Cindy Sheehan resigns from anti-war movement??

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23018

Good Riddance Attention Whore

By Cindy Sheehan

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.

and your choices respected.

Peace to you.

"Your work is appreciated and your choices are respected. Peace to you." Blessings to you, Cindy. Thank you for the positive effect you had on my life - motivating me even more to fight for justice and an end to this war. Our business partner (mine and Hubby's)(Jeeni) went on a peace-related factfinding trip with you. Your voice affected us greatly for the better. I'm sending all the positive energy I can your way. And Casey's spirit will always live on in our hearts; you gave us that gift.

And, for the record, I never felt even close to qualifying to criticize you. I've never walked in your shoes. Again, thank you for the gift of your passion and your thoughts.

I'll reserve judgment until I am convinced these are actually her words.

She's been going full-bore for years now and has taken a whole lot of flak from all sides. :(

She writes what she feels and she publishes it quickly, seemingly without always pausing a couple of days to "let the mud settle" and double check that she really wants that material out there.

She may need a break and will return when she can.

Something I doubt she has had since the loss of her son.

She's even relased a response to her critics, both original pieces occuring on Daily Kos and not seriously doubted to be her words.

As for the ripping of her:

a) Yes, not everyone ripped her.
b) I don't expect her to appreciate the nuance given the really harsh things that were said about her. I'd dare any normal human being to appreciate that nuance when being clobbered in the face with a 2x4.

She going to stop doing what she's doing because people HERE trashed her? Does she really think she didn't take up a cause that gets attention and with that criticism from people?

I have been critical of some of her methods but never her message. Because of that I got reamed - it seems if you are not 110% with her on every single thing she did, you are automatically pro-war, pro-Bush etc.. Much of what was said here was because of the accusations like those leveled at anyone who had an opinion of x,y or z regarding her - in other words much of what was said was pure flamewar material. If she lets posts at DU be the last straw with her then it is the right decision for her. She needs a rest obviously and I hope she gets it.

She didn't say she's going to stop being against the war.

She said she is cutting off all ties and will have nothing further to do with the Democratic Party.

Perhaps the OP poster misread or misunderstood. Because she isn't changing a single thing due to what people HERE said, and she expects criticism for the sole reason that she will not support the party at the cost of her principles. The war is her issue. She's not going to be fine with funding the war and getting a bag of magic beans marked "Minimum Wage Increase".

Shame on any who have not.

Honestly, though, these sound very much like the real words of a genuinely broken heart.

There have been times when I've winced a bit when reading her words, because I've found her raw emotions a little amateurish and hard to take. This, on the other hand, may be the most well-composed thing she's ever written.

Damn.

and never pretended to be anything else. She's not some slick, polished member of a PAC who's been living and breathing political theory all her life and going about her business with a wall of cynicism to protect her - she's just a regular woman, a mom, an everyday person who got outraged and decided to try to do something about it.

Funny how we criticize politicians for being slick and professional and aloof from painful realities yet a person with real passion is described as "amateurish" and her absolutely, unabashed real emotions hard to take.

What is it we want in our activists anyway? I've read many things Cindy Sheehan has written and while I might not agree with everything she's said, she's a person who has a valid axe to grind - not one of money or influence but a gut realization of what the cost of this war is. Yet in this era of impeccable television commentators and talking heads, rich career politicians and glib spokespeople, it seems few can appreciate a plain, regular, everyday, outraged citizen.

Our loss. I wish her well.

You're absolutely right, her words, unpolished as they have been at times (and the piece in the OP was very well written) are genuine, and I consider her to be a genuine hero.

Amateur comes from the word love. People who do something because they love it. Professionals are often only whores.

Aren't we all proud to be recognized for the vile words of a very few? :sarcasm:

DU will carry this "badge of dishonor" for some time." I know it is the words of a few, but I can help feeling very very ashamed....:shrug:

She was one of the first to stand up to B*sh & the neocons at a time when it almost seemed like blasphemy.

Good luck to her and may others stand up and continue her work.

She spoke up and did something when most of America was complacent. She woke people up. I've never made the journey any of the Camp Caseys but just knowing they were there helped give me strength to carry on. I knew I wasn't alone in knowing this war in Iraq was a mistake and that we were losing our children, our future, for the little chimp's ego and the financial benefit of certain large corporations.

If I could, I would tell Cindy not to give up. She will always, always be one of my heroes.

If you are reading this, there are still those of us at the Democratic Underground who appreciate what you tried to do and that it was for all Americans not just Democrats and liberals. Besides this, there are those who aren't affiliated with the Democratic Underground who appreciate what you do. Since you and I share the same surname I get asked all the time if we are related. I have to say no, but they always add something positive about you, like the fact that you are a very brave woman.

Did you know that the name Sheehan means peace in the Irish language? Go in peace Cindy and thank you for everything you have tried to do.

May you find greater support in your life and peace in your spirit.

I spent 1,000 precious hours of my life campaigning for democrats in the 2004 general election just to watch the electronic voting machines flip the votes.

The democratic party did nothing.

The system is broken.

aches that any anti-war people could treat you badly.

"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 ..."

are sadly all too true :cry:

Growth comes in spurts, and Cindy has a lot of R&R due to assimilate all she has learned in the past several years.

She'll be back.

I don't understand why she was able to take such a beating for so long. I am sure that she is just tired and needs a break. I am sure that we will hear from her in the future.

Thanks Cindy, for everything. I understand completely where you are coming from, and retreating to. May the wind be always at your back.

TC

You are a hero. You have sacrificed so much and have been an inspiration to so many. Thank you.

I'm even more sorry to see Swanson call her a publcity whore, I think that was uncalled for and I will write and tell him that. Regardless of her choices, she did what she felt was right. She never did work as Democrat, so when she criticized them I never expected her not to voice her opinions, even though I didn't always agree with them.

When did that happen? He was with Cindy at Easter and I sure didn't detect any problems. Did he post something on his site?

Let's clear this up, pronto before it becomes "viral." David Swanson does not deserve this attribution....:shrug:

would call ANYONE an Attention Whore, he's a good guy and I've worked with him before, a committed and classy guy.

Where did HIS statement take place, anyone know?

These are Cindy's words and her title to her diary on Daily Kos... The title stems from some really rude posts here on DU (and I'm assuming similar elsewhere), but it is Cindy's title. David simply reposted her letter which also appears on Daily Kos and C&L (and likely many many progressive websites by now).

isn't the title her own?

n/t

This doesn't sound like David Swanson.

Edit, I googled "attention whore"- David's name
and it resulted in no links.

it takes you to afterdowningstreet website, co-founded by David Swanson, where Cindy's letter is posted ... can you see where it says 'submitted by davidswanson'? followed by Cindy's letter ...

Good Riddance Attention Whore

Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2007-05-28 17:11. Cindy Sheehan

By Cindy Sheehan

~snip~


my impression is that he simply shared her letter by posting it at afterdowningstreet

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/cofounders

David doesn't edit her posts.

Those were Cindy's words, not his.

THIS IS CINDY's letter and she cites (if one reads it) discussions on DU and elsewhere where one or more posters called her this. Here is a link to CIndy's original diary on DailyKos so that you can see that it was HER title and not something David Swanson came up with. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/28/12530/1525

This is becoming a really bad game of "telephone" it seems...:shrug:

David doesn't edit her posts.

Those were Cindy's words, citing a poster who called
her that.

patriots in this nation. Her message is on target and always has been.

she kept moving anyway.

We need about a hundred more like Cindy, and I hope she takes some time to attend to her own wellbeing because we need her.

First Rosie O'Donnell, now Cindy.

The world is full of so many mean spirited people, how could so much hate be directed at people who fight for peace?

It's so sad.

Imho, peace is a processs more than a decision.

We can hang in. That's the job.

You could only take so much.

I know all you gave and all you sacrificed. Though I have publicly stated here that I no longer can stand with you 100% I have never lost my respect for you as a person, as a mother and as a fighter. You did just touch my heart with this last letter and my heart does go out to you.

