So, Cindy Sheehan threatens run against Feinstein if she won't filibuster

[bigtree]

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan considers run against Sen. Feinstein

Associated Press
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/13736110.htm

CARACAS, Venezuela - U.S. peace activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, said she was considering running for office against Sen. Diane Feinstein while she waited for the California lawmaker to back a filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.

Sheehan issued her statement Friday, the same day Feinstein announced she would support the filibuster, despite saying earlier this month that she did not see anything to justify one. Democrats fear Alito would shift the court rightward on issues including abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty.

Sheehan's statement was sent by e-mail while she was in Venezuela attending the World Social Forum. She said she had "decided to run" against Feinstein if the lawmaker did not join the filibuster.

"I'm appalled that Diane Feinstein wouldn't recognize how dangerous Alito's nomination is to upholding the values of our constitution and restricting the usurpation of presidential powers, for which I've already paid the ultimate price," Sheehan said in the statement.

full article: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/13736110.htm

Wow!

[Pirate Smile]

1. Feinstein has already said she will filibuster.

[bigtree]

2. thanks. I'm late on this

[Pirate Smile]

No problem.

:hi:

[derby378]

3. YEAH!! GO, CINDY!!

Cindy Sheehan for US Senate in 2006! Do it anyway!

I get the feeling that Feinstein has tested the patience of Democrats once too often. Cindy might actually stand a chance of beating her.

[Crazy Dave]

10. I know you are kidding, at least I hope

I support Cindy as long as she sticks to her main and primary goal, getting the troops home from Iraq and holding Bush accountable for his sending troops to die for a war based on lies. Her other opinions, I could care less.
I'd hate to see the democratic party sink to the lows of the republican party for it's candidates like they did with Ah-nold. Somebody who's popular and can get a lot of votes versus someone with good fiscal responsibilities, has social welfare programs and health care as priorities and knows legislation. Otherwise things get all fucked up. People like these really have no credibility and no one takes them seriously. They are typically one term candidates that can undo what took 20 years to do in one six year term.

[derby378]

21. To steal a line from Nero, "We are at war"

If you haven't read George Lakoff's book Don't Think of an Elephant! yet, I highly encourage it - in part, tbe book examines how Ah-nold's campaign was able to whip up Californians into a frenzy and sweep him into the Governor's office. It's all about framing. Republicans understand this; too many Democrats have yet to grasp the concept.

You speak of the Democratic Party sinking to the GOP's level. I speak, however, of the very survival of the Democratic Party at the expense of the GOP as it now exists. It doesn't matter if Dianne Feinstein is big into social programs and health care - if she can't frame her own concerns in order to win over fence-sitters, then she's not doing the Democrats any favors by voting for the Bankruptcy Bill, half-heartedly opposing Alito, etc.

Cindy Sheehan may not be the best person to replace Feinstein, but that does not mean that I will not support Sheehan's freedom to run for that Senate seat. I believe Feinstein needs a good ass-kicking (politically speaking), and a run by Cindy might be just that.

[Crazy Dave]

34. Are you more in favor of power or progress?

With civil liberties, jobs, affordable health care, education funding being taken away from us everyday and increasing, are you saying you just want to win an election just to win and stay in power? With an under-qualified candidate that can do more harm than good? Or should we take our chances with someone qualified, who knows politics, knows economics, education, etc. versus someone that just runs their mouth off in front of a camera and say cool stuff, gets people in a frenzy, but that nobody else except their supporters take seriously?

[mark11727]

4. Someone PLEASE explain this to me...

...why is filibustering against Alito suddenly more important than just plain voting against Alito...?

Unless I'm completely wrong on this, a filibuster merely delays the vote, but voting against Alito ends it right there.

[dsc]

9. a successful filibuster delays the vote forever

and only needs 40 Senators. We have no shot at an up and down defeat of Alito but we do have one at a successful filibuster.

