First there was this (“Wimps, wussies, and W. : How Americans’ infatuation with masculinity has perilous consequences,” in The L.A. Times).

It features the following choice morsel, calculated to turn the nearest right-wing shark tank into bloody chum:

SO THERE’S a smoking crater where Don Imus used to sit. That’s fine with those of us who never understood the appeal of his grizzled-codger shtick, which always sounded like Rooster Cogburn reading “The Turner Diaries” anyway. But if we’re going to administer a ritual flaying to every blowhard who channels the ugly American id, why has a hate-speech Touretter like Ann Coulter escaped the skinning knife?

Then there was this, live from Darwin’s waiting room, in my Inbox:

I recently read your sniveling article, Mark. Sounds to me like you got your panties in a wad, your freaking sissy boy. You better not bring yourself to Ann Coulter’s attention, because she will rip your ass apart

John —–

Atlanta

Then there was this:

Homosexuals need to grow thicker skins. When are people going to come to the realization that most folks simply have trouble differentiating what somebody is (homosexual) from who he is. Unfortunately, many of the, so called, “girliemen” reveal themselves to be angry and hateful ultra-libs. Precisely the mirror image of those they accuse of being “homophobes.” That aside, let Imus and Coulter toss insults all they want. There is a market for it. Just like there is a ready market out there for the kind of “wussy” tripe you just published in the LA Times.

Ken ——

Charleston, SC

And:

Dear Markie: If all American males were like you in 1941, half the US would be speaking Japanese and the other half would be speaking German. The America they hate gives wimps, wussies and faggots the best living environment on earth.

Dick ——

San Diego

San Diego! My old stomping grounds! The town Gore Vodal immortalized as “the Vatican of the John Birch Society!”

Anyway, you get the idea. There’s more—much, much more—where that came from.

Then Bill O’Reilly’s radio show called, asking me to be on today’s show at 1 PM EST.

And I said yes, Bob help me.