I'm not going to post on here anymore.
Visit my new blog at : Divided We Stand
I long for the time when we think of ourselves as Americans. Maybe then we won't be so divided, we will have peace if we think of ourselves as American first - not as a Demarcate, Republican, or NeoCon......but an American
GO TO MY NEW BLOG
Peace inside
Cindy
Dear AOL user,
In the last week, tens of thousands of us spoke out against AOL's "email tax." And, with your help, our diverse DearAOL.com coalition has jumped from 50 organizations to 500.
Now, AOL is striking back with an active misinformation campaign against their own customers and the public. One AOL support representative even claimed that our emails were a scam—and told the customer to block future emails from MoveOn (you can read the IM transcript below).
We're writing to set the record straight. So take a look at the "myth and reality" points below—and then please tell AOL to stop misleading their customers and stop their pay-to-send proposal.
Help us reach our goal of 1,000 contacts to AOL by clicking here:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1526&id=6988-6727623-W_XULCR4B5bgUcdsKAj2iA&t=3
Please tell AOL it's wrong to sell access to people's inboxes, and that we won't let AOL destroy the free and open Internet that has become so important to democracy and innovation. We know the truth and we're pushing back.
Here are 3 myths that AOL hopes the public will believe:
MYTH #1: Nothing will change for those who don't pay to send.
REALITY: This weekend, the Silicon Valley-based San Jose Mercury News wrote an editorial entitled, "Paid e-mail will lead to separate, unequal systems; Free systems will become neglected." Here is an excerpt:
[AOL's pay-to-send system] is likely to work as an incentive for AOL to move as many senders as possible to the paid system...the temptation would be to neglect the free e-mail system, whose reliability would decline. Eventually, everyone would migrate to the fee-based system. There would be no way around the AOL tollbooth. [Read full editorial here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1522]
MYTH #2: AOL's pay-to-send system will reduce spam.
REALITY: AOL doesn't even claim its pay-to-send proposal would reduce spam—because it won't. Just the opposite, AOL wants to let commercial emailers pay to bypass spam filters. This creates a perverse incentive for AOL to err on the side of letting more unwanted emails into their customers' inboxes.
About this conflict of interest, the San Jose Mercury News editorialized, "why doesn't AOL announce it will forgo the fees—a decision that would help silence critics? AOL won't say."
MYTH #3: Nonprofits would not be hurt by AOL's email tax.
REALITY: Those who pay AOL's email tax would get guaranteed delivery, but everyone left behind would get increasingly unreliable service. Last Friday, AOL tried to create the illusion of responsiveness. They repackaged an already existing feature for nonprofits as if it was new, and then tried to divide our coalition by giving special email privileges to some "qualified" nonprofits while leaving other nonprofits, charities, small businesses, and even community and hobby mailing lists behind.
"I don't take bribes," responded Gilles Frydman, a coalition partner who needs email to run his free online network for cancer patients. "The solution is not AOL offering a few of us service for free in exchange for our silence—the solution is preserving equal access to the free and open Internet for everyone."
Please help us reach our goal of 1,000 contacts with AOL. Tell AOL to stop misleading their customers and stop their pay-to-send proposal that would hurt the free and open Internet—click here:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1526&id=6988-6727623-W_XULCR4B5bgUcdsKAj2iA&t=4
–Eli Pariser, Noah T. Winer, Adam Green, and the MoveOn.org Civic Action team
Tuesday, March 7th, 2006
Sources:
1. "Email Blocking and Filtering Report," Return Path, 2005
http://www.returnpath.biz/pdf/deliveryIndex.pdf
2. "Paid e-mail will lead to separate, unequal systems; Free systems will become neglected," San Jose Mercury News, March 5, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1522
3. "Diverse Groups Team Up to Fight E-Mail Fee, Associated Press, February 28, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1524&id=
4. "AOL Trash Talks Cancer Patients Over Opposition to Email Tax," MyDD.com, February 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1523
INSTANT MESSAGE CONVERSATION EXCERPT, AOL STAFF & AOL CUSTOMER
AOL: Hello...Welcome to Live Technical Support. My name is Nezel.
USER: if AOL starts charging ANYONE for mail I will not continue to use the service...Just wanted to tell you.
AOL: I understand that you have received a notice that AOL will be charging you for e-mail...Please send the e-mail to my screen name: AOLTechCNR...
AOL: At this time, I can say that AOL will not be charging you extra for using e-mail feature.
