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Sheehan brings activism to Bucks (What do you do when you're a peacemaker raising a war fiend?)
The Doylestown Intelligencer ^ | June 27, 2009 | Annie Tasker

Posted on 06/27/2009 1:16:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

The anti-war crusader said she'll continue to speak against U.S. policies despite the new administration.

Cindy Sheehan's methods have evolved since she first took her anti-war message to the streets.

The California-based activist said this week she doesn't put much stock in peace marches and petitions anymore. She encourages people instead to shift the country's balance of power by supporting independent media sources, growing food at home and discouraging people from enlisting in the military.

That was some of the advice she gave a crowd gathered Monday at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Warrington, Sheehan's latest stop to promote her new electronic book, "Myth America."

The speaker, radio show host and blogger began speaking out against the George W. Bush administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Baghdad in 2004. She made headlines by camping out in front of Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch and, later, running for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Congressional seat.

A change in presidents hasn't brought a significant change in course for either war, Sheehan said.

"George Bush may have left office, but his policies are continuing," she told the audience of about 50. President Barack Obama is better than his predecessor, she admitted, "but the corn on my foot is better than George Bush."

Sheehan's remarks have met with disapproval on both sides of the aisle. She has been criticized by veterans groups who say her work dishonors her son's service. More recently, Sheehan said Monday, Obama supporters have stood up and walked out of her presentations.

Olivia Kiernan, an 18-year-old Temple University student who came to Monday's event with her mother, Bobbi Penniman, questioned the activist about her support of Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney during the 2008 presidential election. Kiernan and Penniman said after the event they were energized by Sheehan's practical advice for would-be peace activists.

For another woman in the audience, Sheehan's experiences hit close to home.

Patt Fowler of Warrington said her son, a rising high school junior, has watched family friends enlist in the military and now has his sights set on joining the Marines once he graduates.

She asked Sheehan: "What do you do when you're a peacemaker raising a war fiend?"

The activist had a few book suggestions for her son, but said the best thing to do was to have someone else talk to him - someone who's not his mother.

"I wish somebody had given me that advice," Sheehan said.

Fowler left Monday with a signed copy of "Myth America's" book cover printout. Sheehan scribbled a personal message as well: "Call me or e-mail me anytime."

The Warrington mother said she understands the need for the military and respects her son and his choices.

However, "he sees the honor in fighting for the country," Fowler said. "I see the tragedy."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bho44; bush; cindysheehan; iraq; obama; peacecreeps; sedition; wot
It's no surprise that that mentally ill woman is from Berkely, California.
1 posted on 06/27/2009 1:16:43 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“he sees the honor in fighting for the country,” Fowler said. “I see the tragedy.”

He will be fighting for her right to be an asp!!


2 posted on 06/27/2009 1:23:34 AM PDT by handy old one (It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristote)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is amazing to me that this person has any audience for her sedition and perfidy left at all .
Although there are probably a few people where I live that still consider her a visionary goddess .
I always hoped that W would come out of his ranch and personally kick her butt


3 posted on 06/27/2009 1:24:50 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Poor Cindy. She used to be a useful idiot, but now she’s not even useful.


4 posted on 06/27/2009 1:30:27 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Is it more insane to watch someone do the same thing over and over and expect a different result or is it more insane to to be the one doing it??


5 posted on 06/27/2009 1:33:53 AM PDT by handy old one (It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristote)
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To: handy old one

Depends on whether watching her is still good for a laugh.


6 posted on 06/27/2009 1:35:17 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Crazy is the new sane.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

But the one woman wonders where she went wrong, and she did not go wrong raising her son, she is just wrong in her point of view of the action.


7 posted on 06/27/2009 1:37:58 AM PDT by handy old one (It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristote)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Wow! A blast from the past. She went into hiding after being polverized by Nancy Pelosi on election day. I wish she had stayed there.


8 posted on 06/27/2009 1:51:33 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator

Believe it, or not, she came in second and beat the Republican candidate. Just shows you how far left San Francisco truly is!!


