I complained to Shafer following his recent Slate article about the incident.  His reply said that he wasn't defending Howell, but asked if it would be OK with me to smash the windows of the Post.

He seems a bit unbalanced about the whole thing.  I pointed out to him that nothing like smashing windows happened, but didn't get a second reply.  Perhaps I should have pointed out that smashing windows will get you arrested, but posting an angry email, especially in the context of political speech, is protected by the First Amendment?