I’ve just finished reading Bill O’Reilly’s column in your Dec. 18 issue. I can’t take it any more.

Please cancel my subscription immediately. For a long time now I have been offended by the presence of Bill O’Reilly’s columns in The Herald. O’Reilly is the poorest excuse for a journalist this country can claim, and that is based on a very weak pool of candidates. For several years now, I have politely declined offers from the Seattle Times and the P-I, on the grounds that I prefer to support my local paper. No more!

Among many other dishonest and/or disingenuous statements, he alludes to the “fascist-like tactics” of the “far left.” In typical fashion, he confuses the outraged voices of true Americans who will no longer tolerate the lies, with the goose-stepping political hacks whose jackboots he is only too happy to lick!

For the record, political scientist Lawrence Britt has identified the 14 characteristics of fascism as follows (paraphrased): 1) raging nationalism, 2) disdain for human rights, 3) identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause, 4) supremacy of the military, 5) rampant sexism, 6) controlled mass media, 7) obsession with national security, 8) religion and government intertwined, 9) rampant corporatism, 10) labor suppressed, 11) disdain for intellectualism and the arts, 12) obsession with crime and punishment, 13) rampant cronyism and corruption, and 14) fraudulent elections. It was said many years ago that when fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a Bible. Judge for yourself.

Bill O’Reilly is the worst of a very bad group of right-wing hack writers who serve solely as apologists for an incredibly bad presidential administration. On the day you remove his face and name from your opinion pages, I will consider renewing my subscription.

Jackie Minchew

Everett