AUBURN – Worried about getting bad Christmas gifts?

Pity T.L. Mikesell, 60, of Auburn.

An Army veteran, Mikesell protests George Bush and the Iraq war whenever he can.

On Tuesday a “gift” was left in his mailbox: a copy of “Godless: The Church of Liberalism” by Ann Coulter. Hardcover.

And he can’t return it.

For those who don’t recognize the name, Ann Coulter could be considered more right-wing than Rush Limbaugh. Coulter was widely criticized in June after she trashed 9-11 widows, saying the “broads are millionaires … I have never seen people enjoining their husbands’ death so much.”

The person who left the book wrote an anonymous note inside asking Mikesell to “stop being a fat dumb ass,” and to stop telling lies with the signs he has planted in the yard of his Youngs Corner Road home.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Mikesell said. “I’m not a fan of (Coulter) at all.”

The person who left the book defended the Iraq war, instructing Mikesell to be a “great American,” not a liar, to watch Fox News, read Ann Coulter to learn the truth. “Iraq is a better place than it was when S.H. was in power,” the book giver wrote. “He murdered thousands of his own people.”

The gifter’s handwriting looked like a female’s. She told Mikesell if America “is so awful, go somewhere else. Your sign writing should not happen. You should go to jail for your lies, but you have freedom of speech.”

Mikesell’s said he’s not taking that advice.

His signs will stay.

He’s not going to watch Fox news.

He’s not going to read Ann Coulter’s book.

“I find it ironic that this supposedly patriotic American put this kind of stuff in my mailbox, which I think is illegal.”

It is.

According to postal spokeswoman Leanne Payeur in Portland, it’s against federal regulations to leave anything in a mailbox except U.S. mail. Mailboxes are considered postal property and are “authorized depositories for mail and for restricted, exclusive use of deposit of mail by the U.S. Postal Service.”

Mikesell said he’s not sure what to do with “Godless: The Church of Liberalism.”

Friends have suggested he burn it.

Maybe, he said.

He could compost it. “I’m a wicked environmentalist. But it would probably kill my plants.”

Though his anti-Bush, anti-war signs have been up for several years, Mikesell said he’s getting a lot of reaction to them lately.

Two years ago, he got a lot of “one-finger salutes,” he said, but not anymore. “If I’m outside, people stop constantly.”

Most stop and tell him they appreciate his messages. Some have relatives in the military in Iraq. They’ve told Mikesell, “You’re right. It’s time to leave Iraq.”