Boxer urges Sheehan to not challenge Feinstein

[Newsjock]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/07/MNGDLH46FB5.DTL

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Washington -- California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer today urged anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan not to challenge the state's senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, in the June Democratic primary.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, has been actively considering a campaign after criticizing Feinstein for refusing to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

But Boxer, a liberal former Marin County supervisor who strongly opposed the war in Iraq, said Sheehan might actually hurt her anti-war cause by jumping into the race against her fellow Democrat who is entering her 14th year in the Senate.

"I don't think having her in the Senate election helps her at all," Boxer told a roundtable of California reporters this morning. "I think it might have the opposite effect."

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[EFerrari]

1. Oh, you had to ask, didn't you?

:spank:

[amagusta]

2. Cindy should tell Barbara to urge Dianne to withdraw.

"Nough said.

[jobycom]

3. She's right in saying it would divert Sheehan's message

A one issue senator has little chance of winning, so Cindy would have to spread out into all the other issues a senator covers, especially if she won the primary and had to face a Republican. If that's what she wants, then she should go for it, but it would weaken her attention to her one cause, and it could lose us another seat in the Senate if she screws up. Feinstein may not be a reliable vote, but we won't gain a majority in the Senate by giving up seats. And without a majority, it flat-out doesn't matter how pure our Senators are, because they have no ability to change anything, anyway.

Still, that's between Cindy and the voters, and I'm not sure why Boxer should be expressing an opinion publicly on this. That sounds like a private conversation you have with a friend, not something you publicize.

Just my opinions. Probably wrong, as always.

[meisje]

5. What is her message these days?

[400Years]

28. how would it loose "us" a seat, DiFi is neocon trash

and does more damage to what I care about by betraying all fundamentally democratic positions.

[neverevergivein]

4. Are you kidding me?

A true progressive who has made a difference already vs. a DINO war profiteer. No contest. In this case, Boxer needs to STFU

[Tyrone Slothrop]

33. Exactly what sort of difference has Sheehan made?

Seems like our troops are still in Iraq...

[Stand and Fight]

6. I agree with Senator Boxer's views here...

As unpopular as it may be around here to say so, Cindy Sheehan has no footing whatsoever to run for a Senate seat. However, if she wants to do so, I wholeheartedly support her efforts. Nonetheless, she would lose handily against Senator Feinstein because Sheehan is too polarizing of a figure. As popular as she may be here on DU, many people in the main stream find her offensive. I think she would do better to run for a House seat and leave the run against Feinstein to someone else. Surely there must be someone more capable of getting "DiFi" out of office other than Mrs. Sheehan.

Senator Boxer is spot on here. I'm not a fair weather fan of hers and I've great faith in her wisdom and foresight. I mean, this was the only senator who had the gumption to stand up on January 6, 2005, and contest the counting of Ohio's electoral votes. Let's also not forget the many stances she has taken despite the overwhelming odds against her. Senator Boxer has bigger balls than most of the men in the Senate. I will never forget her courage and I'm sure as hell not about to turn on her because she thinks Cindy Sheehan may be getting off message.

[Hekate]

7. Well said. Add to that DiFi's $50 million war chest and there's no contest

I'm a Cindy supporter, but whoever is encouraging her to run against a strong Democratic incumbent (even if we disagree with that incumbent) is just blowing smoke. And I'm sorry if she's getting bad advice like that, because Cindy is a great woman.

Hekate

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Fienstein doesn't have anywhere near $50 million in her 'war chest'

[Hekate]

35. What, did my wandering eye add a few zeros to the headline I saw?

If so, I apologize. (A million here and a million there, and pretty soon you're talking real money.)

But my point remains the same: Cindy can't win against this incumbent. She very likely knows this and is seeking the public platform it will give her, but it will take away from her personal stature (I think) and will be divisive of the Democratic party at a time when we need every Dem in the Senate we can get or hold on to, regardless of disagreements.

I'll vote for a Democratic opponent to DiFi when I'm sure it won't cost us a lot more than it will gain.

Hekate

[Skink]

8. I didn't think Arnold could win.

[sadiesworld]

18. Somehow I doubt Cindy would get the fawning press coverage

afforded Ahnold--what a pukefest that was! I can only IMAGINE the primary coverage b/t the neolib-military-industrial-complex-linked Feinstein and the anti-war-Chavez-supported Sheehan. The disparity in treatment might be stark enough to wake up even the most complacent.

[acmavm]

10. Just out of curiousity, why does she not have any 'footing'

to run for the Senate? Do you have to be 'special' now? Rich? What?

[Mr. Peanut]

19. Why did Boxer go public with this?

Perhaps it's a case of the "in crowd" wanting to keep "outsiders" out?

[cyclezealot]

9. Sen. Boxer has to be a team player.

so I understand. But, I still hope to proudly cast my ballot for Sheenan. Sen. Boxer was not enough of a team player when she challenged Bush over Ohio.. I will proudly cast my ballot for Boxer in the future too.

[CoffeeCat]

11. I'm sorry to say it...

...but I think most politicians are terrified of candidates like Sheehan. If ordinary citizens begin winning elections, then this threatens the status quo.

Barbara Boxer has done a lot for us. I'll never forget her fight on the legitimacy of the 04 election. However, I don't see ANY Dem standing up (including Boxer) and speaking out against the PNAC plan and Bush corruption, as much as they should. True progressives should be putting the smack down on a daily basis. Our democracy is in the cross hairs and this is a very serious situation. I'm not saying Boxer hasn't done good things.

It seems like Boxer is just helping out a fellow CA politician. As much as Boxer is truly on our side on most issues, I think she's a politician first and she's attempting to appease one of her colleagues.

It seems as if most politicians these days, prefer the status quo. I'm tired of feeling like they're all in cahoots.