We may disagree on what being 'effective' is at it relates to the war, whereas you stand on the side of idealistic right even if futile, though I stand more on the side of realistic right while finding ways to work together. In my heart I think your position is the more righteous one, but sometimes that doesn't mean the most effective. Things will take time and patience to reach that state of higher righteousness that we want from our elected officials and we must be able to work within the parameters of the current state of things in order to progress. That may be frustrating, but in order to be effective that's how things get done. We can't always go for broke and expect instant gratification of our agenda and demands, as we will almost certainly end up beyond disappointed. I know in our hearts we feel like "why not? Why can't we demand that now? Why shouldn't they conform to what's blatantly right, now?" and I understand that. But asking why does not change the reality that it just ain't gonna work that way. That's why I believe you have been too narrow minded in your approach and why I objectively believe there are far better ways to be effective. But that doesn't mean I've ever lost understanding as to why you do what you do and fight as you fight. It just means I no longer have seen eye to eye with you.

But I still hold you in the highest regards as a person, a mother and a fighter. I will always owe you thanks for the things you have done and hope you will continue to fight if not in different ways. Peace to you Cindy, you deserve that much. You fought hard and ya gotta respect that. But maybe a break for you is in order. You have started something bigger than yourself and the movement will not die if you choose to sit out a bit. Maybe after taking some time to rejuvenate and reflect you can find ways to come back and be more effective.

But no matter what road you choose ahead, may God bless you down it and may nothing but good things come for you.

Posted in the wrong place

else learns in a high-school government class: Politicians, regardless of the party, are politicians for one and/or two reasons only - money and/or power.

There is a difference between not knowing and being a teacher by example.

I guess I'm the slow learner today. I misunderstood that she was quitting for a different reason.

on edit: I apologize.

I'd delete my original statement, but then it would put both your comments out of context when you were both exactly right. So I'll leave it.

on edit: I apologize.

:hug:

who trashed her every fucking chance they got (They Know Who They Are) are happy now. Interesting that the same people who trashed Cindy regularly trashed many other outspoken women.

Get some rest Cindy. Thanks for all that you've done. History will be kind to you.

the anti-war movement has lost a potent voice.

Do what you need to do.

Love and respect to you.

http://www.tamethecorporation.org/index.html taking aim at the head of the dragon.

the problem that underlies and enables virtually all others . . . be it the war, the environment, healthcare, whatever, when looking for root causes look no further than rank corporate greed -- and a government that not only enables it, but actively encourages it . . .

strict -- and I do mean STRICT -- regulation of megacorps is an absolute prerequisite to any plan to save this nation and the planet . . . period . . .

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

All the "usual suspects" doing what they do.
Just another day in GD.

god, this breaks my heart.

:cry:

I can't say I blame her, she needs a rest. My heart goes out to her and all she's done for peace.

The question is, are all of those who attacked her methods willing to pick up the torch? It's up to you now.

Take care

Mary

might actually be moles.

is what got us into this mess and killed your son. I hope you realize that we are profoundly disappointed with the party leaders, it's made me think about what position I am as well. I don't know if you'll read this, but if you do, best of luck. The horror of this war must stop now!

feels like taking a slam at Cindy, please don't. That's not what this is about.

:hug:

on du. (apparently some men have major issues with strong women who speak their mind)

cindy, you have shown bravery beyond belief. you have stood up and spoken out more than most. you have stood your ground. we have seen your pain, your anger, your heartbreak. you put a face on the anti-war movement and it is the face of a mom, a woman, an american. and i would say that a majority of us are forever grateful for all you have accomplished, and for the attention you have brought to the criminal hiding inside the white house, and this tragic war. there are thousands of us who are so proud of you. we love you cindy.

I appreciate everything you do to fight the utterly corrupt, war-profiteers who control our Nation.

Truly, it is a desperate struggle. I wonder when the people will wake up and listen to the truth and hear it!

You speak for all the mothers who saw this debacle for what it was & have either had the lives of their children sacrificed for greed, or were terrified that their children would have to be sacrificed for greed.

Only those who don't understand a woman of principles, heartbreak, & determination to right a wrong would call you an "attention whore".

I admire you, Cindy, & respect you enormously, Mrs. Sheehan.

Damn the DLC and their cowardly supporters who refused to admit that's what they are.

Save those kind of comments for celebrity TV type ppl, not MOMS WHO LOST THERE SON IN A ILLEGAL WAR!

those are the kind of abuses she's been subjected to, which is why she's so disheartened.

thanks

I imagine thats the kind of stuff I see on a right wing forum if I looked there.

You are a hero to my kids and to me. Please take care and be well. m.

If you change your mind, support can be found here.

And I agree with everything she said. This is one of the reasons that, even though I have been here since late 2001 under 2 different names, I almost never post anymore. Democratic Underground is still a great news-gathering service, and there are some wonderful progressive people here--I'll leave the rest unsaid, there's no need to state the obvious negatives.

It's a dangerous thing to get caught up in the cult of personality, or the cult of party, as the case may be. My ideals stay more or less the same; the Democratic Party typically claims to hew to those ideals. But they haven't, and this past week, the ugly mask came off completely, so that I could no longer claim thickness, could no longer give them 'one more chance', and so on.

I felt compelled to speak up one more time, in support of Cindy Sheehan and in apparent opposition to some at Democratic Underground and some in the Democratic Party. I feel sure I'm not the only progressive in the DU silent (majority/minority?), and wanted to add my voice.

thanks.

I put that yellow rose there in August 2005, as a gesture of support, respect and gratitude to Cindy.

I have worn it proudly ever since.

I haven't always entirely agreed with her every word or action, but never saw the need to publicly dissect her every word or action. I was and am respectful and grateful for her commitment and courage.

I will continue to wear the yellow rose as a symbol of my appreciation for patriots such as Cindy.

After my friend and colleague Andy Stephenson (of the election reform movement) died.

I felt his life had been taken away from him by the Swift Boater-style harassment organized by several freepers, among them Bev Harris.

I felt that without him to show the way that I was without a compass or clue as to how to proceed.

And then you embarked on your mission - and the media picked up on you - more to scoff than anything else - but every moment that they scoffed,more
people heard about you than the day before.

I truly think that Andy had something to do with the media coverage and the attention - that every heart you touched and every life you influenced had been steered your way by his wishes from the beyond (After all, there have been other people who have protested causes -with as much intent as you had, but with little result)

You have accomplished things you will never fully even understand. People who were bitter with rage after losing a child in a war that they believed - and they hated us pacifists with the same furor that they hated the Iraqi "insurgent" that killed their offspring - and then they met you and gained a sense of awareness.

I grieve for you in the loss of your son.

I grieve for you that you as an innocent have not understood until now that all political parties are (as last week's vote on the Supplemental Funding Act proved) just pawns in the chessboard of the Corporate State. That the Democratic "leadership" could just as easily be referred to as the Democratic Gatekeepers.

Take time to come to terms with your new knowledge. Take as much time as you need. And do not think or feel that you are one iota less of a heroine for giving yourself such a break.

a paid or unpaid troll I would head for DU to trash her.

I believe that some DUers could do it because there is some immaturity here.

I don't think DUers should trash her further. I think those who trashed should analyze what they don't like it and rank it for importance. Myself, I honor all people with guts like she has.

I hope she can find a sustaining and supportive group or site and continue in some way.

She is absolutely right about Dems not being saints. (I am still reeling about the post that tells about Dodd Clinton and Obama going after Chavez.)

The truth hurts. Dems are not superior in all ways. Especially our Congress. Especially so. The truth hurts - Dems are as much as fault for the state of this country as the profiteers and death orchestrators.

