Sentence:  There are some very puzzling aspects of the discussion : it is a puzzle, for example, how Gilmour (in his smart way) can say that he is not asking for much more money to be spent than Howe already overspends every year (or that is what it sounds like); because if that is so, how can it be that Howe is some sort of manic <WSD>flagellist</WSD> who enjoys bleeding the economy to death just for the sake of religion? 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  One who is abusive or punishing.