You know Jeri, I completely understand why you felt compelled to join in here. You feel one of your own has been attacked. It is becoming increasingly obvious to me who the Mudcat vets are, and who will stick together with them, right or wrong. Having given a quick read through your and Mary Garvey's and Big Mick's and Amos' and a few other people's posting histories, it looks like you also consider Big Mick to be a friend. I don't begrudge any of you your loyalties at all.

I've got big enough shoulders to take the abuse, so whomever feels the need, go ahead and pile it on. These are powerful, emotional issues for everyone. As one of the people from Minnesota who felt the Wellstone death pretty keenly, I know my feelings are pretty raw.

I can live with vented spleens, and folks coming in to shit on whatever they want to shit on here, including me, Wellstone, whomever and whatever Vietnam Vet related anything if that is what you feel the need to do. For those of you to whom it matters greatly which Sam I Am, and want to get out your anger about whatever is currently pissing you off, go ahead and use me as a punching bag--give it your best shot.

None of the invective will change what's happened to Wellstone, who spit on whom for what reasons, what's been done, said, who got hurt, by whom, in this, that or any other name, here or there, on any given day whether in northern Minnesota in October 2002, or Da Nang in 1967. So have at it.