And banned about 10 DU members. Your guess that there are trolls doing the bad-mouthing is very likely. But there were a couple names I noticed from previous posts and they seem very progressive to me. Good riddance to them. It is not their place to condemn anybody that has opposing viewpoints to them. Screw em I say.

your movement was not a failure, it was a success...a lot of us see things a lot clearer now...Take care...Take care of yourself...we are still behind you, and some really do understand what made you stand up for what's right...
wb

Zinn and some celebrities read the words of some heros and heroines from our past who uttered words that ring true today - they made a decision to include a Cindy Sheehan speech. It was an honor well deserved. I'll go with Zinn, Democracy Now, and the personalities who gave their time to honor true heros and heroines.

Too many people tried to make this about Cindy the woman and not what Cindy was saying. I may not have always agree with what Cindy did but damn it, I never turned my back on what she represented: Bringing our troops home and for America to stop fucking up the world for corporate profits. Cindy is a humanitarian.

Why do we turn on back on the message and go after the messenger? We have real American patriots among us. We have fellow Americans who are willing to stand up and sacrifice everything they have to save our country. We have people who have risked their health, their reputations and their own families to speak out against this war and other Bush atrocities. And this is how we treat one of them? Shameful. It is absolutely shameful.

Cindy and Gore are right. Where are the big national discussions on the issues? Face it: the media doesn't care what we think. And because the politicians line-up to be on television, they don't listen to what we're saying either rather they play the game. If the politicians don't want to play, they don't get invited on the shows and we, the American people, don't get to hear what they are actually saying.

We are losing our ability to hear what people are saying unless it is a catchy sound byte or a faux pas. When we don't know what people are saying we lose our ability to reason. Instead we rely on what we see or, moreover, what "they" want us to see and believe. We're losing our ability to talk to each other. We're losing another war that matters, the war to save our own country.

We need each other and we need to listen to each other. We may have different reasons for reaching the same conclusion but damn it, don't condemn someone for speaking out.

and this makes me mad that DU members especially chased her off!

Is this because Cindy mention the "I" word (Independent) because she decided not to support Democrats who were, in her mind, just as responsible as Republicans for HER SON dying? Did her announcement kick her off the site there for criticizing the Democrats and leaving the party because of their continued lack of kahunas? I find her ideas refreshing myself and just because it was a bad idea in 2000, does not mean it is bad idea period. As I said there, it is wise to learn from the past but it is never wise to LIVE in the past. What is a bad idea at one time, can become a good idea another time.

Cindy has been a harbinger in the past and far ahead of most of us ~ especially the so-called "illuminati" of the Left as well as the Right. I will say again and again, many of us are mad as hell and if EITHER party insists on refusing to honor and listen to We The People perhaps the whole party needs to get the boot.

Then perhaps it is time to pull a Venezuela. This is where the disenfranchised 60% gets up and votes in a 3rd party in a landslide after they finally realized the so-called "majority" in their elections is in reality a paltry 16% who vote in self centered greed heads only concerned about themselves, not their fellow country people.

And whomever in this forum whom she says herself called Cindy an "attention whore" and said "good riddance" and therefore chased this woman away from a movement needed more than any time in the history of this country, thanks a hell of a lot. Since you are such loudmouth jackasses (literally) and responsible for this yourselves, maybe it's time YOU will get up off YOUR fat asses and spend 24 X 7 of your lives to take her place!

Go Cindy!

Cat In Seattle <=== mad as hell and embarrassed I am affiliated with SOME DU members but proud with what most have written here on this thread.

the sacrifices you've made. I fear that the "fascist corporate wasteland"
is closer than we think.

God help us.

Though I hope you don't resign, I can understand the pressure that makes you want to.

We owe you a great debt of gratitude for helping move the anti-war message into the mainstream. Take it easy and spend some time taking care of yourself and your family.

and strong anti-war voices.

Ms Rosie O'Donnell
Ms Cindy Sheehan

I for one, will miss them both!

This is what happens when you speak against fascism in this country anymore: you are called names and vilified. Disgraceful.

Thanks for your post, I agree.

When the Democrats took the majority in the House and Senate, I was ecstatic! I thought, "Finally... we have a chance to at least slow down this madness."

Damn, I was stupid. The new, improved Democratic party caved, and did so in spectacular fashion. Our "saviors" gave Chimpy everything he wanted, served with a smile AND on a silver platter, and then asked George if he would like fries with it.

So I know how she feels; at least a little.

Good luck, Cindy.

After serving everything Bush*/Republicans wanted on a silver platter, the Democratic Leadership that engineered this spectacular betrayal appeared on TV congratulating themselves and calling it a VICTORY of PEACE.
Then (as if THATS not enough) the DLC/DCCC (the architects of Democratic betrayal) sent out requests for MORE money to the people they just stabbed in the back!!!

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

A sentiment that I share with JQA and Cindy Sheehan.

The few who didn't understand how valuable you have been to the peace movement never mattered anyhow.

I am a mixed bag...a lefty and a Zionist who liked most of your politics but not all of them. I detest those who "Dissed" you and wish you the best.

Kevin

She did what she needed to do, and called attention to issues that needed airing, and now she seems ready to accept the cruel fact that her son did die for nothing.

That has to be the bitterest pill to swallow, but she did all she could do and ended up a caricature of how she started. The press had a lot to do with it, and she's earned a "rest"

Perhaps she can use what she learned, and write a book. I think it would be well-received.

Good luck to Cindy.. I hope she finds some peace herself

After you have rested and reflected, perhaps years from now, you will see the worth of what you did. It is there, and it will bear fruit.

and I am ashamed that people at DU called her names. The right wing will look on this as a victory for their side; ironic that we and not them helped bring Cindy to this pass.

of DU who are seeking the truth trashing you. There are however a lot of pretenders on this site including some of the mods that pounce on truthtellers like you who do not toe the DU line with a vengeance. I hope that you will realize that the majority of us who post on DU understand and appreciate what you do and the truly great things you have done and we all owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude. I for one have been astonished at your willpower and your dogedness to get out yours and our message and by our, I don't mean democrats or republicans. I am talking here about people seeking the truth and you my friend are a shinning beacon and a huge contributor in that cause and thats a fact. So if you need a rest, so be it and many of us will be watching your back.

If you want to stay in the kitchen, then get set to resist the heat, no matter where it comes from. You have been defeated--the message you are sending is that you have given up.

If you want to be right up there in front, you must learn to fight fire with fire and be so convinced of your stance, that NO ONE, not even Democratic Underground, or Kos, or any of the other popular blogs can cause you to give up your cause.

Stay there. Take a look at the blogs. They are becoming a conglomerate in and of themselves. Jaysus, how many of them went to and invited lunch with Bill Clinton and were overwhelmed by this invitation. They are out to make a living also. It is becoming another club and participants are expected to follow the accepted memes. Stay with your convictions until the day you die, for the sake of your soul, or sense of what is right or what is wrong and take no flack from anyone of them. It seems they are all fighting and badgering for the top spot in the "slobs", Nevermind them Cindy. Take a look at the little clubs all formed witnin these blog and how these commentators, members of this little club, all stick together. You have broken ground when no one else would do so. Forgedda bout Democratic Underground--the blogs are all a changing as time goes on. They are becoming as loyal to a cause, sometimes blindly loyal, as the Repbublicans.

You got an agenda, then stick with it and eat your Wheaties.

But no matter how long and hard they pound on it, Cindy, Life keeps raising its bruised little noggin.

Take a rest, but don't take to heart the suggestion that you're too weary to know whereof you speak. I'm leaving the Dems, too, Cindy. There's work to be done and it can't be done in a corrupt environment. Your work has been a hallmark of Democratic (Big D) principles!

Your sacrifice and your loving contribution to saving our country are much appreciated in this household.

Judy Barrett
Santa Fe, New Mexico

I had no idea what was going on in those other threads - I went back and read them and yeah, there were a couple of people trashing Cindy. I saw a lot more defending her and the work she's done.

I think the 'attention whore' comment originated with someone with a fairly low post count - not someone I'd designate as some kind of representative of DU opinion.

I would hope that Cindy would go back and read the outrage of many members here after the shameful votes in the House and Senate, where our representatives turned their backs on the people and voted for continuing the endless war. There will always be Democrat-uber-alles types in those threads - I started one about Dianne Feinstein's war profiteering and was harassed by a couple of these types - but for the most part I think we're mainly on the same page with our frustration over the capitulation of our party to George Bush.

