Cindy Sheehan is a wonderful, passionate woman with an obvious commitment

[Jackpine Radical]

to humane values and great personal bravery, and she has done America an incredible service at great personal cost by having stood up to the Powers as she did. I salute her for who she is and what she has done.

I don't really feel as strongly as some do about her entry into electoral politics, nor about her taking John Conyers to task. However, passion, courage, and a core of great decency are not enough to make a person an effective politician, and I think that her passions have somewhat impaired her insight into deeper strategies.

I think that her run and her protests may help focus the attention of the general public on both the criminal excesses of the Bush administration and the Democratic responses to the Bushistas. Therefore some good may come of what she is doing--and she, of all people, has certainly earned the right to do what she's doing.

Nevertheless, I don't think she would be a particularly effective Congresswoman, nor do I believe that she understands the complex political game in which Conyers is involved. It is as if she were trying to critique an in-progress chess game from a knowledge of checkers.

[seemslikeadream]

1. She was the "darling"

until she just got too darn uppity.





BTW I believe Cindy has the right to do and say anything she wants without being trashed, she's a mother of a soldier WHO DIED IN IRAQ!

[acmavm]

5. We all have the right to say and do whatever we want (within the

law). But NO ONE has the right to expect everyone to like it or sit by quietly when they're making a spectacle out of themselves or has taken to thinking that they are the entire anti-war movement.

Sad that her son died, very sad. I can't even imagine the loss. But that does not elevate her to sainthood no matter how much you people would like to think it does.

[seemslikeadream]

6. Cindy's applied for sainthood?

I didn't know that

[acmavm]

8. Hell, you people have already given her her martyr's crown.

There was no application involved.

Never before have I ever been so damn sick of anyone in public life as I am with this woman. And I can't quite figure out why except that she's taken an issue that really does affect us ALL and claimed it for her own, and idiot all over the place defend that.

She was not the spark that touched off the anti-war movement. And it will go on without her.

[Phredicles]

9. "Never before have I ever been so damn sick of anyone in public life as I am with this woman."

Not even Bush?

[walldude]

14. You are right, you don't have to like it or sit back quietly

on the other hand the opposition has reached Coulter proportions, calling her names, saying she's mentally ill, saying she's single handedly ruining the Democratic party. There is opposition then there is unmitigated anger and hate, disagree with her all you want just keep it civil.

Mind you this is not directed at you personally it's a general statement about how Cindy's opposition on DU seems to be generally uncivil and just plain mean.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. I think the biggest problem in this country is more like her aren't running for office.

But, is it any wonder? The expectations for newcomers is so excessive compared to that expected from the 'professional' politicians that, who wants to burden all that?

Ultimately, we get what we ask for and shouldn't bitch about it because we DO bring it upon ourselves.

[ananda]

2. Go Cindy!

You are a wonderful inspiration and role model!

I love you! You go girl! Whip Pelosi's butt and
make her do the right thing.

Sue

[BuyingThyme]

3. She's already a more effective Congressperson than 99+% of them.

And she's not even a Congressperson.

Why do you think it would change?

[Phredicles]

4. Her recent statements make her sound like a Ron Paul conservative,

which doesn't excite me but then that's not her obligation. If we come to a parting of ways I'm sorry to see that, but regardless of what she does next progressives owe her a debt of gratitude for her sacrifice and activism.

The vitriol directed her way disappoints me a lot more than anything she's said, though. And I can't help but notice certain individuals directing more bile towards her than they tend to do towards, say, the Shrub.

[KAT119]

10. Thank You Cindy!!! How I Wish I Were As Brave As You Are

When It Counts--as it does now, as we face a new 9-11 created by our nuke eager */Cheney and subsequent Martial Law; dissolution of Congress; closing of banks; printing of new money-The Amero-so those who wish to eat and feed their families must work for the Military and Commander in Chief *!!

"July 11th, 2007 No one should look forward to terrorism By: Steve Benen @ 5:50 PM - PDT About a month ago, Dennis Milligan, the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party, sounded pretty excited about the prospect of domestic terrorism.

