Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security

KEM, that was such a wonderful story, I was in tears. Sorry for sounding ignorant, but, were you describing a near death experience (NDE)? I'm choosing to believe your story, but am not quite sure what point of view you have. Please explain, if you care to.

CINDY, I'm so glad to see you're reading these posts. Perhaps the reason KEM's piece had me in tears is that yours did first! I have an adolescent boy and fear a draft like most other parents. My heart goes out to you every day for your loss of Casey. Your loss is also our loss. I cannot imagine a pain worse than losing one's child.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Go Cindy!!!

Kick Pelosi's traitorous ass out!!

Kick that torturing skank to the curb!!

We should all do what Cindy Sheehan is doing.

Every single one of us can run for every seat in The House of Representatives as Independent's next year.

Tomorrow morning, call the Registrar Recorder in your Congressional District and find out what the deadline is to file and what the requirements are etc. For the November general election we have until roughly February/March to file.

"A slate of Cindy Sheehan's" running as Independent's for every seat in the House and a third of the U.S. Senate is what we need to do. Win, lose or draw.

Even if you have no money you can manage to raise the thousand dollars in lieu of signatures. A hundred bucks from ten friends.

Once on the ballot you will be invited to every freakin' debate, breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. and it is then and there you will be able to speak truth to power and be HEARD. Newspapers will interview you, radio hosts will want to talk with you etc. You'll be covered in debates on the local cable stations.

We all know the agenda we need to win: Single payer national health care, a massive cut back on military expenditures with conversion to repairing the U.S. infrastructure (bridge repairs, electric trains from city to city), commitment to reversing global warming, support of community living with rural farms and an end to NAFTA, GATT and the WTO, cutting back on all our "Happy Motoring", conversion of cars to biodiesal (if it can be safely developed without interferring with top priority food production), a Manhattan project to create solar, wind and geothermal non-polluting energy production and on and on and on.

We need to bring our troops home, reverse all the fascist legislation the Republicans and Democrats have forced down our throats and fight for the Constitution.

Period.

Then on Election Day we need to have a HUGE public presence at every precinct where votes are being counted to witness the count.

Just my opinion.

If Lieberman can do it, we can do it.

I am so impressed that Cindy actually reads and responds to the comments here. That is something that almost never happens.

It seems so obvious, so natural, so human, that it's almost a shock that you don't see it happen more often. I guess that's why it's a such a shock when you do see it happen - someone who's been able to hold on to regular human decency, and not be waylaid by the illusions of fame.

Why don't our members of Congress and others so influential do the same thing? Why don't they write for Common Dreams, or read it, or ever respond to the comments?

Dan Nissenbaum

Pelosi should resign or be ousted as Speaker. It's very apparent that she has kept impeachment off the table as part of her deal when she rose to power.

Buddies with Bush...just like Dianne Feinstein, our most recently censured Senator (Progressive Caucus CDP, Women's Caucus CDP, Irish-American Caucus CDP + 35,000 who signed petitions with the Courage Campaign).

If I were IN San Francisco, I would be joining any recall campaign. Fortunately the next election is right around the corner and San Franciscans can express their outrage by voting her OUT!

Democrats like this are why Democrats are losing registered voters in California. Did you read that lame letter she had on her speaker.gov website?... saying they "told me it was legal" or something along those lines, after seeing a virtual tour of torture. Even Mukasy didn't say that!

Who needs such an ethically challenged person leading our party? Who wants a woman who has broken the glass ceiling to have done so by selling her soul, if she had one in the first place. She has called into question a woman's ability to LEAD by her malfeasance and set women back a generation, at least.

GO NANCY GO!!! OUT OF WASHINGTON, that is.
###

This woman is becoming an artist in her pain. That is the kind of substance her peers lack. The lack of substance which makes spoiled boomers like Pelosi into cowards. Pelosi ain't got no chops, Cindy does.

Amen, Cindy.

I've forwarded to all of my friends and family a request that instead of buying a Christmas gift for me this year, they send a donation to the Cindy Sheehan for Congress campaign. A small token, for sure, but hopefully it makes a difference.

