Message From Cindy Sheehan / What Really Happened

[sasha031]

Dear Friends,

As most of you have probably heard, I was arrested before the State of the Union Address tonight.

I am speechless with fury at what happened and with grief over what we have lost in our country.

There have been lies from the police and distortions by the press. (Shocker) So this is what really happened:

This afternoon at the People's State of the Union Address in DC where I was joined by Congresspersons Lynn Woolsey and John Conyers, Ann Wright, Malik Rahim and John Cavanagh. Lynn brought me a ticket to the State of the Union Address. At that time, I was wearing the shirt that said: 2,245 Dead. How many more?



http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=594

[Christa]

1. I am overcome with grief and shock

at what is happeing in our country.

[cantstandbush]

84. Cindy needs a national forum to tell this story. Anyone out there with

the courage to have her on their TV show? What about it Larry King, Oprah, Wolf, FOX?
We know the answer and that is why are nation is losing its battle to survive as a beacon of freedom and justice.

[ooglymoogly]

95. the t shirt was stating a truth

is b*shco so afraid of the truth that they have to resort to this? as if i did not know the answer to that question. you will also notice typical of b*shco propaganda style that they conveniently had a person with a support the troops t shirt that they also escorted out. goebbels would be proud. the real truth here is that the idiot cannot face the people who's children he is murdering.

[Bluzmann57]

107. She's supposed to be on Stephanie Miller tomorrow

2/2/06. But she needs to get this out to all of America. On Stephanie's show I'm afraid she'll just be preaching to the choir, so to speak.

[KansDem]

116. Don't count on Larry King--he's a Bush tool

Remember with Kitty Kelly came out with her biography of the Bush family? Larry wouldn't "interview" her on his show. Unusual, considering she had been on his show before after having published biographies of other celebrities.

She once said that researching her Nancy Reagan book was even more frightening than researching Frank Sinatra, but now she says that both of them were 'a piece of cake' compared to the Bushes - 'Frank Sinatra was tough, but that's just thug tough.' Does she mean she was in fear of her life? 'No, not frightened in that way. But the White House attacked this book before it was even available to be read. They called NBC and said, "Keep her off the air." And suddenly TV producers who'd already booked me started cancelling. Larry King - I've done the Larry King show for every book I've ever written. But this time he wouldn't invite me.'


http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/politicsphilosophyandsociety/story/0,6000,1334521,00.html

[shayes51]

2. Everyone should read this article.

[berner59]

4. amazingly sad....

Was she on any TV show today yet?? She needs to set the stories straight...

[sasha031]

8. TVeeee Show

ya maybe psyco Katie Couric will have her on so she can play Coulter...

the MSM is dead, people they are the enemies!

[ooglymoogly]

111. immediate action required....there is a poll on msnbc

now being freeped...'should cindy have been arrested' http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11121444/

[mom cat]

131. I agree. It is so sad how much she has suffered. This was adding

insult to injury!

[G_j]

3. K & R

thank you Cindy!! :grouphug:
:yourock:

[boobooday]

5. Our leaders are cowards

They can't even face a grieving mother in a t-shirt. They have to send their thugs to arrest her for telling the truth.

The state of our union is: barely breathing.

Thanks, Cindy, for your courage, and for taking so many lumps in the name of freedom.

[pberq]

6. More from the article

http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=594

I had just sat down and I was warm from climbing 3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom so I unzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my left arm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled, "Protester." He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat and roughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me up the stairs. I said something like, "I'm going, do you have to be so rough?" By the way, his name is Mike Weight.

The officer ran with me to the elevators yelling at everyone to move out of the way. When we got to the elevators, he cuffed me and took me outside to await a squad car. On the way out, someone behind me said, "That's Cindy Sheehan." At which point the officer who arrested me said, "Take these steps slowly." I said, "You didn't care about being careful when you were dragging me up the other steps." He said, "That's because you were protesting." Wow, I get hauled out of the People's House because I was, "Protesting."

I was never told that I couldn't wear that shirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take it off or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked to do any of those things...I would have, and written about the suppression of my freedom of speech later. I was immediately, and roughly (I have the bruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled off and arrested for "unlawful conduct."

[HereSince1628]

10. Good God! It was Agent Mike that threw her out!

I thought he just monitored DU!

Seriously, Cindy understands that being in the minority means engaging in assymetrical political action. One person CAN draw attention to a cause.

On moral issues, don't look for consensus and democratic action among our politicians to push your cause.

Act on your own!

[FreedomAngel82]

83. Amazing

Shouldn't they have asked her to zip it up first? I found that very interesting.

[Glimmer of Hope]

7. The way she was treated makes me sad.

I think if she had sneezed she would have been arrested for "protesting." The gestapo was looking for a reason to kick her out.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. K&R!!!

