Exactly. Anyone can say anything they want. <br><br>My hunch here is that the family knows Cindy Sheehan is a bit of a nut, and they're trying to give her some much-needed advice. <br><br>Here's a family rule that I'm sure even the professor would concede is always true: no matter what the family, [i]there's always one.<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>if drudge has his way, i wouldn't be surprised to see that story line win out. it certainly worked for the media quite well in the schaivo case . . . but, republicans in congress and the president played a huge role in that story growing wings. the media is alone on this one and the in-laws aren't going to speak out any more, so we'll see what drudge and a few other media outlets can do alone if they want this thread to gain traction. i wouldn't count on it.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Um. . . diminutive character man. . . anybody home. This isn't a novel. I wasn't talking about any printed story. These are all encompassing life events. "That Story Line" is a loser. You are an associate.<br><br><br><br>got to let your eyes adjust

they aren't the rest of the family. they are part of cindy's in-law family. nobody on her side has signed on with those in-laws.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Whoo boy, now you're making the rules for Casey's family and everyone else. Is there no end to your edu-mu-cation lectures? Now here's the biggest "rule" of all: They are part of his family and they have every right to say what they said, regardless of how many fits anti-war liberals throw. <p><hr></blockquote><p>actually, you failed to look beyond my word (or rules) because if you had you would find that the law agrees with me. my parents cannot pick my children up from school without my permission; they have no power of attorney when my kids are in the hospital without my written permission; they have no visitation rights with my children legally without the parent's permission. now, we get along much better with our parents than cindy's in-laws appear to be with cindy, but . . . i suppose a grandparent or aunt could sue to gain some rights -- how did that work for the grandparents of OJ Simpson's children? if ever there was a case to overturn parental rights . . . <br><br>--<br>Straw-man rhetorical techniques are the practice of refuting weaker arguments than one's opponents offer. 2 "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw-man argument" is 2 create a position easily refuted, then attribute that position to your opponent.

I don't find any comfort in your assertions that the President isn't briefed and prepped on the major issues (front page of many major papers) before going in front of the press corp. I have a hard time believing that's true.<br><br>Being briefed by your staff before a press conference is not a conspiracy. And since you decided to go psycho about it in this thread too, it's all yours.<br><br><br><br>

Well, without getting into a painfully boring discussion about the various legal standings of family members, I prefer to just stick with the fact that the in-laws know her better than we do, and are just basing their statements on such knowledge. <br><br>

I have a question... has Drudge verified the Emails they received were authentic? Ie did they follow-up via phone call... or verify an address?<br>Hell ANY one can send them an Email and claim they are Sheehan's family... even Karl Rove !! <br><br>and since Drudge appears to be assembling their stories on the fly ....aka "developing Story " - they could easily be deceived.. <br><br>as New pointed out-- don't call their blab "reporting"... far from it..<br>Druge = muck, sludge, sediment, sewage. <br><br>David (OFI)<br>

I watched that on TV and he WAS reading a Prepared statement- the part you posted... <br>maybe he answeredd a few questions later but that part he was reading...<br><br>he didn't seem very sincere either - a SERIOUS matter and he's cracking smirks and smiles.. it look (as his other events) very STAGED !<br>I was shocked Rummy and Rice (standing behind him) weren't physically holding him up, and holding his hand. <br><br>David (OFI)<br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p> Well, without getting into a painfully boring discussion about the various legal standings of family members, I prefer to just stick with the fact that the in-laws know her better than we do, and are just basing their statements on such knowledge. <p><hr></blockquote><p>yes but you overlook the OBVIOUS... who says their views are ACCURATE ?<br><br>I think I've heard Cindy enough on interviews and she's very rational and logical. She also had good explanation why her opinion has modified since her original meeting with Bush, and how her original words were twisted and "cut and pasted" to give a supportive appearance when even then she was uneasy about many things. After the shock of her loss began to wear off, she had a much clearer picture and was able to sort out her thoughts.<br>IF you ever know anything about family deaths and the stages the bereaved go through psychologically, her explanation FITS.<br><br>Hell 2+ years later, has GW figured "his Plan" for Iraq out yet ? NO !!<br>More of the same BS is all he can suggest...(his speech yesterday- nothing NEW)...<br>That's the travesty here, Bryan... and why many want to pull to - Pres Bush has NO PLAN.. it's more of the same carnage and lives expended for little to no gain. <br><br>IF he didn't have a solid PLAN he (we) should have NEVER GONE !!! .......and if he can't come up with one (which is very apparent) .. then time to get the HLL out.<br><br>David (OFI)<br>

