redgeek, Gore chose to do more than go with the flow. He actively discouraged the several Senators that were sympathetic to the Congressional Black caucus from signing the investigation. I haven't heard any penance about that.

If these Democrats on Commondreams want to go on getting more of the same, they certainly have the right to vote for Democrats. But the Democrats will never get my vote as long as they continue to be corporate whores, supporting corporate welfare while children are hungry and cold. 34,750 registered lobbyists! I don't know who is salivating more, the Democrats or the lobbyists or the oorporate CEOs. It hardly matters, they're all in the same bed. So go on, vote for them. Keep the party going, Watch the rich get richer, and know you did your bit to help. Don't expect any gratitude or even a gratuity, or hardly even any crumbs. But you will get plenty of scorn. One thing we know about the rich is that they despise the working people who create the wealth they steal from us.

It's not all grim. We are not without recourse (thank our founding fathers).

www.Ni4D.us

The premise of a Democracy is that you have the OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR THE PERSON(S) YOU LIKE> NOT A DEM OR A REP.
GO CINDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whether Cindy runs and wins or runs and loses or doesn't run at all or runs as an independent or Green or progressive Democrat will be analysed ad nauseam by pundits of political strategy while missing the main point that Americans,at least in California,are being given the rare and precious opportunity of voting for a candidate with experiencial integrity.

Thinking Americans should be wise enough to put honesty ahead of all electable criteria. It should be sine non quo.

Alas , we like sheep , vote for for candidates we think everybody is going to vote for.

Great way to sustain a democracy.

redgeek,

Great post! Thank you for stating precisely what some of us have known since the 2000 election, and the worsening collaboration of too many Democrats with the Republican criminal syndicate.

THANKS, Walt, for saying it beautifully and injecting some rationality into an orgy of misdirected rage. Thanks, Cindy, too, for being brave enough to enter politics, but for God's sake, run in your own Sacramento area and JOIN with Pelosi to bring MORE progressive voices to Congress. She needs your help, not your censure!

Why are we turning against ourselves? Why are we so determined to GIVE the 2008 election to whatever mindless Republican manipulates the best? If we can't pull together, as progressives, and acknowledge that there's a big reality out there ready to slap our angry little red faces, we will NOT win an opportunity to make a difference in a single one of the real issues that are facing this country. That includes ending the war, but it also includes the myriad other issues that must be dealt with immediately if we really want to save our country and make our leaders live up to our ideals: prisons, schools, health care, environment, equality
and fair access for God's sake!!!

Bush's political demise will be SO much more powerful if he is allowed to dwindle into the nothingness from which he came as more and more people turn against him, including defectors from his own party. Then a real message is sent about the inadequacy of the Republican worldview--and make no mistake, it IS different from the Democrat worldview--we have seen that clearly over the past seven years.

And whoever said up there in this thread that Nixon was the most progressive president of the past 30 years, I have only to say, how revolting and appalling that the one person who actually BEGAN this long, dark slide into Neo-Con hell should be remembered positively by anyone. This is what comes of rewritten history and irresponsible ranting--and maybe bad education, too.

Please, let us get a little perspective and, ok, rant like hell here, but really, really do something rational and responsible after the anger is vented: The LAST thing we need is to give Bush and Cheney a platform to, heaven forbid, defend their behavior in a pointless circus that can do nothing but further detract from the real issues. Nothing is more POLITICAL than an impeachment proceeding!! Surely the media feeding frenzy of the Clinton debacle proved that.

If we really want to stem this Neo-Con tide, we must allow them to drive themselves into the ground, as they are doing so ably now, and then VOTE TO DEFEAT THEM SOUNDLY in 2008, so there is NO mistake that the people of this country will not tolerate such stupidity and venality. The answer is not in splintering our cause any further, but in joining with others who are more like us--i.e. moderate Dems--to form a COALITION that can actually force, by power of numbers, our ideas into the Dem platform and overwhelmingly elect the person who will carry forth these ideas--for all of us. The word is COALITION--it's what all those enlightened Europeans do when one faction is not able to swing the vote. WE can do that, too, so please, please, when you're through being angry, think about it.

Thanks for listening. www.changetheschools.com

But, dear God, please get past the feel good Lesser-Evilism that has been the undoing of liberals for a great many years.
------------------------------------------------
Fixed the typo.

Politics, like religion, is faith-based. So I try not to think too harshly of all the pearl-clutching, process-wonk, "pragmatic" True Believers who swoop down like hawks into blogs to scold, lecture, excoriate, and otherwise condescend to set the rest of us straight on how politics "really works".

I remember noticing this distinct "type" of commenter during the 2000 presidential fiasco, especially one life-long Democrat who snarled that politics wasn't some feel-good "Frank Capra movie"! It wasn't about emotional attachments, touchy-feely crap, etc. It was about the numbers, the money, the votes, the MECHANICS! Moreover, it's a game for PROFESSIONALS; all ordinary citizens are good for is paying the freight and falling in line with party organizers to ensure that ELECTABLE candidates are groomed, supported, and elected.

These experts aren't offering SUGGESTIONS-- they're TELLING us that we are spoiled and ignorant children who need to get a clue! I noticed that the insufferable Joan Walsh @ Salon also stooped to deplore Cindy's "wrong move". She doesn't get Cindy either.

So here's my clue: kiss my ass. Go Cindy. Not a very sophisticated response, perhaps. But all of you self-righteous, angry, disgusted grown-ups created the status quo of Republican-Lites instead of an opposition party, and all of your sensible, disciplined, no-nonsense lectures portend more of the same. I can't imagine wayward folk like myself being mesmerized by your Pied Piper tune, any more than you can tolerate people smiling at the sound of Cindy's admittedly uneven but compelling song.

Has anyone noticed the subtle undercurrent on this thread? It might be about Sheehan running against Pelosi but a more impressive message being picked up is the disintegration of the Democratic Party. The base is fed up with inaction by the ones they voted into office. Progressive Dems are frustrated with the lack of dialoque between themselves and the corporate party leadership. Thinking voters are looking elsewhere to support non duopoly candidates. Now Sheehan, backstabbed by a party she thought was actually our one and only chance for change, bolts and considers running as an independent. She won't be the last. There's a hole in the corporate-laden party boat and it's sinking.

I'm an independent too but I also admire and support alternative political parties that have a true progressive message like that of the Greens and Socialists. I'll support anyone who runs on a platform for progressive change whether they are affiliated with a leftist party or independent. If progressives can get their act together, this could be the most important national election this country ever saw. BUT, it will take a national unified movement on a scale we never witnessed before to bring our myriad views together to coordinate races like Sheehan's and others to take back our government. It will take immense re-education of gullible Democratic base voters to wake up. It will take determination to bring back those disenfranchised voters and anarchists who have given up hope of change through a corrupted system.