She was removed from SOTU for displaying a war memorial! What's next? Removing the Vietnam vets and WW2 vets memorial from the mall?????:grr::grr::grr:

[ccpup]

11. what's really pathetic ...

is that we have a(n allegedly) grown man in Office who's ego is so tenderly fragile he can't stomach a T-shirt. A friggin' T-shirt, people! And, yes, the MSM is a joke. I used to have CNN on 24/7, but now I can't even handle them for 20 seconds. I feel this Country is lost and about due for another Revolution. It's time this Government "for, by and of the People" becomes just that!

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. When he came here to my city during the campagn last year,

a teenage girl I knew was escorted out of the venue by campaign aides - because she was sitting next to a girl wearing an anti-Bush shirt!! She wasn't wearing one, but had the nerve to sit NEXT TO someone who was.

I want my country back. :cry:

[FreedomAngel82]

87. What the hell?

Are you serious? How do they know she was with the girl? How do you know she wasn't a Bush supporter? That's messed up seriously!

[proud2BlibKansan]

132. She sat next to a girl who was wearing an anti Bush t-shirt

and they were both ejected. Really.

[DemonFighterLives]

23. Welcome to DU!

And I bet dubby got his jollies when Cindy got stormtrooped out. The only thing that would have made him happier is if she was sent to Gitmo.
:argh:

:hi:

[woodsprite]

27. It hit me the other night. When I want news, I come to DU.

I *RARELY* turn on the tv anymore to watch news unless it's the local stuff. I do watch C-Span.

[FreedomAngel82]

88. Same here

The local ABC affiliate does a good job with the local/state news and here and there national so I do watch them at 12 noon. Other wise I just watch C-SPAN, progressive radio and yes even the "Daily Show" and "Colbert Report."

[ClintonTyree]

112. Same here.........

I never watch the news on cable. My only news sources are Google News and DU. Google News pretty much sucks, they usually link to Voice Of America and other weird news groups. DU gives me all the news I need to know, links to stories from around the world, not just white bread America.
The Corporate Media can't figure out why people aren't buying newspapers and are tuning out their "infotainment" freak shows like Blitzer, Zahn, O'Lielly, and the rest of the scum. :eyes:

[Cha]

52. Yeah, Welcome to DU!

You don't need no stinkin' cnn! :toast:

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Cindy is a hero

Shame on all DUers who have slammed her these past few days. SHAME!!

[cali]

19. Oh, please.

Look, I have sympathy for Sheehan re last night. And it does appear that they were looking for any excuse to boot her. That doesn't mean she's somehow a sacred cow, and exempt from criticism. I find her less than impressive. I'm entitled to voice my opinion and I feel no shame whatsover over that. I hate that shame on you crap. Dissent is as american as apple pie. I won't apologize for it whether I'm marching in Washington against the war, or stating on DU that I don't view Cindy Sheehan as particulary impressive.

[DemonFighterLives]

26. You have the right to your opinion

But Cindy has given much for her country- her own son and she is constantly trying to end the war. She recieves kudos from me for that!

:donut:

[xiamiam]

37. your right to dissent and have your own opinion are in jeapardy

she didnt choose to be the poster girl for peaceful dissent last night..but since you brought it up...be careful what your t shirt says...your very right to your opinion is being questioned...how does that make you feel?

[cali]

46. I'm aware that my right to dissent

is endangered by this administration. In answer to your question: It makes me feel lousy- though not particularly scared. I have no intention of stopping expressions of dissent. This, however, doesn't have anything to do with the tendency on the part of some DUers to cast disagreement with the majority view, as shameful.

[xiamiam]

55. in the big picture...questioning cindys personality versus ideology

is probably what incites the average person here...no question about her ideals..i like that she hasnt been groomed to be a politician..i like that she is the same age as me and that menopause and aches and pains and grief are a part of a very confusing package...yet she perserveres...that is not easy ....and that is what i recognize...i also like that she is human and makes mistakes..is not perfect...answers only to her own conscience...in the big picture, cindy is me...and that could have been me getting arrested last night....it could have been you...it could have been anyone here...and that is what we need to focus on...not whether she was packaged by a stylist...i think that most of us here want the same thing and object to picking on petty differences when the whole story is so much more important...cindy has been a catalyst...no one can deny that...like a bull in a china shop but its worked...the imperfection is what has made it work...

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. It went beyond disagreement with the majority-

way beyond that. We had folks here over the weekend ready to hang her for aligning herself with Chavez. Those are the DUers I hope feel ashamed of themselves today.

If you weren't one of them, then just ignore my shame.

