This new "The Nation" article via the
LA Times
hits home on why Cindy has been so effective in capturing attention in the normally dead silent political beat of August.
Cindy has succeeded in finally capturing the media's attention because she personalizes the tragedy and pain this war has inflicted, while highlighting both the impersonal war coverage to date, and the Buscho strategy to keep the cost of this war, must less its deceptive origins, from public view.
Jump, jump, jump
From the article:
The White House, meanwhile, has sought to cope with Sheehan's vigil without abandoning its strategy for dealing with the families of troops who have died. On a number of occasions, Bush has met with bereaved relatives -- including some who have challenged him sharply on the war -- but he has done so privately, away from news cameras and reporters.
Yes, Bush "honors" the war casualties privately, away from the eye of the public that pays and will continue to pay for this devious war in blood and treasure.
Cindy has tapped into a latent media understanding of the cynical heart of this "ownership" administration, which publicized the dollar and lives risk, and privatized the cruel expense of war. Cindy maybe, just maybe, gave reporters a human interest story they could sell to their editors, because it was a story that would at last, sell to a negligently skeptical public.
The fact that this peculiar twist on the devious "privatization" of the human toll of war conveniently masked W's appalling lack of humanity was no doubt just a bonus to Bozoboy's handlers. (Cindy has not let W's inappropriate affect off the hook.) Thank the Congress, too, which voted (under the guise of providing privacy to the victims) to keep the searing images of flag-draped coffins from afflicting the terror-laden public.
An ironic aside in this article: who said this?:
"Cindy Sheehan has tapped into a latent but fervent feeling among some in this country who would prefer that we not engage our troops in Iraq," said ????.
"She can tap into what has been an astonishingly silent minority since the end of last year's presidential contest. It will capture attention."
Well, that was said by "Republican strategist Kellyanne Conway, president of the Polling Company, based in Washington."
Well, Kellyanne, it's not so astonishing to us here. This "minority" wasn't silent; it simply wasn't heard because it was denied its voice in government and in government's putative watchdog, the media.
I like Cindy more every day.