However -- and this is important, I think -- you also don't make any sense. Could it be that you aren't quite the master of affect that you pretend to be?

Well I'm responding to about fifteen people at once. But my argument is pretty unambiguous and in between those claiming I'm somehow apologizing for AIPAC (ironic, given how much I can't stand AIPAC), or, as Glenn said, I'm being "dishonest," it's hard to maintain pure coherency. I'd ask for a little slack given the names I've been called, the rants, insults, swear words and accusations, and then having to deal with a loopy pseudo-intellect like Paul in the middle of it all.

But if you have any direct questions on anything you're confused about, I'd be happy to answer. This has been enlightening, but also very depressing for me. I'd hoped to think our side was better than this, but I'd also chalk a lot of it up to simple rage at the disaster of republicanism redirecting itself along some unfortunate sub-routes.

Other than your eloquent string of insults, I'm not sure what you're asking me.

But, you have neglected to respond to his letter. Not convenient, was it? Or just of little value in the quest for attention?

What letter? I've tried to respond to as much as I could. I'd think it would be pretty obvious by now that there's not much I'm not going to respond to.

Care to rephrase in the form of something I can actually respond to?

You don't respond to some people at all. Until they mention that Glenn is Jewish. That knocks you for a loop because you aren't as smart or well informed as you think.

Hey, I responded to as much as I could. It is interesting to note how so many feel a lack of response means something. What it means is only that I respond to as much as I can. It's about as revelatory as AIPAC, in other words it's a shadow puppetshow that can mean what you want it to mean.

Glenn's Jewishness? Who knew? What with the "Greenwald" and all. What am I, an idiot?

I never brought it up until you did, anonymous clown. And then only to say it wasn't relevant and wasn't something Glenn brought up, therefore it wasn't part of the debate.

Which led to the immediate historical rewrite by Glenn that I'd brought up his Jewishness to imply bias, or what-not. Who knows. What a lame distraction that was.

Anon goes on:

Criticism of AIPAC will lead to Genocide and a the next Jewish Holocaust?

Possibly. Very unlikely. But I'd be ignoring a thousand years of history to say it's not going to happen. Certainly the current demonization of Muslims could flip right back to Jews. I'd say a major recession could fire it up right here at home, when the AIPAC myth simply redirects back to the "rich Jews" in Hollywood or running the banks.

One of the reasons AIPAC pisses me off so much is it gives the conspiracy nuts fuel for their fire. Those who really do believe Protocols of Zion nonsense can actually tell themselves that our invasion of Iraq might be due to the Israel lobby.

It's farcical. The republican party couldn't be less Jewish in either the people it runs for office nor the people who vote for it (70+% of Jews vote democratic).

The Bush Fundies are driven by pure Christian born-again zealotry. They're simply directing a certain strain of Christian rage against Muslims that they used to direct at Jews.

And yet some see massive behind the scenes Jewish puppetmaster Gandalf Lord of the Rings mind control because Norman Podhertz is Jewish, and there's AIPAC.

It's factually absurd, and it's conspirationally extremely dangerous.

But not in your mind, Anon.

The fact that legitimate criticism of the Israeli lobby might fuel anti-semitic loonies is not a good enough reason to keep silent.

I never asked anyone to be silent. I asked for awareness. I asked people to remember that the placement of AIPAC and the ADL as the central underpinning of anti-Jewish loony conspiracy theories is all over the internet, it takes two seconds to find it. Legit criticisms of AIPAC would simply place their activities into the larger lobbyist context (as one of many advocating war), instead of the privileging of AIPAC as "grand proof" of something unique to Jewish influence.

And hey, if a few nutjobs become convinced Israel is secretly running America, what could happen?

I'm sure it'll be fine. Not your worry. Carry on, unbiased criticizer of lobby groups.