[Obamarama]

56. RE: Oh, please

Ya know what? I agree with you...Cindy is not a sacred cow. I think she would be a LOT more effective if she were a little less rough around the edges. And I certainly don't think she is congressional material, as has been posted in countless DU threads.

But you know what else? The woman inspires me to be just a little more vocal, just a little more forceful in my own brand of dissent. Her message is an important one, and yes, we are all singing the same tune. Some of us are just singing it in abother pitch, that's all.

Cindy is singing in a slightly different pitch than the one in which I choose to sing. I do not worshp the ground the woman walks on. I think sometimes she goes "over the edge" a bit. But then, if I were unfortunate enough to go through what she has gone through, I might be just as "over the edge" as she is at times. Cut the woman some slack and give credit where credit is due.

Calm down...I think we can all support and admire Cindy without having to feel like she's the alpha and omega.Some people think the woman is a hero, others of us think she is merely an inspiration. I think there's room for all of us on DU.

[cali]

57. please try and read with greater acuity

I'm not writing about Cindy Sheehan so much as I'm writing about DU responses to dissenting opinions. I thought that was pretty clear. Nor am I particularly upset. My posts are hardly overwrought. This issue is something I've been addressing for years. I'm sure this won't be the last time.

[grace0418]

61. I don't have a problem with your dissent. Not everyone has to

love Cindy's approach. I happen to think she's awesome but it's totally okay for you to disagree.

The people I have a problem with (not saying you are one of them) are those who were sooooooooooooo quick to judge her last night when the initial reports came out of the arrest. The ones who were acting like she deserved to get arrested for what she did, believing that she planned it all out, made a big stink, even believing the initial reports by the msm that she unfurled a protest banner.

It's fine to be unimpressed or think she's too much or whatever. But I hope that those who were so quick to condemn her do feel a little ashamed of themselves for rushing to judgment now that they've read her side of the story. Rushing to judgment without hearing the facts is a hallmark of close-minded people.

P.S. Just for the record, even if Cindy had planned all that out in advance, and had raised a big stink, and had unfurled a banner, etc., I still would think she was completely awesome for doing it. But that's just me.

[whathappened]

127. right on

all of us should be takeing names and kicking asses , why stand down when you can stand tall on what you beleave in , and her son died for nothing but king george and his war for corperations

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. You are entitled to your opinion

As I am to mine. I still think she is a hero and I am still ashamed for DUers who have criticized her. I wonder how many of them are brave enough to show up at a bush event wearing an offensive t-shirt. My money is on very few.

[cantstandbush]

86. "Impressive?" Who the hell does she have to "impress." All she has

to continue to do is tell the truth and keep her courage. Yes, she is a hero. It takes reall courage to stand against the fascist regime now controlling our government. Since they also control the media they have not harmed Cindy because they know she poses no real threat since her message can be thwarted, shut down, and distorted. Believe me, if she were gaining huge public support, she probably wouldn't be here much longer.

Hats off to you Cindy. Keep the message and the faith. Many more have trod the path you are taking and they too were smeared.

[uppityperson]

98. She is most impressive when she isn't trying to impress

Tyring to simply get arrested outside Mr.bush's ranch led to a huge outpouring of support for the anit-war peoples. Simply trying to cool off by unzipping her coat inside led to her getting forcibly ejected from the SOTU bs address. She is most impressive when she simply is, and this was one of those times. It points out how ready to over-react the administration is. I stand by her and support her and thank her for peacefully taking ths crap.

[ooglymoogly]

91. you don't find her impressive?????

good god man do you not have a head?

[xxqqqzme]

100. too bad you have never met her.

I found her quiet presence quite affirming and reassuring. She is not a media struck person at all. She has never strayed from her message....'what is the noble cause my son died for'.

[EFerrari]

140. Remind me, cali, the next time you do something that merits

some response from BushCo like an illegal arrest, to post criticism of your behavior while you are manhandled by the police and sit in jail.

[baldguy]

14. So: the Capitol Police, Congressional spokesmen, and the MSM are all LYING

No surprise.

[951-Riverside]

67. Not sure what you're getting at.

Can you please explain?

[newportdadde]

15. Wish she had waited until he started speaking.

[Broke In Jersey]

58. EXACTLY - she should have sucked it up not take off the jacket.

How great would it have been to see the camera's pan over to her (sitting the the FIRST row of the gallery) EVERY time * mentioned Iraq??? Would have been on EVERY newscast, every paper. Could have reallly helped. I think she blew a potentially great opportunity!!!

[Catrina]

89. She didn't plan it. That's the point. She took off her jacket because

she warm and she was descended upon immediately. No doubt they had been watching her all day, wondering if she planned to disturb the speech.

