The fact is, the average human ego, once it has formed an initial opinion regarding any subject whatsoever, finds it difficult to believe any new information which appears to in some way challenge or invalidate that opinion. Hitler, for instance, utterly refused to believe very well informed German agents and generals who told him things he didn't wish to believe about Allied forces, and my own father spent 20 years once denying his own part in causing the south wall of Rutledge Mansion to develop serious cracks due to his cutting costs on mortar. He insisted that the shoddy workmanship was due to the hired help performing incompetently! Not so. They did exactly what they were told to do, and were advised to "shut up" when they pointed out that it might lead to problems.

Thus are most opinions set, as it were, in stone as soon as they are formed...because pride gets involved and pride obfuscates reason. Why should it be any different on this thread? I expect that most participants here will prove as stubborn as the proverbial mule in altering by one iota their initially chosen prejudicial opinion on Dennis Kucinich and his damaged dentition. After all, just think of the dire emotional damage to self-esteem that might be caused by a retraction or a change of mind! Horrors! It's unthinkable. Far better to go down fighting in a lost cause than to admit for a moment that one might just possibly have jumped to a false conclusion about something. Yes, indeed. ;-) The Charge of the Light Brigade comes to mind....

*PR