Yesterday, Rick Santorum echoed a similar sentiment on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show. Santorum went on to clearly imply that terror attacks will occur inside America which will alter the body politic and lead to a reversal of the anti-war sentiment now dominating the country. “Between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public’s going to have a very different view of this war, and it will be because, I think, of some unfortunate events, that like we’re seeing unfold in the UK. But I think the American public’s going to have a very different view,” said the former senator from Pennsylvania. Does this make any sense at all? Not so much."

http:www.crooksandliars.com

[Swamp Rat]

11. Thank you

:hi: :grouphug:

I bet Conyers didn't mind her protest. :)

[creeksneakers2]

12. Very thoughtful post

I admire your respect for Cindy.

I don't think its trashing Cindy to trash what Cindy is doing. I worry, no, I expect, that if John Conyers doesn't oblige Cindy, Cindy will go beyond occupying Conyers office and move on to trying to wedge off as much of Conyers' beautiful national movement as she possibly can. Cindy's gone after Nancy Pelosi with the same logic as she could apply to Conyers. It doesn't stop there.Cindy is trying to wedge the left off the Democratic Party.

The same ideas about forcing the Democrats to comply by urging lefties to vote against them were used in 2000, with the same rationalizations. "We will send the Democrats a message and they'll have to compromise with us." The outcome of this strategy was disastrous. George Bush was narrowly elected and would not have been elected at all if not for "send a message" idea pulling off votes. The final results were the war in Iraq and the rest of the products of the Bush administration. The real irony of the send a message strategy was that the following years, 2001 to 2004, were the years the Democrats were the most spineless and least in line with the goals of the "send a message" proponents that I can remember. Take away the base, and the Democrats have on choice but to go to the middle.

I can't understand why anybody would want to embark on this previously disastrous strategy once again. Half the Greens who opposed Gore ended up regretting it.

Since majorities rule here, you have to have 51% if the other side is united and aiming for 51%. Politics in America is a zero sum game. Both Republicans and Cindy Sheehan wish to minimize the Democratic vote. To me, she's helping Republicans. And to them, she's helping them. Republicans recently paid to get a Green Party candidate on the ballot. Democrats want to end the war, but they don't all agree on how quickly. Most Republicans want to continue the war. If Cindy is helping Republicans, she isn't helping to stop the war. She's making it easier for Republicans to prolong it. This makes me very angry.

Cindy offers an out for Democrats if they go along with her agenda immediately and completely. Her demands about the war are great but her immediate impeachment demands are unreasonable.

I trashed Cindy by calling her a stupid bitch. I still think that, but regret writing it, because it drove people sitting on the fence away from me. The logic behind Cindy's opposition to Democrats includes ideas like loyalty to the group doesn't matter, only her agenda matters. Cindy says compromise is morally wrong.In Cindy's resignation letter, she wrote:

"I have also tried to work within a peace movement that often puts personal egos above peace and human life. This group won’t work with that group; he won’t attend an event if she is going to be there; and why does Cindy Sheehan get all the attention anyway? It is hard to work for peace when the very movement that is named after it has so many divisions."

Its impossible for a group to accomplish anything without compromise and loyalty. I called Cindy a stupid bitch because she can't see that the same problems she's creating for everybody else come back on her. However, by calling her a stupid bitch I too was hurting loyalty and compromise, so I was guilty of the same thing Cindy was, so I'll no longer use that type of language about Cindy.

I hope civility returns, and your thoughtful post makes a great example.

[conscious evolution]

13. She will be in my 'hood Saturday

Can't wait to meet her.
As for her potential effectiveness,how could she be any worse than some of the current occupants of the Hill?

[uppityperson]

15. Thank you for your quiet reasoned words.

[Cats Against Frist]

16. If I'm not mistaken

I remember that, to add credibility to her war protest, that it was said that she and her husband were moderate Republicans. Someone above said she sounds like a Ron Paul Conservative (which, oddly is OK with me) -- outside of her war politics, does anyone give a shit if her other politics are liberal/democratic? Or has the warm glow of idol worship blinded her devotees.

By the way -- I agree, as well, that more people like her should run for Congress -- meaning ordinary people. Seems that it's mostly career politicians, shysters and actors and actors' and shysters' widows. That doesn't seem right.