Cindy Sheehan In Her Own Words

“http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082005X.shtml


Hypocrites and Liars
By Cindy Sheehan
t r u t h o u t | Letter

Saturday 20 August 2005

The media are wrong. The people who have come out to Camp Casey to help coordinate the press and events with me are not putting words in my mouth, they are taking words out of my mouth. I have been known for sometime as a person who speaks the truth and speaks it strongly. I have always called a liar a liar and a hypocrite a hypocrite. Now I am urged to use softer language to appeal to a wider audience. Why do my friends at Camp Casey think they are there? Why did such a big movement occur from such a small action on August 6, 2005?

I haven't had much time to analyze the Camp Casey phenomena. I just read that I gave 250 interviews in less than a week's time. I believe it. I would go to bed with a raw throat every night. I got pretty tired of answering some questions, like: "What do you want to say to the President?" and "Do you really think he will meet with you?" However, since my mom has been sick I have had a chance to step back and ponder the flood gates that I opened in Crawford, Tx.

I just read an article posted today on LewRockwell.com by artist Robert Shetterly who painted my portrait. The article reminded me of something I said at the Veteran's for Peace Convention the night before I set out to Bush's ranch in my probable futile quest for the truth. This is what I said:

I got an email the other day and it said, "Cindy if you didn't use so much profanity ... there's people on the fence that get offended.
And you know what I said? "You know what? You know what, god damn it? How in the world is anybody still sitting on that fence?

If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out.

This is what the Camp Casey miracle is all about. American citizens who oppose the war but never had a conduit for their disgust and dismay are dropping everything and traveling to Crawford to stand in solidarity with us who have made a commitment to sit outside of George's ranch for the duration of the miserable Texan August. If they can't come to Texas, they are attending vigils, writing letters to their elected officials and to their local newspapers; they are setting up Camp Casey branches in their hometowns; they are sending flowers, cards, letters, gifts, and donations here to us at Camp Casey. We are so grateful for all of the support, but I think pro-peace Americans are grateful for something to do, finally.

One thing I haven't noticed or become aware of though is an increased number of pro-war, pro-Bush people on the other side of the fence enlisting to go and fight George Bush's war for imperialism and insatiable greed. The pro-peace side has gotten off their apathetic butts to be warriors for peace and justice. Where are the pro-war people? Everyday at Camp Casey we have a couple of anti-peace people on the other side of the road holding up signs that remind me that "Freedom isn't Free" but I don't see them putting their money where their mouths are. I don't think they are willing to pay even a small down payment for freedom by sacrificing their own blood or the flesh of their children. I still challenge them to go to Iraq and let another soldier come home. Perhaps a soldier that is on his/her third tour of duty, or one that has been stop-lossed after serving his/her country nobly and selflessly, only to be held hostage in Iraq by power mad hypocrites who have a long history of avoiding putting their own skin in the game.

Contrary to what the main stream media thinks, I did not just fall off a pumpkin truck in Crawford, Tx. on that scorchingly hot day two weeks ago. I have been writing, speaking, testifying in front of Congressional committees, lobbying Congress, and doing interviews for over a year now. I have been pretty well known in the progressive, peace community and I had many, many supporters before I even left California. The people who supported me did so because they know that I uncompromisingly tell the truth about this war. I have stood up and said: "My son died for NOTHING, and George Bush and his evil cabal and their reckless policies killed him. My son was sent to fight in a war that had no basis in reality and was killed for it." I have never said "pretty please" or "thank you." I have never said anything wishy-washy like he uses "Patriotic Rhetoric." I say my son died for LIES. George Bush LIED to us and he knew he was LYING. The Downing Street Memos dated 23 July, 2002 prove that he knew that Saddam didn't have WMD's or any ties to Al Qaeda. I believe that George lied and he knew he was lying. He didn't use patriotic rhetoric. He lied and made us afraid of ghosts that weren't there. Now he is using patriotic rhetoric to keep the US military presence in Iraq: Patriotic rhetoric that is based on greed and nothing else.

Now I am being vilified and dragged through the mud by the righties and so-called "fair and balanced" main stream media who are afraid of the truth and can't face someone who tells it by telling any truth of their own. Now they have to twist, distort, lie, and scrutinize anything I have ever said when they never scrutinize anything that George Bush said or is saying. Instead of asking George or Scotty McClellan if he will meet with me, why aren't they asking the questions they should have been asking all along: "Why are our young people fighting, dying, and killing in Iraq? What is this noble cause you are sending our young people to Iraq for? What do you hope to accomplish there? Why did you tell us there were WMD's and ties to Al Qaeda when you knew there weren't? Why did you lie to us? Why did you lie to the American people? Why did you lie to the world? Why are our nation's children still in harm's way and dying everyday when we all know you lied? Why do you continually say we have to "complete the mission" when you know damn well you have no idea what that mission is and you can change it at will like you change your cowboy shirts?"