And it won't happen waiting for a one person crusade to bring victory in one congressional district. We need more Sheehans to run independent of the corporate duopoly to wrestle power away from the destructive forces of corporations and foreign states who direct our current government. I admire Sheehan's guts and courage to do what she is doing. But her decision is just another one shot chance that we progressives always seem to get overly excited abbout, thinking one person alone will make the difference. We don't need a short-lived orgasm. We need multiple orgasms of progressive victories throughout our country in 2008 to shake our duopoly's foundation. It will only happen if true progressive leaders leave their academia haunts and their journalism computers and step up to the challenge Sheehan has made. Most importantly, it will take all of us to back all of them as a united progressive campaign if victory is to be achieved. Progressive leaders out there...take Cindy's challenge. RUN!

Eagleeye,

Um, no. The Bush and Cheney are happy to have an "opposition" that is not worthy of the name.

Also: Ask Al Gore if he thinks Nader cost him the election. Al Gore thinks Al Gore cost himself the election. Al Gore lost his own home state, Tennessee. He did not call for a full revote of Florida, which according to an AP investigation would have shown the state to be for Gore. Al Gore did nothing while hundreds plus Democratic party activists went to Florida to protest - I'd think if he had done anything he would have gotten thousands easily.
Finally, I'm sure you've seen the beginning of Fahrenheit 9/11: The last session of the outgoing Senate, certifying the stolen election; the ENTIRE Congressional Black Caucus each asked for an investigation into voting rights violations in Florida. All it would have taken was one Senator to recognize them, or the Presiding Chair, the out-going Vice President, Al Gore. That would have triggered a thorough investigation into Florida and either invalidate or at least de-legitimize Bush's term. But Al Gore choose to "go with the flow" and allowed the election to be stolen and the voting rights of thousands of blacks in Florida to be trampled upon.

The Democrats are the "Loyal" Opposition to the Republicans. Sure, they have their differences. But they have far more agreement and that is a commitment to the corporate domination of our political system.

bonnie flory July 9th, 2007 4:36 pm

"Question?: Could this split the ticket and lead to a republican stealing the seat?"

Bonnie,

I understand your concern, but it's very unlikely to happen. The Republican who ran against Pelosi last year only got 11% of the vote. Cindy has a better chance of winning this district than the GOP!

redgeek July 9th, 2007 8:00 pm

"The Democrats are sure to maintain SOME difference between the two parties, otherwise they couldn't fear monger us into voting for them. But the overall effect is a continued rightward shift of fewer rights, less social welfare, heightened inequality, outsourcing, and a foreign policy run for corporate interests."

Redgeek,

That is one of the best description of the current two-party system that I've read.

I agree with patwc and rbruce - has it occurred to anyone that Pelosi isn't pushing for impeachment because she doesn't yet have the votes and she knows it? She is neither stupid nor venal, and, believe me, she knows what she's doing. Impeachment, however desirable - and desirable it is - can't work unless she can garner the votes - let's help Nancy Pelosi do just that. She is not the enemy, you know, and with our help instead of our opposition, she can probably round up the votes she needs. With all respect to Cindy Sheehan, she doesn't have a chance, and a practical assessment of the facts makes that clear. Let's support Speaker Pelosi - she's doing her damnedest, and just because the Democrats have the majority doesn't mean she can get the votes. Let's help her instead of mounting a campaign like Cindy's that, however honorably motivated, is doomed to failure.

The Republican party is full of pricks, the Democratic party is full of pussies! It's time to end this F*#kfest, and it can start with Cindy ousting Pelosi!

"Question?: Could this split the ticket and lead to a republican stealing the seat?"

While I would not say that there isn't ANY difference between the two parties, consider that with either in power, the war continues. As long as the war continues, no progressive domestic agenda (healthcare? education?) is possible.

The Democrats are sure to maintain SOME difference between the two parties, otherwise they couldn't fear monger us into voting for them. But the overall effect is a continued rightward shift of fewer rights, less social welfare, heightened inequality, outsourcing, and a foreign policy run for corporate interests.

With someone holding their feet to the fire finally force the Democrats to end the war? I'd like to think so, but I doubt it.

So I support Sheehan. Pelosi and the Democrats should not be rewarded for failure. If it takes a Republican in this district (which I truly doubt), then the Democrats themselves are to blame.

The Democrats could have ended this war. Bush can not fund a war without an act of congress. The Democrats had the majority. End of story.

Run Cindy Run! You certainly wouldn't do any worse than those that are in Congress now. Ms. Pelosi appears to be little more than a shill for the permanent, lobbyist fed lice that infest the head of our government.

Anyone who takes even a penny from a lobbyist no longer can honestly represent us.

Your anger is honest, righteous anger; let it burn the wicked.

Question?: Could this split the ticket and lead to a republican stealing the seat?

Cindy for Congress to clean up the mess and to give a kick in the ass to the AIPAC girl who has sold her soul to USA's enemies.

This should be a wake up call for all of us. There are other people who can represent us other than these "Democrats" and "Republicans". Stop voting for these corrupt millionares who couldn't care less about our best intrests. The two party system gives us the illusion that we are changing things by voting, but it is clear that nothing changes. Lets vote the common man into office, then we will see real change. I hope Cindy truly runs, even if she doesn't win. She can inspire others to run.

The problem with Pelosi is real; I can understand her thinking at the time that the time was not ripe for an impeachment move in the House, but she never should have said "it was off the table." That was completely unnecessary and counter-productive. She could have said "Impeachment is always an option and if the impeachment movement gathers steam and can move the country, then impeachment will be on the table." As far as Cindy Sheehan is concerned, I think she is a loose canon with some dedicated fans, but just as Pelosi should not have presumed to speak for the anti-war majority, neither should Sheehan. Cults of personality don't produce real political change.

The laughable attempts by Dem Party loyalists to smear Sheehan ("She's not educated enough...") are just what you'd expect from the desperate apologists for a status-quo do-nothing party.

These Dem loyalists concede that Bush-Cheney & Co are war criminals & serial violators of the Constitution. But since Pelosi refuses to so much as lift a finger against the criminals, the loyalists must choose between making excuses for Pelosi (& attacking Sheehan), or facing up to what it means to have an "opposition party" that won't defend the Constitution, & won't move to impeach war criminals.

Facing up to the full horror of what the Dems have rolled over on their backs for is way too much for these contemptible Dem Party apologists. So they opt to smear Sheehan, whine how she can't be elected, make shallow defenses of Pelosi, attack Nader, & so on. Anything to avoid confronting the fact that Bush & Co have only been able to get away with their crimes, because of the cover & assistance the 2-faced weasels of the Democratic Party have given them.