Thank you
I am honored.
Love
Cindy

what a wonderful fairytail, but aren't they supposed to have a happy ending? Cindy's family understandably is devastated after losing a crucial part of it. Read Kathy
kelly's article 'Traveling Light' on this site for an understanding of the trauma most Iraqi families are struggling through in trying to deal with the debacle that our governmment laid upon the whole middle east region.
When will we learn that the only way to help the world be a better place is to unlearn the fear and embrace others
sincerely. they are better people than we have been led to believe that they are. Ross Cannon

Cindy, my heart bleeds for you and your family. I have a son who just turned thirty, and I can tell you, I have been dreading a draft....a dread that is lessening as he grows older. I respect your strength and courage and if I lived in California I would vote for you in a heartbeat. It's obviously to your advantage that Pelosi's complicity and corruption are becoming evident and her web of lies and obfuscations is starting to unravel. What is interesting is the timing...this is an interesting scene to watch.
Best of luck.

oh rebel farmer it wont be letters
that put wartime george up in fetters
if you want the killing to end
we all must cease to spend
another dime
on this american crime

no more cable
no more cars
no more cola
no more wars

Cindy, dear, you say that you are honored. That's mostly because you are honorable.

Your friend,

Joel

"Caste of the Democrats"

As opposed to us untouchables.
Isn't it the truth-

Cindy,

This recent revelation about Pelosi while disturbing is not a surprise and explains what was previously unexplainable.

I too will ask that a contribution be made to your campaign in lew of a christmas present. Our country needs it more than I do and nothing legal would bring me more joy than to see you kick the wench Pelosi's ass down the road next Fall.

With respect and affection.

Cindy - Well done! But we need more help. "We the People" don't know how to take our country back. We can't get impeachment off the ground. We can't stop this damn war. It doesn't seem to matter how many letters we write or how many phone calls we make. The election is too far off and too many horrible things are going to happen in the meantime. Willy Bill is making a valiant effort. The fact is I've signed so many petitions and group actions that my keyboard is rapided falling apart. What does it take? What more can we do? What action will actually turn this ship around before it runs aground?

Thank you for everything you do.

"#
Casey December 11th, 2007 1:23 pm

Give it a rest, Mom.
"

another a-hole board troll

NO rest. glad for you to keep his memory alive, Cindy. i have heard people say "she needs to move on" which is the typical American response to anything that is uncomfortable or diverts them from Football or American Idol for a few minutes. I know how it goes having suffered tremendous abuse and neglect during childhood and adolescence, that pain doesn't "move on", a crime needs to be acknowledged and justice done if possible. The loss of your son is the loss of us all

casey December 11, 2007

How dare you speak as Cindy's son, you f_*ing moron!!! You are nothing -- NOTHING!!!

Pay no attention, NancyH, as the mind of one who could lower himself to that level isn't worth responding to.

Where in Hell do they come from?

Oh, I think I just answered my own question. He is something, Nancy, they go by many names and their numbers are legion.

"If the 'peasants' in the Kingdom of George and Nancy do not wake up and rise up to stop the oppression and murder by the evil rulers, no one (except the evil Rulers and their consorts) will live happily ever after."

Sadly, global warming and nuclear annihilation will be the result of the continuation of present attitudes and policies.

Even the rulers and their consorts' grandchildren will not live.

We must change.

Actually I would say "Casey" is someone to respond to - he/she is a Richard Cho/Eric Davis in the making.

Of course how to respond effectivly is the question. I'm into the book Bush On The Couch right now and the thing about these sadists is they already have a sense of disconnection or nothingness.

On an individual level one of the reasons I work for impeachment everyday is because it might finally be an act that wakes Bush up. On a general level I work for impeachment everyday because it would be the grandest discussion ever held by the United States of America - waking us all up to the true potential glory of Lady Liberty.

If we progressives can get Cindy into Congress, then we can, through her, bring about real changes to address what Rebel Farmer identifies above when he asks a series of very good questions:

"What does it take? What more can we do? What action will actually turn this ship around before it runs aground?"

Historian Robert Dallek came up with a fine answer: a constitutional amendment that enables the American people to remove a president from office.

Here is a link to the article with its title and date:

>>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080301952.html?hpid=opinionsbox2

Ouster By the People

By Robert Dallek
Sunday, August 5, 2007; Page B07>>

In the long run (like in the State of California for curbing abuse by a Governor) this kind of amendment will prevent future criminal presidents from being unaccountable to the people.