[never_get_over_it]

12. Because filibustering delays the vote

if we just hold the vote you're right that ends it right there in Alitos favor we don't have enough NO votes to defeat him - if we hold fast to the filibuster he never gets confirmed.

[Heewack]

15. Filibuster or not, Alito is in.

Even if there is a successful fillibuster the nuke option will be used by the thugs, and Alito gets in.

So in essense you are correct the vote against him is more important.

[hippiechick]

5. I supported Cindy during Camp Casey, but ....

... I think she's getting a little bit, uhhh ... ahead of herself now.
Either that or she's starting to believe all the smoke Du'ers have been blowing for the last several months about how she's going to be the savior of us all ...

She'd probably get single digit vote percentages if she ran against Di Fi, and be harpooned even further by the media, making her & her real issue nothing more than a joke.

Stick to protesting Iraq, Cindy.

Just my .02.

[Crazy Dave]

11. Well said

:thumbsup:

[Adelante]

13. Agree, hippiechick, and so did I support her then

But she's gone off the rails.

[bigtree]

16. well

that's way too dismissive of this impressive lady. I think 'DiFi' is way too much a club member to do anything meaningfully progressive. I like the no-holds barred quality that a maverick like Cindy would bring to the Senate. That said, any decision to try and unseat any of our Democrats by other Democrats will be the province of the residents of the state where the challenge is offered.

Savior? That's way too harsh. DUers are a concerned and committed bunch who long for representatives who are as ambitious about changing Congress and the White House as we are. I don't mean just changing the personnel either. How can any of us be pleased with the collective performance of our party members the past couple of terms?

Cindy would give us hope that we would finally have a full and unfettered voice in that wilderness of privilege and patronage. I'd wish for that from anyone who would expect our support.

[Pirate Smile]

22. I agree.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. I hope she runs no matter what Feinstein does.

Feinstein is a waste of space.

[TNC4DNC]

8. I'm afraid a filibuster won't help.

Hey, I hate to see Alito get on the S.C. as much as the next person on this site, but with the Repugs in control of everything I am afraid that it is just prolonging the inevitable. The next step is to just watch his record as he decides on cases, and show the people that *could* be turned back to the good side (like a relative in my own family) x( , what an extreme judge he is, not even focusing on the whole abortion thing, but a host of other issues. We put up a good fight, but lost this battle, now it is time to regroup, and rearm for the next.

[never_get_over_it]

17. Although it is important to stop Alito

at this point it is about STANDING UP win lose or draw WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST THESE PUKES - the Dems should have stood up long ago. The reason the repunks think they can get away with anything is because we have failed to make it hard for them - way past time to STAND UP

[bigtree]

19. we'll regroup when the battle is actually 'over'

It's stupid and self-defeating to let the media, pundits, and those who have given up the fight (including Senators) tell us the fight is over before one vote is cast. That's how we let them do us these days. I'm not going to start letting these naysayers and opponents dictate how and when I fight, or tell me in advance that I've lost the battle. To stop now is surrender, plain and simple. I won't surrender.

[TNC4DNC]

35. Alright... points taken.

Yes, it has long since been time for Democrats to fight I agree with that, stand up, and not stand down for once might be good for us. Can the filibuster really keep him from getting in though, or is it just more delay? Maybe this would be good for the Dem psyche to fight to the bitter end since we haven't done so in the past, but we also have to keep in mind the people that could vote for our side, but are not loyal Dems. The undecided voters that we hear about every election. They judge our leaders faster than the Republicans, is it fair? NO. But those are things we have to think about, because we need to win as many over as we can. Dragging it out won't set well in their mind I don't think, although it would make us happy.

[never_get_over_it]

14. Jeeeeeeeeeez

and I thought the calls from just plain folks turned Diane around....I've really got to stop believing in this stuff

[bigtree]

20. folks told me she agreed to filibuster after this was written. I'm late

Wm. Pitt has a thread on this from earlier

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=260971

[never_get_over_it]

25. Oh I hope so

I need something to restore my faith in all I have believed my entire life. THANKS for the link.