PLEASE PITCH IN AND HELP US ALL

by CALLING your congressional reps and telling them to IMPEACH THE WAR CRIMINALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Bush, Cheney, Rice & Gonzales!!!

this is as good a time as any for us to turn up the heat!

Even if Pelosi suprises us all by moving to impeach Bush, Cindy should run for public office. Maybe she could be Dennis Kucinich's running mate?

All you out ther denigrating Sheehan, or Nader, don'd seem to understand taht there is no a rat's ass of sdifference between the democrats and republicans.

Remember that Bush's war on Iraq was only an escalation of Clinton's war, and Clinton may still have more Iraqi dead blackening his soul than Bush.

What did 8 years of Clinton-Gore, most of it alongside a democratic-majority Congress, get us? Anti-worker trade deals, anti-worker policies at home, sabotage of an effective global warming treaty, refusal to recognize the ICC (until, strangely, his last hours in office), and brutal imperialism in the form of slow slaughter and economic destruction of Iraq, the brutal bombings of Iraq and Serbia - both under phoney pretexts.

The democrats can go to hell.

from Pittsburgh - Paris of the Rust Belt and Appalachia.

IMPEACH already! Thank u, Cindy! We, the people, have had enough of our reps NOT REPRESENTING US. This administration has got to go.

from Santa Barbara, CA

Wonderful news! GO, CINDY!!! I have been so disgusted with Pelosi and Reid and the fact Pelosi simply made an arbitrary decision in announcing that "Impeachment is Off the Table" has angered the Democratic base and the D's should not believe they will be re-elected in 2008. I can tell you, as a loyal Democrat, that I am having a hard time staying the course with this Party. They haven't even addressed the major issue in any election and that is the massive election fraud the Republicans engage in. Is it naivete or stupidity that drives their unwillingness to address that basic issue? No matter how much money they raise or how hard we work, all will be lost unless the election is valid.

abbywood,

Thanks for your revelations on Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby (Leibowitz). It was great! We look forward to hear about the AIPAC-infested State Department/Congress in your future posts.

This is just what we don't need another distraction like Ralplh Nader drawing away votes from Democrats who can get elected and opening the door for Republicans wins. The cause would be better served if instead of running for office, Cindy was running peace marches and actions. Her ability to rally the activists should be her focus.

When I heard this news, I was overjoyed with Cindy, and I support her decision. Unlike the professional politicians Cindy has not learned to shade her meanings and when she said she would run if Pelosi keeps messing around on impeachment, I know Cindy means it. Nevertheless Cindy should consult with Ralph Nader about the mean machine party people in politics.

If Cindy is anything, she is honest and represents the interest of the people.

The media would cover Cindy, so she could say anything and have media coverage because it's news that's fought over. AIPAC media cannot ignore her statements because another source would print them.

As for the Democrats, they are playing into the hands of power and will do everything possible to keep people like Cindy from exposing their mode of operation. I really don't trust a one of them; unless someone like Cindy gets elected.

Impeach? Yes, we need to expose or at least ask the question what (9-11) really happened and why the commission whitewashed it, or this crap will just keep happening. The right still believes Hussein was responsible!

THROW THE BUMS OUT!

Ken,

I know. But people do have a right to express themselves. After all, the disclaimer at the bottom of this page explains "fair use." Maybe we should ask people to be a little more cordial in expressing their views?

Sure we all have the "right" to express ourselves, but what is accomplished by such hostile tone. It degrades the conversation and also causes unneccessary friction.

In fact, why don't you just mind your own business claudious. IRIQUOIS227 doesn't have to listen to me. Nobody does. We all get to choose.

Lastly, "227" was just downright mean. That comment called for an immediate response.

Peace,
Ken Hausle

For those who argue that Cindy Sheehan is wrong to attempt to replace Nancy Pelosi, I think you're missing the point. In some ways, it doesn't matter if Cindy Sheehan wins -- what is important is that she is reminding us, WE THE PEOPLE, that we can challenge our representatives by running ourselves. Her message is this: If you don't like what your representative is doing, challenge them in their own arena -- challenge their role as representative.

Cindy Sheehan is reminding us that we can use our political system to change those who govern us. As our government is designed, WE THE PEOPLE hold the power, and we need to remember this.

Yes, run progressive candidates all around the country. Yes, it will be difficult. Yes, the Republican and Democtratic parties have enormous political machines, and they have good reasons to keep things at the status quo -- to retain their stranglehold on our political system. But in the end, we don't have to play the game their way! We can use our political system to elect representatives who represent us.

If Cindy Sheehan can successfully challenge Nancy Pelosi on her own turf, it means that there is hope for our political system. If Cindy Sheehan is put down, defeated by either the Democrats or the Republicans before she can get to the vote, or has a "small plane accident"(don't ride in any small jets or helicopters, Cindy) then we will know that our "representatives" have decided that they are more interested in their own power than they are in the well-being of our country.

2008

TWO TRUE LEADERS FOR PEACE AND CHANGE

CINDY SHEEHAN AND AL GORE

Iriquois227 has the right to express his/her opinion. Perhaps the word selection could be a little more suitable, but nonetheless this is an open forum.

IRIQUOIS227:

Go take a HOT SCALDING bath. You are COLD.

Peace,
Ken Hausle

Impeach (and convict) cheney FIRST, then bush.
When they are out of office, send them in chains to the Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

Hang 'em high.

By the time I finished scanning 153 messages it was up to 156 and probably more before I submit this. Go Cindy! And Pelosi, and the rest of the deomo-cans, please take note. Your "rabid base" you worry so much about is breaking up with you. Some of us care enough about humanity and about this country to "rabidly" want to stop spending the national treasury to inflict harm on everyone; the war profiteers in charge need to be IMPEACHED and as one frequent poster keeps pointing out, PROSECUTED. The dems are with us, or not...........

I have to admire Sheehan for her guts! Pelosi needs to put Impeachmet proceedings "on the table" for the sake of the USA itself. This is perhaps the one saving grace that the United States has in order to preserve what little standing they have in the world left. If Ms. Pelosi chooses not to Impeach Bush by July 23rd, Democracy in the United States would be portrayed as a joke by the Global Community. Why? Because Impeachment of both Bush and Cheney is what most Americans want. REAL Democracy is Government ran by majority consensus of a given nation. After all, the USA are already being hypocrits from a foreign standpoint when it comes to Democracy let's not make that domestically as well for your own nation. Do you agree Americans? So, Ms. Pelosi, you want to keep your job or be fired?

2ofWhatever.....

What are you talking about? Cheney is impeached first. Then lets see what happens.