Camp Casey has grown and prospered and survived all attacks and challenges because America is sick and tired of liars and hypocrites and we want the answers to the tough questions that I was the first to dare ask. THIS is George Bush's accountability moment and he is failing ... miserably. George Bush and his advisers seriously "misunderestimated" me when they thought they could intimidate me into leaving before I had the answers, or before the end of August. I can take anything they throw at me, or Camp Casey. If it shortens the war by a minute or saves one life, it is worth it. I think they seriously "misunderestimated" all mothers. I wonder if any of them had authentic mother-child relationships and if they are surprised that there are so many mothers in this country who are bear-like when it comes to wanting the truth and who want to make meaning of their child's needless and seemingly meaningless deaths?

The Camp Casey movement will not die until we have a genuine accounting of the truth and until our troops are brought home. Get used to it George, we are not going away.”

“http://www.thereporter.com/search/ci_2936043

Family members decry Sheehan
By Robin Miller/City Editor





Cindy Sheehan remains steadfast in her protest of the war, but family members denounce her tactics. (Associated Press)

Family members of Cindy Sheehan, the Vacaville woman camped near President Bush's ranch protesting the war in Iraq, denounced her actions Thursday in an e-mail quickly distributed worldwide by Internet and mainstream media.
Sent to a San Francisco radio station Thursday, the first public acknowledgement of a family rift came from

Cherie Quartarolo, sister-in-law to Cindy Sheehan and godmother to her son, Casey, who was killed in action in Iraq last year.

Reached by phone Thursday, Quartarolo said she consulted with other family members before releasing the brief statement, but she declined to elaborate. She signed the memo on behalf of Casey's paternal grandparents, as well as "aunts, uncles and numerous cousins."

Noting that her family is still grieving the loss of Casey, Quartarolo wrote: "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 expense of her son's good name and reputation." ....”

“And your point is? So what if some of her aunts, uncles, and cousins back the war. So do a lot of other idiots. But like I said. The tide is turning against Bush and the neocons. You patriots can whine all you want but your "man" Bush will not buck Senate Republicans when they really start catching heat once congress is back in session. I certainly plan on doing my part.”

“The tide is turning against Bush and the neocons.

Been hearing that ever since he got sworn in. Didn't he get reelected in '04?

LOL!

LOL!

Bwu-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!”

“The tide is not turning. The loudest person in an arguement is usually loosing the arguement.”

“If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out.

My response to this is that if you don't like living in a Deomcracy you are welcome (and free) to leave the country.”

“nah, I think I'll stay and stand up for democracy. You can feel free to shake your arse out of here though. I'm willing to buy your gun and airfare to Iraq, so you can be a true American patriot.”

“It may come to that. I don't like the war. In fact I hate it.

I have a friend that just got back from his tour in the Middle East and I didn't know what to tell the guy the first time I saw him. He is very different from when he left. "Thanks for serving when called so I didn't have to." sounds corny, but it�s honest. That guy gave up a lot and I had to give up very little. Some gave up a lot more than my friend. I am not sure such a thing even needs to be said between friends, but I am almost certain that somehow it does. I still don't know what to say or do other than continue to support him as his friend as I have done for two decades.

The people serving in our military don't get a choice, they get a job. That's no different from each of us as citizens. By participating in a Democracy we agree to have our views imperfectly represented by it. That is, we have to recognize we will never get everything we want. So in the end we also don't get a choice, and like our military we have a job to do. That's to "speak out" as you said. I hope you do so and that your message is heard.

I don�t agree with the argument, however. I see it as inflamed rhetoric and I think this sort of thing only makes matters more difficult.”

“My job as a citizen is to denounce mrons like you, who support morons like Bush, so your buddy doesn't have to fight over a meaningless pack of lies.

In essence, I care more about the troops, my countrymen, than you do. You, and your ilk see them as "people doing a #&%!$ty but neccessary job", where I, and my ilk, see them as "my neighbors, who I'd only ask to defend me if absolutley needed, if not, I wouldn't do that to you, becuase, you are my neighbor, and more important to me that some trumped up 'patriotism' based on packs of lies and ineptitude.

