Defying Ann Coulter

http://www.intellectualconservative.com ^ | Thursday, 19 September 2002 | Brian S. Wise

[joesbucks]

No one gravitated on the small AM stations around the nation until Limbaugh showed up. In many markets he began on a washed up station and pumped new life into them. As his sucess appeared assured, the big stations suddenly started paying attention and offering their time to his show.

But why was Limbaugh sucessful, even on stations that no one listened or wanted to listen to? Because he had something the listeners wanted.

I was an early Limbaugh fan, and I have deep problems with some of his positions on the issues. But I'm a fan because of how he presents his positions, how he structures his show, and I listen for more than just to hear someone slap liberals around. He not only is informative, but he's entertaining.

Coulter can't claim that. Neither could Keyes. Coulter lobs her oneliner and then gloats over the attention it creates. To suceed in the business of ideas and become a player vs a periodic guest, you must be more than one dimension. Coulter only has that one dimension.

[WaterDragon]

I suspect that those who reject Coulter have submitted to political correctness more than they want to admit. It's no fun 'fessing up that you're a wuss. Much preferable to assume "righteousness" and damn the exposer.

[BrianS.Wise]

How much of that do you think is due to the fact we've only ever seen her for 6 or 7 minutes at a time? She held up pretty well on Judith Regan (the show) and that was an interview of fair length. Do you have the suspicion she couldn't hang with a 60 minute interview?

[BrianS.Wise]

A fine point.

[joesbucks]

Not suggesting we blame the victim.

Maybe her medium is books. Sort of like Rush and his TV show. It largely was a flop after the newness wore off. It died. Even die hards that recorded it stopped after a while. It just wasn't that great of a show. His medium is radio.

But being a great book selling doesn't translate into being a great day after day media personality. And besides, I bet she has an agent plugging such opportunities to liberal tv and conservative radio opportunities.

[joesbucks]

I don't think she could day after day. Whether it's being the interviewer or the interviewee.

[BrianS.Wise]

I agree, though it should be said, in fairness, that the conservative who could is a rare animal, indeed.

[habs4ever]

It's good to see the AmSpec is back after Tyrrell ran it into the ground.I can only hope that his ego is under control now to not let that happen again.

The plans for the parade are well under way in Montreal, Arne ;-)

[skeeter]

Fact is most liberals need a good arse kicking. Your typical republican doesn't have the stones, and the truly conservative don't have the platform.

Ann uses invective to be heard above the noise, to draw attention to falsehoods passing for truth and the tactics by which they are spread, all to the benefit of the general school of thought we at FR supposedly share. As far as I can tell she is effective.

For a conservative, whats not to like?

[Thommas]

Wow! I hadn't seen that series of photographs before. I'm in love for the 839th time.

[BrianS.Wise]

Exactly.

[lavaroise]

Savage dart throwing at Ann. No guts to come up close to tell it to her face, just throwing darts from his bunker, asking to be sobered up again by a whiping Slander II report.

[BrianS.Wise]

Savage dart throwing? Didn't you read the two paragraphs forwarded with the line, "In defense of Ann Coulter"? And how am I supposed to say these things to her face when I'm too busy rooting through her trash? A man has priorities. Lastly, if this of all things produces another effort on par with "Slander," then it's all for something grand.

[John Lenin]

I go back to when Ann first made the libs squirm with her statement that we invade muslim countrys and onvert them to Christianity. Anybody who took that statement litterally bit on her sucker punch. She was just trying to point out how radical the Muslim agenda is and how if a Christian were to say what the Muslims are already practicing how outraged people would be.

[gcruse]

I know, I know. ;)

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

And I am a FAN of Sean Hannity, Micheal Savage, etc.

How can you refer to Ann's style as "scorched-Earth" like but be a fan of Michael Savage? I personally enjoy both but can't understand your connection considering your conviction.

[joesbucks]

Brian S. Wise wrote: I agree, though it should be said, in fairness, that the conservative who could is a rare animal, indeed.

Response: But why is that. Conservatives seem to be so one dimensional. I believe that is a major reason why the 94 congressional revolution lost so much of it's early steam. It wasn't the that the population rejected what was on the agenda, it was the messengers. Those are the people who gave the media the sound bites that killed the Gingrich revolution. When you gave the media soundbites, it then was fodder to scare off those who were on early.

Ann Coulter is part of the soundbite mentality. I don't disagree she has something to contribute, but the scorched earth presentation isn't attractive to those who don't know her.

And she even openly admits that much of what she says is designed to draw attention. When you live in a soundbite world, if you going to advance an agenda, then you've got to craft your soundbites a little more carefully.

[GeekDejure]

OH NO! Dammit!

Hmmm. . . meeth inks ewe men tut ipe "OWN OH" !!! ;-))

[BrianS.Wise]

It's two separate entities, politicians and talk show hosts; not everyone, regardless of their political stripes, can be a decent talk show host, because it takes a certain innate talent not many people have. Either you have it, or you don't; I don't think she does.

[BrianS.Wise]

The contention here is, I typed what I meant purely by accident ... and it might be right ...