Thank you, Cindy.

[WilliamPitt]

Thank you for taking the suffering you endured with the loss of your son and turning it into action.

Thank you for putting your entire life on hold so you can be a voice for peace and justice.

Thank you for the courage you have displayed time and again in the face of police harrassment, arrests and death threats from those who would just as soon have you tie a yellow ribbon and shut up.

Thank you for doing something in an age when "political action" only means sending emails and posting on message boards for far too many others.

Thank you for giving the American people a face - yours - that represents the suffering and loss of thousands of military families. Thank you for making this war a real and living thing to all the Americans whose only attachment to it comes during two minutes of the nightly news.

Thank you for doing it the way you think it should be done. I am often guilty of thinking about things strategically, and soft-pedaling an issue so as to avoid causing distress or complications for Democrats. You just act out of conscience, and are better than I am because of it.

Thank you for reminding those Democrats that their victory in November, and newfound majority power, comes with responsibilities and expectations far beyond making sure the budget allocations pass and the trains run on time. The war is their responsibility now, so thank you for making sure they don't forget it.

Thank you for being a friend.

[barbtries]

1. i second that

she will go down in history as the catalyst of the iraq war peace movement

[roguevalley]

42. she started the turnaround for everything. losing a kid to a psycho

makes all things clear. god bless her warrior heart.

[Horse with no Name]

2. I agree.

I know she turns some people off...however, her son PAID with his own blood for his mom's freedom of speech.
And that is really what is comes down to.

[Ghost in the Machine]

34. You stated the obvious so simply, yet so perfectly clear that *anyone*

should be able to understand it... Whether you like Cindy or not, Casey's blood has guaranteed her rights and freedom to speak out. The same with any other family who has lost a loved one in this insane war. Unless we have personally served, had a family member serve during wartime or lost someone to war, I think the rest of us just have rights by proxy. The military families have rights written in blood and tears. Bring the troops home NOW!

PEACE!

Ghost

[Patsy Stone]

3. Thank you, Will

A lovely tribute and a great reminder of what courage is.

[mike_c]

4. agreed 100 percent....

Cindy Sheehan is the heart, soul, and conscience of the anti-war movement today.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. I Knew There Would Come A Time. First Big Post Of Yours I Find Myself Disagreeing With A Bit.

I thank her for so many things. I'm thankful to her for so many things. Much of what you wrote I can definitely agree with and understand completely why you write it.

I just personally think she's starting to go too far with the rhetoric, and that it is now at the point where it is more detriment than helpful.

I think the Democrats have a huge responsibility starting tomorrow. I just don't think they should be browbeaten into submission before they've even yet begun. I also don't think they should be called as criminal as republicans before they've even had a chance. I just can't stand behind her 100% on that level of rhetoric and action, regardless of how honorable and actionable she's been in the past.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

11. I Feel The Same Way

I appreciate and agree with the majority of Mr. Pitt's posts, obvious exceptions of course. But I think it's a bit unfair to go after them so quickly. Puts them and the party in an uncomfortable position right from the start.

Give them a chance to clean up all the Shit that's been pooped on the American people by the repubs over the past years. We're talking about a LOT of SHIT!! It's going to take time, and not everything will be fixed right away.

And King George is ultimately still the "President Bystander," so even with Congress, we'll be able to only do so much. It will take time to crack through that wall which was built up....perhaps never....but I am confident that the Democrats will not only accomplish a lot, but further destroy whatever image george has left.

But don't make ourselves look bad by starting to divide the party, or give the perception we're not doing anything before we've even had the chance. Let's not give them months and years, but at least start by giving them a few hours and days. Last I checked it was January 3 and yesterday was a National Day Of Mourning. Wait for results, and then criticize if they don't materialize in a timely fashion. 1 Day does not meet that criteria IMO.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Unfair to go after them so quickly?

OK. I guess it's also unfair for the troops that get killed waiting around for the more timid congressmen to figure out that we need to get out of Iraq yesterday.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

29. We're Not Going ANYWHERE!!

Everybody get it through your heads. WE'RE NOT LEAVING WHILE GEORGE IS IN OFFICE!!!!! IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!!

The Democrats are not able to suddenly rewrite the Constitution to gain control of the Executive Branch along with it's many powers.

One of which includes being Commander In Chief. Another includes the $$$$$$$$$ which was given to him by the PREVIOUS Congress.

If we confuse everyone by making them think the Democrats are doing a poor job, or doing NOTHING, we will Lose in '08. THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH, and they can only perform over time.

So DEAL WITH IT!! The killing will be going on in February, in December, and probably in September 2008!!!! In time, the Dems will convey to those willing to listen, that it's George who was responsible for this Fucked Up Catastrophe, and that he's responsible for keeping us there, against the will of the people. That's the best we can do, because if George wants to increase troop levels, he's going to increase troop levels. We have to put up resistence on what we can, and exercise control with what we can. While trying to put forward bills the majority of the American public agree with.

