Posted on 10/08/2001 2:47:14 AM PDT by Elle Bee
Not bad, but for the record, I don't believe the lovely and articulate Ms. Coulter badmouthed NRO, I believe she simply refrained from lying when asked a direct question.
Moreover, it would appear that she quite obviously never asserted that the first amendment had literally been repealed. She was referring to the hysteria over speech and said we are "repealing the 1st Amendment WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO PASS A LAW." Allowing the "girly boys" of NRO to tell manifest lies without correction must be enraging.
Here's the relevant portion of Politically Incorrect from 9/25/01:
Eric: But, Bill, I argue with you in the sense that people who wave the flag are not necessarily unaware of what it stands for.
Bill: Not necessarily, absolutely not.
Eric: I think most people who show the flag are very aware of what it stands for.
Ann: If I could get to the point Jerry and I are dying to get to. I mean, right now, they do seem to be forgetting part of what the flag stands for, and that is on this hysteria over speech. Whether it's Jerry Falwell giving straight Christian doctrine on the Christian broadcasting network or for you saying -- I have a loose-leaf binder on the things you should have gotten in trouble for saying on this show, and that's not it.
[ Laughter ]
And my column --
Paul: Now that you bring it up.
Ann: My column's been censored. I mean, without anyone noticing --
Bill: Your column has been censored?
Ann: Oh, absolutely, by "National Review," for using the phrase, "Swarthy males." I'm not making that up. I mean, this hysteria that no one's noticing --
Bill: It would apply to a lot of this panel.
Ann: People are afraid to say anything now. I mean, they're jumping on people. We're repealing the first amendment without a law.
Jerry: Everybody sitting up here tonight has a little voice in the back of his head saying, "Be careful." And you know what? I'm not used to that voice. And you're not used to that voice.
Bill: Certainly not up here.
Jerry: And if you keep listening to that voice, or you have to, then the Taliban won.
Bill: I have to take a break 'cause I got some now.
Bill: Jerry Nachman has a quote to end our show with.
Jerry: From Peter Arno who used to say, "Never attempt subtlety in an undeveloped nation." And I'm afraid, based on what I've seen happen to you and Ann, America may be coming an undeveloped nation.
Bill: All right.
Thank you, panel.
You were terrific.
[ Applause ]
.
This line deserves repetition.
As for the points of argument, racial profiling on planes, paying special attention to swarthy males is clearly a good idea. And "converting people to Christianity" is a rather vague statement. "How?" is the question she should have been asked. That was a springboard statement, well planned but not backed up by her girly-boy editor. If he had stood by her, they both would have gained. "How do you convert them?" "Through Christian charity and missionaries, of course." "Oh. Ok."
He is a bit of a poof haired, momma's boy.
Not according to a good many freepers. Shouting people offstage, threatening sponsors, and protesting with the intent to stifle speech is good if the right political side uses those tactics. Sorry Ann, here in freeperland, First Amendment violations only occur when it is the federal government applying pressure. Silencing people through means of the market is good (threatening boycots, etc), and if you cannot understand that you shouldn't be in the pundit business.
Oh yeah, /sarcasm.
As a fan of intelligent, pithy writing with a nice touch of irony (and occasional hyperbole) I'll stay with Ann Coulter. Jonah Goldberg can go pound sand. Cheesy arguments from NR/Goldberg and obviously a clash of egos - which Ann has won. Go Ann!
I guess I'm a victim of cultural brainwashing, but this whole thing reads like "wimpy boss has hots for strong female employee and is pissed she doesn't return the sentiment." I have this creepy supsicion that Jonah has snapshots of Ann tacked up all over his bedroom...
Goldberg was right on. "The problem with Ann's first column was its sloppiness of expression and thought…she failed as writer."
She did fail as a writer. Except for a couple of cute lines her article was incoherrent. I still can't figure it out, no matter how far up to heaven her legs go. Try to deconflict your brain and your libido and it will all be a lot clearer.
I have real problems with the decline in the standard of writing at NR since WFB's retirement from daily editorial control - but not writing like WFB is not a moral failing or a demonstration of lack of intestinal fortitude. "Girly-Boys!" We owe a great debt to NR making the conservative movement intellectually respectable - and socially acceptable - and before WFB's appearance on the world stage it was neither . The NR crowd has taken a lot of heat over the years for rather courageous positions and their defense has never been to hitch their skirts up and show off a bit more thigh while throwing a public temper tantrum of the kind that only a good-looking blonde can get away with.
One would not expect a bunch of pubescent Ivy League males to understand that they've been had by the oldest trick in the world. But shame on Coulter for trying it and shame on you for falling for it.
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