially when he trashed the grassroots work by Dean

and took the credit for the elections. Ooops. I'm feeling kinda impolite right now.

[Hippo_Tron]

99. If the Dems don't force Bush's hand, they deserve to have their new conference interrupted

If I were Cindy I would at least let Pelosi take office first, but I can't say that I disagree with her. We need to get out of Iraq ASAP.

[Fire Walk With Me]

100. More power to Cindy. This is exactly how we have to work to regain the country.

[madfloridian]

101. Here's what it looks like:

We either "approve" of Cindy's tactic, interrupting a Dem press conference before they even take control....or we are accused of being Cindy haters and "shining our asses" on seats while doing nothing.

There seems to be no in-between for those like me who sympathize with her and appreicate most of her efforts...but reserve the right to disagree on some of her tactics.

That's a shame.

[mzteris]

106. yup.

A) I don't agree with ANYBODY 100% of the time.

B) A little constructive criticism never hurt anyone.

C) There's a place for demonstrations and outrageous behaviour, and there's a place for diplomacy and tact. If done to excess, after a while outrageous becomes ho-hum, and you lose your ability to affect people, except negatively.

[nini]

111. Agreed.. I'm the in-between of which you speak

.

[tammywammy]

126. Agreed

I'm in the middle. I haven't posted before on the Cindy threads because it is either you're with her or against her with some of the posters here.

I think Cindy should have let them actually get to their offices and maybe have a chance to do something, instead of interrupting the press conference. And interrupting the press conference looks like it was a PR move to get her on the front page again, or at least that's exactly how it will play in the MSM. I want action from our new leaders, but I'm willing to let them actually get into office before I start saying they're collaborating with the Republicans.

Also, I've seen a few posts where they say that Cindy's given more to this country and therefore no one should be able to criticize her actions. That's completely wrong. I will always defend her right to speak out against the war, but all the same, I'll be retaining my right to criticize.

[AikidoSoul]

139. You sound like a nice girl. You're probably embarrassed by those

who speak out and disrupt things. And of course that's your right. If I remember correctly, I do believe many people have been willing to die for that freedom.

But being quiet and polite is worth nothing if the message is not heard. Or heeded. Having little meetings that never see the light of day, smothered in politeness, nodding heads, empty promises....

what good does it do?

This Congress needs public shaming. It was wrong and continues to be wrong. Somebody needs to tell them REGULARLY AND LOUDLY.

And when the public hears about it -- EVEN THEY think about it.

It gets us thinking and talking.

It worked didn't it?

Would we be doing this if she politely met with some Dems in some office somewhere, out of the limelight so to speak?

[nini]

155. "It gets us thinking and talking."

She is not responsible for us talking about the war - That statement is exactly my point - we're not talking about the WAR - we're talking about her methods - there's a BIG difference.

I never said she should be quiet - I think Cindy's message was loud and clear at Camp Casey and in her quest to get some kind of answer from * (she made him look like the evil bastard he is with that tactic), when she tried to deliver signatures to the UN, etc.. I believe she is completely correct in her message and admire her guts to do what she does while suffering the pain of losing her son.

WHAT I am trying to say is I wish she would use her popularity to continue to have her message HEARD not lost in the hoopla. It's a tough balancing act to be sure but she will be much more effective if she isn't seen as a hysterical nutcase on TV.

The media is wanting to make her look like a nut and she is helping them at times with some of the methods.

"This Congress needs public shaming." - before they even took office?? :shrug:

[kitty1]

140. The borderline between making a statement and grandstanding..

can be a fine one. I would also state that I am on middle ground here as well. Though I strongly appreciate all that Cindy has done for the anti war cause, especially in view of her son's ultimate sacrifice.
I have to say that the envelope is invariably being pushed more so with the mob mentality that is pervasive in her demonstrations lately.
You can make a valid point without always requiring the riot police to show up and chaos to ensue with a scene..That is not accomplishing your mission. It's just bringing negative attention to a situation and doesn't accomplish anything. Try arranging some dignified meetings first with politicians.

[AikidoSoul]

141. Dignfied meetings with politicians?

They can all be pretty dignified alright. Even when they send people to war for lies. All the people who are dying.... I wonder if they feel dignified too?

