And they'll call it The Nutty Preacher: I know, somebody should make a movie about Steven Anderson called The Nutty Preacher. The Bird's story was eye-popping, and then I saw [Anderson] on TV and on the Feathered Bastard blog.
When I first saw the stories on him getting hassled by the Border Patrol, I was among those yelling for the officers involved to be brought to justice. But, then, The Bird figures out that he's just an attention-seeking nut-job, a wacko who's out to make a name for himself in the most vicious way: calling for the death of the president of the United States.
Sound like anybody else we know (not that Joe Arpaio's publicly calling for anybody's death)? Next thing we know, Anderson will be running for sheriff (if the current, camera-happy nut-job dies of old age, that is).
Thom Dees, address withheld
Bones to pick with The Bird: First, let me say that Pastor Steven Anderson is just as "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" as Mr. Christopher Broughton, if not more so.
Just watch a few of his videos on YouTube, and you'll see just what kind of nut-job he is. In one video, he is seen at Sky Harbor Airport chasing down a law enforcement officer who happens to be casually patrolling the terminal sidewalk; he asks the officer why he is "harassing citizens" with his assault rifle. This from a man who has at least one congregation member who carries one himself!
That being said, I would like to pick a couple of bones regarding your article. You mention that equating Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler is a dumb comparison, and I agree. However, the left frequently called George W. Bush the same or worse for the entire eight years he was president. Idiotic and hyperbolic comments are not the exclusive property of either the right or the left.
Second, you correctly state, "In America, year 2009, abortions performed in the early stages of pregnancy are legal." Broughton attempts to use slavery as an example of how legal does not necessarily equate to moral. You defend the difference by stating that slaves "were living human beings, not masses of cells." But in the 1860s and before, that was not what was believed be a vast majority of the world. Slaves were not human beings at all, but property, less important than a mass of cells with the potential to become human. In fact, I would tend to bet that a person committing abortion back then would have been looked down upon far more than someone who killed one of his own slaves.
Society's morals and views change pendulously with time, as do our laws. Your seeming defense that because abortion is legal, it is okay, does not seem particularly sound.
Finally, the sideswipe at Christians regarding wishing death upon President Obama was uncalled-for. The vast, vast majority of Christians live up to the true meaning of the word, the few crackpots being the ones making the news.
Christopher J. McCarthy, via the Internet
Who's the real nut-job here?: You write an article about you going to a nut-job's church, [yet] everyone knows Steven Anderson is a nut. There's something wrong with his brain, and his education is not only minimal, it is plain wrong. So who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows the fool?
You go to Anderson's church and expect to be able to reason logically with the AR-15 dude. Oh, you mean the AR-15 dude is ill-informed and missing a few screws? Who the hell woulda thought?! So to you, I say: your article didn't do anything but tell us that you're pretty crazy, as well. Maybe not Steven-Anderson-crazy (thankfully) but pretty crazy for expecting someone incapable of proper reasoning to reason properly.
Austin S. Martin, via the Internet
PHOENIX FIREBUG
"Burning Man" is a cautionary tale: Just another con man caught with his pants down. Or were they off when he exited his house supposedly in scuba gear after apparently setting it ablaze? Hard to believe he thought he could get away with it.
I'm surprised you didn't make more of his Wall Street days. That part of the story's ironic, even if it doesn't directly relate to Michael Marin's economic woes that led up to what appears to be his dirty deed.
This was a fascinating yarn because you know that, in these hard economic times, a lot of people are thinking about doing the same thing with property that has lost most of its value. This is a cautionary tale.
John Wendell, Phoenix
He should've known: I don't know why, but I feel kind of sorry for Michael Marin. I hope it turns out that he didn't do it, but it certainly looks bad for him. A smart guy like him should've known that it's damn hard to get away with arson.
Mike McCarthy, Phoenix
When the going gets tough, they cheat: Just another slick Wall Street type who thought he could get away with anything! These kinds of people amaze me. They've always gotten what they want, and when things start to go bad for them, they cheat. Or that's certainly how it looks from your story on Michael Marin.
He figured that if he could ace Yale Law School and climb Mount Everest, burning down his house and getting away with it would be a piece of cake. It wasn't.
Jesse Ortega, Phoenix
Banksters fail to surprise again: Wow, what a surprise that another bankster commits an act of fraud.
Haven't you New Times morons been paying attention as to who has been fleecing this country for the past two-plus decades?
Jesus Christ, maybe it's time to focus on something the average Phoenix retard can relate to. I'd start with an article on pit bulls, tattoos, or the most recent Ultimate Fighting Championship event. And maybe finish up with some dumbass who torched his house.
David Stone, Phoenix
Marin — more than meets the eye: Thank you for your amazing article! Unbelievable. I know Mr. Marin a bit. I hope he is innocent.
Hard to imagine that a man quoting the Tao and Mother Teresa on my Facebook page would have ever done this. However, his integrity is questionable to say the least.
Well, innocent or not, I have blocked him. Had no clue [until reading the story] he had a girlfriend while "searching for his soul mate."
Astrid Ambroziak, Los Angeles
He has no moral compass: I believe that the real Michael J. Marin is quite different from the carefully scripted versions he gives, and I believe that he acts without a moral compass or conscience.
Amy Magsamen, Chicago
