At this point, to call the Commander in Chief detached from reality would be an insult to paranoid schizophrenics everywhere. Not just from the reality of failure in Iraq — that’s a given — but from the political reality that public support for the war, and more particularly, for his handling of it, is in something close to free fall.
[…]
One angry mom is dangerous enough, especially when the President of the United States insists on being her unofficial publicist. But now there are 300 of them standing in the dirt and the heat down in Crawford — and millions more watching on TV, silently asking themselves the same questions Sheehan wants to ask Bush: How did we get into this mess? How do we get out? Have our sons and daughters been sent to die in vain?The machine can try to demonize Cindy Sheehan. But it can’t demonize those questions — not any more, not when so many others are asking them.
I mean, what could be more preposterous than the sight of the mighty GOP propaganda war machine — built up with such effort and at such great cost — aiming all its guns at one bereaved, 48year-old mother camped by the side of the road in Crawford, Texas? The same massive tank that once crushed Senators and presidential candidates with such effortless ease is now practically busting a tread trying to turn this face into an enemy of the people
Tiananmen Square.
from t r u t h o u t (scroll down 25th image on right):
August 10, 2005 | A Bush supporter set up a counter-demonstration site on Thursday. On Friday, a busload of Bush supporters came to stage a counter-demonstration. As the anti-war activists sang “God Bless America,” the counter-demonstrators replied with a chant of, “We don’t care!” They left after about a half an hour.
Posted by: beq | Aug 15 2005 17:40 utc | 3
>Jane plans to hit the anti-war trail again — this time in a vegetable-oil powered bus.
Um whatever your feelings about Jane, running a bus on vegetable oil is a damn good idea. You don’t think alrernatives to fossil fuel should be promoted?
Posted by: Gar Lipow | Aug 15 2005 17:49 utc | 4
Gar, then she should jump on the bus with Willie Nelson, who is going around promoting his biodiesel powered vehicles!
Very much in the spirit of Cindy Sheehan’s vigil is this video, with an opportunity at the end to send a message to Congress when they come back.
Posted by: Nell | Aug 15 2005 18:00 utc | 7
Let the vegetable oil powered anti-war bus run, but please, leave Jane Fonda in the bus station.
Posted by: janeboatler | Aug 15 2005 18:31 utc | 8
The problem with Janes bus (trip) is, is that all anybody will see is the mountain of baggage she’ll bring along filling up the bus.
Posted by: anna missed | Aug 15 2005 18:44 utc | 9
Exactly, anna, which is one of Billmon’s points, I believe, that Cindy’s protest has been successful so far precisely because she doesn’t have the baggage of a person or group. Which is why the righties immediately tried to nail her on Michael Moore’s cross.
Sheehan has given the president an opprotunity to acknowledge his humanity to the public and the world. Bush has clearly shown the world his ass instead. He may as well have left it hang out the passenger side window of his vehicle as he drove by.
There will be no Iraqi Constitution, much as there was no real election in January. There is no Iraqi state, there are no Iraqi people outside of the Green Zone, and it’s questionable how many of them there are on the inside. The US has wasted two years feeding its own corporate sponsors rather than building a nation, ignoring its ever increasing bills.
To attack Iran without paying the bill for Iraq, will invite swift retaliation from all those who have been playing casually from the sidelines. To try to print money to the pay the bill, via another WTC event will only invite a run on the bank, not a spate of tribute and investment. The Saudi’s are already drawing out 360 billion of their most recent investments. The Chinese have floated to a basket and many others follow. The US has proven itself a nation of empty headed landlords, and no matter how many of their sons and daughters they put through the fire, the stone gods remain unmollified. For at the end of the day the stone forms, remain insensate stone and can tell not whether fire sits before them, or anything else for that matter.
Team Bush appears to be commited by this blind faith and much to the sadness of the nation and the world, it appears they are screaming and kicking for Elijah to take them to Mt. Carmel. They imagine that their loudly croaking frogs beamed through the air and their conjured snakes will satisfy the now awakened people.
Let us see if the will of the people can even be contained in Gaza this week. Many foolish leaders imagine the power they weild stems from the office they hold, but the real power comes from those who submit to be governed, and it is not at all clear that the people will be cowed no matter how many lies are vociferously mouthed, or much sudden fear and death is reigned down upon them. Woe unto the craven who values his own heartbeat over that of the nations.
