Mom of Slain GI Holds Vigil in Crawford

[gldstwmn]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush_peace_mom

CRAWFORD, Texas - The mother of a fallen U.S. soldier who is holding a roadside peace vigil near President Bush's ranch shares the same grief as relatives mourning the deaths of Ohio Marines, yet their views about the war differ.

"I'm angry. I want the troops home," Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., who staged a protest that she vowed on Sunday to continue until she can personally ask Bush: "Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?"

Jim Boskovitch, father of slain Cpl. Jeffery Boskovitch, 25, of North Royalton, Ohio, is supporting the U.S. military action in Iraq.

"I firmly believe, and I would echo my son's feeling on this, it is very, very important for our country to remain steadfast and complete the mission that they set out to accomplish," Boskovitch told ABC on Sunday.

Boskovitch is among several families mourning Ohio Marines who suffered heavy losses in three attacks starting July 28, when two were killed in a gun battle. On Monday, five were killed in an ambush. Nine were killed Wednesday when an armored vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

Rosemary Palmer, the mother of Lance Cpl. Edward Schroeder, 23, another Ohio Marine killed in Iraq, sided more with Sheehan. If the United States continues its current course in Iraq, the death toll of U.S. troops, now at more than 1,820, will only grow, she told ABC.

"We either have to have more people there to do the job and better equipment, or we have to leave — one or the other," she said.

Boskovitch said his son, Jeff, "felt extremely, extremely strongly about the Iraqi people and our government deciding to go over there."

"His commander in chief needed him to be there, as well as those fellow soldiers, to help those people, help that country to be able to stand on its own and to liberate those people," Boskovitch told ABC.

Sheehan was among grieving military families who met with Bush in June 2004 at Fort Lewis, near Seattle, Wash. That was just two months after her son, Casey, was killed in Sadr City, Iraq, on April 4, 2004.

Since then, she said, various government and independent commission reports have disputed the Bush administration's claims that Saddam Hussein had mass-killing chemical and biological weapons — a main justification for the March 2003 invasion.

"I was still in shock then," Sheehan said in a telephone interview.

"All of those reports prove my son died needlessly," said Sheehan. "This proved that every reason George Bush gave us for going to war was wrong."

Sheehan, who formed a group called Gold Star Families For Peace and has spoken out against the war across the nation, talked for about 45 minutes on Saturday with Steve Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, and Joe Hagin, deputy White House chief of staff, who went out to hear her concerns.

Appreciative of their attention, yet undaunted, Sheehan said she planned to continue her protest along the road during Bush's stay through the end of the month.

"If he doesn't come out and talk to me in Crawford, I'll follow him to D.C.," she said. "I'll camp on his lawn in D.C. until he has the courtesy and the integrity and the compassion to talk to somebody whose life he has ruined."

[BombaySapphire3]

I think Smirky really needs to come out of the ranch and talk to Cindy but of course he doesn't have the cojones to do it.There was an ariticle in the Sunday SF Chronicle about Cindy Sheehan and the bus she rode down to Texas in was a red ,white and blue bus with ' The Impeachment Tour' written on the side.I love this woman!

[skcin]

I heard today that she met with him last year & when Shrub walked in, he said "OK, who are we honoring here?" She was obviously upset that he didn't even take the time to find out her son's name before he walked in.

Where the hell is Laura Bush? Can't she take a few minutes to talk to her until her dolt of a husband gets some balls & decides he's ready to speak with this woman? Don't get me wrong, I think she has every right to speak with the president, but I would think Laura would be a bit more understanding & compassionate.

[DrummerDeanna]

Their probably going to find a reason to lock this woman up before Shrub comes out to talk to her.

You know - God forbid his five week vacation get interupted :rolleyes:

[gldstwmn]

I think Smirky really needs to come out of the ranch and talk to Cindy but of course he doesn't have the cojones to do it.

The earpiece doesn't have reception that far from the ranch. :laugh:
Seriously, he really should come out and talk to her. But in a way, I'm glad he doesn't. It keeps it in the news that much longer.

[SuzeQuze]

The earpiece doesn't have reception that far from the ranch. :laugh:
Seriously, he really should come out and talk to her. But in a way, I'm glad he doesn't. It keeps it in the news that much longer.

