Pignanelli & Webb: Last week, we performed the annual ritual of spring cleaning, and our e-mail in-box did not escape the scrubbing. Before we hit the delete button, we wish to share the more colorful electronic correspondence from our readers. (The overtly obscene and anatomically impossible comments are not included.) We do receive kind and thoughtful comments, and for those we are grateful. Unfortunately, many doubt that anyone has anything polite to say about us (besides, nice does not sell newspapers). So, when you grumble about our ranting, please know you are not alone.

As a convenience to our audience, we have categorized the most worthy communications offering insight into our lack of intelligence and mental stability:

• Some readers analogize us to entertainment celebrities:

"You two are the Laurel and Hardy of political thought in Utah, you're neither funny nor smart."

"A pair of bozos."

"Dumb and dumber ... and Frank you are the dumbest."

• We always value the straightforward analysis:

"I think you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Have fun talking the inane."

• Apparently, it requires little effort to understand us:

"I have never read your articles but as a citizen it is amazing that someone with your accomplishments and education can come to the conclusions that you have come to."

• Suggestions are always appreciated:

"You should find something better to do with your time."

"(Y)ou give more attention for frivolous issues for who won the election, than you will on this serious issue of illegal immigration. Our family culture will be destroyed, and the American Flag will be replaced by a Mexican Flag and we all will be swearing to a different allegiance."

"Until you and your Democrat cronies find some way to come back to where the good common people really are, expect even worse defeats."

"Please address real issues for your readers."

• Frank's column regarding advice to non-Mormons living in Utah generated interesting responses:

"Please don't use your wife as a standard bearer for the LDS Church. I suppose she leaves much to be admired about upholding LDS Church standards. She gave up the right to an eternal marriage. No man is worth that. If you truly loved your wife, you would try to narrow the gap for her between her beliefs and what she has to obviously endure by being married to you."

(Ouch!)

"You forgot one important aspect of Utah culture. Utahns are very hard working, productive, thrifty people. They hold in distaste, non-productive political hacks who do not hold down honest jobs."