Pelosi will never be the President unless she learns how to be a leader, and I doubt seriously that impeachment will propel her to any higher office. Nonetheless, as someone else said earlier (or on another thread perhaps) "Pelosi is the key". I agree, at least at the present moment. Things seem to be changing FAST though, so GOOD ---- lets get some momentum going.

Momentum for PEACE.

Peace,
Ken Hausle
** I support the Summer of Love 07 Walking Journey - I will be walking & talking **
* I support HRes333 - Impeach the VP
***** time for change because time is of the essence *****

I won't be able to vote for her, but I can send her some money from Iowa. My new Congressman hasn't quite stepped up to the "people's" plate, yet, I don't think he'll get any!

Should be interesting to challenge the status quo. Pelosi is part of the Washington war machine.

I cannot believe that any sane person, whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Green, would want to impeach the puppet Bush, or otherwise cause him to leave office, leaving the Oval Office to that ogre Cheney. He and his cohorts would cause a lot more damage in 18 months than could ever be redeemed.

Wait untl they are out of office and then sue them for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Them, and all the Neocons in their group.

Likewise, in my opinion, if both are impeached and made to leave office, Nancy Pelosi is not quite ready to assume the office of Presidency, however short the term might be.

Cindy Sheehan, though passionate in her cause, is not a viable candidate for a Congressional seat...too much raw emotion and not enough cool and calculated cerebral activity.

Claudius: Thank you for thanking me.

abbybwood,

Thanks for the candid pep talk and article on Israeli Intelligence Agent Scooter Libby.

I heard this GREAT NEWS in my car on the way to work this morning. Almost jumped out to do a little dance. Go Cindy! Win Cindy! Run regardless of what Pelosi does. The Dems need to GET IT ONCE AND FOR ALL -- a new world is possible and we are going to have it.

Cindy Sheehan continues to set a great example. She is able to do this because of her noteriety and the support she will (and should) recieve. Of course the liberals who are joined at the hip with the Dims will make a big stink but their deusions make them an obstacle to real progress.

For more of us to do this requires local and regional support but it is do-able. This is a crucial moment for our nation as the neocon regime crumbles under the weight of their crimes. We need to do everything to push for real change while we have the chance.

AL. RIGHT! A REAL WOMAN LEADER. IN A DREAMY SAN FRANCISCO SUMMER OF SHOVE, SHOVE-IN OF PELOSI!.

Thank you, Cindy! As you can see by the many comments on this article, Cindy Sheehan has quite a few supporters around the country, especially in the progressive San Francisco Bay area where she will run against "AIPAC NANCY", a woman I admired for many years as a liberal in the House of Representatives. Pelosi is anti-war, but, I believe, is more fearful of the pro war Israeli lobby and what they would do to her if she did support Kucinich on impeachment, and by not listening to the majority of Americans, she has compromised her position as majority leader. The Democrats put little real resistance to the "gentleman and women" on the "other side" of the isle. That's why I'm the Green Party. I hope Ms. Sheehan runs as a Green, but whatever she runs as, support and vote for this couragous woman.

To poster southern progress:

You ask why shouldn't Sheehan run against a republican instead of a democrat?

Because (if previous years of Democratic majorities didn't teach us) even with a majority, the Democratic Party will not take progressive actions.

They have the power to end the war. They choose not to.
They had the power to stop Alito and Roberts, too. Look what we've got now.
You want to reward failure? Or do you have some kind of "battered Democrat" syndrome?

The two parties have led us on a 30 plus year long rightward shift. The most liberal presidential administration since 1970 was that of Richard Nixon. The end to the war in Vietnam, the creation of the EPA, signing of the Clean Air Act, creation of OSHA, appointment of the judges that made the Roe v Wade decision, etc. Clinton on the other hand gave us eight years of bombing Iraq and the _withdrawal of weapon's inspectors in 1998, the "end of welfare as we know it" and NAFTA. Pick one: Nixon or Clinton. This rightward shift has to stop, and letting the Democrats continue to take their base for granted (while they chase the same corporate money the Republicans do) will only get us more of the same.

Sheehan has seen that the two parties are broken. So she's getting out and pushing. I say we join her.

Bravo Cindy Sheehan !!!!!!!!!!!! May the spirits be with you.

I'm with you for sure, and like someone said earlier, never underestimate the LOVE of a parent.....

Every day of your walking tour, I'll be out there myself too. Walking around the neighborhood. Walking and talking. Trying to make things happen. Peace in action, not just words. I hope others join your Summer of Love 07 Walking Journey. This is hopeful.

Peace,
Ken Hausle

* I support HRes333 - Impeach the double d - "duffass dick" *

**** Nancy Pelosi, you are not part of the solution, unless you do your part. If you don't, you are just the same old shit - business as usual, and that is the problem ****

***** it is time for a change because time is of the essence *****

Lets make peace and then get down to the unprecedented serious work that needs to be done....

Someone said, "If Impeachment proceedings were to start, then NOTHING ELSE WOULD GET DONE!!" GREAT! There's only one thing I would like to see happen now and that is to get all our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and try to atone to the world for the horrors we have committed.

But the biggest reason Impeachment must begin IMMEDIATELY is to try to stop the Neocons from launching yet another false flag operation on the American people so they can declare Bush/Cheney/Chertoff (who by the way has DUAL U.S./ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP AND IS A RABBI!!!!) as our "unitary dictators", implement martial law, and cancel any elections!

If every member of the House and Senate, (and I don't give a rats ass if they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents), don't step up to the plate RIGHT FREAKIN' NOW!!!! to stand up for our Constitution, then I stand with Cindy. Ed Asner's group is absolutely right. THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT!!!

If they don't, and this goes to what Cindy Sheehan is proposing, then not only should she run against Pelosi (BTW, I do believe she has to be a resident in that district to run...), but I think it would be brilliant to run progressive Constitutionalist anti-war candidates as INDEPENDENTS for every open seat in 2008. That would be EVERY seat in the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

There's not one single member of either the House or the Senate who can be trusted. I don't even trust Kucinich, until he swears his allegiance to our Constitution and refuses all money and influence from AIPAC. He won't. Just ask him.

And if there is another false flag operation against this country and the elections are canceled, then I say they should STILL be held and the ballots counted on the precinct level. Even if the votes are cast on notebook paper with pens!! Which is why I will keep harping on ONLY VOTING ABSENTEE AND XEROXING OUR BALLOTS AND COUNTING THEM TOGETHER IN OUR PRECINCTS. EVEN IF IT TAKES WEEKS TO TALLY THEM!!

Remember. Saving our Constitution and our freedom and ending the influence of the military industrial complex AND AIPAC!! has to be our number one priority. This election will not be about health care, the economy, or taxes, or education, or roads, or anything else! And most importantly folks, the electronic voting MUST BE REJECTED!!