Cindy, this could be part of your platform if you like the idea.

"Give it a rest, Mom."

I never cease to be amazed at the sheer calousness and stupidity. Do you really think, asshole, that Casey would want his Mother to give up this fight? I sincerely hope you don't lose anyone in this illegal, immoral war based on profits and lies. And if you do, I hope that you don't have to endure the cruelty in kind. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Dear Cindy,
I'm so sorry for the loss of beautiful Casey, and all the victims of this rotten war. I send you all the best during this holiday season because I would imagine your loss is even harder now. Keep up the good fight!

There is no need to repeat or respond to abusive messages. Just tell the editors:

editor@commondreams.org

They will likely remove it, which they did in the recent case above.

CommonDreams editors do not tolerate clear cases of abuse.

AlterNet.org has a nice piece of advice for progressive commenters:

"We also ask our readers to refrain from responding to posts by people who only want to derail the conversation with conservative talking points. Please report these comments; do not respond."

Once upon a time, a truly wonderful ten year old boy, a special child whom everyone liked and loved, was shot in the heart and killed by another young boy, who was playing with a loaded pistol he'd found lying on a table in a neighbors house. Kem died in his mothers arms.

Kem's parents were devistated, truly heartbroken, and no longer cared for anything in this life. They wanted to die and wished they would, ___ and they were slowly dying. The mother went to the grave of her beloved son every single day and prayed for hiim to return. She prayed so hard, she actually expected her son to come right up out of the ground and come back home. ___ Kem didn't return.

Then one afternoon, both parents were in seperate areas of their home, both alone with their thoughts, wide awake, the father in Kem's bedroom, checking out his son's worldly treasures, the mother was out on the back walled patio, praying to her God, for help. Help suddenly arrived for both of the 'going totally insane' parents.

Kem returned and spoke to the mother, they had a long conversation, Kem assured his mother that he was very happy, he was doing very important work, he was a pilot an did not wish to return to this life now. He asked her to please stop praying for his return.
They had a wonderful few minutes together once again.

From that day on of many long years ago, his mother has had peace and she knew for certain, indeed there was an after life. Her son was not a little boy anymore, he was a beautiful young man ___ and he was very wise.

Sometime during that same time period of the mother's soul saving experience, the father had a like vision of where Kem was and what he was now doing, he was privileged to witness Kem's home, after he had flown with Kem as his son piloted a craft through the ever expandng universe. Kem didn't speak to his father after the craft stopped in a beautiful city, he just stared into his father's eyes and assured him he was fine adn this is waht I am doing now dad. I'm Okay. The father was totally aware that his son was indeed Okay, and their Kem was a beautiful young man ___ and he was very wise.

I don't often tell that story, for fear that some will not believe it. So if any chose to not and or explain it away, so be it. I know what I was privelaged to witness and allowed to have a very brief glimpe of a world that was so beautiful, I can not adequetly describe it. Since that day, when the holy spirit saved us from a life of hell, I care about everything here and everyone, even though sometimes I may not show that care for others, for sometimes a few of the others are pretty difficult to care about.

Your son is Okay Cindy, he is still a beautiful young man, and now he is performing important work, preparing for the time when evil in the universe, will be just terrible history. You can bet, Casey is proud of you Cindy and you do what you believe to be honorable and right.

Dear Cindy--

The intimacy and sincerity of your article above amke it kind of hard to add anything new--but in the interest of getting rid of the "top wop" in the house, let me suggest two things:

1. Keep the focus on her procedural lethargy--impeachment off the table, all the $$ the mad monarch wants for his Middle East war(s) adventures, unwillingness to hold up war funding beyond early next year,

2. Promotion of your own program in other words what you would do differently as representative from Pelosi's district that she is not doing).

Realizing that your own personal pain is multiplied many times over in the hearts of other American parents, spouses, children, and lovers of the deceased as well as many more grieving Iraqis, I wish you every success and commend your effort.

Pelosi is corrupt. Please, Cindy, run against her. You might be surprised at the level of support you will have.

Dear Ms. Sheehan:

A few quick thoughts:

1) Through your very powerful, personal writing, you continually remind us that each loss in Iraq does not belong just to the grieving family, but to all of us who are diminished by the snuffed-out potential that each lost life implied.

