Sheehan's Husband Seeks Divorce

[seriousstan]

AUGUST 15--The next well-wisher approaching Cindy Sheehan at her tent encampment outside President George W. Bush's Texas vacation home may actually be a process server. That's because the California woman's husband--in a curious bit of timing--filed for divorce Friday afternoon (below you'll find a copy of Patrick Sheehan's complaint, lodged August 12 in Solano County District Court). With Sheehan, 48, entering a second week outside Bush's Crawford retreat, her husband's divorce petition cites "irreconcilable differences" for the demise of the couple's 28-year marriage (the Sheehans, the document states, have been separated since June 1). Along with a Vacaville home, Patrick Sheehan listed other "community assets" as "any and all benefits payable as a result of son's death," including a Prudential insurance policy and "benefits from the U.S. Government." From her roadside outpost, Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son Casey, an Army Specialist, was killed last year in Iraq, has become the face of the U.S. antiwar movement, telling reporters that she will not budge until Bush meets with her and explains "why our sons are dead." Noting that Bush has referred to the war as a "noble" pursuit, Sheehan told Reuters, "If it's such a noble cause, why aren't his daughters over there?" Patrick Sheehan's lawyer, Glen DeRonde, did not return a TSG call, so it is unclear whether the divorce complaint will be delivered to her in Texas or when she returns to her home east of San Francisco. (4 pages)

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0815051sheehan1.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. The death of a child can often break up a family

[Erika]

8. Exactly

It is very common. I do not know if her husband shared her very strong pro Catholic beliefs or not. Cindy was a committed Catholic and a minister to youth groups. Kids were so very important in her life and remain so.

She's doing this for all our nation's youth.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Yes, it does :^(

[blm]

2. Many divorces occur after a death of a child.

ANY child.

[enki23]

3. safe to say he's a republican. and an asshole.

and i'm redundant again.

[libertypirate]

9. Even safer to say that us onlookers have not a shred of a clue

with regards to what these people have been through.

[carpe diem]

4. why in the HELL would he do this NOW?!?!

He couldn't have waited til the end of August? They've been separated for over 2 mos., whats 2 more weeks? Curious timing INDEED!

[KyndCulture]

5. does this belong in LBN?

do we need to keep linking to this? Cindy said it's between her and her husband and it's none of our business. period.

[etherealtruth]

13. This is a personal matter ...

... period. Thanks for your post, please, please , please lets all listen to Kynd's advice.

[Igel]

31. Yes, it's a completely personal matter.

But the difference between personal and impersonal doesn't matter: the difference between private and public has been rather thoroughly effaced.

One's life is either public or private; one does not usually get to pick and choose so as to arrange for maximum advantage.

One can ask, properly, why her husband is pursuing this now. He may have perfectly good reasons, legal or personal. *His* reasons, at least, can properly be described as private.

[question everything]

54. Also, the other side is going to use it

Oh, the poor woman, first she lost her son and now her husband.. she is not thinking straight, she is distragut... this camping out was her way to escape her marital problems..

Yes, normally private, but her life is no longer private, whether she, or us, like it or not.

[Proud_Lefty]

6. Why does this story has such a strong odor to it?

[Judi Lynn]

20. It does reek, for sure.

A discreet divorce when Cindy wasn't working with progressive people would be like a tree falling in the forest: no one would know nationally, and it wouldn't be connected to Democrats.

No doubt a lot of glee went into both conspiring to make this happen now, and even in posting nasty little articles about it, in an attempt to throw discredit on her, potentially, as someone the Democrats have rallied around.

[MADem]

7. They've been separated for awhile--so WHY NOW???

Why, at this MOMENT, does the guy feel compelled to file? Does he feel heat from his GOP pals? Is someone at the RNC paying him off to get old Cindy off the farm, as it were?

Heh, Cindy oughta contest the thing, get a good lawyer to appear on her behalf, and petition for a nice long delay due to pressing PUBLIC SERVICE work. Either that, or just let it ride--CA IS a community property state, ya?

That guy is an asshole, she is well rid of him--I don't really care about the state of their marriage, but this curious timing of the filing has some serious INTENT behind it.

[Lerkfish]

10. ATTACK SHEEAN! ATTACK SHEEAN! DUBYA WANTS TO USE THE ROAD!

I smell.....desperation.

[Megahurtz]

11. What an Asshole.

Why in front of the Newsmedia?
He could have waited.

It just seems cold.:(

[Is It Fascism Yet]

19. While it's true it's none of our business, it's also truly suspicious

timing. Maybe he wants his 10 min of fame on CNN. It's become so common to reach a heady peak of fame in days through the media whore, witness Monica Lewinsky and Teri Shaivo, who without the media were unknown and unremarkable in their cicumstances. Even Cindy's circumstances are common, as 1800 or so soldiers have died. But the media launches to temporary fame anybody whose story they enjoy telling. Or, maybe there's money in it. I wouldn't be surprised if they paid him off to do it now. There is a lot of blood money on the other side, and they buy their way with it frequently. Oh, yes, many couples have had their wonderful marriages ruined by the loss of a child. It's very sad.

