Ann Coulter Takes the Low Road

The American Thinker ^ | October 6, 2005 | Thomas Lifson

[quidnunc]

Ann Coulter is one of many conservative pundits criticizing the SCOTUS nomination of Harriet Miers. I relish the opportunity to debate the matter with those, like Ann, who take a stance different from mine. In fact, because I believe that serious debate is such enlightening fun, I will continue to publish views on this site that differ from mine. Sadly, Ann has taken the low road, rather than debate me on the merits of my argument in favor of Miers.

On her website today (though not in her syndicated column that contains some duplicate verbiage) she dismisses my defense of Harriet Miers on grammatical grounds. It is bad enough that she fails to deal with the substance of my argument. What makes it truly embarrassing is that she is chooses a point which is highly debatable at best. I would much rather discuss subtance rather than the fine points of grammar disputes.

-snip-

Ann would be much better off criticizing my frequent and often embarrassing typos. But best of all would be a straightforward critique of my ideas. That would be the high road. The road not taken.

Maybe I am too involved in the matter to be of sound judgment, but it seems to me that Ann has just provided support for the thesis that at least one conservative pundit trashing Miers is nothing but a pompous elitist.

By the way, Ann, if you are going to put me down as a barely-educated moron, at least click on the "contributors" link on the website whose name you dare not mention and check out my background. I have three Ivy League sheepskins on my wall, and taught at two Ivies. I don't really have to try to "sound Ivy League."

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If Newton had been a bad grammarian, would the apple have fallen up?

[conservativepoet]

I appreciate that and good point.

[traderrob6]

Are you trying to break the record for using the most page and saying as least in a single post?

[Revolting cat!]

Or is this just some mutual admiration society, unable to cope with opposing points of view?

Naw, no way!

[mountainfolk]

Watching Ann Coulter on O'Rielly tonite, I saw her as the future replacement for Maureen Dowd. Bitter and vindictive and lashing out at good people who won't do things her way. Listening to all of these pundits throwing their huge pity party because one of their selection for SC Justice was not chosen, makes me glad Pres Bush struck out on his own. I don't trust any of them to have good judgment. They have all spent too much time in DC and should get out and see what it is like to make a living where something other than running their mouths is required.

[Verginius Rufus]

Ann's attitude is understandable. President Bush has missed two golden opportunities, which may never happen again, to nominate her to the Supreme Court.

I have no Ivy League degrees, but I did manage to check my e-mail at a computer in an Ivy League college library once...that should count for something. Plus it didn't cost anything.

[loveliberty2]

On Brian Allen's page can be found several important quotations, including the following words from Thomas Jefferson:

"When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground."--Thomas Jefferson

Pundits like Coulter, egocentric as they are, surely must know that their "positions will not command a view of the whole ground," and are of little real value when they criticize the President and his nominee.

A reporter today mentioned some of Miers comments about herself, one of which included a statement that she preferred "to think before I speak." Ann Coulter might learn a lot from that lady!

[freedomdefender]

Ann may be "bravely challenging Bush," but the grounds of her challenge don't do her any credit. I heard her on Hannity yesterday and the comment that stuck out was her put-down of Miers for not going to "a top law school." This kind of snobbery is discreditable not because it's anti-egalitarian (I'm not an egalitarian when it comes to Supreme court nominees) but because it's an objectively inaccurate way to judge people's abilities. Such snobbery can be disabling, its practitioner puts herself at a disadvantage viz others by underestimating the skills of people who didn't go to the "right" schools. Many snobs, as a consequence, end up being patsies and suckers as they get taken by bright people without Ivy League degrees. In the case Mier, we have an obviously intelligent woman whose accomplishments in the practical world of business and commerce (the arena that conservatives are supposed to prize over the non-producing public sector) are of the first rank, certainly way beyond Ann's own achievements. Ann's never run a business or met a payroll; Mier has managed a 400-person lawfirm, one of Texas' largest. Ann's snobbery is probably having the effect of digging in W's heels - - he's no snob; he married a woman who went to the same school as Mier - SMU.

Ann really turned me off with her snobbish put-down of Mier. Not just or merely because it bespoke elitism and self-importance, but because it reflected a certain lack of practical intelligence and common sense.

[altura]

She needs food. She needs it now.

[woofie]

Notoriety is the mother's milk of stupidity

[Vision Thing]

Ann's attitude is understandable. President Bush has missed two golden opportunities, which may never happen again, to nominate her to the Supreme Court.

LOL!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

[sinkspur]

But in reference to your Ivy League high-horse point, I would wonder how you would feel if the Navy selected fighter pilots using the same criteria as Bush did in this pick?

I'd say the Navy wasn't very selective at all.

They let you fly, didn't they?

There. How does that feel? You're as bad as Coulter, with your elitism.

You don't know that Miers is not the best candidate for the job. Bush thinks she is, and Bush has an impeccable record of putting up top-notch candidates for the Federal bench.

And Coulter's nastiness is ruining her career.

[danmar]

Ann Coulter is one of many conservative pundits criticizing the SCOTUS nomination of Harriet Miers.

I like Ms.Coulter on many issues but her latest attempt to dismiss Ms.Miers's qualifications to the Sup Judgeship is a bit over the top IMHO.

In today's Wall Street Journal, John Cornyn wrote an excellent letter to the editorial, cautioning against a rush to judgment against Ms.Miers's qualifications for the Supreme Court position.

As he said let's meet the Lady and see for oneself about her competence to be a Supreme Court Justice.

Me thinks it is only fair to give her the benefit of the doubt whether she is qualified for the position or not.

[traderrob6]

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Or worse in her case "ignored"

[You Dirty Rats]

She's fast becoming the Right-wing Maureen Dowd, except that MoDo was better looking back in the day.

[vetvetdoug]

I agree with you but I would not say that all of the best fighter pilots in the Navy came strictly from the Academy. Ann using the point that Miers had graduated law school from SMU and not an Ivy League School alienated me and my sensibilities with respect to Ann's points. Not all of the SCOTUS members come from Ivy League schools and some of the best from obscure and lesser known colleges. Ann needs to use solid statements for her arguments against Miers like items that Miers has accomplished (or not accomplished) or said.

Miers may sink or fly under heavy scrutiny and it is the Senate's job to uncover any faults in her before she is passed or refused. I need more information and to see Miers in action before I will be convinced she is the best person for the job.

[fallujah-nuker]

"What is truly pathetic is witnessing so-called conservatives blindly waive the pom-poms over every single Bush/Republican move.

Patriots are thankful for OBJECTIVE and rational conservative national commentators like Ann Coulter, who place the nation's future and the nation's current direction far above childish "party cheerleading"."

Excellent post.

[XJarhead]

Sadly, Ann Coulter has become the conservative Al Franken.

Maybe closer to the conservative Maureen Dowd. Although to be completely honest, I'd give the edge in looks at least to a young Dowd.

[Revolting cat!]

... it makes us feel so much better about ourselves!

[freedomdefender]

I'm cable-free. How did O'Reilly handle Coulter? On his radio show, he has chastized by leftist and rightist critics of Mier.