Sheehan to challenge Pelosi if no impeachment sought

[irishgrl]

Sheehan considers challenge to Pelosi

By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

CRAWFORD, Texas - Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who galvanized the anti-war movement, said Sunday that she plans to run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unless she introduces articles of impeachment against President Bush in the next two weeks.

Sheehan said she will run against the San Francisco Democrat in 2008 as an independent if Pelosi does not seek by July 23 to impeach Bush. That's when Sheehan and her supporters are to arrive in Washington, D.C., after a 13-day caravan and walking tour starting next week from the group's war protest site near Bush's Crawford ranch.

"Democrats and Americans feel betrayed by the Democratic leadership," Sheehan told The Associated Press. "We hired them to bring an end to the war. I'm not too far from San Francisco, so it wouldn't be too big of a move for me. I would give her a run for her money."

Messages left with Pelosi's staff were not immediately returned. The White House declined to comment on Sheehan's plans.

She plans her official candidacy announcement Tuesday. Sunday wrapped up what is expected to be her final weekend at the 5-acre Crawford lot that she sold to California radio talk show host Bree Walker, who plans to keep it open to protesters.

Sheehan announced in late May that she was leaving the anti-war movement. She said that she felt her efforts had been in vain and that she had endured smear tactics and hatred from the left, as well as the right. She said she wanted to change course.

She first came to Crawford in August 2005 during a Bush vacation, demanding to talk to him about the war that killed her son Casey in 2004. She became the face of the anti-war movement during her 26-day roadside vigil, which was joined by thousands. But it also drew counter-protests by Bush supporters, many who said she was hurting troop morale.

Sheehan, who has never held political office, recently said that she was leaving the Democratic Party because it "caved" in to the president. Last week, she announced her caravan to Washington, an undertaking she calls the "people's accountability movement."

"I didn't expect to be back so soon, but the focus is different than it was before," Sheehan said Sunday. "Instead of talking and making accusations, we're going into communities and talking to the people who've been hurt by the Bush regime. We're finding out how we can help people."

Sheehan, who will turn 50 on Tuesday, said Bush should be impeached because she believes he misled the public about the reasons for going to war, violated the Geneva Convention by torturing detainees, and crossed the line by commuting the prison sentence of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. She said other grounds for impeachment are the domestic spying program and the "inadequate and tragic" response to Hurricane Katrina.

Libby was convicted of lying and obstructing justice in an investigation into the leak of a CIA officer's identity.

Sheehan said she hopes Pelosi files the articles of impeachment so Sheehan can move onto her next projects, including overseas trips for humanitarian work. But if not, Sheehan said she is ready to run for office.

"I'm doing it to encourage other people to run against Congress members who aren't doing their jobs, who are beholden to special interests," Sheehan said. "She (Pelosi) let the people down who worked hard to put Democrats back in power, who we thought were our hope for change."

Pelosi was elected to the House in 1987 and became the first female speaker in January.

Sheehan said she lives in a Sacramento suburb but declined to disclose which city, citing safety reasons. The area is outside Pelosi's district, but there are no residency requirements for congressional members, according to the California secretary of state's office.

well, well!!! interesting indeed

[BlackWidow]

I love it!!!

[gldstwmn]

Also word on the street is Steny Hoyer and Nancy are not getting along. Hoyer is for the effort to impeach Cheney. Nancy however is not. Source:
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_webl...ashington.html

[Rickypt]

The area is outside Pelosi's district, but there are no residency requirements for congressional members, according to the California secretary of state's office.

I'm shocked to learn this. A member of Congress doesn't have to live in his/her own district?

If Sheehan wants to take Pelosi's seat, she needs to become a San Franciscan. Otherwise she can run for Congress in her own district.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I'm shocked to learn this. A member of Congress doesn't have to live in his/her own district?

If Sheehan wants to take Pelosi's seat, she needs to become a San Franciscan. Otherwise she can run for Congress in her own district.

according to the article, Sheehan has no problem with that. She doesnt have to move very far after all, and I think she's got the support behind her...plus she's right. many Dems and Americans in general are unhappy with the Dem record since the takeover.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

according to the article, Sheehan has no problem with that. She doesnt have to move very far after all, and I think she's got the support behind her...plus she's right. many Dems and Americans in general are unhappy with the Dem record since the takeover.

To be fair though, we're only 1/4 of the way through their term.