UNLESS "WE THE PEOPLE" COUNT THE VOTES, JUST LIKE THEY WERE DOING IN FLORIDA WHEN JOHN BOLTON RAMMED THROUGH THE DOOR AND SHOUTED "I'M HERE TO STOP THE COUNT!!!", THEN WE ARE DOOMED.

And if any of you doubt what I say about the power of Israel over the United States, just read the Scott Ritter column that was printed on Commondreams and check out this scathing indictment of Scooter Libby:

Report: Libby a long-time Israeli intelligence agent

By Wayne Madsen

Global Research, July 7, 2007
waynemadsenreport.com

Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby (Leibowitz) has been a long-serving intelligence agent for Israel's Mossad, according to a veteran CIA "official cover" officer who spoke to the Wayne Madsen Report on deep background. The CIA's Clandestine Service has, over the years, gathered a tremendous amount of intelligence on Libby's activities on behalf of Mossad.

Libby served as the lawyer for Switzerland- based American fugitive financier Marc Rich, aka Mark David Reich, who is also known to be an Israeli intelligence asset and someone Israel relies upon for missions that demand "plausible deniability" on the part of the Mossad. Rich heads up a worldwide empire of dummy corporations, foundations, and numbered bank accounts that have been involved in sanctions busting and weapons smuggling.

The nations involved include Israel, United States, United Kingdom, Iran, Panama, Colombia, Russia, Iraq (under Saddam Hussein), Cuba, Spain, Nigeria, Singapore, Bolivia, Jamaica, Bermuda, France, Italy, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Peru, Ireland, Zambia, and Switzerland.

In 1983, the then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York urged jail time for Rich and his partner Pincus Green for racketeering. The name of that U.S. Attorney is Rudolph Giuliani. Giuliani, who is now running for president, praised Bush's decision to commute Libby's jail sentence. After Clinton 's pardon of Rich, Giuliani said he was "shocked."

Paul Klebnikov, the Moscow editor for Forbes' Russian edition, wrote about the connections of Rich to Russian gangsters like Boris Berezovsky, a business partner of Neil Bush, in his book "Godfather of the Kremlin." Klebnikov was shot to death gangland-style on a Moscow street on July 9, 2004.

Libby not only provided the Mossad with a top agent inside the White House but also an important conduit for the Russian-Israeli Mafia.

Libby arranged for Rich's eleventh hour pardon by outgoing President Bill Clinton in January 2001. The pardon of Rich was urged in a phone call to Clinton by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, as well as Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert.

Im SO FUKING SICK of this joke
Why did people wait until NOW to begin serious talk of impeachment.

IT DOESNT MATTER NOW
By the time W is impeached, he will most likely out of the country:

http://www.counterpunch.org/cp10202006.html

http://wonkette.com/search/bush%20paraguay%20nazis/all/

Well let me be completely honest. I've long sided with Sheehan which is evident in past editorials. I felt it absolutely imperative for our country to have a responsible and significant insight into all of the numerous misconceptions that continue to repeat themselves on a daily basis. Of course, that old saying is indeed true: "The first casualty of war is the Truth."

For the most part, there's a chorus of Sheehan supporters here. And while I do sympathize I'd be remiss to NOT offer my thoughts here.

I think this is a terrible idea. In fact, it's inherently besides the point. This is due to two reasons:

1.Why not run against an actual Republican, Cindy?? Do you think that the American public--when given the choice between one who has condemned the war vs. those who unilaterally and enthusiastically supported the war, I find it entirely illogical to even think one will NOT vote for Pelosi given the circumstances at hand.

Let's not forget that Pelosi is also the first woman speaker of the house who has been quite outspoken about the rest of her party as it relates to Iraq. She might not represent what Sheehan interprets but to even suggest the rather childish notion of running against her and not a GOP candidate strikes me as more a public venting then a valid, logical plan.

Again, I've supported Sheehan in the past. Since I live in Mobile, Alabama I've been determined to try and educate a general public that gets it's news from the radical right. Not long ago Cindy proclaimed that she wasn't going to pursue her activism by implying that nothing is being done. But then she decided to return. I love the idea the media is finally covering her again but the progressive party would do well to demand Sheehan's specifics. I can guarantee you that such solutions will not parallel the GOP. Therefore, while it's important to put pressure on our representatives, perhaps one need be a little more pragmatic and less emotional.

In any event, I do hope she continues her efforts into the future.

Yeah, get the slacker Pelosi out. Pelosi has failed and betrayed the trust we gave to the Dumbocrats last November.

We need more people like Sheehan who will run as independents and remove slackers from power.

Impeachment can work if there is sufficient will from the Dumbocrats.

Fed Up,

That is why 2 out of the 3 work for Faux News. Okay, 3 out of 4 if you throw in Ann Coulter. It is the only place that would hire those losers (Rush is a loser too)!

A prediction: The corporate media mouthpieces Dildo Oleilly, Oxy Rush and Sean Insanity will resort to their usual tactics GUARANTEED!, name calling, she's a nut job, unAmerican, she hates our country etc instead of looking at the issue at hand. Im so sick of these parasites......

Of course, if Chris Brauchli is right, then impeachment stands a snowballs's chance in hell.

Millionaire Pelosi has blown a lot of hot air - speaking with a forked tongue, while supporting the tyrants & war criminals.

If Pelosi refuses to respect the will of the people and the rule of law, good riddance to her.

We Love You Cindy - and are with you every step of the way!

Walt,

How presumptive of you to think that we don't consider the democrats enemies too!

Whay makes you think the democtats stand anywhere but in the pockets of the corporations, the military-industrial complex, and AIPAC?

What did 8 years of Clinton-Gore, most of it alongside a democratic-majority Congress, get us? Anti-worker trade deals, anti-worker policies at home, sabotage of an effective global warming treaty, refusal to orecognize the ICC, and brutal imperialism in the form of slow slaughter and economic destruction of Iraq, the brutal bombings of Iraq and Serbia under phoney pretexts (ignoring the equal or larger crimes of the big-business-friendly regimes elsewhere in the Balkans).

So, why shoud we give a rats ass about the democrats?

We need to get to work. Organize! This morning on Democracy Now, Ralph Nader said if a million people could spend just 8 hours of their time each, national, universal, healthcare would be a foregone concluson.

460ground - No one is ever a one issue candidate. the election itself of any position will force a real candidate to address all the valid issues of that post. Also, Pelosi was outed by Mother Jones back in 2004 when she was at parties during the Dem. Convention in Boston, sponsored by the very same corporations who put on parties for the Republicans in NYC later that summer. So when the Dem's took back the House in 06 I knew that this was not enough to make any real changes. What will be needed for real change is for those districts who have representatives who no longer listen to the people of the district but only to their corporate sponsors, to replace them with independent candidates or opposing party candidates who may not be on the Party payroll like Pelosi, Clinton, Biden, Reid and company. The suits knew there was a possibility that Pelosi could become speaker and hedged their bets accordingly as they are now doing with the Dem Presidential candidates. Beware of one party rule folks. From ANY side.

