This isn't that hard, and you're a brighter guy than QED. This isn't rocket science - it's not even bottle-rocket science.

Contrary to good ol' eb, a good investigator, reporter, advocate, will not try to DENY the the premises if they are demonstrably true. Even if I were trying to "clear" the black guy, it is not honest to deny accurate facts when making a point. It can be honest to deny the relevance of those facts. Those of you on the conservative path (primrose) tried to deny the obvious facts on your way to whatever conclusion (read "prejudice") to which your are committed.

"A black guy moved into town last month."

"The bank was robbed a week ago, and some cars were vandalized."

That wasn't my leap - it was yours, among others. That's how lynch mobs get started, and I'm knowledgeable enough to know that. Contrary to eb's repeated assertions, that's what makes a good investigator. No evidence yet, no hearsay, just wishful thinking, apparently.

There are two intellectually dishonest things to do here. First, deny that a black man moved into town (if it's true) and second, deny there has been a bank robbery and vandalizations (if those have happened). (Actually, in my town, I would bet you 50 to one that both of those have been true this last month, and I'm not blaming the black guy. Neither would you.) And maybe a third would be to jump to a conclusion.

Had I been trying to make the argument that Bush caused the recession I couldn't have done it with just those facts. They might have been necessary, but they weren't sufficient. Trying to deny them was intellectually dishonest. the gleeful name-calling which accompanied the denials said nothing about me and volumes about the posters.

It's clear the responses of those on this board to this situation who paint themselves as conservatives were intellectually dishonest. William Safire, a mind I admire, would be embarrassed for them. It was especially sad after the map pointed out that there would be facts, and they would be spun. There was, and they were.

Arf