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Ann Coulter Hurts the Cause
The American Thinker ^ | 6 15 06 | J.R. Dunn

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anncoulter; annhaters; coulter; hasntreadthebookyet; jealous; jrdumb; jrdunn; ronaldreagan; rushlimbaugh; squishymiddle
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To: Kitten Festival; All

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.


281 posted on 06/15/2006 6:37:05 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://xanga.com/rwfromkansas)
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To: sinkspur

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.


282 posted on 06/15/2006 6:37:05 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: sinkspur

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.


283 posted on 06/15/2006 6:37:35 PM PDT by Central Scrutiniser ("You can't really dust for vomit.")
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To: RobbyS
Coulter's style is like that of the liberal left.

Coulter doesn't lie, and footnotes like crazy to back up what she says. Liberals just make $hit up.

284 posted on 06/15/2006 6:38:27 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Central Scrutiniser

Buckley is retired; he's history.


285 posted on 06/15/2006 6:38:29 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: bfree

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...


286 posted on 06/15/2006 6:38:34 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Central Scrutiniser
I love Buckley, but he used to think that Ronald Reagan was an "idiot cowboy".
287 posted on 06/15/2006 6:39:34 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Kitten Festival

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.


288 posted on 06/15/2006 6:39:58 PM PDT by Joan Kerrey
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To: All
STILL waiting for someone to argue with me about Reagan............

crickets chirping.......
289 posted on 06/15/2006 6:41:00 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: durasell

What are you talking about?


290 posted on 06/15/2006 6:41:10 PM PDT by bfree (Liberals make great hood ornaments,hit one today)
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To: durasell
I agree with about 50% of what you wrote -- the other 50% isn't worth debating, except that I do believe it's all about politics and votes.

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.

291 posted on 06/15/2006 6:42:04 PM PDT by meyer (A vote for amnesty is a vote against America.)
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To: bfree

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.


292 posted on 06/15/2006 6:42:59 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Pukin Dog

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.


293 posted on 06/15/2006 6:43:51 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: meyer

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.


294 posted on 06/15/2006 6:45:26 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: durasell
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.

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.

295 posted on 06/15/2006 6:45:44 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: RobbyS
I agree she is not a good debater. The same is true of Limbaugh. Both are thinkers, not just fast talkers and glib.

I remember that Rush used to say that you had to listen to him for a month before you could really get what he was saying.

Coulter should package her book with a pocket dictionary.
296 posted on 06/15/2006 6:48:03 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

Appeal, likeability, is a big factor in media success.


297 posted on 06/15/2006 6:49:59 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: All
No takers on the Reagan reference, but I must go now.

The coals are hot, the beer is cold, the salmon is seasoned, and I have more pressing duties.

Bye!
298 posted on 06/15/2006 6:50:43 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: ichabod1

Wow, you said it.


299 posted on 06/15/2006 6:50:50 PM PDT by Actually_in_Tokyo
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To: antonia
the one with Matt Lauer is priceless.

Where's Katie? Did she leave or something? LOL. Thanks for the link.

300 posted on 06/15/2006 6:51:49 PM PDT by Samwise (All that is needed for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.)
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