Posted by: patience | Aug 15 2005 19:25 utc | 12
They are desperate, they are totally ruthless.
They have the biggest guns in the game.
They are cornered and dangerous.
And they are about become their meanest.
It’s scary shit when the bifurcation is in progress.
Posted by: Juannie | Aug 15 2005 19:33 utc | 13
An interesting lesson in applied politics. The anti-war mob made no headway at all when they attempted the tried and tested methods of Vietnam on the Iraq invasion. eg Large organised protests and attempts to build an anti war coalition within Congress.
The reason is pretty obvious. That is what the war lovers were expecting and had prepared well with counter measures.
In addition, most people have become pretty much immune to the sight of millions walking up the road carrying a sign. When the Vietnam mobilisations happened a large march was the best demonstration of the numbers of people opposed to that war. Nowadays numbers on a parade really just signify how capable the organisers of the ‘movement’ are.
When anyone at all, from the media to Joe Citizen wants to know what support a particular item has, they don’t count the numbers of street marchers. They check the polls.
The numbers against the Iraqi slaughter have increased because of sites like this which enable those who can’t support this horror to contact other like minded individuals to debate and refine their opinions.
At the same time others have changed their minds as they have been exposed to the rational arguements against killing Iraqis and the obvious dishonesty of those in favour of killing.
Most people want to take the time to consider this issue. This doesn’t happen when a bunch of people carrying signs chant at you.
If Jane Fonda wants to live in the past let her.
It doesn’t matter a toss anymore since 1: she’s not gonna change W’s underpants, much less his mind, and 2: at this stage of the game, when the repugs try and divert attention from the killings by making Hanoi Jane a talking point, they are merely preaching to the choir.
If the repugs want to waste time and energy taking on the usual mob of egocentrics, let them. By letting Fonda distract them all they do is leave the real resistance alone.
The real question is what should be done with this fleeting tactical advantage?
Should the energising of those who loathe this invasion be used to defeat the already lost cause the invasion has become or should it be used to make some fundamental changes to the political process.
I say fleeting because the next Rove will work out a counter strategy to the current opposition methodology and then it’ll be back to square one.
All the Vietman resistance energy was drained into the rotting corpse of the demopublican party and that was about as much use as giving David Crosby a new liver. The party stayed alive a bit longer but that time was used for further self destruction.
One thing we can hope for is that the hacks on the fringes of resistance in the US recognise that Sheehan at Crawford isn’t about numbers and that one Cindy Sheehan is a much stronger message than a million of the usual suspects arguing, singing, caucusing, leaking backstabs to the media, and generally presenting the rest of the US with the same old cliche about the type of people who abhor the notion of taking life in exchange for the right to drive a huge hunk-a-junk SUV.
Times spent in the US have persuaded me that most citizens there are reasonable people who will listen to another viewpoint as long as you can get past the years of indoctrination into fear and loathing of difference without scaring the horses.
Posted by: Debs is dead | Aug 15 2005 23:37 utc | 14
A lone voice has always been a thing to be feared. And the elegance mentioned by anna missed is so significant. The one who really has reason to scream in agony is quietly stating her position, successfully deflecting the onslaught of fear and hatred, and showing a spiritual connection in the midst of all this hypocrisy.
I believe we are in the midst of political change and can’t quite see it yet. The group demonstration has proven to be ineffective. We had anti Viet Nam protests and here we are in another sickening sleazy fake war. We had civil rights marches and here we are back at Jim Crow. We had labor union protests and here we are with a demolished labor force. No wonder people aren’t in the streets. Something is in its nascent stage and we are responding.
I think Cindy Sheehan is representing genuine human experience. As she has the courage to stand up and face the enemy alone and unarmed, she is protected by an unseen force. Real reason for the enemy to be afraid.
Posted by: jm | Aug 16 2005 0:06 utc | 15
Once again, thoughtful. They can’t hurt her more than she’s already been hurt. She’s got nothin’ to lose, that she hasn’t already lost.
It would be interesting to maybe get a couple 9/11 widows down to Bumfuck Texas, as well. They might want to ask Shrub why Casey died in Iraq, since it is the wrong flipping country for the crime committed!
