American voters are the ones charged with determining the outcome of this election, not unnamed foreign leaders.--Vice President Dick Cheney said today in response to Sen. John Kerry's claims that foreign leaders the Democrat spoke to have privately endorsed him for the presidency.

I'm not exactly sure how many folks actually look at the forum page. I imagine the company that hosts it probably provides traffic reports and whatnot, but I never bothered to dredge them up. I thought the forum page could be a cool place for locals to share some thoughts and maybe even get into some spirited, but civil debates. It's usually a feast or famine event with the forum. It'll typically go a week without a new entry and then go crazy for a spell. Whatever.

When Dean Howard, or Ethel, or whoever the heck started hacking on Private Sector Dude with insult-laced posts, I was surprised to see that anyone could have a problem with him. Maybe he doesn't come off as one on the internet, but you couldn't ask to meet a nicer, more learned, and successful young guy like him. I was shocked to find that anyone would actually refer to him as an "idiot." I think the reason for it is the fact that the country is so completely polarized right now. P.S.D. does use that L-word (liberal) quite a bit and that word usually provokes knee-jerk attacks from the folks that equate conservatism with cannibalism. That's where we're at right now. Two polar opposite camps that can't seem to find any middle ground from which to work, let alone want to find any.

And then I became the object of someone's vitriolic attacks. I was called a "Singular Nutsack," a "dork," an "Ego-Testical One," and I was accused of rubbing my "bone" up against the neather regions of other men. None of any of this bothers me, except to say that I created the forum for some lively local debate and not useless name-calling. As soon as "Ethel" decided in her mind that I was a dyed-in-the-wool, no good Republican, it was obviously acceptable to her at that point to start hurling insults. I realize that we don't really know who is posting under that name, but it's safe to assume that he, or she was not on the high school debate team, and is not now a highly paid etiquette consultant. As I previously mentioned here, the offer of a coffee break was just fine with me. Despite all of my bluster, I think most of the folks that have met me would agree that I'm really easy to get along with and also that much of what I do here is meant to get a rise out of some people, mostly in the name of fun. I'm very juvenile and somehow proud of it. Weird, ain't I?

As of tonight, I have had just about enough of Ethel Dean's sarcasm, insults, and pompous attitude. The coffee break get together isn't going to happen until she unf**ks herself. The time has definately arrived for the former welfare kid that mostly yawned his way through his formal education to take the geopolitically inept to school.

Take it away Dean! Or whoever you claim to be. From the forum:

Osama or Saddam -- Dean Howard, 20:14:11 03/17/04 Wed [1]

Since you are now on a Osama kick, I'm wondering if you have an opinion on these:

What is/was a higher priority? Taking out Saddam or Osama.

Who is/was a bigger threat to the free world? Saddam or Osama.

Who is/was more likely to organize a threat against the United States or its allies? Saddam or Osama.

Who has attempted/completed more attacks against the United States or its allies? Saddam or Osama.

Seems funny that a year after turning all the attention to Saddam there sits a man in a mountain range that is gleefully chearing his groups actions around the world.

Now I'm on a Osama kick. Okay, let's kick Osama around some.

These tough (?) questions you peppered me with might normally tongue-tie the girls gathered around the water cooler after a long night on the dance floor, but you're really gonna have to do better than to repeat something completely inane that you heard debated on "Hardball with Chris Matthews." You dig?

Your questions (extremely dated DNC talking points) are based solely upon the ridiculously embarrassing premise that once we rolled the M1/A1s into Iraq, we then completely abandoned the manhunt for Osama and his murderous associates. Nothing could be farther from the truth and you obviously know not of which you dare to speak. I'm actually surprised at how undeniably feeble your latest drivel really is.

I've never mentioned this before, but my nephew is currently stationed in Baghdad, and a longtime friend of mine has been in Afghanistan for well over a year now. Trust me, the hunt for Osama continues. The fact that the unforgiving Afghan winters usually put any war on hold should not be confused with the U.S. having forgotten about the treacherous man that started World War IV. He's got much more to worry about than the sniveling whiners calling themselves Democrats that want everything provided to them by the federal government. If you actually think Osama is currently cheering himself silly, you should never dare to lecture me, or anyone else again.

If you remember correctly, when we were cheering Bush on, he said the war against the terrorists would take years upon years to win. Nobody criticized that plan while we were demanding action. Now, while that daunting undertaking, that war that had to be fought to defend our freedom is being prosecuted, you are demanding to know the final score while we're watching the halftime show. You ask, "What is/was a higher priority? Taking out Saddam or Osama?" Allow me to 'splain it to you. Stick with the gameplan. Discipline, honey. If we keep up the full-court press, he'll likely foul out during the second half. Your party affiliation is showing and then some. Think party second and country first, and we'll all be better off when it's all said and done.

