I have yet to read the rest of the board this morning, so I hope this hasn't been covered already.

Come on, Buck. Only an idiot would say that all liberals fall into the same category as those SPECIFIC people I have been exposing here.

I'm not sure what I have to do to ensure that you and others who are complaining about me can follow a simple logical train of thought (all cats are mammals. This does not mean all mammals are cats.) Maybe I need to post a disclaimer:

"The fact that (insert name here) is a blithering idiot, and also happens to be a proud member of the political (insert 'left' or 'right' here) is not intended to imply that all members of the political (insert 'left' or 'right' here) are blithering idiots."

I will go after anyone who I believe is totally wrong. Remember, the right to express an opinion does not automatically mean that opinion is correct. There are many people who normally cruise like submarines beneath the surface of our society whose radical, lunatic politics have been exposed by this crisis, and I am happy to shine a light on them.

I'm sorry that "flag waving" has become kind of a litmus test, but in some cases it is.

Not putting out a flag because you haven't gotten around to it, because it's too much work to take it in at night (the reason my flag isn't out every day), because you don't have a place to put one, or dozens of other low-key reasons is perfectly normal and understandable. Falls into the same category as not deciding to put a pumpkin out for Halloween. Franks' post puts this reasonable attitude very well.

The people I have been smacking around are those who don't put out a flag as a political statement, specifically because they don't like the United States, pretty much never did, and have no reservations about telling the world about it. Fine. They have their opinion, and I've got mine, and I'm not going to withhold it because it makes people uncomfortable. If it's any consolation, my local paper is getting a little tired of me too.

I am an equal opportunity reamer. Fair-minded folks will note that I was the first one on this board to rip Falwell and Robertson a new one. Fair-minded folks will also note that while I have been merciless with third parties (people who appear in or write various articles), I have generally treated people on this board with opposing views with kid gloves. Have I ever called anyone on this board a blithering idiot? I have prided myself on not getting personal here, although I can't guarantee I've never slipped. Lord knows I slipped a few times on the MSNBC board.

I am honestly sorry that some people are feeling "outnumbered" here. Unfortunately, statistically a large number of people who hang out in computerland tend to be libertarian or conservative. I really do miss those who bailed out--Mary Anne in particular. IMO a symptom of mental fatigue, and not cowardice. Heck, Buck, I really wish YOU would post more often. The non-conservatives who post here are typically parsecs ahead intellectually of the parrot-brained nimrods I usually have to deal with.