Quoting Brent Wallis (brent.wallis@gmail.com):
...again I ask... is this the right place to carry out zero sum political arguments? Name one political thread on this list that has resolved an issue....
Well, with luck we can resolve the issue about _why_ Russell holds the particular view he expressed. It appears that you are seeking 'LUV- or Linux-related posts'. You are in luck! LUV operates a mailing list having exactly that as its remit, verbatim, as detailed on http://luv.asn.au/mailinglists.html . It is called luv-main, and your participation there will of course be welcome.
...everything beyond Linux is just Monty Python dross...
As this mailing list's remit is anything and everything (with the proviso of civility and sticking to subjects of some public interest), you are perhaps merely speaking in the wrong forum (given your overriding concerns).