I read with with interest and some poetic amusement Victor Fraenckel's April 21 letter to The Gazette editor, “Tarnishing 'the loyal opposition' as extremists."

He is miffed at the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) recent characterization of right wing extremism capitalizing on the election of our nation's first African-American president to build up and strengthen their ranks, and infers that Republicans and conservatives are getting tarred with the same brush.

He writes:

“I urge you to read the DHS document, which will give you a good overview of the government's view of those of us who stand in opposition to some of [this] administration's policies.”

Well, Mr. Fraenckel, you're a little late to the party but it's still nice to have you!

Where on earth has this man been for last eight years? It's for certain he couldn't have been anywhere on this planet or he would have noticed the people who stood in opposition to the Bush administration's policies and found themselves on terrorist lists. My friend Max Obuszewski immediately comes to mind (see my blog “From the nary a peep department” from last Aug. 5). He'd have noticed the people who found their phones being tapped, without a warrant I might add, or found their organizations which promote nonviolence and peace (like the Quakers), infiltrated by police officers paid through DSH funds (translation: that's your money Mr. Fraenckel).

I figure he had to be in a coma somewhere. It's more comforting to consider this possibility than the other alternatives, that's for darn sure.

Back on March 16 of this year, I received information on a blog called “Oath Keepers." Their motto is, “Not on our watch” and basically they are nonpartisan, current and former military personnel who will uphold and defend the Bill of Rghts. Their oath is to the constitution, not politicians, they claim. They are not going to “just follow orders." You can check them out HERE.

Curiously enough, this group got started right around the time that our first African-American president was elected. It seems that the Bush administration's eight-year gang rape of the Constitution was not quite enough to get their dander worked up.

I'm still trying to figure out if it was the election of an African-American or a Democrat that inspired them.

At any rate, welcome to my world Mr. Fraenckel!