Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan arrested outside White House

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, that is not what they were doing. I assume it is illegal to squat on a public sidewalk, esp. in front of the WH. So, she was correctly cited for failing to move on - as anyone would have been.

I also suggest her arrest was her intent. Otherwise why would she be there knowing that they were going to tell her to move on. Also, it is not like this poor woman is in control of this. She is being used - albeit willingly - by the far far left, who I can assure you has organized a huge campaing for her that involves about a dozen lawyers all earning $250 + per hour.

In the end, I fell sorry for her loss. But, I also feel sorry that she has let these creeps use her like this to get their message out. But, maybe it is her message now as well. In the end, it does not matter because public perception of her, which is all the powers controlling her really care about, is unfavorable.

Interestingly, if she meets with W, what is she going to do, yell at him. If she does, what does that solve? I suggest nothing because she will continue her crusade even after that.

Note - W is an a$$ in general and also for not meeting with her in the beginning of this.

I didn't think that people had a negative view of Sheehan, at least not the majority, I know that some do, but I thought it was just conservatives.

It is illegal for anyone to stop outside of the White House since that idiot was out there with a rifle a few years back. I believe that is what made it illegal - memory is fuzzy.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Now that's what I'm talking about. I like how you can differentiate between the soldiers and the administration. Very well said.

Yeah, it seems that we must specify, because I often find that when I make a comment like that, someone is very quick to say that I'm disrespecting all of those members of the military who were doing their (difficult and admirable) jobs. The last thing I want to do is put this on them, and yet so many people take such comments that way.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I didn't think that people had a negative view of Sheehan, at least not the majority, I know that some do, but I thought it was just conservatives.

I seem to remember reading a poll somewhere that said that.

I think people are sorry she lost her son, but see her as doing antics to get publicity for a larger cause and that this has gone way beyond her asking for reasons for why she post her son. I many ways that is correct because, again, let's say W meets with her today and tells her Iraq is part of the big war on terror and then she calls him a no good lying SOB - then the meeting ends. What has that accompolished other that she told him off. He never answered her questions with the answers she wants to hear no matter how right those anwers are. So, what is she going to do, request a second meeting?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I seem to remember reading a poll somewhere that said that.

I think people are sorry she lost her son, but see her as doing antics to get publicity for a larger cause and that this has gone way beyond her asking for reasons for why she post her son. I many ways that is correct because, again, let's say W meets with her today and tells her Iraq is part of the big war on terror and then she calls him a no good lying SOB - then the meeting ends. What has that accompolished other that she told him off. He never answered her questions with the answers she wants to hear no matter how right those anwers are. So, what is she going to do, request a second meeting?

She's become a spokesperson for the anti-war movement. People can get behind her, it finally has a voice. She created the momentum. This past weekend's protest was huge, about 300,000 estimated protesters in Washington and more in other cities accross the country.

She wanted the president to tell her what the noble cause was for the war -specifically. If he says "terrorism" it isn't an answer since she knows that isn't true. So she would continue to speak to that. I think her objective has expanded beyond just that now though. She doesn't just want to have that question answered, she wants all other American's sons and daughters in Iraq to come home.

I did find an opion poll on her but it is really close http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005...%20Sheehan.htm

Cindy Sheehan: 35% Favorable 38% Unfavorable
Survey of 1,000 Adults

August 17-18, 2005

August 19, 2005--Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother who maintained an anti-War protest outside of President Bush's ranch, is viewed favorably by 35% of Americans and unfavorably by 38%.

Sheehan is viewed favorably by 34% of men and 35% of women. Forty-two percent (42%) of men and 34% of women have an unfavorable view.

RasmussenReports.com

[strandinthewind]

^^^^^^

Exactly, and I agree the anti-war camp. found a voice in her - but by accepting that part and by also speaking out on many issues other than her son's betrayal, she lost some of the sympathy many had for her. They see her now as more than just a grieving mother who the Pres. refuses to meet with. And they are correct. She has become more than that. I am not saying that is a bad thing, it just is.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Forty-two percent (42%) of men and 34% of women have an unfavorable view.