There's no way in hell he will talk to her. As mentioned above he is too cowardly and would never put himself out there like that to possibly look bad. Never ever. Still, I too love this woman for doing this and support her efforts. We have wanted answers for a long time, that woman is entitled to answers which I fear she will not get. At least not until shrub is out of office and things begin to be revealed.

[markolas]

Where the hell is Laura Bush? Can't she take a few minutes to talk to her until her dolt of a husband gets some balls & decides he's ready to speak with this woman? Don't get me wrong, I think she has every right to speak with the president, but I would think Laura would be a bit more understanding & compassionate.

Oh, please. Have you seen Laura Bush? I think she's an android.

[GateandGarden]

Oh, please. Have you seen Laura Bush? I think she's an android.A part of me agrees with you but then another part of me thinks she would have the sense to go talk to that woman before her husband would.

[markolas]

A part of me agrees with you but then another part of me thinks she would have the sense to go talk to that woman before her husband would.

She might if she wasn't so pumped full of Vicodin.

[strandinthewind]

She might if she wasn't so pumped full of Vicodin.

I cannot believe you think Laura Bush is a Vicodin filled zombie. Certainly, there is no proof of that :shrug: I think she is not crazy about the limelight, but she still does a few things. I also think she influences her husband in a good way and makes him listen less to some of his advisors who want a Christian nation. But, then again, I am not a blind Bush hater.

[GateandGarden]

I cannot believe you think Laura Bush is a Vicodin filled zombie. Certainly, there is no proof of that :shrug: I think she is not crazy about the limelight, but she still does a few things. I also think she influences her husband in a good way and makes him listen less to some of his advisors who want a Christian nation. But, then again, I am not a blind Bush hater.I don't think I have any reason to believe she is, either, but he may have said that in jest. :shrug: Besides, doesn't Bush deserve blind hatred, anyway? Now that I say that I realize I probably don't want to get into it.

[strandinthewind]

I don't think I have any reason to believe she is, either, but he may have said that in jest. :shrug: Besides, doesn't Bush deserve blind hatred, anyway? Now that I say that I realize I probably don't want to get into it.


LOL - but you opened the door :laugh:

Seriously, I just do not blindly hate anyone. In fact, I really do not actually have any true hate in me. I am more of a look at the facts away from the BS and then conclude. But, different strokes for different folks.

[DrummerDeanna]

[QUOTE=strandinthewind]LOL - but you opened the door :laugh:

Seriously, I just do not blindly hate anyone. In fact, I really do not actually have any true hate in me. I am more of a look at the facts away from the BS and then conclude. But, different strokes for different folks.[/QUOT

Right - if you blindly hate then you are no better than the folks you criticize for blindly hating :shrug:

Life's too short to carry hatred around.

[gldstwmn]

http://dailykos.com/story/2005/8/8/124941/6758

Cindy Sheehan to Be Arrested Thursday

[estranged4life]

http://dailykos.com/story/2005/8/8/124941/6758

Cindy Sheehan to Be Arrested Thursday

They consider this woman a national threat? Man, I wonder where they are buying their drugs at cause I am wanting what they're smoking in Craw-Ford :lol:

[SuzeQuze]

LOL - but you opened the door :laugh:

Seriously, I just do not blindly hate anyone. In fact, I really do not actually have any true hate in me. I am more of a look at the facts away from the BS and then conclude. But, different strokes for different folks.

Right - if you blindly hate then you are no better than the folks you criticize for blindly hating :shrug:

Life's too short to carry hatred around.

I hate him, I've never hated anyone like this. God forgive me and release the hatred in my heart.

He's done so much damage to so many people that it sickens me. Literally. But the only thing that hatred will do is consume me, you guys are right. I don't know if I am ready to let it go though.

Regarding the impending arrest of Ms Sheehan? It figures.

[GateandGarden]

I hate him, I've never hated anyone like this. God forgive me and release the hatred in my heart.

He's done so much damage to so many people that it sickens me. Literally. But the only thing that hatred will do is consume me, you guys are right. I don't know if I am ready to let it go though.