A break is a good thing and possibly essential, but I hope that Cindy returns to the front lines at some point. She's an inspiration and one of the defining figures of our times.

My laptop is dead. I have spent all day going back and forth from home to the computer store trying to repair it. As soon as Mabus called, I came over to a friend's house to use her computer to read up on this sad news.

I have spent a lot of time at Camp Casey and I can definitely testify about the hate directed at Cindy from both the war mongers and the left. It is a shock to see her called an "attention whore" here, of all places. She is definitely not looking for attention. Those words are painful to see at the head of her letter. They come from DU. I have seen them posted here way too many times. Some who have used them are temporary DUers, but others are long time members. Since I doubt very seriously that Cindy spends much time on rw sites, she most likely saw those words here. That hurts me and embarrasses me. I also hope that the DUers who used those words are reading this thread and understand the effect their hateful words have had.

My first reaction when I heard about this was "Good for her". It can't be easy to lose a child and then be villified for speaking out about the horrific illegal war that took his life. So I don't blame Cindy for wanting to step out of the limelight. She certainly has the right to do what she thinks is best for her.

I also know for sure that the peace movement is alive and well with or without her leadership. She will always be an inspiration to those of us who got off our butts and went to work after being inspired by Cindy. We will also continue to love and respect Cindy, regardless of what she decides. And we will be grateful to her for helping us come together. I have friends all over the US now, because Cindy brought us together during a hot August in Crawford, TX. And I can't thank her enough for that.

Cindy can't sell Camp Casey. It is not a place, it is a body of people who have worked hard for nearly 2 years to end the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Peace, Cindy! You know I love you and admire your work. You are truly an inspiration. God bless.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Well, aren't we lucky to have you here to explain it to us.

Thanks for the expert opinion.:sarcasm: <------- This should be obvious, but you never know. How condescending. On edit: I meant this as a reply to post number 90, not to your post. Sorry.

What an absolutely insulting comment. Glad it was deleted.

If you can't spell menopause, perhaps you shouldn't use it as an insult.

I'm sick to frickin' death of the sexist comments here - women referred to as 'whores' and then the snide comments about hormones.

I agree with the post a few above this that this is a real embarrassment to DU because some people can't debate ideas but have to reach into the gutter of sexism to insult and degrade.

If anyone wants to see just how humiliating this is for DU, read through the Kos thread.

by your crass comment, you surely are reflective of that.

one word. It begins with "A."

was in accident...have some typing issues.

reiterate..she's way too reactive and I say that as menapausal woman...takes one to know one. L-theanine works really well for calming those indulgent spasms.

edited to say...one little comment had more reactions than post that the friggin Atlantic Salmon are dead: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x987964

jesus..what is important here? Am certain Cindy's feeling have been assuaged already.

Do you think I should write off your strong feelings, attitudes, beliefs and comments as "menopausal"? Should all women within an age range with strong positions be written off as worthless or crazy?

Congrats. You are the very first DUer in over 2-1/2 years I shall put on 'ignore'. You have stated that you don't have any regard for your own posts, so I won't either.

I'd say "See ya.", but I guess I won't be.

After all these years.. ;-)

Until they have, you really can't understand how Cindy feels or why she does what she does.

well..he has two young kids with him. Working to solve things politically rather than militarily.. setting up provincial govts. I worry and pray for him 24/7. He wears Army camouflage yet not armed...vulnerable.

How about you?

edited to say...if any one reads this...please light a candle for him...we call him "Bullet" as he would run like the wind when two yrs old

edited again to say... have so many friends there...just yesterday hugged friend who is battling cancer and his son is returning again...can't think of anyone who isn't affected by this war.

you and your son are American heroes and don't ever forget it.

And shame on the assholes on this site that trashed this courageous mother from the comfort of their armchairs. While I didn't agree with her leaving the Dems, I appreciate where she was coming from and I honor her decision even if I think it's a foolhardy one.

For all the griping and pearl-clutching in the Falwell threads, I have to say that this, right here, makes me utterly ashamed to be associated with DU. That this woman who so many here lifted up and supposedly supported would be so quickly torn down, disparaged with terrible sexist slurs and treated like garbage the minute she made a decision you didn't agree with...it makes me sick to my stomach. Some people were acting worse than Freepers--hell any number of posts sounded like they came right off FR and not all of them were trolls.

I'm disgusted by all this and I only wish Cindy will be at peace with herself and I wish her and her family all the best as they continue the grieving process. She has my eternal respect, gratitude, and admiration.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=984754&mesg_id=984915

Which was not an attack, but a plea for her to keep working with us instead of pulling a futile Ralph Nader purist move that elects more Republicans. Ending the war should be a bi-partisan issue, and I do not support a gag rule on criticism of Democrats. I do not think hyperbolic bashing is productive though, or statements like 'why do we even bother to vote for Democrats?' are helpful either.

It is still a Republican war. It was started by a Republican President and a Republican majority in Congress, and it is being continued by both of them. Almost every Democrat, if not every Democrat, voted for the bill which provided for timetables for withdrawal. Bush vetoed it. Not the Democrats. Bush. Almost every Democrat voted to over-ride the veto. Almost every Republican, if not every Republican, first voted against the bill and then voted to sustain the veto. They, the elected Republicans, and their supporters, have the primary responsibility, at least 75% of the blame. How does it help anything to beat up our side for it's 25%? And to keep advancing the ridiculous notion, completely disproven by Bush and Gore, to say that there are no substantial differences between the parties. We wouldn't even be having this argument if Republicans still controlled Congress.

But, other than that (:o), to Cindy:
:applause: :toast: :patriot: :thumbsup:
:applause: :toast: :patriot: :thumbsup:
:applause: :toast: :patriot: :thumbsup:

... almost every mother does NOT want their son (or daughter) to go to war. Cindy is a normal mom, who is devastated by the loss of her son - I do not blame her for anything she says, as her personal sacrifice is hers alone to bear as a mother. In fact I believe she is quit coherent under the situation. No war makes sense, no loss is worth it, and there is no rational justification no matter how hard we try. There are "reasons" this all happened, but that really doesn't help Cindy much as the loss of Casey is something no mother should endure. To lash out irrationally to both friends and foes alike would be my reaction for sure.

Cindy, we love you because you were one of the first to show the Nation that there are dissenters among the patriotic Americans. We admire you because you are a person of conviction, risking your marriage and personal safety to speak out. I did not know of your son first hand, my sons were Marines and came home safe. I can never understand your pain, but I understand your fears until the knock on your door came.

America is your home! Your son's blood paid for it - you have a right to do and say anything this Memorial Day, or any other day for that matter. I served myself & I SAY you have the right! I think you are right to sell Camp Casey because I expect GOD to destroy the Crawford Bush Ranch anytime now with a major natural disaster, and you don't want to be near it?

Perhaps you can turn Camp Casey into a Cemetery for Anti-War veterans? A potter's field like Arlington was once upon a time, a garden of stone to remind us all of the terrible cost of war? I think the question you need to ask is, What would Casey want?

May God somehow grant you a small measure of peace on your journey, where ever it leads you.

the democratic and the republician party are worried about their own asses not ours(there are a few good ones) !!What has happened to our America!

This makes me sick!!!!

Of course she was villified. When have we ever refrained from villifying those who are right and those who are committed to a cause.

Same old tired DLC suck-puppets.

Dissect it anyway you want, defend the abuse of Cindy if you feel you must, but this is a dark moment in DU history. Of all the places Cindy should have felt welcomed on the internet, the DU should have been that one place.

But it wasn't. Some community we have here.

give one iota if those badmouthing her had done as much to forward the anti-war sentiment. But when you ask about that, all you get are crickets.

