Ann Coulter

[sohotrightnow]

I am watching the anti-Christ on Hannity and Colmes right now. Anybody who respects her or what she says is plain and simple trash. How dare she or her supporters say it is poltical satire. It is pure evil. Her new book is a disgrace and the fact that conservatives are now distancing themselves from her speaks volumes.

[grinderpete]

I am watching the anti-Christ on Hannity and Colmes right now. Anybody who respects her or what she says is plain and simple trash. How dare she or her supporters say it is poltical satire. It is pure evil. Her new book is a disgrace and the fact that conservatives are now distancing themselves from her speaks volumes.

I think she is crazy as well, but she sells books. Controversy often does, and that is all she is trying to do - Sell Books.

[DanGenck]

Radicalism on either end of the political spectrum (both home and abroad) should be approached with extreme caution.

[Sonny]

She says things to obviously draw a reaction (like many people in the media or political arena), but there is a lot of truth in what she says.

The four 9/11 widows conducting multiple public press conferences to push their own political agenda is excessive any way you slice it. And if anyone try to call them on their own comments they are instantly dismissed. They are shielded from any criticism because they have suffered a tragic loss.

In a similar fashion, the left likes to trot out Senator Murtha (Vietnam Vet) to talk about Iraq. And he is immune from any criticism because he has served in a war.

Those from the left like to "talk" about free speech - but when people exercise their right to that free speech and criticize someone from the left's viewpoints - They catch flak.

[sohotrightnow]

Fair point Sonny. However, what if these widows supported George Bush? Do you think people from the left would chide them? Hard to say as they do not support him, but I would think not.

I think the reason Murtha is not catching flak is because the people he is "calling out" have the same amount of military service as I do, aka ZERO.

[Sonny]

Fair point Sonny. However, what if these widows supported George Bush? Do you think people from the left would chide them? Hard to say as they do not support him, but I would think not.

Don't really know... I think many (not all) from the left would chide George Bush if he walked downtown in Berkeley, CA handing out leaflets for the ACLU.

I think the reason Murtha is not catching flak is because the people he is "calling out" have the same amount of military service as I do, aka ZERO.

I have zero as well. But you don't have to have served to have an opinion.

[Rob Graff]

Sonny:

You and I know we are on differing sides of the political aisle. We'll disagree. That's fine - and the key is we can debate it like adults. Coulter is without that skill.

Coulter can and should say what she desires. But her speech - IMHO - is toxic because her goal is to demonize and marginalize those who disagree with her world view. Her tomes are designed to whip up frenzy against those who she disagrees with by ignoring their ideas and resorting to accusations of the basest sort -

"Traitor"

"Godless"

Are not words that need be said, or are relevant to any discussion of what problems this country faces or what we need to do about them. While I don't find I agree with everything he writes, I've found Lou Dobbs column on CNN to be provocitive reading lately. It is the type of commentary that sparks debate and not the type that further divides this country.

Here is a section of Mr. Dobbs most recent writing - if this is too long, please feel free to just refer to the article that can be found at

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/06/dobbs.june7/index.html

We're fighting a war against radical Islamist terrorists with ongoing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, we're drowning in debt from our growing record trade and budget deficits and we're watching our public education system fail a generation of students. Congress has yet to act on an effective solution to our illegal immigration crisis as millions of illegal aliens flood our borders every year, and our nation's borders and ports are still woefully insecure, four and a half years after the September 11 attacks.

I believe most Americans are far more concerned about their declining real wages and the lack of real creation of quality jobs than the insulting insertion of wedge issues into the national dialogue and political agenda.

. . .

The president and the Senate's Republican leadership are now claiming that an amendment to our Constitution is necessary to save the American family. No matter how you feel about the issue, and many of us feel deeply, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is utter and complete nonsense. It's an insult to the intelligence of every voter, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

While Ms. Coulter has every right to speak and be heard, America's conservatives can do better than Ms. Coulter as a mouthpiece for their ideas.

[TexOle]

One of her jobs is to attack Liberals. She is the Conservative version of a Michael Moore. You have to take a lot of what many of these people say with a grain of salt. I almost want to see her debate Michael Moore.

[Rob Graff]

I'd sell tickets to that grudge match. 5 minutes is the over/under number before one tries to punch the other, and I'd bet on the under.
Rob

[sohotrightnow]

Opinion is one thing...policy is another. The Bush Administration by and large has no military service. Murtha does. That is the distinction. He knows what war is like, they do not.

[sohotrightnow]

Don't really know... I think many (not all) from the left would chide George Bush if he walked downtown in Berkeley, CA handing out leaflets for the ACLU.

That would be a sight to see! On a similar note, GW is the only president of the last 60 years not to visit San Francisco, so I highly doubt we will be seeing him in Berkeley any time soon.

[grinderpete]

One of her jobs is to attack Liberals. She is the Conservative version of a Michael Moore. You have to take a lot of what many of these people say with a grain of salt. I almost want to see her debate Michael Moore.

I would like to see them have a hot dog eating contest.

Rob - Lou Dobbs is definitely one of the better journalists out right now. good link.

I think the thing that people don't realize about alot of the people on the political fringes is that most of them are just trying to make money. They just happen to have right or left leaning feelings and realize that yelling isn't enough now. They have to push everyones buttons - on both sides. It is kind-of like when we were kids and figured out what really bothered our siblings (sorry to those who don't have siblings), you knew the reaction you were going to get, so when you wanted that reaction, you did it. These "journalists" are just doing the same thing, trying to sell books and get a rise out of people.

[Rob Graff]

Gp;

Glad you like Dobbs - like I wrote, I don't always agree, but he always makes me think, and doesn't mind taking the written rapier to each sides soft parts.

The problem is that we, as a country, have not "Reclaimed" the political debate from these "politainers" (if you don't mind me coining a phrase).

Instead of doing the work to educate ourselves about the issues, how they impact us, our families, our jobs etc..., we sit around watching sports, 24, housewives etc... and allow the politainers to give us political soundbites to insulate ourselves from challenging ideas that might cause us to rethink our positions on issues.


Rob

[grinderpete]

Gp;

Glad you like Dobbs - like I wrote, I don't always agree, but he always makes me think, and doesn't mind taking the written rapier to each sides soft parts.

The problem is that we, as a country, have not "Reclaimed" the political debate from these "politainers" (if you don't mind me coining a phrase).

Instead of doing the work to educate ourselves about the issues, how they impact us, our families, our jobs etc..., we sit around watching sports, 24, housewives etc... and allow the politainers to give us political soundbites to insulate ourselves from challenging ideas that might cause us to rethink our positions on issues.


Rob

And honestly that is why the Republican do a better job at getting thier message across. Attacking gay marriage or calling for tax cuts are lots easier to hear in a 15-30 second sound bite than explaining why tax cuts shouldnt happen or educating people about the problems with drilling in Alaska. (These are not my feelings above, just saying what seems to be each side's basic issues as of late). I think that the war in Iraq and the continued problems have given the Dem. an opportunity to make that 15 second soundbite.

[KnoxVegas]

These boards are a lot more fun when they are politized.

Not a sermon. Just a thought!

Coulter is a dink, BTW!