Cindy,

You are a brave woman of passionate convictions, but your are adding only heat and not much light to the matter. Like many of those who oppose the appointment of "insiders" you give no credit for education or experience.

Being against something is not sufficient, you need to propose a better alternative-- you haven't made that case, and anyway it's too late.

by Richmond Shreve (30 articles, 70 quicklinks, 17 diaries, 157 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:38:40 PM

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etc at anyone who disapproves of Obama's sellout politics. What's important is whether there's good reason to be angry & negative -- not merely whether someone is angry.  

Cindy rightly points out that Obama is busy appointing the same banksters who drove the financial system into the ground, to high positions in his administration. So you call her "angry and negative,"without responding to her point -- as though anger itself can be condemned without examining what the anger is based on. That kind of "criticism" is cheap, vacuous, & worthless.

By your logic, anyone who criticized Bush could be dismissed as merely being "(sigh) so angry, so negative." // Experience doesn't necessarily count for much, incidentally. What's far more important is the perspective the individual operates from. For example, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz & most of the figures of the Bush administration (apart from Bush himself) all had plenty of "experience." No one could claim more "experience" than Bush's father -- and he stunk as a president.

Your trite & grade-schoolish idea that every article must "propose a better alternative" is also empty & ridiculous. First of all, Cindy HAS proposed better alternatives, many times. Her campaign against the traitor Pelosi was offering a better alternative. She has often explained why it's important to oppose US militarism. And obviously, in the present context, she means that Obama should not be appointing an economic team full of Wall St insiders, & figures who will reliably protect the interests of those insiders. 

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 11:29:33 PM

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"Like many of those who oppose the appointment of "insiders" you give no credit for education or experience."

"Education" and "experience" in what, Mr, Apologist? Education in setting-up fraud? Experience in executing thievery? Could you be a little more clear here?

And "many of those"? Many of "those" who? And if there's "many" it would seem to be a popular view. So are you arguing against a popular view? And if so that would put you on the wrong side of this fence.

For it seems Ms. Seehan gave a pretty good synopsis as to their education and experience, so just what did she miss you can enlighten us to?

"Being against something is not sufficient, you need to propose a better alternative-- you haven't made that case, and anyway it's too late."

What's your alternative, put-down boy? Aren't you guilty of what you're accusing Ms. Seehan of doing? Recognizing a problem without leaving your own answer?

And what "case" is supposed to be made? Isn't a stark observation of the situation enough when so many are being fooled into believing the unbelievable? With all the propaganda spewing what a savior Obama is, isn't it our right to at least counter this mania with some sober commentary? Isn't that enough in of itself? 

And just why is it "too late?" Are you saying that there's no recourse? We the people can't rise and change things, as is our right as spelled out in the Constitution, by any means necessary? And if not,why not?  You going to feel the same way when shelves are empty? You still think it will be "to late?"

Are we to just speak only positive about our Great Leader or keep our mouths shut?

Are you being fitted for your brown-shirt as we speak?

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 11:46:25 PM

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Shreve mouths the usual putdown platitudes of the Establishment defender, but doesn't notice that it is SO misplaced in this case!

He tells Cindy Sheehan that she's not doing anything?  The woman who singlehandedly revitalized the anti-war movement and then ran for Congress?  The epitome of the usual prescription for action from the condescending?

How pathetic.

It reminds me of the anti 9-11 truthers.  After years of being conditioned to call sceptics of the multiple "lone nut" theories, "conspiracy theorists", they continue to use the epithet against those who question the official conspiracy theory of 19 hijackers and a man in a cave, although it is clearly not applicable in this case.

Cindy Sheehan has done more than the other  300,000,000 Americans to further the cause of peace.   She is a force for good in this country.  And this article is educating those of us who may have missed the CNN report (although I wouldn't say I missed it), and the info on Larry Summers and his protege.  Therefore, it is a positive contribution to our political discourse.

by wagelaborer (6 articles, 1 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 307 comments [34 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 6:07:04 PM

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I can't hardly watch C-SPAN any longer, let alone regular TV.

We're being lied to on so many levels it's a wonder anyone knows a damn thing that's true.

When masses wake-up to the nightmare of the Obama dream nosedive there's going to be Earth-shaking proportions. It's why we now have our own army being used against us, FEMA camps staffed and ready, S-1959 sitting in the wings, and any number of ugly surprises these cretins have up their sleeves.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:48:04 PM

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thanks cindy ~ Most of us "get" that Obama is a system guard meant to calm the masses, and this is most clear in his appointment picks - as Mr M so clearly pointed out....

those experienced in setting up a scam and robbing US taxpayers.

it's long past time to stop paying taxes, eh?

by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 9:18:35 AM

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Why opt for negativism and despair? We are poised at the beginning. Obama has not yet taken office. There are lines of communication open, there are numerous social networking possibilities to build political support for your point of view and the direction you want things to take.