That said - you cannot have anything but admiration for Cindy for having the courage to run against the establishment candidate. the good news is that many of Pelosi's constituents are dismayed with her taking off the table the impeachment of a President who has committed crimes against the state and humaity in waging a unprovoked war against one nation and is looking to start a 3rd war. There is a rogue nation - it is ours. Cindy has a real goo dchance of destroying Pelosi in a campaign that covers most issues. I would trust Cindy Sheehan before I would trust Nancy Pelosi. Cindy's kid served... Nancy's kids all went to expensive university's... who do you really think understands what the average person goes through in day to day life? The woman who started Camp Casey and spent years on the anti war movement or the woman who rides around with a Secret Service detail in Limo's at tax payer expense?

Walt,

I agree with almost all of what you said except, the reason why impeachment needs to happen is for two reasons: 1) send a clear message to the neocons (who will probably laugh anyway) 2) The U.S. will bomb Iran and expand this debacle of a war (it is not a matter of if, but when), thereby further catapulting the Middle East into complete chaos and changing the dynamics of foreign relations, policy, trade, etc. In other words Bush and Cheney need to be stopped because they still can do more damage. In my estimation, anything the Democrats do other than try to impeach Bush and Cheney is worthless at this time.

Go Cindy Sheehan! I hope her challenge tips the scales, but if it doesn't, I'm glad she is running for Pelosi's seat.

Here is the message I sent to Speaker Pelosi following Libby's commutation:

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

Bring up impeachment, Cheney first. Read the polls. We The People want this, and it is the right thing to do.

At this point in time, to NOT bring up impeachment is to tacitly say you approve of the criminality of the Administration. Perhaps one transgression or many trivial ones could be bypassed. However, these people have created an enormous list from deliberately misleading us into war with a nation that was no threat to us (2 points there), to secret wiretapping of American citizens, to the Military Commissions Act, to the deliberate outing of a CIA agent for political purposes, to the firing of US Attorneys for political purposes. And all the obfuscation and outright lying that surrounds each of these crimes.

It doesn't matter if the impeachment succeeds. I think it will; you may think it won't. But, the proceedings will shine light on these bad people and their actions and their supporters and apologists. They will put the facts on record, and will cause everyone in the House and then the Senate to weigh in.

Are they for the bums?

Are they for a smoothly operating governing system (I just saw the acclaimed documentary "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki last night, and that portrayed a very smooth operation)?

Or are they for a Congress that We The People can trust?

In light of the respect Congress gets now, and regardless of honor, duty, statesmanship or common sense, if only for your own role as Speaker and for the sake of the Congressional body--choose the last one.

Get out there and fight for this--fight for US!!

Sincerely,

[tomd1664]

I have supported Mrs. Sheehan and her stance on the war since the very beginning. I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly proud I am of her. I will see you all again in DC and Phila.

shedek,

And who are your choices? Incumbents? Probably the same losers who have not done squat for their constituents in years!

You go girl! Start this campaign, and there'll be a check from me arriving soon after.

The best thing we could do would be to knock Pelosi out of office. Progressives and the left are not taken seriously in today's politics. You see that constantly in the comments about 'idiot liberals' from our supposed representatives. There would be no better way to establish that we have political power than to kick the Speaker of the House off to retirement.

I don't give a bleep if a Republican took the seat. The key bit would be that in the next congress, when we progressives come to knock and talk about what we'd like, then we'd be listened to. Because every single damn rep would know that if we can take down Pelosi in a district that's supposed to be a safe seat for her, then we can take down any of the others.

We should be looking to do the same to as many of the Democratic leadership as we can.

So with around 500 days to go, all of you (or really a lot of you) want the focus to be on impeaching a lame-duck President? Bush is politically dead in the water. His own party can't move away from him fast enough and those defending the Iraq War have dwindled down to a gaggle of lunatic pundits airing 24/7 on Fox News. Oh and the WSJ.

There just isn't the momentum in Washington to impeach this guy, because it's not politically worth it. The Democrats would be totally tied up by all that silliness and never get anything done. Remember how much active "government" we got during the Clinton impeachment process?

The New York Times (hardly a radical paper) finally said yesterday "enough is enough" - Iraq is likely to explode just as Bush predicts if we pull out, but they say, So what! Get out anyhow! And now!

It's over folks. There's nothing staying can accomplish. Leaving is the only option. Gen. Petraeus is going to say in September what we all know he's going to say - we have to pull out. Bush's advisors are already spinning scenarios. Troops will begin returning in the Fall. But how many? How fast? And how many remain behind for what purpose? This is what Pelosi and Democrats need to be focused on and riding the administration hard on for every one of the remaining 400 plus days. That and keeping the heat on Cheyney.

I really hate to say this about Cindy but Casey did not die in vain. (As a veteran who was always against this stupid war, I hated hearing her say that.) Her protest over his death was the first shot fired in this war of ours, like Ron Kovich's chaining himself to the gates of the White House began the process of ending the Vietnam War. (You don't really believe it was Nixon do you?)

These wars only start quickly. They take a long time to end (That's why starting them is such an immoral idea in the first place.) And everything people are screaming for is in process … but it can't happen fast enough. My fellow Vets are dying every day and a cold hearted fool might even they too die for nothing. But that would be wrong because their blood makes it less bearable for us to go on and the less bearable we as a nation find it, the more likely we as a nation will find the resolve to finally and ultimately end it. With no half measures. Out!

So many of you think Pelosi is the enemy ... why? She didn't impeach a functionally dead President? Then you don't know your enemy. It's not Bush or Cheyney in the end. We have not one man, but an entire movement of anti-democratic radicals who have taken over our government called Neo-Conservatives. They've penetrated every part of our body politic as surely as a virus takes residence up in our bodies. They need to be purged, ousted and eviscerated by viable Democratic candidates that track with moderates, independents and disillusioned Republicans. Those are the groups who will get us beyond a 49/51 split that no bought and paid for, slavish Supreme (sic) court or crooked voting tally/machine can fix.

Some of you are calling for a new party, a new movement and new order. In 500 days? It took the Republicans 30 years to secure themselves a position strong enough to do all this damage. We're just getting started. You think we can do it in 30 months?

Focus on the enemy please and the enemy is NOT Pelosi or Clinton or Edwards or Obama or whoever in the democratic mainstream shows a chance of winning the population's trust yet fails some radical litmus test. The Republicans, not Bush, are vulnerable. Bush is already a non-issue. The Democrats can win and start the process of change if they (we) can pull it all together in time. And there's NOT a lot of time. The important (and hard) part will be to elect them and participate in party politics to keep the pressure on them everyday to make a change … just the way the Republicans did to their candidates.