But as I'm sure you know, the real purpose of this site is not to stop wars, or even to elect Democrats that represent our ideals. (Gay rights-forget it-we might lose the Red States-abortion-oh no can't say that word...on and fucking on)

The purpose of this site is to elect Demcocrats even if they believe and act like Republicans and act contrary to your every held ideal. Otherwise, you are the enemy. It's about party loyalty NOT loyalty to ANY-and yes I mean ANY IDEALS. Cindy Sheehan is correct. And people here are clinging to the corpse of the Democrat party praying and hopeing it will come alive again. Hope is nice, but party loyalty to me is kind of it's death knell-when most here will tell you-YOU are the problem-YOU are leaving the Democratic party. SO, I'm the problem, not all those politicans that vote like Republicans year after fucking year-and still get to call themselves "Democrats." YES, it's ME-and Cindy Sheehan that are the problem. This place is becoming laughable. Are you leaving the Democratic party? WHAT? There is something to leave? It left me in bits and pieces over the last many years.

We went to the ceremonies in the town we were vacationing near today, and they had a Gold Star mom get up and speak. She lost her son in Iraq, and she started crying, and we all started crying, and all I could think of was her pain and Cindy's pain and how messed up all of this is.

May she get the rest she so richly deserves, and may she start working for peace again when her heart tells her it's the right time. Be blessed, Cindy, and walk in blessings.

Where can we donate to help with her medical costs?

I might even make a tee-shirt. Anything they call you I'll wear that label proudly, and stand behind you till the gates of hell. You are one of my very few heros in this life. And you are dead-on about the Democratic Party; they are useless. I dedicate the following diary to you. And I for one do not accept your resignation. Sorry.

A Memorial Day Prayer: DON'T March on Washington, They're Home!
from May 8th

I'm writing this, like many of us, harboring disgust; disgust at the Democratic leadership of course, disgust at the MoveOn people for backing the initial compromise that led to this cave-in, disgust at our own helplessness in forcing our congressmen to act like a real opposition to end, in Studs Terkel's words, this "incredibly obscene war." Which every day is earning us more hatred and taking resources from the task at hand in Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan.

A part of me is even mad at the guys who, after March 2003, signed up for getting themselves killed. Naive enough to believe a filthy liar like George W. Bush when he said Iraq was somehow related to 9/11, and we had to take the fight to the enemy. Bush, who let bin Laden escape at Tora Bora when he could have killed him, so bin Laden could kill another day. Whose vice president Dick Cheney did business with Saddam as recently as 1998, through Halliburton.

I'm tired of getting teary when I read about another of their funerals, their mothers screaming or collapsing as my mother would have, had she had to bury me before my life ever really began. How evil this all is. Then I think: What if I had been held, as a matter of life or death, to all the decisions I made when I was 20 or 21? I'd be in real trouble. The fact remains: These are my American brothers, and I love them and don't want any more of them to die in Iraq.

The Democrats' excuse is they don't have a veto-proof majority. But it doesn't take a veto-proof majority to start the investigation of the 360 tons of lost high explosives in Iraq back in 2004 that are still killing the troops today.

An investigation that would weaken Bush's political position so much he would have to be the one to compromise. It's disgusting to see the Democrats weak and cowed by threats that they could be accused of "not supporting the troops." It makes you wonder what the NSA has found on these guys. That they resist kicking and screaming from going into the battle. I'm dead serious. Bush must have the mistress and male prostitute tapes on these congressmen all wrapped up, for them to let him sneer and preen and strut like a man who holds all the cards.

The press keeps saying there was "a bruising struggle" over the Iraq veto fight. Are you kidding me? They didn't even break a sweat.

Congress is home for the week beginning now until June 4th. It's important to not give them a moment's peace, and at the same time to give them a clear idea of what we expect. Once again, a page from the Republican playbook.

When they came after Clinton from minority standing they hammered and hammered at many variations of thong underwear, until his position was so weak he couldn't proceed with his admittedly modest, centrist agenda. That's how you play, when you play to win. 360 tons of HMX high explosives, one pound of which can turn over a tank, is considerably more serious than thong underwear.

This constant reminder of incompetence or worse would cut the Republicans off at the knees when they try accusations of not supporting the troops. Not securing the HMX, which the administration knew of, and generals were begging him to secure, was like "invading the US for and not securing Los Alamos Laboratory" in the words of Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project.

Someone has to camp out on each of these congressmen's front lawns. If they throw you off, the sidewalk is public property. But remember, print out THIS POST (reprinted below, "The Democratic Offensive That Wasn't") and hand it to everyone you see, even the cops. Ralph Nader said we must perfect the art of "buttonholing" them, another page from the Right Wing. Whether they are in church, at a picnic, trying to have a cup of coffee, anywhere, hand them the print-out, so they can't play dumb, and tell them THIS is what you expect. We did their work for them.

All they have to do is follow the plan. If not, start a search committee for who's going to run against them in the primary, even if it's years away. Start watching who they show up with in restaurants in DC. Maybe that's the mistress.

Why bother? Because you are paying them. If your cellphone company sold you a lemon and you were stuck, wouldn't you go and scream at whomever sold it to you? Just because it was the right thing to do and they deserved it? Do you like the tax bite that comes out of your pay every week? Because that's the money that pays these guys to represent you.

Freedom isn't free. If we think it's time-consuming to give these guys a week of hell, next week, as we are all barely making ends meet, remember that Fort Ticonderoga was held in freezing winters by Americans whom, for footwear, had their feet wrapped up in rags. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Who is the first to start "Camp Casey, MyTown, USA"?

In last week's Annapolis speech Bush again beat the horse to death that there are 'still people who want to attack us, who want to harm us.' Um, we know that, George. But you DAMNED well ain't protecting us. You're making it worse.

If, by the more than 3400 American deaths in Iraq, we have been shaken to the core from the post-9/11 fear paralysis which caused us to blindly follow anyone who promised safety, in the process overturning the Constitution, and if, through this, the politics of pure fear are uprooted, the Constitution saved, and the constitutional republic restored, then those deaths were not in vain, and the gift, in life's strange way, is that which they were fighting for in the first place.



from http://ralphlopezworld.com

THIS IS A LINK FOR EASY-FIND OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OFFICES, PHONE/EMAIL
----

REPRINT "The Democratic Offensive That Wasn't"

The Week in Review: The news we will never read?


In response to a new political offensive by Dick Cheney who said Monday in a National Press Club speech: "Democrats are willing to leave troops in the field without ammunition in order to make a political point, and that is unbelievably irresponsible," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shot back: "How dare they accuse us of not supporting the troops, when it is they who have been failing the troops all along."


As if to underscore the point, the next day the Senate Armed Services Committee launched an investigation of the HMX Explosives Fiasco in 2004, when 360 tons of high explosives were left unguarded and stolen in Iraq, despite their location being well-known to the administration.

An administration spokesman parried the announcement of the investigation by proclaiming at a press conference "They are trying to blame our military." That night DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel appeared on CNN in an often-replayed retort: "Wrong. We're not blaming our brave military. We're blaming the Commander-in-Chief for incompetence."

On the same day a House Armed Services sub-committee launched an investigation of the Defense Department's practice of sending troops into battle without adequate body armor, which was burned into the public consciousness in 2007 when soldiers in Iraq asked then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld why they had to go into battle with "hillbilly armor." Although Rumsfeld has since resigned, the investigation seemed designed by the Democrats to remind the American people, in a stark fashion, of "who has and who hasn't been supporting the troops," as Dennis Kucinich reiterated in a press conference.

The war of words escalated on Wednesday when Nancy Pelosi announced that: "It is the president's responsibility in his role as Commander-in-Chief to withdraw our troops from a war for which funding will be removed, a war on which the people have spoken. It would be the height of irresponsibility to keep soldiers in harm's way after his legitimate power to conduct a war, which includes the assent of Congress through its budget-making authority, has been removed."


A Democratic operative went further, saying, "with the support of the people gone, the support of Congress gone, and the money gone, no one will be keeping troops in harm's way without bullets except George W. Bush, if he does not withdraw." In a widely-reported heated exchange on a right-wing talk radio show that night the host of the show charged: "If you take away the money, he'll have no choice but to pull them out," to which the guest, presidential candidate John Edwards calmly answered: "Now you get it."