Regarding the impending arrest of Ms Sheehan? It figures.I'm glad someone feels the same way. :xoxo: I carry a lot of anger that I usually keep tucked away and I've chosen to direct most of it at him. To me, he seems to represent every homophobe who has ever even come close to giving me hell. It's very hard to be forgiving and understanding of that. And of course, as you mentioned, there are plenty of other reasons to hate him besides his homophobia.

And Paula hates Britney Spears! :shrug: :laugh:

[DrummerDeanna]

And Paula hates Britney Spears! :shrug: :laugh:


Oh well - Britney is the one exception - it's okay to hate her. ;) :laugh:

[SuzeQuze]

True Majority is supporting Ms Sheehan and others who want to interrupt Bush's vacation at his media stops. If anyone cares to give there's a link below:

The most effective spokespeople for bringing the troops home are the mothers, fathers and family members of soldiers killed in Iraq, who are demanding to know why President Bush sent their sons, daughters, husbands and wives off to die. Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son Casey was killed last year in Sadr City, has drawn international media attention with her brave vigil outside Bush' ranch in Crawford, Texas [2], on behalf of Gold Star Families for Peace. Our support will allow her to keep it up and help her group take the action to the next level. Please <a href="https://secure.ga3.org/03/gold_star">contribute</a> to help them do it.

If we can raise $50,000 we can keep members of military families on the President's trail throughout the summer. You can keep this story in the news, and keep the momentum in this country turning against this war.

[GateandGarden]

Thanks for the link. I truly cannot imagine how she and others feel. One of the worst things, in my mind, is having to think that someone you love died for no good reason.

[SuzeQuze]

I'm glad someone feels the same way. :xoxo: I carry a lot of anger that I usually keep tucked away and I've chosen to direct most of it at him. To me, he seems to represent every homophobe who has ever even come close to giving me hell. It's very hard to be forgiving and understanding of that. And of course, as you mentioned, there are plenty of other reasons to hate him besides his homophobia.

And Paula hates Britney Spears! :shrug: :laugh:

He's destroyed so many families with his policies. :distress: And many of us feel the same way.

I will let this go eventually because I let myself get out of control. First I have to let go of the anger which I so self-righteously took up. "I have every reason to be angry because people suck, etc." I'm going to start small though, getting over my Bush hate will come later.

[GateandGarden]

He's destroyed so many families with his policies. :distress: And many of us feel the same way.

I will let this go eventually because I let myself get out of control. First I have to let go of the anger which I so self-righteously took up. "I have every reason to be angry because people suck, etc." I'm going to start small though, getting over my Bush hate will come later.Good for you for working to make a change, though I think you're a really wonderful as you are and wouldn't expect you to change a thing. I'm trying to get past holding grudges against people myself. I think it's really futile and takes up energy that would be better spent on something else. There's always the initial anger but I want to make myself let go of things after that. But as for Bush, I think he'll have special hatred and grudges from me for awhile if not all of my life.

[SuzeQuze]

Good for you for working to make a change, though I think you're a really wonderful as you are and wouldn't expect you to change a thing.

Aww, thanks. :xoxo: People behave so badly these days and do not think twice about it. It enrages me. But they don't care, I'm only hurting myself. Someone once said that holding a grudge is like taking poison and waiting for the other to die. It's easy to pick up anger these days and very difficult to let it go.

I'm trying to get past holding grudges against people myself. I think it's really futile and takes up energy that would be better spent on something else. There's always the initial anger but I want to make myself let go of things after that. But as for Bush, I think he'll have special hatred and grudges from me for awhile if not all of my life.

He's a "special" man who deserves "special" thoughts and feelings directed toward him. Hey Bush, before you do something else that is horrid ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" And I'm serious.

[markolas]

I cannot believe you think Laura Bush is a Vicodin filled zombie.

Why? I'm sure I'm not the only one. :lol:

She's definitely on something. I don't think I've ever seen her without that phony grin plastered on her face.

[markolas]

I don't think I have any reason to believe she is, either, but he may have said that in jest. :shrug: Besides, doesn't Bush deserve blind hatred, anyway? Now that I say that I realize I probably don't want to get into it.