2) Your eloquence and honesty have reduced the "Georgists" and their followers to crude personal attacks and affronts to your character. You have bereft them of the ability to use, or even attempt to use, reason and logic to refute you.

3) I hope someday that you meet Juan Miguel Gonzales, father of Elian Gonzales, whose simple heartfelt request - to be reunited with his son - was met with the same crass response, and probably by the same crass fools. It will take hearts like Juan's and yours to save us from ourselves.

Rebel Farmer said "What does it take? What more can we do? What action will actually turn this ship around before it runs aground?" There is an answer to feeling hopelessly powerless to do anything about the torture, murder and rape in the name of "spreading freedom".

It's something that transcends the vote and the possibility that the "powerful" have of neutralizing the elected representatives, who cave in to being manipulated by the three-pronged "devil's pact"of corporation/government/media (generally the same people are involved in all three), because only a massive awakening of the consciousness of the majority of American voters could end this pact.

In the meantime there is an institution that still testifies to a residual survival of democracy in the US – the judicial system and the institutions, organizations and foundations that use the system to fight those who have undermined democracy .

It doesn't work automatically of course; it's vital that citizens back it up, because "they the powerful" are very much afraid of it. They hold think tanks and pay authors to write books saying litigation is harmful for the economy, the corporation world etc. The institutions and foundations that initiate litigation against this ghastly world of thugs, who are destroying all that is left of an ethical United States, need the support and backing of anyone who understands the mortal danger threatening freedom.

For example, the Center for Constitutional Rights ( www.ccr-ny.org) needs such support to help them fight in the courts against the lawless spying on US citizens, the indefinite detention of people denied habeas corpus in Guantanamo, and against Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft, George Tenet, and private military firms for their criminal responsibility in systematic torture . Or Courage to Resist (www.couragetoresist.org) which goes to court to defend soldiers who are refusing to go back to Iraq and take part in the killing and torture in an unconstitutional war. Or, as recently reported in CD, the Jamie Leigh Foundation (http://www.jamiesfoundation.org/) exists to help victims who were raped or sexually assaulted overseas while working for government contractors or other corporations.

We don't have to sit at home and wait for the next elections. We can participate directly in helping those who have already started organizing.

Cindy, you cannot assume our burdens and responsibility for the Iraq War. The burden that you have been given is mostly beyond our imaginations. We are deeply respectful for your efforts on behalf of your son, and deeply thankful for your continuing efforts on behalf of our children. Give your Spirit a rest while we pray for your healing and renewal. Your words ring true within us. We will do more on behalf of you, your son, and our children. I promise.

abbybwood - right on. Right on for sure.

Peace,
Ken Hausle
Charlotte, NC
Go Navy!!!!!!!
(i am a navy son after all...but i am all for the People...
me and all of my "singing so happily and playfully" foolishness....
...well, enough now for a long, long time......)

God Bless You Cindy. You are a beacon of truth and justice as well as hope.

I saw you when you came to Buffalo NY as well as in Washington, I did not speak to you, but I thought you were a beautiful person. I pray for the day when no mother ever has to go through what you went through.

Cindy, you are awesome.

I have a good friend who's son just returned wounded from Iraq.

Cindy:
Take these hateful, and hurtful comments, as a compliment! It means you are succeeding. That you are a threat. That you have a real shot. Otherwise, you would just be ignored, which is obviously not the case.

Don't worry about who these people are, and why they do what they do, it doesn't really matter. Just keep going. Never, ever, give up. You're winning!

http://www.cindyforcongress.org/

Ramsay

I agree with Ramsay Mameesh.

Just keep going Cindy. Our love is with you.

Peace,
Ken Hausle
Charlotte, NC

I agree with Ramsay Mameesh too. Ignore the ignorant trolls, Cindy, and thank you for all you do!

We all mourn Cindy's loss to this stupid, immoral and illegal war. And we admire her courage for speaking out so forcefully against it. But excuse me, shooting ourselves in the foot isn't the answer! Going after people like Nancy P, whose voting record and history of standing up for virtually all the values we share, is not going to end the war. And calling her names like we see above is nothing short of childish. Its not the Democrats who are to blame, however imperfect they may be. Its the Republican party that needs to be tossed out of office. Seems to me that the last time so many of you demanded purity we got W and six years of Republican control. Boy, was that fun! So lets get real and work to eliminate those people with whom we really have problems!