I know that song! <br><br>Here are the words and picture to go with it:<br><br><br><br>[color:purple]A Nation Rocked to Sleep</font color=purple><br><br>Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son? <br>The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done <br>They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but <br>Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son? <br> <br>Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries? <br>He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies <br>The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs <br>Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries? <br> <br>Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave? <br>They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave <br>But I believe he died because they had oil to save <br>Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave? <br> <br>Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep? <br>The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep <br>But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep <br>Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?<br><br>by Carly Sheehan SISTER of<br>Brother Casey KIA 04/04/04 <br>Sadr City Baghdad <br><br><br>The sounds my daughter wrote about in her inspired poem, so poignantly and amazingly a few weeks after her brother, my son, was killed in Iraq, have been repeated over and over again too many times since the criminal invasion/occupation of Iraq began in March of 2003. <br><br>These sounds are imprinted in my DNA. I will never, ever forget the night of April 4, 2004, when I found out that Casey had been killed. After what seemed an eternity, I finally began to wonder who or what was making those horrible screaming noises. Then I realized it was me. It couldn’t have been Casey’s father, because he was paralyzed in stunned silence holding the pair of pants he had been folding when the deliverers of death news arrived. <br><br>I will also never forget the day when we buried my sweet boy, my oldest son. I’ll never forget the playing of taps, or the violent, and in hindsight, thoughtless, volley of the 21-gun salute. If I live to be a very old lady and forget everything else, I will never forget when the general handed me the folded flag that had lain on Casey’s coffin, as his brother and sisters, standing behind me, sobbed. <br><br>The saddest thing about the obscene sounds of violence is that they never should have been heard in the first place. From Maine to California, and from Baghdad to Falluja, these dirges were unnecessary. In my travels, and from hundreds of emails, phone calls, and cards and letters, I am discovering that people who formerly supported the invasion of Iraq are withdrawing their support. I even believe that many of our fellow citizens who still support the ignominy of Iraq are doing so because they are clinging to the deceptions so desperately, because they want the deceptions to so be the truth. It will be painful to come to terms with supporting the lies of this administration. It will be painful to know that wholesale killing of innocent people occurred because you and so many others believed the betrayals, but acknowledging the mistake is the first step to correcting it. And believe me, acknowledging the mistake is not as painful as hearing those devastating sounds. <br><br>Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) has realized that he had been duped into supporting the invasion. I have spoken to him about his change of heart, and he is so sad that his wholehearted support of the administration helped cause so many good people to hear those gut wrenching sounds of grief. But he is going forward to do what he can to end this occupation as soon as possible. He has co-sponsored a bi-partisan bill (HRJ 55) with other Congressional leaders like Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Ron Paul (R-TX) to force our administration into a troop withdrawal beginning October 1, 2006. The bill is a good first step to ensuring that families here in America and all over the world do not have to suffer needless death in war. However, I would like the withdrawal to begin tomorrow, because I don't even want to try and imagine the sounds Casey heard before he died. I don't want to imagine the sound of the bullet strong enough to pierce the Kevlar coating on his helmet to rip through his skull. I don’t want to know the sounds of a mother in Iraq wailing for her entire family. These sounds need to stop immediately. It is time to bring our troops home. <br><br>The sound I do want to hear is the sound of a Nation Waking Up. I will rejoice to hear the sounds of the collective Mea Culpa and the beating of breasts. I want to hear the deafening clicks as the steady stream of news-o-tainment is turned off, propaganda that is turning us into zombies who are numb to the truth. I want to hear the sound of our children getting off planes and boats from Iraq to the joyful squealing of their children and the deep sighs of relief from their spouses, parents, and other loved ones. I want to hear our citizenry lifting up their voices in chorus and singing, "We will never let this happen again." <br> <br>Cindy Sheehan <br>Co-Founder <br>Gold Star Families for Peace <br>July 18, 2005 <br><br>[color:green]"...or am I a butterfly that's dreaming she's a woman?"</font color=green>

I hear every gold star mother is going to get that prepared statement along with a complimentary video of George Bush looking for WMD under his desk complete with out takes. It is such a hoot and they are so sad and all it should really cheer them up. A coupon for an autographed crotch shot of the famous Mission Accomplished Bush is also contemplated but they haven't figured out the discount yet. The GOP didn't want to just give away one of their big money makers.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>