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Coulter's a satirist -- really?
LA Times ^ | 26 June 2006 | Meghan Daum

Posted on 06/25/2006 7:49:09 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher

LIFE IS HARD for satirists. Like high school poets or people who get aroused when they put on furry mascot costumes, no one understands them. Back in 1729, Jonathan Swift was almost universally reviled when he suggested, in "A Modest Proposal," that the antidote to urban squalor was to eat the children of poor Irish immigrants and use their skin to make "admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen." If only Fox News had been around; Sean Hannity would have dined out (so to speak) for weeks on the skirmish.

Today, of course, "A Modest Proposal" is considered one of the greatest works of political satire in the English language. But isn't that always the way? Comedy is tragedy plus time, which may explain why Ann Coulter, the Cruella De Vil of blond, ectomorphic wonkdom, is getting such a beating by the liberal and (more important) tragically literal mainstream media. Such is the price of being in the cultural vanguard. If you think Swift was cutting-edge, imagine having a wit so dry that even you haven't yet realized you're a satirist.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anncoulter; coulter; godless; latimes; left; meghandaum; satire
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To: goldstategop
>> Ann Coulter IS a satirist

I loved to write satire when I was young, but don't bother any more for a simple reason. You can't satirize people -- liberals -- who have no core belief. You can't ridicule the weird beliefs of people who actually will, and do, believe any weird thing already. You can't satirize people who are more outlandish than any spoof you can dream up.

Ann is not that type of writer anyway. She's an expositor, a truth teller, a teacher, with a witty take on things. Wit is hard to define, but we can all appreciate how much work and intelligence go into it. After all, you can't make witty comments without an intimate grasp of the subject. You have to first research your subjects and think through the issues. You have to stay up with the news and spot breaks and trends and illustrative items. You have to see the malarkey and contradictions and buffoonery in the political world. And it helps to do it all faster and deeper than anyone else. Then your wit will be armed and ready.

Ann is the best in the biz today.

41 posted on 06/25/2006 9:44:05 PM PDT by T'wit (It is not possible to "go too far" criticizing liberals. No matter what you say, they're worse.)
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To: pennconservative
pennconservative said: "Coulter is like the cheerleader that entertains the masses while others do the work of winning the game. "

I think you are seriously underestimating the importance of what Ann accomplishes. Her most recent work has helped focus people on the liberal tactic of adopting spokespeople who cannot be challenged without risk of attack due to the "special" character of the spokesperson.

Kerry can't be challenged because he was in VietNam (Did you know that?).

Feinstein can't be attacked because she was practically a witness to the shootings of Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone.

Brady can't be attacked because her husband has sacrificed the quality of his life to a crazed gunman.

Without their victim status, who would listen to such people?

Ann once said "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity". This was soon after 9/11. Later she was able to add that the first two items had become official US foreign policy. She deserves credit for having assessed the situation quickly and accurately and for having the guts to say what the solution is. She didn't wait for someone else to say what we should do. THAT is leadership.

42 posted on 06/25/2006 9:47:04 PM PDT by William Tell (RKBA for California (rkba.members.sonic.net) - Volunteer by contacting Dave at rkba@sonic.net)
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To: Toidylop

Seems the best way to survive is to probably lie about circulation.

I would not be shocked if those that advertise with her are told it has about double the real circulation or more.


43 posted on 06/25/2006 10:00:49 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: William Tell; pennconservative

And, don't forget......if a liberal is losing an argument with a conservative.....the Conservative is a RACIST!


44 posted on 06/25/2006 10:19:32 PM PDT by goodnesswins ( "the left can only take power through deception." (and it seems Hillary & Company are the masters)
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To: Aussie Dasher
It's difficult to do a satire of Al Gore and his wacky movie. The left is so far out in Kookville that telling the truth about them is funny enough.
45 posted on 06/25/2006 10:33:14 PM PDT by Maurice Tift
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Meghan seemingly projects the beating her company is getting.

Gn 22:17 your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies

Newspaper sale$ decline should be blamed on the Journos

. . .

People who work at journalism full time ought to be able to do a better job of it than people for whom it is a hobby. But that's not going to happen as long as we "professional" journalists ignore stories we don't like and try to hide our mistakes. We think of ourselves as "gatekeepers." But there is not much future in being a gatekeeper when the walls are down.


Study: Web is the No. 1 media - 06/06/2006

Moody's cuts Tribune to "junk" on share buyback - 06/15/2006
Moody's downgrades Tribune long-term debt ratings - 05/23/2006
Tribune consolidated revenue fell 3% in April - 05/17/2006
Tribune 1Q Profit Slides - 04/13/2006
L.A. Times Drags on Tribune Revenue (200 *more* layoffs expected) - 12/02/2005
Arrests made in Newsday circulation scandal - 06/16/2005
Los Angeles Times Reports March Circulation (Down, down, down) - 05/02/2005
Tribune Company (LA Times parent) Admits Inflated Circulation Numbers At Two Papers - 06/23/2004
46 posted on 06/25/2006 10:39:07 PM PDT by Milhous (Twixt truth and madness lies but a sliver of a stream.)
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To: pennconservative
In that, the whole flap about the "Jersey Girls" put Ann's identification of the unimpeachable spokesperson phenomenon front and center. The power of this book has been felt. The more the Liberals whine about this and try to make her out as a screech and a fool the more people hear her message and are immunized against this ploy in the future.

