Richard Cohen used his precious newspaper space in today's WaPo to whine about being inundated with emails.

What?

That's right. He feels so pressured by 3,000 emails that he felt the need to devote his entire column to the issue. Nevermind that as a "liberal" he's been carrying the GOP water for sometime and some folks decided to call him on it. Here's the conclusion he reached:

The hatred is back. I know it's only words now appearing on my computer screen, but the words are so angry, so roiled with rage, that they are the functional equivalent of rocks once so furiously hurled during antiwar demonstrations. I can appreciate some of it. Institution after institution failed America -- the presidency, Congress and the press. They all endorsed a war to rid Iraq of what it did not have. Now, though, that gullibility is being matched by war critics who are so hyped on their own sanctimony that they will obliterate distinctions, punishing their friends for apostasy and, by so doing, aiding their enemies. If that's going to be the case, then Iraq is a war its critics will lose twice -- once because they couldn't stop it and once more at the polls.

Emails = rocks? Let's test that out Richard. You stand there and I'll throw rocks at you. Then I'll send you some emails. Let's see which you like more.

As a supposed "liberal" columnist, Cohen is feeling the heat. The left has been quiet for years while the right used every hyperbolic technique in the world to ratchet up the voting emotions .... successfully. Now the left uses these successful tactics and the press, now caught in the middle, becomes what Atrios affectionately calls WATB (whiney ass titty babies). Yet, had the media dealt with the flame throwing appropriately throughout the Clinton administration, perhaps hyperbolic communication wouldn't be an issue today.

I certainly don't condone vile or threatening emails. And I'm sure that many are just that. But it seems to me that Cohen's email address is open to the public, so of course you're going to get some nutbar emails as emotions rise and people have access. Normal people in the public eye learn to ignore them. A good journalist would look at the forest, not the trees, in trying to determine what a massive email feedback is trying to say. But no. Many of the recipients of this "feedback" shrink to whiny away in their columns about the shrillness (a GOP talking point btw) and inconvience of dealing with public feedback.

Finally, I love the toss-away. Sure the Congress and the President have successfully dismantled the United States Constitution, overspent billions, given money away to the rich, and most importantly killed literally thousands of people, but hey, is that any reason to be angry and send Cohen a bunch of meany emails?

The spoiled nature of the inside-the-beltway journalists is astounding.

Richard .... buddy .... thicken that skin and grow a few balls. Then we'll take you seriously. Until then. When you say something stupid with your precious column space in a mainstay of the mainstream media, expect to get feedback. And if you can't handle it, retire. I'm sure there are other's who are willing to take your column.

ADDED: Digby has a note to Cohen as well. Great minds think alike.