Mother tips the balance against Bush
Guardian [UK]
by Paul Harris

"Candles were lit all across America last week in one of the largest single anti-war protests in recent US history. At more than 1,600 vigils tens of thousands of protesters gathered in solidarity with the woman who has been the catalyst for the rebirth of the anti-war movement: Cindy Sheehan. Her remarkable one-woman stand outside George Bush's Texas ranch has turned into a national phenomenon - and one of the most vicious political slanging matches in recent US history. On the pro-war side, Sheehan has been derided as a traitor to America, betraying her dead soldier son's memory. On the anti-war side she has become a secular saint, laden with the powerful imagery of the avenging mother roused to action. For them, she is the lone soccer mom who is taking on Bush - and winning. Either way, Sheehan is the most talked-about woman in American politics. She might also be Bush's worst public relations nightmare. For months Washington has been awash in speculation of a 'tipping point', when the majority of American public opinion turns finally and permanently against the war. Many now believe that Sheehan has provided that final push." (08/21/05)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1553345,00.html

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Can Cindy Sheehan end the war?
CounterPunch
by Alexander Cockburn

"Sheehan is castigated in the press, by mainstream liberals as well as mad-dog rightists, for not leaving any wriggle-room on this central point. She says, Bring the troops home right now. How many people echo that straightforward demand? Millions of ordinary Americans--around 34 per cent--certainly do, if we are to believe the numbers in polls that also give Bush an approval rating of only 34 per cent for his conduct of the war. But to be effective the opinion of ordinary people has to be harnessed into a powerful political movement that offers energetic leadership. Here the picture is dismayingly cloudy. .... Cindy Sheehan frightens the right and stirs them to venom, and she frightens the Democrats too, because she's so clear. Contrast the timeline of Sheehan as against that of even a relatively decent Democrat like Russ Feingold. Feingold calls for a start to withdrawal from Iraq maybe sixteen months from now. How many dead troops and new Gold Star moms can you fit into that calendar. A thousand or more? Sheehan's Out Now call should be the bright-line test for any antiwar spokesperson." [Editor's note: And even the Libertarian Party fails the test ... with its mealy nouthed "withdrawal strategy" ... -MLS](08/20/05)

http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn08202005.html