[irishgrl]

true, but people are frustrated so even small delays seem large

I'd vote for Sheehan. anyone else?

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

true, but people are frustrated so even small delays seem large

I'd vote for Sheehan. anyone else?

[KarmaContestant]

How exciting! I think we live in a very important era...and history is being made every day. I have been very disappointed in the Dems since they took office. If they don't get their act together, I fear that they'll lose ground in the next election.

Go Cindy!

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

true, but people are frustrated so even small delays seem large

I'd vote for Sheehan. anyone else?

It's very doubtful that I would, and it's my district. I'm not ready to toss out a tireless champion for many progressive causes and the first woman Speaker of the House for a carpetbagger.

As Chris said, it has only been 1/4 of the Congress. The Senate has been the main problem in getting stuff done. There is also the reality that the Dems have a slim majority in the House, an extremely slim majority in the Senate and Bush is still President.

I'm not happy with everything Pelosi has done. I think she should have kept sending the war funding bill with timeline for withdrawal over and over again to Bush. I also think she should allow for impeachment hearings. If things don't improve on this by the end of this year, then I'd be more supportive of a challenge to her. Not sure it has to be Sheehan, though.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

It's very doubtful that I would, and it's my district. I'm not ready to toss out a tireless champion for many progressive causes and the first woman Speaker of the House for a carpetbagger.

As Chris said, it has only been 1/4 of the Congress. The Senate has been the main problem in getting stuff done. There is also the reality that the Dems have a slim majority in the House, an extremely slim majority in the Senate and Bush is still President.

I'm not happy with everything Pelosi has done. I think she should have kept sending the war funding bill with timeline for withdrawal over and over again to Bush. I also think she should allow for impeachment hearings. If things don't improve on this by the end of this year, then I'd be more supportive of a challenge to her. Not sure it has to be Sheehan, though.

she gets the big thumbs DOWN from me for saying "no impeachment". Why the hell NOT????

and Sheehan has name recognition and already a support base. Not too shabby...

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I love it!!!

I do too.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

It's very doubtful that I would, and it's my district. I'm not ready to toss out a tireless champion for many progressive causes and the first woman Speaker of the House for a carpetbagger.

As Chris said, it has only been 1/4 of the Congress. The Senate has been the main problem in getting stuff done. There is also the reality that the Dems have a slim majority in the House, an extremely slim majority in the Senate and Bush is still President.

I'm not happy with everything Pelosi has done. I think she should have kept sending the war funding bill with timeline for withdrawal over and over again to Bush. I also think she should allow for impeachment hearings. If things don't improve on this by the end of this year, then I'd be more supportive of a challenge to her. Not sure it has to be Sheehan, though.

If I were able to vote in that particular race, what I would do is vote for Mrs. Sheehan in the primary to send a message to Nancy Pelosi that she has to do more in regards to a withdrawal from Iraq. And she must consider her stance on impeachment, at the very least with regards to Vice President Cheney.
Also, you are correct about our slim majority in both houses of Congress. We do not have the votes to override a presidential veto. And since the next election is a year and a half out, we're stuck. We can only hope to win it all in '08 or at least pick up enough seats to restore some type of checks and balances to the system.

[DeeGeMe]

Pelosi and company are claiming they don't have enough votes for impeachment. The polls show that only 30% of the country supports Bush. Do you mean to tell me that if the public pressed their reps on this that they wouldn't vote for it? Jesus, they impeached Bill for a blow-job! I just think that Pelosi and company have been a giant disappointment. That whole exercise last week in the all-night fillibuster on the war, knowing full well they didn't have the votes, not even within their own party was nothing but a bone they threw to the party-faithful. It was an empty gesture. Well I'm sick of empty gestures. I'm not about to vote for a Republican but at this point, I can't find a single Democrat I believe in or trust either.

P.S. The latest polls show that something like 25% of the country supports Congress! what does that tell you? I'm not alone in my distaste and distrust of them ALL!

I say we throw them all out in '08!

[strandinthewind]

^^

Apparently not seeing as how even with those low numbers, 95% of the R's still support W and the war in Iraq. I think that is pathetic, but thems the facts. However, support for W is breaking within the R party.

I think the general thought is an immediate withdrawal from Iraq would lead to a fiasco that will lead to a collapse in the Middle East. I also think that the person who organizes a staged withdrawal, which I submit will begin in November, will walk on water if it works.