9 posted on 06/27/2009 1:56:41 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (In memory of my father, Gunnery Sgt., USMC, WWII and Korea, 1925-2002)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; All
From the vault of the past:

Code Pinko-- the Cindy Sheehan affair ( click the picture )


10 posted on 06/27/2009 2:14:47 AM PDT by backhoe (All across America, the Lights are going out...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"What do you do when you're a peacemaker raising a war fiend?" What kind of person would say something like that about their own son? Also, at least Sheehan's consistent with the crazy. Notice how all the anti-war rallies and such disappeared after the president got a 'D' after his name. Nobody's even complaining that Obama is allowing missile strikes in Pakistan which kill people, but if Bush had done it, they would have demanded he be dragged to the Prague immediately. I also like how Sheehan is pissing in some Obamabots' Cheerios! :)
11 posted on 06/27/2009 2:40:01 AM PDT by Rodebrecht (What are you and who do you want?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
discouraging people from enlisting in the military.

Dear Moonbat,

See tagline. OORAH!

12 posted on 06/27/2009 3:02:34 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Private FC- 1/16/09 - Parris Island, SC - Lnc Crprl -6/4/09 - 29 Palms, CA)
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To: don-o
Take a look at this. It makes me a little sick, actually. But the jokes on them. Wouldn't it be sweet if their feeble efforts ever actually did hurt the military's recruiting efforts, and their asses got drafted?
13 posted on 06/27/2009 3:22:13 AM PDT by Rodebrecht (What are you and who do you want?)
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To: Rodebrecht

Nothing is much more demoralizing than having the wonderful opportunity to share a squad with someone that doesn’t want to be wherever. The draft is a horrible idea on so many levels.


14 posted on 06/27/2009 3:32:16 AM PDT by Renderofveils (My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. - Nabokov)
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To: Rodebrecht

Feeble effort is right. I bet FR clickthroughs from your post will spike that pathetic site’s counter.

Last I saw, ALL branches of our military had exceeded monthly recruitment goals.


15 posted on 06/27/2009 3:32:59 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Private FC- 1/16/09 - Parris Island, SC - Lnc Crprl -6/4/09 - 29 Palms, CA)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Patt Fowler of Warrington said her son, a rising high school junior, has watched family friends enlist in the military and now has his sights set on joining the Marines once he graduates. She asked Sheehan: "What do you do when you're a peacemaker raising a war fiend?"

We need to find a new nation someplace. This one is too infested with RATs.
16 posted on 06/27/2009 3:50:23 AM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Sarah Palin is our next President - start supporting her NOW!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

***the corn on my foot is better than George Bush.” ***

The pus in the pimple on my butt is better than Cindy Sheehan.


17 posted on 06/27/2009 3:51:05 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Renderofveils

I’m completely opposed to the draft. I believe it’s fundamentally un-American and that it makes the Army worse off.


18 posted on 06/27/2009 4:02:42 AM PDT by Rodebrecht (What are you and who do you want?)
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To: don-o
Last I saw, ALL branches of our military had exceeded monthly recruitment goals.

Don't be fooled by the numbers. It's not "under" the DoD to aim low and force recruiting stations to carry recruits over to different months IOT meet or exceed goals. Nor is it under the DoD to force lower standards of recruitment IOT meet or exceed goals, too.

The site linked is stupid and, I'm sure, has little to no effect on recruiting, but recruiting has gotten worse off. Seriously.
19 posted on 06/27/2009 4:17:34 AM PDT by raynearhood ("Naysayers for Jesus" - Charter Member)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As a veteran and resident of Bucks County I feel soiled. This media whore has already had her 15 minutes. Go back to Berkeley and die.


20 posted on 06/27/2009 4:19:20 AM PDT by RU88 (Bow to no man)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Gotta chuckle with the name ‘BuxMont UU Fellowship’, ‘dat is just too Gay!


21 posted on 06/27/2009 4:30:43 AM PDT by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

She asked Sheehan: “What do you do when you’re a peacemaker raising a war fiend?”

So this is what a mother thinks of her young son who has a calling to defend his nation and his fellow human beings.
He is not a good person to her,he is a war fiend. How sad for this pathetic women and sadder for her son...


22 posted on 06/27/2009 4:38:10 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: SECURE AMERICA
She asked Sheehan: “What do you do when you’re a peacemaker raising a war fiend?”

Yeah, what's a bad mother to do?

