Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
This is intended as a apology, with an explaination that is not intended to start a debate, but only to say why I sometimes get carried away.
First, I realize that at times I have been a bit caustic in my comments and for that I apologize; I don't mean to be rude, abrupt or offensive, but some times I get , as my Dad would have said, "all 'het up!".
My rationalizations;
I feel that the political considerations that determine the course our country is now taking and will take in the future are terribly important. As I have somewhat filpantly said in the past, it is not last weeks ball scores we are talking about----it is literally the well being of our country and its peope, both this and future generations we are dealing with.
I fully realize that on the specific points as well as the overview that others will take a very different position on what is best, and which way these different approachs may "cut'. As stated, I do not intend to start a new debate, but only to explain my "enthusiasm".
Terror;
The world in no longer "small"; we can not feel secure that the oceans will shield us from the worlds problems, and terrorism has become a world problem, as illustrated by attacks against U S targets over the past 10+ years.
I believe passionately that we are correct to fight terror in Iraq, which I see as a major battle, not simple against the evil forces in Iraq, but against terror in general--a major battle in the war on terror. Over fifty percent of the "opposition" killed or captured in Iraq since the end of the "major fighting" have been from other countries in the region--I view these as general terrorist that we might otherwise have to deal with in events such as occurred on 9-11.
Our fighting in Iraq did not cause the attack on our Marine barracks, or the various embassies, or the USS Cole, and not even the dastardly attack on the World Tade Center.
I seems to me that it bacame essential that we take the fight to them, and fight them in their back yard rather than in our front yard.
Yes, I realize that others differ with this opinion.
Economis policies
It has been the general theory that the Democratic party(representing the liberal side) more favors and supports the "little guy", while the Republican party (representing the conservative side) more favors "big business", and there may be something to that; but it has allways seemed to me that GM, Microsoft, and AT&T, provided more "living wage" jobs than did the guy standing on the corner with a sign seeking a hand out.
(Yesterday a buddy was telling me about his cousin. She, her mother, her daughter and her grand daughter are all collecting public assistance. Lynden Johnson introduced his "Great Society" way back in the '70's to abolish poverty, and we have spent trillions of dollars on social programs, intended to abolish or at leat reduce poverty; it seems to that instead of abolishing or even reducing poverty, we have instead created multi-generations of families who simply look to the taxpayers for a free ride. And the magnitude of this segment of society seems to be ever increasing.
Enough with the rationalizations; the purpose of this is not to persuade, or convert, but only to try to explain why I have been,at times, more caustic than I should have been.
I appologize, especially to CF and illflem; sorry guys, I am not really as obnoxious as I might at times appear.
(Wonder why, throughout my Judicial career I was commonly referred to as a "hard ass" and as "the hanging Judge?? lawyers who generally reprsented criminals went to considerable lengths to avoid my court. )
This BB and the people on it have become important to me and to all whom I have offended, I do regret doing so, and apologize.
Keep up the good work---(and help me decide whether/how to relocate my lift pump to the frame)
Vaughn
First, I realize that at times I have been a bit caustic in my comments and for that I apologize; I don't mean to be rude, abrupt or offensive, but some times I get , as my Dad would have said, "all 'het up!".
My rationalizations;
I feel that the political considerations that determine the course our country is now taking and will take in the future are terribly important. As I have somewhat filpantly said in the past, it is not last weeks ball scores we are talking about----it is literally the well being of our country and its peope, both this and future generations we are dealing with.
I fully realize that on the specific points as well as the overview that others will take a very different position on what is best, and which way these different approachs may "cut'. As stated, I do not intend to start a new debate, but only to explain my "enthusiasm".
Terror;
The world in no longer "small"; we can not feel secure that the oceans will shield us from the worlds problems, and terrorism has become a world problem, as illustrated by attacks against U S targets over the past 10+ years.
I believe passionately that we are correct to fight terror in Iraq, which I see as a major battle, not simple against the evil forces in Iraq, but against terror in general--a major battle in the war on terror. Over fifty percent of the "opposition" killed or captured in Iraq since the end of the "major fighting" have been from other countries in the region--I view these as general terrorist that we might otherwise have to deal with in events such as occurred on 9-11.
Our fighting in Iraq did not cause the attack on our Marine barracks, or the various embassies, or the USS Cole, and not even the dastardly attack on the World Tade Center.
I seems to me that it bacame essential that we take the fight to them, and fight them in their back yard rather than in our front yard.
Yes, I realize that others differ with this opinion.
Economis policies
It has been the general theory that the Democratic party(representing the liberal side) more favors and supports the "little guy", while the Republican party (representing the conservative side) more favors "big business", and there may be something to that; but it has allways seemed to me that GM, Microsoft, and AT&T, provided more "living wage" jobs than did the guy standing on the corner with a sign seeking a hand out.
(Yesterday a buddy was telling me about his cousin. She, her mother, her daughter and her grand daughter are all collecting public assistance. Lynden Johnson introduced his "Great Society" way back in the '70's to abolish poverty, and we have spent trillions of dollars on social programs, intended to abolish or at leat reduce poverty; it seems to that instead of abolishing or even reducing poverty, we have instead created multi-generations of families who simply look to the taxpayers for a free ride. And the magnitude of this segment of society seems to be ever increasing.
Enough with the rationalizations; the purpose of this is not to persuade, or convert, but only to try to explain why I have been,at times, more caustic than I should have been.
I appologize, especially to CF and illflem; sorry guys, I am not really as obnoxious as I might at times appear.
(Wonder why, throughout my Judicial career I was commonly referred to as a "hard ass" and as "the hanging Judge?? lawyers who generally reprsented criminals went to considerable lengths to avoid my court. )
This BB and the people on it have become important to me and to all whom I have offended, I do regret doing so, and apologize.
Keep up the good work---(and help me decide whether/how to relocate my lift pump to the frame)
Vaughn
