So The Oshkosh Northwestern contacted me today...

I wrote that LTTE that got published yesterday:
http://thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051227/OSH06/512270340/1189

So local reporter Doug Zellmer read it and gave me a ring wanting to get my take on the war to go in an article he was doing about two local soldiers that were KIA.

Now, two things go through my mind here...

1. Doug and I go way back. He has done four articles on my wrestling group since 1998 and has been a really cool guy to work with on the PR front.

2. I am in the middle of the nap and didn't expect the call, nor was I totally lucid when I was being asked for comment.

My basic answers were that a) we were misled into a war where no WMDs were ever found and b) the anti-war position is in fact the most supportive to the troops because it wants to bring them home and get them out of harm's way.

I don't remember my exact comments (I was groggy) but I am hoping for a good write up where I am taken in context, especially with the high possibility that my quotes my be used in juxtaposition of those of grieving family members of these fallen soldiers.

Doesn't seem like a win-win situation to have to comment on to begin with I suppose.

Rp

Sounds good... forceful against how we were misled, corrective of how the anti-war movement supports the troops....

It runs on Sunday. :) I'll get a link when it goes up.

Rp

You're a bright spot in an otherwise conservative newspaper. If it weren't for you and Lemberger and a few others, I'd drop it.

He comes out swinging in his LTTEs and takes no Republican prisoners. I think it's his biggest strength actually. I enjoy his commentary very much. :)

Let's hope that the way my quotes come off don't sound callous in an article that might seem to convey sympathy towards the families of the fallen soldiers because political statements made in those types of articles are generally the sources of discontent and scorn by the non-political people out there or the opposition side of the issue.

Rp