It's a good thing most of these soldiers are young, and not knowladgeable of our current leadership. Otherwise, we'd have no army, for people nationalistic people like you don't have the balls to do what they do, which is, in definative terms, unpatriotic at best.”

“So you resort to name calling and attacking me personally. Nice. Typical.

I would also point out that my friend would not agree that the war is meaningless and told me he would return if it weren't for the toll it has taken on his family.
last edited: 8/22/05 12:31:03 AM”

“Well, you, persoanlly, are reposnible for electing the person who put our troops in harm's way over a pack of lies. You, personally, continue to support this person who continues to put my neighbors in harms way. You can call it an attack if you want, I consider it holding you personally responsible. In matters of this magnitude, you and people who act like you, should be grounded.”

“You presume a hell of a lot about me personally. The blood on my hands is as red as the blood on yours. It's not enough that I say I hate the war, is it? It's not enough to say I voted against the war, is it? I have to subscribe not only to what you believe but how you believe and the way you choose to express yourself. The difference between you and I is that I'll be willing to walk away from this discussion respecting you and your right to express yourself. You, on the other hand, will just blow me off as another moron and look for someone who agrees with you so you can both go mentally jerk each other off in a corner somewhere.”

“But you can't reason with these sort of "patriots". Anyone who dares to question the lies and half-turths are communists, or worse Democrats. The sad thing is it's all documented that there were no WMDs and no link to Al Quada. Even the Bush administration has fessed up. Yet they still go with the "my country right or wrong" gambit. That is until you tell them to put up or shut up. And that is the real test. None of them are going to join up. They're all blowhards and cowards when it comes right down to it. Just like their Pres. They sit here trashing someone who is doing the best she can to express her feelings of loss and betrayal. Cindy Sheehans opinions may not be not polished or politically correct. But they are true. And according to the polls, those opinions are reflection of at least 51 percent of the country. The DemocRATS and RepubliCONS are listening. George Bush and his neocon cronies in the MSM and administration are not going to be able to spin their way out of this.

My hope is that the Republicans lose the Congress and Dubya is impeached. As much as I dislike the DemocRATS it would be sweet.”

“the circle jerk partner showed up.”

“don't stroke too hard yet solitary, buddha should be back to join you shortly.”

“Well as I live and breath! Baume 66! Where the hell have you been? :)”

“hey nigal.

been quietly lurking in the shadows, waiting to throw a punch and then run.”

“ no link to Al Quada

I posted an article last week that indicated links.”

“Bush reaffirms commitment to defeat terrorists
President voices dedication to war in Iraq, creating free societies

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 2:48 p.m. ET Aug. 22, 2005


SALT LAKE CITY - President George W. Bush defended the war in Iraq on Monday in the face of growing skepticism, asserting that "a policy of retreat and isolation will not bring us safety" from terrorism.

With U.S. casualties rising and his approval rating falling, Bush urged Americans to stand united in the war in Iraq and against terrorists everywhere.”

“"President voices dedication to war in Iraq, creating free societies."

That is a crock!!!

They are after the oil!!!

The sad thing is that when it all shakes out they will likely lose control of the oil for which all those young people were mangled and killed.

The military contractors will grow fat though.”

“I only posted that because some of our folks seem to think Bubya's approval rating is going up.”

“I'm sure Bubya's approval is through the roof among snake-handlers and chicken hawks.”

“Buddha's stock used to be a lot higher.”

“What I find so amazing is that this administration is so myopic.

Iraq is just one variable in the Middle East/Oil game.

Would anyone in America care if we suddenly made nice with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela or the Iranians? Or how about building up India even more so that we have an English speaking bulwark against China?

If we built up enough of an alternative foreign policy, we could find an exit strategy from Iraq that might not ruin our entire reputation.

But, currently, we seem to be thinking only about Iraq. We need some creative people in the White House who can think of something more than Iraq, Iraq, Iraq.

Take a chance. Fly to Tehran, a la Nixon to China.”

“mark warner for president!!”

“Everything you post smells of sayanim bull#&%!$. Post it again and we'll discuss your source.”

“the circle jerk partner showed up.
baume 66

Well as I live and breath! Baume 66! Where the hell have you been? :)
Nigal

LOL baume keep stoking. Nigal you're making him look dumb even if you don't mean to.”

“I haven't seen him post in ages and I wanted to say hi. I don't care about what thread it may be on. You may have noticed that was my one and only post on this thread. I posted on the other thread so as to leave yours alone out of respect to you.

