I have often engaged with Pat and several other posters, whom I need not name, in vitriolic back and forths. I have not always comported myself in accordance with my own high standards. I would hate to find myself banned from DBIS for posts that offended others.

Pat's posts are usually ridiculous, but they are no more ridiculous than the 51% of Americans who voted the Bush Administration back into office after four years of shameful and incompetent leadership. His views reflect a diminishing portion of American opinion. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be heard.

I don't want to ban anyone from DBIS, though I do believe that if anyone were deserving it would be Pat for his blatant baiting based on race and religion. He needs to be challenged and pushed. He is either a put-on artist who enjoys provoking people or he is an idiot who requires a village to raise him up into some kind of ability to think and reflect independently. DBIS might be the only village available to him.

If those who are offended by Pat (or by me or anyone else) cease to respond to their posts they will eventually go away. Attention seeking behavior is easily extinguished by not paying attention. "Don't feed the Trolls" as someone said.