Moms make war look bad.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

y ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 3 minutes ago

 

CRAWFORD, Texas - The mother of a fallen U.S. soldier who started a quiet roadside peace vigil near

President Bush's ranch last weekend is drawing supporters from across the nation.

 

 

Dozens of people have joined her and others have sent flowers and food. One activist called her "the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement."

 

Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., says she was surprised at the response.

 

"Before my son was killed, I used to think that one person could not make a difference," she said Wednesday under a tent where she has slept since Saturday. "But one person that is surrounded and supported by millions of people can be heard."

 

Although a few residents have complained about the protesters, no one has been arrested because the group has been on the public right-of-way, said Capt. Kenneth Vanek of the McLennan County Sheriff's Office.

 

On Saturday, two high-level Bush administration officials, the national security adviser and deputy White House chief of staff, talked to Sheehan for about 20 minutes.

 

Sheehan called the brief meeting "pointless" and still wants to talk to the president.

 

Her 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Sadr City,

Iraq, in April 2004 just five days after he arrived. Two months later, Sheehan was among grieving military family members who met with Bush at Fort Lewis, near Seattle, Wash.

 

Since then, she said, various government and independent commission reports have disputed the Bush administration's claims that

Saddam Hussein had mass-killing chemical and biological weapons — a main justification for the March 2003 invasion.

 

On Wednesday, a coalition of anti-war groups in Washington called on Bush to speak with Sheehan, who they say has helped to unify the peace movement.

 

"Cindy Sheehan has become the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, an activist group. "She's tired, fed up and she's not going to take it anymore, and so now we stand with her."

 

Some veterans and relatives of those killed have called Sheehan's vigil a distraction and continue to support the U.S. military action in Iraq.

 

At her makeshift camp in muddy ditches off the two-lane, winding road leading to Bush's ranch, Sheehan has spent the past several days talking to reporters, hugging fellow protesters and taking brief breaks to eat sandwiches and fruit brought by supporters. Her vigil has also become a hot topic on the Internet and blogs.

 

Although she doesn't expect Bush to meet with her in Crawford, she says if he did she would ask him whether he has encouraged his twin daughters to enlist.

 

"I want him to quit using my son's death to justify more killing," she said. "The only way he can honor my son's death is to bring the troops home."

 

 

 

Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., gathers herself as she recounts stories of her son to a reporter by a tent that she is staying in on the side of the road that leads to President Bush's ranch, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005, in Crawford, Texas. Her simple, quiet protest of the war that took her son's life is gaining momentum as dozens joined her Wednesday at the site. Sheehan, 48, has insisted on speaking to Bush and vowed to remain during his ranch stay through the end of the month. Her tenacity has gained the support of anti-war groups, with one activist calling her 'the Rosa Parks of the anti-war movement.'(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is so great. He'll ignore her of course. Thats what the king does when the peasents get testy.

[NoCalMike 0]

Supposedly she is going to be arrested tomorrow for umm....standing there?

 

Also, reports out of Crawford is that one of the radio stations is trying to organize a rival protest BBQ HOWDOWN across the street from Sheehan and her supporters. Now, what exactly they are protesting is boggling my mind, but if they start chanting anything as sickening as what right wing radio is saying about Sheehan, I can see things escalating pretty fast. Either way, I think it is stupid to even bother trying to oppose Sheehan just yet, I mean how is this going to look when a group of relatively peaceful protesters are standing across the street from some rowdy, drunk, flag waving rednecks?

 

Plus, IMO, arresting her will only bring out 100x the little amount of press that is already covering this and make it a much bigger story.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

so like... what exactly will the rivals be protesting? Err... we protest you standing there protesting the war cuz your son is dying?

[SuperJerk 0]

if they start chanting anything as sickening as what right wing radio is saying about Sheehan, I can see things escalating pretty fast. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Details?

[NoCalMike 0]

if they start chanting anything as sickening as what right wing radio is saying about Sheehan, I can see things escalating pretty fast. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Details?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Well the usual banter, that she is a traitor.

