Supportive e-mails fill Rocky's inbox

Not since the Main Street Plaza controversy has Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's e-mail inbox been so full.

But unlike the majority of the virtual advisories sent to the mayor over the plaza, most of the messages regarding his call for a protest to coincide with President Bush's visit Monday are telling Utah's most controversial political figure atta-boy.

A Deseret Morning News review of the 600 messages sent to the mayor since Saturday shows nearly two-thirds support the mayor; more than 200 say the mayor embarrassed the city.

Political analyst LaVarr Webb said the level of response is "remarkable, given the fact that people have to be motivated and interested enough to take time to write the message."

The e-mail deluge follows what might have been a perfect political storm in Utah: The mayor's openly liberal, anti-Iraq war view colliding head-on with the U.S. president appearing in a state that staunchly supports Bush.

While Anderson has gotten used to being the political underdog in conservative Utah, at least this time the e-mails shook out in his favor.

"As an American military retiree, war veteran (Vietnam, 1964) and sympathizer of the anti-war movement, I congratulate you on your courageous stand to protest Mr. Bush's attempt to coerce the minds of more Americans into agreement with his war," James Pankey, who served in the Navy, wrote to Anderson.

Another veteran agreed.

"As a veteran of WWII and Korea I am absolutely repulsed by the present administration's attempts to make the Iraq fiasco in any way a positive thing," Rod Greig wrote. "It is ridiculous for them to equate 9/11 with Iraq. It is disgusting to have them send our troops in this vain attempt to coerce the three factions in Iraq to form a democratic government. Please continue your protest!"

Many praised the mayor for speaking up while others blasted the Bush administration and the war in Iraq.

The mayor's stand generated many e-mails from outside the state, both pro and con.

Webb, who runs the political Web site www.utahpolicy.com and writes a political column for the Deseret Morning News, said he isn't surprised that the mayor would generate such a response. He was similarly not surprised that the majority of e-mailers would back the mayor, even though Utah gave President Bush his largest victory in the 2004 election.

In general, the anti-war and anti-Bush crowd is more vocal than those who support the war and the president, so would be more likely to write, Webb said. Also, quite often a brash move like Anderson's protest would catch the attention of liberal bloggers who would rally their troops to e-mail their support to Anderson, Webb said.