Cindy rose to national prominence with her vigil in Crawford Texas, and was able to articulate her point of view to the world. Doubtless her stand raised the consciousness of many.

But it has been left to others to wrestle with the issues and find a way to build the political will to change. The old saw "politics is the art of the possible" is true. Obama must find compromises that satisfy most of the voting public in order to keep the needed support in Congress and the Senate, and ultimately to keep his administration in office for 8 years. In my view, he is doing well at finding competent people who are willing to sacrifice better opportunities to serve in his administration. That's leadership. He's building a team of major league players.

Your voices, dear fellow writers, are not persuasive because you argue from despair and for despair.  You attract a community of agreement that says in chorus "no not that" and "ain't it awful" without offering an attractive alternative. Consequently you remain on the sideline, spectators, carping and occasionally flaming out in temper tantrums. Meanwhile others are playing full out in the arena--they are doing something, be it investigative reporting, critical analysis, advancing better ideas, or actually serving in office.

Write something positive, build a following, get things done. Be a player.

by Richmond Shreve (30 articles, 70 quicklinks, 17 diaries, 157 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 9:44:18 AM

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Dear Ms. Sheehan,

As someone who lost a father in another of our wars, I would like to say how deeply sorry I am about your son and to thank you for all that you have already done to change the system that failed him, and to express my admiration for your continued determination to act in the face of criticism, including vacuous complaints about your demeanor. You are serving our country and your son’s memory with honor.

While I share your concerns about Obama’s right-wing appointments that  effectively promote the guilty, it was apparent from his vote for the bankruptcy bill at the beginning of his senate term: Obama is a corporate guy. Given corporate power’s lock on US politics, especially at the national level, how could he have been nominated and elected if he were not? Our only hope is that Obama is a ferociously fast study and policy development in his administration will be more agile and less dependent on the agenda those around him than it was under Bush.

On the other hand, why choose known failures, even if they may have learned from their mistakes, when you could choose those equally or better experienced with a record of being right on policy issues. For example, instead of the “brilliant” Larry Summers with a record of being wrong when it counted most and more personal baggage than a wondering heiress, Obama could have appointed Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz, chairman of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors from 1995 to 1997 as well as Chief economist for the World Bank, who has been spot on about the systemic failures that led to the current economic meltdown.

Sadly, although many of us care about our country and its government’s policies, we have no real power. Even collectively, we can only act in the most outer obits of governance because the nation is effectively controlled by a single party, the Corporate Power party. The recent change in the governing wings of that party from the Republican wing to the Democratic wing is unlikely to bring any fundamental changes in policy. However, let us at least celebrate the departure the relentlessly vile Bush and the beginning of what promises to be a more sensible administration, unfortunately commencing at the cusp of national disaster.

Sincerely,

William H. White

by William White (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 78 comments [6 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:03:11 AM

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" ... negativism and despair"? How do you equate criticism with the more extreme negativism? And how do you know what we're feeling? Despair? How about being pissed-off!

" ... poised at the beginning." The beginning of what? We're in the middle of a mess. You're full of phrases that don't say much. Sort of like "change we can believe in." Change, my ass! Obama just enlisted Volcker as a top aid. Who is next? Rove? Kissinger? Rumsfeld? They have "experience", and are "major players" so if that's your criteria they pass muster too? Right? Hell, keep Cheney and Bush for that matter, because the policies are of little difference.

And you speak of "lines of communication" What lines? Obama didn't listen to us when he was courting our votes, what makes you think he'll listen now?

Look, let me make this clear, you seem to be working under an assumption that our government is still somehow a functioning government representative of the people. I would simply ask you to give one example of just where that axiom holds water? Was it when they ignored our call of a 1,000 to 1 against bailing-out banksters? Or our years now long call to end Iraq immediately? Or stop spying on us?

This is not despair, it's coming from an observation of what policies our government has been passing over decades and whom they benefit? We don't "remain on the sidelines" we've been shoved to the sidelines.

You obviously haven't looked behind the curtain at what forces really run our government and to whom our government is beholden to. These cretins don't sacrifice anything swinging back and forth from private industries and government where they pass policies that benefit the very industries they came from, not the people. These "major league players" aren't even playing in our ballpark. During the campaign there was a poll on whom you would vote for: Obama, McCain or "None of the Above", "none" won 64%.

