Barack Obama

And my anger's not fake at all. It's just directed more at the person's behavior. Absolutely if given the chance, I'd throw half the GOP under the jail and imprison the other half for life on treason and sedition charges. In short, anything appropriate to pull their teeth. I won't clasp a snake to my bosom, and I know a snake when I see one.

But that's my notion of tough love, not hate. Do you leave a sociopath loose to run amuk? No, it wouldn't even be in his best interests. Hate is when you are hellbent on total and utter destruction of another living entity, with as much grief and horror as you can visit upon him beforehand.

Case in point: I'm not even sure I hated my ex-husband, horrible as he was. But when he came home from a trip I knew he'd taken with a 'business associate', I met him at the door and said keep out, I'll pack your clothes for you and you can pick them up in the morning. By nightfall inspiration struck. I hauled everything out into the dirt driveway (boonies, realize) in a big pile and lit it on fire. Then I settled down in a lawn chair and sipped a beer, enjoying the flames. The volunteer firemen showed up and I passed around the rest of the six-pack. We had a good time toasting the embers, and then they went on their merry way. It's one of my fondest memories.

When Ex showed up the next morning, he hefted the suitcase and suspected foul play. When he opened it on the spot, all it contained was the ashes from the previous night's Burning Man party. I started laughing so hard I almost fell over; almost 30 years later, the memory still brings on a warm glow.

I shudder to think what I might've done if I'd truly hated the man.