It was partly in jest, yes. :)

My grandmother was on Vicodin, Xanax, Soma, and a host of other pills, which she used to wash down with Old Crow. I haven't heard of any incidents of Laura Bush choking on her food because she took so many muscle relaxers that she couldn't swallow (which my grandmother used to do quite regularly), so maybe she isn't taking anything. :shrug:

[strandinthewind]

Why? I'm sure I'm not the only one. :lol:

She's definitely on something. I don't think I've ever seen her without that phony grin plastered on her face.

Well, I do not think so. In fact, pictures of her from years ago display that same smile.

I think she actually is a nice lady who does not like public life too much. But, I guess people find it fun to take cheap shots at her and people often do. I think it is rude - but to each their own.

[SuzeQuze]

She's on Air America right now. She says folks are flocking to Crawford in support of her. Thirty congressmen have written letters on her behalf to the President, when asked she laughed saying she doesn't think that will affect her predicament.

[gldstwmn]

She's on Air America right now. She says folks are flocking to Crawford in support of her. Thirty congressmen have written letters on her behalf to the President, when asked she laughed saying she doesn't think that will affect her predicament.

So I guess they didn't arrest her last night?

[SuzeQuze]

So I guess they didn't arrest her last night?

No, she said she thought they would because there was no media around but they did not.

[strandinthewind]

08.11.2005 Cindy Sheehan

This is George Bush’s Accountability Moment
This is George Bush’s accountability moment. That’s why I’m here. The mainstream media aren’t holding him accountable. Neither is Congress. So I’m not leaving Crawford until he’s held accountable. It’s ironic, given the attacks leveled at me recently, how some in the media are so quick to scrutinize -- and distort -- the words and actions of a grieving mother but not the words and actions of the president of the United States.

But now it’s time for him to level with me and with the American people. I think that’s why there’s been such an outpouring of support. This is giving the 61 percent of Americans who feel that the war is wrong something to do -- something that allows their voices to be heard. It’s a way for them to stand up and show that they DO want our troops home, and that they know this war IS a mistake… a mistake they want to see corrected. It’s too late to bring back the people who are already dead, but there are tens of thousands of people still in harm’s way.

There is too much at stake to worry about our own egos. When my son was killed, I had to face the fact that I was somehow also responsible for what happened. Every American that allows this to continue has, to some extent, blood on their hands. Some of us have a little bit, and some of us are soaked in it.

People have asked what it is I want to say to President Bush. Well, my message is a simple one. He’s said that my son -- and the other children we’ve lost -- died for a noble cause. I want to find out what that noble cause is. And I want to ask him: “If it’s such a noble cause, have you asked your daughters to enlist? Have you encouraged them to go take the place of soldiers who are on their third tour of duty?” I also want him to stop using my son’s name to justify the war. The idea that we have to “complete the mission” in Iraq to honor Casey’s sacrifice is, to me, a sacrilege to my son’s name. Besides, does the president any longer even know what “the mission” really is over there?

Casey knew that the war was wrong from the beginning. But he felt it was his duty to go, that his buddies were going, and that he had no choice. The people who send our young, honorable, brave soldiers to die in this war, have no skin in the game. They don’t have any loved ones in harm’s way. As for people like O’Reilly and Hannity and Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh and all the others who are attacking me and parroting the administration line that we must complete the mission there -- they don’t have one thing at stake. They don’t suffer through sleepless nights worrying about their loved ones

Before this all started, I used to think that one person couldn’t make a difference... but now I see that one person who has the backing and support of millions of people can make a huge difference.

That’s why I’m going to be out here until one of three things happens: It’s August 31st and the president’s vacation ends and he leaves Crawford. They take me away in a squad car. Or he finally agrees to speak with me.

If he does, he’d better be prepared for me to hold his feet to the fire. If he starts talking about freedom and democracy -- or about how the war in Iraq is protecting America -- I’m not going to let him get away with it.

Like I said, this is George Bush’s accountability moment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/cindy-sheehan/this-is-george-bushas-a_5472.html

[BombaySapphire3]

Like I said, this is George Bush’s accountability moment The problem is how is someone that has a psychotic . Hitlerian inability to ever admit that he was wrong or made a mistake going to be able to held accountable for anything?

[strandinthewind]

The problem is how is someone that has a psychotic . Hitlerian inability to ever admit that he was wrong or made a mistake going to be able to held accountable for anything?


