Gee Tom, you're a regular walking encyclopedia of information!
You ought to be manning the controls of some Libetarian radio station to receive the accolades you so richly DESERVE.
I will concede that sometimes my opinion is skewed by a preset set of beliefs, but I can also say with confidence, the same thing about you.

>"totalitarian regimes have excelled at hauling in dewy-eyed liberals with hearts much larger than their brains">

"Dewey eyed liberals" don't get hauled in through their ignorance.
Liberals are compassionate and would prefer to see a better distribution of wealth AND care, not only in their own countries, but in others as well.
You might even use the derogatory word "socialist".

Hussein is obviously not a liberal.
(Neither is Bush, for that matter).
Although you proved your point with Hussein's distribution of wealth from his oil, I see little difference in ANY leader who will milk his own society for personal gain.
Arrogance and opulence seem to go hand in hand.
Like WE have no poverty, lack of healthcare or nutritious food for our children here in the US?
Try and name just one president in the past couple of decades who cared.

>"So firm is the left's conviction that all pain on Earth originates in America, that there is no room for any other conclusions."

America is supposed to be the ideal, is supposed to lead the world as the ideal.
And we're far from perfect.
But what we are guilty of, I suppose all other countries/regimes are guilty of.
And when we get down to it, it becomes a moot point.
At least we don't eat our young.

BTW, you did a really good job with your reply.
I defer to you this time.
Where you get all the time and the energy for this is beyond me.