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How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated

Frank Rich has a scathing account in the Sunday New York Times about the current administration's mismanagement and deceit about the Iraq War.The Swift Boating of Cindy Sheehan is a must read.

But this time the Swift Boating failed, utterly, and that failure is yet another revealing historical marker in this summer's collapse of political support for the Iraq war.

....THIS summer in Crawford, the White House went to this playbook once too often. When Mr. Bush's motorcade left a grieving mother in the dust to speed on to a fund-raiser, that was one fat-cat party too far. The strategy of fighting a war without shared national sacrifice has at last backfired, just as the strategy of Swift Boating the war's critics has reached its Waterloo before Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury in Washington. The 24/7 cable and Web attack dogs can keep on sliming Cindy Sheehan. The president can keep trying to ration the photos of flag-draped caskets. But this White House no longer has any more control over the insurgency at home than it does over the one in Iraq.

< RoveGate Tidbit: Look for Fitzgerald to Go for the Top Dog | Guard: Abu Graib Higher Ups Covered Their As*es >
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  • Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#1)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Plus, there's the extra bonus that "Swift Boating" has, appropriately, taken on great rhetorical value as a verb. Still, I find celebrating the discourse surrounding Sheehan disturbing. For that woman it is a lose-lose situation. First, her son irrevocably gone as a result of this politically motivated Republican War. Second, freedom is eroding rapidly.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    The polls show that Cindy Sheehan is a polarizing figure - 35% favorable and 38% unfavorable. I guess the Democratic Senators and presidential hopefuls have read the polls and don't want to be seen with Cindy. Well, Sen. John Edwards didn't have balls and got his wife, Elizabeth Edwards to support Cindy (August 17, 2005 post here) I wonder how many of them, Sen. Biden, Sen. Edwards, Sen. Kerry, et al will ask Cindy's supporters for money and votes when they start running. AL GORE CALLS CINDY SHEEHAN TO TONE DOWN HER DRIVE

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#3)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Now let me see, "We the people have a government for the people or by the rich?...hope bush won't order a hit on her.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Well, Sen. John Edwards didn't have balls and got his wife, Elizabeth Edwards to support Cindy
    Too bad Bush doesn't even have the balls to send his wife to meet her. And how is your war support poll numbers doing lately??

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    By Swift Boated do you mean "had painful truths exposed by the MSM minority and ignored by the NYT and their succulient syncophants?" The poor lady, besides being clearly unhinged by grief, was a conspiracy theory laden anti-semite. Sad to say. -C

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#6)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Cliff- You forgot that she likes anal sex, and eats crackers in bed, as well. She must be very scary to you. The kneejerk smear, smear, smear, blows your cover but doesn't hide your cowardly inability to discuss her message. Not that you have ever shown any ability to engage in serious dialogue. Chimp King and his minions pour on the dirt, while thay run for cover.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Squeaky- What's wrong with bum-love? Do you want me to quote the poor woman's anti-semite ravings and laden her google score even more? I will, don't make me use this pomegrante! (Monty Phython brought to you by the Woaman's Auxiliary Invasion Force!) _C

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#8)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Cliff why dont you prove it, but skip the doctored crap thats been showing up on the right wing blog sites.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#9)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Oh yeah Liddy's program doesn't count either.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#11)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Smear is all the right wing has on this, scum like Liddy and Hitchens will and have said anything to protect their dear leaders, Then you throw in Rush who seems to be back on the Oxy and Maulkin and you all you get is sewage.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Ok, so let me get this straight, you don't want quotes or links to CS's anti-jew ravings? Nor her comments about how we're all mass murderers or the descendents thereof? Sorry, must have missed the "nah nah" clause in the social compact. My bad, back to your Thompson-ash sprinkled Kahula & Coke. _C

