There was a time three years ago, I got flamed as racist and bigot by major players here, because I voiced the exact same things you two mentioned.
Amazing how things change when the truth finally comes out.
When Colon Bowell got weak-kneed at the Highway of Death, is when I saw him as an affirmative action puppet.
Well there are lots of charges that float around here once in a while. About all you can do is call em like you see em and let the chips fall where they will.
As I recall, my views started to morph around the same times yours did. There were comments he made regarding Israel years ago, that led me to believe I had made a big mistake about him early on.