Guest blogged by David Edwards
Cindy Sheehan is hoping that a less confrontational strategy will be more effective. Will President Bush, as a man of faith, join her and others on Friday at noon to pray for the troops? The president is reported to have nothing on his official schedule for this week.
A candlelight prayer vigil is planned for Wednesday night. Cindy asks that mothers around the nation join together on Wednesday night in solidarity to pray for our troops.
Here is the latest video of Cindy speaking about the prayer vigil on MCNBC’s Countdown. (Windows Media format).
CrooksandLiars has an earlier MSNBC report from this morning.
UPDATE: Wednesday Candlelight Vigils…
Join with MoveOn, True Majority, and Democracy for America in organizing or attending a Vigil for Cindy Sheehan in your town on Wednesday, August 17, 2005, at 7:30 p.m.
http://www.moveonpac.org/event/cindyvigils/
Bush is too scared to show up. I would imagine anyone who has killed as many innocent people as he has might well be scared. No, he’ll stay out of sight, and ride his bike some more, and get on with his LIFE.
if he says "yes" expect the "Terror drill" to "go live" .
I must be hullucinating, it looks like MSMBC is reporting news!
How could any decent person refuse this
invitation? Particularly, one of faith.
Be strong Cindy, stay focused.
I’m going to one of the candlelight vigils Wednesday night here in Florida. At a park in Surfside: 8959 Harding Ave. (though the directions also said ’86th & Collins, so I hope I find it.)
Please join me. It said there was room for 1000. I’ll be wearing my Downing St. shirt that says
Honor Our Dead…Demand The Truth.
Bring candles.
I don’t know if this has already been posted, but Frank Rich’s piece ‘SomeOne Tell the President the War is Over’ is a good one.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/081405Z.shtml
An excerpt:
"The resolutely pro-war New York Post editorial page begged Mr. Bush (to no avail) to "show some leadership" by showing up in Ohio to salute the fallen and their families. A Bush loyalist, Senator George Allen of Virginia, instructed the president to meet with Cindy Sheehan, the mother camping out in Crawford, as "a matter of courtesy and decency."
I’ll be very surprised if he shows up for the prayer vigil.
Bush, show up for a prayer vigil? You must be out of your mind. Bush doesn’t need to show up for any prayer vigil. Did you know he’s got a direct line to GOD. YUP, one of those red phones that when you pick up, it automatically rings in heaven.
GOD told bush he should go for a bike ride at the time of the candle-light vigil. GOD told Bush to attack Iraq. GOD told Bush to listen to him, not his biological father.
GOD tells me that Bush is an animal, and should forever be banned from heaven. He tells me that he only tells George good things in order to placate him. That’s because GOD fears that Bush will tell Karl Rove to smear him!
Alan
Just heard on Mike Malloy’s Show (on Air America) that some friggin’ dickweed in a pickup truck purposefully ran over a lot of the crosses (which represent our soldiers killed in Iraq.)
That’s pretty lowdown & dirty. Just like the zombies chanting "We Don’t Care."
This calls for a John Lennon song (without repeating verses):
Crippled Inside
by John Lennon
Album: Imagine
You can shine your shoes and wear a suit
You can comb your hair and look quite cute
You can hide your face behind a smile
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside
You can wear a mask and paint your face
You can call yourself the human race
You can wear a collar and a tie
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside
Well now you know that your
Cat has nine lives
Nine lives to itself
But you only got one
And a dog’s life ain’t fun
Mamma take a look outside
You can go to church and sing a hymn
You can judge me by the color of my skin
You can live a lie until you die
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside
see HERE for more.
It boggles the mind!
Just back from Crawford! Had a great time Lots of hugs going around down there. I’m mega impressed with Cindy. She is very approachable. She handles the media well. She’s a great spokesperson and she is very kind and giving.