USER: not me, certain groups...
AOL: At this time, AOL will not charge you extra for using e-mail feature alone...I want to check the email...AOLTechCNR@aol.com is my complete e-mail address.
USER: That doesn't answer the question I asked. You said I will not be charged. I asked if groups like MoveOn will be...
AOL: Did you send it?
USER: Yes..do u have it?
AOL: Yes. I got it...That e-mail is a scam...
USER: Its a scam?...really?...
AOL: Yes...It is REALLY a scam mail...Please do block the sender of e-mail from sending e-mail on your AOL account.
USER: I will check into it with MoveOn...
The end.
Please conact AOL today:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1526&id=6988-6727623-W_XULCR4B5bgUcdsKAj2iA&t=5
***********************************************************
I am very upset with AOL. So upset I'm working on getting my family used to
another ISP system. As soon as they learn the new system I will be dumping your
program from my PC.
Why am I so upset at you?
First: You decided to give up all of my personal information to the
government. At least Goggle put up a fight for our freedom on the internet. You,
without a fight, handed over all your customers information.
Second: I have been paying your high prices for your service for MANY years.
I am a member of MoveOn.org and volunteer for them in many events held here
in Broward County Florida. I need to be able to communicate with them. It's not
enough that you charge me for your service but you want to charge them to
send me an Email. This is the last straw for me and why I am working on getting
my family used to another system.
All you care about is Money for which I will no longer give to you. And you
have no regards for our freedom and liberties.
**********************************************************
Dear **,
We were very happy to receive your suggestion and are pleased when our members take an active interest in improving the service. Innovation is a big part of what we do at AOL, and it's great when our members give us new ideas to start working on. We are sharing our members' comments with the people who design, build and program the service. Your input is the key to helping us improve the AOL® service.
á
To clarify the issue, AOL may begin charging businesses a 1-cent fee to send commercial e-mail to AOL members. This is part of AOL's continued effort to protect our members from spam or unsolicited e-mail. Please note that the article is not suggesting that AOL members will be charged for each e-mail they send. Be assured that sending e-mail will continue to be free for AOL members.
á
We are now offering e-mail partners 3 choices to deliver their e-mail to AOL users. We are going from 2 free services that we will continue to maintain: Whitelist and Enhanced Whitelist, to an added third voluntary layer, Certified E-mail.áá
á
ABOUT THE CERTIFIED E-MAIL SERVICE
á
The Certified E-mail is an optional premium serviceáfor highly qualified mailers sending permission-based messages to existing customers. AOL will continue to offer "white list" and "enhanced white list" privileges to mailers who do not wish to take advantage of the Certified E-mail service.
á
Every free benefit that current e-mail partners receive now on the AOL Whitelist and Enhanced Whitelist will be maintained. Mailers who do not want take advantage of the Certified E-mail service can still send e-mails to AOL members as long as they are in our White List or Enhanced While List.
á
The addition of Certified E-mail in no way means that mailers need to pay to send to AOL e-mail boxes. This program adds to our existing, industry-leading spam-fighting efforts, which have dramatically cut the amount of spam reaching our e-mail usersÆ inboxes.
á
Below are some of the advantages for mailers in the Certified E-mail service:
á
- Recipients will quickly and easily recognize your e-mail such as a distinguishing icon for authenticated mail and guaranteed delivery for important e-mails. (AOL« Keyword: Certified Mail)
- Mailers will get detailed information and assistance for instances of undeliverable e-mails.
If you need further information about the Certified E-mail program, please visit the site:
á
http://ted.aol.com/index.php?id=55
á
Thanks again for your comments. The more we hear from members, the more we know what you think works, what should be improved and what you'd like to see next. Please continue to share your thoughts on how we can make AOL an even better service for you.
Roland P.
AOL Customer Care Consultant
Let’s go Ghandi
March 7 2006
Yesterday my sister Cindy Sheehan was arrested outside of the U.S. mission to the United Nations. A contingent of Women which included Cindy, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, Missy Beattie a GSFP member whose Nephew Chase Comley was killed in Iraq and eight Iraqi women were attempting to deliver the Women Say no to War petition to the U.S. mission. This visit was pre approved by the mission. As the women arrived one of New York’s finest “cited a change of plans from “higher up” and moved in to arrest them. Four of the women, Cindy, Medea, Missy and code pink member Patti Ackerman were handled very roughly during their arrest. The women linked arms when it became apparent they were to be arrested. For this they were physically abused and charged with resisting arrest.