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#13)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Cliff-What other inflamatory allegations do you want to level against Ciny Sheehan, SO YOU CAN AVOID TALKING ABOUT DEAD PEOPLE KILLED BECAUSE OF THE US ILLEGAL WAR ON IRAQ AND THE ENORMOUS LIABILITY THE US CIRRENTLY FACES.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#14)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Sheehan is able to accomplish what the 9/11 commission, Joseph Wilson, George Galloway and the Downing St minutes could not, which is to get in Bush's face and put that liar on the spot by asking one simple question: What was the noble cause for which her son (and so many others) have died? It is now common knowledge that Casey Sheehan went to Iraq only out of his sense of duty to his fellow soldiers. He did NOT agree that we should invade Iraq. Of course, this is what his own mother told us, so the right trashers can take it for what it is. Yet because Our Pet Chimp simply cannot answer her without looking like a complete idiot and a liar, the media attack dogs shift into overdrive. Hang in there Cindy. Keep up the good work all you campers in Waco. You speak for millions.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#15)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    boy, you have to hand it to cindy sheehan, what a political operative! she had the savvy to arrange for her son to get killed in iraq, just to use it against bush. puts rove to shame. surely, there must have been someone in rove's family who was expendable. cliff, again, you would know from unhinged. must be that adrenalin rush from hiring desperate coders in india at rock bottom prices. of course, you gets what you pays for.............. to assert, that because ms. sheehan feels that our support of israel has some connection with terrorism against us, automatically equates to anti-semitism is quite the inspired leap of logic. but, there ya go again, spewing forth the trash that has passed for republican "talking points" since nixon. cliff, can i call you cliff? if that's your real name. have you ever actually had an original thought of your own, one not prepped by karl and his minions? i thought not. so, let's see the links. and please, not just to the usual right-wing suspects, but to honest to goodness news gathering organizations. frankly, that she rendered the president of the united states speechless pretty much says it all.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#16)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Cliff, Not everyone who despises zionism is anti semitic. Since you can't make the distinction, debating the point with you is a waste of time.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#17)
    by Andreas on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:33 PM EST
    Im am aware that Talkleft generally does not agree when people write on Israel here. But here one racist commenter tries to smear Cincy Sheehan because of her alleged comment on Israel. Let me just state it: Zionism is a form of racism and Cindy Sheehan has every right to oppose racism. Not suprisingly many of those who support the illegal war on Iraq also defend the illegal war on the Palestine people.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#18)
    by Andreas on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    Cindy Sheehan:
    Another thing is that the Israel thing has not died. I did not say that my son died for Israel. I have never said it, I don't think it, I don't believe it. It is just another lie, smear tactic from the right. It needs to die right now. It's not the truth. I stand by everything that I have said. But I will not stand by things that I haven't said. I am not anti-Semitic. I am just anti-killing. George Bush is responsible for killing so many people, but nobody scrutinizes anything he says, especially leading up to the war. Since there is nothing to smear me about with the truth, they have to tell lies. A former friend who is anti-Israel and wants to use the spotlight on me to push his anti-Semitism is telling everyone who is listening that I believe that Casey died for Israel and has gone so far as to apparently doctor an email from me. People have to know that he doesn't speak for me. ABC Nightline can't confirm his email is real and therefore any reporting on it is irresponsible. That is not my issue. That is not my message and anyone who knows me knows it doesn't sound like me.
    Crawford Update

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#19)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    So now the issue is supposed to be Sheehan's anti-Semitism? Christ on a crumb heap. Somebody get these bozos a clue. In a way I suppose one ought to feel sorry for those who cannot forward an argument or even address what people are actually saying.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#20)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    But then again it's always cute to see Republicans pretend to abhor bigotry. Whatever part of Sheehan that isn't shattered ought to be proud. To be called a racist by these people is a high accolade indeed.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    I will not defend Cindy Sheehan. Why? Defending Cindy moves the discussion away from the message. She does not need to be defended. It is not about her. People that think she is doing good should not defend her, they should just carry the message: What noble cause, Mr. President?