I'll say it again for those unclear. WE'RE NOT LEAVING IRAQ UNTIL JANUARY 2009 AT THE EARLIEST!! During that time, things will not get better, either the same or worse. All we can hope for is the Dems to show they have tried to do what they could, but were met with opposition by the "decider," and his 23% base of Morons.

[VelmaD]

30. I was wondering whan someone was going to state the glaringly obvious

We can yell and scream and do everything in our power to influence the Democrats in Congress and try to hold their feet to the fire...but they ARE NOT IN CHARGE. After everyone gets sworn in tomorrow, George will STILL be pretzeldent and Commander in Chief. And I think we're all pretty clear at this point that he's not at all inclined to bring one single soldier home.

[dailykoff]

40. Yes they are. They hold the pursestrings.

Drastic? Yes. But they'll cut off funds in a nanosecond if they think their jobs are on the line.

[AikidoSoul]

65. Cindy knew the Dems were going to decide and vote on the war budget

So don't give us this "give them a chance" crap. The timing is now for the budget.

You all are giving me a headache.

Your rhetoric is what is disturbing here -- again, you don't get it. It's her job to do what she is doing. Be glad she's doing it. They need to be reminded every second that this nation is in deep pain and in big trouble about this illegal, evil war.

While you may be right -- that we won't get out right away -- the pressure must never stop... no matter what -- to do what's necessary TO GET OUT!

[pberq]

19. Yes - let's just let the killing go on and on

It's more important that the Democratic party look united than worry about the daily slaughter in Iraq.
:sarcasm:

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. Many Dems have changed their mind about the war

since being elected in November. That's why Cindy did what she did yesterday and that is why she is browbeating them now.

[Dangerman]

6. Thank you Cindy...

for everything.

[Alamom]

7. Thank you for writing such a powerful tribute to a truly courageous

woman.

[LSK]

8. Cindy and the DSM have done more to change America about Iraq

Than probably anything else.

I do indeed thank her for all she has done.

Regarding what she did today, I just cannot make up my mind whether its good or bad.

I am willing to give Congress a little time to wait and see what happens. However, I am not against giving them a good swift kick in the ass as a reminder of why they are there.

I don't know if it will come to a point when people will start to tune Cindy out or not.

I just don't know.

[mopinko]

21. some food for thought.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3036575&mesg_id=3036575

[proud patriot]

9. Thank You Cindy

You will always be an inspiration to me .

:patriot:

[many a good man]

10. Truer words were never spoken

She's an American classic. Go Cindy!

[SnoopDog]

12. We fight and protest to get the Republicans out of office… Now we

FIGHT like hell to make sure our Democratic Party officials do their job properly.

Ms. Sheehan is just doing what she is suppose to do – a lot more than too many fellow Americans.

For those who do not realize this yet – our job has just begun. We must go gangbusters on our letters, calls and protests and dictate our future.

Otherwise, the world will know that we as a people are totally inept.

[NanceGreggs]

13. Thank you, WiliamPitt ...

... for reminding us all who the real heroes are, what they have sacrificed, what they do, and why they deserve our gratitude.

[Rex]

14. What one mother can do is amazing!

Mothers of the world unite!

[Jacobin]

16. Very well said. Agree 100 percent

[bullwinkle428]

17. Cindy was GROUND ZERO for the populist anti-war movement in this country!!

I'm really not sure if the state of the anti-war sentiment in America would be where it is today without Cindy's initial actions in Crawford. I appreciate this wonderful tribute to her, Will. :applause:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

18. You know...

There just really isn't such a thing as a bad time to hold a modern politician's feet to the fire.

Better that Cindy lets the congresscritters know that some of us are awake and watching out here, then letting them get lulled into a false sense of security and complacency. It will serve them better in the long run.

They work better, for us, when their sphincters are well torqued down.

[pberq]

20. Great post, Will

Cindy is the conscience of the nation. There is not enough good that can be said about her.

[bleever]

22. Thank you, Cindy.

And thank you for laying it out, Will.

[liberalnurse]

23. Thank you Will............

You too are a Knight!

[Dr.Phool]

24. I think she needed to give Rahm a reminder

Of the real reason we took back both houses. It had more to do with her, than him.

[Shakespeare]

25. Thanks, Will.

And I hope Cindy knows how many of us share your feelings.

[kstewart33]

26. A Cindy fan, but today was a wrong move.

The event got the wingnuts all hot and bothered, and that's no help at all at this point.

Blocking the surge will be tremendously difficult to do, and I hope the Dems have the courage and smarts to do it. But piling on during their first press conference did nothing to help this effort.

The Dems know what they have to do. They don't need a stunt like this to remind them.

Flame away.

[AikidoSoul]

67. Who cares if she got the " wingnuts are getting hot and bothered"?!

She got a lot of folks going -- and that's good.

Her voice is a lonely one, but at least she's speaking out, and you, me and a lot of other people are talking about it. See! She succeeded!

[Bjornsdotter]

27. Absolutely

We need to keep reminding our elected officials what we expect of them.

