Basilmail

Latest letters

2005-06-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

It was Bill Moyers who said it best when he said, "We all have a right to our opinions, but we don't have a right to our facts."

Or, as Sir Francis Bacon once put it, "What we had rather were true, we more readily believe."

[Followed by the article linked here about the Iraq war being a costly mistake http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/5427823.html]
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I really don’t think your stupid commentary deserves to be taken seriously but my only comment is that you Liberals are so hateful, that it defies logic.

I really disliked Bill Clinton (no doubt your hero) but I never wished death on him. You people need to understand that the people of this great country

Voted George Bush as President. The majority rules. Get over it and move on with your life. There’s nothing wrong with dissent but when you broach the subject of assassination of our President, you should be prosecuted as a traitor.
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More news from outside the bubble. Thanks goes out to Harry Shearer who pointed it out in his Le Show radio show this evening.

Brazil has had a long history of stellar diplomats, going back to the 19th century.

[Editorial on Bolton:]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050604/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bolton_un_firing
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More lost Basilmail

2005-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

(I sent this to you a few minutes ago, but just discovered I forgot to put a subject with it. That's a great way to get dumped unceremoniously in the Junk file.)

I tracked down your e-mail address because your recent column "10 Reasons Not to Kill Bush" appeared as the lead item in a thread on the "anncoulter.com" message board.

If you're interested, the title of the thread is "A Halfway Intelligent Democrat Journalist". Apparently, the person who started the thread ("tubakahn") was quite taken with your last two paragraphs, as was I.

After sniffing around the Daily Emerald's web site, I read several of your other columns and enjoyed them, although I found your clean water column a bit troubling for reasons unique to me.

Anyway, you strike me as a good soul, and I like your writing style. You're not quite there yet with the likes of Kathleen Parker and Walter Williams, both of whom I thoroughly enjoy, but you're close. For a gal who may not have seen 21 yet, I'm sure your Mom & Dad's chests are swelling with pride.

So what's the real reasson I'm writing this? Maybe it's because I'm just an old retired codger, but one who encouraged his own four kids to reach out and experience as much as they could (so long as they exercised the good judgment not to get themselves hurt - physically or mentally).

So I'd like to do that to you, too ... although based upon the quality of your writing and thoughts, you've already done your share of reaching out.

To finally get to the point, I'd like to invite you to check in to the Ann Coulter message board and spend a few months tuning in to what goes on, and participating if you'd like.

Ms. Coulter doesn't participate, although I understand she underwrites the board. The basic style of the board is conservative politically, but those with other views are welcome and encouraged. There are some very bright folks who post there who are well informed, with views from all over the political spectrum. Although Coulter can get rather brutal in her views of the liberal world, the board is not a "Freeper" or "Coulter" style board.

But apart from politics, two things I love about the board is the variety and the presence of humor ... there is much delightful wit on display.

Like any other human endeavor, there are disagreements, and sometimes they get down to name calling, which annoys me. Yet the subjects that cross the board range far afield from the political. The moderators are fair and reasonable, but they don't tolerate trolls and disrupters. There are some Democrat Underground types who show up, and who are less than civil or fail to follow the reasonable rules. They will get bounced out after fair warning, but it seldom actually happens.

If a person's views are contrary to the assembled masses', they are accepted so long as their views are well supported and logically presented. Yours are, and in fact I suspect you would bring a refreshing style and viewpoint because of your excellent writing.

So .. why not give it a shot ... all it costs is time. My name there is ...

If you choose to sign in, I don't have to ever know who you are, so don't worry about me bugging you.But the most important reason to consider participating is that I think it will help you in your writing and journalistic career. Having raised four of our own kids through college, that's something important to me.
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Dear Jennifer, George W. Bush is NOT a good man. He is a mass murderer, a destroyer, a megalomaniac, a sociopath, a pathological liar. He stole TWO presidential elections. He is a life-long arrogant privileged creature who has never earned what he has but was handed everything in spite of his pathetic lack of moral courage and honesty.

I resent that you are apologizing for being a Democrat and calling Democrats a collection of "loudmouths whose idiotic comments stir headlines." Are you familiar with Ann Coulter? How about Rush Limbaugh? Bill O'Reilly? Jennifer, I believe you are NOT a Democrat. I believe you are just another spinner trying to taint the Democrats as dishonest Republicans (and that encompasses almost the entire sorry party) do.

I recommend you read American Dynasty, Bush on the Couch, Against All Enemies, Bushwhacked for starters. You REALLY need educating.

There is another subject on which you need educating.... and that is grammar. If you are going to be a writer, at least get the basics correct. Your content is gobbledegoop but until the current administration we were all entitled to our opinions, no matter how wrong we are... and you are VERY wrong. But basic grammar ought to be practiced. Did you really mean to call the FBI "a dud?" That IS what you did. "Though originally thought to be a dud, the FBI....." And didn't you mean to say, "Killing George Bush won't end any of the policies WITH WHICH people disagree."

One final word re your article: One did not have to meet Hitler to hate that mass murderer. Likewise it is not necessary to meet the mass murderer Bush to hate him. He is the rabid one. He attacked a country that DID US NO HARM. He murdered SO MANY little children, women, families. He left thousands of people without arms, without legs, without eyes, without mobility. And yet he hides behind huge security forces and hand-picked audiences because he is a gutless coward.

I hope with maturity you become less confused. There is NOTHING wrong with hating that monster. But I do agree with you that if he were assasinated it would not be good for America. We can always hope he has a bag of pretzels at all times though.
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I am a liberal, and a member of the Democratic Party, and I do not wish that President Bush would be assassinated, nor would I be happy if he were. The more perfect union this country has always sought will never rank second in importance to the political beliefs of any number of its inhabitants. And, what’s more, as you rather condescendingly point out, killing is just plain wrong.

Liberalism is more than just a “college fad.” The Democratic Party is the party of civil rights, of a woman’s right to choose, and of evening the playing field. We believe that everyone with the title “American” should have an equal chance in this society, rather than the permanent aristocracy sought by President Bush and some of his predecessors. We believe that everyone with the title “human being” should be granted the opportunity to be heard. We believe that, although abortion is a gruesome thing with a great cost to the family, the final decision should belong with the mother, and not the government.

To claim that our political beliefs are based on misinformation is ironic, to say the least. How can you claim that Democrats are misinformed when roughly ten million people a day get their information from Rush Limbaugh? How are Democrats misguided when only weeks before the election, 72% of Bush supporters still thought that WMD had been found in Iraq, and 63% of Bush supporters thought that clear evidence had been found of a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda? [1] How are liberals the confused ones when Ronald Reagan cruised to victory on the racist and blatantly untrue claim that there were women having extra children to increase their welfare checks, and driving around in “welfare Cadillacs?” [2]

Perhaps most important, you accuse us of being misinformed when you yourself—by design or by accident—spread misinformation to your readers. You begin by saying that “some people wouldn’t have shed many tears” before moving on to imply that we “advocate purposefully killing someone defenseless.” I almost question the fact that you are, apparently, a Democrat.

If you have something to say to the extreme wing of your party, say it to them. But don’t lump the 95% of us with strong values and reasonable thought in with a couple of fringe lunatics in the process. Like it or not, Ms. McBride, your attempt to appeal to your own has backfired, and instead made you one more reason people grossly misunderstand Democrats, and think “liberal” is a four-letter word.

Perhaps you did not anticipate that your column would receive a link on the Drudge Report. You must always keep in mind that the internet has lengthy tentacles. The next time you write a piece, please remember that the most important job of a journalist is to inform the public. You cannot assume that someone has already done it for you.
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I started in politics in the 1960's in the anti-war and civil rights movement. At the time I was considered a liberal in the Democratic Party. Due to the move to the left of the Party, I would now consider myself a moderate. I found your editorial wise and insightful. I will follow your paper and your writing. If you are ever in the Greater Cincinnati area let me know. I would enjoy letting you see what middle America is like and how they feel.

Suggestions - Get a new server, I have DSL and you are VERY SLOW
Add a contact button to your selections on the left of your home page and have each author put their email address at the end of their articles. You do not want readers to have to fight to contact you. They may feel you do not want to hear from them, or worse, that you are afraid to hear from them.

[Note: I do not have power over the Emerald webpage, but it was dead week and so everyone is online studying. Usually the servers move a lot faster.]
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I very much enjoyed your column. While I believe we would disagree on just about any issue, your writing is well thought out and entertaining.

I would only argue one point made – you say you’ve met many people on your campus who sway liberal because it’s popular. I am quite a bit older than you, but I do not believe that being liberal is popular anymore. I’ve always heard that if you are not liberal when you are young you have no heart, but if you are not conservative when you are older you have no brain. And I grew up with the mantra “Never trust anyone over 30!” ringing throughout the land. However, liberals in this country have taken things much too far. From immigration policies, to obstructionism, to third trimester abortion, the liberal platform is far from what America wants or needs.

Keep up your writing. If you get that novel published, I’d like to read it!
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You probably wont read this e-mail(I am sure your busy) but just wanted you to know I loved your article on top 10 reasons not to kill Bush. I am a republican and a supporter of Bush but sometimes I question the administration. Just wanted to thank you for your honesty.
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You did a fine job on your recent article ("10 reasons not to kill..."). I found it via a link from the Drudge Report.

I am a university professor, and I'm a conservative. This of coursemakes me a minority on campus.

The part of your article that I really admired was reason # 10:"Slaying President Bush is simply immoral."

I can't tell you how many times I have students who say "Kill Bush"... as if it was in vogue to make such statements. I personally findit nauseating to hear such words. Further, I question the morality oftoday's young people. (Let's forget that such threats are actually a crime.) There have been Presidents that I didn't like (Carter, Nixon...) yet they were the President, and I would never advocate violence against them.

The other part that you mentioned that I admire (in your second to last full paragraph) ".... people who sway liberal not because theyactually know anything about issues but because it's popular."

I can't tell you how many times someone has said to me "I hate Bush"and I ask "Why" and I can't get a good reason .... if I do get areason they often don't know the details of that reason .. they aresimply parrots! If you can't defend a reason to hate someone, perhaps you should look at your actual beliefs and your ability tothink independently.

One last point: Your multiple references to negative aspects in the world to a Bush assasination shows a very good understanding of worldevents and political machinery. Kudos!

Anyway: You may receive grief on your article from both sides (liberal and conservative). While I was originally taken aback by the way youapproached the article (the title) I came away very impressed. Youare obviously a liberal, but you are also a liberal who can think forthemself. We can disagree on policy, which is fine and even encouraged. I wish more liberals were like you.
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I just read your article. To say the least, you have a reactive journalistic style. One that begs for response; usually, I do not comment. You do have a very real hatred for President Bush; and, it is clear that you only speak- tongue-in-check.

Why do liberals have such visceral hatred for the person, the man? Is it because he defeated you twice in national elections? What you cannot conquer at the polls, you choose to murder with words.

Is it not true that the very thing you say you despise so much in President Bush is also what you dislike about the nation itself? Your liberal socialist agenda is rejected solidly by the majority of voting citizens. Yet, you would break all your own principles to silence your hated opposition with a bullet. What is the next step, eradicate those simple minded voters who elected him?

Just think you have a trust to teach college students...wow, I wonder what the next generation will do?
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That's all of them. Approx. final count: 275 letters. More letters were, of course, sent to the Oregon Daily Emerald, some of which were here, most of which could not be published due to space considerations. http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/06/03/42a04082868d4

BasilMail that got missed

2005-06-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Somehow, a lot of my mail migrated to the bottom of my inbox. I will probably be finding messages lost in e-limbo until I am old enough to retire.

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I recently read your article "10 reasons not to kill Bush" and I simply wanted to commend you for it. I am a recent graduate of _____ University and am very decidedly conservative. While I am sure we agree on very little in terms of policy or political theory, I very much admire your courage in calling out the politically uneducated of our generation. Their passion and zeal are to be admired, to be sure, but their direction and conclusions are a setback to anything positive we could now add to the political discussion. You labeled them as mainly liberal in thought, and while I definitely tend to agree with this, I am sure that outspoken misinformation exists across the political spectrum. Truly, there are many reasons to disagree with Bush, but the "vitriolic repulsion many people feel for our leader and America in general… is often poorly informed." Thank you for stepping beyond your political affiliation to point out hateful speech to be simply that: Hateful.

"Liberalism has to be more than a college fad or a collection of loudmouths whose idiotic comments stir headlines. The rabid dislike some people feel for a man they've never even met makes me ashamed to be a Democrat."... So very true, and for having the guts to say that, you should be proud to be a Democrat and an American. That, coming from a Republican such as myself, is truly a compliment.

Please have a wonderful Memorial Day
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Kudos to you I'm a card carrying Republican but share a tad of Democratic leanings and though I've never voted for a Democrat in my life if you were running I would vote for you.Bush/America hating is the big rage of most schools and campusus how very sad to see our kids being taught that America is the aggressor and Bush is Hitler ,evil etc...and that Saddam Hussien is a nice man and we should've left him alone. Wer're paying these mean-spirited looney Ward Churchills that constantly live in OZ to teach our kids not brainwash them with their politics. A lot of parents support vouchers and home teach their kids and this is just one reason why.Keep up the great work!

-Harvest, AL
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I saw the link to your article on the Drudge Report. I started reading your article not knowing if it'd be an intelligently written article or just more junk on the 'net by people who use shock value to cover their inability to offer anything constructive.

As I went through your ten reasons not to kill Bush, I literally thought to myself "ok, instead of reason after reason for how it'd hurt the dems, how about BECAUSE IT'S WRONG TO MURDER PEOPLE, particularly our leaders..." and was so happy to come to your 10th reason. In fact, the last three paragraphs of your article were brilliant, in my opinion.

Now, I'm a conservative. Actually, I'd consider myself to be a John F. Kennedy liberal, which makes me a conservative by today's standards. And that generally means that I'm a Republican for no greater reason than I would never be at home in the modern Democratic Party. Like you, I dislike lots of the Bush administration's choices. Like you, I think he's a basically good man doing a very difficult job, even though I disagree with many of the things he's doing.

Your honest criticism of your own side in your last three paragraphs warmed my heart. It really did. No, not because you criticized democrats or predominant liberal thinking, but because your words show you to be a person who isn't driven solely on an irrational hatred of our President.

I hope you keep speaking out, Ms. McBride. I hope the current Democratic Party's leaders' voices fade over time and are replaced by voices like yours. I can't help but think that this would be a much finer country if that was the case.

Yes, we'd still disagree on many things in all probability, but at least our differences wouldn't be based in irrational hatred of some imagined boogeyman. And, of course, that's something that both sides can work on. I know my side has had it's share of Clinton bashers, too.

Keep up the good work. :)

-Nashville, TN
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That was quite an insightful article you wrote on the President. I am a fellow Democrat that agrees with many of the points in the piece. Incidentally, did you grow up in Eugene and have a brother named Michael? Just trying to figure out if you're the same Jennifer McBride that lived a couple of houses down from me during my teenage years.
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Your column from May 25, 2005, concerning the assassination attempt on President Bush was genuinely disappointing, but not surprising. In discussing ten reasons why no one should kill our president, you chose to put the number one reason in the number ten slot. You are correct, killing the man would be immoral. The other nine points simply do not matter. No reasons matter past that one overriding concept: the value of one human being's life. That you place the machinations of politics in nine spots above the value of one man's life reveals a disturbing insight into your values. That you feel the need to remind your readers who may dislike the president that enjoying his death would be wrong reveals a disturbing insight into our society.

When did we start teaching our children that the proper way to resolve our problems is to kill the person involved?

Haven't your parents taught you any better?

[Note: See corrections.]
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I wanted to respond to your article that I read linked to the Drudge Report on May 29, 2005. As a Conservative who happens to support President Bush, I braced myself for another "hate Bush" column; what I found instead was a well reasoned, thought out point of view, and correct on all counts.

I repsect all views from all points of the political spectrum. If more liberals were as well thought and well spoken as you, and stopped the Amercian bashing, then my job as a Conservative would be a hell of alot harder. I fear however, you are the minority in your party. It is a shame, since vigorous debate, and respect among the differences we share have turned into a hatred of the President that makes me sick to my stomach.

I never like Bill Clinton, but as you said of W., he was a good man doing a tough job. We can disagree with the policies of an Adminsitration, but that does not mean we need to attack the individual.

I used to have liberal friend's whose opinions I respected, but now, they have turned into Bush Bashers with anger and vile, nothing more. I suggest that those on "your side of the aisle" take a long look at your article, if they did, 2008 could be harder than I thought. However, they will not, the hatred and inane comments will continue, and we will walk on to another election victory..I would hope the fight would be harder..and I look forward to a debate with well reasonsed, well meaning folks, who just happen to share a different view as mine. After all, there is nothing more American than that!

Well done Ms. McBride. Hope to read more of your work, it keeps me on my toes.
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SUBJECT: Sanity prevails

I'd like to thank you for your article on reasons NOT to kill presidentBush.

I'm a realist/independent at heart and see things good and bad in bothparties, so you can see why your article might strike a chord with me.

Please keep up the good work with reason planted in realism.
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I am a conservative Democrat who voted for George Bush in both of thelast elections. I am an engineer working for Boeing Helicopters inMesa, AZ. I have some misgivings about Bush, though they are probablydifferent than the ones you have about him. I thought your argumentswere especially well thought out and very well articulated. I waspleasantly surprised at your comments in the last two paragraphs("...shocked by the vitriolic repulsion people feel...", "...people onthis campus who see America as the worst human rights abuser...", etc).I probably would disagree with at least some of your politicalviewpoints, but I think you are the kind of journalist this countrysorely needs. I wish you well in you future endeavors.
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I read with great interest your recent column. However, I disagree with your assertion in #10 thatPresident Bush is "defenseless".

As a voter this past election cycle I found myselfhaving to ask the following difficult questions:

1) During the 1990s, why did the U.S. government allow al-Qaeda to build up its terror recruits and solidify its overall organization, thereby resulting in the crescendo of September 11, 2001.

2) Why didn't prior terrorist acts such as the firs tWTC bombing, USS Cole bombing, etc. immediately generate an unwavering, robust response from the Department of Defense at the time?

3) Most importantly, since such threats and acts of terror were not addressed in the 90s, is there any oneleader today who recognizes and addresses such threats?

I have reached the conclusion that George W. Bushrecognizes and has been addressing the threats which we face. Furthermore, Bush's policies are largely proactive versus reactive. As such, President Bush stands up to and confrontsterror head-to-head. The President may be a controversial figure; however, controversial does not translate into defenseless. Therefore, your argument that Bush is "defenseless" simply doesn't hold water.
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Well, you got on Drudge and now I’m sure you’re getting 1 million e-mails, and with mixed reviews I’m sure. Well, here’s one you can put in the win column, and it’s from a Republican professor in Texas. You have demonstrated some superior critical thinking at a time when the rhetoric from both sides is deafening. It is voices of reason like yours, as is evident from your article, that will save our Union and preserve the future. Thank you for being thoughtful enough to speak the truth and brave enough to challenge those whose politics can only fit on a bumper sticker. You may get some flak, but you’ve also created a lot of fans. Keep up the good work!
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Dear Ms. McBride,

Just wanted to let you know that I read your article on Drudge Report.It is a good thing for this country that there are sensible young peoplelike you, writing articles like this. I also was a Poli-Sci major back in1977 before converting over to History when I really realized what I wasinterested in. In those years, I also hated the establishment, basicallybecause some of my brothers and sisters friends had lost their lives andlimbs in Southeast Asia. If you read that sentence fast, it doesn't sound sobad, but back then, it really was. Even then, though, there was no talk ofkilling the President.I grew up in Baton Rouge, and was attending LSU. I was about as "SouthernDemocrat" as you can be.

After graduation, as I got into business, the nation was confronted withJimmy Carter. I admit, I actually never cared for "Jimma" as a candidate(after all he was just a Governor, and really knew nothing about nationalpolitics), and really supported Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination,but Gerald Ford ran against Carter and lost. Anyone in business will tellyou that Carter's policies just about killed us all. I will never forget theaddress he gave in 1980, where he told us that we would be the firstgeneration of Americans that would achieve less than our parents. Just acouple of years out of college, that sickened and depressed me. Thank goodness Ronald Reagan came along right after that to strengthen ourcountry and give us our pride back. I realize that this was before yourtime, but urge you to look up those old Reagan speeches (and check out theresults). He was certainly the best President in my lifetime.

