If I just took one or two statements of TB and responded the way I have, you'd be right. Given the history, I think I have only repeated what TB has said about himself. It's not flattering, in fact it's ugly, and it's nothing I made up.

He has said that he resents paying the taxes that fights the wars he advocates. Nothing there about which to argue.

He has said that he would only contribute to the welfare of others at gunpoint. A given.

He has said that his "stuff" is more important to him than healthcare for children. I didn't make it up.

He said that compassion is only compassion if it doesn't cost anything. Is that a far cry from saying Mother Teresa's life is worthless? Did he intend to sound that way. Of course not. Is that what he has said, Yes, he just doesn't want to be cast in that light.

Is the life lived for "stuff" at the expense of other people worth living? I don't think so, and TB does. He condemns Unions and their benefits, and yet readily accepts those same benefits. Is there something wrong there?

Where am I over the top? I'm willing to accept that on occasion, without feedback I can get too excited and too judgmental. I can create a reality in my own head which is accurate as far as it goes but doesn't include huge chunks of relevant material.

TB has described himself as a greedy, selfish person who does not care about other people if it would cost him anything. Someone who promotes war against innocent people and does not care if they are killed, maimed, imprisoned or simply beat. That's not me describing him, that's him describing him.

I'd be delighted to be shown I was wrong in any substantive manner. And I didn't make it up.

I have been mean, abusive, hostile and certainly inappropriate many, many times on these boards, and regret that. I do not regret clarifying a person's views in a way which highlight the effects and may be less than flattering to them. Tough. I won't let anyone deprive a child of health care and still sound noble, charitable, generous, etc. They aren't.

On the off chance you are responding to the Jody exchange, I thought I was muted. If someone fires a .22 across your nose and they get a .380 back that's life. Both missed, even though there's a mutual knowledge the shot can be closer next time.

If you will let me know where I was over the top with TB, where I misunderstood him, where my extrapolations weren't consistent with his history, I'll back off and apologize and do so sincerely. I do not like thinking there are people with those qualities.

And thanks for the sincere point of view which is different than mind. I need that, and usually those are more correct than mine.

Arf