Interesting that the WH official was ready to lie to the media about her 'unfolding a banner'. Where did he get that information?

Alito's wife cried, because they know that tears, even crocodile tears will get to people.

Cindy has far, far more reason to shed tears than Alito's wife.

One of the most touching photos I saw was the one of her holding her son's teddy bear. That made me cry, still does when I even think about it.

If Cindy ever broke down in tears with that little bear in hands (which I'm sure she does often in private) the country would be in the palm of her hands. But she's not a phony like Alito's wife, and she doesn't have the RW PR machine cynically forcing her to use her grief to gain sympathy. She's is who she.

If she did cry though, the same RWers who were bawling over Alito's wife's tears, would call her a phony ~

She speaks for me, and her t-shirt spoke for the troops that Bush wants to hide.

If she cried on the Katie Couric Show, I wonder, what would KC do? I'm sure they all have Rove's memo. Ask the question 'But don't you think you could get your point across more effectively if you acted like a nice little conservative mom, instead of like a loony leftie'?

I would ask Katie, 'can you bring back my son? or can you tell me what he died for? That's all I asked President Bush 'what noble cause did my son die for? and he still refuses to answer me, Katie, why do you think he won't speak to me?'

[uppityperson]

101. Exactly, this wasn't a planned protest but simply doing something normal

I stand by her. They way over reacted and I hope this comes back to haunt them.

[bigtree]

16. speechless . . .

k&r

[Cooley Hurd]

17. She was wearing the t-shirt earlier in the day:

[DemonFighterLives]

18. Rock On Cindy!

You did nothing wrong. They were sure quick to sic the dogs on you.
I hope this sick nation recovers soon.
:scared:

[meganmonkey]

20. Welcome to the police state

:cry:

I've got your back, Cindy! :patriot:

[robbedvoter]

21. "Protester!!!" as in "Gun!" That sums it all.

We are the terrorists, the evildoers - make no mistake. That they felt no compunction to air their instructions "no protests" in the presence of Jr tells you how entrenched that is in the government. We are the enemy - even you, the "let's just win" people - you better believe it!

[kalibex]

96. Yup. n/t

[woodsprite]

22. Check out my LTTE on the subject.

Please let me know if I need to change anything. I'm hoping it gets printed because this morning all they said was that she unfurled a banner in the gallery in protest and was arrest. It was buried deep in the SOTU speech article. This sounds stupid, but is it "our First Amendment rights" or "their First Amendment rights". Since I'm an American too, I figured it was "our", but it sounded strange to me.

*****

As I read your article on the State of the Union address, I was upset that the incident regarding Cindy Sheehan's arrest was not reported correctly or in full detail. Ms. Sheehan had her ticket and was accompanied by several Congresspersons, she was checked thru security and she was in a public building funded by "We the People". If removing her jacket and displaying a t-shirt that said "2,245 Dead. How many more?" was the equivalent to "unfurling a banner", then Americans have truly lost our First Amendment rights. She was not asked to put her jacket back on or turn the shirt inside out like other citizens have done with similar shirts that offended the Republican's sensibilities. Instead, she was arrested for "unlawful conduct".

By the way, I did not need to listen to the State of the Union address or read the paper to know the State of the Union. Being an American, I already know that our Union is in distress. In the words of Cindy Sheehan, "What did Casey die for?"

[DemonFighterLives]

31. Good letter

They have been repeating the unfurled a banner thing all over. I don't know how hard it is to check the story out before they blab about banners. A shirt in America is not construed as a banner unless the person is over 4 feet wide.

[KSLeftyMom]

117. ^ snicker

A shirt in America is not construed as a banner unless the person is over 4 feet wide.

[Der Blaue Engel]

104. You may have already sent this in; if so, no worries, but

the correct wording would be "their First Amendment rights." However, if you said "we Americans," it would be followed by "our."

Great letter. :patriot:

[peaches2003]

24. KBH/FoxNews

Then also sue Kay Bailey Hutchinson who just said live on Fox and Friends that you "threw a banner over the balcony railing". Not that she heard you did that or that you might have done that, but that you DID throw a banner over the railing and they were afraid what else you might have with you to throw.

And then sue FoxNews for putting that on the air and not rebutting it, asking her where she got her info, did she actually see the banner, etc. Steve Doocey just went right along with what she said as if it were truth.

[woodsprite]

29. Was anybody from DU lucky enough to be there to verify?

I don't believe the media, but I want to be sure so my LTTE is correct.

[Pryderi]

25. Clinton did the same thing.

In the early days of the Senate's impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in January 1999, a Pennsylvania man named Dave Delp was removed by the Capitol police from the Senate gallery for wearing a t-shirt that said, "Clinton doesn't inhale, he sucks."

