Thinking about Hillary by Cindy Sheehan

[proud2BlibKansan]

People I like support Hillary for president. Could I? Well, if she wins the nomination, and has denounced the travesty in Iraq, I could, especially against a pro-war Republican. But I fear she can’t speak out against the occupation because she supports it. Never again will I make the mistake of supporting a pro-war Democrat for president, just as I would never support a pro-war Republican.

Why the delay? The moral policy is also the practical policy: End the occupation. Americans want it. The world wants it. Iraqis want it.

Pro-war people can change their minds, and we should welcome them with open arms when they do. Senator Clinton, taking the peace road would not prove you are weak, as some claim. Instead, it would prove that you are a strong and wise candidate. As a mom, as an American, as a patriot: I implore you to have the strength and courage to lead the fight for peace. Prove that you reflect our nations' values and do not support imperialism, Halliburton, and torture.

Senator Clinton: come out against this occupation of Iraq. Not because it is the politically expedient thing to do, but because it is the right thing to do. If you want to make Casey's sacrifice count, bring his buddies home alive.

If you do not, like many American moms, I will resist your candidacy with every bit of my strength.

more . . .
http://www.lewrockwell.com/sheehan/sheehan22.html

[Terran1212]

1. She was working with Hilary's opponent Tasini

I think she should help Tasini win and if that fails then work on Hilary.

[bluestateguy]

2. And there is a venue for voicing those opinions: the Democratic primary

HIllary Clinton will not be my choice for the nomination, but I will support her if she is the choice of our party.

But if Hillary Clinton is who Democratic primary voters vote for then she will have been democratically selected for the nomination, just as John Kerry was in 46 out of 50 states. If Sheehan does not like that choice, then her beef should not only be with Hillary CLinton, but with the rank and file Democrats across the country who voted for her.

[skipos]

3. Hillary is my last choice for 08, but I agree with everything you said. nt

[madokie]

4. I will have to vote for the Dem even if it was mickey mouse

as long as it is not another Yosemite SAM

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Cindy is strictly pro peace

She advocates immediate withdrawal of our troops. If a Republican candidate took that position, I believe Cindy would support that candidate.

[Recursion]

5. I'm afraid I will lose my "progressive" credentials here

I am a veteran of this war. I'm not the only one who thinks like this.

I will support any candidate, even an otherwise non-progressive Republican or Libertarian, whose platform includes a complete withdrawl from Iraq at the earliest possible time, as long as that candidate's platform does not threaten our fundamental civil liberties (so I'd be more likely to go Libertarian than GOP).

I consider our occupation of Iraq to be the greatest single threat to our national security since the development of a Soviet nuclear arsenal -- possibly even greater. Any candidate who does not recognize this, and does not advocate breaking contact to a more strategic series of posts (hell, I mean just go back to Bahrain and Diego Garcia) in my opinion does not have this country's security at heart.

This may seem odd for a DU'er, but in a lot of ways I'm a hawk. I was in the USMC for 7 years; got out a sergeant with a couple of medals on my chest. I believe in military force and I believe that a nation in America's position must use that force, from time to time, to maintain its security and interests.

But the simple fact is that our continued occupation of Iraq has weakened our strategic position immeasurably. We absolutely *must* fall back to more defensible positions as soon as is practicable (and that is within weeks, not within years). Any candidate who does not support an immediate withdrawl, I cannot in good conscience vote for.

Our dearest asset is our liberty. Second to that is our security. It is easy to defend both; in fact, the two go hand in hand. The more our liberties are defended, the more secure we are. Patrick Henry understood it. Why don't these jackasses?

I will not vote for a Democrat who does not advocate the earliest practical withdrawl of American forces from the trap we fell into in Iraq (OBL is smart, and he knew exactly what we would do. If you think he didn't expect this, I must respectfully disagree with you.) I will vote Libertarian, or Green, or deface my ballot. I will not boycott the election because too many men and women died face down in the mud to give me a vote for me to just not show up. But I will not vote for any candidate whatsoever who wants to keep us in the rat trap any longer.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Thank you for your service to our country

I am not a hawk, but I will only honor those who are if they have the courage to act on their beliefs as you have. The fact that you, a hawk and a veteran of this war, advocate immediate withdrawal carries a great deal of weight. I hope lots of folks see your post.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Thank you for your service and for your support

of withdrawal. I agree with you completely. I will also not vote for a pro-war Democrat for president. No way.

The real battle in winning this country back is in Congress and at the state levels. In those races, I am a dyed in the wool yellow dog Democrat. I live in a metro area that covers two states and I am working on Dem campaigns in both states. I just got back from passing out fliers at a local event sponsored by the current Repuke state rep for my neighborhood. This fool had the nerve to schedule a 'health care symposium' to promote health savings accounts. His opponent (a great progressive Dem whom I am working hard to elect) made up fliers detailing the repuke's actual votes on health care issues and I volunteered to stand at the door and pass these out to the people attending this event.

I am also doing phone banking in both states for Dem candidates at the state and federal level. And this is tough for me - my current congressman is a Dem who has yet to come out against the invasion of Iraq. I have discussed this with him at length. He will get my vote in November but that is merely a strategic move. I doubt I will let him put a sign in my yard. But I will support his election over a repuke.

There is no way I would vote for anyone other than a Dem in any of those races.

The presidential election is completely different. Hillary is going to HAVE TO come out against the Iraq invasion (I refuse to call it a war or compare it to a war) or she will NEVER get my vote.

[TayTay]

14. I don't think what you wrote is anti-progressive

I agree with what you said. I think it's a realistic point of view. There are times when force, as a last resort, is needed. That's why we have a highly trained military.

Thank you for your service. My heart is with the folks that you probably still know who are still in uniform and who have been sent over to Iraq. They deserve better civilian commanders than what we have now.

[leftchick]

6. I am with you Cindy!

:bounce:

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Me too leftchick!

[threadkillaz]

8. gone.

nt

[lonestarnot]

12. What's gone? Gas? Got gas? Soon you won't.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. LOLOLOL