You are right that I haven't challenged his fundamental framing, because i DIDN'T HAVE TO.  Even people who accept that fundamental framing (the vast majority of the readers of said publication)  can see that he gave no facts to back up his allegation that:

1. I am an anti-American, and

2. gave no facts to refute my evidence of a connection between the McCain campaign and the Georgian President, and

3. used abusive language

I thus win the argument even with people who accept his framing.

Of course there is a larger argument - that the US has provocatively installed military bases and missiles right around Russia (and in over 100 "sovereign" countries world-wide) and used those bases to ensure that the often corrupt and dictatorial Governments in those countries remain in power and cannot act in their own national interest if this is against US strategic and commercial interests.

In this context, it appears reasonable that Putin should grab an opportunity to send a signal to the former Soviet republics that further alignment with Russia's enemies will not be tolerated, and that they will wait in vain if they expect the US to come to their aid.

That is a perfectly valid strategic argument which speaks to a real politic world-view rather than a pro-Russian bias, per se.  However it is a much larger argument than can be made in a short letter to the Editor and would distract from the central point that I was making: That McCain has some very dubious advisers and friends indeed, and one of them has just dished up another humiliating defeat for the US.

Vote McCain if you want the US to become embroiled in more embarrassing disasters caused by dubious leaders in places you have never heard of.  

Vote McCain for war without gain


It's time I got out of this game....