 

Today O'Reily and Michelle Malkin were mutally agreeing she should be held for treason.

 

Local guy said her son was rolling in his grave.

 

Aiding and comforting the enemy

 

 

Mostly stuff we hear daily, but to say this about her is quite disgusting.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Her son is dead and SHE is the traitor? Unmitigated Bullshit. They have been bashing her pretty hard around here to.

 

Arresting her eh? THAT would be an interesting PR move.

[Alro 0]

Article Launched: 06/24/2004 06:00:00 AM

 

Bush, Sheehans share moments

By David Henson/Staff Writer

 

Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville.

 

Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.

 

"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."

 

But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.

 

Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.

 

"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."

 

The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.

 

But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.

 

"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.

 

Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.

 

"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."

 

The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.

 

While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.

 

For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.

 

"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."

 

The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.

 

For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.

 

For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.

 

"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.

 

 

I wonder when she decided that the first meeting wasn’t good enough.

[Boon 0]

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Wasn't it that she's flip-flopped on her feelings?

 

I wonder where all the stories about all the mothers that aren't protesting are.

 

Oh yeah, good news doesn't make for profitable news.

 

move along now

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Someone not protesting the war isn't really notable. It's status quo. Her efforts are unique. Hence the news covers it.

[AndrewTS 0]

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm

 

CINDY 2004

 

THE REPORTER of Vacaville, CA published an account of Cindy Sheehan's visit with the president at Fort Lewis near Seattle on June 24, 2004:

 

"'I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis,' Cindy said after their meeting. 'I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith.'

 

"The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.

 

"The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.

 

"For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.

 

For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.

 

"'That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy said."

 

CINDY 2005

 

Sheehan's current comments are a striking departure.

 

She vowed on Sunday to continue her protest until she can personally ask Bush: "Why did you kill my son?"

 

In an interview on CNN, she claimed Bush "acted like it was party" when she met him last year.

 

"It was -- you know, there was a lot of things said. We wanted to use the time for him to know that he killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity. And we wanted him to look at the pictures of Casey.

 

"He wouldn't look at the pictures of Casey. He didn't even know Casey's name. He came in the room and the very first thing he said is, 'So who are we honoring here?' He didn't even know Casey's name. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear anything about Casey. He wouldn't even call him 'him' or 'he.' He called him 'your loved one.'

 

Every time we tried to talk about Casey and how much we missed him, he would change the subject. And he acted like it was a party.

 

http://slate.msn.com/id/2124266/

 

Conservatives don't buy it. Catholic The Anchoress suggests that Sheehan's pain has led her to become a mouthpiece for liberals: "I pray that the press can find it in themselves to take this evidence that this woman is simply parroting a script and refuse to aid in her exploitation." Right Equals Might's retired Marine Kurt G., whose son is serving in Iraq, accuses Sheehan of "spitting on the memory of her own son." He insists that Bush didn't kill her son—"Islamofascist terrorists" did.

 

But liberals commend Sheehan's bravery. Pandagon's Amanda Marcotte asks, "How dare Cindy Sheehan think that just because she loved the boy that she gave birth to and raised that she is anything more than a vessel providing cannon fodder for His Excellency the Shrub to use to generate profits for Halliburton?" Democratic stalwart Daily Kos has been following the story with enthusiasm: "Lots of parents who lost sons and daughters in Iraq now question the war, and I don't think they would like to see one of their own treated like this by the President."

 

Oy.

 

This is so great. He'll ignore her of course. Thats what the king does when the peasents get testy.

 

That's exactly what he should do.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Well since he has time to go on VACATION during a war he can make time for this woman. Hell, all he has to do is go outside and take it on the chin like a man. Afterall none of HIS kids are over seas. Should do? Give me a break. There are a plenty of things Bush should do and should have done for this war to work but he didn't. So maybe since he shouldn't talk to this woman (afterall her son went to his death at Bush's behest) maybe he can get his ass out there and squash this. He can only look good doing so.