This is the premise and after you've "connected those dots" you con to realize, our so-called government is but a shell of it's original self. It now functions as a tool for global-elitists Hell-bent on forming a New World Order -One World Government where the top 1% hold an iron-fist over the remaining 99%, 80 to 90% of them they wish to murder. (Georgia Guidestones)

Sound absurd?! Oh, my gosh! Lions and tigers and bears!

No, CODEX Alimentarius, Belderberg, Bohemia Grove, Consul of 300, CFR, IMF, are what scares me and rule over the roost, of which Obama is a full-fledged participant in.

Have you heard one word coming from Obama about stopping CODEX? Doing away with the FED? Holding war-criminals accountable? Investigating 9/11?

No? You think he's "playing to the middle"? What "middle?" In a Zorby poll taken in 2007, 51% wanted a new 9/11 investigation, those numbers have obviously grown, so what "middle" and just who the hell is Obama making compromises and concessions for? By any standard he's ignoring us, as are a vast majority of our so-called, placed in office by rigged election fraud system, so-called representatives.

So I will work in whatever capacity I have to enlighten people to these cretins that pretend to be our friends as they continue to stick knives in our backs. If that is negative, it's only in that we're pointing out a negative situation in the positive hope enough people become aware of just who is sticking those knives in our backs so that they may focus their anger at those that so righteously deserve it.

When the selves are bare, are you going to write a nice positive article in how nice and shinny all those bare shelves are? At what point do you get mad?

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." T. Jefferson

"You cannot solve problems with the same body of conscience." A. Einstein

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:06:32 AM

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"I wonder if the Constitution can be amended so Obama can be sworn in earlier than January 20th?!"

 To even wonder this makes a dramatic statement as to her education...  My GOD!!  We are witnessing a transfer of power that does more than maintain the status quo for the corporate pimps...  

We now have politicians, ready to make larger gifts flowing from Big Government to Big Business..  In the mean time, we, the people are going to continue to be screwed...

However, the guy talking about it really sounds like he knows what he is doing, so all is well in the world, right???

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 829 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 12:06:43 PM

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Stop it Cindy Sheehan. Stop making white, middle class, privileged liberals uncomfortable by speaking some actual truth about the Democratic Party's complicity (and by extension their own) in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, loss of Rights, shredding of the Constitution, big money corporate bailouts etc etc.

You are making them uncomfortable Cindy because you are pointing out that they are and have been delusional in thinking that they have had any say in the Obama Administration. 

Stop it Cindy, these white, comfortable, privileged  middle class liberals want you to to go back to the Republicans bad, George Bush bad  Republicans bad mantra. 

Stop pointing out their own complicity in the war machine Cindy.

Stop speaking truth Cindy. You are making them uncomfortable.

 Anyway, you are just an egoist Cindy, you are an attention whore Cindy. I heard those white, privileged middle class liberals say that when you spoke truth about Hillary Clinton.

Cindy Sheehan, I for one am proud of you. You speak for me Cindy.

You speak for those of us who are dissidents to United States Foreign Policy, not for the apologists for it. Those of us who have been shut out of peace rallies, so called progressive rags and radio stations like the Nation or Air America.

Keep it up, we need you. 

Yours in Loving Respect and Solidarity 

by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 1:09:19 PM

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that San Francisco was a "Progressive" city, yet they voted to retain the status quo Pelopsi in Congress, what gives?

Since the Obama campaign flipped-flopped on its commitment to withdrawal from the farce War Of Terror based off of lies and deceit, and widen the front in Afghanistan, that had nothing to do with 9/11. Or the fact that Osma Bin Laden does not have a warrant out for his arrest by the FBI, one could surmise that that things in Washington were not going to change much under a Obama administration.

All one had to do was look at the War-Hawk advisers Obama has on his team, his Senate voting record and how much he moved his campaign to the Center-Right to come to this conclusion. a Democrat? More like a Republican-Lite than anything else.

Yet the Obama "Zombies" have falsely accused me of being a "Closet Racist" pontificating their opinions while residing in their non-minority neighborhoods and a "Liar" even though all I say are facts about the man.

There are the those that have these delusional dreams of how an Obama administration are going to act, and others who want to take a half a year before any should be tempted to criticize, though it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out from his past actions that these dreams are just what the word "Dream" imply, not real.

Which will keep the USA and its law abiding, tax paying American citizens beholden to a MIC economy that borrows more than 7 billion $'s every month from China, to reward "Golden Parachutes" to the very "Financial Wizards" who should be in Prison.

