I did indeed critique the critic, and likewise, so did you.
Ann is oft times brash in her opinions. However, in my eyes, she is no more so than Molly Ivins, for whom the editor of this insignificant, left-wing rag makes great noise in championing as a voice of reason. The editor makes a pathetic attempt to inflate his own importance by claiming to have "fired" Ann Coulter, which is silly in the extreme, given the the fact that Ann's columns are picked up by many nationally circulated publications and, as a bestselling author, is self employed. In the fluid business of syndicated opinion, columnists are picked up and dropped all the time. This editor's self aggrandizement can only be seen as just that.
Sticking to the topic is essential for good communication. Anyone can obfuscate, even you it seems.
I have made my opinion known as it pertains to the topic of this thread.
In reference to the "tangential" topic of writing style, you have used the word "obfuscate". I do not think that word means what you think it means. Better words include: "redirect", "shepherd", "lead", "steer", "expand", etc.