BREAKING: Cindy Sheehan is not running

[WilliamPitt]

"It's Not Enough to Criticize the President's Policies"
By Cindy Sheehan
t r u t h o u t | Statement

Thursday 09 February 2006

(snip)

I have been weighing my decision to run for Senate here in California carefully, even before Camp Casey. My entire being since Casey was killed has been immersed in trying to end the occupation of Iraq before any other mothers have to fall on the floor screaming for their child who should not have been in harm's way in the first place. In making my decision whether to run or not, I had to decide which course of action would bring the troops home sooner. Is my being on the outside, putting pressure on the inside more effective, or would a Senate campaign help bring our kids home sooner? If I thought that running for Senate would bring our young people home more quickly, I would do it in a minute, but I am not convinced that that would be so.

I have decided not to run, but I am calling on all Californians and Americans to support all anti-war candidates to promote a paradigm of peace in the world, and I will be supporting and working for dozens of anti-war candidates all over the country. Our emphasis will be holding all of the pro-war candidates accountable for their tragic mistakes, and voting in representatives who will hold George Bush and his administration accountable for all of their mistakes in Iraq and here in America.

More: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020906Y.shtml

The rest of the article is great.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. *hugs* for Cindy, who works so hard

[Roho]

2. good

the last thing i'd want to see is Cindy having to hold her tongue out of respect for her corrupt/complicit colleagues.

[speedoo]

3. Good decision, Cindy.

Keep hammering away from the outside. Far more effective.

[Marleyb]

10. How is this more effective?

People have convinced Cindy she can do more from the outside, but when it comes right down to it, the decisions are being made in DC.

The protestors were ignored before the war just as they are ignored now. They would just love to have Cindy become another career protestor like Medea Benjamin. I know, I know, how can I say that? Well Medea has been doing this for HOW MANY YEARS? HOW MANY MORE YEARS until we realize what we have been doing is not working?

I think Cindy was on the right track. WE THE PEOPLE need to take back our congress and return the United States to a government of, by and for the people.

[speedoo]

13. I never heard of Medea Benjamin. Everybody knows Cindy.

You use the term "career protester" in a negative fashion. Cindy Sheehan has already turned the tide of US public opinion re. the Iraq War, and she has more to do.

The rethugs would have blown her out of the water as a politician. Politics, as it is practiced today with all the lies and negative campaignning and dependence on $$$, is not something she is well equipped to handle.

[Marleyb]

15. oh I know...

Cindy has done so much to turn the tide, or at least given everyone the courage to make their voices heard so we know the tide had already turned.

So here we are, the clear majority want to end the war, we all know it was based on lies and profit....and yet they continue to ignore us. They are getting ready for Iran FOR GOD'S SAKE we must stop this madness now!

Because Cindy is already well know, she had an advantage over other no names. She doesn't need the money at this point, everyone knows where she stands. She stands for truth and justice, and that speaks louder than the bullshit artists.

[Nutmegger]

4. Good for Cindy! She is an inspiration to us all.

:applause:

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Yawn. Now we progressive Dems in Los Angeles will have

to tolerate war-monger Feinstein for another 6 years. Soon to be joined by war-monger Hillary.

[WilliamPitt]

17. So why don't you run?

Yawn.

[Midlodemocrat]

19. I wish you would.

I wish you would run from a state like mine and get elected and turn those bastards on their ears.

Me. I would in a blink, but too many skeletons in the closet.

[WilliamPitt]

21. I'm not from California

and we have oodles of good progressives here in all the seats I'd run for (MA).

[Midlodemocrat]

23. I know. I want you to move here, to VA, and challenge George Allen.

I think you should take one for the team.

Hell, you could even live here. Free room and board, as long as you don't mind all the noise.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. Well, MAKE yourself from California!!! Isn't that the way it's done these

days? ;)

[0007]

22. Sure don't come across like a progressive Democratic person.

Sound like a whinnier to me.

[derby378]

30. Who? Feinstein or c_w?

[0007]

32. Is this a quiz?

[WilliamPitt]

5. .

[WilliamPitt]

6. .

[titoresque]

8. Awesome! I am so glad!

I love her! I think she is making the right choice!
My mom said a long time ago, when Cindy first started getting
publicity that if she ran for office they (meaning the corruption) would shut her up. I think her voice is louder and stronger at this time out of office. People are losing faith in politicians and rightfully so, I see a shift happening where more and more people are joining a revolution. The peoples revolution.
Anyhow, phewwww, am glad to hear this!

[Marleyb]

33. That's just it- we need her in the senate shouting loudly

Cindy doesn't seem like the type to shut up.

Have you ever heard the british parliament in session?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Too bad. But, at least she won't be supporting DiFi.

Hopefully, the Greens will step up and run an anti-war candidate.

[shanti]

11. smart move, cindy

:thumbsup:

[jsamuel]

12. thanks, in this particular instance, not running was the best for you and

the causes you are fighting for

[Marleyb]

14. Why does she think we are going to be more successful on the outside?

It HAS NOT been working....why WHY did she decide not to run?

I think this part is really funny though, it seems to be a reaction to Boxer the other day...

I am here today to call on not only Senator Feinstein, but our other senator, Senator Boxer, who heroically did not abrogate her responsibility to declare war to the President, to quit "figuring out" ways to bring our troops home and start sponsoring legislation. The last Senate vote for increased funding for the killing was 99-0. How about cutting off the President's means for killing? It is not that difficult. There is not one piece of legislation in the Senate currently in opposition to Iraq.

[messiah]

16. Way to go DLC! congrats on another win!

:woohoo:

[Marleyb]

25. exactly!

:rofl:

I think Cindy might have a few plants hanging around her discouraging her...

[mzmolly]

18. She'll do alot more good being a notable activist.

:toast: to Cindy!

[immoderate]

20. I agree!

She is well positioned in the tradition of great activists from Margaret Sanger, to MLK, to Abbie Hoffman, to be a critic of the government. She can take it to both parties as an independent. She can offer her assistance to all who would promote her cause. She has more leverage this way. Electoral politics, e.g. fund raising, soils people.

--IMM

[mzmolly]

24. Yep.

Not only does it "soil" people it ties their hands as they have to work within the system.

[immoderate]

26. And she already has the visibility and name recognition.

Why be a senate Dem where she has no power anyway?

--IMM

[mzmolly]

27. Very true.

Hopefully our minority status will change in the near.

:hi:

[derby378]

29. Waaaaaah!

Good on ya, Cindy - I was looking forward to a Senate race, but it'll be great to see you in Crawford again soon.

[LittleClarkie]

31. Well, that's just the question I was asking

I'm glad she was asking it too, and evaluated her decision according to the answer.