Allowing the self-appointed "Treason" fomenting Bu$h cabal to enjoy the speaking fees they will command after leaving office, instead of being turned over to the Hague for War Crimes and spending their life sentences at Gitmo enduring what "Enemy Combatants" have.

Tis a broken carousel that the USA finds itself on spinning out of control, while a new management team assumes the helm of continuing to oil the squeaky gears, instead of stopping the madness and doing a complete overhaul of the mechanics of the system.

by Stanimal (2 articles, 226 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 1255 comments [234 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 2:19:31 PM

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I won't comment on the "anger and negativity," except to say that I am only pointing out things that are FACTS. If the FACTS are negative, is it my fault?

I have been mulling about my loss to Pelosi for a few weeks now, and I have part of the answer as to why we lost (although we came in 2nd and did better than any other 3rd party/Independent candidate this year).

Most "liberals" are very upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and torture and the bankster bailouts and a poll that we had done showed that 2/3rds of the district thought this nation was heading in the wrong direction.

However, there was a deep disconnect over anger at Pelosi and support of Obama for doing the same things: Voting for war funding; FISA immunity; and the bailout. If it's okay for Obama to do, then why isn't it okay for Pelosi to do.

Having said that, we knocked her support down below 80% for the first time ever and she only received 71% of the vote.

I hope more of us get angry. Anger that leads to political/social activism is righteous and in this day and age of a "pill" for everything, emotions are considered "wrong." Sorry, I have a lot of emotions and I refuse to take a pill or drink the Blue Koolaid to stop feeling.

If that makes some people uncomfortable, then that's his/her problem, not mine.

Have a great holiday, everyone.

Cindy

by Cindy Sheehan (58 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 24 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 4:32:30 PM

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I won't comment on the "anger and negativity," except to say that I am only pointing out things that are FACTS. If the FACTS are negative, is it my fault?

I have been mulling about my loss to Pelosi for a few weeks now, and I have part of the answer as to why we lost (although we came in 2nd and did better than any other 3rd party/Independent candidate this year).

Most "liberals" are very upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and torture and the bankster bailouts and a poll that we had done showed that 2/3rds of the district thought this nation was heading in the wrong direction.

However, there was a deep disconnect over anger at Pelosi and support of Obama for doing the same things: Voting for war funding; FISA immunity; and the bailout. If it's okay for Obama to do, then why isn't it okay for Pelosi to do.

Having said that, we knocked her support down below 80% for the first time ever and she only received 71% of the vote.

I hope more of us get angry. Anger that leads to political/social activism is righteous and in this day and age of a "pill" for everything, emotions are considered "wrong." Sorry, I have a lot of emotions and I refuse to take a pill or drink the Blue Koolaid to stop feeling.

If that makes some people uncomfortable, then that's his/her problem, not mine.

Have a great holiday, everyone.

Cindy

by Cindy Sheehan (58 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 24 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 4:38:37 PM

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That would be a kick-ass ticket. Rob Kall's surprising piece on pirates and Cindy's essay on the banksters and the Obama pre-presidency give me something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

By the way, suggestions such as the one that there be power sharing or that Obama begin his presidency early are thinly veiled challenges to constitutional government. There is currently a legal a challenge to Obama's presidency based on whether he actually fulfills the constitutional requirements of being born here. What if the court ruled against Obama? Would that not leave the country in a pathetic situation? Bush and Cheney could try to step in and say that they had to continue their reign until a new election was held. If that were to happen, it might be an opportunity for Americans to disavow the government entirely and start anew.

by Peter Duveen (13 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 197 comments [30 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 5:25:00 PM

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You have helped expose them for what they are. I will let you decide who "they" are.

You make me proud to be a dissident of US Foreign Policies, instead of an apologists, as so many of the so called left, progressive leadership like Michael Moore, Tom Haden, sadly even Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky.

You have shown us what courage and integrity is, unlike these other tough talking, so called progressive leaders. You have shown us what real leadership is.

In the Irish language

Dia Duith Agus Slan Go Foil, Mo Chara

Go Raibh Maith Agat

God Bless You and May Good Luck travel With You, My Friend (Ally)

My Thanks Goes With You 

by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 6:18:29 PM

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It looks like Obama's appointing the foxes who broke into the henhouse in the first place. Now they're supposed to fix the problem?

What kind of bizarro world are we living in when it's imperitive we amend the constitution to bring this team in, but over a year ago it was clearly "too late" to impeach Bush for any number of the serious crimes Kucinich outlined in his articles of impeachment?

We're not going to let these buggers get away with it, are we?

by Jody Paulson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:26:51 PM

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