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#23)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    Ok, so let me get this straight, you don't want quotes or links to CS's anti-jew ravings? Nor her comments about how we're all mass murderers or the descendents thereof?
    Nice try old Cliff. all I said is I want real evidence not the rantings of the worst the right has to offer. Got anything that will stand up to a close look. Didn't think so

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#24)
    by theologicus on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    ... the insurgency at home... Good phrase. Has a nice ring to it. Let's hope that at some point the Democrats rediscover their backbone and join in.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#25)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    Once again Mr. Bush was in his bubble, ensuring that he wouldn't see Ms. Sheehan coming. So it goes with a president who hasn't foreseen any of the setbacks in the war he fabricated against an enemy who did not attack inside the United States in 2001.
    Bush the Bubble Boy does it again. He sees things that aren't there (you know the "38,000 liters of botulinum toxin", "25,000 liters of anthrax" etc.) and doesn't see what is there. Now we know what the Bush aide meant when he said that the Bush administration wasn't part of the "reality-based community."

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#26)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    One of the things I learned from Rich's NYT op/ed was the circumstances of Casey Sheehan's death in Iraq. His unit was badly outnumbered by Moktada al-Sadr's insurgents when the Iraqi security forces that accompanied them abandoned their posts. And what has happened to al-Sadr and his followers? They contol one of the largest blocs in Iraq's new government. It must be strange for our soldiers in realize that some of the people that they are being asked to fight for were responsible for the deaths of their comrades.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#27)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    Cliff, I'll take your links. I'm sure that, as you say, they have all the exclamation points to justify your characterization of her words as "ravings". By the way, do YOU know what the noble cause was? Anyone? Anyone?

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    Again, this is no surprise. I warned people over on Kos weeks ago of the high likelyhood this would happen to Mrs. Sheehan and if she and the rest were serious they'd better have a plan to deal with it in a direct manner. there's only one way to bring the Giant down-- and we'd better be prepared to do it or just forget the whole thing and watch our country go down the crapper. I mean, c'mon. look what Herr Rove and the hate machine did to McCain and Cleland for chrissake. if these thugs are willing to throw people like that under the bus to get what they want, just imagine what thy'll do to Mrs. Sheehan-- or any other mother/father that steps forward to challenge BushCo.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    "By the way, do YOU know what the noble cause was?" AIRBASES. By the way, does anyone have any spare '4E12' gas coupons? I need to take a drive to Arizona to protect the border, but I don't have enough ration coupons. I could trade some '2N03' aluminum foil coupons, or some '3C01' scrap steel coupons. I know it's illegal to trade coupons, but they are legally obtained, and I feel a strong need to protect against the Mexican Al Qaeda. Can you help?

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:35 PM EST
    Sorry Paul, after having a garage sale to raise funds for body armor for some neighborhood kids being sent to Iraq...I'm all tapped out. :(

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#31)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:35 PM EST
    That should be the stock resonse to any questioning of Sheehan's character.....WHAT'S THE NOBLE CAUSE?, WHAT'S THE NOBLE CAUSE? The catchphrase of the revived anti-imperialism, anti-war movement. Thanks Cindy.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:36 PM EST
    A few thoughts. 1) I'm still waiting for Cliff's evidence. But at least one of the statements attributed to Ms. Sheehan has apparently been doctored:
    Another "big deal" today was the lie that I had said that Casey died for Israel. I never said that, I never wrote that. I had supposedly said it in a letter that I wrote to Ted Koppel's producer in March. I wrote the letter because I was upset at the way Ted treated me when I appeared at a Nightline Town Hall meeting in January right after the inauguration. I felt that Ted had totally disrespected me. I wrote the letter to Ted Bettag and cc'd a copy to the person who gave me Ted's address. I believe he (the person who gave me the address) changed the email and sent it out to capitalize on my new found notoriety by promoting his own agenda. Enough about that.
    2) Apparently some people need to be educated on what Zionism is. While there is certainly racism in Israel, and the Palestinians have suffered a great deal as a result of Israeli policies, Zionism itself is NOT racism. It is the movement to give Jews a state, and the idea that Israel has a right to exist. Righteous Victims by Benny Morris is a good book on the subject (and not overly easy on the Israelis either!) 3) It's funny how every discussion of an issue has to devolve into attacks on the people involved in it. O.K., Cindy Sheehan's not perfect? Well, as the righties never tire of pointing out, the majority of people in this country chose to reelect an ex-alcoholic with a temper problem whose marriage almost broke up before he got sober, a history of accidents (car and biking), an unwillingness to talk to people who disagree with him and bratty daughters in their early 20s. Sounds pretty bad when I put it that way, doesn't it? And he's the leader of the free world! At the end of the day, it's about the policies and the execution of those policies. If you support Bush's record and disagree with Sheehan, then you must have better reasons than you don't like how she talks or you think she should get along with her inlaws better or somebody made up something that she said. But really, it should come down to the fact that you think the war was a good idea and it's going well. So go for it. Make your case. (cue chirping crickets.)

