Damn, that didn't post...
Stupid connection, HATE IT when it fails JUST when I'm posting and it's too late to copy and paste...! :p
OK, short version:
@Santa:
I do NOT pretend to be the paragon of logic, stop putting words in my motuh, sir...I freely admit when I'm wrong, as I just DID a few days ago, which is my problem with Putin, he NEVER concedes his point to another, won't ever say the other person has won...if someone bests me in a debate, I'll tip my hat--so to speak--and say they're right, I'm wrong, etc. Putin never does that, and it just takes a lot of the...well, yeah, the "fun" out of it, it almost comes across as being a bad sport, so to speak.
You cannot tell me Putin is ALWAYS right...it doesn't annoy anyone else, at all, that he never concedes a point or at least says "OK, I can see where you're coming from, that's interesting," and so on? It's always his way or the highway?
That's my biggest knock on Putin, that it's almost like arguing against a brick wall, sometimes, for as little as he is willing to shift or give-and-take...maybe that's just me, but hey, this IS just my opinion, after all, not the paragon of logic here. ;)
@Draug:
LOL.
I know her first name's Melissa, I don't know why I put just "Joan Hart," I guess pecause I figured everyone would get who I meant...so...yeah...just sort of weird on my part, I guess, if I have two names and not the other. XD
As for why I prefer Putin over CM:
I REALLY DISLIKE Putin's method.
I think I've made that clear.
But as far as his ideas go...I find them totally distateful, but that's a matter of taste, and I can respect them as being--in most cases--a sort of converse to what I might suggest or think, and Putin really does stick by his positions (to such an extent that he can be immovable, as I've already sadi, but still, I find it a positive thing, gives him an argumentative identity, and some substance, if that makes sense.)
CM doesn't really back up his points or stand by them, I think...he started that thread, and right in the opening said "How about we debate the existence of God?"
And then, when Smiley--another good debater--and others call him out and say, quite rightly, that the burden of proof for his Pro position is on him, he NEVER gives it, but rather abandons his topic and point and instead says "Oh, my point is ACTUALLY is it better to believe in God or not?"
Putin doesn't abandon his points, he stands by them and tries to defend and argue them to the best of his abilities--and, for that, I respect him (I think he could do better as far as give-and-take and not acting as if every point he makes is the only correct answer, but I'm sure he and others could and probably do take issue with my citing other authors incessently and giving posts so long that "Obi-Long" is this clsoe to being added to the dictionary.) ;)
So, yeah.
And, just for me personally, I find Putin's views more developed than yours, CM, and I think Putin substantiates his points better.
I think a lot of your points and views need to be fleshed out more, CM, and that you need to work on sticking to your points more and giving adequate evidence and arguments.
But, then again, I had the same problems when I joined--and some would say I still have problems, which is true, to be sure, I'm not pretending to be the "paragon of logic" here, just a poster with an opinion--and TGM and other folks helped me out, so jsut keep at it and keep posting.
You can do it. :)