23 posted on 06/27/2009 4:54:49 AM PDT by paulycy (Liberal DOUBLE-STANDARDS are HATE speech.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“She asked Sheehan: “What do you do when you’re a peacemaker raising a war fiend?”

Why would someone who loves and respects their own child talk about them like that in public?


24 posted on 06/27/2009 10:33:53 AM PDT by Armedanddangerous ( I think you're so full of inconsolable rage you don't care who you hurt)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Sheehan did more personally to oppose Pelosi (including taking her fight to Pelosi's district) than anyone else in the entire country last year.

Sheehan is also speaking in support of independent media, home-grown food, and opposition to Obama (according to the article). Many FR threads, espouse the same goals.

You don't have to agree with all her opinions (I don't), but she certainly deserves the respect of everyone here (for at least some of what she's done).

25 posted on 06/27/2009 12:26:24 PM PDT by research99
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To: research99
You don't have to agree with all her opinions (I don't), but she certainly deserves the respect of everyone here (for at least some of what she's done).

Hitler loved animals, they say. And he did a pretty good job of rebuilding the German economy.

I'd agree that everybody should be "taken on balance". But even after giving Cindy Sheehan credit for "some of what she's done", she has done far more harm than good.

Thus, I'm perfectly comfortable dissing (or ignoring) her...

26 posted on 06/27/2009 12:44:01 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: okie01
Sheehan has made many mistakes. She's acted disrepectively, she's made friends who are more guilty of things she criticizes than her targets, and she's allowed herself to be used by the wrong crowd. No argument there.

But she started out as an aggrieved private citizen (not a trained politician) and has continued to speak out in her own way, much like other private activists who are the heroes of FR (Tea Partiers, Minutemen).

She also targeted Pelosi and ran against her in her own backyard -- for all the criticism of her, I'd like you to respond by identifying any private citizen here (who has displayed the cojones to do anything quite like that)?

27 posted on 06/27/2009 12:53:37 PM PDT by research99
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To: research99

Correction: She’s acted “disrespectfully”


28 posted on 06/27/2009 12:55:38 PM PDT by research99
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To: research99
But she started out as an aggrieved private citizen (not a trained politician)...

Did she, really? My understanding is that she was recruited by a PR firm (Fenton Communications) to serve as an "aggrieved private citizen". Whether she was paid or was attracted by the idea of celebrity is unclear.

She was being used, of course. But she allowed herself to be used. And she willingly acted the part.

Forgive me if I don't trust her motives.

...and has continued to speak out in her own way, much like other private activists who are the heroes of FR (Tea Partiers, Minutemen).

But is she speaking out from conviction? Or from a pathetic desire to reclaim her lost celebrity? With good reason, I question her motivations -- but I have no reason to question the motivations of the Tea Partiers, Minutemen, FReepers, etc.

29 posted on 06/27/2009 1:43:35 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
she told the audience of about 50

Thousands show for the tea parties, yet it gets scant coverage, and the coverage it does get is condescending, at best.

30 posted on 06/27/2009 1:47:07 PM PDT by Boiling Pots (B. Hussein Obama: The final turd George W. Bush laid on America)
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To: okie01
So far as I'm aware, Cindy Sheehan's efforts all started with the death of her son (in the service of her country). That's a supreme sacrifice, and there are at most thousands of people (of the ~300 million persons in the country) who have paid that price for their right to speak as they choose.

Some of the things she's said and done since, I feel have been dead wrong. I'm sure she's been used, and could/should have exercised better judgment. But as she's not only a private citizen but a "gold star" mother, I haven't had reason (yet), to doubt her feelings of her own sincerity.

But for all of the armchair critics who've had words about Pelosi, Cindy Sheehan is about the only one (I know) that relocated, filed, spoke and ran against her.

A challenge from the left should be welcomed, especially going into 2010.

31 posted on 06/27/2009 1:56:57 PM PDT by research99
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To: research99
You're free to make your own judgment of Cindy Sheehan and her motives. I don't happen to share your assessment.

For her sake, I hope you're right.

32 posted on 06/27/2009 2:29:20 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: RU88

You’re so lucky to live in Bucks county. So gorgeous. New Hope is like Hippie Disneyland.


33 posted on 06/27/2009 2:34:49 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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