What will it take for the majority of you who don’t support the occupation of Iraq or the Bush regime to rise up? Polls tell us that 59% of you believe the occupation is wrong and we are being lied to by Bush. I do not see 160 million of you out in the streets. Again, what will it take? I will tell you what it took to get me off of my ass. It took my sweet beautiful nephew Casey’s blood spilling in Sadr City Baghdad. It took watching my sister and family suffer a pain I don’t think I can ever explain well enough but know it is a pain I would not even wish on the Bush family. I feel an indefensible guilt because of my apathy. I live daily thinking maybe Casey and 2300 other kids would still be alive if I had been in the streets prior to March 19 2003. Our civil rights are slowly being taken from us.
The Senate voted 89-10 to renew the Patriot Act. It still must pass the house. After hearing of the Dubai port deal and learning of the illegal wire tapping of Peace activists it is very apparent to me that the Patriot Act is used more to curtail the actions of U.S. citizens than to protect us from Terrorists. Patriot Act II will further increase the powers of the Bush regime and further diminish our rights.
So when will you wake up and rise up?
Will it be when you are arrested for trying to deliver a petition to a Government entity that your tax dollar pays?
Will it be when you are arrested for wearing a shirt a government official finds offensive?
Will it be when your e-mails and phone conversations are monitored by the NSA?
Will it be when your Childsbrains are blown out in a foreign country?
Tell me please what it will take?
I was having this conversation with a dear friend of mine. Someone on our side. But a person comfortable in life and as yet untouched by the last 5 years. When I asked her to speak out, call her congressman, newspaper, etc. She said to me “who would listen?” my answer to her, no one if you don’t do anything.
I can’t stress enough to you. At some point your life is going to be impacted by this administration of evil and greed. I implore you, I beg you, don’t wait until it is too late. The time is now to take our country back. The time is now to make our elected official do our will.
Non Violent Civil Disobedience is a time tested and proven tool to effect change.
To quote Ghandi:
You assist an evil system most effectively by obeying its orders and decrees.
An evil system never deserves such allegiance.
Allegiance to it means partaking of the evil.
A good person will resist an evil system with his or her whole soul.
We must as Rep. Maxine Waters puts it “put street heat” on congress. It is time for us to as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it “ cast our whole vote”.
You must now be willing to do as much as you can to reclaim our country. Can you make daily phone calls to your Senators and Congressmen? I think you can. Can you get out one hour a week in front of the homes of your Congressional reps demanding they do our will?
I think you can. Will you dig your heals in and stand your ground when they will not listen? I think you should.
It is time to go Ghandi on them……will you?
In Peace,
Dede Miller
Proud Auntie of Casey Sheehan KIA Iraq 04/04/04
Gold Star Families for Peace
www.gsfp.orgPlease visit our website for ways to get active
****************************************************************
Gold Star Families for Peace co-founder Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, Gold Star Families for Peace member Missy Beattie and Code Pink member Patti Ackerman arrested at the U.S. mission to the United Nations tryin to deliver the Women Say not to War petition. Read the Truth Out story:
Women Say no to War March 6 2006 by David Swanson
A delegation of women from Iraq told stories last night in Washington, D.C., unlike anything we've ever heard about this war from the media in the United States. And the media was not there, so I'm going to tell you what they said.
The event was held at Busboys and Poets, the restaurant that serves as the gathering place for all social justice groups in Washington. The restaurant's owner is Andy Shallal, an Iraqi American and an active opponent of the war. Shallal spoke briefly, and then Gael Murphy of CODE PINK introduced six women. more:
It is time to be unreasonable.....a woman in Spain wonders why we are not all out in the streets. I do to..
"You assist an evil system most effectively by obeying its orders and decrees. An evil system never deserves such allegiance.
Allegiance to it means partaking of the evil. A good person will resist an evil system with his or her whole soul.." Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi
In Peace, Dede..Gold Star Families for Peace. Help support Gold Star Families for Peace
It doesn't matter how many people vote, the results are always the same
What do you think of Cindy Sheehan?
I disapprove of her 66%
I admire her 25%
Mixed feelings 9%
Total Votes: 185,965
March 7, 2006 11:56am
What do you think of Cindy Sheehan?
I disapprove of her 64%
I admire her 26%
Mixed feelings 10%
Total Votes: 83,207
March 6, 10:30am
Daily Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq
As of Monday, March 6, 2006, at least 2,301 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 1,805 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The AP count is three lower than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Monday at 10 a.m. EST.