One day a young soldier apporached her with media in tow. He stood before her, and I mean right before her, and told her that her son would be ashamed of her. He told her that 2000 deaths are inconsiquential in this war. The crowd was pissed. But Cindy looked down, perhaps saddened by his words. Then she took him by the hand and walked him away from the media, away from the crowds and had a personal talk with him. Her arm was around his waist and his around hers. Later I asked her how it had turned out. She said that he told her that his own mom feels the same way she does and that if her were killed, she would likely be doing the same thing she is doing. Later, found out he had written a book so it may have started as a bit of a photo op for him, but my point is in how she handled the situation. She diffused his anger with kindness.
I met the woman (sorry, don’t remember your name) who gave Clinton Curtis the dog out there. I was wearing the bradblog shirt and that is how she found me.
Anyway, it was really good out there. The town is having a meeting and I heard signing a petition to get them out of there on Tuesday. We may see things change then. The freepers came by. One group of them had to walk a mile and a half in the very high heat. They were allowed to walk in the road. When they got there, we had a previously scheduled rally in town to go to so most of the camp just left them standing there and got on shuttles to the rally.
The freeps left soon after that perhaps to follow to the rally but they had to walk that mile and a half back in the heat first. I bet that was fun. I had water constantly in my hand, and needed it. It was hot hot hot. After the rally a line of cars came that you could see for at least a mile and it just kept coming. They said it stretched all the way back to town which I think they said was 8 miles. Camp was quite busy that day.
Anyway, won’t bore you with more details, but please go if you can. It’s all got to be totally non rowdy though. No confrontations. Don’t give them a reason to get rid of us. The sherriff was actually pretty cool to us coz we were doing exactly what he said we had to do.
I suggest you go to camp but getting a hotel in waco works too.
Oh, having just got back I haven’t read the press yet but I want to let people know this as I don’t know that anyone other than myself and another guy knows it. We had a lunch at the peace house. After an Iraqi man told us that while the Iraqi people thanked the Americans for getting rid of Saddam, he assured us that Iraq would be able to handle the situation if the Americans would leave. He mention the different Iraqi factions Sunni, Shi’te sitting there together right now, eating and talking peace. He said not to worry Iraqi’s can live and work together with Iraqi’s of other factions.
Then this young I Iraqi woman burst in. She cried and she begged for us to please keep the Americans there. She told how afraid of Saddam she was. She said when she first came to America, it took her 2 months to come outside. Every noise frightened her from the oppression, fear and war of Saddam. She was with a man who claimed to be her husband.
Later I witnessed him saying he worked for Voice of Cairo radio until, he says, two months ago. Voice of Cairo, I am told, is a propaganda network for the Whitehouse. I now doubt that the woman is his wife at all and think she was a plant. Was she on the media anyone? Just wanted to make sure someone knows that.
sorry for going on and on….
sorry for all those typos. I’ve been in the sun for the last four days, camped in a ditch, and traveled about 20 hours total, so I’m even more off kilter than normal. :doze:
Oh Linda6or7 – thank you for writing about your experience in Crawford with Cindy & supporters. It surely wasn’t boring, nor too long! We’re starved for reports & news — you know that!
I’ve gotta go :doze: myself — keep us posted, ok? Sleep well, true patriot!
You know – a week ago, I looked at a map of Crawford, TX & surrounding cities. When I saw how close it is to Waco – I just wondered … I mean … it’s so close to the bu$h ranch. And we got that crazy guy shootin’ off his gun next door … and we got that crazy guy mowing down the Arlington Crosses … then there was David Koresch (and don’t forget the crazy ATF & FBI.) And … there’s georgie.
Is it something in the water?
re #12 See this map from MapQuest.
Bush won’t pray with Cindy Sheehan, and the "Religious Wrong" won’t say a thing about it! Hypocrites!
Sheehan’s Husband Seeks Divorce
Bush roadside protester named in California petition filed Friday
AUGUST 15–The next well-wisher approaching Cindy Sheehan at her tent encampment outside President George W. Bush’s Texas vacation home may actually be a process server. That’s because the California woman’s husband–in a curious bit of timing–filed for divorce Friday afternoon ……
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/ar...1sheehan1.html
At some point the left will be done with Cindy, leaving her on the side of the road with no husband and an estranged family.