Dear Cindy,

There is another Kingdom, but it is not of this world. The ruler of this kingdom forbids his subjects to take up the sword. Love of enemies is so important to him that he phrased the command 4 different ways so that people would understand:

Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
Bless those who curse you
Pray for those who mistreat you.

He said that to be considered great in his kingdom we must serve others, and that to become powerful we must become as dependent as children. But he knew the other kingdoms would not be friendly...so he cautioned his subjects to be shrewd snakes as well as innocent doves when they went about the world...

The gentle king perished at the hands of his enemies, the occupying forces, leaving his mother to weep as she held her dead son in her arms...

But unlike powerful earthly kings, his spirit lives on in his followers who work to establish the Peaceable Kingdom. He lives on in those who lead movements of Satyagraha and nonviolent resistance...and there have been victories.

And he lives on in those who mourn.

Blessings and comfort to you on the coming birthday of the King of Peace, whose spirit lives on in you, too!

KEM PATRICK -

Thanks for those words.
When I said t'other day that I would submit your name as an honorary locust I was, of course, joshing wit' ya.
You are a locust whenever you choose to be one.

Offending troll leavings have been cleaned up and I am glad not to see them.

Thanks, as the song says. Thanks, Cindy.

Mrs. locust just told me that I will make a pest of myself if I keep this up so I better get back to swarming.
Swarming. It's a lifestyle and a strategy.

I just sent a link to Cindy's website to everyone I know suggesting they donate a little money to her campaign for Christmas.

Hi Firefim,____No, it was not a near death experience. Both I and my wife were wide awake.

We were allowed a brief visit with our son, as he was and is after his death here. For those who believe there is a God, he/she, does not allow any of us to suffer more than we can bear. I wrote that for Cindy actually, as thankfully the vast majority never have to know the pain of losing a child, and my hope was and is, that she is aware that many understand her emotions, her loss and the grief.

Over time, the grief and pain slowly eases, the wound never fully heals, not even time heals that. What I wished to convey to Cindy is based upon our experience, that our sons are Okay, and we may someday see them again and in a better place. In the meantime, we must do all we can to be as good to others as is humanly possible, and to fight gainst evil. Cindy is doing that, and doing so much better than most are able. I do fear for her safety, as she has decided to place herself is in a very nasty battle against very powerful people who will say and do anythng ion their power to stop her. ___ There is much power when evilness is behind those who have it in our world.

I am honored to be a Locust, Locust. Thank you for the kindness.

Cindy,
You are an inspiration to all of us.
I promise I will send you a contribution for your campaign once i straighten out my money woes (the Michigan economy is in the pits).
My heart aches for your loss of Casey. My prayers are with you and your family. Thank you from deep within my sould for standing up to the tinhorn dictator (and former college cheerleader and successful draft dodger) who stole the 2000 election in a judicially-sanctioned coup, and then lied to and deceived our country in starting a wasteful war that has devastated an entire country and at the cost of far too many young American lives. I pray that he is indicted on criminal charges after he leaves the white house.

IMPERIAL DEMOCRAT, I agree with you to a point. I fear Nancy Pelosi, whom I personally once very much admired and wished she would someday be our president, or a vice president, has betrayed our trust by her actions since George Bush was re-elected.

I am very saddened to see that too.

Cindy,

Every time I read your writing I am so moved. I always am reminded of what JFK said in his inaugural address and I think of you:

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."

Carry the light Cindy. We're all doing what we can.
http://badamerican.wordpress.com/

KEM, thank you for explaining, and for sharing such a personal story. Again, I am in tears recalling it and, as I wrote to Cindy, I can imagine no greater pain than losing ones child. I am so sorry for your loss as well, but am comforted to know that you had your special visit, lucky you and your wife.

Cindy,

We are glad you've turned your grief into activism, that something good might come out of tragedy and the senseless slaughter, which has cost more than a million lives, with millions more maimed and $2 trillion wasted, might be ended. We hope you defeat the warmongering, torture-supporting, Bush-colluding, war-crime conniving Nancy Pelosi.