The British military has reported 103 deaths; Italy, 27; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 17; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Slovakia, three; Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, two each; and Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, one death each.
___
The latest deaths reported by the military:
• A soldier died Sunday in western Anbar province.
The latest identifications reported by the military:
• Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, Finksburg, Md.; died Friday in a vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq; assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan (R) argues with a police officer before being arrested for blocking the door to the U.S. Mission offices in New York March 6, 2006. Sheehan, whose son was killed while on active military duty in Iraq, was arrested with three others while trying to deliver a petition to stop the Iraqi war to representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
REUTERS/KEITH BEDFORD
Peace activist Sheehan arrested in NY protest
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war activist whose son was killed in the Iraq war, was arrested with three other protesters in New York on Monday after a rally with women from Iraq.
Sheehan became a central figure in the U.S. anti-war movement last summer after she camped outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch and has been arrested at least two other times at protests.
On Monday, she had joined a delegation of women from Iraq at the rally at the United Nations, urging the United Nations to help prevent civil war in Iraq.
About 20 protesters went to the U.S. mission to the United Nations to deliver a petition with 60,000 signatures seeking an end to the war. Nobody from the mission received them so Sheehan and three other American women sat down in front of the building, refused to leave, and were arrested.
A police spokesman said they were expected to be released later on Monday.
The Iraqi women plan to deliver a petition to the White House on Wednesday. Earlier they held a news conference at U.N. headquarters calling for the United States to withdraw its forces.
Entisar Mohammad Ariabi, a pharmacist at Baghdad's Yarmook Teaching Hospital, wept as she told reporters of the hardships experienced by Iraqi women.
"U.S. occupation has destroyed our country, made it into a prison," she said. "Schools are bombed, hospitals are bombed."
"We thank you, Mr. Bush, for liberating our country from Saddam. But now, go out! Please go out!" she said.
(Additional reporting by Irwin Arieff)
Cindy Sheehan, center, who became a peace activist after her son was killed in Iraq, is joined by Iraqi women Faiza Al-Araji, left, and Dr. Entisar Mohammad Ariabi while addressing reporters in front of the United Nations Headquarters prior to marching to the American Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Monday, March 6, 2006 in New York. Sheehan and three other anti war activist were arrested for tresspassing and resisting arrest after trying to deliver a letter to the American mission. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Peace activist Medea Benjamin is arrested in front the building which houses the American Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Monday, March 6, 2006 in New York. Benjamin, Cindy Sheehan and two other anti war activist were arrested after trying to deliver a letter to the American mission. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan (R) speaks with Faiza Al-Araji of Iraq during a news conference to talk about ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq in front of the U.N. headquarters in New York March 6, 2006. Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed while on active military duty in Iraq, was later arrested with three others while trying to deliver a petition to stop the Iraqi war to representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. REUTERS/Keith Bedford
Cindy Sheehan, who became a peace activist after her son was killed in Iraq, reads a letter she and other peace activists tried to deliver to the American Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Monday, March 6, 2006 in New York. Sheehan and three other anti war activist were arrested after trying to deliver the letter to the American mission. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
From TruthOut.org
Editor's Note: t r u t h o u t's Rebecca MacNeice was on the ground in New York filming the events when the arrests took place. Rebecca described the police as very rough. She said that many in the crowd were thrown against a building including the press. She described the arrestees as being "drug off" in a rough manner. TO also spoke to Cindy Sheehan's sister Dee Dee Miller who spoke to Cindy after the arrest. Dee Dee said that Cindy indicated that the police were very rough with her and the other three arrested. She said that they were requesting an ambulance but we have not confirmed that anyone was seriously injured. Ann Wright who was also on the scene confirmed that the police were very rough and described that the arestees were carried with their arms behind their backs. She said at times that their arms were raised very high which could have caused an injury. We will have footage of the arrests very soon.
Steve Kent from Democracy Now! has provided us with the following update:
Here is an update on the arrest of Cindy Sheehan and three other activists at the UN today when they attempted to deliver a petition with 72,000 signatures organized by womensaynotowar.org to the United States mission. The four are being held now at Police Service Area 4, 8th Street and Avenue C, on their way to the DA's office. They are to be charged with resisting arrest. Sheehan is apparently rather injured from the arrest, according to Rev. Patti Ackerman who just called from custody, with a wrenched arm and bruises on her torso and head from being dropped on the pavement. After initially telling the activists they could deliver the petitions to a receptionist at the US Mission, where they had an appointment to do so, the New York police cited a change of plan from "higher up" and moved in to prevent the delivery and arrest the activists. In addition to rough handling of Ms. Sheehan, one of the Iraqi women with the group was punched in the stomach. This according to Rev. Ackerman on the phone. One broadcast producer with whom I spoke who saw footage of the incident said the police were "particularly nasty" in their handling of the women.
