Cindy at Camp Casey
Cindy with Jessie Jackson
Cindy with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Sheehan brings new campaign through Houston (Click on title above, thank you)
By ANNE MARIE KILDAYCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan spent her 50th birthday in Houston today, attending events aimed at ending the war in Iraq.
Sheehan joined other activists who gathered on the Montrose bridge during the afternoon rush hour to hold signs calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Sheehan urged about 100 Houston peace activists to join join her 13-day caravan to Washington, D.C., where she plans to formally announce her candidacy against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sheehan, a Californian, announced she will challenge Pelosi if the lawmaker has not moved to impeach Bush and Cheney by July 23.
Sheehan brings new campaign through Houston (Click on title above, thank you)
By ANNE MARIE KILDAYCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan spent her 50th birthday in Houston today, attending events aimed at ending the war in Iraq.
Sheehan joined other activists who gathered on the Montrose bridge during the afternoon rush hour to hold signs calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Sheehan urged about 100 Houston peace activists to join join her 13-day caravan to Washington, D.C., where she plans to formally announce her candidacy against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sheehan, a Californian, announced she will challenge Pelosi if the lawmaker has not moved to impeach Bush and Cheney by July 23.
There is a fact no one can contest regarding Cindy Sheehan and that is she knew how to harness power and gain recognition. As a result The Peace Movement had a dedicated woman to foster the cause. She never abandoned them so much as recently has changed her focus. I wish her the best.
Cindy has to establish her legitimate claim to run for office. I think she has a challenge. The district she has chosen to run for federal office is already represented by another very competent women in the current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The current Speaker has in a very short time been able to contextualize the electorate that brought the Democrats to the majority of both houses and move their agenda forward. I remind all that the House and Senate during their first 100 hours was able to pass meaningful legislation and have it signed by the very difficult Executive Branch.
As a side note, if you will, I do believe Bush said what he meant today, when he stated he wants to be liked as a President. I believe that is true. The unfortunate aspect of all that is he has his 'image' painted into a corner that is illegitimate along with policies that don't uphold the integrity of a nation he longs to befriend.
A good deal of his current image difficulty is due to his 'loyalty' to people such as Rove and Cheney along with his 'inflexibility' to achieve real and measurable goals in reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission by the USA, National Security, a clearly defined path to peace and prosperity for the USA and an administration that is credible to that end. Bush has a lot of self reflection to achieve the 'idea' of being a friend to the people of the USA. A lot. He's up to it if he chooses. There is plenty of legislation the USA people approve of which he has stood unilaterally in definance of and he needs to reconsider his position on all that has been brought to his desk. The USA has a lot of serious work to do in today's world including saving Afghanistan from the ravages of failed policy. The question is, does George Walker Bush's desire to befriend the USA exceed his 'die hard' loyalty to images and strategies of the Republican Party? I sincerely doubt he cares to work that hard at 'likeability.'
But to return to Cindy and her determination to turn the corner on the USA involvement in Iraq.
Cindy has to make a committment to her run for office, build a constituency and a funding base. She can have all the best intentions in the world and exhibit competency in achieving those intentions, but, without the confidence of a constituency she will never succeed.
Basically, Ms. Sheehan has to ask herself the questions, "Can I be elected?" and "Do I want to risk a marginal victory in replacing a House Speaker with a Republican?" Cindy will not be House Speaker if she is elected. That leadership role does not happen overnight.
Cindy and her campaign headquarters has to have a large margin of confidence before they move into such a rhelm. She can start by recognizing she is correct in her estimation that the USA Constitution has been effectively dismantled by the current Republican Legislators in DC. Getting an electorate, not just in her district, but across a constituency that will support her legislation should she be elected to turn the country's course in a different direction and away from further demise of it's Constitution, is a huge agenda. Cindy can motivate, but, can she 'build' on that motivation to change the course of a country headed for self destruction? It's a tall order for a little lady. I wish her the best. Sincerely.
