August 16, 2005
Cindy Sheehan is Losing It - Puts Publicity Over Marriage
Cindy Sheehan is losing it: first her son, then her mind, and now her husband. Her need for public attention through the harassment of President Bush is leading to the death of her marriage. Is it worth it, Cindy?
Sheehan's Husband Seeks Divorce
Bush roadside protester named in California petition filed Friday
(From The Smoking Gun with copy of divorce petition)
AUGUST 15--The next well-wisher approaching Cindy Sheehan at her tent encampment outside President George W. Bush's Texas vacation home may actually be a process server. That's because the California woman's husband--in a curious bit of timing--filed for divorce Friday afternoon. ...With Sheehan, 48, entering a second week outside Bush's Crawford retreat, her husband's divorce petition cites "irreconcilable differences" for the demise of the couple's 28-year marriage....
Do you think that the divorce petition has anything to do with that picture of President Bush kissing Cindy Sheehan at the first meeting that didn't happen? Maybe the press can blame Bush for the divorce and call for his impeachment.
You have to feel for this woman, even if she's getting exactly what she brought upon herself. It's just my opinion, but I have to think that she is mentally disturbed beyond the grief of a mother. I wonder if the left wing organizations that have been coaching her and using her will be around to help when she's alone. I wouldn't count on it. Their compassion stops with their causes.
The President will carry on, the left will continue to attack him and use people, but their pawns will be left with nothing but bitterness. If the left has an ounce of compassion, then people from that side need to start helping Cindy Sheehan and stop using her. We can hope for miracles, can't we?
Posted by GM Roper at August 16, 2005 10:50 AM | TrackBackStooping to wild speculation, are we, Woody? One very common side effect of the loss of a child is divorce.
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 16, 2005 02:02 PM
Jim, I gave that some forethought but can't put every possibility into a short post. However, this is why I think that the problem is her choice between public attention and her marriage--not the death.
If the Sheehan's are, in fact, having marriage problems because of their son's death, then the wife needs to be back home in California with her husband trying to work on her marriage and getting counseling rather being away and putting on a show for the liberal media. She is choosing to stay in Texas and, thereby, choosing not to be with her husband.
Admittedly, there could be a lot of dynamics in this, but I went with what seemed the most logical and apparent. G.M. certainly has more experience in marriage counseling and may have a different take. Of course, she could be just plain nuts and her husband reached the end of his rope.
You're right in that we don't have all the information to be sure...but, then I wouldn't have had anything to say if I didn't guess. Still, I think I'm correct.
Also, will any team in the NL West finish with a .500 or better record this season? It could be that the husband is despondent over the Dodgers. If it gets too bad, we'll send you a foam tomahawk and you can become a Braves fan.
Posted by Woody at August 16, 2005 02:17 PM
Could be the husband is a Mariners fan, and is distraught over the performance of Adrian Beltre. Now you've got me doing it.
The winner of the NL West, if winner is the proper word, could take it with 81 wins. Any less than that is doubtful; there are just to many games in division to close out the season.
Most of us at Dodger Thoughts reached the Acceptance level weeks ago. Those still in Denial are likely to get their emotions handed to them the next three games.
Love to have you join us over at DodgerThoughts tonight, though...it really is a lot of fun, and we treat guests well.
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 16, 2005 03:03 PM
Woody, I appreciate the sentiment of the last two paragraphs of your article (apart from the "mentally disturbed" comment). Indeed, it seems like Cindy has gaining more awareness of this too; the Oakland Tribune this morning quoted her as follows:
Sheehan...learned that her husband, Patrick  from whom she was separated  filed for divorce Friday. After a night of reflection, the Vacaville mother of four says she is going to take time to refocus her demonstration on the other families at "Camp Casey" who have lost their sons or daughters to the Iraq war.
...Sheehan acknowledged that the intense appeal for her attention from her supporters and detractors has made her lose sight of her goal: To honor her son's death by demanding answers.
"We have to get back to our original mission and message," she said, sitting in a camping chair on the side of the road.
"This has been an overwhelming week, and I never had a minute to think," she said. "I was letting them pull my strings a little bit, and it's got to stop. I'm in control of my schedule now."
Let's pray that regaining her focus will be a major step towards her healing.
Posted by civil truth at August 16, 2005 03:46 PM
On the other hand, Woody, I think it was out of bounds to speculate on her marriage difficulties. Unlike her political views, which are a legitimate arena for public discussion and criticism, Cindy has not brought her marriage into the public sphere, to my knowledge. I haven't heard her blaming the breakup of her marriage on President Bush or his policies.
Keeping in mind the Golden Rule, I don't think that you would want someone speculating on the state of your marriage just because your are exercising your right to address public issues. Similarly, I would ask you to extend Cindy similar consideration (again, so long as she keeps it as her private matter).
The impending death of a marriage, on top of her son's death, is enough to grieve over without us on the outside speculating unhelpfully.
By the way, Vacaville is in Northern California, so I don't think her husband is despondent over the Dodgers. The Giants, perhaps...Then again, he could be an A's fan, in which case he may simply be a bit green riding the roller coaster...
Posted by civil truth at August 16, 2005 03:47 PM
Civil, you make good points and I appreciate the additional report that you added from the Oakland paper. Maybe Cindy is seeing what she should have been focusing on all along.
My comment about mentally disturbed was not meant to be an attack as much as an observation.
If I were in her place, I wouldn't want my marriage discussed, but once she went to the extremes to become a public figure then she waived her privacy--which was her choice. I commented on it to show that she needs to take care of things at home unless she feels that playing to the left is more important, which provides the connection between her public actions and private life.
If she would quit letting people manipulate her, recall her first meeting with the President, and go home--then her life would get better.
I didn't realize that they were from Northern California. He's probably not thinking about baseball right now.
BTW, I emailed to Hitchcock the pressbox game notes for tonight's Braves - Dodgers game at Turner Field. If someone else wants them, let me know. Also, Hitch is supposed to post the web site for his Dodgers discussions for us.
I gotta go meet the gutter man, so I'm outta here.
Posted by Woody at August 16, 2005 04:09 PM
Dodger Thoughts website :
http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/
Yes, GM, I realize the Dodgers are the poor cousins of the stupid Red Sox (the owner, Frank McCourt, is disparaged by one local yokel columnist as `the Boston Parking Lot Attendant'), but you'd be welcome also :)
_________________
Awww, Jim, you is such a nice guy....
REDSOX
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 16, 2005 04:23 PM
Great game, huh, Woody? Maybe we'll see you tomorrow.
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 16, 2005 09:55 PM
I'm sick. I got in late just to watch Smoltz get pulled and the Braves go ahead to take a one run lead into the ninth only to have Reitsma, our non-closer closer, blow it. The Braves thought they had a closer in Kolb, but he couldn't get people out, so we went to closer by committee, which is a losing formula.
Here's a site by a left-wing radical liberal who is a very good commenter on the Braves:
http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/
And, if you want to know where our original closing pitcher is, he's busy with his own blog that you can check out here:
http://dankolb.blogspot.com/
I bet the Dodgers don't have players with their own blogs.
Tonight it's Hudson vs. Perez.
There. How many sites allow baseball discussions interwoven with political commentaries? Well, just to tie it in, maybe Bush should take Sheehan to a Rangers' game. Everyone can be friends at the ballpark--unless they're from the New York area.
Posted by Woody at August 17, 2005 10:42 AM