Way to go Cindy!!! They can arrest you but they will never shut you up!
************************************************
Cegelis vs. The MachineBy Cindy Sheehan
I am beginning to wonder what it is that such "Democrats" like Rahm Emanuel (Illinois), Chuck Schumer (NY), and Nancy Pelosi (Ca) are protecting in Iraq. What is it that they have at stake in keeping the occupation of Iraq going? Their constituents in every case are solidly anti-war and anti-Bush. They all come from the bluest of states and/or districts. Yet when faced with the chance to defend and promote antiwar candidates who agree with the majority of Americans that it's time to get out of Iraq this year, they go into overdrive to try to destroy their candidacies.
Take the case of Christine Cegelis. Cegelis opposed the war before it started. She supports single-payer health care and a strong transition to renewable energy.
She's pro-choice, and anti-CAFTA. And she has a strong grassroots following in her district. In short, Christine Cegelis is exactly the kind of candidate that the Democratic Party needs.
On top of that, in 2004 Christine took on the thankless task of running against arch-conservative Henry Hyde.
You remember Henry Hyde—the man whose name is on key right-to-life, the man who led the impeachment fight against Bill Clinton, the man who now chairs the International Relations Committee in the House and routinely buries antiwar Democrats' attempts to investigate the lies that took us into the Iraq Warthat then took Casey.
Surprisingly, Christine racked up 44% against Hyde, despite being outspent by 4-1. She immediately announced that she would run again, and faced with her continuing strong grassroots opposition, Hyde decided to retire.
What was her reward for this service? Not an infusion of money to help her win an open seat against a former Tom DeLay aide—No!
Instead, DCCC head Rahm Emanuel went out and found a candidate to run against her, a woman who did not even live in the district. Then, led by Emanuel, almost all the prominent Democrats in the country—John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and many others—have weighed in on behalf of Cegelis' opponent.
The new candidate deserves our praise for her service. Like my son, she served her country, and paid a high price for her service—and for that I applaud her. Tammy
Duckworth has served her country honorably in and out of the military and seems to be a good person. But here is her position on Iraq, straight from the
Republican talking points:
"The fact is that we are in Iraq right now and we can't simply pull up Stakes and create a security vacuum."
Duckworth is not a backer of setting a timetable in the Iraq War and getting out. And her lead sponsor is Emanuel, the man who infamously said, when asked about Murtha's effort to stop the war, that "At the right time, we will have a position."
Christine Cegelis is a true progressive on all the issues, and, in here is her
position on the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq:
"The war in Iraq has taken the lives of more than 2,000 American men and women
and killed and injured tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. More than
$200 billion tax dollars have been poured into the effort. Our credibility in
the eyes of the world has been severely damaged. The Bush Administration's
conduct in starting and executing this conflict has been a disaster from the
very earliest stages.
I have opposed this war from the start. But revisiting what brought us to this
disastrous point does not solve the problem. It is time for us to bring our
troops home. The Bush Administration must provide a comprehensive timetable for
withdrawal of the majority of our combat troops at the earliest possible date.
We must bring home our 46,000 citizen soldiers of the National Guard and Reserve
home as soon as possible, where they can continue their lives as our police
officers, our firefighters, our workers and our neighbors. The
U.S. must spell
out a reasonable and detailed plan to transfer power to Iraq's military and
police forces.
Defending our nation against the threat of terrorism is a top priority. The
issues of Iraq and terrorism are now the same. Al-Qaeda had no link to Iraq
before our invasion. Now it is a breeding ground for hatred and terror, and an
ideal recruiting pool for Al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks. Extending the
conflict in Iraq only gives terrorists more opportunities to foment hatred
against America. Instead of lessening the threat of terrorism around the world,
our war has accelerated it. We owe it to ourselves and the world to reverse this
trend, and to use our foreign policy muscle to truly lessen the global reach of
terror. A stable and sovereign Iraq can only occur when the
U.S. becomes an
ally, not an occupying force, and it is only then that we can rebuild trust in
the Middle East and with the Islamic communities of the world.
