I think both Mel and TWUB added a lot to the forum. I'm genuinely sorry that either of them has chosen not to participate anymore. The other two were/are just trolls.
But I miss Mel B. more than all of them combined. There's sumpin about a Geordie that makes me feel all gooshy, like.
We need a multiple option. While TWUB was a much needed voice, Mel brought the love. So I aint choosin.
I chose TWUB for the above stated reason of intelligence and thoughtfulness from a conservative. Not that there aren't a couple here, but they post about as frequently as I do, which isn't much. I miss Mel too, so he was a close second. Always had good info.
Whatever happened to Mel B? Finally fulfilled his dream of living in China? (okok, easy to tease someone when he's not around, I deserve all the scorn I receive)
TWUB. While I rarely agreed with him, his posts were smart. Colin also fell into that category. It's too bad they aren't around anymore.
I agree. S321 does have a thing for Mel, though. Mel will be back. He ebbs and flows like the seasons. At this point, the one I miss is Colin Grabow.
Mel has taken long breaks before, so I'd expect him to be back. Both he and Wake were solid contributors.
Mel Brennan. He was smarter than I was. He was sucessful as an ex-pat, which I am not, living in God-forsaken Northern VA. He was more aloof than I was -- one day, I hope...
I can't remember ever reading stuff by the Wake Up Bomb, but if he was an intelligent Conservative, then I miss him. Not that there aren't intelligent conservatives. ASF and SinePari (that's George, right?) are great contributors, as are many more middle-conservatives. Karl is hit and miss, missing more than ever recently. Smiley's worse. Deep in Karl posts, there's usually a good link or something. Smiley is almost 100% name-calling, lib-baiting, word-twisting BS, and it's starting to piss me off. I'm hear for debates, not for ass-hat name calling. But Mel? I dunno. I agreed with him on some stuff. Sometimes I agreed with him in spirit, but not in word. But he was too anti-Conservative, and not enough pro-Progressive for my taste.
You're angry because I called you on your totally dishonest "solution" to the problem of illegal aliens. You want to break up the 'cartels,' which of course will never happen with Mexico being a place saturated with corruption. And you know this, so you're really just saying you prefer to do nothing. But you're not honest enough for that, so you recommend a totally ineffectual course of action equivalent to doing nothing.
Hm, couldn't disagree more. Mel always struck me as the liberal on here MOST grounded in a strong Marxist-pacifist tradition in its own right that wasn't just always reacting to right wing issues.
--- there was a guy who posted in the Newcastle forum whose moniker was Mel B., after the Spice girl. i think his real name may have been Ian. i'm pretty sure he's a Geordie. he used to give me stick cuz i would put 'like' at the ends of sentences. he was loads of fun -- trolled lots of the soccer club forums.
I miss TWUB and Mel pretty much equally, but I had to vote for TWUB since there's already enough of us lefty types here.
I think this will surprise many but I vote for Mel. While I found his posts lengthy and his inability to compromise or see the other side of the argument, he at least did make good points and tried to honestly post his POV. I only experienced ITN and did not read any of the other 2's posts.
TheWakeupBomb has seemingly vanished.... Quite sad. Maybe he discovered the outside world? We could do with him back, Mel will be back, I think he's just very busy with the academic year starting up again... ITN and Cikwoski are both trolls. Mel gets my vote however because he supports PSG.
I've always been in awe in front of the ability of Mel and IM to lay such long ass posts so frequently. ITN : no comment...Hmm, maybe my romantic nature appeals me with the desire of witnessing any change in the righteous direction for him...I dunno about the others.
I am sorry, but I only tend to post on politics when I am struck by something. Generally, I feel slightly silly posting about politics on a soccer board. Beat Mexico! 2-0!