The Democratic counter-offensive was sustained in various media forums throughout the week, with congressman Rahm Emmanual appearing on Hardball to proclaim that: "The Founders who gave the sole authority to declare war to Congress by no means could have envisioned a president with the power to make war without end. The Founders who gave congress the authority to start a war, also gave the congress, through its power of the purse, the authority to STOP a war."


Other appearances were made in the course of the non-stop assault on the president's claims of authority by Howard Dean on 20/20, John Kerry on Anderson Cooper, and Barak Obama in a widely-viewed Fox News segment.

In day-long crossfire on Friday, the parties sniped back and forth through major and minor party spokesmen, with Dick Cheney at last charging that Democrats, by their plans to withdraw, were "giving aid and comfort to the enemy."


John Edwards commented in response as he exited a campaign event:

"The enemy was cornered in northern Pakistan until the president spread them into Iraq, and into a host of other countries with renewed Islamist uprisings, such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. The Iraqi people will kick out the thousand or so Al Qaeda foreigners once we give them back their country. We'll help them with robust diplomacy among the factions and regional powers, which the president refuses to engage in. The president is an isolationist."

Polls taken during the week showed a precipitous drop in the president's standing to an 18 point approval rating, the lowest of his presidency, as well as a positive response to the Democrats' newly-found combativeness. Public demonstrations were organized across the nation in support of the Democratic sally, with veterans of Iraq and other wars placed front and center in almost every instance, thus blunting pro-war counter-demonstrators' strong reliance upon the uniform and the flag.

The extraordinary week was capped with newly-announced Republican presidential candidate Chuck Hagel once again stating that impeachment is an "option." In words destined to become famous, Hagel declared: "Yes partisan politics stop at the water's edge. But they also stop before the shadow of that which we all hold in awe, and to which we all swear loyalty, the United States Constitution, which knows no party in her defense."

With demonstrations planned throughout the spring and summer, political experts say that the dual impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, a mere month ago only a figment of the far-left imagination, is a growing possibility, as wider segments of the American public become convinced that the administration has not been protecting them, but in fact has only placed them in greater danger of terrorist attack, through the occupation of Iraq.


from http://ralphlopezworld.com

Gold Star Families for Peace and see if there is a way to donate to her there. If not, PM me and I will email Cindy and ask about donations.

Another option would be to send her a donation and address it to Cindy Sheehan, crawford, TX. I am sure she would get it that way. It's a pretty small town.

Thanks for offering - I am sure Cindy appreciates your offer very much.

I'll see what I can find.

or almost all of the so called "progressive" groups.

Cindy Sheehan has been an authentic voice of opposition to the broken system that is suffocating our voices and our Democracy. Why has she consistently been ignored and marginalized by so called "progressive" and "democratic" voices?

Many others could ask the same question. I have wondered myself if there is a legitimate political system in our country other than those listened to by the very wealthy and well connected.

Sadly,it seems apparent that division is intentionally being manufactured and promoted against those who are making their voices heard, and I would venture to say that COINTELPRO has been alive and well probably since its inception.

Looking at the history of most authentically organic groups, it seems apparent that this is a factor that few have realized or wanted to realize as a culprit as to why movements have been so mysteriously derailed.

I think until progressive groups confront the reality that their groups can and most certainly will be infiltrated with those employed to destroy any and all success it may have, then the progressive forces, or any productive force stands to be dismantled, divided and marginalized.

Dear Cindy,

I've been at DU from almost the beginning.
I remember when comedian Rush Limbaugh first noticed us, and started using some of our selected posts on his comedy show. DU changed on that day.

Some of the trash that showed up was easy to spot, but there were (and are) others that are harder to recognize. Some are still here, with multiple thousands of posts, but their goal is always the same....to advance the Corporate agenda by marginalizing and disrupting the LEFT and mimicking grassroots support for the Corporate agenda inside the Democratic Party. Their Corporate sponsors have deep pockets and all the media resources of the VRWC. Corporate "Media Consultants" PAY people to haunt Liberal Websites to give the appearance of grassroots support for policies that actually HURT Working Americans. They are collecting a paycheck from the people who PROFIT from the WAR. They are LOUD and PROLIFIC. It is not unusual to see them post 25-30 times to the same thread in an attempt to dominate and dilute the message.
Please IGNORE them. I do.

There are also a few pathetic individuals living in their mother's basements who can post to anonymous Websites. These poor souls will resent you for your unasked for fame and popular following. They believe that if they can tear you down, they will feel better in their own impotence. Please ignore them too. I do.

I support you, Cindy.
You changed America for the better.
You motivated many, MANY people to get off their asses and DO something.
You showed them the way.
Thank You, Cindy.

Bob

You have been an inspiration to me and my family. We met you in Greensboro, NC only a few weeks ago and you were kind enough to have my boy's pictures taken with you. I wanted to reach out, then, and say how grateful we are to have you and how sorry I am for the death of your son. I didn't take the time only because you appeared so busy and were about to go up on stage. You have given so much to our country when so much has been taken from you. I know it is too late (we often wait until it is) but I will say thank you and I am sorry right now.

My boys may only be 7 & 8 but they have learned so much about the anti-war movement during the last few years. You were a topic of many of those conversations because of all you have given and because you showed up at so many of the protests we attended. Each time I would tell them about this wonderful beacon of hope. I told them what you gave up to make this country better. I have shared so much with them including tearfully reading your resignation over the supper table.

YOU have given more than any of us ever could have asked or hoped for. You have helped many find the strength to protest and keep on protesting. You have been at the forefront of the fight every step of the way. It would be selfish of us to ask any more of someone who did not volunteer but, rather, was pulled into this fight without any other recourse at your disposal.

So, Ms. Sheehan, please accept my sincere gratitude for all you have lent to this family and country. You have had more impact than you will ever realize and Casey's death did, and does, mean something. You have meant the world to a lot of us. I will keep you and yours in my prayers and hope for much healing. If you ever come back there will be a lot of open arms awaiting your arrival. Thank you.

that you can find in a world filled with hate and lust for power and money.
Good luck in finding that peace.

cause, you know, she has gotten so much accomplished.

:sarcasm:

and your pathetic drip emoticons serve no purpose.

perhaps to gild your lily.

and despite your wal mart gilding history will forget you.

and if she takes it the same way I did, and "deals with it". :eyes:

Note no sarcasm icon here.

Cindy didn't shut up and go away - and that was her real crime to many people - and that's why she had to be marginalized by them.

You can't spin lies while the truth holds court.

America chooses the lulling comfort of myth and lies - always has

America bought the days it lives in now by choosing lies and myths over truth.

America is buying the heartache that will come tomorrow because of the choice being made today.

carp to stop. oh i meant crap. get it together people.

with our strength she could continue. without our strength she carries the burden.

who are you?

and Cindy -- thank you. those words are not enough.

There's not much out there that lends itself to hope.

She did a lot - she brought attention to the anti-war movement and gave it a face. Does that make her an "attention whore"? No, it makes her smart and effective. I wish her well.

She's not partisan but she has opened some minds and that over all has helped us in '06.

I wish her all the best, whether you agree with her or not, she is a true patriot. I just wish more people had her passion and love for this country.

:patriot:

So what if she has clay feet. I feel she has busted her backside doing wonderful and important things for us. Those of us who are anti war owe her a debt of gratitude, I am very proud of her determined spirit in her effort to get us out of Iraq.

May she find peace and love whatever she decides to do.

If the people of this country really wanted to bring america back from the cliff and end this horror then the people would have stood up and taken to the streets and sacrificed .

As things are going as badly as they are those who put all of this out of their minds and sat back in their false security will soon find out the hard way that they waited to long and it will be to late to do anything and our country will be lost .

I support her efforts and do understand how she must feel .