Now reconsider your stupid questions sent my way and forget what you heard on the video advertising box. Is it a bad thing that Saddam and his rapist sons no longer rule over any of the 25 million people they brutalized for so long? Is it a bad thing that they are being offered self-rule, maybe even democracy for the first time during their mostly oppressed lives? Is it a bad thing that the infrastructure of the country is being vastly improved? Is it a bad thing that the residents of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania were able to send a sizable shipment of toys, clothes, shoes, and underwear to kids that reside in burned-out step vans and huts made of pallets?

Some of you point to the fact that no WMD have been found as of yet as proof that Dubya lied to us and he deserves to be punished at the polls. Why is that? Because Teddy Kennedy stayed sober long enough to say, ...lied, lied, lied, lied and lied? Have you considered for a second that maybe the intel he was provided with, the very same intel that had Bill Clinton and even John Kerry himself rattling our enormous sabers a few years ago might have been wrong? Bush lied? You know better than that and if you deny knowing so, you are not only a hopeless partisan, you are intellectually bankrupt. If Bush is so evil, such a complete warmonger, such an accomplished liar recklessly hell-bent on war, then why didn't he simply order a C-130 to fly to Baghdad under the guise of darkness and loaded with mustard gas to be dispersed to locations where our troops would easily trip over them and cover Bush' ass in the process?

Why? Because he didn't lie to us. He did what he thought was best based upon the intel that was available to him. And for that, he is being vilified by the folks that can't think for themselves. For well over twenty years it was widely recognized by the world community that Saddam was a madman who tortured his own countrymen to death and attacked his neighbors at will. And now that he's been reduced to living in a jail cell by our selfless and dedicated folks wearing the American flag on their shoulders, you demand to know why he was removed from a position of power before Osama was. I'll tell you why. It's because Saddam still had enough testicle matter to stupidly go down with his already listing ship. Osama, who demands nothing less than martyrdom from his dedicated followers, has gone into hiding since he issued the ultimate challenge to "The Great Satan," on September 11, 2001.

He knows his eventual fate. Where once his bedraggled followers dragged the bodies of fallen U.S. Rangers through the streets of Mogadishu, his body will be dragged much the same through whatever mountainous ravine he currently calls home. Unlike you Ethel, I happen to know one of the courageous folks that are systematically hunting his sorry ass down, and trust me on this, when you spout off about how his efforts are less than effective, you are not boosting his, or his clandestine units morale.

Is it any wonder that the absentee votes of our volunteer soldiers rarely, if ever include a Democrats name?

Seems funny that a year after turning all the attention to Saddam there sits a man in a mountain range that is gleefully chearing his groups actions around the world.

Sorry Ethel, but if you knew what the f**k you were talking about at all, you'd already know that sitting near the top of any Afghan mountain range during the winter is not a pleasant experience. Saddam and Sons is no more. Guess who's next without first consulting with the partisan boobs you've been listening to?

A new study from the Hudson Institute details how Saddam provided money, support and shelter to a league of extraordinary terrorists. Abdul Rahman Yasin, the chemist for the first World Trade Center bombing, was given sanctuary in Baghdad after his U.S. indictment. Abu Nidal, the terrorist mastermind who killed hundreds including 10 Americans, lived in Baghdad from 1999 until he was murdered in 2002. Abu Abbas, the architect of the Achille Lauro hijacking that resulted in the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, was captured in Baghdad by U.S. forces.

The list goes on and on. Never mind the fact that Saddam funded suicide bombings in Israel, the gassing of Kurds, the attempted murder of George H.W. Bush and other acts that at least some of us consider "terrorism."

Got any more questions for me?

Keep your head down, Rory. Zap the f**kers, TXX.

From the e-mail inbox:

*******While walking down the street one day, a senator is tragically hit by a truck and killed. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St.Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"There's no need! I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator, and he goes down, down, down into Hell.

The doors open, and he finds himself in the middle of a Beautiful green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in formal dress. They run to greet him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that, before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up, and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit Heaven."

So 24 hours pass with the head of state joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and St. Peter returns.

"Well, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now, you must choose where you want to spend eternity."

He reflects for a minute and then answers: "Well, I would never have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better satisfied in Hell."

So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator, and down, down, down he goes into Hell. Now, the doors of the elevator open, and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. And it's hot, hot, hot and the odor is just horrible. Sweltering hot. Hot and miserable. The Devil comes over to him and smoothly lays his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "The day before yesterday I was here, and there was a golf course and club, and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable."

The Devil looks at the senator, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...today you voted for us."*******

I have to split. The job wore me out today.

Ethel? Coffee? Or more needless bullspit? You tell me.

Au revoir.

SNAKE hates francais.

Voulez-vous couchez avec moi?

CYA