WAY TO RUIN A PERSONS LIFE LEFTIES!
This is a non-story of a manipulating female – reminds me of another manipulator. He husband filed for divorce and now there is a picture of Bush kissing her on the cheek. Too funny!
Linda6or7,
Thanks so much for that report & thank you for going to Crawford! Don’t worry about it being long or boring, as Kira said, we want to hear all about it!
It’s no surprise that in any group there will be a few real nutjobs, as the pick-up driver & the guy who shot his gun. But I heard a caller to Randi’s show yesterday describe incidents of dialogue that took place at Camp Casey, much like the one you describe between the soldier & Cindy.
The more people really TALK to each other, the more we will progress in healing this country. Cindy is one person who is doing that, in the midst of grief.
Thank you, Cindy!
thanks guys for the kind words. I want you all to know that even though some wacko ran down the crosses and the ranchers shoot the guns, I felt zero danger while there. The police and cia are a moments notice away. There are kids camping out there. THere is so much press around that I doubt anything will go down that is truly dangerous. The group refuses to fight or argue with counter protestors so I don’t think anything is going to happen.
RICKY: As for Cindy’s divorce -if this is true and I certainly have no idea what her marital status is, I do know for a fact that it is VERY COMMON for the death of a child to break up a family. I know it seems like it would bring them closer but often the grief is consuming and destroys the family. I DO NOT know if that is the circumstance here or not. I do want to say that either way, it really has nothing to do with what is going on. If there is a divorce, it was most likely in the process and has nothing to do with this one particular event. Her husband has supported Cindy’s efforts.
and for Paul: "this is a non story" you say. Don’t you wish? Look at the news around the world. This puppy has legs and it’s moving fast. The story isn’t really Cindy in the ditch, it’s a story of America and the world finally coming together to say "STOP THE BUSHIT" Non story? LOL
Just seen this on the BBC
Protest mother faces divorce blow
The husband of a bereaved mother camped outside US President George W Bush’s Texas ranch has filed for divorce.
Patrick Sheehan cited "irreconcilable differences" with his wife of 28 years, Cindy Sheehan, who has demanded Mr Bush withdraws US troops from Iraq.
—
Poor woman.
How much more can she sacrifice. To date, W has cost her a child, a comfortable home, a family life, and now her husband. He has destroyed her life.
What an asshole!
I remember Cindy responding to the divorce story & I believe she said that it did have to do with the loss of their son. There was also some report that said they had been separated since June.
And Linda is right: it’s not unusual in families that suffer such a loss.
As to those who are jumping on this story & almost gloating about it, it’s another all-too-typical low blow.
Plenty of right-wingers whose names we all know have been through divorces & the circumstances of some of them were nothing to crow about.
But Nana, I wouldn’t say bush has destroyed her life. I know what you meant, but I think she’s got alot of strength & with the help of family & friends & all of those who wish her well, she will get through this too.
What an awesome woman she is!
Your absolutely right Joan. I was just angry and ‘acting out’. But my heart just breaks at what this woman has endured. To be deserted at this time, by a loved one, is more than any person should have to face.
She is strong and brave and will get through this, as you say.
Thanks!
I feel for Sheehan. But didn’t her son re-up for this millitary stint, and didn’t he volunteer for the assignment that got him killed? And why are we fussing about Bush, when the Iraq insurgents/terrorists are destroying our sons and daughters? Look what happened in 9/11? Doesn’t anyone remember Perl ( the reporter) who got his head cut off? What about the New York bombing during the Clinton administration? My point being that this terrorism is the cause of our children’s death. But if our brave warriors don’t fight this fight there, then a lot of innocent non-combatives will be dying here. Death is awful, but there are things worth dying for, and this country is one of them – My humble opinion
Marta
Maria- *shakes head*
That’s all blatant disinformation. There is no terrorists, only highly crafted criminal organizations producing terrorists. One of them is Al-Quaeda. There is no official link to them with Iraq, there’s not even a link with Iran.