A Pennsylvania school teacher was yanked out of a VIP Senate gallery and briefly detained last week during the impeachment trial for wearing a T-shirt with graphic language dissing President Clinton.

Dave Delp, 42, of Carlisle, Pa., and a friend had just settled into their seats when four Capitol security guards approached them. Delp said at the time that he was ordered to button his coat and follow the guards. Outside the chamber, he was told "several people felt threatened by your shirt."

Even after establishing that Delp was a guest of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), the guards wouldn't let him back in and escorted him to a basement security area, where they questioned and photographed him.

[leveymg]

30. Yes, but he wasn't arrested for "disorderly conduct"

That's the term for "protestor", a crime in the Constitution-free zone that has become anywhere Dubya happens to be.

[Spazito]

32. Ummm, where does it say the man was arrested and charged?

Cindy was arrested and charged, quite different wouldn't you say?

[CottonBear]

76. The Delp story is fabricated. The Delp story is a FR lie. n/t

[DemonFighterLives]

33. Why don't you stick with the present

and stick with the party. I'm sure the freepers will find this ammo without your help.
Cindy Rocks!
Delp was an assclown.

Glad I could help!

[robbedvoter]

34. Nice try. VIP, important issue, Santorum, no arrest - good parallel.

Thanks for bringing it up. It dramatizes more your guys' hypocrisy....Also, I don't remember the newspapers howling: "Republicans badly damaged by Delp's display"
But hey, we have our heroes, you have yours. We have our messages, you have yours. Always good to keep perspective.

[Binka]

53. He Started His Own Thread With This BullSHIT!

Cindy really makes people crazy!:hi:

[robbedvoter]

62. What a convenient flashback! It's how they work!

Now they'll infest the internet with it - and soon, Tweety & comp will be mouthing it off!
And there you hhave it - the anatomy of a lie.
Not unlike the little crying girl with the torn Bush sign at Kerry rally....

[Binka]

69. Parlock!

Well liars like to lie ...just sayin'.:hi: You are a damn good detective BTW. We'd make a good crime team. RobbedVoter & Binka, I like it!

[Bridget Burke]

38. Was Cindy's t-shirt that rude?

And--do you have a non-Freerepublic source for the story? That was the only only Google hit I got & refuse to go there.

[Tigress DEM]

134. Not rude at all, just the truth.

2,245 Dead, How Many More?

Another woman with a T Shirt that said "Support the Troops - Defending Our Freedom" got asked to leave also, but she was the wife of a Republican and spent some time ass chewing and both she and Cindy wound up with apologies.

[Bill McBlueState]

40. So?

Seriously, what does that have to do with anything?

[Theres-a]

49. Link?Google search result?Anything to back that up?

[magellan]

54. "He did it first! He did it first!"

So WHAT? Take your thumb out of your mouth and try wearing long pants.

It's people like you, who can't make rational distinctions about serious matters that affect us all, who are hurting this country.

[WinkyDink]

63. So, you're saying it was RIGHT THEN? Because you ignorant

Republicans like to use the "logic" of: "It's okay now, because it was bad then!" "Then" is always during the Clinton years. You guys are still jealous of his male charisma.

[DTinAZ]

70. WHO did the *same thing*?

Are you saying the President Clinton personally spotted the mouth-breather from PA in the gallery and sent the Capitol police up to get him? Give me a friggin' break.

It turns out that before the "Delp" story appeared on Drudge's site (and also a brief mention on the FR site in 2003), it appeared only in an obscure NY Daily News article from 1999, and no, it's not the "same thing" at all.

DT

[NYC Liberal]

73. Link please.

[CottonBear]

75. That story is untrue and is a complete fabrication.

The ONLY place that story is found is on Free Republic.

The Delp story is a lie.

DUers are too smart and well-informed top believe such crap.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. Not the same

But I am sure the freeers won't be able to see the differences.

[leveymg]

28. "What did Casey die for?"

After I had my personal items inventoried and my fingers printed, a nice Sgt. came in and looked at my shirt and said, "2,245, huh? I just got back from there."

I told him that my son died there. That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I started crying in pain.

What did Casey die for? What did the 2,244 other brave young Americans die for? What are tens of thousands of them over there in harm's way for still? For this? I can't even wear a shirt that has the number of troops on it that George Bush and his arrogant and ignorant policies are responsible for killing.

I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable...that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.