[seabeyond]

18. cindy sheehan threatens???? i have supported sheehan

then as she started attacking the dems, i quieted. i didnt support her, but i did leave her alone. but.... cindy threatens....well. i would fight against cindy sheehan going against feinstein. respectfully, (truly) cindy sheehan is startig to piss me off. the democrats helped to make her voice strong. the democrats were the ones to talk to her only to have her diss them, i let that go. but.... personally and only imo i dont need a cindy sheehan who is not always right on, and doesnt know diplomacy that well, but lots of press and voice to be attacking dems too all the time

[jonnyblitz]

23. click on the link in bigtree's post # 20, the media got it wrong.

this was sorted out yesterday. :hi:

[seabeyond]

24. sheehan still threatened. i knew about feinstein. that isnt the point

sheehan feels to me that she is feeling her "power" a little too much for my comfort or support. thank you, but i knew yesterday about feinstein

[bigtree]

26. is it power?

or is it responsibility she feels?

I too get tired of waiting for these imperious legislators to directly challenge the opposition.

Cindy wants action, not half-hearted, dribbling support.

But some here feel that Cindy has a 'place' that she shouldn't go beyond. Not very progressive.

[seabeyond]

27. i dont agree with her politics bigtree.

when she was an activists and a mom that lost a child in the war, i supported. but i dont agree with her politics. if this is the area she goes to, then she wont have my support. not because she has a place, but because i dont agree with her position or how she goes about getting her position out there. when she steps into "politics" it is a whole different battle. that is all. and in a democracy she will receive support, or not, be elected or not. i am one voice.

[no_more_rhyming]

31. She has been played by the MSM and it

went to her head.

[seabeyond]

33. this is what i am seeing. not only msm, but the coddling of dems

and it is all ok, but..... going into politics and critiquing dems, and critizing as we have given her voice..... is a whole other story. politics.

[jonnyblitz]

28. oh...i thought you meant she was taking credit for feinsteins

changing her mind when she wasn't. who cares if she gets in feinsteins face. screw feinstein.

[seabeyond]

29. screwin feinstein does nothing for me. eeew. smilin. thanks n/t

[jonnyblitz]

30. LOL..damn you were quick...i was gonna add

I don't see why a citizen can't assert themselves like she did when she disagrees with a politician. is feinstein too grand for the mere likes of a cindy sheehan? i don't understand your "power" comment. I think anybody should be worthy of standing up to somebody,even a famous politican. that's all.

[seabeyond]

32. cindy is loved on this board, which leads me to keep mouth shut

i respects peoples not only right, but desires to embrace and support people and i dont like to jump on threads to rain on parades. especially someone like cindy. i have a lot of respect for her, i have listened to her and watched her. so this isnt just a casual quip. ?. but cindy gained a voice thru the democrats. thru her own actions, but really we gave her a lot of her voice, and i would always hold her seperate of democrat. it was her show, respectfully. we were there as support.

she has never been "democrat"

she mouths first, without a lot of thought.

it was ok when she battles for her son

i dont respect it so much in a political arena. it does damage. it isnt always a truth, more an emotional response.

there are things in her personality that comes out in her voice that she uses that doesnt impress me. again, when speaking out for her son, who cares. when in politics, i care

there have been other "citizens" that have thrown hat in ring that i support. hackett, the woman in nj? ny? whose son and husband were killed.

so no to your questions. those are not what bothers me about sheehan. her politics are what bothers me, that i wont support.

[FogerRox]

36. Keep this in mind--- we need 51 votes to stop ALito--

It may be DEMS will be in a better position by FIlibustering-- ever think about that one?

Collins, Snowe, Chaffee, Stevens, SPector, are moderates, Jeffords- Indie from VT.

44 DEMs + the above 6= 50.

I say call the Bluff, GO AHEAD, NUKE IT, PUNK, make my day.

Then those repubs have to run an enabling the Nuke--- which could be a hard sell in some parts.