And don't think we're a shoe-in. The Republican machine is working around the clock to pull this one off again. They're praying for a Terrorist scare (they just may create one) or a Liberal candidate they can make look loopy, radical or out of touch with average Americans. Now here comes Cindy. Talk about candidates the Right prays for! Can you see the ads with Cindy and Chavez. It'll be Jane Fonda in Hanoi all over again. Willie Horton moving through the turn style. Do any of you remember any of this? Are your aware of the consequences?

The Neo-Cons are smarter at playing a dirty, lying game and far better organized at pulling one off. Now for the first time in years, we look to be better funded. Can we get organized?

It's called Common Dreams but it doesn't mean we should be dreamers. There's too much at stake here (Disabled Vets, Demoralized Minorities, Incarcerated Immigrants. Globally noncompetitive and undereducated Kids, Uninsured American Citizens. An Unprotected Planet).

I think politics is a good place for Cindy. Let her see what it's like. How hard it is to build consensus in a pluralistic democracy. I'm not sure S.F. will teach her that lesson, but hey What the Heck!

I agree, with all of you on that point: Go for it girl. Do it! Just do it to the enemy … not to us.

All right Cindy! Run Cindy, run! Since I am a Michigander, I can't vote for you, but I fully support your efforts. Nancy Pelosi and the other democrats take note. It's not about whether or not you can muster enough votes to impeach Bush/Cheney/Gonzales, etc., it's whether or not you have the guts to even try to do what's right.

An impeachment motion/vote is what's certainly called for here and long overdue. Get the job done Democrats, or get out and make way for the people who aren't afraid to take on Bush and company in the most meaningful way possible...impeachment.

Did Pelosi stand against the invasion of Iraq in 2002/2003? Has she stood against the bombing of Iran? Did she push to stop the bombing of Lebanon? Is she working to impeach Bush? No, No, No, and No!

Then what does she stand for? Like Hillary Clinton, she stands for nothing, apart from kowtowing to AIPAC. Put her in, and she will look after the rich and obey the nocons. If that is all the Democrats will do - exactly the same with a softer rhetoric - then I dont want them.

I back Cindy - win or lose!

Hope she and about 17 others run and defeat the lazy, spineless, bought ones who are there now. It is time NOW to make lobbying a CRIME, punishable by fines and LONG prison sentences. If you don't believe it, go back and listen to the guy on 60 minutes last night. He was from the GAO and his prediction about our lack of good fiscal policy has us doomed, period.

People need to stop crying "nader", and look at the actual vote count from seven years ago. Nader was no more responsible for Gore's defeat than the wind. Gore lost the election because he would not stand up for disenfranchised black voters in Florida. He feared a "constitutional crisis", he said.

And what would you call our present situation?

I know one thing, I am not voting for any incumbent. So Cindy could get my vote.

For those who are crying "Nader" about Cindy Sheehan running against Nancy Pelosi, here are the election results from 2006:

Pelosi (D): 80%
DeNunzio (R): 11%
Keefer (G): 8%
Berg (L): 1%

If Cindy wins, the 8th District gets a more progressive representative. Even if she doesn't, she will probably come in second. I don't see the problem here.

jtmonrow, you are incorrect. Nader (not "Nadir," you Rabelaisian wit, you) was not responsible for the electoral fraud that gave us the Bush presidency. The Republicans were, and their bipartisan buddies bent over and took it.

When the Dems fight Republican criminality harder than they fight Green mayoral candidates in San Francisco, I'll listen.

I believe if the Dems do not move impeach/removal of Bush and Cheney ASAP, they will not win the White House in 2008 and will lose one or both Houses of Congress. I believe the national polls show the people want by substantial majorities: (1) an end to the Iraq War; (2) a change in the direction of the country; and (3) Bush/Cheney to be gone now (actually a large plurality on the last one). The people will not buy the Dems must have 100 Democratic Senators before they can do anything. Impeachment/removal of Bush/Cheney simultaneously puts Nancy Pelosi as the first woman US President which means (1) a bona fide anti-war person will be President and can order the safe, immediate, full withdrawal of our troops from Iraq; (2) a change in direction; and (3) the immediate end of Bush/Cheney.

Having said all that, Nancy Pelosi cannot lead the impeach/removal battle directly or indirectly, as she will become the President and will appear too opportunistic. It's got to be Conyers and other progressives leading this battle. And they will be fighting the DLC wing of the Dems, as the DLCers want Hillary or Obama, who are committed to continuing the war with their "residual" force and both of whom will bend to the corporatocracy.

Good heavens!!!

Haven't we yet had enough of all the AMATEURS with this administration?

She at least shares the egotism with B, C..but does that give her enough to run?

I hope she runs out of the country!

I am a life long democrat and I have been emailing and writing Nancy Pelosi for weeks begging her to do the right thing and bring this bunch of criminals in the White House to justice. My last email I stated I would no longer support the democrats with my time or my money if they let Bush and Cheney slither off into retirement without paying for the damage they have done to our country and our constitution. I have changed my mind if Cindy runs I will do all I can to help her. Being a resident of Texas it will be what money I can afford and time but I will do what I can. I met Cindy in Crawford two years ago and she was then and still is my hero. She has been one of the few who has been willing to stand up tell the truth about the Bush and Cheney crime cartel. You run Cindy and this ol boy from Texas will do what he can to help.

"If I am not mistaken it is the Republicans who have held the great majority of the reins of power in the U.S. Government in all the years since the Putsch of the year 2000. And it is therefore the Republicans, not the Democrats, who have been responsible for all the initiatives that have led to the present sorry state of affairs."

Many Democrats voted for the initiatives that have led to the present sorry state of affairs. They share the responsibility. Being in the minority is not an excuse for voting for the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, the torture bill, etc.

Run Cindy Run!
I'd move to San Fran to vote for you - but I will send money!

The Green Matt Gonzales almost won Mayor of San Francisco - the Greens have the people in the Bay Area you need to do this. And DO THIS!

The Democrats have repeatedly shown how they do not stand for the people. Every day we lose more soldiers and more money is wasted. The Democrats could have stopped this.

Meanwhile, Alito and Roberts are taking away social gains the people fought for. The Dems had their chance to stop them, too. And now we're paying for it.

We can't keep rewarding the Democrats for taking us for granted.

thanks for all your good work, Cindy.

Saila, I don't think Pelosi's personal desires matter here. She's a Fake Farce Face. She is the "brand name" of her lobbies. She didn't get to where she is because of her personal vision. She's a whore, in the true sense. She sells her soul to the highest bidder. Sure, she plays her farcical role - the allusion of democracy - but she still sucks the giant ****s of the masters, the ones who put her in her place as speaker of the house.