Anyway, by the mid 80s I was completely involved in making a living, andrealized that the Republicans fit my life, and goals.

In the late 80s, all of a sudden there was Rush Limbaugh, making sense tomany people like me and defining the roles of Liberals and Conservatives. Tomy surprise, I was a serious Conservative. Enough about me, other than to say that today I am a 49 year old,successful, stockbroker, in South Florida.

The reason I am writing you is to let you know that I have walked where youare going. Many people like me just casually cast doubt on people like youfrom what we call "the liberal media". We assume that you are just 'WestCoast Nut Cases", or misguided "tree huggers", and don't give your opinions much thought.

I want to congratulate you on thinking out your opinions, no matter how muchI have come to disagree with them. I love this President, and respect himand his family. I understand and believe that we must confront terroristsuntil they quit saying "death to America", or we can never be safe. I askyou to keep searching for answers, not just from your professors (orloudmouth idiots, as you say), but from all of the resources available toyou. I suspect you must have a strong family background. Rely on it. I predict you will someday find answers similar to those I have found. If not, I will respectfully disagree (unless you can argue me otherwise), but willrespect you for actually working to find your own answers, not justparroting the words of others.
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Jesus H. Christ, could you have picked a more self-destructive way to write a column? The most bizarre part is that I think your intentions were reasonably good, you just happened to express yourself in the most unfortunate and offensive of ways. Free speech is to be exercised, and the willingness to engage any subject with a tongue in cheek approach is somewhat healthy, but I hope you realize that what you did wasn't appropriate or acceptable. Even joking about something like that is out of line.

Setting aside the stunningly poor choice of delivery for the moment, I get and agree with the idea that we should separate policies from people (re: "he's a good man"). I frequently challenge my friends and foes to say at least one good thing about a politician they disagree with, the implication being that an inability to do so likely represents more of a problem with that person than the politician. And I at least think you were commenting on and rejecting the vitriolic lengths to which some people take modern issues, since there are plenty of people who aren't joking when they make similar statements, especially in particularly extreme environments like college campuses. But even if how you said what you did wasn't so unbelievably wrong, appealing to such people in a logical manner is obviously futile. So either the whole column was an attempt to get a reaction (presumably from both sides) or else it was dramatically ill-conceived. Regardless, I hope you put more thought into future pieces and save yourself the avalanche of trouble that is undoubtedly headed your way.
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Wow, that was really good. The fact that I read your article probably means lots of people will, and hopefully they will see that intense political divisions at the end of the day should not stand in the way of doing the right thing.

Good job.
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SUBJECT: You are going to like being a Republican

Excellent!
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All I can say is, it certainly is a good thing no Republican wrote 10 reasons not to kill Clinton, or even 10 reasons not to call Clinton a ratfink... because if a Republican had... that person would've been villified far and wide by liberals.

I'm sure you consider yourself very clever. But your willingness to jump in there with those who hate the president and pretend that you are the majority and that your hate is justified shows that you are merely a sheep. (You may remember, Ms. McBride... you lost. You are not a majority.)

I've heard it said, the easiest thing is the world to be is a liberal. I've learned that this is true. The reason is, you don't have to stand for anything. Hate is okay, as long as you guys are the haters. Baby killing is not just okay, it is laudable, as long as it means nobody has to be responsible for their actions. Euthanasia is okay because, well... some people are useless and inconvenient.

You believe yourself to be so clever, but knowing that even a minority of young people are so hate-filled (notwithstanding your butt-covering disclaimer) feels like a stomach punch.
Ms. McBride... whatever happened to allowing others to disagree without resorting to hating them and trying to destroy them? I know your beloved Bill Clinton perfected the ad hominem attack. But I hoped your generation would be smarter. I was wrong. Why do Democrats think that... if they have a thought... they must speak it, and damn to hell anyone who suggests they should exercise restraint? Whatever happened to thoughtful debate, as opposed to just spewing out your every thought? Whatever happened to responsible behavior? I guess, for liberals, these things have been replaced by pie throwing, tire slashing, and lewdness. It's like my dad used to say. The ignorant solve problems with tantrums.

-Anderson, CA
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BasilMail -Up to June 3

2005-06-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

The furor's dying. I don't think I've ever written a newspaper columnist in my life, so I'm impressed that readers have the time/energy/motivation. If I publish a letter more than once, I apologize, but they all kind of blend together in my head...

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Just had to answer Your column on killing President! Are you some kind ofa nut cast and Your paper too! There are too many crack pots runningaround this country with out have a paper and another idiot coming upwith crap like that,
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I am a 41 year old conservitive business owner and a graduate of the U of O. I am also a strong supporter of President Bush. I have heard about your article on the radio and from various other sources. All of them were to say the least, not kind. I decided that it would be best to actually read your article before i formed an opinion. I have just one word for the people who are slamming you....illeterate. Anybody who read your article and has half a brain could tell you were being funny and serious at the same time. I especially liked #10 and the commentary at the end was perfect.

I also want to tell you about a customer of mine. He came in to buy a tennis elbow brace. He was home from Iraq for 30 day's and was headed back in a few day's. I asked him what it was like. He told me that the People, although distraut by the violence, see America as their saviour. The people commiting the violence have kiiled 20 times the number of Iraqies as Americans. The people commiting the violence are for the most part not from Iraq, they are from neighboring countries that don't want freedom to take hold because freedom is addictive and their oppresion will detererioat. Little girls go to shcool, the oppression of women is being confronted by women, women can vote! Iraq has the potential to be a springboard in the middle east towards freedom.

I loved your article, and your ability to see the next events. You just did not look far enough.
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As a former Duck and regular reader of the ODE, I thought you would like to know that the piece "Comment: 10 reasons why killing Bush is bad idea" was picked up on May 31 by The Messenger, an English language newspaper here in Tbilisi, Georgia. I just wish they had included more than just the first two reasons...

[Note from Basil: International. Cool.]
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Just saw Reason No. 10. So you already had immoral. I really should read things all the way through.
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Very good. There are probably another 100 good reasons to not kill Bush (including No. 37 -- Killing another human is illegal and No. 64 -- Killing another human is immoral), but I think your column captured the Top 10 Reasons. What's been the fallout out there from your piece?

Another 10 is the fact that 10 million people saw your piece after Drudge picked it up. So, welcome. You're on the board. Now pick up the pace.
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As a fellow liberal, I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article. You hit the nail on the head and your article was very well written.

I am the new Opinion Editor for the University of ______'s school paper, so I've been perusing other college papers (along with "mainstream" papers and magazines) to get style ideas.

Best of luck with the pre-journalism track.
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In my 70+ years of reading comments in newspapers - your comments
have to be the stupidest I've ever read. I can't believe an editor would allow them to be published. I live here and have the Boston Globe thrown into my driveway each morning. My wife reads it religiously. There are certainly some very mindless articles generated by the Globe -- but your article is a classic of mindlessly stupid remarks.

I enjoyed marching in the Memorial Day Parade today. It was a pleasure marching with men who enabled me to grow up in a free country. I'm thankful they prevented Hitler and the Japanese Empire from ruling our world. Perhaps young intelligent Democrats like yourself could benefit by a short tour of duty in some country ruled by a dictator or an Islamic terrorist group. I've served this country as a military surgeon for twenty-one years of my life and as a physician for forty-five years. I am proud to live in this country and proud of all the dedicated men who serve it. Our presidents have all faced problems far more difficult than we can imagine and they all deserve our respect and help. Your stupid article doesn't demonstrate even the slightest understanding of what it takes to be a responsible citizen in a free society. I'm not sure what your political ideas are but I know many Democrats and Liberals that I admire -- you are a unique person and really not fit to participate in any productive way in a free society.

I'll just have to keep reading the Globe and thank God your paper isn't thrown in my driveway. I would consider it litter!
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Good article and a responsible point of view...
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Congratulations on having the good sense to realize that hatred only drags down liberalism and the Democratic Party by extension. You defy the norm by a huge margin. Most of your compatriots in the liberal worldview side of things don't share your intellectual approach to things. But I suppose you know that already.

If you really want to confront the vapid nature of the approach to life you share with so many perhaps you should delve into why it is that liberals hate Christians with such zeal. They aren't satisfied to simply triumph over Christians and have their way in the world. They want to destroy Christianity completely. They aren't going to be happy until they rid the world of the noxious (to them) Christians with their horrid value system. Anyone who suggests there should be a value system other than "anything goes" is attacked with the fervor of a shark in a feeding frenzy. Liberals aren't content to live and let live. They don't want anyone embracing Christianity. And the idea that a dedicated Christian is the most powerful man in the world makes them see red.

Don't you wonder why this is? I can give you mountains of proof that this is true. I can cite studies done of Europeans that reveal the one thing they can't stand about President Bush is that he is a Christian.

They don't limit their vitriol to Christians. Anyone who clings to a code that denounces the "anything goes" ideal is attacked unless of course they belong to a group that sucessfully resists Christianity. For instance Moslems (yes I said Moslems - not Muslims) are considered exempt from the raves of the left because they are the enemy of western culture and it's rules. You can't imagine how ridiculous I find it that liberals hate Christians yet give a pass to Moslems for the same things they think are so bad about Christians especially given that Christians don't actually do any of the things Moslems do to enforce morality. But the left also detests Jews. They are another group of westerners that has promoted a code that didn't involve "anything goes". Yes I know not all of them are westerners but they have had an effect on western culture.

Yes Jennifer liberals hate Jews. You can't imagine how weird it looks for a group that claims to be dedicated to tolerance and against bigotry to be so full of hatred to Jews. Did you notice the poll of Europeans on this? Israel was listed as the number one source of problems in this world. Liberals are anti-Semites pure and simple. The demand liberals place on everyone to accept their dogma rivals the same kind of hysteria in Germany of the 1930's.

I know you probably don't get it since you are a liberal. You really should learn to look at what's happening. Their is a great and monstorous evil in the world and it isn't Republicans and it isn't Christians and it isn't Jews. It's liberals. You have the rare ability (for a liberal) to actually think for yourself. I'm shocked that you still support liberal causes. People who think for themselves are almost all on the other side of the political spectrum. I implore you to use your ability to think and try to see what I'm saying because you are on the wrong side of history and on the wrong side of the good vs. evil dichotomy. Use your ability and wake up. The world is going to tear itself apart over these issues and you are very much on the wrong side. You are right that people are liberals because they think it's popular. So was Nazism. The people who went along because it was popular eventually discovered they were pure and simple evil.

[Note: For the record, I have several liberal Jewish friends. In fact, one of them persuaded me to write this article. She adored it.]
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I really hope you read this. I'm sure you have and will continue to receive hate mail over your articleabout the 10 reasons not to kill Bush. Please pleaseplease know that, as a Republican and someone whoactually read it with an open mind, not everyRepublican hates you for it. However, you WILL hearfrom the outspoken nutjobs from my party...which is a shame.

While I don't agree with some of your conclusions, noryour party's ideology, I wanted to tell you that there is at least one conservative out in the world thatdoesn't hate you for your article. In fact, yourdiscussion and conclusions were rational and wellthought out. I just happen to come to differentconclusions, some of the time. I really admire that.

In addition to that, I wanted to tell you that 10 years ago when I was in college, I and many manyothers were liberal without knowing what it meant. You nailed it on the head when you wrote about people being liberal just because it is popular -- at least on the college campuses. On the other hand, you'll find people in the suburbs of Johnson County, KS whohave no clue what conservatives really stand for, yet vote Republican. I'm reminded of a quote from WinstonChurchill...paraphrasing, of course -- if you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart...if you are stilla liberal at 40, you have no brain. Here's one reformed liberal wishing that more rational people like yourself will grow to be conservatives...but even if you don't, it is nice knowing that someone with a brain does exist on the other side, too.
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If that’s the only reason you’d be embarrassed to be a Democrat, then you don’t have the faintest clue what your party is up to.
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just finished reading your article "10 reasons not to kill Bush" in the Drudge Report. I want to congratulate you on a well reasoned article.

I am a conservative Republican who rarely finds a well thought-out article by a liberal. It is quite refreshing.

President Bush does many things that Republicans find distasteful, as we find with all politicians whatever their party. But, hate should not play a part in it.

Where there is hate it leaves no room for reason. Hate seems to take over all parts of the brain where thinking used to be.

We should all hold all politicians feet to the fire whatever their party. It's the American way.

As a sidebar, Not only am I a Republican, but I am a senior citizen who is active in local politics.

I wish you much success in the future. Your obvious intelligence should take you very far on whatever path you choose.
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[Note: Apparently this was sent to a newspaper]

Most of these loud-mouthed, rabid college kids....that are spoon-fed from the cradle up by their hotsy totsy "soccer moms", need about three good years in the military....then they may appreciate what our military and George Bush are trying to do !!!! Rather in Iraq than here in the states...... I am 75 years old, and get so furious with the way the Democratic party is acting...ashamed you should be !!!! I do not agree with Bush about several things....stem cells, the border among them...but the alternative is even more scary....and the thought of Hillary leading this country....God forbid !!!! "Anybody but Hillary" should be the new bumper sticker !! One more thing Jennifer...if the Democrats were so worried about """"" the Children""""" they would help clean up the filth and slime in the movies, and in the music they are being bombarded with 24/7....and please don't give me that c--- about "freedom of speech"....when the! country is going down the toilet, I hope some of the bleeding heart liberals will be the first to go !

[And so it go responded to]
Don't know what precipitated Miz Anne's comments, but I sure like'm none the less!!! IF you have comm with her give her a hearty WELL DONE from this ol' retired Colonel of U.S. Marines.

Opening a few (hundred) folks bcc. I'm including Ms. McBride's email, but when I tried to check out the site, couldn't access it.
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Jennifer, we NEED to keep this president alive now so that we can have him HANGED FOR TREASON later. He and his coup become stronger with his death in any other way, as you clearly noted.
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Hey, I read your column. Pretty sweet all of the publicity it'sgetting, huh? Put "kill" and "Bush" in a headline and watch the MattDrudges of the world come running... Anyway, good work. I expected itto be distasteful, but it was informed, intelligent, sensitivewriting.
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Wow! Looks like you stirred up quite a hornet's nest. Just keep saying whatever you want to say.
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Thanks for your article on President Bush. You are right that there are some reasons not to feel so good about being a Democrat. But what about the fact that the Democrats support late-term abortion, including partial-birth abortion, right up through the ninth month of pregnancy? Isn't it better to abandon a party that can be so brutal and cruel to little children about to be born?

[Note: For the record, I support a safety exception in the partial-birth abortion ban. I will remind people that there are several pro-life Democrats out there, even if I don't happen to be one of them.]
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BasilMail, Tues, May 31, 2004

2005-05-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Your pathetic attempt at journalism - 10 Reasons To Not Kill Bush - reeks of your lack of intelligence and literary comprehension!

How pitiful!

Don't give up your present position honey - it's the best you're going to do.!
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I will never say never. But there has never been a sane liberal who harbors such hatred for Bush that he/she would consider murdering him. The perp of the thrown grenade is much more likely to have been one of our Second Amendment friends, who know that many simple people would blame the murder on a Democrat.

[Note from Basil: Georgia the country, not the state. Plenty of insane liberals around. Examples of people wanting grenade death in blogs http://www.smirkingchimp.com/viewtopic.php?topic=55588&forum=7&start=0, http://www.smirkingchimp.com/viewtopic.php?topic=55588&forum=7 - One of the notes originally there but deleted/edited away was "I remember thinking 'if only that bomb had got Hitler' and can easily imagine that 20 years after the Bushco regime is finally defeated people all over the world will sadly shake their heads saying, 'if only they had been successful getting Bush with that grenade'. P.S. This is not a joke and I am not trying to be funny. "]
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Jennifer, thank you for being a real American Democrat (as opposed to today's Communi- and Fasci-Democrats). Congratulations on a balanced education getting through to you. I left education to work on the environment because of the Left Wing Liberals now running the academy. You have given me hope.
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Came across your article via the drudgereport. How about THAT for national exposure.

As a conservative republican, let me thank you for writing an honest, thoughtful and decent piece of journalism in an era where true journalism has come under fire. With all the dislike and disgust I felt towards President Clinton, I would still mourn the death of, or rail against athreat against MY PRESIDENT. A president needs the support of his countrymen, regardless of political affiliation.

I feel your article was a way of exposing the hypocrisy of "peace activists". I lived with many of these folks during college and watched asthey planned in my living room how to incite the cops at protests and how tomake molotov cocktails. I also recall the Soviet usage of the term Peace.

Peace is a beautiful concept but if we succumb to pacifism, the tyrants and murderers of the world will win. I feel president Bush has set out tocorrect years of dstructive US foreign policy in the mideast. We chose tosupport dictators and authoritarians to quell what we feared in "islamicradicals". This is best seen by the new pro-iranian prime minister of Iraq.

If you let people decide for themselves, thrtough democracy, this creates an "accountable party" other than the USA for the citizens of mid-eastcountries to raise their grievances too.

While I am sure we would have much to debate on domestic policy, can we notsay that the best plan for fighting terrorism is to promote democracy in themid-east and to NOT control the outcomes of that democracy? Perhaps we evendisagree there. Regardless, I thank you for showing (through yourjournalism) a level of maturity not usually seen in the realm of academia.

There is a lesson though in your article making its way to drudgereport.com. It resulted in this manhattan native reading your article in an Oregonian university paper. It also shows that you dont need to succumb to the trends of rhetoric, slander and hatred. While we probably would disagree politically, your article has caught the attention of the "opposition party"and resulted in a conservative republican reading your piece, and probably being interested in hearing future opinions from your perspective. I thinkthe folks are Newsweek and CBS would have a lot to learn from someone like you.
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I am a lawyer in Indianapolis and also a radio talk show host on station WIBC; as a conservative and father of 6 daughters (not all of whom share my conservative ideas!) I was so impressed with your piece as posted on Drudge last weekend. I am assuming you are a student--if that is incorrect it really does nothing to change my mind on what you wrote.

We may not agree on policy issues at the substantive level, but your insight into the power of invective and the dangers inherent in any discourse that includes talk of assassination hit only responsive chords with me. Keep up the thoughtful examination and beware of those who will attempt to silence you when you "leave the reservation" on these issues. Much of the hard Left in the US has such a viceral hatred forour President that they view any effort to acquit him at any level to be disloyal and cause for castigation.
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I wanted to congratulate you on your “10 Reasons” column, which I read over U-wire. It was very well-written. I’d be proud to have you as a student in my class. Then, as I was composing this e-mail, I realized what a sad commentary it was on the state of the Left in this country that such a column had to be written. Pragmatic reasons #1-9 should not have to be stated; # 10 should be enough. Tragically, it clearly is not.
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You are wise far beyond your years----Good job!
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She has a valid point in that some blatant extermination of the head cockroach would make the whiny bullying coward a martyr, and co-opt the news to the point that ANYTHING short of nuclear war could be snuck in under the radar (and the rightwing nuts would be howling for a nuclear strike if it happened in another country, and if they said "nuke-you-lar" enough more times, I'd go flat batshit crazy and push the button myself).

But I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if Dumbass turned up HIV positive, or with virulent cancer, or with his dick (not the fat one) bitten off by one of the children he's raped.

However, Jennifer, speaking of "poorly informed," you need to get your news sources from somewhere that hasn't been censored by Herr Karl "Goebbels" Rove. Bush is NOT a "democratically elected president," he is not a leader, and he is most certainly not a good man. He's an illegally-appointed election usurper, a wartime deserter, a liar and a thief, and a brutal vicious self-centered psychopath with the morals and instincts of a two-year-old and the belief system of the Spanish Inquisition.

