Me for Congress!

By Cindy Sheehan

My statement to the press when I announced my candidacy at the Presidio on August 9th

Two years ago this week, I started my first vigil in Crawford, Tx, at what became Camp Casey I near George's vacation ranch. I never thought that my path would lead me here today. Nothing before Casey was killed in the illegal and immoral war in Iraq prepared me for this new direction, but looking back on my life since April 04. 2004, I believe this is the next
natural step to bringing the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan to a swifter conclusion and those responsible accountable for the mess our world is in.

An electorate disgusted with the policies of the Bush regime put the Democrats in the majority in Congress in November '06. We voted for change, however, Congress, under the Speakership of Ms. Pelosi has done nothing but protect the status quo of the corporate elite and, in fact, since she has been the Speaker, the situation in the Middle East has grown far worse, with Congress' help, and recently more of our essential freedoms were given to BushCo by Congress.
That is not what we elected them to do!

A great majority of citizens in California's 8th
Congressional district want the Bush regime impeached
and want our troops home from the Middle East. I
believe Ms. Pelosi has lost touch with the people of
this district and America and it's time for our reps
that aren't doing their jobs by upholding their sworn
oaths to the Constitution to receive a wakeup call!

I agree that with over 45 million American uninsured,
we need universal health care. I agree that with many
of our young people joining the military to receive
college credit (which very few take full advantage
of), it's time to make college affordable. I agree
that the people in the administrative branch are
corrupt, as are many members of Congress, and ethics
need to be reformed. None of these worthy goals can be
accomplished while we're spending 12 million of our
tax dollars an hour in Iraq and while the foxes run
the henhouse. In this once great nation of ours, the
rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer
and the middle class is rapidly disappearing along
with the "American dream" of home ownership. The time
is now to bring our tax dollars home from the Middle
East to help the people of California's 8th and to
make our communities safer and more prosperous.

Incredibly, even before the November elections, Ms
Pelosi took part of the Constitution off the table and
it's time to put it back on! Mss. Pelosi colluded with
BushCo to take away our 4th Amendment protection
against unreasonable search and seizure. Congress
needs to make that body relevant again as a co-equal
branch of government that has a responsibility to put
checks and balances on the executive branch not be
conspirators in its crimes and murder.

The Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act need to
be repealed and Habeas Corpus needs to be restored.
These things can only happen with fearless leadership,
not fearful capitulation to a lying President.

I am running unaffiliated with any political party
because I believe the corporately controlled "two"
party system is responsible for keeping our country in
a state of cold and hot wars for decades and it's time
to rein in the military industrial war complex that
President Eisenhower warned us of almost 50 years ago.

My candidacy and service will put people before
profits and people before political expediency. This
country is ripe for a change and it is going to start
right here and right now!

I dedicate my candidacy to the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan that have been tragically harmed by BushCo
with the complicity of Congress, Inc.

I dedicate my candidacy to my children and unborn
grandchildren. All the children of the world deserve
long lives lived in peace, prosperity and
environmental sustainability.

Last of all, I dedicate my candidacy to my hero, Casey
who always stood up for what he believed in, even if
it wasn't popular. He is my role model and I always
strive to make him proud.

Thank you.

www.CindyforCongress.org