Get a clue.

RESEARCH

Let us clearly remember a couple of things:

1) Pelosi never said," There is not enough incriminating evidence to impeach."
2) She never said," There will not be enough votes to get the impeachment through."
3) She only said," Impeachment is off the table.", meaning she does not WANT to impeach. That statement alone discouraged other reps from joining Kucinich and signing the impeachment resolution.

Kick her out of our House, together with all other old hand, career politicians,Demos and Repubs, please.

Do I need to say it? CINDY FOR PRESIDENT.
William stoc85@saber.net

I don't agree that Cindi is a one-issue candidate at all. I watched her in a long BBC interview several months ago and she spoke thoroughly and knowledgeably on many issues. Not forgetting that she can attract the best and the brightest of the progressive movement to support her.

Best of luck to you, Cindi, from France!

Newageartist wonders--

I'm wondering why Cindy Sheehan has suggested that her candidacy would be as an Independent when she has publicly endorsed Green Party candidates running for office in the past, worked with Greens on anti-war issues, and will be running in one of the most crowded Green membership areas in the entire US, namely, San Francisco.

*******************

Because this isn't about politics for cindy it's about "the run". For all of those of you who are eagerly lining up to give cindy's campaign your money, know that there will be atleast 100 neocons shedding crocodile tears of joy right behind you to give her their own. Why? Because this is about knocking off Pelosi for them just like it is for you.

If you think all of Pelosi's support will just automaticaly do-si-do to cindy forget it. They will stay home in droves and you will get a neocon in congress from her district.

Nancy Pelosi's behavior regarding allowing impeachment activity to go gorward as well as fdacilitating the further funding of the Bushwar is disgusting. She deserves some sort of rebuke but this one is not it.

Cindy is starting to look more and more like a victim and tool of others instead of a grieving mom. Cindy, celibrity like heroin can have serious withdrawal pains but they are always worth enduring as the price for freedom and the opportunity to move on.

Sheehan has what Pelosi and most of her colleagues lack: the courage to act.

Anyone with a memory out there? Remember how well this approach worked when Nadir did it to Al Gore? Just a few of those Nadir votes going to Gore and who would have been elected? There'd have been no Bush presidency? Remember? Anyone?????

In the last 30 years, and especially in the last seven, we have seen the "pragmatic" results of calculation and cowardice in opposition. Now young people are sent to die while killing Iraqi civilians in much greater numbers, and all that some so-called progressives here can do is worry about Speaker Pelosi's career!

At least Sheehan's candidacy will add humanity and substance into the vacuum. Speaker Pelosi's "pragmatic" caving in to Bush deserves nothing: no respect, no votes, no money.

This is a life-and-death matter, the morality of which is bloody obvious.

I agree with the comment above about Cindy is not being well educated. I think she should have run against Pelosi in '06. But she put in her time, got her education about the corrupt nature of the Democrats and is now ready to take them on.
By the way, I'm sorry to be the one to have to break the news but the congress is enemy territory. It was designed for protecting the interests of the rich. It was never intended to work for interests of the people.

I find if very encouraging that someone like Cindy is willing to head up a pitchfork brigade to go plant a flag in the middle of the enemy camp. It just might put the fear of the people in them, which is the only thing that ever gets them to do anything in our favor.

She's got my vote for President as well. And, everyone I know in San Francisco will vote for her, too.

A respectful suggestion _

If anyone out there is in a position to work with US city councils, which have passed resolutions condemning the Iraq war, etc., how about a more succinct resolution of REAL rebellion? Such as _

"Because George W. Bush and Richard Cheney have clearly demonstrated their incompetence, corruption and contempt for the people and Constitution of the United States of America, the city of XX(City name) hereby resolves to NO LONGER RECOGNIZE THEIR AUTHORITY AS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. If Bush or Cheney enters XX(City name) for any reason, our law enforcement and other officials will refuse to offer them protection, and we cannot guarantee their safety."

COME ON!!! It's time to get real. Our country is in serious danger. We owe this to our children. No amount of discussion will help.

Rise up and man up. Our children and grandchildren deserve better. If we don't do something, we're letting them down, and trashing our entire legacy as a "free country."

Come on, Eugene, Oregon; come on, Ann Arbor, Michigan; come on, Boulder, Colorado; come on Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota.

Please.

Oh ya, where do I send my contribution?

Cindy is a couragous leader who's proven her worth time and again. She stands head and shoulders above that ridiculous farce known as Pelosi.

There is no need anymore to be polite to Pelosi. There is FREIGHT TRAIN NOW SPPEEDING AT HER CALLED - - CINDY SHEEHAN !!!

Hi Scarecrow,
Thanks for yr comments, I hear what you are saying, and yes, of course I'm aware of the gender of both Ms Clinton and Ms Pelosi, however, (internationally) the BULK of people in government circles are men, and to my mind, such men seem to me to have made a very poor job, (-thus far), of helping our world towards the things we REALLY need; they have instead brought still more ruinous wars to our long-suffering race.

As a _male_ person (!) - I am not wholly sure I am being 'sexist' in my lauding the spirit of powerful, *progressive* women? And, -hailing from the UK, I am only too aware of 'pretend' women, -those who sold out beneficial gender characteristics and became 'ersatz men' instead, -- the UK suffered most horribly under the tyranny of Ms M. Thatcher when she was in power.

I see Ms H. Clinton (and to some extent Pelosi?) as being in much the same 'mould' as that vile creature Thatcher, --too caught up in the swirl of power politics and the emulating of 'macho' (brutish, uncaring) men, to remember to how to be a kind, compassionate, wise, courageous and truly *peace loving* human being, ~ which is how Cindy comes across.

I don't see Cindy's stance as being, " Woman against woman" I see it more as *Progressive, Voice-of-the sane people Person* versus *Rich Out-of-touch Professional Politician*.

And yes, I am aware that Cindy's son Casey was in the forces, (as too, are many women now) but the point I was (-perhaps ineptly) making is that there is far too much of that "asinine gun-toting macho men" stuff around, and it is a very perverse way of thinking, and it's sadly unceasingly served up by Hollywood (etc) to not-very-aware people, and then somehow thought to be *a GOOD thing*, ~ when in fact that whole culture of 'Ramboism' is nothing more than *VERY SICK* barbarian, antediluvian savagery!

In my words about Cindy S. I was, -of course, not at all seeking to impugn the character of Mr Dennis Kucinich or any like him, -such 'new men' are a wonderfully refreshing antidote to the poisonous plague of chickenhawk nincompoops (of either sex) currently at the helm of things!

Regardez,
U-C-D.