[xiamiam]

35. so now we get the real story...no one asked her to put her coat

back on....she didnt want to go...gave her ticket away..had no intention of being disrespectful to the congresswoman who gave her the ticket by being disruptive...she was manhandled...im not sure if im more pissed at the msm for misreporting the incident or for the posters here who were so quick to judge...for those of you who have spent the day in the streets peacefully protesting, the last thing you are thinking about is an acceptable fashion statement...i dont understand how anyone can bash her for being her...God Bless her...no one will be talking about the bullshit sotu today...it was boring and packed with lies...the cheers for ridiculous statements was embarrassing and contrived...and stupid...who in their right mind could cheer when he said we are winning in Iraq....without even trying, this one lone purpose driven woman did more to reveal the danger and total disrespect for our rights than ANY other person in attendance...they wanted to get rid of her...well guess what...they failed...big time...this one is not going to go away...mark my words....nor should it...every person here should be outraged...every person in America should be outraged...whether they agree with Cindy or not...

[goclark]

68. I agree!

If those war crooks could be in that House that WE pay for talking a bunch of BS, surely a mother of a child that DIED for this country can walk in their anyway she wants to!

[donkeyotay]

92. Well said. I, personally, didn't even have the courage to watch the SOTU

to confirm that it was as you described. I did see a little bit of the event that Cindy Sheehan had attended earlier - an effort to impeach Dear Leader for the lies told for his war of choice and profit, and Cindy made the arrest-able fashion faux pas of wearing the shirt from that meeting of brutally honest speech to an evening of make believe in the halls of power.

At the earlier event they talked about the Patriot Act III (did it pass?), and how tee shirts would not be allowed at the Big 2 political conventions or in the presence of the Dear Leader. They said the Secret Service could extend this ban of free speech to any other event needing to have its illusion's protected.

I don't know what they're smoking on Capitol Hill these days, but they aren't fooling anyone but the GOP, and not all of that. We aren't slouching toward fascism, we've plunged face first into the pudding.

[npincus]

36. G-d Bless her

[Xenotime]

39. What a great American...

Thank you, Cindy for speaking for us.

[qanda]

41. Shame on DUers who damned her

Before hearing her side of the story. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

[Atmashine]

42. I feel sick..

I don't even know what to say

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Arrested for asking a question. A question that makes many 'Muricans

uncomfortable when asked, obviously. IMO, those who are uncomfortable about this particular question, especially in light of all the LIES told re: the WAR ON IRAQ are the ones who are UN AMERICAN the ones who do not care about OUR Democracy! So how do these same people expect us to believe that they give a rat's ass about the democracy of people we claim to be seeking democracy for, when they so obviously don't care if the majority in this country have the rights democracy affords? What a crock of shit that is!

[madokie]

44. Thanks for posting that, Gotta' love that Woman

[democrank]

45. Cindy`s letter made me cry.

Sweet Jesus....this woman LOST HER SON IN IRAQ!!!!!!

[goodhue]

47. a must read indeed

[goodhue]

125. .

[AbbyR]

48. I don't know if this is the right place to put this, but I have a question

IS what she did against any law? I don't think so, but hey, what do I know?

And - I think, as a fundraiser, DU should sell t-shirts identical to Cindy's and we should all buy them and wear them at every opportunity.

[WinkyDink]

65. Too bad the numbers will always change.

[Der Blaue Engel]

108. Looks like she's using a sticker for that contingency

:(

[seabeyond]

50. this has got to be bipartisan. what i notice strongly in her piece she

writes, beside such grace and power..... it is not about party. i think this is important we honor. i think it is what she does well. this isn't party agenda. she is doing something beyond party and for the country. and she gave some kick ass words.

thank you sheehan

[grace0418]

66. I hope her words get somewhere else besides Michael Moore's site

Don't get me wrong, I love MM. But he's very partisan and I agree that this is not a partisan issue. And Cindy conveyed that very well. But no one besides us looney liberals will hear her side of the story if only Michael Moore carries it.

What am I talking about? The truth being news? In the MSM? I must have lost my mind for a minute there.

[seabeyond]

97. the iteresting twist. repug wife story coming out

was used to show cindy not picked on. but really it is appearing to be highlighting one set of rules for pro war, one for anti war, and the abuse in the latter. will be interesting to see how this plays out

[Cha]

51. Thanks, everyone

does need to read this. All those posts on DU last night denigrating Cindy are pathetic.

[Straight Shooter]

59. They should have "escorted" bush out for breaking surveillance laws. n/t

[donkeyotay]

99. Yes, when will they escort bush out?

He wipes himself with the Constitution. He's murdered thousands. I don't think it's hyperbole to say he has destroyed our country, at least every good thing it ever was or hoped to be.

He isn't popular. He's protected by GOPer-owned media, GOPer-owned vote counting companies and a GOPer-gerrymandered congress. In a free country, he would have never been elected, let alone left in office after the incompetence and corruption that has happened under his command. He has literally robbed us of our future, while congress dithers.

