Big Leather Couch

Look, I know I said politics would be a small part of this blog...and I believe I have stuck to that pretty well, but the news of our two soldiers being kidnapped, tortured and killed has me boiling mad...

When is this madness going to end? Are we really thinking of staying in Iraq longer then we already have? Why? Can anyone tell me why we are still losing men and women over thee in a country where we are not even appreciated? Can our troops tell the friendlies from the enemy? How much longer before our President sees the futility in this war?
WMD...nope never found any.
Was this truly just a "Yo, Dad, I will go back there and do what you didn't have the balls to do" situation?

The similarities to the Vietnam War are eerie. Protests are beginning now over this ridiculous war. The administration is walking around with their heads up their collective asses while the country begs them to bring the troops home...The one main difference, and this is one that does warm my heart, is that our troops are being treated as heroes when they return home. What our Vietnam era veterans went through upon their return is a disgraceful blotch in our history and should never be repeated again.

Below are some quotes. Some are from Richard M. Nixon, the others from George W. Bush. Can you pick who said which? - Answers below--NO peeking

1. "When we make a pledge, we mean it. We keep our word, and what we begin, we will finish."
2. "We are all in it together. This is a war. We take a few shots and it will be over. We will give them a few shots and it will be over."
3. ". . . For once, we've got to use the maximum power of this country . . . against this *shit-ass* little country: to win the war. We can't use the word, "win." But others can."
4. “It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.”
5. "I strongly believe what we're doing is the right thing. If I didn't believe it — I'm going to repeat what I said before — I'd pull the troops out, nor if I believed we could win, I would pull the troops out."
6. "I wish I wasn't the war president. Who in the heck wants to be a war president? I don't."
7. "By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of the healing."
8. "My view is that one should not break up a winning combination."
9. "We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the
   worst threats before they emerge."
10. "This will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome
    except victory."
11. “It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.”
12. "You're so goddamned concerned about the civilians, and I don't give a damn. I don't care."
13. "The ultimate aim is for the infrastructure to be the best in the region. And the political process is moving toward democracy, which is a major shift of system in that part of the world."
14. "As far as I am concerned now, I have no enemies in the press whatsoever."

Not as easy as you thought it would be - was it? OK, give yourself 1 point for every correct answer and post your score in the comments area.

1. Bush
2. Nixon
3. Nixon
4. Nixon
5. Bush
6. Bush
7. Nixon
8. Nixon
9. Bush
10. Bush
11. Nixon
12. Nixon
13. Bush
14. Nixon

I am still calling on all of you to help stop Malaria in Africa: - SEND YOUR $10.00
As a sports nut, nets means so many things.. in this case, it means LIFE.
If enough people do this, we can wipe malaria off the map. What does $10 do? It buys special netting to be used over the beds of children. Nets coated with insecticide costs between $4 and $6, so with shipping, you get to $10.
I know, you are saying..sure I send in $10 and $9 goes to administration costs and $1 to a net. WRONG!
Seems Ted Turner donated $1 BILLION to create the U.N. Foundation, which covers all overhead. Andrea Gay, the U.N. Foundations Director of Children's Health says "every cent goes to buy nets."

To use some of Reilly's column: "If you are a coach. parent. player, gym teacher or even just a fan who likes watching balls fly into nets, send $20. You saved a life, take the rest of the day off.
You ever have a net in your driveway, front lawn or on your head at McDonald's, send $20. You ever imagined Angelina Jolie in fishnets, send $20."

The address is: UNFoundation.org/malaria. Then just look for the big SI's Nothing But Net logo (or call 202-887-9040) and donate $20.

Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.

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