So I'm curious just how Speaker of the House Steny Hoyer is an improvement in ending the war

[Wetzelbill]

as opposed to Nancy Pelosi. That's what I don't understand about the Cindy Sheehan candidacy, if she is actually serious about winning, it will most likely put in a new Speaker, who will be much more difficult to work with on ending the war than Pelosi had ever been. Not to mention, that if Cindy did win, Dem congressmen would practically run away from working with Cindy on Iraq War legislation. Dem congressmen are fearful creatures, frightened of being associated with anything that could get them labeled "weak on security" or any other shallow GOP euphemism.

Now whether that strategy would ever work or not, Dems will still run from her. The GOP will make Cindy the kiss of death for anybody working with her on Iraq legislation. Dems will be scared of being demonized by proxy. I mean, honestly, we know these people. They are like frightened baby chipmunks, when faced with GOP lies and labels. Then Cindy in her isolation, working only with the very few brave people in congress like Dennis Kucinich, will then lash out at the Steny Hoyer-ish Dems in the party, pretty much like how she has been. She'll become isolated further. And since she's mainly a one-issue activist, who really knows how good she'll be on other issues? She's become so sporadic, it's difficult to tell.

I like her, I respect her, but, even if she wins I see nothing good coming out of it. Not unless a Dem president wins, and, in that case, it also opens up more options for Pelosi, if she were to still be Speaker. But Steny Hoyer as Speaker, and Cindy Sheehan as a rookie congresswoman is not a trade off I would want. He's that bad, and she'd be that ineffective.

I think we're stuck with the status quo until Bush is gone. Unless impeachment gets traction. But Bush has made up his mind to stay, and Dems have remained fearful of rocking the boat and being labeled weak on security or whatever else they are frightened of being hit with.

It's a bad spot for sure, but Bush has made up his mind to pass Iraq on to the next president. Petraeus isn't likely to change anything either. He coauthored a strategy of staying in Iraq until mid 2009, at least.

All we can do is fight, and hope something gives, but I think the inevitable troop withdrawal will be slogged out for almost another two years. Dems will be fearful and weak, Bush will be stupid and dangerous.

Cindy Sheehan running for Congress will not change that.

She wouldn't even if she won.