 

 

Apparently this meeting with Bush beforehand was thought "if we make them a bunch of little sandwiches maybe they'll forget about their dead kid". That was a slick move. Party on.

[Alro 0]

There is no way he is meeting with this lady. If she asks to meet with him again and he does, then every other American will ask to meet the President and get pissed when they don't get the same treatment. You won't find one Member of Congress standing with her because they fear the same thing: becoming accessible to their public.

[bob_barron 0]

Wasn't it that she's flip-flopped on her feelings? 

 

I wonder where all the stories about all the mothers that aren't protesting are.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's not a story and should not be covered

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

Sucks her son got killed and all, but it seems like she's turned into a huge media whore judging by how her feelings have flip-flopped.

[Justice 0]

Well since he has time to go on VACATION during a war he can make time for this woman. Hell, all he has to do is go outside and take it on the chin like a man. Afterall none of HIS kids are over seas. Should do? Give me a break. There are a plenty of things Bush should do and should have done for this war to work but he didn't. So maybe since he shouldn't talk to this woman (afterall her son went to his death at Bush's behest) maybe he can get his ass out there and squash this. He can only look good doing so.

 

 

Apparently this meeting with Bush beforehand was thought "if we make them a bunch of little sandwiches maybe they'll forget about their dead kid". That was a slick move. Party on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You're joking, right? Every President takes a break, idiot. Even FDR did. People need little breaks to keep going, and it isn't as though it's a complete vacation: Presidents still discuss and plan things while on vacation. It's simply a change in setting. It isn't as though he is dictating ground tactics or something like that.

 

Perhaps you can tell us what he really should be doing for this war that he hasn't tried already. Or you can just sort of eat your own story since, well, it looks like the King talked to the displeased peasant.

[NoCalMike 0]

Both those articles have taken her quotes out of context and tried to imply she had this big meeting with Bush, when in fact, those quotes weren't even regarding her meeting with Bush in the first place.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Well since he has time to go on VACATION during a war he can make time for this woman. Hell, all he has to do is go outside and take it on the chin like a man. Afterall none of HIS kids are over seas. Should do? Give me a break. There are a plenty of things Bush should do and should have done for this war to work but he didn't. So maybe since he shouldn't talk to this woman (afterall her son went to his death at Bush's behest) maybe he can get his ass out there and squash this. He can only look good doing so.

 

 

Apparently this meeting with Bush beforehand was thought "if we make them a bunch of little sandwiches maybe they'll forget about their dead kid". That was a slick move. Party on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You're joking, right? Every President takes a break, idiot. Even FDR did. People need little breaks to keep going, and it isn't as though it's a complete vacation: Presidents still discuss and plan things while on vacation. It's simply a change in setting. It isn't as though he is dictating ground tactics or something like that.

 

Perhaps you can tell us what he really should be doing for this war that he hasn't tried already. Or you can just sort of eat your own story since, well, it looks like the King talked to the displeased peasant.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

No joke.

 

 

Thats 1 down and 1900 to go.

[Boon 0]

Both those articles have taken her quotes out of context and tried to imply she had this big meeting with Bush, when in fact, those quotes weren't even regarding her meeting with Bush in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And you know this..... how?

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Wasn't it that she's flip-flopped on her feelings? 

 

I wonder where all the stories about all the mothers that aren't protesting are.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's not a story and should not be covered

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

EXACTLY because god forbid we cover the fact that there are Americans out there who support the war. The media just makes it seem like everyone hates it and public opinion is like 100% against or something.

 

However, this woman does have a right to protest and while the media whip it into a storm go ahead and let them b/c by ignoring her it'll die out soon enough. After all, who remembers Richard Clarke?

[NoCalMike 0]

Both those articles have taken her quotes out of context and tried to imply she had this big meeting with Bush, when in fact, those quotes weren't even regarding her meeting with Bush in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And you know this..... how?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Besides hearing her say it herself on two seperate radio shows? If I can find a transcript I will post it.

