Wow...Mike Johnson flashback to the old DU Hate Mailbag? [View all]

[Califorward]

Last edited Sat Oct 18, 2025, 12:19 AM - Edit history (1)

So I've been lurking on DU for more than 20 years. I check in a couple of times a day. There are always so many clever posters already covering anything that peaks my interest, curiosity or anger that I've never felt the need to post anything of my own, until today.

I loved the DU Hate Mailbag! Sometimes I laughed until my sides hurt. During the run-up to the Iraq war, one of those hate mails stuck in my head so much it became a personal running joke. Some dim bulb was whining about the criticism of G.W. Bush and was especially offended by the giant protests that had just occurred (I was at both of the San Francisco events!).

IIRC he said "How dare all them protest our president! Don't they realize if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't even have the right to complain about Saddam Hussein!"

UGH...the absolute chauvinism, the complete lack of self awareness and the utter hypocrisy of right wing propaganda that the very existence of a constitutional right to free speech expressly means we lefties should NEVER sully that sacred right by actually using it! So I started responding to any "protesting is unpatriotic" complaints by agreeing enthusiastically "Yeah...they should just shut up...this is America, after all!" (I have quite a few family members that were and are very right wing...heavy sigh)To be honest, I think my sarcasm went over a lot of heads but I always allowed myself a head shake and eye roll.

Not gonna lie, I was shocked today to see that the Speaker of the House of Representatives (!) actually paraphrased that 22 year old DU Hate Mailbag screed with this steaming pile:

"They are decrying the country that allows them to engage in this activity......It is the Republicans that restored your right to share and to speak your mind. That's the first and most obvious irony of the ‘hate America’ rally".

Yeah...just shut up...this is America, after all!

They don't even bother with new material, it's just the same ugly reruns of lies, bigotry, greed and authoritarianism...wash, rinse, repeat.
Anyway,
I love it here (this miraculous world, a flawed but fixable America, my beautiful California and DU, too!) and I have some hope for the future, but holy crap, this country needs some work!
Which reminds me...
I'll be out tomorrow, carrying a big sign, "un-patriotically" but peaceably assembling to petition my Government for a redress of grievances!
Hope to see you there!


Edit to add: Thank you so much for all of the kind words and warm DU welcome! I've taken so much vicarious support and wisdom from this community, I hope I can give some back over time.