We have to impeach him. We have to do this, because congress is either too weak or too afraid. Ramsey Clark was right that the world is looking to the American people now to see if we actually believe any of that democracy crap we've been selling. It looks more like we're bringing a gigantic police state to the world, and it looks like bush's base, the Haves and the Have Mores are winning their war to make the world safe for Robber Barons.

[Straight Shooter]

124. Well said.

No, it isn't hyperbole at all. If anything, it's an understatement.

:thumbsup:

[Gregorian]

60. Not a single Democrat stepped up to stop it.

I'm not saying they knew, nor am I saying they could. Yes I am. Someone saw it. I know how she feels. I'm deeply upset with her. I've felt her pain.

This was the moment when Democrats could have left the building. Folks, we are now entering the next phase. I feel it.

[grace0418]

64. Standing up requires a spine.

Quite a few Dems had those surgically removed some time ago.

[Botany]

72. Cindy has real courage ..... bush is the coward.

:kick:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

77. Lemme tell you how this played out:

Cindy walks into the gallery to watch the SOTU. She is noticed by security, who takes the information to a minor repuke factotum. Factotum goes to his superior with the news: "That bitch Sheehan is in the gallery and is wearing an anti-war tshirt!". Superior goes and finds a reliable member of the police detail and tells him "Sheehan is here. Get that c*** out of here now! Arrest her and charge her with something, anything". He's angry, you see. He does not like her or what she represents and besides, she rubbed their noses in shit.

Reliable bulletheaded cop grabs a few uniforms and goes and hauls Cindy out. Superior's superior and a few press guys get wind and know that they are gonna face a ton of shit in the press for this and they devise a plan" let's thrw one of our own out, for wearing a tshirt. They find one, talk to hubby, hubby talks to wife and she leaves. Later, White House press guys help her concoct a story and get to the press.

Anyone want to dispute this?

[Botany]

79. kinda like Sam Alito's wife and her tears?

:tinfoilhat:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

82. Exactly.

n/t

[xiamiam]

90. i see it this way...they send the order to get her out the second they

hear she will be attending...before she even arrived.."arrest her if you have to..just get her out"..the rest is history..well not quite yet because i keep looking for the lawsuits she is about to file...on behalf of ALL of us

[MaggieSwanson]

126. I think you are absolutely right.

"they devise a plan 'let's thrw one of our own out, for wearing a tshirt'. They find one, talk to hubby, hubby talks to wife and she leaves. Later, White House press guys help her concoct a story and get to the press."

That's just how they operate.

[BiggJawn]

80. And Il Douche has the unmitigated GALL to talk about "Democracy".

We are becoming what we once feared.
It may be too late to leave for those of you who were gonna split. Where you gonna go? Newly-conservative Canada?

We are *SO* FUCKED!

[silentrex]

106. Conservative Canada

Much of newly-conservative Canada is still to the left of many of our own Democrats. There's some discussion of that here:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=53019

Whether they will let all of us in is another story...

[BiggJawn]

139. Well, there's still that post Reichstag-Fire treaty....

Where Canada agrees to return anyone who sneaks across the border that Chief Inquisitor Gonzales names a "Person of Interest".

"What's so interesting about this one?"

"He took American currency out of the country w/o declaring it, and didn't say 'Dubya May I'..."

"Ummmm.....OK, if you say so..."

[FreedomAngel82]

81. Simply amazing

Last night Malloy read the rules from the House and no where did he mention anything about clothing. He would have we all know that (those who listen and know Malloy's show). I hope she is successful and gets a hand on the rules.

[FreedomAngel82]

85. Question with the picture

Is she being escorted to her seat here or being taken out?

[goodhue]

114. taken out

[goodhue]

118. different angle

[friesianrider]

93. Did they also arrest people wearing cross pins or necklaces?

Or wearing flag pins on their lapels? Jesus, anything can be seen as a "symbol." How far do we really want to take this? The shirt said how many troops had died. It didn't say "fuck Bush" or anything like that.

I truly hope she files a lawsuit. This is absurd...that is OUR house, not Bush's.

[azureblue]

121. demonstrating

uh, isn't applause "demonstrating" approval the the speaker or what is said? So, if the helpful Mr. Weight ejects Cindy for demonstrating, then he should eject any one who applauds or stands up.


BTW, anyone thank Mr. Weight? If he had simply told Cindy to remain seated and keep her coat closed, none of this would have happened. As it is no one I know can tell you Bush said, but plenty can talk about Cindy's removal. Maybe we should send the helpful Mr. Weight some flowers & thank you note...

[Not_So_Right_Wing]

94. we are with you Cindy!!

[Der Blaue Engel]

102. Anyone else having trouble reading this?

I keep getting a MySQL error of "too many requests." Does anyone know where I else I might be able to read this?