We need to let the Iraqis determine their own future. This means letting them
run their own political process, instead of meddling in it for our own political
gain. That also means pledging that we will not operate permanent military bases
in Iraq and renouncing any claims to Iraqi oil. We need to make sure that the
Iraqi people understand that we have no intention of permanently occupying their
country. If the Iraqis want international peacekeepers, we need to work
with
them to make that happen. The U.S. also needs to immediately involve
other countries in the effort to rebuild Iraq.
Dozens of countries have a stake in creating a stable Iraq.
The failures of this war must prevent the United States from making similar
mistakes in the future. And the only way we can make sure that lesson is learned
is to elect leaders who understand that lesson."
I agree with Christine Cegelis—we need our troops home as soon
and as safely as possible. George Bush, the Republican Party and too many Rubber-Stamp Democrats have created a security vacuum in the Middle East and in
our own country (does anyone remember Katrina and the devastation of the Gulf
States?)
And if we aren't careful to elect leaders who are strong on National
Security by also being strong on diplomacy and peace, Iran and who knows where
else is next.
As Iraq descends into a civil war prepared and propagated by the neocons with military bases and oil pipelines being constructed with very little reconstruction of
Iraq's infrastructure, 82% of the Iraqi people want the occupation to end and 49% think it's just fine to kill coalition troops to do so.
Meanwhile, our own children and grandchildren will be paying for the leadership vacuum created by both of our major political parties. Bushco has put
our country into deep and debilitating debt; they have made enemies for generations by their policies of terror; and we have lost and had maimed so much
of our national human treasure. Bushco is spying on and imprisoning Americans and other members of humanity without due process and selling our security to
the highest bidders.
In the 6th Congressional District of Illinois on March 21
st, a hometown grassroots progressive is being inundated by the elite forces of the D.C. Democratic Party. She and her team are being outspent and out-advertised, with money pumped in from out-of-the-district.
But Cegelis and her grassroots team are not being outworked; she has deep roots in the district, and has been running nonstop for 3 years now, and she is determined to pull an upset against the Big Boys that are trying to keep the Democratic Party from responding to its antiwar base.
You can help.
As I always say, it's not about "left and right." It is about "right and wrong." It's about good, not bad. It's about time to vote for peace.
It's about time for Congressional leaders like Christine Cegelis.
SAN FRANCISCO (March 5) - Lunching in the Mission District in a dark skirt, black cardigan and unfussy hairdo, Cindy Sheehan looks every bit the anonymous suburban mom she was not long ago.
That doesn't deter a man who stops at her table to ask for a snapshot and give a word of encouragement as a fellow war protester. "I remember people calling me a leftist," he tells her. "You got to ignore that."
In the months since she captured national attention with her August vigil outside President Bush's Texas ranch, Sheehan has gone from grieving mother to widely recognized anti-war campaigner.
"She somehow managed to step out of the shadows and make her voice heard," says Michael Nagler, a University of California, Berkeley, professor and founder of the campus' Peace and Conflict Studies program.
She also has her share of critics, some charging she's been co-opted by the liberal groups that have helped her.
Her recent meeting with Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's leftist president, raised eyebrows, as have her postings on liberal Web sites like that run by "Fahrenheit 911" filmmaker Michael Moore.
"Cindy Sheehan had one glorious shining moment and she took advantage of it and the peace movement took advantage of her as it created the attention that the movement hadn't had previously," says Stephen Hess, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.
Sheehan, 48, seems to be just about everywhere on her campaign that started with the death of her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq two years ago this April.
She was arrested during Bush's State of the Union address for wearing a T-shirt that referred to the number of troops killed in Iraq then: "2245 Dead. How many more?" Weeks later, she held a San Francisco news conference to announce that she wouldn't challenge Sen. Dianne Feinstein. This month she and REM singer Michael Stipe will headline a New York concert, "Bring 'Em Home Now!" and at Easter it's off to Texas for another vigil outside the Bush ranch.
"She's been a kind of a lightning rod for the anti-war effort and it's because of the essential truth of her position: She's an aggrieved mother; that gives her tremendous power," says Nagler.
Some think Sheehan's overstayed her time in the spotlight.
"If she had just gone home I think she would have been remembered importantly, but she didn't just go home," says Hess.
Her mission has come at a cost. She and her husband, Patrick, split up in the aftermath of their son's death. He has made no public comment