He's a self-proclaimed dictator-wanna-be whose family is set on world domination, and has dealt unabashedly with Hitler and Hussein to get it. If anything, Kitty Kelley's book goes easy on them. (Remember that Herr Rove has no compunctions about going after anyone who makes so much as a mistake in the page numbering or month that a photocopy was made, and he hasn't been able to touch Kelley.)

The Bush regime IS the worst human rights abuser in the world. Their cold-blooded murder and systematic destruction extends all over the planet, not just within the borders of a small country.

And the "liberal agenda" has not been called "popular" except by idiots and outright liars who also believe, or at least claim, that Faux is "fair and balanced" or that Limpdick is a "truth detector."

The whole Bush family is the worst danger this country, and this world, have ever faced. That gets proven with every nominee (each more enslaved to big corporations and less supportive of individual freedom and rights than the last), every program bloated (dangerous and unreliable weapons systems) and every program cut (education, health, research).

Yes, I'd hate to see the illiterate nose-picking pretzel-choking drunk assassinated, too. But I'd throw a party in the middle of the highway if he'd die by his own hand, and the sooner the better.
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I read your article and had to send you an email. I live in Austin, aplace with similar liberal sentiment; and while I echo the perspectiveI too question the rationale of the piss and vinegar stance that manypeople have on the Bush administration. I had actually had aconversation just the other day on why killing Bush would be worse forour country than letting him serve out his term. At least by lettinghim serve out, he'll have the opportunity to hang himself(politically) and strangle his party with Social Security reform andGay marraige amendment talk. Heres to hoping that only Rhenquiststeps down from the bench.

More BasilMail May 30, 2005

2005-05-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

It goes on and on and on...

The best thing about being a moderate is that you get criticized and can criticize both sides.

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When you wake up today, I would like you to look into the mirror and see the pure stupidity of your "brain power". It should be obvious, even to you. Whoever told you that you had talent as a "writer" lied to you. You are pathetic and what goes around comes around. Ask your genius friends what that statement means, since I doubt you've ever actually opened up a history book and read it. Must be tough to go through life with the IQ of a potato, but then, ignorance is bliss isn't it? Too bad your hero Clinton isn't still in office. Everything was great then. Shame, shame, shame on you.
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The Georgia you refer to in your letter is a country, sweetie. Not a state. That wasn't an American who rolled the grenade at President Bush. Okay?

Nobody in America has suggested, hinted, implied or even thought of assassinating President Bush. Your letter implies the opposite.Unlike you, I do despise President Bush both personally and as a miserably failed political leader. All of us bleeding hearts in Ann Arbor, Michigan would love to impeach, recall, defeat at the polls, humiliate, denigrate and in any way short of assassination defeat George W. Bush. For you see, liberals don't assassinate. Conservatives do.

Abraham Lincoln, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Francis Kennedy and Martin Luther King were all liberals assassinated by conservatives. And they tried to assassinate Franklin Delano Roosevelt. killing the mayor of Chicago instead. George W. Bush has nothing to fear from the American left. To be liberal is to despise assassination. To be liberal is to despise torture. To be liberal is to despise the death penalty. To be liberal is to despise war, especially a preemptive war. To be liberal is to despise lynching that conservatives used as a political weapon for so long. To be liberal is to be truly concerned with the welfare of the poor, and not hold them in contempt.

So, as a wizened human being with more years behind than ahead, I forgive you your ignorance of history. I was young once. But we truly don't need a lecture on not assassinating President Bush. It is antithetical to liberalism.

Thank you nonetheless for paying attention to what goes on outside of your own parochial life.

[Note from Basil: Haven't been in Eugene, Oregon, have you? There are certainly volunteers who wouldn't mind putting a bullet in George Bush's chest.]
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May I comment on your piece?
In an attempt to list "10" reasons for not killing Bush, you have allowed good reasoning to be subjugated by specious chatter.

Point by point:

1) Killing the president immediately generates sympathy for his cause. If the president died tomorrow, there would be no question that all of his nominees for the judicial branch would make it through the Senate.

Perhaps. It's not a given. In trying to do so the Repubs could easily be seen as merely opportunistic.It would increase the chances, perhaps.

2) A dead President Bush leaves a live Dick Cheney in charge. Need I say more?

We already have DC and Rove for President. Surely you don't believe that Bush is really running anything. Read more about the man, if you do. It would merely cause the wizards to come out from behind the curtain.

3) The Pakistani political situation is drastically fragile. Should President Bush die, Musharraf's brutal, mostly secular dictatorship probably will be replaced by a brutal, religiously fundamental dictatorship, reducing the United States' chances of bringing in Osama bin Laden to nil.

How does this logic work? You actually think that a relationship between Bush and Musharraf is a one to one situation. It's based on the need of Musharraf for financing and military buttressing and our need for some ally, any ally in the region. It certainly is not based on any personal relationship between Bush and Musharraf. If you think that all that hand shaking and smiling means anything, please go back and do some reading on the area. You might start with the rule of Darious and keep moving right on up to the creation of Pakistan with Khan, then Zia and now Musharraf. None of this history has anything to do with Bush, the man. They desire our continued support, but it could come from Bush, Cheney or HR Clinton, for that matter. This point is poorly made and shows no understanding of the region.

As for Bin laden, you honestly think that Bush makes any difference here? Why?

4) Any criticisms of the administration will be regarded as more unpatriotic than ever. In the next election, you could expect to see Democratic primary candidates proclaiming that their Republican counterparts aren't "fit to follow in President Bush's footsteps."

I think you grossly underestimate the hatred for Bush. Of the 48% of the population that voted against him (and that's what it was, a vote against him) probably 40% believe now, that he is a horrible president. I grant you, it might be a little more uphill, but what "successful" policy would the repubs tout? What is his legacy? The most divisive presidency in the past 100 years?

5) Killing President Bush could spur another spate of international invasions, with or without U.N. approval. The U.S. military cannot deal with invading another country without further hollowing our ability to defend ourselves and respond to threats from other countries, such as a nuclear North Korea.

You might state that if Bush were killed in a foreign country by a national of that country, it could cause us to go to war with that country. I doubt if someone from California threw a grenade killing him that the rest of the country would attack California. Maybe, but hopefully not.

6) The news cycle would be justly co-opted. With the media so focused on one story, there wouldn't be time to examine important issues such as the government suppression in Uzbekistan or Egyptian election tampering. In fact, all foreign news that didn't directly affect the assassination would probably grind to a halt.

I can't argue with this statement, except that anyone truly interested in these international stories could obtain them on the internet. Frankly most Americans do not read international news nor do they care. Their local baseball scores have more importance to them than anything happening in Uzbekistan and were you to tell 98% of the population that we were shipping prisoners off to Uzbekistan to be tortured, the average response would probably be, "They must have done something wrong."

7) President Bush's status as a martyr would leave the electorate more polarized than ever, especially if liberals were seen as publicly irreverent to President Bush's memory. It would be a little different if natural selection decreed death-by-snacking, but toasting an assassin's success leaves a decidedly bitter taste in the national mouth.

There is a decidedly bitter taste in any intelligent person's mouth already. We have a crook, a fool and a very dishonest man for president. How much more bitter can the taste get?

8) Jeb Bush's popularity would skyrocket. He would undoubtedly win the Republican nomination and then the election in 2008. With the Supreme Court full of near-zombies, I would prefer a different man to pick the people who are going to strangle us with laws.

This doesn't follow at all. He has already proclaimed that he would never run, unless you mean that the repubs would rig the races again in Florida and Ohio. But they can and will try to do that for any of their nominees.

9) Killing George Bush won't end any of the policies people disagree with. An assassination would merely strengthen our resolve to stay the course in Iraq, keep troops in Saudi Arabia, support our Israeli allies, etc. Policies don't die just because the president does.

More or less true, in this case since the policies are not his but Rove's and Cheney's. So I agree with your basic point. Killing Bush would be futile and not good for the country.

10) Slaying President Bush is simply immoral. Anyone who advocates purposefully killing someone defenseless (and a democratically elected leader, no less)

Quit while you're ahead. You try to make too many points within points and the whole fabric of the argument then unravels. Killing Bush is immoral, just as immoral as sending men to war based on lies and deceit, killing defenseless citizens and calling it "unfortunate collateral damage," destroying the environment while claiming to protect it...shall I go on? Bush is without a doubt the most immoral president we have ever had, but that does not make it moral to kill him. He should be impeached and tried for malfeasance of duty, at least...war crimes at worst.is clearly value-challenged.

I don't understand the logical contortions some people must go through to be anti-death penalty yet pro-assassination.

No argument.

In all seriousness, I don't hate President Bush.

You're a journalism major...drop useless phrases like "in all seriousness" ...who thought you were kidding? Make a simple statement... "I don't hate president bush." Fine. That's your right.

I dislike a lot of his administration's choices, but I think he's a good man

This value judgment is not good journalism. IF, and only IF you're going to make such a statement follow it up with precise reasons you think so (albeit in this case you'll be hard pressed to find any.) And in this piece, you are almost enumerating your like of him and his being a good man as more reasons not to hurt him. That is weak logic when being passed on to others. You were never contemplating hurting him.

But I think you need to do a lot more reading. Your understanding of the regions is woefully shallow and your understanding of Bush is superficial. This man has done more to harm the country than anyone in 200 years. Read more.
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More BasilMail- Mon May 30

2005-05-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

You have no clue about the capabilities of our military. Are you so naive to think that we cannot defend ourselves on ten different fronts? You probably haven't even served the country.
Did you get the story about the hand grenade? The hand grenade was thrown 15 to 20 feet from the president into a crowd! Do you know the kill radius of a hand grenade? With people around it? The worst that could have happened would be the the President would have other peoples body parts on his body armor. You need to do more research before you go writing columns for the world to see. I see the approach your taking, so get the facts straight.
Before you go getting sarcastic you should remember that a soldier gave you the right to do it.
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You SHOULD be ashamed.
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Great column! I don't share your political affiliation, but nevertheless, Ithink your points are well thought-out and insightful. Most importantly, Iagree completely! (And I am a Bush supporter....sort of....)I hope you don't get too much "hell" from either side of the fence fromthis. Now that you've been published on Drudge, millions of people willread your column and there are way too many weirdos out there that willcertainly take offense to some part of your article.As for me, I applaud your courage and see a bright future for someone withas much common sense as you displayed at such a young age.
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exactly right..........

it is far better to leave unharmed and unmartyred an ignorant, inarticulate shit-brain, disliked and despised by at least half the american electorate and a solid majority of citizens of the world than to promote a genuine threat to the safety and stability of the world, an out-and-out evil man as dikk chenney
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Your recent article should be named 10 reasons not to kill Jennifer McBride.
You are a waste of your father's sperm, that is if you have one you liberal bitch.
Why the secret service does not get a hold of this and question you is beyond me.
IF YOU FUCKING LIBERAL ASSHOLES, YES YOU ARE ALL ASSHOLES HATE THIS COUNTRY SO BAD THEN FEEL FREE TO MOVE THE FUCK TO PUSSYLAND A.K.A. FRANCE!!! I KNOW YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY BUT YOU STUPID CUNT IT AIN'T!!
PLEASE KEEP YOUR HATRED OF MY PRESIDENT OUT OF YOUR FISHWRAP AND KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

FUCK YOU ASSHOLE,
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I read your recent column (U-Wire, 05/25) "Ten Reasons Not to Kill Bush" with great interest. I am a staunch conservative Republican, and to be honest, I expected to read something very sarcastic & irrelevant to the fundamental issues (as is all to often found in the work of the mainstream media). I have to hand it to you, though, I think you wrote an excellent piece - fair, balanced, with reasoned insights to a majority of your points. Since the article was originally published in a university newspaper, I am assuming that you are a student (if not, please forgive my assumption). If this is indeed the case, good for you! We need more of your type of journalist. I wish you the best in your studies & career endeavors, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.
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I read your article and found it to be quite entertaining with serious undertones. Good job. I hope some of those who read it will take your advice.

They should keep seeking knowledge to stay informed about the political process and not allow themselves to get caught up in some mob mentality on campus.

You independent thinking is refreshing and I applaud you for it.

Are we the only two Democrats in the world who believes Bush is not the great evil man he is portrayed to be?

Keep up the good work.

PS. I was slightly offended at the notion that you would sort of perpetuate the myth that Dick Cheney is some kind of ogre who would be a horrible replacement as president but overall I'd have to say I am impressed.
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Great article Jennifer. You have great insight. I'm glad that Drudge linked to you. Although I consider myself more republican than democrat, it would be very easy for me to vote for a democrat like yourself. Unfortunately, the only thing that scares me worse than a neo-con is a liberal policy maker driven by hatred and a selfish emotional agenda. Your party members should listen to your wisdom.
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You probably have been inundated with emails since the Drudge Report picked up your column. As a former logic instructor, I was pleased to read a well-thought-out, well-organized, and, frankly, cogent argument. Well done! I do hope others on college campuses who may read your column do take a breath before espousing ill-considered vitriol.
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Oh, Jenny, you are so young. Would that I were still those three and twenty Aprils of yours...NOT!

Seriously, I would not have shed a tear if any of the Project for a New American Century nut job murderers (Wolfowitz, Perle, Abrams, etc.) met an untimely demise, even if it were, by the Grace of God choking, on a pretzel.

Jenny, oh Jenny, where did you learn your logic?Saying the US is a terrorist nation (which it is--by its own definition) does not thereby imply that Cambodia is any less of a human rights violator or that we side with Pol Pot. And we can legitimately say, when we examine the historical record, and tally it up, that the US is, at a minimum, ONE of the most brazen human rights violators on earth.

You have to go back to the library, my love, and look at the pageantry of United States atrocities going back to the founding of the Republic. The fact so many here, with some of the most impressive libraries on earth, do not read will prove the undoing of your great country. You can't go through life in this narcotic haze of itchy acquisitiveness, self-satisfaction and 24/7 propaganda saturation (CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, NPR).

Here, do a Google search for "Moro Massacre" (Philippines, 1902) and read what the great Mark Twain thought about that. (Here's a link: http://faculty.uca.edu/~rnovy/MX%20Moro%20Massacre.htm)

The US has a long history of killing Muslims--it's not just today. For that matter, it has had a long history of killing a lot of people with whom it disagrees and who get in the way of its companies--it's interests. See, when it's State terrorism or corporate terrorism, then it's "fighting for freedom," "liberating the oppressed (by killing them)," or "making the world safe for democracy--and Standard Oil," or Chiquita bananas or Dow Chemical (Bhopal, India, 1984)Oh, and have you been reading in your "free" press about the razing of Fallujah last November with napalm and white phosphorus? Reports are coming in--no thanks to your supine press--from outside the bubble, of bodies melted away; whole city blocks cleared with MOABs (massive ordnance blast super bombs). This generation (unlike Vietnam), only gets to see Janet Jackson's right nipple, and not the devastation a MOAB causes (or what cluster bombs do to children), that's the obscenity Michael Powell at the FCC doesn't want you to see (really).

No, I agree with your central thesis, that it would do no good to kill Bush: beauty is skin deep, but ugly, my love, is to the bone!

If you're ever in La Crosse, I'll buy you a drink--we'll go dancing. Do you dance salsa?

[Note from Basil: Yes, poorly.]
---

I read your article in the Oregon Daily, while I did not quite understand your message completely I think it was meant tongue in cheek. I would like to point out you are "technically" wrong on a few assumptions. As a poly sci major I would think that you would understand the structure of the government:

8) Jeb Bush's popularity would skyrocket. He would undoubtedly win the Republican nomination and then the election in 2008. With the Supreme Court full of near-zombies, I would prefer a different man to pick the people who are going to strangle us with laws.

The folks strangling all of us with laws are found in the chambers of Congress, your states contribution to this are The Honorable Gordon Smith and The Honorable Ron Wyden in the Senate and The Honorable David Wu, The Honorable Greg Walden, The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio, The Honorable Darlene Hooley in the Congress. These fine spenders of other peoples money are the ones to hold accountable. A Supreme Court Judge, their job is to interpret the law, not make new ones.

10) Slaying President Bush is simply immoral. Anyone who advocates purposefully killing someone defenseless (and a democratically elected leader, no less) is clearly value-challenged. I don't understand the logical contortions some people must go through to be anti-death penalty yet pro-assassination.

I find the same issue with people who are pro-abortion. I'm not a fanatic, but I fail to logically see where the moral right to take life exists just because the person isn't born yet. It's a life issue, not a choice issue. When does life begin? Riddle me this: Why do we lock up crack mothers for damaging unborn children, yet the same woman could go to the local abortion clinic and have it removed without penalty? Scott Peterson was charged with double murder; his wife and unborn child, yet Lacy could easily have; on her own, aborted the child...I don't get it.

For reference: I am 48, married for 25+ years, father of two boys 23 (graduated last week) and 17. I just found out my 16 year old niece is pregnant...so the issue is somewhat personal and I have spent considerable time contemplating what the impacts of choice...Thanks for your time...
---

Yeah! I’d be very embarrassed to be a Democrat, for a whole list of reasons.

Good luck on the novel!
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Sometimes children act badly or improperly like you. Please go to your room for timeout child.
---

If you're not that happy about being here, why don'tyou leave for Afghanistan or Iran, where your opinion will really be appreciated. Perhaps you can be one of35 wives (versus husbands) that the boys over there have the options for. Think about it, perhaps you could deliver the next Osama bin Laden. Educate him that people different than him don't deserve to live.

That's valuing diversity. I put up with 8 years of Clinton and his obnoxious behavior and never once wished for his demise, or even Al Gore's. I guess liberal Democrats only have concerns about their lives or what impacts them. You must live in a lonely world.

You are the poster girl for the liberal media. Keep upthe good work. You and Rachel Corrie are shining examples of West Coast institutions of higher learning output...
---
Jennifer I just read your article on Drudge. I am a northeast Republican which I guess means almost a liberal. anyways great article its good to see a democrat that thinks things thru without a knee jerk reaction. keep up the good writing
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If your vision for the world was in place, you would not be able to publish your elementary school level thoughts. It would be refreshing to hear one positive thing the Left favors, as a change of pace from the back-bencher hate-filled finger-pointing you cowards prefer. Your column is factually vacant and tasteless. Move to France, loser!
---

Congratulations on your essay on Bush. I read it here in my hotel room in Florida. I emphatically agree that killing is immoral, and that no one should advocate it. That said: a democratically elected president? Certainly he was not in the first election, and then, even with the advantage of the incumbency, it's hardly certain he won the second time. People took to the streets (with American approval) in the Ukraine for a discrepancy in the vote count and the exit polling that was far smaller than our sudden and inexplicable failure of the exit polling to match the vote count.

Secondly, I live deep in a red state and I find it virtually impossible to imagine people being liberal because it's cool. Perhaps they are uniformed, but leaning towards their values when declaring for the democrats. At any rate, this idea that people hate Bush with a virulence that is surprising is... well, surprising.

You know that this is a man who lied our nation into a terrible war that has fomented hatred against us, killed tens of thousands of innocent people (is that not reason enough?), is actively destroying our environmental and worker protections, lies to our faces and laughs at us all regarding morality, actively abuses gay people (many of whom populate the families of his allies) to promote his career.

What is the appropriate response to him? Detached disapproval? My sons are coming up to draft-age. He is already killing and maiming many other people's sons and daughters for his and his friends' wealth. What is the appropriate emotion?

Anyone who doesn't abhor this man is not paying attention or is a sociopath like Bush.
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Comment: If you cannot hate someone that you have never met how can you love someone that you have never met?
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GOOD JOB! After reading the article it made me proud to know that a fellow Oregonian is smart enough to think on her own and to not Blindly follow the masses in how she is supposed to think on issues. I live in Medford and am constantly amazed how the students down
In Ashland at SOSC/USO sound like massed produced clones when they talk. At times I worry about the Oregon education system, but You are proof that individuals can survive and thrive in it. GOOD FOR YOU and keep up the great work.
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Nice head on your shoulders; for a Democrat. And girl. :)

PS: Locally, we "chunk" hand-grenades.
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Your article was forwarded to me by a friend. I simply wanted to take a moment to congratulate you on a nicely reasoned, well written piece.

