well, I finally got a laugh out of this thread. I knew it was in there someplace.

Thanks for the support Adroomi.

Lofty: we should be careful when using the word intelligent (as in "choose...intelligently".

I guess I choose this seemingly petty item to "pick on" because it captures in a nutshell the prevailing mindset on this board (what it has become in the last year or so), which is so far from my own, that I occasionally engage with the main goal of trying to gleen some understanding of it. It is the same reason why I listen to Christian AM radio, Limbaugh, and Hennity. I guess I owe the conservative crowd here a thanks for the education.

I still don't get it, but I will keep thinking about it. It has a lot of value to me because I have about 40 people working for me who have perspectives similar to your own (but only two smoke cigars), and I want to be able to empathize with them. One of them has a son in Iraq. Which leads me my second objective; the last thing I want to do is disrespect the service of our military people. I just wish they could both, do their jobs, and be a little more "enlightened" thinkers(by my perspective).

One reason why I am happy to see Adroomi posting as much as he has, recently, is that he cannot be discounted as a non-military person. He probably has more experience associated with that, than most of our more vocal right-wingers. And he is obviously well-educated.

Sorry to have spoiled your inside joke, that I guess only a Marine can appreciate.