[kitty1]

143. All I'm saying is, a verbal smackdown in anger is not.....

going to accomplish anymore. It's only going to incite more hate and backlash. Sure, we all know that there's nothing dignified about what this administration is doing and what those troops are going through.
If Cindy and others like her are not allowed their voice thru mediation, and all else fails, then yes, the masses should protest and make themselves heard. Not at a press conference like that. She doesn't even know their agenda yet. Martin Luther King never encouraged revolt with his cause. In face he encourage the opposite and look what he accomplished.

[donco6]

133. That appears to be the long and short of it. eom

[AikidoSoul]

138. Your words are too hostile towards Cindy to be believable

re-read your posts.

[pberq]

107. Go Cindy! - recommended

[Vinca]

108. Good for Cindy and good for all the people who call

Washington Journal and make the point they voted for Democrats because they want Bush impeached.

[derby378]

112. I don't have to agree with everything Cindy says or does...

...but goshdarnit, she hit the nail right on the head today. You go, girl.

[Imagevision]

119. I agree with Cindy, can't allow Dems to sit on their campiagn victories with no results!!

The people voted for change!!

[midnight]

144. Thats right, we voted to bring the troops home.

Bring them home.

[EstimatedProphet]

120. I don't have a problem with her doing this

Because what she is saying is "I WILL hold you responsible", not "I ALREADY hold you responsible"

[uppityperson]

125. Go Cindy, hold their feet to the fire, don't let them weasel out.

I stand WITH Cindy

[Jcrowley]

127. People are tired of waiting for the murders in Mesopotamia

to desist. Cindy is not simply "not waiting" she is anticipating based on what we have all seen the last 6 years.

Hey a bloated defense budget with a built-in supplemental passed 100-0 so I'd say she's got some evidence for her skepticism and a proper sense of urgency.

Seems there are some people who want to play nice, no conflict, no drama etcetera. Complete nonsense.

Perhaps we could exhume MLK and Fannie Lou Hamer and get their thoughts on playing nice and where it gets ya with power-hungry barracudas.

Well done Miss Sheehan.

K&R

[GeorgeGist]

128. It would appear that Cindy's interruption...

has brought some of the chickens out of their hidey-holes. Thank you, Cindy.

[ecstatic]

137. The question is, why aren't more of us as angry as Cindy?

When you're angry as hell and refuse to accept anymore BS regardless of which party its coming from, this is what happens. I know its only been a few hours, but we've already had Ms. Pelosi declare that Mr. War Criminal won't have to worry about being impeached. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in those of us who waited patiently for the victory we experienced last year. In fact, by now, some of us are downright f*cking pissed off and ready to direct the same vitriol we've held for Bush towards anyone who enables him, despite claiming to be a Democrat.

I can't get mad at Cindy. She speaks for me.

[UrbScotty]

145. Oops - guess she thought it was the House GOP's press conference

Oh well. We all do that sort of thing sometimes.

[Clarkie1]

146. I'm not happy the Dems news conference was interrupted.

There are better ways for them to get their point across. They ought to let the Democrats at least get sworn in before they start heckling.

[donheld]

148. Praise be unto Ms Sheehan. We need many more to do what she does. n/t

[Voltaire99]

149. Give 'em hell, Cindy!

Starting with Rahmbo and Hillary, go after these pols until they honor the public will. Protest, clamor, and expose them for what they are: full collaborators with Bush in this dirty war.

They think the next few months will just be useful for padding their chances in 2008. Some hearings. Some speeches. While the war drags on.

Nope.

The election wasn't about them, which they don't seem to understand. It was about ending the war. Let's help them figure it out.

[babydollhead]

151. kick

[rman]

152. k&r

[lebkuchen]

154. Pennsylvania soldier dies of wounds from roadside bomb

Sgt. Edward W. Shaffer, who was based in Friedberg, Germany, was burned over most of his body by a roadside bomb in Iraq before he later died of his wounds in the U.S., according to a newspaper report.

“He had a skin graft and it didn’t take, so from that point on, they couldn’t do anything more for him,” Edward L. Shaffer, his grandfather, told The Herald-Mail newspaper, based in Hagerstown, Md. “The infection took over.”

