227 Comments

Excellent smackdown, Kiwi! He probably has no ability to internalize what you said, but he sure deserved what you gave him!

Expand full comment

He’ll never get the point.

He’ll write me off as a “Yankee Jew.”

Expand full comment

Excellent! Glad that you threw the Bishop’s and your credentials in his face. This letter might be a template for all of us to use. When I use to oppose these people in government meetings, I would shake a copy of the Constitution in one hand and an agency procedure manual in the other.

Expand full comment

I bet waving those documents in their faces irritated the heck out of them.

My style was double-barrelled…when my assistant principals, to scare me, threatened to suspend, transfer, or expel me from school, I did two things:

Quoted Article 39 of Magna Carta at them. “No free man shall be taken, disseised, dispossessed, or in any manner destroyed, nor shall we proceed against him, except by the judgment of his peers and the law of the land.”

Show immense admiration for the doctrines and policies of Nazi Germany, as exemplified by the often-Jewish assistant principal, saying that he was a living exemplar of the theories of Himmler, Hitler, Darre, and Frick. Exception: the Italian guy. He was the exemplar of Mussolini.

It had the desired impact of shutting them up.

Expand full comment

🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment

Thanks for that.

Expand full comment

You are so welcome!

Expand full comment

🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment

It worked…they stopped harming me, gave me my diploma, and swapped out the red grade-book markers for the blue yearbook signature ball-point pens….

Expand full comment

That's a great idea, jtolbertjr!

Expand full comment

Brilliant, as always. Wish I had your self control. I get so angry, I can’t keep from hurling expletives.

Expand full comment

When I start a letter with that 18th-century opening and end it with the same, it enables me to diffuse some of the fury and take on that late 1700s mentality. I have to address my opponent in a gentlemanly manner was I show him complete contempt.

Expand full comment

No one does it better. Thank you.

Expand full comment

I should have not blocked the jerks who said “Writing is not your thing” over that quip on Vance, just so I could share things like that with them.

Instead, I ask them to teach me how to write better, based on their vast knowledge, experience, and published works.

Of course, I also point out that they usually have no posts, no subscribers, and no ideas…

Expand full comment

I loved every single one of those posts. You run circles around them. It’s a beautiful thing.

Expand full comment

I just wish I made some money off of my ability.

Expand full comment

That’s disappointing to hear. I enjoy your work.

Expand full comment

That's because they have ghostwriters, like me, who write for them. They get all the glory, but they do no work toward it. I would be he had is smart wife do it for him, she seems to save him from getting kicked out of college.

Expand full comment

You must tell me how I can get a ghostwriting job. I could also be a ghost-speller, too....

Expand full comment

Not all heroes wear capes. Bloody well done!

"You owe Bishop Budde an apology. I’m sure you will never give it, because you are incapable of learning, have no care or concern for any other living human being, and utterly lack empathy."

I'd buy you a drink for that paragraph alone. :o)

Expand full comment

Thank you for that.

It took a while to think up that paragraph. You see how I made it work…three concepts:

“incapable of learning”

“have no care or concern for any other living human being”

“utterly lack empathy”

They are by increasing power and force.

Expand full comment

I think it is all the more powerful that you didn't address the blatant misogyny. Bishop Budde is first and foremost a Minister, her sex is irrelevant in this instance. It is the moral high-ground you have captured, there.

Expand full comment

Good point…as Jack Hawkins said in “The Bridge on the River Kwai:”

“THERE IS ALWAYS ONE MORE THING.”

I should have included that. I just didn’t think of it. However, I think his misogyny is a given. Bringing that up would be irrelevant to him. I wanted to smack him on something that would — his Constitutional oath, the First Amendment, and how “suckers” and “losers” like me give our lives in terrible wars to protect that Amendment. He never served in the military — his closest connection to the Armed Forces is standing on the podium at a Memorial Day ceremony in Georgia, and telling maimed Vietnam and Iraq veterans that he cares — when he doesn’t.

Expand full comment

Proud of you.

Everyone: do you feel like we do?

Letters, they need letters, they all need letters. Let's bombard these

fools with letters dropped from planes, trains and automobiles, and of course the USPS - please Mr Postman, pardon me, I've mailed a letter or three. Ignore your boss, Mr Dejoy, and deliver my letters for me?

Great idea, Mr Kiwi.

So far when I've emailed my congressman, the Dishonorable Chip Roy (R TX) I've received boilerplate BS email in response.

Likewise Senator John Cornyn (R TX) (Ted Cruz is irredeemable.)

Expand full comment

Yeah, don’t write e-mails. They can just hit “delete unread.”

Real letters have the power of the printed page.

I included an SASE. He doesn’t have to pay to reply.

Expand full comment

Cc them to the local paper. They might then take it seriously when reporters start ringing. ;o)

Expand full comment

Your letter is BRILLIANT!!! I can only hope that at least the person in the office who receives it will read it. Maybe even pass it along to another employee. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

Expand full comment

I would like to be in the office when the staffers read it.

