"People have asked what it is I want to say to President Bush. Well, my message is a simple one. He’s said that my son -- and the other children we’ve lost -- died for a noble cause. I want to find out what that noble cause is. And I want to ask him: “If it’s such a noble cause, have you asked your daughters to enlist? Have you encouraged them to go take the place of soldiers who are on their third tour of duty?” I also want him to stop using my son’s name to justify the war. The idea that we have to “complete the mission” in Iraq to honor Casey’s sacrifice is, to me, a sacrilege to my son’s name. Besides, does the president any longer even know what “the mission” really is over there?"
"That’s why I’m going to be out here until one of three things happens: It’s August 31st and the president’s vacation ends and he leaves Crawford. They take me away in a squad car. Or he finally agrees to speak with me."
Cindy is also blaming the media for dereliction of their duty to hold him accountable. Life is strange. Sometimes it just takes one person to stand up and say what we all have been saying. I admire her, but I also know, that before this is over, she will be smeared and the media will help in that distortion.
If he does, he’d better be prepared for me to hold his feet to the fire. If he starts talking about freedom and democracy -- or about how the war in Iraq is protecting America -- I’m not going to let him get away with it.
Posted by Judith at August 11, 2005 08:52 PMSorry, the last paragraph was Cindy's words.
Posted by Judith at August 11, 2005 08:54 PMCindy's pain is true, but she's being manipulated and played by the left wing moonbats. Did you see the crazies behind her?
Posted by muckdog at August 11, 2005 08:59 PMThe reason he is dead is because people like Malkin and Bill O'Reilly propagandized for a needless war based on a pack of lies
Nobody lied. Except for you.
Posted by muckdog at August 11, 2005 09:03 PMGood that you mention that quote about what Cindy wants, because another talking point is the she has demanded that Bush pull the troops out of Iraq, trying to paint her as a nut. They can try to trash her, but we need to point out what a frikkin' coward bush is, being scared to face the mother of one of the troops he's responsible for sending to Iraq. If even he can't defend this war to her, he's lost the PR war.
Posted by iamcoyote at August 11, 2005 09:04 PMIamcoyote, Bush already met with the woman. Now that she has aligned herself with the left-wing nut jobs Bush is supposed talk with her again? To what end and about what? She has said her piece and she got all kinds of attention for it, what else is she attempting to accomplish?
Posted by Cyber Sarge at August 11, 2005 09:13 PMWhich left wing nutjobs has she aligned herself with? It appears people are aligning with her, not the other way around. And she has given her son to this war, she deserves to have the president explain to her what noble cause he died for, not a 5 minute photo op where he refused to even look at a picture of her son. What she is trying to do is draw attention to the fact that real people are dying for nothing, and the president won't level with all of us the real reasons why. Maybe you're not curious, but we are; and we too, are Americans, who think since the idiot works for us, he should account for his actions.
Posted by iamcoyote at August 11, 2005 09:23 PMThis is a Mother, whom after going through the period of grief, is now madder than hell. She wants answers, and by God, whether you like it or not Muckdog, she deserves at least that much. However, I know how much your side just hate the word ACCOUNTABILITY.
Posted by Judith at August 11, 2005 09:47 PMOn Olbermann tonight, Cindy Sheehan said the letter writer was her husband's sister. She said her husband, and their other children, Casey's siblings, support her completely, but that her husband's parents are Bush supporters, and they are not currently on speaking terms. Given that Mr. Sheehan says they do not represent him, it's hard to see how they could possibly represent "the entire Sheehan side of the family."
Posted by at August 12, 2005 01:05 AMAs my veteran marine friend likes to say about the chicken shit chiken hawks - "strap on a rifle and put your ass in the game and then we'll talk, until then shut your pie hole".
W stands for wuss!
Posted by cynskeptirealist at August 12, 2005 01:54 AMEvery supporter of Bush and this war has the blood of Casey Sheehan and thousands of others on his/her hands. Realizing their part in this travesty is too much for them to handle--Therefore, they will continue to trash anyone who might force them to accept the guilt.
