Not worth the time. Only thing I've seen on SALON that's just not any good. JG

Mays was as good as anyone who ever played the game. BUT baseball's first superstar was Jackie Robinson. He also was perhaps the best all around athelete to play in the big leagues. Basketball was his best sport. He was a great college running back and a world class long jumper. He left us too soon. Can only think of Houseman's TO AN ATHLETE DYING YOUNG. John George

If there is an all powerful loving god it would seem that the following would not be occuring. The planet is covered with excrement (can't his Divine Plan exclude that)? Justice seldom prevails. Rain falls in the wrong places. Bacteria, viruses, poison snakes, etc serve no good purpose for us, his chosen. One could go on, but why bother? There's probably no god in any accepted sense of that word, so we're on our own with the help (we hope) of friends and kin. Courage, John George -- age 71

Glenn should read the chapter on the Birch Sociey in AMERICAN EXTREMISTS:MILITIAS,SUPREMACISTS,KLANSMEN,COMUNISTS,& OTHERS by Laird Wilcox & yours truly. Prometheus Books, 1996. The Birchers are allowed to speak for themselves to a large extent which is as it should be, and is quite enough to show what sort of organization they've always been. JG

Nothing fails like prayer

Just wasted words on empty air JG

Can anyone confirm that Bush thinks farting is very funny and has been known to let one while shaking hands with a new intern or other recent young hire? Or that he never met a fart joke he didn't like? JG

Would like one on Jews in swimming, track, & basketball.

John George, PhD Retired Sport Political Sociologist (Taught Sociopolitics of Sport for 10 years)

I've long liked and even admired most of what you write. BUT, I do wish you'd leave out such terms as odious, notorious, etc when describing individuals and groups. It detracts from your on point messages and makes it harder for me to convince people on the fence about your views being accurate. Thanks much, John George PhD, Professor Emeritus, Political Science & Sociology. Specialist on Extremism/Terrorism, Public Opinion, Sociopolitics of Sport, Phony Quotations. (If you doubt a quote, check with me. No guarantees, but I still have one hell of a file) JG

Maybe he's Jesus and Lincoln, but more likely he's Mao and Kim Il Sung (2 "Glorious Leaders") John George

Really good article. Balanced and informative. One thing all journalists need to do is quit referring to the John Birch Society as "conservative" & "anticommunist." Few of their members know much about conservatism and even fewer are very informed about communism. Besides, being "anticommunist" doesn't set anyone apart, since probably 95% of U S citizens were/are anticommunist. John George

Bill is not really a Libertarian. He's like a lot of people who are about 75% Libertarian. What he should say to be accurate is, "I'm predominantly a Libertarian." I've met damn few people who are full fledged Libertarians. One who was adamant about his Libertarianism was against legalizing drugs and even backed the invasion of Iraq. How antilibertarian can you get? John George, Professor Emeritus, Political Science & Sociology

Why don't any media people bother to mention that the Democrat running 4th in the polls, Bill Richardson, says he will start withdrawing ALL troops immediately? Also, he says he won't leave ANY troops in Iraq. That is certainly a different position and shows fortitude. John George

Do wish you hadn't used the word "Proud", since I seriously doubt that any atheist of intelligence is actually proud of his/her opinion that there is no evidence for the existence of god/gods. Thinking people are proud of their accomplishments and those of others whom they admire. To be "proud" of your opinions, ethnicity,nationality, etc is pretty silly, since you had nothing to do with achieving them. Keep up the good (& interesting) work. Best, John George

Strange is it not that G W Bush won't intercede with his Saudi pals to stop this horrible injustice. And don't most people die from 200 lashes? John George

Surely one day the great majority will learn that there IS NOT necessarily a "black way of thinking." Also, why is Al Sharpton still getting a pass for his sordid part in the Tawana Brawley hoax, not to mention the libeling of Steve Pagones? Why doesn't someone ask him to publically apologize? Perplexed for years, John George

Hitler, Stalin, Hoxha, Ceausescu (3 Commies & a Nazi) all strongly opposed abortion. Did they have "respect for life?" Hardly. So when antiabortionists talk about prochoicers being Nazis, they speak from ignorance. John George, PhD

Jonah typifies the highly intelligent, but-not-as-well-informed-as-he-thinks person. Fascism essentially becomes whatever he (or someone else?)says it is. And many of us who have criticisms of what often passes for liberalism believe it's a stretch to call it totalitarian. Interestingly, the sociologist Talcot Parsons called fascism "radicalism of the right" in 1942. Finally, Nazi Germany outlawed abortion, and Spain wasn't really fascist, but traditional rightist authoritarian. The fascist party (Falange)there was kept in check by Franco and the boys. John George

Many of us believe that articles such as this one could be expressed using about half the number of words. Please consider this. Thanks, John George

It's true he seldom lost a debate, but Sidney Hook was more than a match for Bill teamed with Richard John Neuhaus on the same program. More surprising, however, is that Madalyn Murray O'Hair made him look rather bad because she new more religious history and at least as much about the Catholic Church as he. Many of us who disagreed with him more than half the time will miss him. John George