Peace mom slips from public stage - plans to return to crawford

[The Straight Story]

Peace mom slips from public stage
Cindy Sheehan plans to return to presidents ranch for Thanksgiving

By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER

SAN FRANCISCO — Peace mom Cindy Sheehan peered out a window 14 floors above the Civic Center on Friday and asked, Want to see my new car?

She pointed to a sky-blue Volkswagen Beetle convertible parked near City Hall. She explained she hasnt treated herself to much since her son, Casey, died in Iraq in April 2004, but shed always wanted such a car and recently decided it was time for a change.

Sheehans life has changed profoundly since Caseys death — richer in grief, and in purpose — and especially since her transformation into an anti-war icon with her August vigil near President Bushs Crawford, Texas ranch.

But after drawing the international spotlight at Camp Casey in Crawford, her name is fading from headlines.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/...

[electropop]

1. It's OK for her to take a rest.

She got a lot of people started (e.g. the 500,000 who came to DC on Sep 24th). We can carry the torch for a while.

[Moochy]

2. Not so subtle word choices

She attracted what in essence became a traveling troupe of anti-war activists and p.r. agents and usual suspects, and the story just ceased to be as appealing, Sabato said. It didnt seem quite as natural and original, it became more of the same. "

(emphasis mine)

Who is the person who judged her story less appealing in this fragment "the story just ceased to be as appealing"

Her story ceased to be appealing to whom?

also note the use of the use of the phrase travelling troupe and usual suspects, to connote a circus, or actors, and also the criminal aspect of the "usual suspects"

[Cults4Bush]

3. Yep "more of the same" from shills and egomaniacs who cant

admit a mistake in supporting the invasion.

Im sure the writer is one or the other.

[LittleClarkie]

4. Or they just mean her message got dilluted as it was incorporated

into the larger movement. I think that she by herself was a more poignant image of a mother asking why. Even she and I think Will Pitt also said that after a certain point at Camp Casey, suddenly the protest went from a bunch of folks who knew each other to something that was larger, and yet somewhat more muddled.

And folks will occasionally use someone else's publicity for their own agenda. I think that was a fear as they gained momentum.

I think the story just ran its course. Is there anything really wrong with that? Did Cindy intend to do this work for a long period of time?

I think it's okay for her to go back to some semblance of a normal life if that's what's in the cards.

[Moochy]

8. I too think she deserves a break

As long as she wants. I did read that her movement attracted groups that many democrats feel are radical and harmful to solidarity.
Scary shadowy groups with ties to Lenin!

However, I can't stomach criticism of her "troupe" without pointing out the bias.

I doubt many would criticize the lack of coverage on her story now, its clear that she's not in Crawford anymore, so that the story isnt front page.

[LittleClarkie]

10. Do you think that Will Pitt was worried about scary shadow groups

or just one-issue groups (the issue not being the war) showing up and turning the proceedings into a less cohesive, focussed hodgepodge.

Do you think that was what I was getting at as well? It wasn't. It wasn't her original group of supporters I was talking about. It was folks what started to show up who may not have been focussed on the same thing Cindy was.

Were you in Camp Casey or know anyone who was who could confirm or deny that things started to get muddled message-wise.

Or are you talking about stomaching the criticism of the author re: the troupe, and not stomaching me, and my suggestion as to what happened.

Or was it both the author and me?

In which case, I would ask what criticism you WOULD accept. Any at all? Surely it's good to look at an event and see what made it good, and wat didn't.

[Moochy]

13. I concede her message was diluted

I willingly concede that her message was diluted by one-issue groups that were there to champion their own cause by stealing her limelight.

Thank you for clarifying that, sorry I was being obtuse.
The "stomaching" was only in reference to the tri-valley herald reporter 's characterization of those groups as a "troupe", and the "usual suspects" that piqued my interest.

I did not go to Camp Casey, I only followed it through the DU activists and other websites that were covering the speeches, several of which I saw.

"scary shadowy groups" was only my take on the author's choice of "usual suspects"

[LittleClarkie]

14. Sorry if I was grumpy. Yeah, that's all I was saying

some folks wanted to bogart her limelight. Some wanted to reframe her message. It bugged me.

She did her duty. She was one more, rather large straw breaking the camel's back. Now she can rest.

[Cults4Bush]

17. Come now.. that is not what I was implying in the slightest.

"I think it's okay for her to go back to some semblance of a normal life if that's what's in the cards."

Did I come off as intending to make a statement on that? Because I sure didn't but just so we are clear on this I do in fact agree 100% with you if that is in fact what she wants to do. Though her recent statments have me believeing otherwise. If anything it seems like she found some rather serious and grounding awakenings as well as being determined and unapologetic as to her stance. I hear she is also planning on going to Crawford for Thanksgiving. I haven't confirmed that yet (have you heard anything???). However I am in fond hope of her taking some time off soon if only here and there.

-------

"I think the story just ran its course. Is there anything really wrong with that? Did Cindy intend to do this work for a long period of time?"

I disagree with the first sentence, it has not run its course by a longshot in my view but I am biased so... and would say there is nothing wrong with that if that were the case in my view.