Shaffer’s hands and left foot had to be amputated, the paper reported.

In Shaffer’s final days, his father, Edward C. Shaffer, and his mother, Brenda, would talk to him “and they said sometimes it looked like he had a smile ... but there wasn’t any real communication,” according to the grandfather.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=42542

[Major Hogwash]

156. What's on her agenda today?

Is she going to protest the local Dairy Queen for selling "blizzards" during the winter?

[Moochy]

164. Agenda

WTF are you talking about? At least your name fits.

[Jcrowley]

158. CINDY SHEEHAN DID WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO

"I am glad has realized the need for increasing the size of the armed forces... but this is where the Democrats have been for two years," commented Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the new House Democratic Caucus chairman.) The Democratic leadership promptly pledged to make such an expansion one of its top reform priorities in the New Year.

What Cindy and the other activists did is what we all need to do. Left to itself, the government is going to continue to rubber-stamp the war machine. They will do their job of representing We The People only when We The People make it clear we will let them do nothing else.

Forget "Free speech zones". Take the protests right into the legislative chambers. Be polite, be firm, AVOID VIOLENCE, but get in there and get your message across.

No More War! No More War Funds!

Troops Home NOW!

[Faryn Balyncd]

160. Why does it take Cindy Sheehan and Robert Parry to remind our "leadership" of the real priorities???

Why can't our Congressional "leadership" commit on their own to the REAL PRIORITIES?

Why does it take constant reminders by Cindy Sheehan and Robert Parry for our "leadership" to realize that if we don't address the Iraq War and reign in the Bush regime, the support of the public will be transient:

ROBERT PARRY:"Dems, We're Citizens, Not Consumers"


As the Democrats regain control of Congress for the first time in 12 years, the party leaders still don't seem to understand the forces that sent them into the wilderness in 1994 or the reasons they were summoned back in 2006......Typical of their cluelessness was a "100 Hours Survey" distributed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in mid-December. The survey asked Democratic contributors to rank nine priority issues in order of importance for the new Congress.....

No reference was made to ending the Iraq War, launching investigative hearings on President George W. Bush's actions, reasserting checks and balances on the Executive, or restoring constitutional safeguards that have been overridden during the "war on terror," such as the habeas corpus right to a fair trial.

Though many issues on the DCCC's priority list surely have merit, what's missing is any commitment to the larger purpose of the American Republic. ....... The Democratic leaders have yet to grasp that the transcendent principles of democracy were a major factor in the national rejection of Bush and the Republican congressional majority on Nov. 7.....

The Democratic leaders don't even seem capable of mounting a spirited fight against Bush's plan to escalate the Iraq War despite the clear will of the voters, the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, and the advice of Bush's own military commanders.......The Democrats just can't kick their old habit of treating Americans like consumers, rather than citizens.........If the congressional Democrats don't change their ways soon, they will have alienated not only much of their own base but many of the independents and traditional conservatives who hoped the Democrats could rise above their old-fashioned interest-group politics...... A promising opportunity for a new national unity - derived from the founding principles of the nation - will have been squandered.

We need to FOCUS on MORE than the DCCC's priority list..... We need to support Feingold and Murtha.

As Parry points out, some Democratic "leaders" think that the lesson to be learned from the Republican self-destruction is to "avoid partisanship" and only address consensus issues.

As Parry points out, they've got the message exactly backwards. if we fail to get behind Feingold and Murtha, if we fail to address the BIG ISSUES, our majority will be as doomed as the Republicans.

[KoKo]

162. Good on YOU Cindy! Keep their feet to fire!

I met here when she was here in NC..and she was speaking the truth THEN and she SPEAKS IT NOW!

Even if some Dems want to "hang back waiting" ...some of us are TIRED OF WAITING and realize that WE HAVE TO PULL THEM BACK FROM THE CENTER/LEFT...we've gotta do it.

Whatever way we can do it...and it might not be Cindy's way...because some of our time is very short as to what we can do...but we gotta KEEP IT ALIVE! KEEP IT GOING! BIG MO!

[mvd]

163. Well good - both sides need the pressure

Most of her protests have focused on the Repukes, so no big deal here IMO.