Keep up the good work! If you are planning a career in journalism, (or perhaps law) I'm certain you'll go far.
---

Regarding your column titled "10 Reasons Not To Kill Bush."
I'm overwhelmed by the enlightened tolerance, understanding, and diversity of thought that clearly piloted your flight of ideas from the airport of unsound reasoning on May 25th. What kills me about liberal democrats is this: As much as they HATE President Bush with such a fire-breathing passion, he is certainly a far cry from the right-bent shadow of my beloved Ronald Reagan.

I would hate to see how much more George W. Bush would be hated if he were a true conservative and forcefully advocating that agenda. As a firebrand conservative, I must confess that I generally hate liberal democrats with a balls-out, vein-bursting, eye-popping intensity, so I understand the depth, but not quite the rationale, for this hatred of GWB. This hatred would be better directed toward the pro-gun, pro-life, pro-military, pro-border-closing, pro-Constitutional Christian-right. As a member thereof, it would be my pleasure to be a flaming spear-catcher for the seething hatred of the Left, and then returning fire.

Finally, thanks to the broken media stranglehold on information accomplished by FOX NEWS, Talk Radio, and the beloved bloggable Internet, I believe there's hope for you that someday you will come to realize the terrible truth about the American, as well as the International Left: They are truly the Christ-forsaken, sulfer-bellowing Children of Damnation.

My guess is you're a young woman and someday you could become the next Phyllis Schlafly, but enjoy the flight until then.

-Indianapolis, Indiana
[Note: ERA forever!]

BasilMail recieved Mon May 30, 2005

2005-05-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Basil wonders why so many conservatives decided to read a column entitled "10 Reasons not to Kill Bush.' She also wonders what they were expecting other than a bunch of liberal reasoning. She wonders why she should be expected to appeal to a moderate or conseravtive audience considering she's on a college campus in Eugene, Oregon.

Basil wishes moderates, liberals, conservatives, and every other type of people could get along an disagree with each other without name-calling. Guess that'd make for a pretty boring world.

---
Would you kindly read this and glean some insight. I know I didn’t come off very gentlemanly in my first epistle, but somebody’s gotta tell you, you Gringo’s aren’t that perfumed, Republicans or Democrats. I’m amazed nobody’s pointed out that both scoundrels’ parties are on the take and they don’t give a rat’s patoot about you or I.

Further, I am Brazilian (of near pure, almost inbred Portuguese extraction), and we weren’t that nice in India, Asia and Africa. I remember reading accounts of Vasco da Gama being slighted by some brown people in India and having ordered some six-hundred people’s noses, hands and ears lopped off, and then having ordered that these people be sent off on a boat and the boat capsized on the Indian ocean. The Portuguese were just as nice as the Gringo cowboys who would wear Amerindian women’s labia majora as headbands…

So if I can recognize this, not having been responsible for it some 500 years later, so can you: all it takes is a little reading and the internet is wonderful for this! As the Bible says, “take and read.”

P.S. If I can make one young person think and challenge prefab beliefs…

Comments on the Moro Massacre by Mark Twain

This material taken from the Humanities Digital Information Service of Stanford University [1] (http://dlib.stanford.edu:6520/cgi-bin/hugo ).

[Note from Basil: can be accessed here http://www.answers.com/topic/moro-crater-massacre. Same author writes again:]

Here is the last food for thought I'm sending you. I hope you reflect and write back when you can. (I'm not holding my breath). But still, this is important--for my generation as well as yours.

"Editorial: Voting U.S. out of Iraq"

[Article here: http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/editorial/index.php?ntid=41528]
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Thank you, foolish, young Jennifer McBride. Please continue to publish articles like this one. They will fit very nicely next to your pro-cannibis writings. I hope you will circulate this piece as widely as you can, for it is a very powerful demonstration of how an insider addresses her peers who also have been emotionally propagandized and brainwashed by liberalism. If, when you graduate, you find yourself looking for a job (and I have a feeling you will), I personally will see to it that we find a high-profile place for you as a spokesperson for the Republican Party.
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Holy cow!! You are lacking some serious leadership traits and are living in adangerous liberal haze. I am going to give you a little help so that you don'tspend your life being stupid. As a future leader, you must not blindly followor focus solely on local popular belief to gain leadership skills. Think aboutthe following traits and how you can utilize your strong traits and develop yourweaker ones.Integrity: One must firmly adhere to a code of moral values. This is thequality of absolute honesty, trustfulness, and uprightness of character andmoral principles. You must be totally trustworthy for subordinates to havefaith in you and for seniors to have confidence in you. Don’t tell yoursuperiors only what you think they want to hear. Tell it as it is—but tactfully. Don’t write articles like the one you did about Bush just because you have no friends and think you will fit in on campus better. There is life beyond your little college campus.

Dependability (not blind obedience): To be dependable, you must voluntarily andwillingly support the policies, orders, and laws of your seniors. This DOES NOTmean blind obedience, but it does imply a high sense of duty or respect. Today,with our “question authority” mentality, dependability is looked down uponbecause of its deliberate linkage with blind obedience. Do not live your lifesolely on the “question authority” mentality or you will never be trusted orrespected. You can be dependable, respectful, and loyal without submitting tounjust laws and being blindly obedient.Practice honest thinking and avoid making excuses. Take responsibility for yourfailings and learn from them, DO NOT make excuses or delegate responsibility toothers. Be careful about making promises or personal deals. But when you havemade them, build a reputation for keeping them.

Justice/fairness: Give rewards and punishments as each case merits. Justicemust be impartial. Personal feelings, emotions, beliefs, and prejudices mustnot be allowed to influence your decision when dealing with a situation thatrequires justice. It only takes one unfair decision to hurt your reputationand cause you to lose respect and trust.Search your mental attitudes and determine prejudices, then rid your mind ofthem.Search out facts of each case and analyze cases that have been decided byleaders who have a reputation for justice NOT prejudice. Study human behavior,don’t kid yourself and paint unrealistic pictures of reality. Be honest withyourself. Be careful what you fight for if you seek trust and respect from thewhole of society. If you argue a case only on the basis of racism rather thanfact or even consideration from the “other side”, you are being unjust and willonly have support of fellow racists. You will lose trust and respect from therest of society.

Unselfishness: Do not take advantage of situations for personal gain at theexpense of others. No one will respect another who takes credit for jobs welldone and blames others when performance is poor. No one can respect a draftdodger who enjoys all the luxuries American society has to offer, but whencalled upon to serve it, slips into Canada to save his own ass leaving a unitof trustworthy and loyal Americans shorthanded.

Loyalty: Loyalty is the quality of faithfulness to your country, yourorganization, your friends, family, beliefs, etc. Demonstrated loyalty winsrespect and confidence from everyone around you. Loyalty means supporting theview and methods your country, company, or organization employs. It doesn’tmean becoming a “brown-nose” or being blindly obedient. Do your research andgain your knowledge. Your actions and rhetoric should reflect loyalty to everyarea which you owe allegiance, whatever that may be.

Self Respect: Consider your general appearance, carriage, deportment, andconduct. Your appearance should show confidence, competence, alertness, andenergy. Your clothing and belongings should be neat and clean. People reactto a lack of self-confidence with resentment, rebelliousness, defiance,disloyalty, or on a simple friendly level, they are just uninterested. If youdon’t respect yourself enough to consider your appearance and personal hygiene,why would people invest themselves in you? You obviously can’t respect someoneelse if you don’t respect yourself. If you shirk from duty, don’t pay debts,malinger at work, and have no sense of self pride; why would anyone investthemselves in you?Anyway, if you hadn’t thought about what your “values” really are, there are afew things to think about. Know yourself and seek self improvement. I don'tblame you completely and feel that you are smart enough to find your way out ofyour liberal haze. It's not all your fault, I know the hippies teaching at U ofO put a lot of this nonsense in your head. Don't listen to those who spendtheir whole lives collecting financial aid and welfare from the same government they oppose. Just use your brain a little more and you will be ok.
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I had the misfortune to read your little retarded article about Bush.................You are not only ugly on the inside............look at your picture..........I wish you a lot of luck as an associate at Wallmart..................you really are an ugly little toad and a very shallow cunt..............this article will embarass you for years to come.

[Note: Hmm. I find it interesting a lot of unhappy readers are referring to my gender. I mean, it is very possible to insult me without the cunt, bitch, references to my sex life, etc. I wonder why the necessity? After all, there's my age, my level of intelligence, my childhood upbringing, my faith... Despite my jovial manner, it's a serious question.]
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I am a Republican living in Texas, and I must say that if your side (Democrats) would take your example, you would win a lot more elections. This is a very intelligent op-ed, well thought out and written. When you present rational ideas and present them in a down-to-earth fashion as you have done here, a lot more people are willing to listen to your arguments. Thank you for being honest.
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The world would be a sad place without foolish children like yourself to laugh at. Keep up the good work.
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You restore some of my faith in real Democrats.

I salute you.
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SUBJECT: Fuck you Jen. Need I say more?

Fuck you Jen. Need I say more?
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Your article is thoroughly despicable. Your infantile ranting reveals an unthinking, blind adherence to the hate Bush crowd (your feeble effort to profess otherwise to the contrary not withstanding). It must be sad to be so young and filled with such seething rage and hatred. One can only hope that some day you will grow up, but right now that looks doubtful.
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You must be getting 1,000's of e-mails commenting on your "10 Reasons"column (which I saw in the Drudge Report, my secret sin). I hope all the rational ones are favorable. I Googled some of your other columnsand really enjoyed what you had to say and the way you said it. My onlyexpertise in this area is to have read daily newspapers for 40 years,but in my opinion you are a highly talented writer and commentator.

I'm not sure what " ... Kim Jong Il is two doughnuts short of a policeman" actually means, but it's a great line. May you live to 183!
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I wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for the above column. (Might I also congratulate you for making it on the widely distributed drudgereport.) I was very impressed with the content and the sensitivity you gave the subject. I am a staunch Texas conservative and a strong Bush supporter. Your column was a breath of fresh air compared to some of your liberal colleagues that unjustly rave about the administration (I have the same issues with most conservative columnists and talk show hosts as well.) I especially enjoyed your last 2 paragraphs. You have perfectly articulated the major roadblock to your party's success. We need more articulate people that make informed ideological decisions based on their beliefs (regardless of the side of the fence they are on), not based on emotion alone. Please keep writing! I will add you to my watch list.
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You have condensed into a fantastically articulate package everything I have been saying on my radio program for two years . Bush's most vocal enemies are his greatest strength. Crazy world, huh?
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You probably have been inundated with emails since the Drudge Report picked up your column. As a former logic instructor, I was pleased to read a well-thought-out, well-organized, and, frankly, cogent argument. Well done! I do hope others on college campuses who may read your column do take a breath before espousing ill-considered vitriol.
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More BasilMail, Sunday May 29th, 2005 (162 and counting)

2005-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Most of these loud-mouthed, rabid college kids....that are spoon-fed from the cradle up by their hotsy totsy "soccer moms", need about three good years in the military....then they may appreciate what our military and George Bush are trying to do !!!! Rather in Iraq than here in the states...... I am 75 years old, and get so furious with the way the Democratic party is acting...ashamed you should be !!!! I do not agree with Bush about several things....stem cells, the border among them...but the alternative is even more scary....and the thought of Hillary leading this country....God forbid !!!! "Anybody but Hillary" should be the new bumper sticker !! One more thing Jennifer...if the Democrats were so worried about """"" the Children""""" they would help clean up the filth and slime in the movies, and in the music they are being bombarded with 24/7....and please don't give me that c--- about "freedom of speech"....when the country is going down the toilet, I hope some of the bleeding heart liberals will be the first to go !
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Jennifer,

I somewhat agree with and enjoyed your article. Liberalism is the progressive
down fall of this country, being indoctrinated within our youth by high school teachers and
college professors in the halls of academia. This country was forged and founded upon the blood of our forefathers, defending our freedom every step of the way. President Bush is a man with a mission, set forth on September 11, 2001, understanding the importance of defending our great nation at any cost. Liberals beware...one day your grandchildren will read of the greatest President of our time, George W. Bush and how he lead this nation on the fight to eradicate terrorism.
Liberals are individuals without vertebrae, wanting to see the President assassinated but are against the death penalty, and yet, call for increased penalties for animal abuse. They would sooner have someone imprisoned for life for killing a puppy, while turning their heads on hundreds of senseless teenage gang murders in this county every year.
We have room for you in the Republican Party, come on over to our side and help move this country back on the right track into the future.
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Jennifer, that was an extremely good read. While I generally disagree with most things that Democrats say (due to the fact that most are loud mouthed, uninformed liberals), I now know that there is someone on the Democrat side that I would actually be able to sit down with and have a civil disagreement. Thank you for showing me that not everyone on that side of the isle is certifiably insane.

(for clarification, I am a Libertarian and really don't care for either party's platform, though I'd surmise for reasons other than yours).

Thank you for the article, and don't let the firestorm of ignoramus mail coming from both political spectrums get you down.

PS: Did you ever think that someone in Phoenix AZ would be reading your commentary and responding to it?
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Ms. Mcbride,

I tried to post so more than one could read this but your feedback posting isn't working.
From scanning your photo I can see you are a young woman so I won't go to hard on you.

For the same reason thet it's wrong and illegal to yell out "FIRE" in a crowded auditorium, what you have written is incendiary and very foolish at best. Check out the "hate list"Michelle Malkin has compiled at:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/002582.htm

You might make her list!

Yes dear, I have read your entire article and I even caught your closing sentence:
"The rabid dislike some people feel for a man they've never even met makes me ashamed to be a Democrat."

You really should be ashamed, when your party, as you labeled yourself, has fools named Dean, Harry, Byrd, Nancy, Gore, Jackson, and Kennedy- ad nasuem- mouthing invective and blunting any kind of meaningful dialogue. I would call them leaders, but leaders of what? Rabble reminicent of the French revolution.....

Look around..they'll be less of you next election.
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SUBJECT: From a conservative -CONGRATULATIONS. . . .

… for writing a lucid, logical, and reasonable opinion piece.

If all Democrats and/or liberals would debate the issues in public with similar discourse it would benefit the Nation – because it would be a major change from the “lunatic Left’s” vitriolic invectives (ala Howard Dean, et al) that are alienating the core of American populace from the Democratic Party. It is those invectives that are causing people to discount any viable message that might follow them that PUSH them away from the Democratic Party.

For the political health of the country it is much better to have 2 … or even better, 3, viable political parties that are putting forth ideas/solutions in the public arena to be rationally debated and honed to solutions to real issues. Unless there is a miracle and sane a rational discourse like you’ve demonstrated becomes the norm form the “Left”, the Democratic Party will slowly die the “Death of a Thousand Cuts” that have been self-inflicted by the shrill sharp tongues of the demagogue ideologues that have become the de facto “face” of the liberal left.

May your numbers increase.

-Little rock, AR
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You are a thoughtful, well-spoken Democrat, a rarity indeed.
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Greetings Jennifer;

I recently read you "10 reasons not to kill Bush". I am a conservative who understands how you feel. During the Clinton years I disliked many of his policies, but I was disturbed by the anger and hate of some on my side. In general I thought Clinton tried to do what he believed was the right thing and in the best interest of the American people. I hope your article will make people on both sides of the article use their heads a little more.

Keep up the great work. I saw on the Daily's website that you are working on a book, I will keep an eye out for it and buy a copy. Better yet, let me know how I can buy an autographed one. ; )

-Phoenix, AZ
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As you mature you'll understand what Churchill stated, "Anyone who isn’t a liberal by age 20 has no heart. Anyone who isn’t a conservative by age 40 has no brain. "
- Winston Churchill [ 1874-1965 ]
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> Liberalism has to be more than a college fad or a collection of
> loudmouths whose idiotic comments stir headlines. The rabid
> dislike some people feel for a man they've never even met
> makes me ashamed to be a Democrat.

They are not liberals. A liberal is one who is a product of theWestern Christian Liberal Enlightenment - and has specific valuesnot the least of which is placing the value of humanity over thatof political expediency. A liberal won't kill someone for a goodcause - other political factions would and did (and still do, as in the case of terrorists).

Voltaire - while I disagree with everything you have to say, Iwill defend to the death your right to say it. THAT is liberalism.And the most interesting issue is what the country is doing rightnow is the exact opposite of how the Republicans (the GOP) went froma Civil War victory and controlling the country to the era of economicsubstiantive due process (the robber baron era) and the Wilson adminand a spiral of defeat that led to FDR.

-Amherst, Mass
---

We've published a post concerning your recent column. The URL is here:
http://educationwonk.blogspot.com/2005/05/to-whom-it-may-concern.html

Regards,

[Note from Basil: From the link:]

To Whom It May Concern
Memo To: Jennifer McBride,
Info Copy: The University of Oregon
Re: Your Column entitled "10 Reasons Not To Kill Bush"

Dear Ms. McBride,

We don't know if your May 25th column in the Oregon Daily Emerald was meant to be serious, funny, satirical, instructive, or simply cute.

We do know that it was inappropriate.

Sincerely,

The Wonks Family

[Note: Awesome last name.]
---

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE CLINTON MAFIA?
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Good, balanced, I'm a student at PSU up in Portland and in all honesty, thehate of the Administration for no reason even before 9/11 turned me from aDemocrat who voted Clinton, Clinton, Gore into a W '04 person.

"9) Killing George Bush won't end any of the policies people disagree with.An assassination would merely strengthen our resolve to stay the course inIraq, keep troops in Saudi Arabia, support our Israeli allies, etc. Policiesdon't die just because the president does."

The US pulled all forced out of Saudi right after OIF was completed, evenbefore "shock and awe" the US moved most assets to Qatar and the UAE, forexample the bases at Medina and King Kahild Military City in Saudi used from'90-'00 for Desert Storm, Deny Flight and the bombing campaign in '98 hadthe American and British assets moved because of increasing anti-Westernpressure in the Saudi populace.CentCom over in the Gulf operates out of Qatar as do our bombers and strikeaircraft, the Brits operate out of Oman.
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Hi Jennifer,

My name is _____, and I'm a junior at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Hopefully you don't find emailing you creepy or anything (your address was listed in the Oregon directory)! Your article "10 reasons not to kill Bush" was linked on the Drudge Report, and I read it and found it particularly inspiring, so I wanted to let you know I thought it was amazing. It echoed my personal beliefs, and was very well written. I'm a liberal, but I was raised in a conservative household, and I also don't understand the blind hatred echoed by people who preach a message of saving lives and ensuring an equal opportunity for every individual regardless of their beliefs. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for writing it, and I hope more people read your article and are inspired by it.
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Well said and needed to be said. Especially point ten.

As for "Musharraf's brutal, mostly secular dictatorship", there seems to be a disconnect in the liberal mind between the brutal dictorships existing in many of these countries and the very brutal dictatorships that would replace them. The choice in a brutal society held together with it brute force is ofter poor. But, societies do progress, look at Spain, S. Korea, Tiawan, etc. Remember, Yugoslavia happen!!! Iran's happen!!!
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SUBJECT: Man, you are intelligent

Jennifer:

I realize that college students or recent college students are much smarter than the older more experienced people running the country. You youngsters realize that after those heroic muslims who flew are airplanes, with those dirty Americans onboard, into the twin towers in New York, full of criminal American lackies and their rotten kids, that Bush committed a criminal act by attacking Afganastan and Iraq. You know are reaction should have been to apologize to those great Muslim leaders who planned this magnificent slaughter. You understand that all the worlds problems are the fault of President Bush and his Republican and Christian henchmen. If only the ignorant people of the United States would understand that, at all cost, we must get rid of all Republicans and Christians. You young people understand that the U.S. Military is nothing but a bunch of blood thirsty killers who just love killing innocent women and children. Why do the stupid American people not understand that the Pentagon is a place where Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld are plotting to rule the world. You intelligently superior folk know that removing ALL our troops out of ALL forirgn countries immediately, so those beautiful people, like Saddam and Ben Laden, will once again rule over their great forms of government. Types of government that we should surely copy and emulate. After all, we have no freedom in this backward country.