[ladjf]

12. Why would he feel so compelled to take immediate action.

I can only conclude that his intentions are to undermine Cindy's work. Why? Only he, or possible a few other would know the answer to that. In any event, if this is true, he is no friend to America.

[pitohui]

37. hey

i know nothing abt the dude, but they're separated, they've lost their child, which is a high risk factor for divorce

one good reason to be compelled to take immediate action is he's found someone else & wants to start a new life

this happens all the time when people separate

doesn't mean they hate america

[ladjf]

52. I just heard that Cindy said that he had filed the papers before

the Crawford vigil. Looks like the media is just finding out about it.

[AnnInLa]

14. For a "How Low Can You Go" moment....Michelle Malkin

is in ecstacy over this news and declares, "because it is news." Won't give you her website, but Crooks And Liars has the following post:

www.crooksandliars.com

Obscenity

John Cole has the latest Michelle Malkin smear. I knew that once Cindy started this vigil, the most extremely vile right wingers would do their thing. Many people on the left, center, and right ( Gandleman has a good round-up) have their feelings about Cindy and have voiced their opinions. Cole and I differ on several issues and he can defend what he says. But this crap that Malkin writes is the lowest form of "smeardom" I've seen. Cole says:

"But this kind of bile coming from Michelle Malkin is fucking out of line, and spare me the ‘like it or not, this is news’ crap. It is goddamned disgraceful. Knock it off, take down that post, and then apologize. Cindy Sheehan’s marital status, her relationship with her husband- none of that is your damned business. Even if you think it ‘proves’ a point. If it proves anything, it proves that losing a son in war fucks up families. Thanks for the deep insight."

Michelle is a disgrace on the highest level. That's right Michelle "war is hell" and it destroys entire families. I wonder if you know anything about the rate of alcoholism, divorce, suicide, or family abuse that occurred to our Vietnam Vets after they returned home from war? Just out of curiosity, does anyone remember Malkin's stance on the NYT doing a background check on Judge John Robert's adoption records? I do.

Wasn't she appalled that John Kerry mentioned Mary Cheney's daughter during the campaign. Malkin: John Kerry stooped to the lowest of the low with the shameless, invasive line that will be played over and over again on the news in the next 24 hours...read on

Michelle, you now have stooped to the lowest low with your shameless invasive post on Cindy's imminent divorce. How do you find the courage to look in the mirror?

www.crooksandliars.com

[Straight Shooter]

Well, if you're going to stab someone in the back, then twist the knife.

Great timing, Mr. Sheehan. Hope you're proud of yourself. Cindy Sheehan would never have done this to you in the way you're doing it to her. It takes a real deep mean streak to exploit the timing this way.

Now is the time to ask, "What would Casey say?"

So very, very sad. On the positive side, though, Cindy Sheehan will have more than her fair share of men who would love to spend the rest of their lives with her, though. She has shown herself to be a woman of exceptional courage, strong character, and a loving attitude towards mankind. Given time, I hope she finds someone with as much integrity as she has.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. My heart goes out to both of them. Divorce is tough.

While the filing is certainly public, my commenting on their personal life would be both ignorant and petty, especially because I personally know neither of them.

i wish them the best.

[dogday]

16. What is the Smoking Gun doing?

there is no story here. A Mother and Father of a dead son are getting divorced because they are handling their grief in different ways. Some people come together and get stronger, some don't.

I can't believe The Smoking gun did this article. They are sinking low even for them....

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. Cindy's Response...

r u t h o u t | One Mother's Stand
By Cindy Sheehan

Monday 15 August 2005
3:44 AM

I apparently am the sacrificial lamb of the peace movement. I don't care about myself. Putting myself in the forefront and daring to challenge the president on his lies left myself open to the attacks. Which are, of course, half truths and distortions.

When they start sliming my home life and my family, that's where I draw the line. Yes, my husband has filed for divorce and yes he filed before I left for the VFP Convention and this trip to Crawford and yes IT IS BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND I.

Having Casey murdered in Iraq by George Bush's reckless policies has been hard enough on my family, but me setting off on my holy war to bring the troops home, my constant absences, and all of the media attention has put additional stresses on my family.

I chose my path after Casey died. The rest of the family has chosen theirs. We all still love each other and support each other in anything that we do. We didn't want Casey to join the Army, but once he made that decision, we supported him and even encouraged him through boot camp.

We are a normal American family who have had good times, bad times, and terrible times. We hope the good times will come back. We hope that we will be able to laugh with abandon together like we used to one day. We hope that the troops come home and no other families have to go through what we are going through.

It isn't about politics for us. No one asked Casey what political affiliation he was before they sent him off to die in Iraq and no one asked us who we voted for in 2000 before we were handed a folded flag from Casey's flag-draped coffin.

