Posted on 06/15/2006 10:12:05 AM PDT by Kitten Festival
Let me ask you this: when, prior to last week, was the last time you heard of the Jersey Girls? I can’t give a definite answer, which in itself is telling. Not that I was paying any large amount of attention, but there was a lot of noise in between the Afghan and Iraqi campaigns, intense media play building up to the 2004 election, which they did their damndest to throw to Kerry, and then… nothing.
They’d shot their bolt, they had their fifteen minutes and more, and that was the end of it. Until last week when Ann Coulter, acting unilaterally, put them back on the front pages with an attack so obnoxious that it immediately (and unjustly – it was the Girls themselves, after all, who debased their victim status for political purposes) threw all sympathy in their direction. A free ticket to a second act. Not to mention providing Madame Hillary with an opportunity to pose as, of all things, the defender of civility.
Thanks a lot, Ann.
Conservatives used to be known for this kind of thing. Much of this was the media’s doing – at any conservative gathering, be it a gun show or a political convention, reporters will make a beeline for the guy in full camo gear or wearing two dozen anti-UN buttons. But conservatives played their part.
The classic figure here is Coulter’s idol, Joe McCarthy. Bellowing about Communists you couldn’t produce (and it cannot be repeated often enough that McCarthy bagged nobody – the Party infiltrators had been cleaned out by the time he showed up) was bad enough. Doing it in an ill-cut Chicago gangland suit with a five-o’clock shadow and fifth of Jim Beam under your belt simply turned it into a circus.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
I like Ann, but my word, to go after the 9/11 widows is just silly.
We can shoot our mouths off on here at those phonies, but it was just insanely stupid for her to attack them.
It is a battle you simply CAN'T WIN. Nobody will listen to you, even though we are right.
It is not a battle worth fighting, but by speaking, now she has made them saints.
Coulter's style is like that of the liberal left. That's why she gets their attention. Too many conservatives thing that shouting is wrong. They had rather lose the argument than raise their voices. Ironically, when they did raise their voices when Harriet Miers name was proposed, they got the President's attention. Sometimes you have to take off the gloves, even if you get your hands dirty.
Dude, you are up against a cult.
I think Ann is not good for conservatives, publicity seeking, bomb throwing stunt authors aren't needed just because the other side has them.
I'll take the Buckley side, logic, reason, class, etc.
Coulter doesn't lie, and footnotes like crazy to back up what she says. Liberals just make $hit up.
Buckley is retired; he's history.
But the American people are paying her millions.
With nearly uncanny reliability the amount a celebrity/personality/sports star/actor gets paid is proportional to the amount of income they are able to generate. Coulter is not paid nor generates as much as the average morning talk show host...
Thanks a lot, Ann.
She said what needed to be said and when she said it people listened whether they liked what they heard or not.
I'd say that's pretty effective communication. Cruel?
I think some of the rhetoric foaming out of the mouths of these 4 gals is just as cruel. If the President and the administration are fair game for insults and gross personal and outrageous partisan attacks then these 4 gals are fair game. They've gained notariety and fame from being victims and as victims they and the MSM seem to think they have license to bash away in partisan attacks without being challenged. Too many of the PC crowd are afraid to challenge. Coulter wasn't so in my book she deserves praise, not scorn.
What are you talking about?
Fair enough. Out here in "flyover" country, it's viewed a bit differently in terms of politics and votes.
Coulter broke a fundamental rule of "media celebrity," which is never, ever come down hard on "normal people." The case can be made that the widows are no longer "normal people," since walking into the spotlight. However, they do come off as "normal" and that's what matters to viewers and readers.
I've got to disagree there - the only "rule" Coulter broke is that she ticked off a number of media elitists by uncovering the typical leftist exploit. The "Jersey Girls" are far from normal people, having made their own effort to walk into the media spotlight with fresh taxpayer-funded death money in hand. They harnessed the spotlight, just as Sheehan and the rest of the leftists do, taking advantage of their "tragic" past to create their own political sounding board. I don't see them as "normal" and I don't think that the middle 3/4 of the country sees that. Perhaps those that find the media to be very truthful might fall for the act, but I think most Americans see through the ploy. Coulter's writings reinforce the notion that folks like the Jersey Girls are nothing but tools for the left.
What are you talking about?
If you ran a survey among Americans as to who is better liked, Coulter or Couric, then Couric would win hands down. Sad, but true.
That's content, not style. Coulter's approach is sort of like that which one sees in the House of Commons, but more sarcasm than irony and a lot of slang. I don't think she is actually a good debater. She tends to get emotional and shrill.It arises from her sincerity. But give her a place to plant her feet and she can be really great.
Fair enough. Out here in "flyover" country, it's viewed a bit differently in terms of politics and votes.
Okay, that's interesting. Can you elaborate? Please.
Same thing would be true if it was about Limbaugh versus Larry King. King would win. Limbaugh would still kick King's ass ratings wise. Likability does not ultimately determine success. Larry King is a blithering fool, but more people love him then they do Limbaugh.
Appeal, likeability, is a big factor in media success.
Wow, you said it.
Where's Katie? Did she leave or something? LOL. Thanks for the link.
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