[janetle]

103. I can't get it either

[Sadie5]

105. Candy and Wolf

were the first I heard to say a banner was taken from Cindy. A filthy pack of liars, thats what the MSM is. Shouldn't it be noted that Young's wife was handled with a bit more TLC than Cindy was?

[LSK]

110. link doesnt work for me either

[goodhue]

115. works fine for me

http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index_594.html

But you can find it plenty of other places too . . .

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020106Z.shtml

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/1/31944/23746

http://www.counterpunch.org/sheehan02012006.html

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_cindy_sh_060201_what_really_happened.htm

[Der Blaue Engel]

128. Thanks

I was able to read it this time on Michael's site; I guess it was just bombarded with requests when I tried before.

[Cleita]

109. Since when is it unAmerican to protest the SOTUS.

Dissidents should be allowed in if they have tickets and they should be allowed to protest. That is the people's property, not Bush's and the people have a right to be heard.

[rambler1277]

113. Woolsey set her up

I think it's rather curious that Rep Woolsey gave her a ticket knowing there was a good chance she'd either be a disruptive presence or get kicked out. Sounds like she sent Cindy out there to do her dirty work. I'm no fan of Cindy but I don't particularly like seeing anyone get used like that.

[goodhue]

119. Woolsey Statement Regarding Cindy Sheehan

Woolsey Statement Regarding Cindy Sheehan

February 1, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today issued the following statement regarding Cindy Sheehan’s arrest in the gallery of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address. Mrs. Sheehan was Rep. Lynn Woolsey’s guest to the President’s State of the Union address.

“Since when is free speech conditional on whether you agree with the President? Cindy Sheehan, who gave her own flesh and blood for this disastrous war, did not violate any rules of the House of Representatives. She merely wore a shirt that highlighted the human cost of the Iraq war and expressed a view different than that of the President. Free speech and the First Amendment exist to protect dissenting statements like Ms. Sheehan’s last night.

“Stifling the truth will not blind Americans to the immorality of sending young Americans to die in an unnecessary war, against a nation that posed no threat to our security. The President's speech last night was yet another attempt to distort history, as he suggested -- once again -- that the 9/11 terrorists came from Iraq. Everyone knows this is not true. We must not be afraid to say that the emperor has no clothes. It's time to bring our troops home.”

http://woolsey.house.gov/latestnews.asp?ARTICLE5110=57121

[rambler1277]

120. that seems to prove my point

Send Cindy out there to get arrested and made to look like a fool so you can make a speech. Weak.

[azureblue]

122. It takes 2 to tango

if this is so, then who told Mr. Weight to make a scene taking her out of there?

[rambler1277]

123. my guess would be that ...

...from what I know about cops, they were probably all geeked up to try and bust a protestor, regardless of who it was; it's pretty much what they live for. I'm just surprised he didn't try and find a brick wall to thrown her up against before the cuffs went on. I'm sure he's getting his writsts slapped right now for acting like he just found Osama in the White House pantry though.

Bottom line is she gave them a chance to boot her out and they took it.

[Voltaire99]

136. Solid statement by Woolsey.

Would that more Democrats saw as clearly and spoke as meaningfully.

[leftstreet]

129. I don't know if it was a "set up," but it did change the talking points

After the failed filibuster, every liberal forum on the internets has been calling for the head of Harry Reid, and the head of the brain-surgeon who chose Kaine for the SOTU rebuttal.

But today - not a peep.
:shrug:

[samhsarah]

130. Kick ass, Cindy, and I see you have already taken names!

:yourock:

[Pooka Fey]

133. Thank you Cindy Sheehan. I'm speechless.

[Voltaire99]

135. "Where did America go? I started crying in pain."

Let us now praise an honorable woman--an essential woman.

Deserted by our own politicians, harangued by the monsters in charge, betrayed by newspapers full of everything but news, bathed in TV mono-blather, appalled by international gangsterism, our hearts seared by the spectacle of the many beside us who sleepwalk through lies, and still worse the others nourished by lies...

And yet, impossibly, there is Cindy Sheehan. The conscience of our sick hour.

Unreservedly I would call her the greatest American leader in forty years. It has taken that long for dormant American resistance to reemerge, both in one shining person and in the inspiration she sows.

If you honor her deeds, honor her call: no votes for war supporters of any party.

[Binka]

137. You Are An Amazing Person Voltaire99 A STAR In Fact!

For this wonderful post and so many of your writings I donated to DU in your name. Thank you for being here!

NO VOTES FOR WAR SUPPORTERS!

[Voltaire99]

138. Thank you, Binka.

Truly kind of you, comrade; my humble thanks. :-)