"It is amusing to me that you would bring this up when the two biggest anomalists that have graced this board are Lindy and Splinx who are foresquare anti-Bush on all fronts."

And your point is? Because two putative anomalists are on the left this means exactly what about the existence of anomalist thinking on the right?

The point is that idiotic thinking abounds everywhere and reason is rare, and that we should conform to reason and eschew idiocy and anomalism

BTW, for the benefit of Splinx and Lindy: I seem to have started 'zoning' after splinx left for some time, and he has only recently returned (when I was on vacation from the zone myself, and then later actual vacation) I don't think I have ever read a splinx post. As for Lindy- allegations of things have been made, but I have yet to see aything blatant, like alien anal probes or such.

"Splinx was a big proponent of the conspiracy theory linking the Oklahoma City bombing to Iraq"

Sorry to hear that. As an Okie I get annoyed very much at people like that.

Frank wrote:
"Anomalism and conspiracy theories go hand in hand and the WMD fiesta ongoing among the more rabid anti-Bush zealots are at least 50% conspiracy theory at this point."

By this I assume you are saying that supposing the Bush administration is being dishonest is engaging in anomalist thinking?

Well, I disagree with that. We have seen a series of of massive mistakes:

1)Bush stating (in his state-of-the-union-address, if I recall) that Iraq is trying to buy plutonium from other african nations
2) terrorist links that were not, have not and can not be substantiated
3) Strong affirmative claims that WMD exist, even that we know where they are (ala Rumsfeld) when it appears that none exist.

At some point I think it becomes reasonable to wonder if there is a misinformation campaign. It is not 'conspiracy' type thinking to suspect intentional dishonesty. It is recognizing that this administration is making a series of profound and entirely avoidable blunders that remarkably also serve their stated aims. At some point we must wonder if we have moved from mere mistakes to wishful thinking and into dishonesty.

It certainly is a question that is reasonable to raise, a charge that is reasonable to make- and I think it is also reasonable that our Administration should defent itself regarding these claims.

When a child tells me he stepped on the cat once 'on accident' I am prone to believe him- as the contradicting case is a heavy indictment of the kid not to be made lightly. However, when the cat is stepped on daily, any sane parent must start to wonder if they are being lied to.

Frank wrote:
" The other 50% is based on the stupidity theory that is always typical of radical lefties when they are frustrated. "

Basically you have 100% of the spectrum dismissed without ever even addressing their arguments, complaints or claims with those of your own. In terms of dismissing folks based on their behaviors and not their content, this makes me tempted to dismiss what you have to say.

I think you should listen to what is going on here. If WMD do not turn up, then the Bush administration either has to claim complete stupidity, or it has to say that they were immoral-yet-crafty enough to lie, or they have to invent some theory.... such as the weapons of mass destruction were moved. Do you see an option here?

Frankly, I don't want to be rulled by idiots, liars, or conspiracy nuts.

And all of this completely glasses over the moral and ethical problems- namely they claimed certainty of means, motive and intent to such a degree as to justify war, and means motive and intent seem entirely lacking in hindsight, foresight and in execution. That, my friend, makes America look like a bunch of bloody thugs.

Davin L.