[Vyce 0]

This woman's family has turned on her, as they SHOULD, seeing as it's rather despicable how she's profiting from the death of her child. But such is the age we live in.

 

FAMILY OF FALLEN SOLDIER PLEADS: PLEASE STOP, CINDY!

Thu Aug 11 2005 12:56:21 ET

 

The family of American soldier Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, has broken its silence and spoken out against his mother Cindy Sheehan's anti-war vigil against George Bush held outside the president's Crawford, Texas ranch.

 

The following email was received by the DRUDGE REPORT from Casey's aunt and godmother:

 

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish.

 

Thanks, Cherie

 

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement:

 

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

 

Sincerely,

 

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

 

credit: Drudge

[Boon 0]

An Anti-Bush person is taking advantage of the death of soldiers to further their own political agenda?!

 

I don't believe it.

[redbaron29 0]

This lady's story has changed every time I see her on the networks. Let her sons memory rest in peace, and go home.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

This woman's family has turned on her, as they SHOULD, seeing as it's rather despicable how she's profiting from the death of her child.  But such is the age we live in.

 

FAMILY OF FALLEN SOLDIER PLEADS: PLEASE STOP, CINDY!

Thu Aug 11 2005 12:56:21 ET

 

The family of American soldier Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, has broken its silence and spoken out against his mother Cindy Sheehan's anti-war vigil against George Bush held outside the president's Crawford, Texas ranch.

 

The following email was received by the DRUDGE REPORT from Casey's aunt and godmother:

 

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish.

 

Thanks, Cherie

 

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement:

 

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

 

Sincerely,

 

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

 

credit: Drudge

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Keeping in mind that this is HER son and not her in-laws that died I would say their opinion is irrelevent to Cindys being legit or not. Besides from what I have read of Cindys response that part of the family is estranged and may have an ax to grind. Making Vyces point also irrelevent.

[NoCalMike 0]

Her family has not "turned on her" they are her in-laws that are hardcore republicans and have never been "with her" in the first place.

 

Your first mistake was quoting something from Drudge, your next mistake was thinking he waited for the facts to post a story.

 

And please, how is she making a profit off of this? What money is she receiving? Stop posting bullshit and try getting some facts first.

 

She is being called everything from a traitor to a treasonous cow, and from who, a bunch of rich white assholes(and Michelle Malkin) who would know NOTHING about the sacrifice Sheehan's son made, but of course that doesn't matter in the least, each and everyone of these neocon pieces of shit, from Limbaugh, to Hannity, to Malkin all PROCLAIM they know what her son would be thinking right now, and they feel it is their place to go ahead and speak on his behalf....the motherfucking nerve.

 

O'Reily had another mother of a fallen soldier on his show the other night, and he was so verbally beat to a bloody pulp in the debate by this woman that he had to resort to this kind of a question, "If you had to side with Michael Moore or Bush, who would you side with" Wow, what a fucking genius that idiot is.....

 

Oh and another gem is how the lies are pouring in that she is a communist and a left wing extremist, all because Michael Moore ON HIS OWN, happened to post some commentary and the story on his official website, so now of course it means Sheehan is "officially in Michael Moore's camp"

 

Fuck me, the way this so-called "liberal media" just twists and turns and blows smoke out of it's ass whenever someone becomes an inconvenience to their gung-ho war machine attitude, is fucking sickening.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

It's amazing how biased some can be. A woman feels her son died for nothing and does something about it. THAT BITCH!

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I wonder where all the stories about all the mothers that aren't protesting are.

 

Oh yeah, good news doesn't make for profitable news.

 

move along now

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's a stupid response that's not worth any credit.

 

"You never hear any news stories about all the laws that the rapist DIDN'T break, do you?"

 

 

Also, LOLZ at her family giving their statement of opposition to fuckin' Drudge. Did they not think they'd get printed elsewhere?

[cbacon 0]

Well said, Mike.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

Oh no it ANOTHER liberal circle jerk here in CE! No, it couldn't just be that the right-wingys are just plain wrong.