In 2002, Ann got quite a bit of press for her criticism of Max Cleland.
In 2004, she wrote a bestseller in which she implied the entire Democratic Party was filled with traitors and in which she praised Joe McCarthy.
Ann is much more an asset than a liability. Her book had nothing to do with the loss. To think it did even in the slightest is to excuse a whole host of other things starting with the Republican Party.
I agree there were a whole host of things that contributed to the loss in 2006 -- I just don't think Ann's perceived attacks on 9/11 widows did us any good.
As I recall, Ann's criticism of Cleland and her book implying the Democratic Party was filled with "traitors" pertained to criticism of their political behavior -- not personal insults. (Personally, I don't like the word "traitor" unless it applies to someone that is literally a traitor, but I understand that type of rhetoric happens in political discourse.)
In the past, when controversy about Ann came up, I just dismissed it as Ann being Ann. Yeah, she has a sharp tongue but, so what? In my eyes, she finally "jumped the shark", for lack of a better phrase, with the Jersey Girls stuff. (And perhaps there are other things she's said that were just as harsh that I never noticed because they didn't get that kind of press.)
The bottom line is, there are those who will defend Coulter as an asset to the conservative movement, no matter what. And there are those of us who are starting to see her as a liability. I can't change your opinion about her and you aren't going to change mine. More importantly, Ann isn't going to change no matter what anyone says. In that sense, it is a wasted argument. But I do think it is important for conservatives who object to Ann's words to go on record, so we aren't all painted with her brush. And I'm afraid that is tough spot many of our candidates are now in. They have to distance themselves from Ann's words, without alienating her loyal fans.
I appreciate your perspective. I also appreciate the fact that you, unlike some members of "The Coult," can engage in a civil discussion about Coulter's impact on conservatism without turning it into a battle in which criticism of Coulter makes you a RINO or troll or whatever.