In my opinion, if Sheehan--and other progressives become powerful and offer an attractive alternative to the current corruption--that threatens the entire system. Sheehan is an outsider. She's not a politician. If she runs and wins, that could start a chain reaction of non-politicians who gain power and truly revolutionize DC.

God knows we need it. We need to replace 99 percent of them with average, decent people.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. I love Boxer dearly

and will continue to vote for her and work for her campaign, but, she's wrong on this one. Sadly, Boxer supporting Feinstein (its the loyalty thing) is a big hurdle in a possible Sheehan candidacy who already has almost insurmountable odds (read Diane and her war profits and DLC backing).

[johncoby2]

13. Cindy is NOT Senate material.

Cindy should do what she does best.

We do not need a one trick pony in the Senate or someone who has absolutely no qualifications for the job.

Sometimes we need to start thinking.

[leesa]

14. Most of the Seantors in the Senate are not Senate material

so who's to say?

Do you really think the crap that's sitting in the Senate right now selling our country to the highest bidder are better than Cindy or some other average Joe that might run for the seat??

[wordpix]

15. "taking the Con out of Congress"---great slogan!

[DainBramaged]

22. Who is Senate material any longer???? Who determines that???

Who are we to determine who should or should not run for public office? Our butts have been kicked halfway to Sunday since 1994, and we should be satisfied with the status quo? Gee aren't we magnanimous telling her what she should do.

Bullshit, let the chips fall where they may. Term limit the bunch of them and just maybe the People's business will get done someday.

[acmavm]

23. You're right. She's brave, honest, and compassionate.

That automatically excludes her, doesn't it?

[VegasWolf]

27. Hah!!! Well saaid!!! Kudo's!!! nt

[TriMetFan]

34. Thats what they said about Patty Murray of Washington State.

She was the mom in tennis shoe's that need to stay home with her kids. How much has Murray done for Vets, ect...? You just never know how good a regular person can be in the Senate until given the change.

[wordpix]

17. Cindy should run if she wants to! Opposition can often move an incumbent

to change his or her policies, or at the very least, to work harder.

[plasticsundance]

20. I think Sheehan should run for office

but at a lower level and work her way up through the political ranks. In doing this she could start a more active political grassroot movement. She is not a one issue person, if anyone has really paid attention to her speak. She has plenty of progressive comments on the state of our political and socio-economic problems of today.

With that said ... fuck Feinstein and the horse she came riding into town on. She's a charlatan

[Mr. Peanut]

21. Dems obviously need new blood...

Something has to shake up the old (and new—Obama) stand-arounds that do too much rubber stamping of the Repubs wants and desires. Let's get this Party started!

[donsu]

24. Sheehan should run - she speaks out on all issues not just the occupation

would like to question Boxer's motives

Feinstein's 14 yr run means diddly if she can't fight for america.

[Cha]

25. I don't agree and I'm

thinking Barbara needs to say this for civility in the Senate with her warmonger collegue but wouldn't mind a bit if Cindy WON!

I know that could be pure fantasy..

[zara]

26. Feinstein is an Enigma

So far, good on NSA. Her questions of Gonzalez were good, and she has been strong on that issue.
On the war, a marshmallow, tacking left then right. But better than some DLC Democrats.
A strong voice against torture.
An abetter of corporate interests.
Let Cindy Sheehan run. What Boxer fears is that Feinstein will win a majority in the primary but Sheehan's anti-war message will take 25-40% of Democrats. Then in the general election, some of those Democrats will not vote for Feinstein. And some of the rest of the electorate will be put off on "Democrats" generally.
Diane Feinstein stands for old time conservative liberalism of the elite in society. She is not the problem, but neither is she the solution. The problem is that the liberal wing of the Democratic party is weak. Some are trying to change this. Boxer's call is not in the right direction. Russ Feingold speaking clearly that the President is a lawbreaker is toward the answer. DLC Tom Vilsack wanting to quiver and step in line behind the Great Leader is the problem. Get a backbone Democrats. WIn and lose on our arguments. Stand for something. Make people believe in our party. The problem is politicians who believe in nothing other than their own seat and "going along to get along." Somebody open the window. We need some fresh air in here!~

[Strawman]

29. If Cindy Sheehan won that primary...

I wonder how the Repugs would react? Would they have the balls to try to run against Cindy Sheehan and the "liberal extremist Democrats" in races across the country? I really think they might, and I think swiftboating the mother of a dead soldier might just blow up right in their faces.

I don't care if being against the war is her only issue. Run Cindy. We need you. We need a hedgehog to end all this killing. All these foxes have gotten us nowhere.

[fujiyama]

30. I find it amusing

that so many just assume that if she run she will win.

CA is blue but not thatt far to the left. And she doesn't have the same kind of star appeal thaat AArnold had.

But primary opposition is healthy nevertheless. It's better than running as a green in the general election and helping the GOP out.

[rinsd]

31. Even if Sheehan ran as an independent,

DiFi would likely win. That's how freaking inept the CA GOP is here and how popular DiFi is.

Latest poll from Nov 2005 (Field poll) has her at 70% inclined to re-elect in San Fran county where Sheehan would have her supposed base. LA is a little less but still over 60%.

On Edit: I just came across this. Granted its Rasmussen but here's a poll on Sheehan's favorable/unfavorable rating taken in the height of her camp out.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Cindy%20Sheehan.htm

They are not very impressive for a time when she was most likely to be a sympathetic figure to the public.

[Uncle Joe]

32. One thing, I will say for Senator Feinstein,

I believe she is the only senator to attend Al Gore's MLK day speech where he basically indicted Bush for breaking the law by eavesdropping on Americans without a warrant. There may have been some others, but I have not read of them.