I think her heart was in the right place, and she did some good works, and had a positive effect in some respects, and I'll leave it at that.
Honestly, though, I don't feel ashamed that DU supposedly had a role in her 'quitting'...this is the internet. This is an internet message board. Which means that:
A.) It's full of trolls. Trolls are assholes.
B.) Not everyone likes Cindy. That's their opinion, and they are perfectly entitled to it. If they are able to express those thoughts in a constructive manner, I see no problem with it.
C.) Some people who don't like Cindy are unable to express their thoughts in anything but insults and vulgarity. Those people are assholes. There are assholes on message boards too.
This is the internet. The internet is bursting at the seems with assholes, and a lot of these assholes post there. DU is no different. The people who disagreed with her and did it without being jerks...well if she had a problem with that, that's kind of silly. The people who disagreed with her and WERE jerks...okay, I can understand that it's upsetting, but why let the words of a few assholes influence you that much? As far as I've seen, DUer's are overwhelmingly supportive of her. There are some that aren't, but they're in the minority.
To let the words of a few of them, make you think that the whole site is against you is just silly. We might like to think that everyone on Democratic Underground has a collective mind, but that isn't the case. Everyone has different perspectives and opinions. Some of them are assholes about it.
I'm sorry you were hurt by it, Cindy, but what did you expect? You are a very polarizing figure, even among Democrats. This isn't through any fault of your own, necessarily, but just from the fact that you exist. You're going to attract a few assholes anywhere.
Yeah, it's a shame that some DUer's can't keep a civil tongue, but like I said: the internet is full of assholes.
Don't let it get to you so much. It's the internet. That's all there is to it. It's the internet.

I don't think you realize that. Please rest. Take care of yourself.

We will stop this war. We will get our country back. It's up to all of us...We, The People.

You accomplished more than most will ever dream. And you have a long ways to go.

LOVE and respect!!! to you,Dee, the rest of your family and friends! Keep doing what you can when you can!

Oh, I know how she feels! It has been so frustrating & depressing the last few years. Is there any way that any of us could write to her? She sounds so discouraged. She needs to know that not everyone thinks she is an "attention whore".

I've written this before on this and other forums, and it always bears repeating: you can't build any lasting kind of political or social change based on talking points and tactics, you have to get your principles straight first. The people who marginalized Cindy for her well-founded criticisms of the Democratic Party operate on the tactic of "our group, no matter what." That's not a principle, that's a defensive tactic, because it is no different from the conservatives when they operate that way, no matter how the "us" people rationalize it.

The only way the progressive revolution is going to survive is if we get our principles straight first, then assess ourselves and everyone else based on them. Principles, not talking points. If you are more willing to defend the group rather than the truth, it doesn't matter how well you operate, you are already compromised to the enemy.

Good luck to you, Cindy, and thank you for your efforts. And take care of yourself, because the haters aren't going to stop hounding you when you've fallen off the media radar.

country back or not. Cindy has done alot for this movement, and she has sacrificed enough, there shouldn't be only one Cindy there should be many Cindy's to support the causes she worked so hard for. And again, she never did have her question answered "What noble cause?".

Thank you Cindy for all your dedication and hard work.

for good in a sea of evil. I am sorry that it had to end this way. You are correct, however, that it really is up to each of us to be the changes we want to institute. Just remember that there are paid disrupters everywhere--even DU. No true progressive would call you an attention whore. We are thankful and greatly appreciative of your service and leadership in these times. I always looked to your reaction to things to understand the pure and unadulterated essences of what is happening and how to deal with the unholy politicians who are always looking for an advantage. You were always true to your purpose. They must denigrate you to obscure the righteousness of what you represent. Go in peace and love.

This woman has put herself out there and feels that she has failed. She's been let down by those who should be her natural allies.
It makes me ill.
Well, I'm just about due for my mid-life crisis. If it goes the way I think it will, watch for an announcement soon. I'll be asking for help, too.

Bush and his cadre of corruption would be out of office and this illegal war would be winding down to insure there would be no more Casey Sheehans. Instead, Cindy is resigning when it's our elected so-called Democrats in congress who should be stepping aside in shame.

And I meant in no way in my previous post that Cindy was indulging a mid-life crisis. I can speak only for my own.

...in recognition and deep gratitude.

I think that many of us have come to some heartbreaking conclusions, and appreciate what you're saying.

There's a time for letting go. Still, a new context and renewal can follow, and new opportunities, if not what we had first envisioned. That seems a rather vague hope, considering all you ever spoke was self-evident truth, but while the mountain didn't move, we may be in a place of better understanding.

Thank you for being the voice of conscience, and for putting a real face to this inhuman travesty. It was more than was collectively deserved.
________

If I may, I'd like to point DU'ers to a song in honor of Cindy:

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?BandID=33200&content=lyrics&SongID=2762724

It's up to us now.

I don't blame her one bit for leaving the movement. I am so ashamed that those hateful words, posted by a DUer, found their way to her. How embarrassing. Damn. Have a good life, Cindy...as good as you can have without your son Casey.:( Thank you for all you have done...I, for one, appreciate everything you did.

Isn't it amazing how she was DU's sweetheart while she was camped outside the psycho's fake ranch, but as soon as she spoke out against the spineless Democrats in Congress, she became an 'attention whore' and told 'good riddance' when she announced she was leaving the Democratic Party? How shallow can some people be? That woman deserves a million medals for what she's done, not insults and verbal abuse.:(

Bye, Cindy....I'll miss you.:(

You're right. It is up to us. I don't believe in heros but I do believe that a lone voice still has power to change perception. You are proof.

You deserve peace and if the only peace you can have is a personal one, I will not begrudge you. You have gone above and beyond.

Bless you.

is so cogent, Cindy, and for your candor, I thank you immensely. . .ya see, you just REAFFIRMED MY DISILLUSIONMENT. These Republican-Democratic opportunists are just a mirror-reflection of the rude, crass "American" culture that has been forming ever since the European conquests of Native people. "America" is finally having its long-overdue nervous breakdown right before our very eyes.

Get out while the goings good. . .God knows you've demonstrated waaaaaay more altruism in 3 years than any of these greedy government rat bastards have in their entire political lives.

So I heartily agree with most everything you expressed in your epiphanous letter of resignation except for one part: Casey did NOT die for nothing because his death will forever be associated with your conscientious challenge to the government exploitation of its service men and women. . .both MOTHER AND SON TOGETHER stood for SOMETHING CALLED "QUESTIONING AUTHORITY".

From what I see, the troops are already rumbling and QUESTIONING THOSE DAMN GREEDY RAT BASTARDS:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23019

Thank you a million times, Cindy and Casey, from all of us especially those still in this abysmal US Iraq occupation.

:hug: :loveya: :hug: :loveya: :hug:

New Orleans loves you!!! :hug:

:patriot:

Thank you and bless you.

I don't know what to say. I'm very disappointed that it's come to this, and I will always be so horribly sorry for Cindy's loss. The loss of a child in any circumstances is horrific, but to lose your son in a war in which you find not only pointless, but illegal, is truly devestating. She founght with all her soul.

I do think she made some mistakes along the way, but she is only a human being. And my wishes for her are to go on and have a peaceful life; one in which she find fulfillment, peace and happiness. She lost so much when she lost her son. Today is a day to remember him.

extreme :sarcasm:

....may life bring you nothing but joy and happiness for rest of your days....for you have endured what few of us ever will....

....I look forward to hearing about how you're doing in the future and for what little it's worth, I agree with you 100 percent....

My love to you and your family.

My point:

If am going to be called a whore, as I have been in the music business, let it be about the lives of people.
If I get ridiculed for taking a stand for truth and life~ so be it.

The comments are from people that see the world as a reflection of themselves...

Cindy you did AMAZING work. Brave and self-sacrificing work... find youe smile again and come back...

please..

:hi:

Right on, pivot1!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thank You Cindy!! :hug:

You owe no one anything. Not DU. Not the political system that enabled this situation. You and Casey have already paid the full price of admission; nothing said on an Internet board, or anywhere else, can detract from that. Do what you think is best. I supported you then, and I support you now. I wish you peace.

