"Well, there you go again."

By Ron Fitzwater

I have always loved that quote by President Reagan. Mainly, I guess, because I understand the feelings behind it more and more every-stinkin'-day-of-my-life!

Now, part of the reason I love my job so much is that from time to time I am able to engage in a very intelligent exchange of ideas and points of view on various subjects with smart people who have something to bring to the table and are willing to listen to my position. Then at other times, I find myself on the receiving end of simple anger. Normally brought on by the person's inability to grasp the idea I am putting forth, the anger is just easier for them than struggling to understand.

This week I have been getting some flak about my stand on President Obama's closing of Gitmo Bay, and once again I have been smacked with the "you're a right-wing jerk" stick, but as usual, it didn't hurt, so I am moving on.

All but one argument made about my position was basically, I just hate the President and his ideas because I'm a big old Conservative. And the one argument that was crafted well and actually provided some talking points began with an accusation of Right-wing bias.

Come on, already, will you? Have you not figured out that I am neither Red nor Blue?

But, I guess it is not possible to disagree with one out of several decisions made by our 44th president without being a crazy right-winger. Odd since this new administration wants diverse views. Guess some of the local Libs didn't get the memo.

Strange, I don't recall hearing from those angry Democrats when I disagreed with President Bush 43's attack on the constitution through the PATRIOT Act. Nope, that was fine. But disagree with the current president and I'm a loon. And I thought we were supposed to be working together? Oh well, wrong again.

Anyway I just wanted to point that out and say that I am keeping my opinions mostly to myself this week. As ironic as it may seem, we have some interesting submissions from local Democrats that deserve some space. So, being the giving and benevolent muckraker I am, I offer the space to them.