[TopQuark]

Why hold him to a higher standard than a professional newspaper columnist or editorial board? Sorry, the journalists do typically provide some named sources. They also attempt at some form of integration (as opposed to compilation), and finding and stating the point.

How often do you see footnotes in the op ed pieces of the WSJ? As you can see, that's not what I asked.

Heck, some of these facts he cites are so widely known that you probably wouldn't have to footnote them in an academic paper... You would.

In fact, I was only 12 in 1983 and I remembered all but one of them first-hand. I did not, althought I am older. In fact, I make an effort to excise trivia from my mind.

While I agree with the general point of your remarks, I still think that stating the point of a piece of writing, even in private, is a rather mild and minimal requirement.

Thanks for explaining to me the point of the thread.

[Coop]

Thanks for explaining to me the point of the thread.

I'm still very sorry that you've been struggling, but I'm glad someone was able to assist you. The point of the thread was quite clear to most, fortunately. I had no intention of unambiguously stating it anywhere, much less early on. To put it up front, as you requested, would really have been rather silly. Kinda like putting the last chapter of your mystery novel up front, to appease the critic who doesn't feel like reading (which may also involve some thinking) the whole thing.

Tell you what. You admit that your real problem with this thread is that I ruined your "dance on Dubya's political grave" and I'll make an effort to run any future draft threads by you for approval. Deal?