The telephone rang and when I picked it up a voice said, "I'm calling Doug Richards, is he there?" I replied, "Speaking." The voice said, "This is Lonesome E. J. Were you DougR on the Mudcat?" I said, "Yep."

Then he told me about this thread.

Number 6 is right. I decided to take a break from the Mudcat. The reason:I thought the political postings, mainly, were becoming a bit more personal than they needed to be. Those postings about political figures or policies that I support is what I mean. I don't believe that I ever questioned the right of anyone to think differently from the way I do, nor do I think I implied that because they did not agree with my POV the were inferior to me or less intelligent. We just thought differently. I thought a bit of a break would be in order and although I have missed the Mudcat, and many of my friends here, I think it was a good decision.

I am most appreciative of the many complimentary remarks I have read in this thread. I apologize for not replying to PMs, but I never received them. If they are still available, I'll try to reply to them. I emailed Joe and Max before I left and told them what I planned to do. I just didn't want to leave the way Martin Gibson and several others did because their departure messages just provoked many insensitive (to me anyway)posts. I thought it best to just steal quietly into the night. I am grateful to Lonesome E. J., though for tracking me down, and Kendall, thanks for starting this thread. You are a good friend, though I have never met you. I saw a couple of threads that I was tempted to dive into but then decided...nah, I might get hooked again.

I will make a couple of comments, though, about questions posed to me in this thread. What did I think about Pat Roberson's suggestion? I thought is was stupid. I don't take the Pat Robertsons or Jerry Falwells very seriously politically.

PDQ: I was not a symphony director (conductor). I was CEO of the Phoenix Symphony for eleven years. I am not a musician, I just love music, and from time to time strum my guitar and sing for my own amazement.

Kendall: I know you profess to have been a conservative at one time. You could not have been a dedicated one otherwise, you would NEVER have gone wrong. :>)

Oops! I hope this posts as I didn't sign in as a guest.

DougR

A couple of corrections to