I am not perfect and I never even claimed to be perfect. My family isn't perfect, but we are pretty special ... especially the children. We all miss Casey so much and it is George Bush and his neocon cabal who is at fault. The people who are dragging my family through the mud need to grow up and look at themselves. The Christ said: "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."

If everyone followed Jesus's advice, the world would be a much better place.

http://www.truthout.org/cindy.shtml

[Is It Fascism Yet]

24. WOW! Our Cindy really is very well spoken isn't she? N/T

[LisaM]

30. Yes, although I wish she had said

between my husband and ME, which is actually the grammatically correct way.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

34. Picky Picky Picky. I like the part where she says "The world would

be a better place if people actually followed the teachings of Christ."
You tell 'em, Cindy.

[LisaM]

40. I thought it was very eloquent, please don't misunderstand

just that one line jumped out.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

49. I know, U R cool with me lil one. Irie. N/T

[Judi Lynn]

47. You may notice that when you have been overextended

you have been more likely to make mistakes, as well. If she's not taxed to the limit by now, she never will be. I believe she's due a little freedom to make sloppy word choices. It's a wonder she can put a coherent sentence together at, considering the unbelievable load she's carrying.

I give the woman credit for intelligence.

[faithnotgreed]

27. that beautiful response needs to be read - deeply - by everyone

and then a prayer said or whatever vibe you want to send to cindy and her entire family and for all peoples who have been tragically used and discarded by this cabal who repeatedly call themselves the leaders of our nation

edited: grammar

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. She is eloquent. n/t

[Is It Fascism Yet]

35. Isn't she though? She's doing a great job of voicing our concerns. nt

[Desertrose]

18. Sorry to hear this. She doesn't need this right now.

Poor timing on his part....

:hug:Cindy

[maveric]

22. So now they are attacking her personal life?

This is a family issue here.

[steve2470]

23. Can we just let this obscene thread die ?

No offense, but her private life is NO ONE's business, having been through a divorce myself. It does not add or detract one whit from the main point, which is the war is illegal and killing our kids.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

25. It's not obscene, relax, everybody is entitled to their divorces. We are

her friends, don't forget.

[steve2470]

26. Ok, sorry

I just don't want the fucking RW to use this against her.

[BeTheChange]

36. But they are going to..

you know that right? And the more we treat this as something to be hidden, the more they are gonna feed on it.

[steve2470]

41. You have a good point. I guess I momentarily fell into

the stigmatizing of divorce. It's really a No BFD these days, unless there is crazy stuff going on.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

50. Exactly. What are the stats? Don't more people go to divorce court

than go to college?

[steve2470]

51. Yep. Ya don't need a degree to be unhappy, unfortunately nt

[Sapphire Blue]

29. Leave my family alone by Cindy Sheehan on Daily Kos.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4354091

Perhaps we could respect Cindy's wishes?

[Is It Fascism Yet]

42. We are leaving her family alone. Look when you get divorced your

friends speculate on your future. Thats what happened to me when I got my divorce, how about you? Didn't all your friends console you and discuss what directions you might explore now? Relax, we are not dissing her family, we are talking about her speech. Geesch.

[ConcernedCanuk]

32. Hmmmm - that automatically freezes her $$$ in CA - hope she brough cash

.
.
.

Go ahead - read on









Timing indeed

[Is It Fascism Yet]

44. That explains a lot. N/T

[LisaM]

33. He Gingriched her, eh?

I looked up the lawyer. It appears that he may have sued the UC Regents in 1981 on racial discrimination for not getting into a law school, basically an anti-affirmative action suit.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

38. Gee now that Cindy has name recognition and no longer has a husband

to worry about, maybe she wouldn't mind taking her eloquence and astute political observations to Washington as a US Senator or Congresswoman in the near future.

[emdee]

39. We should all follow the Republicans lead and stay married....

If need be, take drugs like Rush - oh, wait, he's been married multiple times!

If need be, gamble the farm away like Bennett rather than going home at night.

If all else fails, harass the help at work and try to get sex anywhere from anybody like O'Reilly.

Or drink and snort coke while Laura raises the twins.

Why, oh why, can't all of our marriages be so dang happy?

emdee

[steve2470]

43. Yeah !!!!!

The old fashioned way was so much better.

:sarcasm:

[Is It Fascism Yet]

45. LOL N/T

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. Sad, sad sad that her husband had to do this now.

This is none of anyone's business. Now her DIVORCE is RW fodder. Pathetic.

28 years of marriage and he did this to her? :( Sad.

Is he a repuke?

[Is It Fascism Yet]

48. We'll just be her support system. We'll be millions of unimpressed people

[heidiho]

53. Because of Bush's Lies

Not only was her son a victim of Bush's lies, so was her marriage.

It's hard to try to keep a relationship intact when you are grieving over the loss of a child - so many marriages don't make it.

[uppityperson]

55. I don't know this family well enough to comment on such personal stuff

I am sympathetic to everyone, but have no comment otherwise as I have never met either of them and it would be presumptuous of me to have an opinion.