I made a similar decision myself (on a much, much smaller scale of course).

All politicians watch their own butts first. Name me one that doesn't. Al Gore doesn't count as he is offically not one anymore. This whole ridiculous war has gotten so obviously out of control. The majority of Americans (at least according to current polls) want this war to end now if not soon. And yet if any of us here criticize a Democrat others here get outraged and "Oh my God, its DU. Democratic Underground. You can't do that here. We don't allow Democrats to be under the same mircoscope as Rethugs!" Its so so dumb. We all want change. Maybe not a third party but we want the Dems to listen to us. And yet because we have only two parties in the United States we have no recourse when neither listen to us (and the Rethugs NEVER will so they are written off automatically). I don't want Rethugs elected because we failed to support Dems. But at the same time, we have no way to hit the Dems where it hurts when they don't respond to us: vote them out. We can't let in Retuhgs as obviously to me they only care about themselves. But having no third party means we can't threated the Dems to respond to us the way we as voters want. I think Cindy Sheehan simply got frustrated and disillusioned and has given up because she sees no way to get the Dems to respond to her and others who want this war over. The only way would be to impeach the idiot as he won't listen any other way. Of course almost no politician wants to risk trying to do this because if it backfires then they might be out of a job and have lost their access to power. Sighs. I don't know what the answer is. I'm just a 31 year old mother of two little girls. Maybe someone else out there has a better idea than me. It just seems to me that like Al Gore says we have lost our ability to reason in this country. If George W. was president 25 or 30 years ago he would be fried, strung up and thrown out. But in 2007 we just sit like bumps on a log (some Americans anyways) and let things happen to us. I really believe we don't have a Democracy anymore. Its a Plutocracy, ruled by a few powerful people. And we the American people really have no power.

http://www.democrats.com/2008-primary-challengers-wanted

Maybe we need to replace those Dems who are not voting in favor of the will of the majority, who aren't representing their constituents. This is a start...

I guess I am what is known as a troll. I often read DU but very rarely post. I suppose that's because I think that I've seen this all before. Cindy Sheehan has just discovered what most Black Americans already know --

...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.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this country -- left and right. I read the blogs and think to myself, these guys think that everything will go back to "normal" when Bush and Cheney are gone. Things were not right before they arrived and they will not be right after they are gone.

What we should be fighting for is the very soul of this country: Freedom and Justice for all. I don't see anyone exercised about the torture that was, and is, occurring in American prisons to black people. Then you are surprised when it starts to happen overseas. I don't the left ranting when a man is shot 50 times on the streets of New York and then you are surprised when we shot at innocents "over there."

It begins at home, people. What we do here, we will do there. Cindy is right, this "is not a matter of “right or left”, but “right and wrong.” How many of you will still be here and exercised about injustice after Bush and Cheney are gone? It's just a question to think about. This is how it will all happen again. It's because we want to go back to our comfort zones instead of fighting for freedom and justice no matter how close to home the fight may be.

Best wishes to Cindy and her family. Rest well. You tried.

points. No, so far, you are not a troll at all. :D You are right, of course, but I think the majority of us are invested in the politics of what is going on now, the admin/people? who are so guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity/Americans, and the illegal occupation. There is a lot wrong right here in the USA as you've pointed out, and I do acknowledge that. But we have to go after the cancer that is ruining this and other countries before we can begin to tackle all the other domestic ills that need addressing. I hope to hear from you often, and welcome to DU!:hi:

But we have to go after the cancer that is ruining this and other countries before we can begin to tackle all the other domestic ills that need addressing.

I politely disagree with you.

What I'm talking about IS the cancer. First they torture black men in prison, then the very same men who did the torture go to Iraq and torture people in Abu Ghraib. First they figure out how to eliminate the black vote, then they go after yours. First they demonize any person who dares to speak out on civil rights, then they demonize anyone who dares to speak out on political rights. First they shoot down black men on the street with impunity, then they ... you fill in the blanks.
The pattern is clear.

The left ignores these issues at their peril. There have always been other issues to deal with, for example the Vietnam war was raging during the early days of the civil rights movement. The war ends and the left ... well, left.

All of these issues are the same thing. An injustice "here" may seem small in comparison to the one "there" but "here" is where it ALL starts.

A "troll" (on DU) is somebody who deceptively posts pretending to be liberal/Democrat when they are actually a right wing ass-hat. A troll posts in order to stir up discontent, confusion, and infighting, or just to say something hateful. A lurker is someone who visits often but posts rarely. At least that is my understanding of the terminology.

I suppose there are lurking trolls, but there are certainly lurkers who are not trolls. I've been called both. I might be a lurker but I am no troll. I think that if you have a low number of posts people get suspicious that you are a troll. I imagine actual trolls usually rack up a high number of meaningless posts in order to avoid suspicion.

Anyway, welcome to DU, whether to post or just lurk.

I would just hope that she (like most of us here on DU who get slapped up side the head some times by those who are more willing to be mean and viscous than have reasonable debate) will come to understand that it is the time and circumstances that affect all of us and cause us to not be our best self at times.

I've crawled away licking my own wounds here and frankly it made me fear more involvement because I see how people treat Cindy or other people who are the first to post a big opinion that many disagree with and some days I know don't have that much courage. But I've gotten back up and moved forward again.

But, ironically, since she is stepping down for a well deserved break (and let us hope this is just her time to heal) the rest of us have to step it up and that includes me.


Cindy, if you read through these, please know THIS IS the COUNTRY you have always loved, it's just a lot more complicated dealing with it since it got brain cancer in the White House. Even the independent bickering and strife among people fighting together is part of our history. The first Continental Congress probably had its own knock down drag out fights. Even though the basic enemy was well defined you had Benedict Arnolds and Tories siding with the original King George who tyrannized our Colonies and drove us away from British rule.

Hot on the heals of the democrats' absolutely disgusting sellout on the Iraqi Mass Murder funding bill, so "ably" defended by the intellectual contortionist, kneepad-wearing, knob-gobbling, power-worshiping sluts of the MSM like Jonathan Alter, comes yet another soul-shattering disappointment: Cindy Sheehan has quit the peace movement and the democratic party.

How many more of these can I take?!

It hurts all the more because there is no logical retort whatsoever to her reasons.

The burning hatred displayed towards this woman from the "right" (the MSNBC boards are a fucking cesspool) is only comprehensible in light of the death of critical reason and compassion in a country numbed insensate by an utterly fatuous media and the insipid conflation of "patriotism" with blind obedience to a bi-partisan program of endless death and military imperialism, so Amerikkkans may continue to "enjoy" a rapidly declining standard of living.

And why is so much of the hatred punctuated by people saying "she needs to get right with God?"

To what God do these monsters pray?

A God who rejoices in the death of 700,000 Iraqis and the displacement of millions, in the death of more than 3,000 Americans and the maiming of tens of thousands more in a system whose attitude towards soldiers seems to be "use 'em, abuse 'em and lose 'em" in a war based entirely on an endless cavalcade of lies?

Filthy.

God is not a blue eyed bearded white man sitting on a cloud throne who rejoices in slaughter. God is the best in each of us, the sense of the one in the many and the many in the one, the sense that we are a part of the universe and the universe is a part of us, the sense that when anyone or anything is killed, hurt, tortured or made to suffer a part of ourselves is killed, hurt, tortured and made to suffer.

Any and everyone who criticizes Cindy Sheehan with such passionate, unthinking hatred is a blaring symptom of the utterly horrific miasma through which Amerikkka is sleep-walking - straight off a cliff into economic meltdown, ecological collapse, full-blown fascism, and, ultimately, the lowest depths of hell.

I saw her speak about two years ago. She was humble, accessible, witty, poised, articulate, and clearly driven by a palpable passion for sanity and peace. In the photo above, she looks like she has aged 10 years since I saw her speak. She fully deserves the rest she will take.

And Amerikkka fully deserves the hideous fate that inevitably awaits it.