You know ER, my style generally isn't as bulldog as I'm using with Tom but the abuse he's piling onto anyone that isn't lockstep in line with his way of thinking is becoming intolerable. Granted, there's others of different political persuasions that throw out some zingers occassionally but they just don't seem as provocative or demeaning. At least when Bowser goes ultra-left on us, he does it with some tongue-in-cheek and often self-deprecating humor.

You can tell when Raoul or Donald post something with a more liberal slant that they have this underlying concern for other humans and that their soul impetus isn't some power grab for the Democrats. I don't know about you, but I've developed quite a keen insight into spotting people with humility and concern for others and see none of the traits jerks like Tom tries to portray.

Yet, these posts about Iraq from Tom seem to have one goal in mind, to advance this notion that the only solution to the threats we face in the world is force and death and that anyone disagreeing is some form of coward and traitor. If his little asides are an attempt at humor I simply don't get it. Maybe one needs to have that fascist mentality to find cruelty funny. I used to find Dennis Miller outrageously funny when he had a more balanced approach to politics. Today, he's still got the wit but there's this aspect of cruelty to his look at the world. That combo doesn't fit.

Anyway, I'll certainly play the role of the bulldog if nobody else will because I just can't tolerate bullies. Never have been able to and never will. I appreciate that you are holding your tongue and being diplomatic in these exchanges but I also know it's probably what you need to do to not go completely berzerk on them and storm off in a huff. Personally, I'd love to see you go after guys like Tom with both barrels since you have such a great mind. I'm sure it'd be like the scene in Good Will Hunting where Damon turns the redneck in the bar into a puddle of piss. But, if not getting to experience that is what it takes to keep your input I'm all for living without it.

Just take pleasure in the fact that I know the warrior inside you because we're quite a bit alike and that you are simply a better lip biter than I care to be.

Art