Your last question I honestly couldn't tell if you were being rhetorical or not. I am quite sure Cindy would much rather "this work" was quickly over and done with. I am not sure what her intentions were as to regards of the duration of her activism.

-------

The rest and beggining of your post would have been how I took it if the insults weren't so heavily dispensed with. That was frameing pure and simple, any avid blog reader could tell you that as I am sure you would know.

The fact is that when Camp Casey sent word out for more to come they knew it would get bigger in many different ways and it did. They were more than prepared for it when it happened. The college socialists were actually the only dillution I really saw when I was there and that was really only Camp Casey 2. They weren't even that bad as far as giving bad impressions or anything. Though they did get stupid about something once... another story though.

Point is that the sense of purposed purity was maintained in Crawford despite many attempts to the contrary. I know Will had problems there with unfocused other agenda types but almost all those types were asked to leave. Local Law Enforcement was very good in how they dealt with us that included us policing our own and letting them know when we had a troublemaker. The message of "what noble cause" was focused like a beam when I was there. Ways and means and sollutions to ending the war were varied and ran the gamut, maybe that was what was muddled???

---------

All that being said my original point in the post you responded to had almost nothing to do with what you posted.

People that write in such derregatory tones with such exquisitely ambigous descriptives are hardly without tendency to be pushing an agenda. As surely as "folks will occasionally use someone elses publicity for their own agenda".

Im wondering before I post this off to you if you are thinking of ANSWER in DC on the 24th when you are talking of Cindy being incorporated into the larger movement? I mean I sort of blame a bit of that on CSPAN, I wouldn't mind an ANSWER-less demo or two myself. Just for the sake of focus. I don't think Cindy was under any illusions though that she be anymore of a focus than she was in DC. Though it is important to remember that the act of civil disobedience she was very much the focal point, was that really so long ago that it deserved this kind of write up? To some I guess it would be. For me it was just another battle on a road with much larger ones to come.

[LittleClarkie]

18. I wasn't thinking of anything but what I said

and about Pitt's description once he got to Camp Casey. I'm glad to hear from someone who was there that those folks were asked to leave. I wasn't there. Kudos to you that you were.

I hope you didn't think it was me who was using "such derregatory tones with such exquisitely ambigous descriptives."

I'm just saying that if it turns out that the mainstream media has stopped paying attention to her story, and Cindy feels her work is done for now, and she feels the need to return to normalcy, then cool. If she feels she can make a difference in whatever capacity she should choose, then cool as well. As I said, it depends on what's in the cards.

It was musing out loud, not being rhetorical, esp. if someone knew the answer, as to what she intended for this protest to be. Will she continue until Bush meets with her and no longer? What were her longterm goals? Did she have any or was she going with the flow? You met her and spent time with her. If you don't think she intends to be done yet, then I thank you for the information.

[Cults4Bush]

19. Nah didn't think it was you

I was reffing the writer.


I agree if the story passes it passes... though I just dont think it will go all the way.

Thanks for clearing up that question. I am sorry I didn't mean to give the impression I had met Cindy. I was there when she was taking care of her mother. I so badly wanted to meet with her but figured even if she had been there I probably wouldn't have been able to. Place was crazy hectic with thousands flowing through setting up and taking down, gawking or paying tribute.

I believe she is truly just moving with the flow of where this thing goes. I almost think it would be unwise for her to do anything but. As long as she choose with some deliberation, she'll do just fine.

Again sorry for implying I had met her... I cant tell you how much I want that but then so do so many others .

[Mairead]

6. you nailed it.

This is how BushCo and all similar political malefactors stay in power. They stonewall for awhile and eventually the circus leaves town. We forget. We get distracted, and we forget.

'When I, the People, learn to remember,
when I, the People, use the lessons of yesterday
and no longer forget who robbed me last year,
who played me for a fool—
then there will be no speaker in all the world
say the name: "The People"
with any fleck of a sneer in his voice
or any far-off smile
of derision.'

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. This author is barely

containing her disdain.

[Disturbed]

7. Corp. Media goes from one sensational story to the next.

Katrina drowned NO and the anti-Illegal Iraq Invasion and Occupation story.

[Moochy]

9. Pakistan :estimates dead @ 35,000 3 days after the quake

New Orleans: ??, 44 days after katrina

[deutsey]

11. Is it all about headlines and personality contests?

Or is it about holding Bush accountable for his lies that has led to the carnage in Iraq?

By the way, here's a picture from an anti-war demo in SF on Saturday:



More here:

http://indybay.org/news/2005/10/1774805.php

[deutsey]

12. Here's another with Thich Nhat Hahn on Oct. 8

[Tinksrival]

15. "Richer in grief"

What an awful thing to say! I am sure Cindy would traqde anything to have her Casey back.
You can't exactly compare a VW Beetle to um lets say Roves Jaguar! It a VW Bug for heavens sake. This guy is an asshole.

[Moochy]

16. I wrote a letter to Josh Richman

And to paraphrase he says that the "troupe" and "usual suspects" phrases I took offense to were those of his source, Mr. Sabato and not his own.

But of course he was happy to pass them along.

Oh well at least I was able to get him to reply, by gently stinging whatever kernel of journalistic integrity he has.