An Incontinent er... um.... Truth?

There are two stories floating around the news web pages these days, and it seems to me they should be linked since they seem, at least to me, to have a good deal in common.

The first story to which I'm referring is Senator Harry Reid's contention that the Iraqi war is lost. What he actually said was:

"I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week,"

The Drudge Report is now conducting a survey at Mercuras Polls to find out whether people believe Senator Harry Reid should apologize to the US troops. 93% or 1,949 people said yes, they believe Reid should apologize. I get why they responded that way, but I really don't see what good such an apology would do. In declaring what he did about the situation in Iraq as of the time he made this statement, Reid is truthfully telling us how he sees the Iraq war. US soldiers are engaged in combat, and while they put their lives on the line, Harry Reid declares their efforts useless. So, what kind of apology could possibly make up for a statement like that? And why should Reid issue what in effect would be a meaningless addendum to words he said that were obviously his considered opinion?

If Harry Reid wants to shoot off his mouth in an offensive verbal diarrhea tirade that ends up offending US troops, let him. MSNBC and CBS Radio fired Don Imus for his unfortunate choice of words. I suggest Harry Reid be fired or at least have his resignation sought for the same "crime".

After all, it's not like this is Harry's first time around the verbally offensive circuit. I saw him on C-Span giving a press conference in which not only did he echo the views he expressed in the statement quoted here, but he went further to suggest that the Pope should have some influence over United States foreign policy:

"As the pope has said, it's a slaughter. Those are not Harry Reid 's words or Jack Reed's words or some Democratic operative. They are the pope. The spiritual leader of more than a million people says to everyone that's listening to his voice and he is — he presides over more than a billion people, and many more have great respect for him. And he is saying there's a slaughter in Iraq. Those are his words. And nothing good is coming from Iraq.
The president should understand that it's not just the Democratic Congress that is crying out for a change in direction. It's the pope."

If that's not an implication that the Pope should be dictating world policy on all matters regardless of what nations these matters concern, I don't know what is. I do think, at the very least, though, we should hold out for a vote when the Cardinals meet next time around to elect a new Pope.

The story I believe should be linked to this one because of the verbal diarrhea factor is Sheryl Crow's assertion that regulating toilet paper usage will help free the planet of global warming.

"I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming," Crow wrote.

"Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating.

"I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting."

Ms Crow did not, however, go on to elaborate on whether she was offering herself up for Toilet Paper Use Police Patrol. I'm guessing not. But if such a Patrol needs a theme song, perhaps she can write it for them.

I'm wondering if Harry Reid and Sheryl Crow know each other. They should. They speak the same mind numbingly stupid language.