This is what this forum should be--and too often isn't. Two people who are willing to spend the time and do a little research for the purpose of an impassioned but polite debate.

I'm not going to vote on who I think the debate winner is so far. That's not my place. But I sure hope that other regulars here have taken the time to read all that you both have written. It's instructional for all of us.

Funny thing is, if I'm remembering other threads accurately while we cast different votes in 2008, all three of us may actually be casting a vote for the same candidate in the upcoming election. So your debate here on this thread was more for the benefit of everyone understanding the interpretation of events and thought processes in making an electoral decision than any sort of thoughtless, narrow one upsmanship so commonly seen here.

Thanks.