We’re not defending any country at all, we are merely invading and stealing their oil. That’s all thats happened. Its been groundhog day for 5 years.
http://www.prisonplanet.com
And 9/11 was the fault of governmental oversight, it was staged.
Doug E.
Marta
I disagree with most of your points. But I can see that you are not interested in debate. Clearly your mind is made up.
But I would like to ask one question, if I may.
Why doesn’t your sniveling little coward of a leader, meet with this brave mother of a dead soldier?????
Marta, your president led the US into war with Iraq based on a pack of lies. If you don’t know that, you can easily find documented evidence on the net.
I would encourage you to get the truth because sending kids to war to be killed for a lie is the worst kind of evil. Stop buying into bush’s fear tactics — stop buying into the evil lies.
Sheehan is a hurting mother! Bush talking to her will do nothing. As it did when she talked to him before. The people like the clueless on this site are the real fools who hate Bush so much they will do and say anything against him. We are there supoort our troops. I can see it now if the usa did pull out to soon. Peoples heads would be rolling in the streets. Mass graves would be filled. War would come again!! And you fools would blame Bush for being to short sighted in pulling out.
It does get tiresome, doesn’t it, folks?…to have to say this again & again…nobody here "hates" bush. It’s not him. He’s a pawn. He’s the hood ornament. Somebody else is driving.
He DOES make himself easy to ridicule, though, what with his countless asinine statements, his ill-timed bike rides, his falling off small vehicles & choking on pretzels & whatnot..we ARE guilty of that here.
Humor is our life-support. And it’s a national disgrace that people like Jon Stewart & Bill Maher speak more truth than our elected whores…oops, I mean ‘officials’.
Jesus, when are you people gonna wake up & smell the lies, fraud & corruption? The truth, the evidence…reams of it…truckloads of it…is not hard to find. You first have to WANT to look for it.
When will you wake up to the fact that for a LONG time now it has been not just "leftists" who are speaking out against this war & this administration?
So we are "…the real fools who hate Bush so much [we] will do and say anything against him"?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!
Excuse me, honey, but it is the righties who STILL blame every damn thing that comes down the pike on Clinton. Our Bill wasn’t lily-white…he made his share of mistakes. He’s OWNED UP to many of them, which is more than we can say for this embarrassment of a president who can never admit to or even RECALL making a mistake.
So Marta:
"…why are we fussing about Bush, when the Iraq insurgents/terrorists are destroying our sons and daughters?…"
Because it was bush & co. who created & fueled the hotbed of terrorism that Iraq has become.
It was bush & co. who did not secure the borders.
It was bush & co. that left caches of weapons lying around unsecured from the very beginning for anyone in Iraq to claim.
It was bush & co. who lied us into war.
It was bush & co. who cut veterans’ benefits & cut combat pay.
It was bush & co. who did not arm our troops, OUR CHILDREN, properly, did not arm their tanks properly, so that MANY DIED NEEDLESSLY.
THAT’S WHY.
You say
"…this terrorism is the cause of our children’s death[s]…". Yes it is.
And bush & co. has made it worse. They have contributed brilliantly to rampant anti-Americanism throughout the world by their disgraceful displays of arrogance, deceit, incompetence & greed.
So, girl, you got alot of damn nerve to ask if we here remember Daniel Perle! You’re goddamn right we remember him! We rememer & grieve for every last man, woman & child who has given their LIFE for this lying, despicable, shameless bunch of crooks!
Jesus Christ, THAT’S THE FUCKING POINT!!!
Man, Satwoods, you need to get your head out of bush’s fear-mongering. He’s got you terrified.
By the way — we support the troops. We love them so much we want them back home out of harm’s way. We don’t want to sacrifice any more of them for this war based on lies.