Have a great night SH! :)
last edited: 8/23/05 7:56:51 PM”

“Just pointing out the humor of the two posts when combined.”

“Duh! OK, I see now. I implicated Baume with masturbatory overtones. LOL! Sorry Baume!”

“http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006330.htm

Watch the video at the bottom.

I hadn't realized just what kind of "person" she is.

Watch from the very beginning.

I'm not kidding here - is she learning impaired? I was going to say I don't know adults who actually act like this, but I'm sure many of you on here consider this normal behavior for adults among your circle of friends.”

“That's Bubba Bear in drag, moonglo.
LOL”

“Oh boy. I was already grossed out, but now! ... geesh”

“"No shlt? WOW!"”

“LOL...whats the big deal, so the Islamo Fascists nuke New York or Boston lol...come on would we notice...heck if they hit say, LA, San Fagcisco, Washington DC, NY, Boston, Chicago...look at the way it would reduce the welfare rolls. (LOL)”

“"Good Riddance Attention Whore"

by Cindy Sheehan

Mon May 28, 2007 at 09:57:01 AM PDT


I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called "Face" of the American anti-war movement. Especially since I renounced any tie I have remaining with the Democratic Party, I have been further trashed on such "liberal blogs" as the Democratic Underground. Being called an "attention whore" and being told "good riddance" are some of the more milder rebukes.

I have come to some heartbreaking conclusions this Memorial Day Morning. These are not spur of the moment reflections, but things I have been meditating on for about a year now. The conclusions that I have slowly and very reluctantly come to are very heartbreaking to me.

The first conclusion is that I was the darling of the so-called left as long as I limited my protests to George Bush and the Republican Party. Of course, I was slandered and libeled by the right as a "tool" of the Democratic Party. This label was to marginalize me and my message. How could a woman have an original thought, or be working outside of our "two-party" system?

However, when I started to hold the Democratic Party to the same standards that I held the Republican Party, support for my cause started to erode and the "left" started labeling me with the same slurs that the right used. I guess no one paid attention to me when I said that the issue of peace and people dying for no reason is not a matter of "right or left", but "right and wrong."

I am deemed a radical because I believe that partisan politics should be left to the wayside when hundreds of thousands of people are dying for a war based on lies that is supported by Democrats and Republican alike. It amazes me that people who are sharp on the issues and can zero in like a laser beam on lies, misrepresentations, and political expediency when it comes to one party refuse to recognize it in their own party. Blind party loyalty is dangerous whatever side it occurs on. People of the world look on us Americans as jokes because we allow our political leaders so much murderous latitude and if we don’t find alternatives to this corrupt "two" party system our Representative Republic will die and be replaced with what we are rapidly descending into with nary a check or balance: a fascist corporate wasteland. I am demonized because I don’t see party affiliation or nationality when I look at a person, I see that person’s heart. If someone looks, dresses, acts, talks and votes like a Republican, then why do they deserve support just because he/she calls him/herself a Democrat?

I have also reached the conclusion that if I am doing what I am doing because I am an "attention whore" then I really need to be committed. I have invested everything I have into trying to bring peace with justice to a country that wants neither. If an individual wants both, then normally he/she is not willing to do more than walk in a protest march or sit behind his/her computer criticizing others. I have spent every available cent I got from the money a "grateful" country gave me when they killed my son and every penny that I have received in speaking or book fees since then. I have sacrificed a 29 year marriage and have traveled for extended periods of time away from Casey’s brother and sisters and my health has suffered and my hospital bills from last summer (when I almost died) are in collection because I have used all my energy trying to stop this country from slaughtering innocent human beings. I have been called every despicable name that small minds can think of and have had my life threatened many times.

The most devastating conclusion that I reached this morning, however, was that Casey did indeed die for nothing. His precious lifeblood drained out in a country far away from his family who loves him, killed by his own country which is beholden to and run by a war machine that even controls what we think. I have tried every since he died to make his sacrifice meaningful. Casey died for a country which cares more about who will be the next American Idol than how many people will be killed in the next few months while Democrats and Republicans play politics with human lives. It is so painful to me to know that I bought into this system for so many years and Casey paid the price for that allegiance. I failed my boy and that hurts the most.

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.