You youngsters understand that we should send our border patrol people home and let anyone come in to this country at will. Although I don't understand why they would want to come to this rotten country; any country their coming from has got to be much better. Once they get here, preferably illigally, we must adopt their culture and language because ours is so corrupt and inferior.

Of course you realize the Muslim Fundamentalists will never again harm us once we get on our knees and beg their forgiveness and never again criticize whatever they want to do. After all, they are such great and passionate people we can trust them without question.

I have this idiotic thought that if we had struck the Nazis before they took over Europe (remember that great visionary Chamberlain) and the Japanese (remember that little place called Pearl Harbor) we could have saved millions of American and allied lives. But you know this is a stupid thought, World War II had to be our fault. Why don't people understand that once we declare we are a free nation that all others in the world will leave us alone. Why do we spend all that money on a national defense we don't need? It's obvious, that nobody will bother us if we just let them do what they want.

We need those pure in heart Democrates back in power. Oh, for those great days of stolen FBI files, billing records appearing out of no where, criminals wandering the White House, campaign money coming from China, giving North Korea a nuclear reactor, and above all, our President lying under oath. Remember, "I did not have sex with that young women." Of course not, oral sex is not sex. You young intelligent people know that. Even though it took place in the Oval Office it was just a private matter. We all realize that. Of course, if that terrible man Bush did the same thing he should be impeached because his motives must be impure.

Not to fear, you intelligently superior college educated peple will throw out those evil Republicans (Howard Dean educated us on this) in the next elections. Once those ignorant Christians have no say in our government then things will be heavenly. Just think how unlimited abortion at all stages of pregnancy will make our society feel so much better, how men marrying men and women marrying women will benefit children and families, how letting pornography go unchecked will enforce our right of free speech, and how letting federal judges make the laws instead interpreting them, will take this responsibility away from the legislative branch who are elected by the stupid American people. We will take all guns away from everyone since protection will not be necessary in a society that will show compassion for criminals and will give them many chances to obey laws. That stupid three strike law will be gone. You all know that easier and more frequent parole is the answer to crime. And above all we know you young college people will raise to about 99 per cent the taxes on those wicked rich people and companies (I know for sure you will break up that evil Wal-Mart outfit). When did they ever produce a job or provide a product or service at an affordable cost? You young people understand that basic socialism is the answer to ALL economic and social prpblems. Yes, those Europeans are going great guns (what happened to the French, they just voted to not get in the European Union?)

Oh Well, your 10 Reasons Not To Kill Bush sure gave me confidence that you young college educated students are far smarter than us old college educated people. What can I possibly know. I am 66 years old and only have a B.A. and 40 years of teaching and coaching high school football. In your world an ignorant jock. Would you believe that I always thought it was smarter to strike the enemy before he hit you. What a dumb idea. Well, what can you expect, I thought Reagan was a great President. He got rid of communism without firing a shot. I now realize after reading some of your smart young college educated articles that communism wasn't that bad. We should be more like them.

But not to worry, Hillary will be elected in 08 and you smart young college educated stalwarts will get the world you want (some of which I have described above). It will be a heaven on earth (oh, sorry, most you don't believe in heaven). My mistake.

Long live thr ACLU (probably your heroes),
---

Ms. McBride, I wasn't quite sure how to take your column.

I wrote a piece on it that I'd like to invite you to read. You can find it here: http://tcarter.blogspot.com/2005/05/10-reasons-not-to-kill-bush.html.

Thanks for your time.
---

You are young and believe what these yahoo teachers tell you because you think it makes you look smart. It doesn't. One of these days(hopefully) you will recover from being over schooled and under educated and will be ashamed of yourself for talking about George W. Bush the way you do. We are the largest, smartest, most capable country this world has ever seen. We are the envy of the world because we are free and we are capitalist. If you want an excellent example of the difference between a socialist setting and a capitalist setting, look in the area of my expertise - property claims. hang on, I know it sounds a little silly but as a young punk(thats what your last article makes you appear to be, a punk) look at the difference of coverage between a capitalist policy/offering and that of a government or socialist offering-flood policy or California Earthquake Authority policy. Republicans and George Bush believe in Capitalism while democrats push socialism. If you are half as smart as you think you are, I have doubts, think of yourself suffering a major loss from a fire and dealing with the capitalist offered homeowners policy and then suffering from a major loss from a flood to the same property. Believe me, the earthquake policy will be far worse than the flood. Watch the headlines after the next major quake. Never talk the way you do about our president again. It is shameful. Salute the flag, embrace the freedom we have, and do your best to offer it to the rest of the world. If you were one of the few people that had been able to crawl out of a pit of vipers would you stand outside it denouncing our safety, stating loudly the man who was directing efforts to save those still in the pits was unworthy or would you grow some integrity and try to either save those in the pit or at the very least, quit making it harder for the brave men and women trying to save the people in the pit? It is as simple as that, right now, you are the asshole making the heroes work harder by preaching hatred and discontent. The funny thing is, you are not smart enough to know, these men and women you are denouncing would fight for your freedom to be an asshole. Grow up, we need all the good guys we can get and currently you are on the wrong side.

[Note: Basil does not support socialism. Basil used to be a socialist but she renounced it long ago in favor of welfare capitalism.]
---

I'm sure you're deluged with emails from people you don't know after reading your article linked on "The Drudge Report"......just like myself. I did want to do my part and drop you a note and tell you how refreshing it was to read an intelligent, thought-provoking article that doesn't just spew nonsensical partisan gobbletygook from the left or the right. Thank you- Enjoy your holiday weekend :)
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SUBJECT: f-off bitch

You are a piece of shit and someone should shoot yoursorry ass. I guarantee you that very few would shedtears over your un-tragic demise. In the future keepyour ass-holic comments and opinions to yourself andthe world will be a much better place even if you andyour stupid opinions continue to survive in it.
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More BasilMail Sunday May 29, 2005 (144 and counting...)

2005-05-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

You did have some very valid points on this column, but there are some key points to mention. We are not hated as much as everyone thinks. I was in the Military for years, and I have been around this world too many times to count. (something I suggest you doing and getting the real scoop, instead what you read in newspapers, and magazines) Everywhere I went, people were saying "hi", greeting us, giving us things, and showing the compassion that human beings do. I think the younger generation is so mis-informed when they hear about some country hating us, because, 99% of the time, it is the government, and not the country as a whole. I am really tired of hearing about this theory, and it ranks up there with global warming. These are all just Liberals lies, to help with their sad agenda. I hate yellow journalism as much as the next American, who is truly informed. It seems that liberalism is pretty much running amuck on college campus'. I fin d this funny, because they are the ones that have not experienced life, paid bills, raised a family. They get their info from the liberal Professors, to help push the liberal agenda, furthering poisoning the minds of so many young people. I find it a digrace to our country to have these people's voice to be even acknowledged, because they don't speak for me. In the future, pick another subject to write on, this was really pathetic, and done in poor taste! You said you were Democrat, could you or someone please tell me what you guys are standing for these days? (I can't really tell from all the whining the Dems are doing)
---

As a long-time conservative, I thought your column had just the right blend of seriousness, humor, valid points and sarcasm. It will be interesting to see if the vitriol that comes your way (you made it onto the Drudge Report, so hold on) comes more from the right or the left.

I for one never understood the abject hatred some Republicans had on a personal level for President Clinton, and I don't get the hatred of Bush now.

Hold your ground. You have the strength that comes with accurate insight.
---

Dear Ms. McBride,

I have read your article, “10 Reasons not to Kill Bush,” and I am very concerned about a trend I have seen over the past few years that appears in your article, i.e. obsequious aspersions cast against liberal “straw men.” As someone who tends to identify as a Liberal, I cannot help but notice that Liberals are readily assumed to hold a deep hatred of the President, to the point of wishing him dead. You have also apparently encountered this meme, so much so that you did not need to identify a single individual who “[proclaims] their hatred” (or even to qualify what that means), or explain how hating the President equals “praying for [his] assassination.”

With all due respect, I believe that you are a victim of a “conventional wisdom,” that media crutch whereby a storyline is repeated so often by journalists that they stop asking whether it is true. (I am sure as a pre-journalism major you are well aware that Vice President Gore never claimed to have invented the internet.) In this case, I personally find myself asking whether the media is confusing widespread disapproval of the President and his policies with “hatred” – a distinction you cleverly add to distance yourself from the Liberal straw man. I wonder further whether the media has made the same gross generalization of opponents of the President’s predecessor.

As to the latter question, a Lexis search seeking mentions in the printed media of Conservative “hatred” of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2000 brought a mere 47 hits; a comparable search of stories discussing Liberal “hatred” of President Bush brought 122 hits within his first term! This is, of course, not a comprehensive study – I would recommend Eric Alterman to that end. I was too young at the time to pay considerable attention to the national politics, but even as an apathetic teen, I understood clearly that a relatively well-organized cabal of right-wing Americans actively campaigned to destroy the Clinton presidency. It did not matter that we were hit repeatedly by terrorists during his tenure; it didn’t matter that we had men and women in active combat. I will not bother stating here that Ann Coulter and the like “hated” the President, but I offer you this quote:

In “High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton”, Coulter wrote, "We have a national debate about whether Clinton [had an affair], even though all sentient people know he did. . . Otherwise there would only be debates about whether to impeach or assassinate."

Of course, this is a highly regarded and widely popular spokesperson for the Conservative movement, and not some anonymous nobodies on your campus. Perhaps you have quotes of such weight that you can quote to prove your allegations of such death wishes against the current President amongst prominent Liberals. If so, I would urge you to include them in your future publications. Otherwise, you leave me very concerned that the next generation of journalists will continue to ape the logical fallacies of the current generation.

The rabid disregard some journalists feel for journalist integrity makes me embarrassed for our media.

[Note from Basil: The quotations requested were actually in the original version of the piece, but my editors took them out for reasons of length. Google: grenade "Too bad it was a dud" to find some of the milder comments.]

---

Dear Jennifer
I read your article on 10 reasons not to kill GWB.It was interesting. I am afraid that if the left and right of this country continues to bicker over, well, pretty much everything, our enemies will have a much easier time bringing us down. You know it's a shame, after 911 I had hoped that the country could unite like it had done during the dark days of World War 2, but unfortunately, that was not meant to be. As a former Republican who has been alienated by both parties, I'm sure that even you and I could find common ground on something. Perhaps that would be the best thing to do,concentrate on what we have in common rather than our differences.

-Oakland TN
---

Good article. Takes me back to the days I found myself rendered speechless by those whose pathological hatred of Bill Clinton defied reason. It sounds as if our political views clash quite a bit. But it is good to hear someone at the other end of the spectrum argue for restraint by those who mistake vitriol for dissent.

-Albuquerque, NM
---

Hey, Jennifer, how's life?

Probably better than these kids, I bet...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7245228/site/newsweek/

Enjoy!- Ashoka

PS. (1) Unless you don't classify the desire to beable to drive your car to and from your house withoutfear of being shot and killed by an invading army a"right", i'd say that the US is probably workingsomewhere outside of the "staunch defender of humanrights" circle right about now. (2) When Kennedy gotshot, the Right showed little to no grief and yet thecountry started trending Republican anyway. You'reonly a martyr to people who loved you in the firstplace. (3) I'm sure Bush is a "good man" but he's alsoengaged in the lovely practice of "disappearing"suspected terrorists (a fun pastime that waspreviously limited to banana republic dictatorships),publicly lied to the country to drum up support for anillegal war, and cut money flow to after schoolprograms and DCYF so he could give enormous tax breaksto rich people. I'm sure you know all this, being asmart columnist, but I thought I'd remind you why us"poorly informed" and "vitriolic" retards harbor somuch anger toward Bush.

PPS. The cambodian human rights disaster that youreferenced to illustrate the human rights record ofthe US was a direct result of US military interventionin Vietnam.

PPPS. If you didn't already figure this out, yourarticle is linked to the Drudge Report, and I have afeeling my email is probably one of about fifty inyour inbox right now. Have fun!
---

Ms. McBride,

I want to thank you for not bashing the president as he is an easy target for his critics. From the looks of your article, it seems that you did not vote for GW, but at least you have enough class not to rip him apart. Alot of the people who disagree with him seem to forget that he does in fact have a tough job and there are very few who could actullay be president. I will tell you that I don't necessarily agree with the iraqi war, but then again, I still feel alot safer with him in office because Al Qaeda or any terrorist group have not attacked the US since 9/11. I personally think that Bush Sr. should have finished the job in '91, but I guess that's just me. As for the people who want to kill the president, they are very naive. They read or hear only bits and pieces off MTV or other sources like celebrities (yeah, let's get political information from people who ACT.) One girl who I go to school( I am enrolled in a tech school) with was saying Bush was like Hitler but could not give me any reasons why. Anyways, I am sorry for rambling, I just wanted to pass you an email.

-Orlando, FL
---

Hi Jennifer,
It is amazing to me how much people think they know about the world when they are in college. I know, I thought I was as smart as anyone when I was there. It takes a long time to develop a point of view that is worth anything in life.

Let me give you my top ten reasons why abortion is good and should be, not only legal, but mandatory for liberals.

1. No one would have to listen to any stupid college pukes anymore.

2. Liberalism will have fulfilled it's prophesy and there will be no one left to complain about in around 20 years. Except the few liberal elites who continue their college careers ad infinitum.

3. Finding that abortion is a great way to guarantee no more liberals will be born, we will raise the time limit to have an abortion to 30, and kill all liberal college students. Remember, it's our right to choose. What's a few years among friends.

4. Since we know liberalism is a mental disorder, (you won't understand that info until you're 40), all liberals should be mugged and put in jail for at least 1 month per year, so they can fully realize the clarity of their decisions on judges and elected officials.

5. Liberals will no longer be just choosing for others, since they will put their money where their mouth is and abort every time they are pregnant. This, instead of just agreeing that someone should be able to kill it, just to make life easier. (Since we know that life should be easy, right?)

6. No more liberal judges.

7. No more stinking liberal newspapers that twist and distort the truth. (BTW - You can't know that they do it unless you have a time perspective to see how they lie over a long period of time, say 20 to 30 years. Only then can you see how one lie perpetuates other falsehoods until the lie becomes what people believe is the truth. I know you think your too smart to be fooled, You're not.)

8. No more stupid college students writing uneducated rantings about conservative Presidents and what would happen if they died.

9. No more of all that is bad in the USA. Including, but not limited to, parole for criminals, abortion, welfare for those that can and don't work, big government, and all of you narrow minded slugs.

10. Fill in the blank, liberals are bad for America because __________.

If this top 10 gets you upset, then you know what it feels like for me to read your drivel.

Why is it you pinheads hate Dick Cheney?
He may be the most reasonable man in politics. Yet you go for a guy like John Kerry who lies to you and you love it. I've known men like Kerry all my life, and men like that are slimy and do no good for anybody. You see, as you get older and have kids, you ask yourself, would I like my daughter to date this man. It brings cold hard reality to you. BTW If you answer yes because of money or power, That tells who you are, not the person you're talking about!!!

Do you think Bush is dumb? He has a Harvard MBA. Where did you go to school? He flies jets. What do you fly? I guess you can hate him all you want, but know this, when you hate good men, you perpetuate evil. When you use your words for character assassination, you are the problem.
Answer this one honestly and see into your soul. Why is it that liberals want to kill innocent unborn children, yet save the life of a convicted killer put on death row?

Why do you want to take away from someone who works hard for this country and give to someone who gives nothing and only takes from this country?

It feels good to be part of your little clicks when you are younger. ' Oh I hate Bush', 'yeah, me too'. Please wait till you get old enough to have a clue before you tell anyone what you think about anything. Book smarts is ok, life smarts comes along much later.

-Maryland
---

College people do not have a clue.
When you have a family
of your own, you will be less likely to be
liberal because its "popular." Think for
yourself, stop the hatred that consumes
you. The liberal agenda is so out of the
mainstream of America (Red States)
it is slowly deteriorating into a bowl of mush.
With the help of John McCain he will be
leading the libs.

[Note: McCain in '08! Yah!]
---

Jennifer,

As a fellow newspaper contributor, I found your article very thought provoking and in many ways correct. Even as a Republican, I'm discontent with many of the administration's policies, but I won't go out and advocate assassination. There's plenty of hypocrisy on both sides of the political spectrum. I'm glad someone else thinks reasonably in a world of polarized politics.
-Cal State Northridge
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Jennifer,

I just wanted to send you a quick note to say I enjoyed your column "10 reasons not to kill Bush." Your criticism of knee-jerk liberal outrage was well said: "I am too often shocked by the vitriolic repulsion many people feel for our leader and America in general, especially because the loathing is often poorly informed. I've met people on this campus who see America as the worst human rights abuser in the world (unlike the angelic paradise of Cambodia) and people who sway liberal not because they actually know anything about issues but because it's popular."

By the way...congrats on making an appearance on "The Drudge Report."
---

Hi Jennifer,

I was surprised to find how thoughtful your piece was. Congrats on a well thought out and fair minded approach to a decidedly ticklish subject.

I am a Bush liker and although I disagree with him on many issues, I support him in his administration.

Thanks again for a refreshingly original approach to the political discourse.

Wishing you the best,
---

Jennifer--I so liked the conclusion to your column (linked on Drudge) that I quoted it on my blog and offered some praise for your ideas: http://www.gaypatriot.net/blog/archives/000261.php.I hope there are more broad-minded college students like you.
---

hmmm.. let me see. I'm trying to think of a reason not to kill you for your ad on suggestions for killing the president. I can't think of any good reason other than to leave you alive as an example of liberal hatred, which you are an excellent example of. But, conservatives aren't the ones who usually kill americans or even suggest it. Hell, we even try to protect the unborn, imagine that. Oh that's right, you being a liberal couldn't imagine that. No murder isn't our thing. It's obviously yours though. I hope the secret service hangs you for your article. You prove once again how the liberal press has absolutely no regard for this country whatsoever. So all I can do is pray that you come down with a horrible form of Cancer and suffer for months before dying a horrible death...

[Note: Missed the word "not" in the title, did you?]
---

Saw your article on Drudge. Congrats for making it there! I'm a 23-year old conservative, but I particularly enjoyed the last 2 paragraphs of your article. I especially liked your line, "I think he's a good man doing a difficult job." Since it made Drudge, hopefully some of the Democratic leadership will take heed. Not that I want Democrats to become the majority again, I just think it's better for the country if we have competing ideas from both parties instead of ideas from one (Republicans) and mindless rhetoric from the other. Your article points out that what makes the rhetoric worse is that a lot of college libs eat it up as truth! Great article, glad it's getting some press on Drudge! Our politics disagree, but your last two paragraphs are dead on...
-Toledo, OH
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Jennifer,

Your recent editorial (“10 reasons not to kill Bush”) was a well-reasoned and worthy contribution to the current political milieu. I share many of your views and concerns Jennifer, and I hope you’re able to achieve your full professional potential after your graduation.
---

Lady:

You are real sick. Get help!
-San Carlos, CA
---

Greetings:

I enjoyed your piece and must compliment you for it. To see pieces such as yours shows that civility can be maintained on both sides of the fence (something our nation truly lacks to function as a republic.) and I commend you for it; you are well informed.
---

Hello,

Just this weekend, watching my copy of "Is it true what they say about Ann", I found myself not 100 % for her. I was surprised.

I am just as surprised to have read your article and feel the same way about you. I have no doubt that you have a great future ahead of you.

I would like for you to reserve my own signed copy of some work of yours as you will almost certainly be famous.

GOD bless.
---

I got your article off amlink on the Drudge Report. It was well thought out. My guess is you are not a Bush fan, but it's nice to see you use your head.
---

Well written and a refreshing change from the sea of robotic voices clamoring in today's world.
---

You are a thoughtful, well-spoken Democrat, a rarity indeed. Thanks.
---

More BasilMail, Sunday 29th 2005

2005-05-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ms. McBride,

Very well put. I am a Republican who actually likes the President, and Imust say appreciate your candor and insight. I was not a great fan of someof Mr. Clinton's policies nor certain other traits, but I would argue withRepublican friends that he was the President and for that alone at least theoffice and the will of the people deserve our respect. Furthermore, I neverthought President Clinton wished the United States ill as some on my side ofthe aisle did.