Thank-you Cindy!

Cheers

[bigtree]

28. ditto that

:kick:

[stevedeshazer]

31. She's incredible

Truth.

Check it out.

[judaspriestess]

32. thank you indeed Cindy

more power to you!!

[zulchzulu]

33. I wholeheartedly agree!

No time to let go. It's time to show what we are made of.

[unkachuck]

35. thank you Will and Cindy....

....I couldn't agree more....

....Are we still in Iraq?....Why?....Isn't anybody listening?....Out of Iraq, Now!!....

....or how about, Cindy for President, 2008!!

[mmonk]

36. Amen

[A-Schwarzenegger]

37. I'm with her all the way as long as she is polite, nice, courteous,

ladylike, never raises her voice, doesnt upset anybody,
makes sure that her protests have been approved by proper
authorities as to target and timing, wears a modest dress
at all times, and stops her protest and leaves immediately
when asked by anybody who is upset by her, her tactics, or
her failure to not have more issues than that little war.
I think we all agree that nice manners and courteous timing
are what is going to stop this war. Certainly no war was ever
stopped by annoying somebody.

[tabasco]

38. Haha! Great!

:kick:

[mmonk]

64. pffffft

:spray:

[dailykoff]

39. "The war is their responsibility now,

so thank you for making sure they don't forget it."

Exactly!

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

41. Well, go Giants.

:)

[cali]

43. I hope you understand that

not everyone who disagrees with Cindy Sheehan's current tactics is a DLC loving, war mongering monster. There should be room for respectful disagreement.

[WilliamPitt]

45. Of course.

No disrespect was intended by this post in any way, shape or form.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mod mom]

49. Amen! Thank you Cindy!

[Individualist]

53. I second that emotion!

[Hekate]

46. Thank you Cindy. And thank you, Will, for posting this tribute now.

:hi:

Hekate

[Gregorian]

47. Thank you for representing us Cindy.

And thank you Will for all of your work.

[CrispyQ]

48. Well said.

Those first two photos are heartbreaking.

Go Cindy!

[derby378]

50. I'll go even further...

Without Cindy Sheehan, there might not have been a Democratic victory in 2006. She showed us all that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

[grace0418]

62. ***ONE MORE BIG REASON TO THANK HER...***

Thank you for continuing to fight even when people supposedly on the same side of the issue are telling you to shut up. I just don't understand how people think change is going to happen in this world if not for people like you, Cindy, doing what you do.

[elehhhhna]

51. Every woman or man who's ever started a movement has been dismissed as

a nut. Every single one.


First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win.

Ghandi...who was also dismissd as a nut.

[Phentex]

54. Yes!

Well said.



THANK YOU, CINDY!

[elehhhhna]

73. lol I spelled Gandhi wrong though. I guess that can be the '"laugh at " me part.

Seriously--I went to camp casey August of '05 and if Jeebus himself were around i bet he'd have popped in, too

[NoSheep]

52. Kick!

:kick: :yourock:

[donsu]

55. thank you Cindy, hugs and kisses

nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. A-frickin-men!!

Love those pictures!

Nice job, Will. Thanks for putting it so beautifully.

[helderheid]

57. THANK YOU CINDY!

:loveya: :patriot: :loveya:

[watercolors]

59. I'm with her !00 %

I want my grandson home! The public does not tlike this war , the reason Dems won! We have to hammer home this insane war must end and our troops must come home.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

60. Well said. The "leaders" need to be led.

[Jcrowley]

61. 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!

[Senator]

63. Ah... Bukowski's in the sunshine

Poetry indeed.

And Will, I'd "follow" you there anytime.

Good to see http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-03-2007/0004499112&EDATE=">Cindy is "pushing" you a bit.

But if we don't start hearing Only Impeachment out of you soon, it's going to be tantamount to "retreat". And I think you know it.

Please, let's not go there.

--

[JackBeck]

66. One million percent with you.

All those haters can suck it!

[AikidoSoul]

68. Will Pitt -- Thanks for honoring Cindy

Am hoping someone will forward this entire thread to her to cheer her up.

Maybe it will help make up for the load flack she's getting about "timing" and "stunts" and "inappropriate rhetoric" and all the other trivial crap that makes me ill.

Love to Cindy -- and to all the rest of those fine folk who work with her to keep this war in the forefront of public discussion.

:kick:

[H2O Man]

69. Well, I like her, but .....

I really wish she were a Yankees fan. I mean she's done a lot for democrats and everything. But no one likes the Boston Red Sox. Our party shouldn't be associated with the lunatic fringe that does.

[ClassWarrior]

70. Amen. Our work doesn't end today.

It just begins.

Never Give Up.

[katsy]

71. k/r

Thanks Will.

[SalviaBlue]

72. Thank you Cindy!

[dogday]

74. Thank you Cindy

You keep on blazing the trail and I support what you do....

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

75. Thank You, Cindy.

You are a true blessing to this Country.

And thank you, too, William.