Posted by Susan S at August 12, 2005 05:38 AMThis is blatant sexism pure, simple and typically fascist. The sexism that infers that a woman doesn't have the brains, guts, but more importantly-honor to speak for herself and her principals! What an insult to Cindy Sheehan, and all mothers, to infer that she is some sort of zombie speaking others words-the woman's not a P.R. person but a grieving mother. And to refer to her godmother's opinion! This infers that a woman is somehow owned by her family!! I have never seen this done when a man has spoken an opinion. A man-right or wrong-is given the dignity of owning his own thoughts. I haven't seen the news consult Chaney's first cousin on his stand on the Iraq War!! But a woman! Oh No! her opinion must belong to someone else, especially if her only position in society is that of a mother. They believe that a mother’s role is to silently breed and grieve. This is not just an insult to Cindy Sheenan! This is an insult to mothers and motherhood in general!
So Right Wing War Machine -listen to the opinion of this mother- one who was born on Air Force Base in Japan during the Korean War and is the granddaughter of a Gold Star Mother! The tide is turning! Pushed back by the tears and fears of mothers across this land. I hear it in grocery stores and beauty parlors, at church socials and PTA meetings. The whispering fear that their children are more apt to die in the desert fighting some futile war, than they are of a terrorist bomb. And if you think Hillary Clinton won't stand a chance, think again! Just wait for three more years of American sons and daughters dying, and you'll find that beyond politics all mothers-Jewish/Muslim or Christian, White/Black/Brown or Yellow speak the same language and believe the same truth-That the gift of a child's life is to precious to waste!
(8/12/05)Toon of the Day: Crawford, TX
Posted by jjoats at August 12, 2005 05:50 AMCyber sarge, why shouldn't Bush meet with her? Just because he already has does not mean he never should again. Besides, when he met her before, he didn't even know her son's name.
Many things have changed since that time such as revelations about how intelligence was hyped to justify the war, let only the ever-changing rationale from the Bush Administration as to why we are even in Iraq. First it was WMDs, now it's giving Iraqis our brand of democracy.
This entire episode could be over and done if Bush's handlers would simply let the President meet with her. He would have gotten so much good press from that, one wonders why the handlers are so short sighted.
Posted by ann at August 12, 2005 06:00 AMBush will never meet with her. He is a coward.
Posted by Ga6thDem at August 12, 2005 06:12 AMAmen to that, Ga6th.
By the way, why do we have an imperial presidency? George Bush works for us. He is not some God damn saint or king. He is accountable to the American people. I am sick of that man (or any president) being treated as though he is better or more deserving than we are.
Posted by Susan S at August 12, 2005 06:48 AMI find it interesting that Cindy's in laws say Cindy has some political agenda, and they don't? Why would they ciculate a letter if they didn't want to promote their political viewpoint?
Further, this was Cindy's son, she raised him, she tucked him in at night, she held his hand, guided him through life, and she has had to bury her son, something no mother should ever have to do.
Also, I have to wonder if Cindy's in laws would like to speak for all of the Gold Star families who are now standing with Cindy? Are Cindy's in laws trying to discredit every family that has lost a child?
Bush lied to get us into this war, troops are going in to combat without the needed equipment, and all the while Iraq falls apart, there is no justification for what Bush has done, and Cindy's in laws are devoid of any love for Casey as they seek to take the spotlight for THEIR political agenda (which is NOT supported by a majority of Americans).
Posted by SanJoseLady at August 12, 2005 07:43 AMThe 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.
Posted by muckdog at August 12, 2005 08:08 AM
Truthout.org has this response from Cindy:
"t r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By William Rivers Pitt
Thursday 11 August 2005
8:05 PM
I spoke to Cindy about the "so-called" family who attacked her today. This godmother, according to Cindy, did not know Casey at all. They saw each other maybe once a year. As for the other family members, they have always been at political loggerheads, so their response is no big shock.
Cindy treated it with a shrug. Her husband will send out a more detailed response soon. In the meantime, Cindy says the letter is to be treated as little more than bad, dumb noise.
The vigil goes on."
Posted by JillK. at August 12, 2005 08:10 AMMan Muck,
Don't you get tired of being constantly duped? Or is it denial of responsiblity?
Face it, no one really supports this war. People say they do but they don't really. Actions speak louder than words. And that statement you did the cut and paste on is from cowards. People too afraid to stand up to the Bush monster. They are willing to let their own relative to be sacrificed because of their cowardice.
Muck, I'm sure the confederacy of cowards heartily welcomes you to their ranks!
Posted by Ga6thDem at August 12, 2005 08:35 AM....at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation.
?????