I included an SASE, to spare him the horrible expense of answering it.

I used Hank Aaron postage stamps, for the Georgia link and because he is one of them horrible “Negro” people I’m sure he despises in private and pretends to love in public or in the back seat of his Chevy for $50.

Expand full comment

Excellent in all ways!

Expand full comment

Thank you for the warm words!

Expand full comment

LOL!!!!! Good for you!!!

Expand full comment

I admire your gumption.

Expand full comment

I took one look at that Tweet and started writing my response in my head. He deserved the high heat to dust his posterior off the plate…

Expand full comment

Www.fuckthatguy.com I say.

Expand full comment

I should look at that page…

Expand full comment

I think the man needs to speak to the business end of my Docs, casual-like. I believe that this is just the start of the foolishness of threats like this, that will get people hurt or killed. :(

I loved what you said though, and also, what Budde said. She's got a book out and I'm going to buy it to support her. That poor women got DEATH THREATS for what she said, good god, literally. I don't care what sect of Christianity you follow, death threats are a huge no.

Expand full comment

Any "Christian" who threatened her life missed Jesus giving the Beatitudes.

Something about "loving your enemies" and practicing non-violence.

Expand full comment

I think any Christian who threatened her just missed Jesus altogether.

Expand full comment

Collins…Georgia’s male equivalent of Marjorie “Trailer” Greene.

Thank you for the great details..

Expand full comment

I will never understand why 45 cult members seem to believe that everyone is an immigrant. Do they realize that they were also immigrants families at a point in history. Just sayin..

Expand full comment

Yes, but the MAGAts and Trumpetoons are WHITE immigrants whose ancestor served in the Confederate Army and came her from England, France, and Germany.

As opposed to Mexico, Costa Rica, andGuatemala, or being forcibly brought here from Benin, Senegal, and Ghana.

Expand full comment

I say your letter is brave, moving, and necessary. I’m tired of Republicans using their religion as a way to hide their own bigotry. Bishop Budde has opened the door for all people of goodwill to fight back. Sincerely, thank you for your service to our country and Constitution. God bless you!

Expand full comment

Thank you for the warm words!

Expand full comment

Tremendous letter. May I use it and replace Collin’s name with Alabama senior senator Tommy Tuberville who accused Budde of “spewing hate”? I could not have written a better letter and I will give you all the credit! Thank you for your service!

Expand full comment

Sure…go ahead!

Expand full comment

Tupperville will not be able to read it. He is ignorant to the core.

Expand full comment

Someone will read it to him. Slowly.

Expand full comment

I’m not sure if he’s literate either!

Expand full comment

Given that he’s a politician, I’m sure that while he can’t read or spell, he can kount the kickbacks….

Expand full comment

Thank you!

Expand full comment

Wow!!! This is a wonderful letter!!! Sharing widely. Bravo!!!!!

Expand full comment

Let me know what kind of reactions you get.

Nice cat avatar, if I haven’t said so.

Expand full comment

BTW, I was just reading your description. I notice you write articles on WWII history. My husband is a WWII history and aviation buff. Can you send or post some links to your articles? Thank you!!

Expand full comment

I will!

Thank you. That was Bagel. Unfortunately we lost her in 2018 to cancer.

Expand full comment

Bagel must have been a very sweet and happy cat.

I’ve had a great many cats — and dogs — in my life. Also salamanders, snakes, lizards, toads, rats, a conure, and a tarantula. My wife has 50 fish tanks, and has had a hedgehog, a dove, and a ferret.

Expand full comment

Bagel was a wonderful cat but sweet she wasn't. She was very contrary and feisty. We loved her anyway. The thought of her being sweet makes me laugh.

I love animals. Your pets sound wonderful.

Expand full comment

Winston Churchill: “Dogs look up at people…cats look down on people. Pigs look at people flat on straight, as equals.”

He had all three as pets.

Expand full comment

😀😀

Expand full comment

OK. I'll ask it. What's a conure? And... did you marry a Mermaid? ;o)

Expand full comment

A conure is a Central American parrot. Green and green.

My wife has been breeding fish for sale and trophies since she was 16 years old. She has won national-level awards and is on the Board of Directors of her fish club.

We are both animal folk.

Expand full comment

Well done Mrs Kiwiwriter! :o) Thanks for that.

Expand full comment

Darned. I guess that means wer can't deport Rep Mike Collins. I would have suggested he lead the way

Expand full comment

Yeah, sadly.

Maybe he’s just a standard politician, which means he’s taking bribes.

Expand full comment

Excellent..tku for a great and accurate response to those slinging hatred towards the Bishop. She said what none of the republicons should say nor anyone for that matter!

Expand full comment

Bear in mind, Collins does have the right to say Budde was wrong, or even inappropriate. He has the First Amendment, too.

To threaten her with deportation is dead wrong, however.

Expand full comment