Posted on 08/07/2006 2:43:43 PM PDT by Ellesu
NEW YORK The Times of Shreveport, La., announced that it's keeping controversial conservative columnist Ann Coulter. But Executive Editor Alan English didn't sound too enthusiastic about it.
"I'm not so sure we'll keep Coulter's column for the long haul, but she'll remain a Sunday Times columnist for now," English wrote yesterday. "Just as you choose to read any column or story, including this one, you can choose to read her diatribes and be entertained by her rhetoric -- or not."
The Times received nearly 500 e-mails after Editorial Page Editor Craig Durrett announced early last month that the paper was thinking about dropping Coulter. According to English, the 10% or so of the e-mails that were from local readers ran about 60% to 40% for retaining Coulter. "This honest request for input results in an honest response," English wrote. "She will stay for now."
He added: "The Shreveport-Bossier City response to the question of whether Coulter should stay was predominantly met with 'if you drop her, I'll drop you.' At least one self-identified liberal thought we ought to keep her because she presents a vivid example of intolerance that the reader often found on the far right. ..."
English also said of Coulter: "A few weeks back, we began to question the value of what she brings to the newspaper as she designated Rep. John Murtha as inspiration for fragging (the wounding or killing of fellow soldiers) and called for the deaths of some journalists. Opinions of these subjects aside, there is a level of civil discourse we hope to foster on our pages. Providing a platform for anyone to lob threats irresponsibly -- even in hyperbole -- isn't for our community.
"Her 'shock-jocking' often falls below a level of taste for us. I have said she is the Howard Stern of political commentary. Certainly both have made some useful political points occasionally, but then even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes."
He added: "No one gets a lifetime appointment to appear as a columnist on our pages. Nor do we wish to provide a forum for self-serving columns, as some of Coulter's tend to be when she either publicizes her latest book or chooses to settle personal scores in what should be public-serving and responsible commentary."
And English said: "As we move forward, I anticipate we will grow tired of Coulter's rants and sometimes low-quality hyperbole that borders, again, on a strong sense of self-promotion and sandbox name-calling."
Coulter, whose column runs in about 100 papers via Universal Press Syndicate, was dropped last month by two dailies -- The Augusta (Ga.) Chroncle and The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rules.
Thank you.
Are the libs of the MSM squirming again??? The truth does that to them, especially the hard, direct truth that Ann delivers.
Waiting for when they apply the same standards to the left...(sound of crickets)......
:)
Another liberal editor trying unsuccessfully to instruct his readers on what to think.
More proof people are tired of the same old liberal spewing points through the MSM and aren't going to take them yanking our few conservatives anymore.
Which liberal writer has ever been pulled for "shock jocking" revelations?
Typical elitist snobbery. Oh gee, Mr. English, how so very gracious of you. May I have another cup of gruel, master?
To all those readers that previously threatened to drop their subscription if Coulter was dropped, I say: with such snotty, condescending attitude dripping from the Editor, cancel this journalistic toilet paper anyway. And purely for that reason; make sure you let them know that.
"we will grow tired..."
Who's we? English and his editorial board or the paper's readers?
I agree with this editor 100%. Ann is the Al Franken of the right. The exception is that she is usually correct, but her delivery is just the same.
Translation
We will wait until the commotion dies down and then drop her with out any announcement at all.
And everyone knows that the right is not allowed to have an Al Franken type. Only the left is allowed to have an Al Franken type. That is just basic fairness. /sarc
Typical dinosaur-media Stalinism.
"Comrades, we're dropping this imperialist warmongering capitalist's column, for your own good!"
Question: What is an example of a company that is most willing to be criticized?
Answer: I think we need to draw a distinction between being willing to be criticized as a way to engage customers and being criticized as a way to improve. Ann Coulter, who, in my opinion, is a dangerous idiot, has a huge willingness to be criticized and a complete inability to listen to the criticism.
[snip]
Bill Clinton was open to criticism as well, probably to his detriment. All those conversations got in the way of leading in the long run.
Link: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/08/ten_questions_w.html
I've posted one comment, but I need some help. Guy's blog has become strangely anti-conservative lately (at least in the comments).
What the ass is really saying is that he relies on Ann to sell his newspapers and he can't afford to live without her, and he doesn't like it. What a bozo.
Heaven forfend you give your customers what they want.
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