General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy father has received two letters at home in the last several days due to his anti-Trump LTTE
My dad is in his eighties and has been writing to the papers for years. His most recent letter was brief, basically just asking if Trump supporters are willing to start issuing mea culpas and admitting Donald is incompetent and possibly even a traitor.
Occasionally my parents received negative letters or hang up phone calls in the days following one of his letters, but it's rare.
Now two in three days.
The first letter he received was grade school insults from someone who appears to have trouble writing in general.
The second was a three page typed letter with a bunch of boring RW bullet points about Obama bad, Trump good, Russia number one, ending with something about shoving this or that up your liberal ass (Righties love going to the ass right away....)
They are angry, folks. And scared. Very scared.
Dad must be doing something right.
Bigredhunk
(1,346 posts)This used to happen when my dad wrote into the Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald too. The guy addressed the envelope with a fake return name/address. I think they may've caught him when he harassed someone and crossed a line.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Trump is the first person in a position of power that reminds these people of their own manners and positions. He has elevated their idiocy for the first time. Taking away something that feels good is harder to bear than never having had it.
It's a classic case of rising expectations. We should expect riots, but this demographic is not as networked as one might fear. Remember, they're idiots.
NOTE TO DEMOCRATS: When the grownups get back in power, include basic manners in the education of our young. At every grade level. Teaching, for example, the smart kids to treat the struggling kids with consideration (like raising taxes on the wealthy!) might go a long way towards raising up the junior Trumpians among us. And they need repeated lessons too. Think Sidney Poitier in "To Sir with Love."
robbob
(3,514 posts)Imagining an idealistic society where every child in the school system is recognized for their talents, strengths, and weaknesses in order to help mould them to their greatest potential.
The neglect and/or deliberate destruction of the educational system in the USA will probably be recognized by some future historian as a key cause in the downfall of an empire.
47of74
(18,470 posts)The guy was a retired cop who spends his retirement sending out written diarrhea to everyone who he disagrees with. Especially people who write in to the Teabag Herald.
I used to just send them to the ol circular file without even reading them, but I started turning them in to the fuzz when I learned how many people were getting these and how weird and creepy he was being - especially towards younger women. For years the TH insisted on publishing the full street address of people who sent letters in, making it easy for this guy and his buddies to target people. They finally agreed to stop doing that. I'm guessing it was because the paper's lawyers had a come to Jesus moment with the editor who loves to kiss orange behind and call it ice cream.
Anyways a couple years ago he was arrested for mailing threats to a local business and the town paper.
But police say it was three letters written over the summer that crossed the line, and warranted charges.
The first, according to court documents, was a letter written in June that suggested three of the Telegraph Herald's editors "take a drunken high speed car ride through a sharp curve into an abutment."
Then in July, court documents show, Sjobakken wrote that it was sad that Micah Johnson, the man who shot and killed several police in Dallas, didn't visit the newspaper and "wipe out the entire editorial board in short order before wearing out the Dallas PD."
He eventually pleaded guilty and served probation. Talk about a fornicating joke. He should have gotten a lot more than a slap on the wrist but I suppose it's good he even got that much.
3Hotdogs
(12,210 posts)Regarding the letters, I believe a conviction was wrong in that there is no direct threat.
How many times have there been posts on D.U. that wished ill will and ill health to Republican office holders?
Raster
(20,996 posts)2. Angry old ex-cop Rethuglican was mailing threatening letters to people's businesses.
There is no comparison.
3Hotdogs
(12,210 posts)How many times have we said someone should take a long walk off a short pier?
The guy is an asshole and letters take it up a notch from a post on a board. Still, I believe an appeal would have reversed his conviction.
7962
(11,841 posts)But they sure give ammo to the RWers wh say the left is so full of hate.
Hekate
(90,202 posts)In general, we live in a gun culture, where angry ex-boyfriends can just show up and kill their ex plus all her co-workers. In particular, unhinged men who know where women live are often extremely explicit about what they would like to do to these women in their homes. Those are direct threats.
Newspapers should not publish people's exact home addresses. Angry people responding to letters to the editor should respond via the newspaper.
If you think there is any comparison between what occasionally gets said at this discussion board and threatening mail sent to someone's home, please let me introduce you to the Alert Abuse button. Some things are not permitted here. Same thing if someone sends you an excessive PM here -- DU has occasionally had to revoke posting privileges for out of bounds PMs, not just public posts.
Thanks for all of that info! I'd remembered reading about it a while back, but it's nice to see it again. He would use the fake name Charles Daubacher with a fake address. I remember one of the letters reading only something like, "I read your recent article supporting Planned Parenthood. No matter how hard I try, I don't know how you get your head that far up your ass."
TH Editor Brian Cooper has always been a rightie who wrongs us. My sister had multiple letters rejected by him.
1) She'd written in response to people ripping teachers. She was coming back with the pro-teacher facts. She lives in a different part of the state, so Cooper rejects it based on the fact that she doesn't live in the area. Very shortly later, they take a letter to the editor from a gal in New York. 2) She'd written ripping Wal-Mart for their low pay, crap treatment of workers, funneling workers onto government aid. They said she plagiarized her article. Sis is a GREAT teacher who works her ass off. She's meticulous and honest. She would NEVER plagiarize. 3) She'd written in response to the littany of anti-Planned Parenthood letters. Cooper rejected her letter and said it was because they only take so many letters on each subject. Funny, they take anti-choice letters from the Jesus freaks almost EVERY DAY.