Our brave young men and women in Iraq have been abandoned there indefinitely by their cowardly leaders who move them around like pawns on a chessboard of destruction and the people of Iraq have been doomed to death and fates worse than death by people worried more about elections than people. However, in five, ten, or fifteen years, our troops will come limping home in another abject defeat and ten or twenty years from then, our children’s children will be seeing their loved ones die for no reason, because their grandparents also bought into this corrupt system. George Bush will never be impeached because if the Democrats dig too deeply, they may unearth a few skeletons in their own graves and the system will perpetuate itself in perpetuity.

I am going to take whatever I have left and go home. I am going to go home and be a mother to my surviving children and try to regain some of what I have lost. I will try to maintain and nurture some very positive relationships that I have found in the journey that I was forced into when Casey died and try to repair some of the ones that have fallen apart since I began this single-minded crusade to try and change a paradigm that is now, I am afraid, carved in immovable, unbendable and rigidly mendacious marble.

Camp Casey has served its purpose. It’s for sale. Anyone want to buy five beautiful acres in Crawford , Texas ? I will consider any reasonable offer. I hear George Bush will be moving out soon, too...which makes the property even more valuable.

This is my resignation letter as the "face" of the American anti-war movement. This is not my "Checkers" moment, because I will never give up trying to help people in the world who are harmed by the empire of the good old US of A, but I am finished working in, or outside of this system. This system forcefully resists being helped and eats up the people who try to help it. I am getting out before it totally consumes me or anymore people that I love and the rest of my resources.

Good-bye America ...you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can’t make you be that country unless you want it.

It’s up to you now.”

“LOL...YOU WON'T HAVE DICK NIXON TO KICK AROUND ANY MORE.....”

“Posted.
Day late and a dollar short.”

“Who needs a Dick when you got a Bush like we have?”

“So, what country is she moving to?”

“California.”

“Venzuela...(LOL) she will lead the first ever "Protest for Freedom of SPEECH!!!!" WHAhAHAHAHA....”

“Whahaaaaaaaaaa... the country won't change to think the way I think, so screw 'em.”

“OH yeah...well her 15 minutes ran out many moons ago.”

“Immigration must have gone Bye bye as Cindy and the worthless occupation flood the cracks in americans useless brains.”

“ROTFLMAO...okay I gotta admit the Republicans have the John (frozen Strawberries) McCain...but look at this...CINDY is BAAAAAACK....

http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D8Q8OG4O0&show_article=1


Sheehan said she will run against the San Francisco Democrat in 2008 as an independent if Pelosi does not seek by July 23 to impeach Bush. That's when Sheehan and her supporters are to arrive in Washington, D.C., after a 13-day caravan and walking tour starting next week from the group's war protest site near Bush's Crawford ranch. ”

“did anyone see the interview with her on either Hanity and Combs or Hanity Nation (or whatever that's called) with the "new and improved" cindy?...she's supposedly going to be less abrasive and stop name calling...when hanity called her out about her meeting with hugo chavez she actually said, with a straight face, that chavez was "democratically elected"”

“http://www.kxmc.com/News/Nation/141919.asp



Reaping the Nutroots That They Sowed




Cindy Sheehan is saying that she’s going to challenge Pelosi for her House seat in the next election if Gramma Nancy doesn’t bring articles of impeachment against the President. Despite the absurdity of a Sheehan candidacy, I think this does illustrate just how much trouble the Democrats are in for 2008



The media concentrates relentlessly on the woes of the Bush administration, but the reality is that Bush isn’t running in 2008. And while Democrats may have rode the “luxury of opposition” (which allowed them deride Republican policies endlessly without having to actually accomplish anything themselves) to majorities in Congress in 2006, right now approval numbers for the Congress they’re in charge of are running in the teens



The reason for that strong sense of disapproval is almost irrelevant. When voters are upset with the in-power party, the out-of-power party is almost always the beneficiary whether they deserve it or not (which is what happened for the Dems in 2006 anyway). All the Republicans really need to do to win big in the next election is capitalize on all that dissatisfaction



2008 is a long way off yet, but right now Democrats are on a course for disaster. Of course, the Republicans have some baggage of their own to deal with (mostly self-inflicted wounds like the illegal immigration amnesty debacle) but still. The idea of a strong, united and self-assured Democrat majority is an illusion”

“Stovie , you presume that a difference exist between the reps and dems. Like I've continued to say -no difference exist - thus- they both fall together. People are tired of more bad government no matter if they fly the colors of the 'bloods' or the 'crips'.”

“http://www.kxmc.com/News/Nation/141919.asp

Yes, all posted links are exactly the views of the poster. ;-)”