Funny thing, I live in France right now and the reaction to the "Non" voteis amazing. People rushing out into the streets, car horns blaring everywhere. I live near the main square in Toulouse and you can hear the noiseof the crowds gathering and the cheers.

Democracy is a good thing. Best of luck to your party in the next election.

Respectfully,
---

I found my self nodding in agreement as I read your article. Now I wonder if you too will be attacked by the left. Best of luck in the future.
-Nashville TN

[Note from Basil: To quote a friend, if you're being attacked from both sides, you're probably right.]
---

"………………and people who sway liberal not because they actually know anything about issues but because it's popular."

Probably more truthful than one would imagine. Enjoyed the article.

-Lookout Mountain
---

I am staunchly conservative but I have to say your column is a good example of responsible and balanced journalism. Thanks for the last two paragraphs; they showed that you will be very successful as a journalist. I would like to add though, (tongue in cheek here), that you might want to consider changing your party. Democrats have been losing alot here lately!!! Best wishes
---

WHAT A NEAT ARTICLE. WELL THOUGHT OUR AND MORE FOLKS SHOULD READ SAME. AS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR TWO- YOU MADE EXCELLENT POINTS.

[Note: Happy Memorial day. Thank you for your service.]
---

Jennifer,

As a neo-conservative and strong supporter of President Bush, I enjoyed most of what you wrote in your article. The personal hatred of the President by some of your fellow travelers is rather unseemly and undercuts their attempt to persuade moderates, who hold control over the electorate.

As you make clear, you can disagree with policies and belief systems, without hating the person.

-Durango, CO
---

Ms. McBride:

You said," I don't understand the logical contortions some people must go through to be anti-death penalty yet pro-assassination." Do you better understand the logical contortions needed to be anti-death penalty yet pro-choice? How about pro-PETA yet pro-choice?

I suggest you not use logic as a weapon unless your sure you know where it is pointing.

Otherwise, I thought your article was a well-written and clever way to state your liberal opinions. It is ironic, is it not, that Matt Drudge, blasted by the left for his supposedly right leanings, has given wings to your writing.
---

We have moved all our American troops out of Saudi Arabia and to the neighboring countries.

-Seattle, WA

[Note: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2984547.stm My mistake.]
---

Good job Ms. McBride.

After I seen this headline listed on Drudgereport, my assumption was that the article would be leaning toward the liberals who choose to hollar more than think. I found your article very well written and very well thought out. I am a rather right thinking conservative on most issues. While on many other issues I lean a little left of moderate. it is clear to me that you have heard as I've heard a number of people spouting off that President Bush would be better with a bullet in the head. You've written a good article that defends the point that even the most liberal of liberals would not like the outcome of such an event. It amazes me how the polarized sections of this country refuse to honestly discuss the issues that face us. The majority of the television shows that claim to be debate shows are no more than hog calling contests. The loudest one wins. Please, please, please, accept every invitation that you receive to go on television shows to speak. Especially those that simply have nothing to say such as Hannity and Colmes, and Crossfire. An open line of communication between those of different view-points is the only hope for politics and America.

-Xenia, Ohio

[Note: That has got to be the most awesome city name ever.]
---

Well Jennifer--if you hate the idiocy of your party co-horts----take the party back----as a conservative I would love to see a viable, energetic, intellectually sound democratic party that has the best interests of America at heart, instead of just lusting after power.A good start--keep at itp.s. your format will bring you scathing criticism---and I believe it in poor taste, but if truly aimed at your fellow 'crats, maybe appropriate.
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thank you for the article about president Bush. it was nice to hear someone mature enough to write the truth without fear of peer reprocussion.
---

Thank you for your thoughtful _expression of ideas. You give me hope for your generation.

-Capitola, CA
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Thank you Jennifer for the most part of your commentary. After one year in Iraq I cannot tell you how many of us in the military look at the left in our country with disgust. I flew investigators to mass graves and saw the women and children this butcher murdered. I felt proud everyday when people over there wanted to shake my hand. The Kurds in the North are our best friends there and as I was told they would jump in front of a bullet in a minute to save one of us because they knew we were there for them.

I know you live in the part of the country that is very liberal, but it is funny how you get older and your views start to change when you have to get out and make it on your own. You said it right so many in college just want to follow the popular thing at the moment. These same people probably laughed when Berg had his head cut off. I will tell you not to worry about our military we are ready and able anytime, anywhere to handle any other threat out there.
---

You should be ashamed of yourself. People like you do the country no good with this out-of-touch rhetoric. I sincerely hope you do not become a published book author because we certainly don't need your brand of thinking influencing children.

Quit living in a world that doesn't exist and join the rest of us in supporting democracy around the world.
---

As a conservative Republican I can say that you have given me much hope for the next generation of Democrats. God bless you.
---

What an eerily screwball badly written piece to put forth.....like so many of her narcissistic self-absorbed gender seeking some tidbit of attention, Jen needs help but from whom should we suppose???????

[Note: I blame the article on PMS. J/k]
---

Like your picture, your beauty is intense. :o) andcommon sense to go with such. WOW !

[Note: Basil is most certainly single.]
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I enjoyed reading your article. You know if more Liberals were more like you, we might have a chance for thoughtful discussions in our country
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4) Any criticisms of the administration will be regarded as more unpatriotic than ever. In the next election, you could expect to see Democratic primary candidates proclaiming that their Republican counterparts aren't "fit to follow in President Bush's footsteps."

Nice :-)

PS -- Drudge linked your story... I hope you don't become too deluged in hate-mail. They are animals.
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Nice article. After reading it, the word "idiot" came to mind. I'll provide the funds for you to leave the U.S. and never come back. You're doing exactly what your university wanted. Nicely well-done "brainwashed' fool. I was there once and it's ashame they keep spewing out more crap like you.....

[Note: Send cash or check to the "Send Jennifer McBride to France Fund," care of the Oregon Daily Emerald @ P.O. Box 3159 Eugene, OR 97403. All donations are appreciated.]
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Just wanted to thank and congratulate you on your article. I was linked to it via the Drudge Report and was almost certain based on the headline that it was another rabid Bush-hating college screed, but was pleasantly surprised by the closing two paragraphs. Having a sense of proportion and perspective is not always valued by readers of college newspapers. I especially appreciate the part about human rights abuses; any human rights evaluation must reflect the criteria of the group making the study. For me as a conservative Catholic, Human Life International has as much "right" to make such a study as Amnesty International. But I digress. You articulated very well what I've been trying to get across to my more liberal friends who seem disproportionately obsessed with the current President. I don't try to argue that he's great, or even good; just that he's not Satan or Hitler. I really don't see why he's so much worse than Clinton was for me, or the previous Bush or Reagan were. He's a pretty mainstream, establishment President. Anyway, hope the next few years allow some more intelligent and civilized discussion of issues, but somehow I don't see it happening any time soon.
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Possibly because I am older than you are, years ago I allowed the Democratic party to leave me in the center as they moved way to the left.

John Kennedy would have no place in today's Democratic party. In fact, Jack Kennedy and George W. Bush have very similar positions on economics and on the defense of America.
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If everyone thought like you what a better country we would have.
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SUBJECT: One reason NOT to nuke the entire state of Oregon

Actually, there isn't one.

HAVE GUN ~ WILL TRAVEL

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you are one sick puppy. only in America could you have the platform to write crap like this. you fit in with most other democrats, sick, lonely and very sad examples of humanity.
---

Pathetic. You think your work is creative? Shame. It is cheap and thoughtless. Move away. Go to a friendly place, in your mind's eye. North Korea, Palestine, Hell. Juvenile stuff.

-Suttons Bay, Michigan
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You probably wont read this e-mail(I am sure your busy) but just wanted you to know I loved your article on top 10 reasons not to kill Bush. I am a republican and a supporter of Bush but sometimes I question the administration. Just wanted to thank you for your honesty.

More BasilMail May 29, 2005

2005-05-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Well said. Brace yourself for the wave of "vitriol" from the university elite who think Republicans and the President are the fascists. Agree with me=A, Disagree with me =B, Vocally support George Bush or the War against Terrorism in class or on your t-shirt=D or F (depending how articulate you are and how well you quote your sources, or if he/she, heshe/shehe has tenure). Good luck.

-Endicott, NY
---

Dear Ms McBride,
I compliment you! Your article is very good and it reasures me that
there is still an intelligent form of human life on the university
campuses of America - - I had just about given up hope.
Thank you.
From South of the border
-EL Gringo
---

You are so misguided that I am reluctant to even respond to your article. Lady, Lady, put on your thinking cap for once in your life and stop reading, absorbing and parroting the liberal playbook. I would really like to sit with your for one hour and demonstrate to you just how absurd your Liberal philosophy is. God, you are a basket case. Bet you are conservative by the time you are 30 and have time to reflect on you asinine stupidity.
---

The headline on Drudge Report intrigued me. The article was well written. As a registered Independent and committed South Park conservative (after the DNC left me) I loved your reason #2. The thought of the effect Dick would have on Al Franken and crowd amused me.

And you're studying in Eugene, where my daughter lives. I'm emailing your article to her. She's also a Dem, but she's a thirty something. So, there's still hope :)
---

If you felt so strongly about your fellow democrats, why print the article at all.
You and the Liberal instructors at your collage spend your time creating this crap !
It's no wonder dems are the minortity in government.
So tell me ! Why diden't the last Democratic run government take care of all the evil things the Bush administration is now accused of doing ????

Where are the High ? intellectuals when needed to resolve issues.
Diden't Bill Clinton have a majority in his first term !
Why all the hate from the caring compassionate liberal democrats who only care about you and your family ?

Why diden't the Democrats go after terrrorists on their watch ?
When will they get something proposed that means something or is all their time better spent lobbing nasty salvos at Republicans. I guess if things are so bad and you have to buy time to get your collective shit togeather this is what a caged animal does !

Is any of this of any significance to you and yours, your fellow democrats are dying in Iraq right now and your media friends are delivering their fates to rile up readership and to please corporate sponsors. Is this what you have in store for 2008. Mabey "Newly Moderate Hillary"
will guide us through these troubing times.

I hope you and your party Grow Up someday !

Congratulations on your drudge report famous article, it's good to see campus life is still about childhood fantasy even in 2005.

[Note: Sent Twice.]
---

i admire the fact that you are NOT like other lunatic leftists who Bush to die. But you are still misdirected...the Democrats have no ideas, no plans and no leaders.

ask yourself and those who arent as smart as you are this: Who do you want protecting you, your friends, and your family? Bush or Jimmy Carter??

Bush has shortcomings and is NOT nearly perfect....but he is what we need!

if we lose this war, YOU and other "journalists" will be the first groups of people executed! get it??

good luck w/ your studies
---

firstly, i'm a national Constituional republican, not a
"conservative"

2ndly, you hit the nail on the hit and drove thru the wood.
i was a democrat for a long time until the extreme nuts
who have more in common with Soviets and Nazis in
their actions started to tell me what to do and how to do
it. i left the party, and could no longer stay with people
who are neither educated nor have decent, common
sense and edicate (wrong spelling)

3rdly, it is a total "fad" or "trend" to be a "liberal" (actually
Marxist is practice and action) in college. yet, tell me
one company running well that's owned by "liberals"
that isn't in debt or an SEC investigation. almost all
people i graduated from college with are unsuccessful
or unhappy or both, due to lack of common sense.

4thly, if our Fore Fathers thought the way either party
thinks right now, we'd be part of England, France or
Spain. they, though extremists in their own Right, we
moderate at the times of rule. even clinton (bill) was
very moderate as a president, knowing a person cannot
go too far over the center, because violent revolution will
break out (1821 in Maine, 1861 in South Carolina, 1931
in Washington DC, 1968 in Chicago). moderation is the
key.

5thly, i noticed you placed most accountability upon the
wackos (thought no mention of a "wacko" actually
occurred) and that how can they be what they are, and
yet contridict themselves the very next day. that's where i
see it as bravo. i feel you see a problem, and you see a
need to fix it. you never onced blamed the Pres for
anything, and you offered solutions.
excellent article.
---
SUBJECT: You have the rest of your life to get your head together

"The rabid dislike some people feel for a man they've never even met makes meashamed to be a Democrat."

You should be ashamed to say something like that whether it's "Democrat" or"Republican". It shows your ignorance. It also shows you co-opting to theT-I-N-A priniciple (there-is-no-alternative) which Thatcher coined. (Seeanything is possible, as long as there is no alternative, Kerry or Bush, Bushor Kerry or Nader or Bush.....how about standing up for yourself and sayingfuck voting for this insanity?)

You might spend your time learning and educating yourself beyond thesuperficial democrat vs. republican, liberal vs. conservative sillyness. That'sa crap way of thinking and misses about 99% of what is going on in the world.

It's a catchy title for the article but don't waste people's time until youhave something intelligent to contribute. Or just keep calling yourself ademocrat, vote for Naders, and feel good because you're nicer than those meanole conservatives.....Better to write an article called "Kiss my Ass: Why you don't fool me"

- someone who thinks young people need to pull their heads out oftheir ass and expand their minds beyond the bullshit they are spoon-fed fromthe great Amerikan circus.
---

SUBJECT: you must be

a christian.
www.subbionic.com
will help.
---

SUBJECT: Dumb Cunt

Hey Jennifer, goFUCK YOURSELF
---
Jen'...

I am too often shocked by the vitriolic repulsion many people feel for our leader and America in general, especially because the loathing is often poorly informed.

I think the correct word would be "reVULsion", and I'm not sure the loathing itself would be "poorly informed" but rather the people DOing the loathing are, so you could write, "...especially because the/their basis for such hatred is simply reflexive and based so little in fact".

If you listen (if you have time) to enough Michael Medved, you'll realize just how right you are... It's easy to call up and shout, "Bush is HITLER!", and quite a bit more difficult to defend it reasonably.

On the topic of Bush/Hitler, imagine the reverse, "HITLER is BUSH". If these two WERE interchangeable, we never would've lost 400,000 men in WWII, and millions around the world would not have perished.

On the topic of Amnesty Int'l likening America to a gulag(re: "Gitmo"], don't forget that the dirtbag murderers of Americans (the VAST majority of the detainees in Gitmo were picked up on the battlefield in Afghanistan), and these guys have the best(if not first) medical / dental care in their lives [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], enjoy the highest standard of living they've ever seen during their stone-aged existence[NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], have their religious rites endlessly accomodated (pointing to which way east is, prayer rugs, prayer oils, special foods, prayer times observed, etc., etc., etc. [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], are not forced to perform labor [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], are well-fed [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], do not face the possibility of firing squads for infractions of "camp rules" [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], enjoy the highest level of personal hygeine in their miserable, murdering lives(whether they want it or not) [NOT SO IN SOVIET GULAGS], etc., etc., etc.

So how can intelligent people at Amnesty Int'l liken the detention of dirtbag murderers of Americans (these men did not fight on behalf of any country, flag, or uniform -- they exist only to destroy America and Americans, and have no rules other than their murderous hatred justifies killing and maiming in all its forms) liken Gitmo to a "gulag"?

Maybe it's to create an emotion, an impression, to further an agenda.

Another liberal knuckleheaded idea endlessly massaged by the media was N.O.W.'s attack on a PRIVATE club (Augusta) that did now allow women to be members (although they could play as guests).

Where was N.O.W. when an entire generation of girls became women in Afghanistan and had never attended school? Where were they when girls age 10 were being married off to Taliban members, never to see their families again? Where were they when women were not allowed to work or practice their professions, forcing them to endure a near-starvation existence? I could go on... but where were they? Or, perhaps more than they love women, they hate men. It's an agenda.

I gotta say, such unquestioned, knee-jerk, knows-no-bounds vitriol is so typical of a vocal chunk of the left. Ask your unquestioning liberal college chums why there aren't corresponding groups on the right -- you don't, for example, find a Republican woman's group called "Babes for Bush", posing topless on the internet, as you did with "Babes Against Bush"(the group's leader couldn't tell Sean Hannity who the vice president was!). You don't see the collection of misinformed, anti-social, tattoed, body-pierced, braless(where applicable), etc. self-styled miscreants, ranting, destroying property, or otherwise disrupting lives (blocking traffic to endear thousands of late commuters to their cause).

One thing I truly enjoy is to see what is usually performed by right-wing talk show hosts, and that is easily demonstrating the abject ignorance of these idiots. I was listening to Dr.Laura's show, and she played the audio of some anti-Bush college-idiot spouting off about the war in Iraq. The deejay asked him a question where he simply likened 9/11 to Pearl Harbor. You guessed it, the IDIOT did NOT KNOW WHEN OR WHAT PEARL HARBOR WAS !! The deejay pressed a bit, and the knucklehead danced around it, saying some nonsense to the effect of, "I'm talking about now".

I've heard this time and again: protesters holding "BUSH IS HITLER" signs can't answer thEE most basic questions about American government or history.

Gotta go... Best wishes. I'm only taking time to write to you because I think there may be "hope" for you(That is a compliment, even if you don't take it as one)!

[By the same author:]

It sounds like there's still hope for you! I tease my flaming liberal younger
sister that she'll one day be lured to a secure location where an
"intervention" will be performed -- we could pencil you in, they've got a
special 2-for-1 rate going until the end of June...

Hit Michael up for a copy of his book "Right Turns".

[By the same author:]

PS -- Among my favorite and most reasoned voices on the right is Thomas Sowell. If you can find time, you can read his book, "Basic Economics" (there are now, somewhere, "economics for journalists" classes being given). You can read his columns on drudgereport.com or townhall.com.
---

Ms. McBride,

It is refreshing to see a true journalist at work. I have forwarded your article on to several people. I hope I am not insulting you by saying, " you will make a fine conservative one day" . But it the very fact that Liberals seem to base so much of their opinion on emotion and not fact based linear thought, that I find so ridiculous. Many of us do not agree with what our government does, no matter who is in power. Few however seem to base this on principled thought. Today we are completely subjective. If I like you, you can do no wrong, and if I do not like you , you can do no right.
Keep up the good work. I have renewed hope for journalism.

-(fellow Scot)
Salem, OR

[Note: Actually, I'm Irish.]
---

Basil Mail Sunday, May 29

2005-05-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

Good article regarding not killing the president. It's nice to see someone articulate clearly how they feel minus the blind anger. I am not a democrat or republican(I am a monarchist- i think there should be a king and i think it should be me). I appreciate your thoughts, thank you
---

Great to find a Democrat with an IQ over 120 who can both think and write...... we should all read and remember this article......
---

Interesting column. There isn't any room anymore in the democrat party for intelligent people. That's the real shame. You will see over the next ten years the democrat parties death. Although it will never go away completely, it will be reduced to a squealing pig for the exact reasons in your column. They are nothing but a rabid group of people with idiotic comments. keep learning young lady, there is hope in academia after all.
---

& M. Jackson and da --run-away-bride would be getting no aittime¿¿¿ Ðuh¿AMERICA at WAR for missing WMD'S =~~¶¶~AT LEAST!!~~1,649 ~~ ¶¶ DEAD !!!! PLUS<>>QUAINT as da'w grins >>>~~~~~~~~ A neglected dimension of EVIL, by the way , is STUPIDITY!!<<>> :-)~~
---

Why do we spend money educating Morons like you, what a stupid idiot you are, You should be shipped out to France or any other Socialist Country...............You piece of shit......
---

Jennifer,Kudos to you for being brave enough to write something like this! Sometimes I fear that people act without thinking first and are so rabid about their hatred of "Bush," when it's not him personally, but other things that are going on in the world that they hate.Your column was well-balanced, very thoughtful and written like a true professional.I see a bright feature as a journalist for you.Kudos again from a fellow writer (who's been "around the block" a few too many times, ha ha),
---

Ms. McBride,
Thanks for such a well-written article. As I do not agree a lot with you politically, I can only support your candor and ability to reason. Unfortunately for both of us the folk that would toss a grenade at the elected leader of the free world typically has not a clue. Therefore any orchestrations on our behalf to enlighten such thugs would be akin to attempting to explain to a native of Atlanta c.1864 why it would be absolutely necessary for that city to be burned to the ground. Exactly. I knew you would get it, but the anarchist do not get it nor will they ever get it as they are not only intellectually challenged, but morally depraved. Your theology possibly does not align with mine, but I feel certain that we can agree that there is a sanctity to life that we did not create and should not, no make that never, destroy. I did like your words..........last nail in the liberal coffin.......it has a nice ring to it. Just for grins...........I first voted as a college junior in 1972 for George McGovern, a liberal, who more importantly to me was no Richard Nixon. I hated the war in Viet Nam and tricky Dicky. However today, I voted for GWB twice.......due to no other choice. The great thing about college juniors is..........they eventually grow up. If you democrats..........wait, I am a registered dem...........holy cow...........if you democrats want to win another national election then run a candidate without an agenda that is so far left of the mainstream of this country. Unless of course you want to stick to your principles and lose again and again........! Gee I wonder what John Dean doing? Oops! Peace.