Posted by: bcinaz | Aug 16 2005 0:07 utc | 16
OK, if you want to take time off, and then come back with a post this frigging beautiful and so perfect, who am I to complain about your absense. Forgive me.
Posted by: Mary | Aug 16 2005 0:23 utc | 17
Every body who thinks that corporations have too much control should link up and support the PLan
http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/
Posted by: Anonymous | Aug 16 2005 1:09 utc | 18
i notice that sheehan’s husband has now filed for divorce. Nice timing. I’m sure they’re be an expose now by Sheehan Husbands for Truth.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0815051sheehan1.html
Posted by: Aloyisius | Aug 16 2005 2:19 utc | 19
Nice post.
As to cartoon characters, certainly, a BUS for a tour is a good idea. But, isn’t a tour by train, powered by sunshine, more energy efficient? I mean anti war is great, but let’s keep our eyes on the ball here.
Posted by: razor | Aug 16 2005 2:24 utc | 20
i wonder if the husband got a book deal. they have only been separated for 2 months – is it usual to rush through a divorce filing so quickly?
Most people are misreading the smear campaign against Cindy Sheehan. They aren’t out to get her, they are out to intimidate any other Gold Star Moms who might want to join her, take their own stories to the press/media.
The local news stations would love to tie a hometown Gold Star Mom with the coverage of Cindy Sheehan. It’s a great story.
But if you are a would-be local Cindy Sheehan, you have to consider, is there anything in your own or your family’s history that you don’t want all over the national news? Do you want to get hate mail? Harassment at work? Maybe some changes in job duties? Does your husband want to take a lot of shit over what you do? Is your marriage perfect? Has it always been perfect? You watch what they are doing to Cindy Sheehan, you think about it, and you keep your mouth shut.
Posted by: James E. Powell | Aug 16 2005 5:25 utc | 22
It seems to me that Bush’s not meeting Cindy Sheehan is perfectly rational. Her question is: “What is the noble cause my son died for?”
Since there is no plausible answer to that question from any of our leaders – Republican or Democrat, by not meeting her, Bush has in effect answered it.
Could Hillary or Biden explain the “nobility” aspect of our mission there?
Posted by: tgs | Aug 16 2005 12:48 utc | 23
This is my first visit to your excellent blog. Great articles, and I simply loved the humor and to the pointedness of the Dog Day Afternoon. Wish there was a way to email it to friends.
Don’t forget that Cindy’s husband is part of the Republican in-laws that wrote of their disgust at her antics, in total disagreement of what she’s doing. They’ve probably influenced hubby in this.
Where are the cowardly, supposedly peace loving Democrats who should join Cindy, if only briefly. I’m thinking of people like Kucinich, Conyers, Waters, and their ilk.
Posted by: claire | Aug 16 2005 13:50 utc | 24
When oppositional action in the US is restricted to supporting or dissing two individual women, neither being politicians or having any official role, one wearing a hat and standing in a ditch, the other conversely having possibly too many clothes to lug about how (tiresome, imagine the make-up case), there is something wrong.
I rather like them both. But they are symbols, stars, something like sports heroes one roots for – one claps, buys badges, stands up and shouts…They are individuals with personal histories and their destiny can be identified with. One can want what Cindy and Jane want for themselves, and help them along. (I realise their aims are not just personal..) The uncertainty is nice too – it was known that Lance would win the Tour de France.
But then what?
How does that support or enthusiasm translate into political action?
I don’t see it. (Same point as that made by Debs above..)
In fact, I see these ladies (sincere as they may be) as actors that are necessary to uphold the ‘free speech’, ‘democratic society’ mantra. They are given, or allowed to take, some kind of platform, as were no one objecting, Americans might understand they are living in a closed society.
However, I do take the examples of other courageous individuals to heart, and trickles can create rivers. Not this time, though, I think. (see also Claire just above..)
The ‘spectator’ aspect is too strong.
People watch these things as if it were Soap Opera. (Present company excluded.)
Lance Armstrong can also say whatever he likes.
Posted by: Noisette | Aug 16 2005 14:22 utc | 25
Where are the cowardly, supposedly peace loving Democrats who should join Cindy, if only briefly. I’m thinking of people like Kucinich, Conyers, Waters, and their ilk.
Thankfully not present. No amount of politics can make Cindy’s voice more genuine.
Posted by: aschweig | Aug 16 2005 14:32 utc | 26