Well, no politician ever admits they are wrong unless they are forced to - look at Clinton :shrug:

The problem here is W met with this poor woman and, according to her, W did not even know her son's name or anything about the incident surrounding her son's death. While I get that W cannot know everything about every soldier that dies or is injured, you would think he would have taken the time to get to know the facts, even if on the surface, of the incident surrounding the death of the soldier whose parents he was about to meet. But, he did not and that seems to be in accord with W's stance on everything.

I just will never get politicians. I think if W would meet with this woman and they showed her bitching at him and then showed him responding with "I hate that you are going through this - I hate that I sent your son there - There is nothing I can do to make you believe in my cause, but I think I am doing the right thing - etc. ---- I think if they showed that and even if she read him the riot act, it could only be favorable to him, as opposed to him looking as of now like an ass. Interestingly, Rove has been working on the press spin - O'Reilly states yesterday that this woman has no credibility because she posted on Moore's website and has aligned herself with left wing nutcases - he then berated the O'Dowd and the Balt. Sun for failing to note that fact in their columns. Then, after all that homage to full disclosure, BO stated W had already met with this woman --- interestingly, he forgot to note you would think he would have taken the time to get to know the facts, W did not at that meeting take the time to know beforehand the incident surrounding the death of the soldier whose parents he was about to meet. ASS HOLE!

[macfanken]

Well, no politician ever admits they are wrong unless they are forced to - look at Clinton :shrug:

The problem here is W met with this poor woman and, according to her, W did not even know her son's name or anything about the incident surrounding her son's death. While I get that W cannot know everything about every soldier that dies or is injured, you would think he would have taken the time to get to know the facts, even if on the surface, of the incident surrounding the death of the soldier whose parents he was about to meet. But, he did not and that seems to be in accord with W's stance on everything.


No matter what you think of Bill Clinton, if he were in that situation he would have known the son's name. No doubt about it. Compassion was one of Clinton's strong points... Shrub doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

[strandinthewind]

No matter what you think of Bill Clinton, if he were in that situation he would have known the son's name. No doubt about it. Compassion was one of Clinton's strong points... Shrub doesn't even know the meaning of the word.


True - I was not comparing Clinton in that capacity. I was using him as an example of how no politician will admit they were wrong unless forced to, which was BS' point about W not admitting a mistake or being held accountable. Clinton was just the most glaring and recent example of many.

[macfanken]

True - I was not comparing Clinton in that capacity. I was using him as an example of how no politician will admit they were wrong unless forced to, which was BS' point about W not admitting a mistake or being held accountable. Clinton was just the most glaring and recent example of many.


I know, I wasn't referring to what you said about Clinton either. It just made me think of him and how he might handle this situation.

[strandinthewind]

I know, I wasn't referring to what you said about Clinton either. It just made me think of him and how he might handle this situation.


Ahhh - me culpa :sorry: :sorry:

I am not a huge fan of his (or any politician really) - but I would take him back in a minute over the creeps we now have and dance a happy jig in gratitude.

[gldstwmn]

The problem is how is someone that has a psychotic . Hitlerian inability to ever admit that he was wrong or made a mistake going to be able to held accountable for anything?

He won't. We can only hope that Mrs. Sheehan's actions focuses more attention on the problem at hand.

[gldstwmn]

Well, no politician ever admits they are wrong unless they are forced to - look at Clinton :shrug:


He's freely admitted he may have been wrong about lots of things. :rolleyes:

[gldstwmn]

The problem here is W met with this poor woman and, according to her, W did not even know her son's name or anything about the incident surrounding her son's death. While I get that W cannot know everything about every soldier that dies or is injured, you would think he would have taken the time to get to know the facts, even if on the surface, of the incident surrounding the death of the soldier whose parents he was about to meet. But, he did not and that seems to be in accord with W's stance on everything.

You think he'd make the effort since he and his friends are making a boatload of money off of this war. The "CEO president" with his Harvard degree sure makes a ****ty CEO. :shrug:
Martha Stewart could teach him a thing or two. But he's just not interested...in anything. :confused:

[gldstwmn]

No matter what you think of Bill Clinton, if he were in that situation he would have known the son's name. No doubt about it. Compassion was one of Clinton's strong points... Shrub doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

Damn straight.