- Wilmington, NC
---

Ms. Mcbride...
I just read your article on drudge...
while the article is well written ,,, and you are a very intelligent person,,, you need to do more..
YOU need to stop the hate for a world leader,,,,on our own college campuses,,,
Can Syrian students write such an article or even state their hatred for their leader?
please ..... though we are all Americans ,,, we need to stop the hate
and bring on ideas and not attacks;;

-Chatworth, CA
---

Ms. McBride,I just perused your list and a few omissions came to mind:

1. For one thing, Killing Mr. Bush is illegal. And then there is that pesky 6th Commandment thing. Funny how you forgot that.
2. Killing Mr. Bush would cause the Imperial Stormtroopers to kill the Jedi knights and Darth Vader to slay the younglings & embrace the Dark Side of the Force.
3. Killing Mr. Bush would embolden Republicans to drown kittens
4. Killing Mr. Bush would signal Nazi holdouts hiding in Argentina to unleash their Death Radio
5. Killing Mr. Bush would result in global thermonuclear war and incidentally bancrupt Social Security
6. Killing Mr. Bush would bring back Disco
7. Killing Mr. Bush would turn back the clock to the 1960s when gay bashing went unpunished, segregation was the law, and Democrats ran every... Oh, nevermind.
8. Killing Mr. Bush would make all the Bushitler bumper stickers obsolete
9. Killing Mr. Bush would make Texas Air National Guard forgeries worthless
10. Killing Mr. Bush would change the focus of evil in the world to George Allen 3 years ahead of schedule.

Thank you for being Mr. Bush's ideological opposition. Sardonically yours,

-Grand Rapids, MI
---

Ms. McBride,

Am having trouble figuring out what the purpose was for your May 25 article entitled "10 Reasons Not to Kill Bush." Was there one?

It was trite, unoriginal and rather boring . Read Ann Coulter and you might pick up some ideas that will help you think more clearly and write less drearily.
---

Hi Jennifer,

It's certainly understandable that you're ashamed to be a democrat. When one considers that your readers grew up under Bill Clinton's presidency, and have been bombarded by liberal claptrap from their teachers, it's not surprising their heads aren't screwed on very tightly. Fortunately, their government-subsidized student loans are still available to them.

The immaturity of your readers is underscored by the fact that in most states, they may not even buy a lottery ticket, let alone a pack of cigarettes or a beer.

They'll grow up eventually...
---

To quote from your article, " I've met people on this campus who see America as the worst human rights abuser in the world (unlike the angelic paradise of Cambodia) ". This is certainly true. The big difference is that many of these other human rights abusers such as Cambodia, Cuba, North Korea, etc,. do not go around preaching to other countries and institutions claiming to be the world's leader of freedom, justice and democracy. America should stop preaching and start practicing what it preaches and end all the double standards that it uses throughout the world. Most of the world can see through this hypocrisy. Too bad nobody on the right in America can!!
---

You may be ashamed to be a Democrat, but not ashamed to write this column with its incredibly offensive premise. Of course you are in Oregon, so that explains alot.
---

Wow, I think you are the only liberal I have ever read or heard speak that did not have unreasonable hate in them for all Republicans alive.
Most democrats I have ever listened to or read are so full of hate that they sound ridiculous.
To be honest with you, I can't complain because the more the democratic party displays their hatred, the stronger the Republican party becomes.
Good article though.
---

Jennifer,Your shame at being a Democrat these days is a righteous feeling. Thank you for voicing it so publicly. The likes of Teddy Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid are enough to evoke shame in almost anyone who thinks clearly, except for the three above-named Democrats who spew hatred and shame with almost every word. You could do something more about quashing your shame such as joinging forces with people like Zel Miller, who remain strong Democrats but righlty, publicly, and bravely criticize from within the party. You are right to question what happened to the "loyal opposition." It has become more oppositional, but has unfortunately become less loyal.I recently wrote to Harry and Teddy to remind tham that they are way out of bounds when they "take their toys and go home" as they have been doing in the Senate recently. Why is that? Because the toys don't belong to them. They belong to us and they have no right to prevent others from playing with them.
---

If i was your teacher, I'd fail you.
---

Jennifer,I assume you are a liberal who would like to see Bushie killed, but think better of it by trying to talk some sense into the activist leftwing faithful. Now there's an oxymoron for you, i.e. sense - leftwing activist.I write as a red state conservative, you know what I mean, a bigot with a gun rack in his pickup truck, dipping snuff, uttering profanities whilst merrily dragging a couple of minories behind me. Seriously though, just listen to Senators Byrd, Biden (my personal favorite), Kennedy, Boxer and Leahy and tell me in abstract terms, why I should vote for a liberal. It's more than liberalism being an idealistic, naive, college fad, it's that you libs are babes in the woods at making your case with the thinking person. As an example, tell me just what happened with the latest grand compromise as relates to the Bolton vote. Why should we ever want to make a deal with a liberal. Like a spoiled brat, if you don't get your way, you'll just burn the house (senate) down, while telling us it was not a filibuster. Do you really think we're that stupid?
---

Ms. McBride,I read your article fully expecting it to be a Bush-bashing extravaganza. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a well-thought article with a lot of insight and reasoning behind it.As a conservative American who voted for President Bush, I too am not happy with all of the policies of his administration. He is, as you so well put it, a man doing a very tough job and some of the decisions he's made certainly have had to the polarization we see in the political arena today. You've given me reason to believe that we, as folks who see things differently, can actually have pleasant discourse on subjects that he extremists on both sides of the fence take to levels that are disgusting and downright shameful.Thank you very much.
---

Your article very insightful! Your intellect and common sense obviously far above current liberal 'think!" The childish caricatures and verbal slurs thrown at President Bush are also demeaning to those of us who voted for and strongly support him. Time for the "intellectual elite" to realize they're conducting themselves like very immature, spoiled children! Once a Democrat, I have never regretted my switch to the Republican party. Perhaps you should consider doing the same?
-Orinda, Ca.
---

If we haven't already, aren't we in the process of removing our troops from Saudi Arabia?
---

disclosure: full blood died in the wool republican (a touch of conservative, but domestically libertarian) formerly worked in the Jeb Bush administration here in FL.

I enjoyed your column, you hit it right on the head. Its good to hear a member of the opposition not sound crazy. One thing I would change, however, is #10. The verbage was excellent, but I think the discussion begins there, then all the others follow.

Just wanted to commend you before you get hate mail from the crazies on my side.

[Note from Basil: Too Late :) ]
---

You have proven your ignorance Miss McBride. It shows what length a nobody will go in life, to make up for the attention her Daddy never gave her.

Get a life! You are quite pitiful.

[Note from Basil: as opposed to writing hate-emails to random college columnists?]
---

i bet we have the worst human rights record for a nation that supposedly stands for freedom and justice -
---

Ms. McBride,

Good job. Your article was as well thought out as it was thought provoking. I too am not a Bush supporter, but agree assassination is NOT the course to follow. Liberalism already has its hurtles to jump without some clown causing that type increased negative publicity. Again, good job...informative, opinionated without forcing it down the readers throat, and educated. There should be more journalists like yourself.
---

I think it’s funny that you chose to plea for a calmer, more civic national dialogue through such an explosive title. I can only imagine how many people actually wrote you not having read your conclusion. I’m a Republican who agrees with your remarks. Thank you.
---

Jennifer, I must tell you that when I first saw the title "Ten Reasons Not to..." I thought to myself that here is another educated idiot with some attempt at sick humor. But, you are right on the money, as history proves your case. I was a Democrat for around 25 years before I became ashamed enough of being ashamed to tell people I was a Democrat. You don't have to be one. It is a choice. Meanwhile, don't lose your common sense strategy.
---

With a little more effort you could become a Republican! Keep it up-good luck. We truly love reformed Democrats.
---

I'm sure you are getting a ton of e-mails because of the Drudge link, and I'm sure many will criticize you for the title, but the ones who do likely haven't read on.

As a conservative, I think your line of reasoning is flawless. As an American, I find it somewhat alarming that you have had enough discussions with people who have rationalized assasinating the President that you felt the need to write the article! I fear for my country if that is the case.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that as a GENERAL supported of President Bush I understand where you are coming from and I though your editorial was well written and well reasoned.
-Madison, WI
---

Good article, I am not a totally bush supporter but lets look at some facts:

We have not been attacked in this country in almost 4 years

We are taking home more money in our paychecks from tax cuts ( almost every american recieved a $600 tax check)

Afgahn women are no longer being beheaded in stadiums

Libya turned over thier nuclear program

We have a president with srong moral values

This only some of Bush's accomplishments, is he perfect . No. But I feel he really is trying to do the honest thing in very troubled times.
---

Hi Jennifer,

The biggest problem that faces our nation is the borrowing of fake money from foreign banks and taxing the backs of american people via the Federal Reserve. When I say fake, I mean this foreign money is not backed up by anything real. The Feds create it out of thin air. The taxes on the interest though is very real. Congress borrows from the Federal Reserve using the promise that they can tax americans to pay at least the interest of the loan back to the Federal Reserve. This has been happening since 1913 when the Federal Reserve Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
---

SUBJECT: Who told you...

That you could write?
You think because you are a liberal and hate Bush that people will listen?
Please!
You are wasting everyones time.
---

Having just read your “10 reasons not to kill Bush” I would suggest you put you article in a time capsule. Look it up in 10-15 years and let me know what you think.
---

My dear Jennifer,
You are much to intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate to be a Democrat. Please rethink your standing...
Thoroughly enjoyed your article.
-Charlotte, NC
---

Jennifer, Read your article on "10 Reasons Not To Kill George Bush". Yourright about it causing more problems. I am just the opposite of you. I am a staunch Republican and 61 years old. I can't understand whythe Dems think the Republicans are wrong in everything they do and theRepublicans think the Dems are wrong in everything they do. Obviouslyit is just a power struggle for the other side to have their own way. Why not think about the majority of the people all the time instead oftheir own selfish adgenda's. After all, it's supposed to be agovernment for the people not people for the government. I guess youknow I favor less government control. Their money doesn't solveproblems, it just creates more. God bless.
---

If you’re ashamed to be a democrat you’re headed in the right direction. Study the history of this country then study the results of socialism and you’ll register Republican tomorrow…………….if you’re honest.
---

Dear Jennifer McBride,

I happened upon your article via www.drudgereport.com and was expecting to find another bush bashing, hate filled student commentary. Being a conservative (libertarian) myself, even I had to laugh at many of your reasons for "not wanting to kill bush." My personal favorite is #4.

What I wanted to say is how impressed I was with the closing of your commentary. "I don't hate the president...I think he's a good man doing a difficult job...I've met people on campus who think America is the worst human rights abuser in the world...liberalism has to be more than a college fad or a collection of loudmouths whose idiotic comments stir headlines." All I have to say is wow. Being in college myself, I have often thought the exact same thing about liberalism: it's a college fad and a bunch of stupid loudmouths. It was very satisfying to read something from an intelligent liberal like yourself; especially one that had the guts to criticize the worst aspects of her own party. My hat is off to you. There need to be more intelligent student liberals (and conservatives) like yourself. I know my school has none (I've looked!).

Thanks for the brain food,
---

Dear Ms. McBride,

I read your article concerning 10 reasons not to kill President Bush with great interest. I really enjoyed reading it, however, when you said that some liberals make you ashamed to be a Democrat, I had to take issue.

I'm not a liberal. I'm a moderate ex-Republican. I voted for Kerry and Gore in 2004 and 2000, but I won't ever be ashamed to be a Democrat, because Democrats, unlike Republicans, are right most of the time. I won't ever be ashamed for being right.

I'm sure you would agree with me that President Clinton was a better president than Bush is. I understand it's a difficult job to do, however when Clinton raises the average household income, and Bush lowers it, I think the evidence speaks for itself.

I'm glad you're a fellow Democrat, but please don't ever feel ashamed because of liberal loud-mouths who hurt our cause. God bless.
---

What a disaster!~ Youth is wasted on the very young.

Take a towel and dry behind your little pinky ears.
---

As a republican I appreciate your article. More democrates should make their voices heard about the liberal left that has become as big an enemy to American survival as Islamic Extremism.
---

He's a piece of shit who will go down in history as one of the most catastrophic presidents ever and one who caved into, i.e. kissed the asses of, right wing religious bigots and their fascist fellow travelers.
---

Jennifer,

I am a Republican and a supporter of President Bush in the past. I'm not always happy about some of the things he does either though, like border patrolling. I wanted to say though that your article was very good and I agreed with a lot of the points you bring up. I think you did a very objective report and I thought I'd try to send you a reply. My daughter goes to College at a Pennsylvania school named Indiana Univ. of PA. I think there's more Republicans on campus there than what you're giving credit to on campus. Maybe Oregon is different, but by no means can it be greatly outnumbered by Democrat students...could it?

Anyway, good article. I found it via the Drudge Report.
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Ms. McBride,

Your piece was articulate and provoking; reflecting hours of genuine contemplation about the politics of hate that unfortunately permeate our public discourse. Since you are obviously a critical thinker possessing compassion, I encourage you to research with vigor the pillars of conservatism. They are principles that have not changed materially in 200 years, and you may be surprised by what you find. Sadly, I believe moderates like yourself (for as much as I can tell from your writing and for lack of a better descriptor) will be alienated by the “hateful” far left, as they are by far the most vocal segment and are encouraged by the party chair. Don’t be ashamed to be a Democrat, but find a way to inject reason into the debate. You have a forum to do so, and I, for one, appreciate responsible your responsible approach to journalism.

-Orlando, FL
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SUBJECT: you have a lot more to be ashamed of than just being a democrat

Dear Ms. McBride, your article was so ridiculous and illogical, I simply do not know where to begin. Could you please just try to act patriotic, just for this Memorial day weekend? Is it too much to ask of the democrats? You constantly reinforce the position the democrats are the enemy within. You have to discuss amongst yourselves why you shouldn't wish the President were dead? Then, you need a ten point reason list? How about we don't want him dead simply because he is the President? I don't want to hear how you are patriotic, because of the many Presidents whose policies I disliked, I never had to come up with a list of why I wanted them dead. I would take a bullet for Bill OR Hilliary CLinton just because they are our leaders! It must hurt to be so far out of the mainstream, so I will assume you were angry when you wrote such a poor piece.

[Note: Was not written for Memorial Day Weekend. Let us all take a moment of silence for the brave men and women who have died for this country. The death of good people is not a laughing matter.]
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More BasilMay Saturday, May 28th, 2005

2005-05-28T23:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Ms. McBride:

I had the (not) pleasure of reading your column in the Oregon Daily Emerald. The Internet is a wonderful thing. As a mother of four children (college graduates all) over thirty years old and seven grandchildren aged twelve to eight months, your naiveté in the opinions expressed in your column leaves me feeling very weak in the knees.

I wish, for your sake, and the sake of our nation, that you had been given the opportunity to mature in an atmosphere where common sense, clear thinking, and unbiased dialogue could have been part of your growing experience, as benefited my children.

I question your editorial opinions regarding your list of ten reasons not to kill Bush. What a disgusting topic for an editorial. I noticed particularly that you mention item number ten last, "Slaying President Bush is simply immoral". You must have very little in the way of human decency to not put that reason at the top of the list. I am old enough to distinctly remember the last time a President of the United States was assassinated; that was JFK. I did not agree then, nor do I agree today with all of JFK’s policies or human failures. However, he was our President, and I still would only say that his murder was a personal blow to all Americans. And then Bobby was killed. You could not be old enough to have lived through all that, so I will excuse you for your ignorance and focus on the other nine items you feel so inspired to discuss.

You say "Bush’s martyrdom would put the last nail in the coffin of the liberal agenda". As we would say in New Jersey, where I grew up, "That’s a bad thing?". If I read you correctly, it would be okay to do Bush in, if only it wouldn’t make a martyr out of him and destroy your "liberal" agenda. Great reasoning on your part. Where are your values?

You say that if the President were to be killed, his judicial nominees would make it through the Senate because of sympathy for his cause. Don’t they teach you anything in your University? Washington politics have, and always will be, about deal making, compromise, and back-room bawdiness. That doesn’t make it right; it is just the way it is. Regardless of the leaning, it is all politics and power.

You mention capturing Osama bin Laden. Don’t you realize that bin Laden is yesterday’s news. He’s already been neutralized and most clear-thinking Americans realize that? If bin Laden is killed (hopefully not captured) the stock markets will rise, and that’s a good thing. You may want to consider that the economics just may benefit you, too.

In item number four, you mention "patriotism". Your reason for not killing a President rests on your opinion that those who would support such a deed would be labeled unpatriotic. You don’t even know what patriotic means. My late husband was probably your age when he was drafted and served five years in the military during W.W.II for the duration of the hostilities. In his case, that was 20% of your life span so far. He saw first-hand what an enemy would do to this nation. He was a liberal, was committed to the Reserves until 1953, couldn’t stand President Nixon, but would never, never, use his dislike of an administration to justify killing or not killing a President because of his personal opinions. In my estimation, you, my dear, are quite lacking seriously in patriotism and need some de-programming.

In item number five, you mention UN approval. You seriously need to enlighten yourself about the UN. The UN is an organization made up mostly of tin-pot dictatorships, where everything happens and nothing gets done. If you are attending a University, you should have been educated in the politics of the UN. Maybe you’re not getting your money’s worth out of the cost of attending this school. I hope you don’t have any serious college loans, because your money has been spent unwisely for the product you receive.

Item number six: if you really think the news media is so pure that they can be counted upon to reliably examine any news issues objectively, than you must be living in La-La Land. If the focus of the MSM on a presidential assassination meant that Michael Jackson or a "LaciPetersonandherunbornchild" or Terri Schiavo or any of the other issues you find so important wouldn’t make the headlines for a while; it would not stop the world from spinning. Get real.

Your item number seven is just not worth the ink it would take to comment upon, except to say that the electorate is already polarized, and your side is losing. Possibly because you’re a loser?Item number eight on your list smacks of ignorance. The Supreme Court is already filled with "near-zombies". To wit, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor (of racist Affirmative Action fame) both who would cite International Law, rather than our own Constitution, for deciding cases. Talk about legislation from the bench.

Your item number nine speaks to policies that stupid people disagree with. You don’t even know what this new war is all about. Iraq is just a necessary theatre; again, it is old news. The rest is yet to come. I disagree with our current administration in that they haven’t yet named the enemy. You think it is about Iraq, or Pakistan or Saudi Arabia? How naïve. If I hear one more liberal rehash the lack of finding WMD’s in Iraq, I’ll puke. We already found them; they were Uday and Qusay and they’re dead. Iraq will be okay, much to the consternation of our American liberals and false allies, but it won’t happen tomorrow. I would sincerely hope that the policies we have in place today don’t die, even if there were those that would kill our leader. The policies need some fine-tuning, but unlike your professors, I in my sixty-some-odd-years old, lived through the hippie generation and have moved beyond what they haven’t and what they teach you. You really need to construct your own thoughts, with current facts, instead of repeating the tripe that is more than forty years old. I thought I was old. You’re older than I am in your thinking.