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:28 PM EST
    Dear people in here in support of Cindy: I am an immigrant in this country from Iran. I am jewish and at the same I have lived in Israel. I have got a lot of relatives both in Israel and Iran. I have also graduated from University of California Berkeley. Just a simple back ground about myself for anybody who is going to call me a right wing or something like that. I have served in Israeli Defense Forces special forces of Nahal (sayeret Nahal). I don't care who she has lost or what she has done, she should shut the hell up about Israel. If anything us Israelis could blames stupid left wingers and idiots like her for what is happening in Israel and emotional and moral support for Terrorist Groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad which by the way have ties with Iran that is direct supporter of Al-Qeada. I don't care how her son died or for what caused he died for. I am sure he is an honorable person that doesn't need our support just to prove that. However, I am also cousin to a murdered cousin in a bus bombing, buddy to the fallen friend, and nephew to raped and stabbed and killed aunt in Israel. I am also son to the tortured father in Iranian jails. Cindy, shut the heel up ..and stop using words such as my son died for lies, Even he did die for Iraq or lies as u claim, you have no right to claim that Israel is responsible or even make any stupid remarks about Israel. Focus on your own country, your own people and stop blaming jews. This is another case of anti-semitism. Anything goes wrong, it's the jews fault. Hey why don't u blame persians for it, they are also supporting terrorism. You might as well blame russians for it cuz they are killing chechens. Or Lets not forget Indian, but WHY ISRAEL???? WHY THE JEWS....THAT IS WHY IT IS ANTI-SEMITICS. if anybody wants to respond to me, i'm happy OF IF HE HEARS ME HERLSELF..CONTACT ME MY E-MAIL IS akahen@berkeley.edu

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#35)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:28 PM EST
    "I don't care who she has lost or what she has done, she should shut the hell up about Israel." Hey Ben, first of all, thanks for gravedigging this thread back up for a bit. It's title alone is so priceless, and so true, that it deserves to stick around. Anyway, Cindy Sheehan's not the one that keeps yammering about Israel, it's tabloid outlets like Powerline Free Republic etc. that have convinced you of this. When's the last time you actually watched an interview with Cindy Sheehan? Never? What a surprise. Her concern is that her son died for nothing remotely connected with American National Security. Nobody expects someone like you to care about or respond to such concerns. Further, I would submit that, especially following the wasting of her son's life, she has had more personally resonant things to think about than the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. And BTW, again, the little shell game of equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism doesn't work. It does, however, very nicely demonstrate the ignorance of those trying to sell it. Thanks for playing, and have a nice day.

    Re: How Cindy Sheehan Got Swift-Boated (none / 0) (#36)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:28 PM EST
    focus on your own country, your own people and stop blaming jews.
    Personally, I wish we would do just that. We should stop sending billions to israel (2.7 billion in 2003 along with NINE billion in guaranteed loans.) How dare you try to inhibit the free speech of any american, if it wasn't for the $$ & weapons we send to your country you wouldn't have lasted 1 year. I'm sorry for your loss of lives and liberties, but that doesn't give you any right to misconstrue Sheehan's statements and trash her son. I don't give a f#@! about your religion, but it is a fact the israeli soldiers shoot palesinian children and palestinians kill israeli children. BOTH SUCK!. Add up some time how many palestinians have died and how many israelis have died in YOUR conflict. (I'll give you a hint, the UN says "3,437 Palestinians & 942 Israelis Killed Since Sept. 2000" circa 2004.) It has nothing to do with the US, why should we send money at all to israel!?