Useful idiot
Casey Sheehan reenlisted, giving his life to protect others and bring freedom to strangers.
These are two very different people.
Jimmy Hall just nailed it and so did you.
Thanks for posting.
Article Launched: 06/24/2004 06:00:00 AM
Bush, Sheehans share moments
By David Henson/Staff Writer
Since learning in April that their son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, had been killed in Iraq, life has been everything but normal for the Sheehan family of Vacaville.
Casey's parents, Cindy and Patrick, as well as their three children, have attended event after event honoring the soldier both locally and abroad, received countless letters of support and fielded questions from reporters across the country.
"That's the way our whole lives have been since April 4," Patrick said. "It's been surreal."
But none of that prepared the family for the message left on their answering machine last week, inviting them to have a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush at Fort Lewis near Seattle.
Surreal soon seemed like an understatement, as the Sheehans - one of 17 families who met Thursday with Bush - were whisked in a matter of days to the Army post and given the VIP treatment from the military. But as their meeting with the president approached, the family was faced with a dilemma as to what to say when faced with Casey's commander-in-chief.
"We haven't been happy with the way the war has been handled," Cindy said. "The president has changed his reasons for being over there every time a reason is proven false or an objective reached."
The 10 minutes of face time with the president could have given the family a chance to vent their frustrations or ask Bush some of the difficult questions they have been asking themselves, such as whether Casey's sacrifice would make the world a safer place.
But in the end, the family decided against such talk, deferring to how they believed Casey would have wanted them to act. In addition, Pat noted that Bush wasn't stumping for votes or trying to gain a political edge for the upcoming election.
"We have a lot of respect for the office of the president, and I have a new respect for him because he was sincere and he didn't have to take the time to meet with us," Pat said.
Sincerity was something Cindy had hoped to find in the meeting. Shortly after Casey died, Bush sent the family a form letter expressing his condolences, and Cindy said she felt it was an impersonal gesture.
"I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."
The meeting didn't last long, but in their time with Bush, Cindy spoke about Casey and asked the president to make her son's sacrifice count for something. They also spoke of their faith.
While meeting with Bush, as well as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was an honor, it was almost a tangent benefit of the trip. The Sheehans said they enjoyed meeting the other families of fallen soldiers, sharing stories, contact information, grief and support.
For some, grief was still visceral and raw, while for others it had melted into the background of their lives, the pain as common as breathing. Cindy said she saw her reflection in the troubled eyes of each.
"It's hard to lose a son," she said. "But we (all) lost a son in the Iraqi war."
The trip had one benefit that none of the Sheehans expected.
For a moment, life returned to the way it was before Casey died. They laughed, joked and bickered playfully as they briefly toured Seattle.
For the first time in 11 weeks, they felt whole again.
"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," Cindy said.
David Henson can be reached at schools@thereporter.com.
In earlier posts I defended her as a grief-striken mom being played by the MSM. Now I've read around and revised my opinion.
I'd advise any others who are charitably giving her the benefit of the doubt to do likewise.
She's trading the noble sacrifice of her son in exchange for blame to lay.
She's more content thinking his life was completely wasted in exchange for someone to blame.
I am guessing she will never be a happy person.
Useful idiot
Flyer handed out at event Cindy Sheehan attended...
I see she chickened-out of a meeting with O'Reilly on his show last night, too.
Her son must be rolling in his grave over the disgraceful bahavior of his mother, and her use of his noble sacrifice to further her own liberal causes.
Yes, that amazing apple fell very far from this disturbed tree.
Giving hope that the current crop of leftists can also raise true heroes despite their teachings.
Compare and contrast the way the media is treating this single, narcissistic dim bulb, and the way they ignored the Swift Boat Vets. And the media's not biased?
She's a selfish human being.
Sheehan's got problems, alright, not the least of which is that dem libs have pegged her as this year's "Summer Vacation" stunt.
Remember last year about this time...Max Cleland, waiting with his letter at the ranch gate? And next year and the next year and the next year they'll have other "victims" out there in the ditch with other bellyaches, or maybe the same one. It's the demwits only plan: blame Bush. And the MSM reports on it breathlessly, as if it's something new & exciting instead of just another summer rerun.
She undermines the good that our people are doing in Iraq. I heard her on a talk show say that we just slap some paint on a school and call it re-building. Tell that to the Seabees!
http://www.grouchymedia.com/other_videos/divine_intervention/index.cfm
This was actually in the Urinal-Constipation?
She's pathetic.
That's an important fact. He already knew what he was in for yet volunteered to do it again.