Her point in the book was to fight the establishment of atheism as the official religion of the US, but as usual, the public conscience was much more fascinated by the problem of Cindy Sheehan being able to get any amount of air time and the mothers of the other 2500 lost soldiers have almost no voice at all.. because Cindy serves the interests to advance the story like that the liberal media wants to tell..

So Ann has established herself as a true mover of events and the shared political mind. Not just a lightweight cheerleader.

47 posted on 06/25/2006 11:48:55 PM PDT by dalight
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To: William Tell
Ann once said "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity".

She was merely reversing the Muslims' stated agenda. That was the satire. Missed by everyone.

48 posted on 06/26/2006 12:52:46 AM PDT by Misterioso
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To: Aussie Dasher
After reading the article it sounds like Daum, Meghan is in a snit. You'll note that she doesn't refute anything the book says. Shadowboxing.

My Misspent Youth by Meghan Daum
Publisher Comments:
Daum delves into the center of things while closely examining the detritus that spills out along the way. She speaks to questions at the root of the contemporary experience, from the search for authenticity and interpersonal connection in a society defined by consumerism and media; to the disenchantment of working in a "glamour profession"; to the catastrophic effects of living among New York City's terminal hipsters. With precision and well-balanced irony, Daum implicates herself as readily as she does the targets that fascinate and horrify her.

Don't ask me, the publisher is the one who knows her, not me.

49 posted on 06/26/2006 2:41:35 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: Jaysun
Have a sandwich babe - several of them.
Any comments about Stacy Keibler?
(check out what she's washing on #3)

About the same body type and guys just go GA-GA over her.
I don't get it.

50 posted on 06/26/2006 2:50:15 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: Milhous
We think of ourselves as "gatekeepers."
Gatekeepers keep things in as well as they keep things out.

But there is not much future in being a gatekeeper when the walls are down.
Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms. Make a clean sweep down fore and aft.

51 posted on 06/26/2006 2:56:47 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan
Is she serious or just having fun?
I guess the possibility that both things could happen simultaneously never crossed the mind of the questioner.
52 posted on 06/26/2006 2:59:14 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: Aussie Dasher

Just the mental image of Helen Thomas (with or without makeup) is enough to scar me for life. Thanks a lot, you guys!


53 posted on 06/26/2006 4:47:23 AM PDT by seanmerc
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To: philman_36
Good point!

It seems clear to me that Ann is serious; but that doesn't keep her from having a little fun. Often after making her point in a serious way, she does it again with a litte humor.

Here's something Ann said that got a Fox lady upset. Something like: After Zarqawi's death, everyone moves up one. The number 2 man becomes number 1, number 3 man becomes number 2, and Howard Dean moves into the 84th position.

At one and the same time, it's an almost over the top joke, and it's serious commentary. Do you remember John Kerry's picture in the Hall of Foreign Heroes in Ho Chi Min city?

The Foxlady spluttered a 'do you really mean that?" and "He's a good American. He's a Democrat."

Ann's words were so much better than those of her public chastiser.
54 posted on 06/26/2006 5:45:18 AM PDT by ChessExpert (MSM: America's one party press)
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To: Aussie Dasher

I can almost envision Ann lying across the top of a piano singing "Thanks for the free publicityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...."


55 posted on 06/26/2006 5:51:11 AM PDT by Kenton
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To: Poser

I have believed for over 7 years that Liberalism is a religion. The liberals are a faith group, not a group bound together by ethics. Actually, they're a group bound together by a lack of ethics.

Meghan is in orbit and suffering from o2 deprivation. Perhaps we should send her a hockey helmet.


56 posted on 06/26/2006 5:52:25 AM PDT by Loud Mime ("Countdown": A documentary about Keith Olbermann's dwindling IQ.....)
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To: Aussie Dasher
," that the antidote to urban squalor was to eat the children of poor Irish immigrants and use their skin to make "admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen."

LOL... some years back I printed up a bunch of "stealth" bumper stickers to put on the backs of bumper sticker- bestooned hippie cars around Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. They looked like your typical college hippie message until you read them carefully... they said "FEED THE HOMELESS TO THE HUNGRY...

57 posted on 06/26/2006 5:56:13 AM PDT by Kenton
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To: William Tell
Brady can't be attacked because her husband has sacrificed the quality of his life to a crazed gunman.

I understand Fox has signed an agreement to produce a cartoon version of the Jim Brady story, starring Homer Simpson in the lead...

58 posted on 06/26/2006 6:00:04 AM PDT by Kenton
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To: philman_36
....from the search for authenticity

Liberals are always searching fot "authenticity", what ever that means.

59 posted on 06/26/2006 7:27:53 AM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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To: Rembrandt
Meanwhile, two or three people have gone to see Algore's idiotic movie.

But,but,but Gore killed Manbearpig and people are super stoked on him even if they don't know it!

60 posted on 06/26/2006 11:02:40 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (What is it about "illegal" you don't understand?)
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