[thecabal]

I was having a bad day, and I guess I just got pushed over the edge the last time I checked in. At the time, my attitude was "I've got enough BS in my life to waste more time getting it online." I have thought about it some more, and I overreacted. Sorry for pouting, I've been online for a long time and I don't usually let the flames get to me. I think what got to me was the feeling that some people see us as the goofy, tin-foil hat wearing comedy relief at FR. It also bugged me that I took the time to write a detailed message addressing the criticisms of one of the biggest detractors, Iron Eagle, and he didn't have the courtesy to acknowledge anything I said.

I just needed a break. For the regulars here, thanks for your kind and supporting words.

[Velveeta]

Glad you're back.

[TexKat]

I was having a bad day, and I guess I just got pushed over the edge the last time I checked in. At the time, my attitude was "I've got enough BS in my life to waste more time getting it online." I have thought about it some more, and I overreacted.

Welcome back thecabal. I've been there and done that toooooooooo.

Glad you are back. Have a great day. Looking forward to reading you post.

[Iron Eagle]

Are you talking about replying to:

On News/Activism 02/05/2004 2:48:57 PM PST #6,684 of 6,847. (Thread 2)

You did take the time to write a lengthy retort, filled mostly with rhetorical questions, I thought. I also did not want to further antagonize you at that time. I feel my original post, the one that prompted your response, answered most of the questions you posited. More importantly, I posted a later post to "all", stating that I would lurk for the most part, and post only analysis. I subsequently posted an analysis of why the Russian thread seemed plainly a nonstarter.

My latest post was not really poking fun, but rather was meant to be humorous. In fact, many "regulars" saw it as just that. I am sorry if you did not. (And, just for the record, I do not think this whole thing is funny, as some have accused me.)

Sometimes, we learn from each other by posting things that are "outside the box." That's good. We can all also learn when others take a step back, and review the postings and missed analysis. That keeps us focused, in my view. It is the difference between uninformed rumor mongering, which I think we don't want to do, and honest attempts at analysis that tries to piece together raw data and anticipate a threat.

Some here, have an agenda. That's quite plain.

Your long post to me asked many questions, but in the end it seems to be asking me if I think Communism is a threat.

I do not. I do think that Countries who do not think like we do, and who have weapons pointed at us, bear close watching. But old-fashioned, totalitarian Communism, IMHO, is not a threat to take over the world.

The far bigger threat, IMHO, is soft communism. It is the creeping socialism we see adopted by left-wing interest groups, and indeed the Democratic party. Socialism, takes many forms, but in the end it is the redistribution of wealth. (It is different from using wealth for a collective good, e.g., building roads and highways, or contributing to a common defense.) Socialism sees itself in so many forms, from school funding, to federal mandates, to the "progressive" income tax, to attempts to legitimize gay marriage, etc.) The advocates of such policies are not "socialists" in their minds, but they have acquired the ideals of socialism, usually through misguided concepts of "fairness" or "equity."

That is the biggest threat, because it is a threat from within. It creeps into our culture and becomes the norm, without meaningful examination.

We have long since passed the threat of Military action by a Nation-state against us, for the purpose of conquering us. As I wrote repeatedly, here, the sub-national conflict we have now, being driven by radical Islam, is also a threat, but only because we are left confounded about how to use our might to retaliate against a foe who claims no national borders, and whose allies swear allegiance to us.

This thread, however, is about AQ activities and attempts to strike at our country. When we run afield of that, we lose our objectivity. I think it is perfectly legitimate for us to be concerned about old Communists selling resources and assets to AQ and other terrorists. Tracking that intelligence data is worthwhile, because it allows us to assess the threat.

Theorizing that this is all part of a master plan hatched decades ago by a defeated enemy, really does not help us assess the threat -- unless someone credibly believe AQ will strike us, hurt us, and permit the Russians to decapitate our government and pour soldiers across our borders to hold and conquer us. They cold not hold Afghanistan, which is stuck in the 13th Century. Imagine Russians trying to hold New York City.

The threat of socialism, is a creeping ideology. The threat, I thought we wanted to assess here, was about possible military/terrorist physical attacks on our people and country.

That's my focus.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Welcome back, cabal! I, for one, appreciate your contributions here!

[Revel]

Glad to see you. The politics here are difficult. I believe there are few of the regulars here who have kind of put me on there crap list because I dare read a ceartin site that is "not FR correct". First they let me know how terrible it was and now they just don't talk to me because I stood up for myself. But that seems to be life...People like you and then they don't. You have always been a good poster though :)

[JustPiper]

So glad your here!

Believe me I know exactly where you are coming from cabal!
I don't know how many times in the past few months I've been on the verge of the very same pronouncement. Especially when I see longtime Freeper's booking.

But no twit will get the better of me, the best thing to do is call them out an fagidaboutit ;) I'll leave when I'm good and ready!

[Oorang]

Glad to see you back.

Sorry for pouting
IMO, no need to apologize. It's called a "mental health break" :-)

As far as the folks that see us as their "entertainment" I just take it with a grain of salt. You get a large enough group of people together and there are going to folks of all persuasions. I just ignore them. But, that's just me.