In parting, liberalism IS a college fad. I’m very fortunate that I was able to provide a college education for my four children and also live long enough to hear them all say that most of it was bull. They all got their degrees, which in their collective opinion was only a ticket to their own success, and NOTHING more. University education today is little more than a game, like all other games, to be won in order to get "your ticket to ride". When are you going to realize that?You seem like a sincere, although misguided, young woman. I hope that you will be able to think yourself out of the mindset that the leftist propaganda seems to have inflicted upon you. If not, you will be left in the stink of perpetual victim reasoning and the world is leaving you behind. What a waste of your intelligence. Broaden your horizons, and know that the boat left port and you may not be on it.

Respectfully,

-Rock Hill, SC

[Note from Basil: Again, I apologize, the fact that morality was reason number #10 did not mean it was least important, the selection of numbering was fairly arbitrary and I realized after publication that I probably should have done a reverse-countdown.]

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An interesting column. You have a good head on your shoulders and obviouslyprefer to use logic rather than emotion for your thinking. You also must betougher than I am - the Democrats drove me out of the party some time ago!

-Rike Road, AL

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jennifer, your article was posted on lucianne.com and i admit that the headline made me mad. but i read the article down to the last paragraph and i have to say "good for you". i am sure that your fairness is not always appreciated amoungst college-age folk but it will serve you well now and in the future. good luck.
-a reader in wisconsin

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I wanted to take the time to thank you for your ability to see that Democrats nowadays (mainly liberal ones) are acting with much hatred in their comments and actions towards anyone or anything disagreeing with them. Mostly I lean Republican but that doesn't mean that I can not evalute them critically. Like saying I think Bush is an idiot on the policies based on the environment, but in knowing that I take steps to combat against it, like buying organic, changing light bulbs, and buying a more fuel efficient car. I agree with Bush on the Iraq war thought on very personal reasons, but truly understand why people are upset. I now live in Olympia up from Las Vegas and the liberals here are some of the meanest, hypocritical, sense-of-entitlement people I have ever met. You can't even discuss a different idea with them. These are the people who preached diversity and understanding. For my opinions I had my military sticker scraped off my car. My final and most in important point is that whether you are liberal, democrat, republican, or a right-winger if we can't discuss ideas and see the other persons side we will never get anywhere.
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Thanks for a well thought out and reasonable column. I'm dismayed by the vitriolic hatred of him expressed by some - hopefully your column will make these same folks think twice.
-Webster, FL
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Jennifer,

It was great to read a column from a college campus that contained thoughtand analysis. I'd about given up.

The usual level of discourse is, " __________ sucks!" (fill in the name of apolitical figure). One can only assume that demonization has replaced debateand insults have replaced ideas on most college campuses. At least, that isthe impression given by reporters covering campus events.Please keep presenting your ideas as you did in "10 reasons not to killBush". Perhaps reasoned analysis will catch on.

-Rural Retreat, VA
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They'll be ok when (if?) they grow up and realize that they have been brainwashed with bullshit. Leftistidiot professors and hangerson haven't had a reality based life experience, nor have students. Their life experience does not relate to the real world. Good intentions are ok, real life is another.

- Auburn, CA
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Hello Jennifer,

Thanks for your screed on President Bush.

God has given you a gift with words and ideas. Keep at it!

Kind regards,
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More Basil Mail recieved Sat, May 28, 2005.

2005-05-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Great article! You are one clear thinking young lady.
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Ms McBride,

You are a breath of young, fresh air in the midst of a "follow the trend" culture.

-Los Angelos
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Jennifer,

Thank you for your thoughts and for the way you expressed them. I am a 77 year old grandmother and I have wondered for a long time whether young people would ever see the light. (I gave up hope on the middle generation [my children/your parents) a long time ago.

It is clear headed people like you who give me hope for this country.

Again, thank you for your thoughts so well expressed.

-University Heights, Ohio
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Good column.

-Rochester Hills, Michigan
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Jennifer, I recommend reading the book Radical Son by David Horowitz. That ought to bring you all the way over to the conservative side. You're almost there; I can tell.
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A long time ago I looked around at the others in the liberal camp. When I drank in what they thought, I left that camp. And I have never regretted it.

-NH
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What kind of article is this..you can deny your intension but your words speak volumes..go see your shrink! You need an attitude adjustment!.
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Dear Jennifer, Perhaps when you submit an article that isn't written in crayon, someone will take your liberal rantings seriously. Until then, drink a glass of milk before bedtime and don't forget to snuggle-wuggle with your teddy bear.
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Miss McBride:

Your rant is beneath contempt. I had hopes that the new generation of Democrats would be smarter than the current crop however, your hate piece proves that this acorn (you) didn't fall from the tree (your parents).

And while you are at it, I would like to hear more about your second point:
2) A dead President Bush leaves a live Dick Cheney in charge. Need I say more?

Yes, you need to say more. You need to explain just what your point is. What do you find wrong if Dick Cheney were to assume the presidency.....besides the tripe you have heard your buddies and elders spouting? It is obvious that you don't know anything about Mr. Cheney.

If this childish rant is what passes for education these days, then I hope you (or your parents) didn't pay much for your degree. because if you did, you were robbed. Is this what passes for enlightenment at the University of Oregon? Here's hoping you did not major in journalism. The field is already overloaded with people who exhibit no more sense than you have shown.

The one sentence in your entire article that makes any sense is: "Liberalism has to be more than a college fad or a collection of loudmouths whose idiotic comments stir headlines." And you wrote an entire article proving that you are indeed a loudmouth who makes idiotic comments! Shame on you!

I wonder if you have ever met Mr. Bush or Mr. Cheney? And I wonder how long will it be before your rabid dislike for a man you've never even met will make you ashamed.......to have written such a piece of garbage.

Michael Savage is right.....Liberalism IS a mental disorder........GET SOME HELP!

[Note from Jenny: My parents are not Democrats.]
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Ten Reasons Not to Kill Bush

2005-05-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

BasilMail recieved May 28th, 2005.
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Dear Jennifer, Your "10 Reasons Not to Kill Bush" is a terrific essay, clever, compassionate and original. It reminds me of a school paper essay I wrote back in 1970 for my high school paper lamenting the violence of leftist groups like the Weathermen and the SDS, even though, at the time, I was much opposed to the Vietnam War. Your essay was much cleverer than mine though :). I remained a liberal Democrat until 9/11, when I started reading, by way of the Web, some very thoughtful conservative writers. You might want to subscribe to the Wall St. Journal's "OpinionJournal: Best of the Web Today" by James Taranto. http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/get_email_page.html I live, as you do, in a very liberal town, where the violence of their opinions is clearly evident. I know how difficult it can be to express a dissenting opinion (I usually don't!), so I salute you for having the courage to express your original thinking.

-Iowa City, IA
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Obviously a dumb cunt you are.

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Kennedy would never have been remembered as a "great" President. Had he lived, he probably would have been remembered as a very ordinary one.

He accomplished very little during his short term and made several serious blunders. The Bay of Pigs and our entry into Vietnam are two that stand out.

Bush, if he remains alive thru his second term, will probably go down as history as a "GREAT" President, because of his leadership, vision and honesty. He does not, like Kennedy, need an assasin's bullet to make him "GREAT".

-Dallas, TX
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I am 70 years old and have been a registered democrat all my voting life and I, like you, am ashamed when people like swimmer Kennedy, sheets Byrd, and leaky Leahy seem to be the leaders of this once great party.
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jennifer, your article about why you don't want our dead president is positively nauseating. With so much hatred and vitriol in the politics of the nation today, you come along and rub extra salt in the wounds. After you give your reasons for not wanting him dead (because things could be even worse for the far-left liberals), you come with rationalizations about how you don't really hate your President. You can't have it both ways. If you hate him, then say so. Don't pretend you have a heart.
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Grow up!

Your writing is not only pathetic but leads one to think that the writer is herself a supporter of violence. Why was there never a diatribe written about reasons not to kill Clinton? Why? Because most Americans who respect their country and what it has brought to the world would never even think of such things.

Obviously you don't love your country and seem to side with the fascists and thugs who want to bring it down.

I only hope that you and your ilk grow up and learn some common sense!

-Marina del Rey, CA
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I WASN'T SURE WHERE YOU WERE GOING WITH YOUR ARTICLE ON PRESIDENT BUSH. BUT I READ IT CAREFULLY...AND PASS ALONG MY PERSONAL THANKS FOR AN HONEST CLOSE AND FAIR REPRESENTATION OF HOW YOU SEE THINGS. THERE DOES COME A TIME WHEN ENOUGH IS REALLY ENOUGH.L.AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOO MANY HAVE CROSSED THE LINE. NOT SO, FOR YOU.
WE ARE GRATEFUL.
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Now all we need is one good reason not to kill you.
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Excellent.
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Jennifer,

I used to live in Oregon, I'm a strict constitutionalist. I consider Bush to be another LBJ, you know big government, micro-managed military.

So I'm no big fan of Bush, but obviously I'm not a Democrat, although my three living politicians I most liked in the last 20 years included one democrat, John Silber from Mass., who was a conservative Democrat who lost by 2 points against a liberal Republican because too many of his own party switched their votes.

Anyway, I was very impressed by your column. Democrats like you demand respect.

-now stuck in Edina, MN
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Mail Recieved Weds, May 25 to Friday May 27th, 2005

2005-05-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Living in Seattle, I see the "end results" of liberalism. Tried and failed social experiments. A city that now has more dogs than kids. Skyrocketing everything. And on and on. An ex-Mayor said " he didn't want Seatttle to be like SanFrancisco". This, 20 years ago. Well, we have become just that. I was born here in 58. It WAS Hooterville then. It once was even Hooterville with skyscrapers!! Now it's an urban wasteland, where the trend sucking diletantes guiltily vote "others" sin taxes, endless car taxes on monorails. The same monorails these yuppies will NEVER use. Hey, "they got theirs". Another liberal thingee, for lack of a better term. They got their BMW's. They got their SUV's. And on and on. I have to believe you see where I'm going? Right? Most cities with a large college campus are liberal. So? Is this a good thing? We can now witness where this begins. Another thing I heard the other day, was that Seattle has a very high rate of "college educated people" living here. Business wants to come here. Does not this also explain things? The same college educated yuppies are "the monster" and every time they point fingers, there are 3 pointing right back at 'em!! And to think, they hated Reagan, they hate Bush. Get in the Subaru kids, we're going out to dinner!! 20 years ago, these same goons were the ones with the "die yuppy scum" stickers on their VW vans etc. Now, they "are it". Isn't that special??? Thanks for reading this. Hope you have time to respond. By the way, I'm 47, and run my own small painting co. Evil capitalist?

-Ballard (Seattle) , WA
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You do list some good reasons not to assassinate Bush. Unlike Stalin or Hitler, he could be easily replaced by another, probably more sinister and diabolical figure such as Dick Cheney. However, I think your statement that Bush is a "good man doing a difficult job" is outrageous. How can a corporate criminal and a war criminal be a "good man"? How many crimes against humanity would it take for you to consider Bush a "bad man"? Your article implies that people who hate Bush are just so mean-spirited and irrational. But contrary to the privileged liberal pacifist bullshit promoted in your article, hate is a legitimate feeling and I for won have no problem saying that I hate the tyrants that are destroying the natural world, conducting unnecessary wars and forcing the majority of the world's people to live in poverty.
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Thank you for your article. If only every liberal/Bush-hater could read it, I believe we would be a much more united country again. This is imperitive, especially in these times. This is tough love, and EXACTLY what the democrats need. You take hatred for someone having Christian morals and values (Darwin noted that the "idea of God is at odds with sexual motive"), and hysterical propaganda against Christians, and God, and you have your typical Bush-hater. The hysterical in your party are fooling nobody but themselves and the people with the same motives; and/or America's enemies who feed on these destructive lies. You obviously have a consciense. You should leave the Democrat party at once.
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Hi Jennifer,Thank you for your article and your interview today with Michael. One point you made that I particularly appreciated was the fact there are extremists on both sides. Many times, I have told my parents that the only place in the world where I sound like a Clinton supporter is in their home.Meanwhile, my brother, who lives down in Portland, has joined the extremists on the left. On Mother's Day, when we were talking about our native ancestry (we're members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe), my brother mentioned a coworker who's Tlingit. "You know who else is Tlingit?" I asked rhetorically. "Dino Rossi." It's true. By blood quantum, he's 1/4.But then Mom grumbled about Chris Gregoire, who's a decent, admirable person, and my brother exploded. "You voted for a thief!" he snapped, referring to Bush. Publishing occasional rants on my little website, working my day job, serving on tribal council and various committees, and running a tribal news list, I don't have any time to read even one of the stack of "why Bush is evil" books he rattled off (in my spare time, right now, I'm studying the epidemics that wiped out 94% of our people).But I'm just grateful Mom didn't fly off on a rant about the Clintons! :)

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Jennifer; Hope you see my comment I just posted – if not: Jennifer; This was a well-written column. Very well done - and made Orbusmax.com. Enjoy your bouquets and bows. Good work. Blowing roses; Josef - who voted K-E You did a wonderful job articulating the centrist, reasonable POV that used to be what my fellow Democrats stood for more often than not. I, like you, voted Kerry-Edwards. I felt G.W. Bush made many mistakes in Iraq, didn’t mobilize the national economy for the war, and wasn’t going to swing as hard at the terrorist scumbags who attached us. Not to mention his childish crush on deficits, of cutting programs he shouldn’t, radical judges, and oh BTW a desire to cut in the wrong places. I could go on. Finally, the vitriol that passes for public debate on Bush & the gubernatorial election challenge in my state disturbs me as well. We need to stay focused on the issues and not the person.

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Well, Jennifer, if indeed you are ashamed of being a Democrat, why not switch. Not all of us Republicans are Baptist extremists...

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Besides being a crime, and the Secret Service will be all over this, you have in one column, defined the Socialist Left Democrats for everyone to remember!!!!! They hate!!!!!!!! and be honest, you do too!!!!!! Thank you.

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Re: 10 reasons not to kill Bush "8) Jeb Bush's popularity would skyrocket. He would undoubtedly win the Republican nomination and then the election in 2008. With the Supreme Court full of near-zombies, I would prefer a different man to pick the people who are going to strangle us with laws." May I point out (and I hope I am not the first nor the last to do so) that imposing laws is NOT the job of the supreme court! Strangling us with laws is a more likely scenario with justices of your political persuasion, who believe they are inspired to "interpret" the constitution to justify whatever political whimsy they may indulge in. The purpose of the Supremes is to look at a LEGAL cases and determine if they lie within the purview of LAW - that is, the Constitution. I would prefer nominees of this stripe -- which is the type the Bushes' are more likely to pick.

-San Diego
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Hi Jennifer, Don't hate me because I'm a Republican, hate me because I'm a Beaver. :) I very much enjoyed your interview with Michael Medved today. You're articulate and smart about how this game of politics works. Your article is very interesting coming from a left-of-center perspective and thanks for writing it. I'm a political operative for the GOP in Washington State and very much like the clear and direct policies of President Bush and was actively involved in Republican politics when President Clinton was in office. One thing that I think is a basic difference between extreme right-wingers and left-wingers (liberal Democrats, socialists, communists or anarchists) is that left-wingers that hate President Bush are absolutely open, honest and willing to say that they wish he would die while all of my Republican friends might think such thoughts about President Clinton, but would not even utter the words in our own circles let alone publish them on a website. There were certainly many that thought President Clinton deserved to be convicted in the Impeachment proceedings for lying under oath (there were those that cared about the extramarital sex, but I expect that it was more the outrage of sullying the Office of the President by having sex in the Oval Office that angered most Republicans), but I never had one person wished to see him laid out on a slab. Anyway, thanks again for your article and interview!

-Redmond, WA
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Jennifer, I want to tell you how bravely honest your article is. I don't see the fromthe same perspective, but I appreciate the maturity that you show. That isthe maturity that, as you note, is lacking in so much of the Democraticparty, especially the younger members. As a teacher, I see so many youngpeople espousing political beliefs of all kinds not because they learn andchoose, but because they're told to by their parents, friends, media or eventeachers. I have no problem with liberals, they're also Americans that lovetheir country. But true liberals think about their positions and articulatethem with intelligence, they don't advocate assassination. Thanks forspeaking up for the millions of good people in your party that don't oftenspeak loud enough.

-Cave Junction, OR

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SUBJECT: you are a sick cookie

and they pay you to write articles?

Dal Ponte Nonsense

2005-05-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Response to Counter-op ed. http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/05/24/4292e114336a2

Jennifer McBride,

I want to tell you how disgusted I was reading Mandy Del Ponte's absurd attack on you today.

First, because she seems to be an off-campus person rather than a student. Frankly, as a UO prof, I could probably write a letter to the ODE every couple of days critiquing something in the Emerald; however, I understand that this is a STUDENT paper, and it is up to you students to work things out. You hear enough from us "adults" without us dominating your paper as well. Thus, I was astonished the ODE would take up its valuable space with a piece of nonsense from a person who is not even a member of our community. It reminded me of a similar piece of hot air in the ODE a while back written by George Beres, also not of our campus, who, among other things, attacked me with a totally false opinion piece. I didn't answer him in the ODE because I don't like to get in public fights, especially in a student newspaper; I did contact him privately, however, and told him how wrong he was, and he did apologize, (privately). With our Mandy Dal Ponte, I would like to have given her a call to have a "heart to heart, adult to adult" discussion of the errors in her article, but naturally, befitting one who loves to lob bombs at others from her hiding place (IEDs, anyone?) , she has no listed phone number. Are you sure she even exists? (I might add that the point of Beres' article was in reference to the fact that I, personally, was attacked by a right-wing extremist "journalist", Daniel Pipes, who based his entire brutal attack on me on a single unsubstantiated source, and I had to go to the trouble of suing him. I wonder how Dal Ponte would feel about that example of journalistic inaccuracy?)As far as errors, her column was almost as bad as that disgusting Furtwangler "cartoon" ( so who is laughing?) showing Muslim's supposed long list of "excuses" to riot, with the Newsweek article crossed off. His cartoons amaze me-- a whole year of continuously biased, anti-Arab anti-Islamic "cartoons", with not a laugh or a reasonable point among them. And the same issue of the ODE actually had an article about the "racial climate" on our campus not being as welcoming as it should be!!!!

Both Furtwangler and Dal Ponte missed a lot of points-- that Newsweek did NOT say their story was wrong in that there was no abuse of the Quran by the US, but only in the clalim that the PROOF of this desecration had been reported in a US government document; that turned out to be unsubstantiated. However, it also turns out that many other sources, including the International Red Cross, had reported similar instances of abuse of the Islamic religion by our military-- and that is the reason so many Muslims could take it seriously and be furious and riot. Additionally, Newsweek reported that it had run the story by the Pentagon first, and they had no problem with it. Incredibly, neither Newsweek nor the Pentagon had any idea this story would cause such an outrage!! I wonder how Dal Ponte would react if Muslims were to desecrate her bible?

And yes, the Bush administration does need a scapegoat-- their misbehavior has infuriated the whole Islamic world for several years, and it would be so nice to blame it all on the media, as Dal Ponte would like to do! While it is sadly true that currently there is so much anger in the Muslim world, that excesses of violent behavior do occur, I think we should be trying to minimize, rather than increasing, this anger, don't you?

The Furtwanglers and Dal Pontes of America are simply pouring gasoline on the fire, when many of us would like to put the fire out before we ALL get burned. (I do give Laura Bush credit for a nice effort this week!)

And finally, as an American Army Vet, I plead for all you journalists to continue uncovering the abuses carried out in our name by our military-- if not for you journalists, those sadists would still be abusing those prisoners at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere, causing endless more hatred of our beloved America. As a patriot, I love and respect all those who have helped uncover those unAmerican abuses of helpless prisoners, in total violation of our American values.

I think Ms Dal Ponte would have been a wonderful German in 1933- on. "My country right or wrong" is a powerful belief system for those who want to keep their head in the sand, and not wonder why we aren't winning in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East.Anyway, Jennifer, keep up the good work, and don't let the "Know Nothing" adults squelch you in your thirst for decency!

(PS-- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD THIS ON TO MS DAL PONTE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. SHE COULD USE A BIT OF LIGHT IN HER CLOSED OFF MIND.)