47of74
(18,470 posts)A quick search of the TH showed this letter from 2009 where an LTTE author called "Charles Daumbacher" out for sending him obscene letters. It wouldn't surprise me if the old man mail harasser and Chuckie Daumbacher were one and the same.
The city did a story on the letters earlier in 2016. As part of the story they included 171 pages of goodies they had received over the years from this guy. That's just the stuff the city got over the years. Imagine how many thousands of pages and how much money he spent on postage sending out all that stuff.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)For second, I thought he was sending packages of ... well you know.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Squinch
(50,774 posts)ad had them sent to my house after a ltte. Impotent little dickwads.
WinstonSmith4740
(3,048 posts)They will actually spend their own money on stupid stuff, thinking somehow it punishes you. When Keurig pulled their ads from Hannity after he supported Roy Moore, those cretins destroyed their coffee machines. And if they didn't already own one, THEY BOUGHT ONE, and then destroyed it. Keurig basically said, "You paid for it, right? Thanks!"
Hope you're using the rags for kindling or something. If you cancel, he'll probably get his money back.
sarah FAILIN
(2,857 posts)They send the bill to you too.
WinstonSmith4740
(3,048 posts)Should have figured it, though. These are Trumpists you're dealing with.
7962
(11,841 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)just to say "We know where to find you." Barely legible, lots of poor spelling and, of course, no return address.
central scrutinizer
(11,617 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)irisblue
(32,829 posts)blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)hatred is no good, reportable
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)back in 2005 or 2006 - I think I compared the Bush administrations misadventures in Iraq to the Keystone Kops or something like that.
After asking if it was me and confirming I was the one that wrote the letter, she started with something like, "Let me tell you..."
at which point I hung up.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)As in "No, let me tell you. I'm calling the cops. Using the phone system to harrass someone is a crime. You're now a criminal."
Given the cowardly nature of a lot of these types, just thinking the cops would be calling would ruin their day.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)I'm not nearly as good at thinking on my feet as I was in the teens and early 20s.
bigbrother05
(5,995 posts)She was so proud.
We had a prolonged battle with the local school board. Eventually got elected and was able to cut some administrators' contracts short. It's very odd to see your life in print on a regular basis.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)The hung up is a good response...
Cowards won't ever write or put it in writing (their remarks) and send it to the editor...don't want their names ID'ed...as opposed to those of us who actually do write the editor...
ET Awful
(24,753 posts)elleng
(130,156 posts)and we're foolish to disregard these facts.
On example, not exactly on point: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016212370
THANK your dad, for all of us.
Kablooie
(18,571 posts)RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)7962
(11,841 posts)LisaM
(27,762 posts)It would certainly encourage me to write more of them.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)"They are angry, folks. And scared. Very scared." I agree, they are very angry about something they can't even find the 'words' to express.
Should post a letter-expose those roaches to the light.
gibraltar72
(7,486 posts)I live hard by Hillsdale College in a very red county. My letters are always about politics. My local paper is very good about printing them. Lately I've consistently ripped Trump and the Republican party. When Obama was President I pretty much ripped Snyder and Republicans including my Koch addicted congressman the lying preacher Tim Walberg. I'm sure some are really chafed and I've gotten phone calls letters and comments on the street. Surprisingly never a negative one. I have been surprised and pleased by some of the people who have said they like my letters.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Most people like my letters. (Other than the old man mail harasser of Dubuque). Most of the responses to my missives are positive.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)A writer of Letters To The Editor for many years. All but one has been published.
My last one was about Trump. Couple of days later I got a very nasty letter. First one ever. I notified the Editor with a copy of the letter. Seems an old man has made that a hobby. They said he was harmless but to notify them immediately if any more came. They would put a stop to it.
I took it to our Police Station. He had just stopped short of threatening me. But they told him the same thing.
I hope you notified both the Editor and Police for your own safety so they have a record. Probably close to a hundred, first time. Many papers are not publishing your full name or city.
PS, I also received a very noce call from a couple who were thrilled to death with my letter.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Last edited Fri Aug 3, 2018, 08:30 PM - Edit history (1)
If it wasn't them being targeted our local paper didn't give two shits about authors of letters.
They used to publish full street addresses, and told people who complained about that to fornicate off. I suspect the paper's lawyers had to have a come to Jesus moment with the editor about that which finally got them to change their policy.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)They should be there to protect people, not insult.
I think many of us are secret frustrated writers. Here we can express ourselves without anyone attacking us. It is clear many Trump lovers are vindictive, angry souls. Just like him.
TomSlick
(11,035 posts)He should be proud.
Cha
(295,926 posts)Doing his part to Resist!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)when I wrote an anti-Bush LTTE. Flabbergasted the old coot went to the trouble of looking me up.
He included a return name and address. They were braver back then.
I ordered a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution from Amazon.com and sent them to him as a reply.
We ended up exchanging fairly cordial letters for about two years after that. Snail mail mind you! Never changing one another's minds, but it was a weird as hell oddly enjoyable pen pal experience. LOL!
I cannot for the life of me remember how or when the letter exchange ended. He was quite elderly. Probably dead now.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Included me in his hate Obama emails. They became so bad his daughter corrected him. I told him to quit sending them to me. He was a retired Pastor.
But one woman and I started emailiing each other. From across the country she agreed with me.
That was when I began to understand what much of the Southern Baptist had become. I see they changed Leadership at the Convention and signed on to stay out of Politics.
Initech
(99,915 posts)Any attempt to take away their power will be met with extreme hostility. So yeah he's doing something right!
sandensea
(21,530 posts)A scholar and a gentleman.
That said, please make sure he and your mom are safe. One in three Trumpkins (at least!) is absolutely nuts.