Shocking.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Yeah, it seems that we must specify, because I often find that when I make a comment like that, someone is very quick to say that I'm disrespecting all of those members of the military who were doing their (difficult and admirable) jobs. The last thing I want to do is put this on them, and yet so many people take such comments that way.

I think they are brainwashed by the likes of Fox News and also have the inherent feeling of trust and pride that we all have or want to be able to have.

I also think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. I mean if that whole "we cannot speak out in dissent in a time of war" were to taken to an extreme, then why not have a dictator. Dissent is a solidly American ideal to be treasured - just ask the Founding Fathers

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

^^^^^^

Exactly, and I agree the anti-war camp. found a voice in her - but by accepting that part and by also speaking out on many issues other than her son's betrayal, she lost some of the sympathy many had for her. They see her now as more than just a grieving mother who the Pres. refuses to meet with. And they are correct. She has become more than that. I am not saying that is a bad thing, it just is.

Perhaps she lost some ground, I'm not sure, but I have a feeling support for her will grow.

[strandinthewind]

Here is the pic.






Personally, they should have been arrested for wearind pink elephant suits

Sheehan arrested in front of White House

Civil disobedience meant to protest Iraq war

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who has used her son's death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

Sheehan and several dozen other protesters sat down on the sidewalk after marching along the pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests.

Sheehan, 48, was the first taken into custody. She stood up and was handcuffed, then led to a police vehicle while protesters chanted, "The whole world is watching."

Others who were arrested also cooperated with police. Sgt. Scott Fear, spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, said they would be charged with demonstrating without a permit, which is a misdemeanor.

Park Police Sgt. L.J. McNally said Sheehan and the others would be taken to a processing center where they would be fingerprinted and photographed, then given a ticket and released. The process would take several hours, he said.

Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in an ambush in Sadr City, Iraq, last year. She attracted worldwide attention last month with her 26-day vigil outside President Bush's Texas ranch.

Sheehan was among several hundred demonstrators who marched around the White House on Monday and then stopped in front and began singing and chanting "Stop the war now!" Organizers had said some planned to be arrested.

The demonstration is part of a broader anti-war effort on Capitol Hill organized by United for Peace and Justice, an umbrella group. Representatives from anti-war groups were meeting Monday with members of Congress to urge them to work to end the war and bring home the troops.

The protest following a massive demonstration Saturday on the National Mall that drew a crowd of 100,000 or more, the largest such gathering in the capital since the war began in March 2003.

On Sunday, a rally supporting the war drew roughly 500 participants. Speakers included veterans of World War II and the war in Iraq, as well as family members of soldiers killed in Iraq.

"I would like to say to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters don't be a group of unthinking lemmings. It's not pretty," said Mitzy Kenny of Ridgeley, West Virginia, whose husband died in Iraq last year. The anti-war demonstrations "can affect the war in a really negative way. It gives the enemy hope."

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/....ap/index.html

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by dissention

Shocking.

I thought the same. Still, its only 3% different, I don't know what the margin of error was but it may even be within that.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Perhaps she lost some ground, I'm not sure, but I have a feeling support for her will grow.

I wish support for the anti-war movement would grow - I do not really care about her.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I wish support for the anti-war movement would grow - I do not really care about her.

If there were 100,000 anti-war protestors, and 500 at the rally in support of the war, that may be indicative of more joining the effort. The pro folks only had 5% of the numbers the anti-war folks had.

[SuzeQuze]

"Oddly" trains heading south from NY and Boston over on Sat were haulted due to an "electrical problem". Conspiracy?

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

"Oddly" trains heading south from NY and Boston over on Sat were haulted due to an "electrical problem". Conspiracy?

I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up - also, I think they halted the metro in D.C.

Personally, I think stories like this are BS, but I would put nothing past W and his cronies as lying to go to war pretty much takes the cake and everything else is just downhill from there.

[BTFLCHLD]

well...at one time they allowed people to camp outside the whitehouse...i understand for security purposes it cant be done now...but if anything i thought it was a good morning eye-opener for any person in office to have his morning brew with the sight of homeless america housed in cardboard