They're out there... on every thread. No matter what the topic, they try to link it to their pet issue in some way, shape, or form.

While little can be done to stop them, and it is probably best to ignore them, I find it much, much more fun to mock them. Sure, being passionate about an issue you care about is a good thing, but thread hijacking is annoying and, to be honest, turns off people who might otherwise agree with you.

I'd like to coin the term "H-score" to indicate the number of posts on a thread before someone tries to hijack it with the issue du jour. For example, if the attempt occurs on response #5, the thread has an "H-score" of 5.

What I propose is that when hijacking offenses occur, that they be documented here in the following form:

Perioidcally, I will go through the nominees and post finalists (for subjective awards) and winners (for non-subjective awards) in the following categories (subject to change at any time):

The issue du jour changes over time. At one time, it was Terri Schiavo. As of the time of this posting, it is illegal immigration. Note that ridicule on this thread is not to be taken as argument over any poster's position, but rather their methods and bloody single-mindedness.

So, for now, nominations will be taken for threads hijacked by "illegal immigration/border control" single-issue folks. Watch this space for any changes.

BEER CAN CHICKEN

This odd recipe makes some of the most moist, succulent, flavorful barbecued chicken I've ever tasted. The secret: an open can of beer is inserted into the cavity of the bird, which is cooked upright on the grill. Besides being incredibly tender, the bird makes a great conversation piece. The proper beverage? Beer, of course.

1 large whole chicken (4 to 5 pounds)
3 tablespoons Memphis Rub* or your favorite dry barbecue rub
1 can (12 ounces) beer

1. Remove and discard the fat just inside the body cavities of the chicken. Remove the package of giblets, and set aside for another use. Rinse the chicken, inside and out, under cold running water, then drain and blot dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the rub inside the body and neck cavities, the rub another 1 tablespoon all over the skin of the bird. If you wish, rub another 1/2 tablespoon of the mixture between the flesh and the skin. Cover and refrigerate the chicken while you preheat the grill.

2. Set up the grill for indirect grilling** placing a drip pan in the center. If using a charcoal grill, preheat it to medium.

If using a gas grill, place all the wood chips in the smoker box and preheat the grill to high; then, when smoke appears, lower the heat to medium.

3. Pop the tab on the beer can. Using a "church key" –style can opener, make 6 or 7 holes in the top of the can. Pour out the top inch of beer, then spoon the remaining dry rub through the holes into the beer. Holding the chicken upright, with the opening of the body cavity down, insert the beer can into the cavity.

4. When ready to cook, if using charcoal, toss half the wood chips on the coals. Oil the grill grate. Stand the chicken up in the center of the hot grate, over the drip pan. Spread out the legs to form a sort of tripod, to support the bird.

5. Cover the grill and cook the chicken until fall-off-the-bone tender, 2 hours. If using charcoal, add 10 to 12 fresh coals per side and the remaining wood chips after 1 hour.

6. Using tongs, lift the bird to a cutting board or platter, holding the metal spatula underneath the beer can for support. (Have the board or platter right next to the bird to make the move shorter. Be careful not to spill hot beer on yourself.) Let stand for 5 minutes before carving the meat off the upright carcass. (Toss the beer can out along with the carcass.)

*Memphis Rub

1/4 cup paprika
1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons accent (MSG; optional)
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 3 teaspoons cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Combine all the ingredients in a jar, twist the lid on airtight, and shake to mix. Store away from heat or light for up to six months. Makes about 1/2 cup. Enough for 4 to 6 racks of ribs.

** Indirect grilling on a Charcoal Grill:

To set up you grill for indirect grilling, light the coals. When they are blazing red, use tongs to transfer them to opposite sides of the grill, arranging them in two piles. Some grills have special half-moon-shaped baskets to hold the coals at the sides; others have wire fences that hook onto the bottom gate. Let the coals burn until they are covered with a thin layer of gray ash. Set the drip pan in the center of the grill, between the mounds of coals. Place the food on the grate over the drip pan, and cover the grill. You’ll need to add about 10 to 12 fresh briquettes to each side after an hour of cooking.

If you want to add a smoke flavor, add 1 to 2 cups of presoaked wood chips, or 2 to 4 chunks, to the coals just before you start to cook, and again whenever you replenish the coals.

Serves 4 to 6.

On the other extreme, there are a few Freepers whose attacks on those disagreeing with the President would seem to be a caricature of what DUers believe conservatives to be like. I could easily believe them to be stealth DUers if they weren't well-established Freepers.

It's possible for reasonable conservatives to not support every public statement from the Oval Office, so long as they frame those disagreements in an intelligent and politely manner. Flame those disrupters who deserve flaming, and counter those that are reasoned with reason if you disagree.

Freepers don't need to mount a reflexive defense of every word and action of W's. That's what Tony Snow is for, if he does his job right. I think that we can all think of a time or two we disagreed with W. That certainly doesn't mean we have become Hillary supporters.

RE: Single-issue people.

Cute.

But you miss the real point. There's nothing funny about the single issue of America vis-a-vis sovereignty and heritage as A Nation of Laws, IMO.

To wit, why won't Washington take advantage of the resource that's been available from 1937 to ID law breakers and ENFORCE their own immigration laws? It ain't funny, McGee.

It is absolutely true that Washington knows the ID of virtually every employer of people NOT authorized to work in the U.S.

Tens of thousands of these employers submit W-2 earnings data to the SSA and many unauthorized workers submit 1099 earnings data directly to the IRS (later passed to SSA). Some of the W-2 data are by Clinton-IRS-issued individual taxpayer ID numbers which DO NOT authorize the numberholders to work in the U.S.

The SSA knows the identity and employers of some 9 1/2 million unauthorized workers.

So why do we NOT enforce immigration laws?

As a long time news junky, Goldwater conservative, and an observer of the Goldwater v. Rockefeller internationalist Republican hubbub 40 years ago the answer is easy.

Goldwater conservatives respect our sovereignty and heritage as a Nation of Laws, mainline Republicans do not.

And that shames mainline Republicans into reacting with cutesy school-boy-clique sarcasm, ad hominem attacks, and tiresome lectures about not voting Republican.

(Rats of course are sworn enemies of all things American heritage except they do like their free speech protections.)

You're missing the point, or at least not reading the whole article. I am taking no position here on the subject, but rather the annoying spamming of off-topic comments about said subject on virtually every thread.

Today, it's illegal immigration and border control. A ways back, it was Terri Schiavo. Before that, Elian Gonzales.

Other people have humorously added other examples, but these generally have not had the same wide-spread "infection" of unrelated threads.

I am not arguing one side or the other on the issue. however, as a public service, I will point out that dragging every thread, regardless of subject matter, into the debate is a sure way to alienate (no pun intended) people who might have actually agreed with you, but don't want to be associated with someone who is making a nuisance of themself.

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