hard v. soft power

[billwagnon]

Having lost sight of our objectives, we redoubled our efforts.

[Burnin' oil]

Having cut the board too short, we cut it again and it was still too short.

If I had a pot I could could make some coffee if I had any coffee.

[Superman]

Burnin' if my last post seems like a personal attack to you, then you're just going to have to grow a thicker skin. The only person I made reference to was Dubya. Is that the personal attack you're referencing?

And is this a post without a personal attack? I'm starting to wonder whether we have the same definitions for terms like "personal attack" and "respect" and terms like that.

I'm a rather candid communicator, including my face-to-face exchanges. Folks seem to appreciate that, and I don't seem to insult them. The bit about growing a thicker skin for example, I'd say that at a meeting if the timing is right for it (bear in mind I work in the construction industry). I'm generally regarded as a very helpful and respectful player. for a time, I was deliberately getting just as nasty as some of you here. But right now, I'm back to just expressing myself, but getting this feedback that I'm somehow out of control.

So, you're going to have to help me here. Tell me what personal attacks exist in this or the past post. Or are you perhaps part of the let's-punish-Superman-for-getting-Mul-kicked-off-the-forum crowd?

And by the way, Island, if you're out there....Each and every single bit of communication I made to anyone regarding Mul is posted right on this forum for the world to see. I did not engage in any conspiracy activity, I did not contact Pelican folks, nothing. But I do think there are conspiracies here and behind-the-scenes agreements. I'm just not one of the conspirators. Who else can say that?

If you want to dance around an issue but not address it directly, you need to leave me off the attendee list. And unless you can convince me that this candid approach is insulting or disrespectful, then you'll just have to tolerate it. Like we all tolerate the nastiness here and the refusals to engage in good faith discussions.

So, all you neocons just need to blindly keep denying that soft power has any utility at all, because a productive discussion might occur if you break ranks.

[Mule]

Burnin, Super is a liberal. That's why he cant see his own personal attacks. Apparently you have failed to understand that only "mean spirited conservatives" make real personal attacks. Just like moveon.org comparing Bush to Hitler, the libs were shocked that "some people" percieved that as a personal attack.

[island911]

Originally posted by Superman
. . .. I'm generally regarded as a very helpful and respectful player.

Why, oh-why, do you keep telling people this? Considering your post-count, I would expect that people here know exactly how "helpful and respectful" to consider your words.