Posted by Sharon at August 12, 2005 08:56 AMMy inlaws are a bunch of jobless trailer-trash bible thumping bushkissing (not in a good way) morons who would happily take the money and fame the righties are no doubt going shower on Cindy's inlaws. She's right to dismiss them as the offal they are. But she'd better watch her back, because they're about to go swiftboatian on her ass. So who will be the first to interview the scum on their show? O'Reilly?
Posted by iamcoyote at August 12, 2005 09:39 AMCyber - Cindy met with Bush in June, 2004, right after Casey died and right before the Pack O' Lies started being exposed.
Since June, 2004, we've learned a lot about PNAC, Wilson Sliming, 2002 pre-war bombing, CIA intelligence fixing, DSM, Carlye Group, Cheney & oil firms dividing up Iraq in the secret Energy Task Force meetings, no-bid Halliburton & KBR contracts, War Profiteering, et al.
By the way - where in Iraq are you or your kids stationed?
Posted by old crone at August 12, 2005 10:30 AMCyber Sarge - re: Bush already met with the woman. Now that she has aligned herself with the left-wing nut jobs Bush is supposed talk with her again?
War supporters like you talk endlessly about "leadership". But it seems you can only recognize it when it leads to carnage and comes from people without "skin in the game", like our chickenhawk president and his cronies.
Cindy Sheehan has not "aligned herself" with anything or anyone other than her dead son. She went out there herself. She led the way, and people are following. That's the definition of "leadership" - going in first and demanding no following.
So you're just engaging in yet another little smear meme, and you know it.
In this hand of cards, War Mom Trumps War Prez
Posted by OutFar at August 12, 2005 10:31 AMIt is kind of odd that such a brave, trustworthy president can't take any time out of his busy schedule to meet the mother of one of those he sent to their deaths, yet he has more than enough time to go bass fishing on national television?
Posted by (: Tom :) at August 12, 2005 12:03 PMTom,
It's because he's a monster. There's no tactful way to put it. And we have a lot of cowards on this board who are too afraid to stand up to the monster.
Name one time that w has had a meeting with anyone that wasn't orchestrated and completely controlled. That is why he will never meet with her. She doesn't fit the profile anymore -- if she ever really did.
It will never happen. And perhaps that is for the best. He can say that he has "heard her cry and others like her" all he wants. In truth, he has only heard it through the filter of his handlers.
So I guess this means you'll point out that the phrases "supposed letter from Cindy Sheehan's 'family'" and "signed only by one person called 'Cherie Quartarolo' who claims to represent 'the entire Sheehan side of Casey's family'" are no longer accurate, since Cindy Sheehan has confirmed that it is real?
Posted by Ken Summers at August 12, 2005 07:10 PMKen,
Maybe in your world "the entire Sheehan side of Casey's family" does not include Casey's father and Casey's siblings....in my world, they are part of the "Sheehan side of the family". So, no, Cindy Sheehan did not confirm "that it is real."
Posted by eriposte at August 12, 2005 08:08 PMThis is ineresting. Since we seem to have met in cyber elsewhere - read the post, with all its nuances (Judith speller queen don't crucify me please) I see why you are net now Ken. Try getting on the .com
sorry I brought you into this er.
Posted by dorita at August 12, 2005 08:52 PMWe lived in ease and splendor and disdained the huddled poor,/
Raping soils and seas and foreign skies, in arms and gold secure:/
Now we've lost our proud twin towers, now we fear the dark of war;/
God's truth goes marching on.
Unhappy world, you grieve for us, and yet for you we mourn;/
Some billion souls seek sustenance, a tithing of our corn:/
From dying fields, from teeming slums, fresh terrors will be born -/
Can truth go marching on?
Our strength lies not in battle gear but in humility;/
Through anguished meditation we discern our destiny:/
Our city on a hilltop shall embrace humanity;/
God's truth shall lead us on.
(for particulars on why thsi song was composed,
etc, check my site, http://www.metascientia.com,
"Literary" section, "Peace Hymn" page)
God bless Cindy Sheehan, she is the only one with courage to stand up to the president and force him to give us answers. He has ignored her so far but it is evident in his speeches that he is feeling the pressure. I only hope and pray that some of our democratic leaders will boldly stand by Cindy's side and support her and lead this gathering storm, instead of licking their wounds from losing in the election.
Deborah
Posted by Deborah V at August 20, 2005 11:20 AM