Cindy Sheehan among 8 "disturbers" arrested yesterday

Many here at DU have expressed disdain for the protests yesterday, saying there is a better time or place or method for protest. Some say the Moveon ad was out of line.I disagree. I think the time is now and what better place than the heart of the problem, our government. Many here hold Cindy Sheehan in very high esteem. Does the fact that she was one of those arrested soften the view of those who were turned off by the protests? I think the protests should be more and more intense. Ray McGovern, a former CIA officer was escorted out because he yelled "Swear 'em in." People should be less concerned about "decorum" at the hearings than the actual substance, the illegal war that is ruining two countries.

And they assaulted him too.

I love her for it. She was a pillar of strength for the anti-war movement when we couldn't get anyone to pay attention. I've disagreed with her on some of her specific issues from time to time, but those are minor. She's a champion, and I love what she did yesterday.

I haven't seen the MoveOn ad, so I can't really comment. In general I like what they did. The two things that bothered me in hearing about it were that it was placed before the speech, and that it picked on Patreus's name. That's the type of juvenile crap that made rush Limbaugh famous, and in general I don't like it. But again, I didn't see the ad, so I can't really say whether I thought it was out of line.

Politicians are supposed to be subtle, nuanced, diplomatic, polite, and all of that. It's the job of protesters to show anger and outrage, to shake things up. The empower the politicians, or, at times, frighten them into listening to us.

Cindy Sheehan and MoveOn have done a lot more than most of us sitting here typing away. Disagreements will happen, of course, but I can only think of a handful of people here who come close to holding a candle to what they've meant for us. For me. IF they made a mistake--and I don't think they did--they've earned that right. You don't shake up the world without rattling a few nerves.

Or did she go as herself?

Was she wearing a tutu and pink tiara? Don't think so. I haven't heard the fashion police shrieking.