Well, I *tried* to read Ann Coulter... Gack!
I'm was thinking about the fact that I'm likely to read Al Franken's new book soon, but that maybe I should try to be more Fair and Balanced™ and see what the other side has to say. It is, after all, too easy sometimes to simply be a choir member when someone else is preaching to the choir.
I'm certain there are things I'm wrong about. I'm certain that there's information out there that, while I'm not likely to undergo any radical conversions, would reshape some of my opinions. We're all guilty of seeing the world through our own favorite filters, so I'm thinking someone like Ann Coulter probably has a few words to say that learn from.
That's still hypothetically true. But I just can't slog through any more of "Slander" than the dozen or so pages I managed to read. What is so amazing -- amazing in a gawking at a smoldering fifty car pile-up kind of way -- is how thoroughly, utterly hypocritical this author is capable of being without even a touch of self-aware irony.
She lambastes the left for having no ideas and no intellectual foundation. Liberals are, apparently, nothing more than a bunch of whining, sneering, back-biting imbeciles who've done nothing but stand in the way of just and Godly conservatives in their quest for building a great nation. Liberals are apparently incapable of offering any sound reasons for any of their positions. How does Coulter demonstrate this...?
By whining, sneering, and throwing insults. Guilt by association. All liberals are guilty of any one liberal's failings. She compiles laundry lists of sins of the Left -- a pathetically easy thing to do with any large group or movement -- as if this really means anything without deeper analysis or honest introspection about the wrong-doings of one's own political allies.
Take a simple thing: Has anyone on the left ever compared Reagan or Bush to Hitler? Of course someone has. I've heard Clinton compared to Hitler too -- but let's not muddy the waters with inconvenient facts. If anyone anywhere on the Left has ever made such a comparison, that clearly demonstrates the entire liberal movement is vicious, crazed, and has no sense of proportion -- as opposed, it would seem, to calm, well-reasoned paragons of conservative virtues like Ann Coulter.
What's scary after reading (as much as I could stand of) this book is thinking of the people out there who eat this stuff up with a "Rah, rah! Go get 'em Ann!" kind of attitude. This stuff is pure vitriol. Well, maybe not pure. Maybe 80-90%. I can't be sure because what I did absorb was so vile that digging further for any gems of wisdom or reason would have been like fishing around with my bare hands trying to pull nice smooth marbles out of a bowl full of razor blades.
I'm certain there are things I'm wrong about. I'm certain that there's information out there that, while I'm not likely to undergo any radical conversions, would reshape some of my opinions. We're all guilty of seeing the world through our own favorite filters, so I'm thinking someone like Ann Coulter probably has a few words to say that learn from.
That's still hypothetically true. But I just can't slog through any more of "Slander" than the dozen or so pages I managed to read. What is so amazing -- amazing in a gawking at a smoldering fifty car pile-up kind of way -- is how thoroughly, utterly hypocritical this author is capable of being without even a touch of self-aware irony.
She lambastes the left for having no ideas and no intellectual foundation. Liberals are, apparently, nothing more than a bunch of whining, sneering, back-biting imbeciles who've done nothing but stand in the way of just and Godly conservatives in their quest for building a great nation. Liberals are apparently incapable of offering any sound reasons for any of their positions. How does Coulter demonstrate this...?
By whining, sneering, and throwing insults. Guilt by association. All liberals are guilty of any one liberal's failings. She compiles laundry lists of sins of the Left -- a pathetically easy thing to do with any large group or movement -- as if this really means anything without deeper analysis or honest introspection about the wrong-doings of one's own political allies.
Take a simple thing: Has anyone on the left ever compared Reagan or Bush to Hitler? Of course someone has. I've heard Clinton compared to Hitler too -- but let's not muddy the waters with inconvenient facts. If anyone anywhere on the Left has ever made such a comparison, that clearly demonstrates the entire liberal movement is vicious, crazed, and has no sense of proportion -- as opposed, it would seem, to calm, well-reasoned paragons of conservative virtues like Ann Coulter.
What's scary after reading (as much as I could stand of) this book is thinking of the people out there who eat this stuff up with a "Rah, rah! Go get 'em Ann!" kind of attitude. This stuff is pure vitriol. Well, maybe not pure. Maybe 80-90%. I can't be sure because what I did absorb was so vile that digging further for any gems of wisdom or reason would have been like fishing around with my bare hands trying to pull nice smooth marbles out of a bowl full of razor blades.
Comments
p.s. requires RealPlayer to listen, patience to download, and a sense of humor to appreciate.
"Try someone like P.J. O'Rourke as a counterpoint.
P.J O'Rourke was once asked by an interviewer if he felt offended to be called a Nazi.?
He paused for a moment and replied.
"I used to be offended at the thought, but I realized how many people have sexual fantasies of being tied to a bed and being whipped by a beautiful blonde dressed in a cute nazi outfit....Besides, I can't think of anyone wishing to be tied to a bed and whipped by a pinko "
P.J.O'Rourke
Originally posted by shetline
What's scary after reading (as much as I could stand of) this book is thinking of the people out there who eat this stuff up with a "Rah, rah! Go get 'em Ann!" kind of attitude.
You really should check out the message board at www.anncoulter.org You have to register to view it these days, but its worth it just to get a picture of how rabid Ann's fans are. They make the most conservative AO posters look like Noam Chomsky.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
I can't imagine that the diametrically opposed force to Al Franken is Ann Coulter. She's just waaaaaaaay too extreme, probably as much for the notoriety as anything else. Try someone like P.J. O'Rourke as a counterpoint.
Parliament of Whores is a good book.
One thing he said in there (and I am paraphrasing) is something about how Democrats promise you everything if you elect them, then tax you so you can get some of it. Republicans say govt doesn't work, and when elected, prove it.
Ann Coulter: Nutcase
You know who I really don't like? Ann Coulter.
He shows how she's a total hypocrit and master liar.
And he's funny while doing it too.
Originally posted by chu_bakka
I just got Al Franken's book yesterday... he does 2 chapters on Ann Coulter... he rips her to shreds.
Ann Coulter: Nutcase
You know who I really don't like? Ann Coulter.
He shows how she's a total hypocrit and master liar.
And he's funny while doing it too.
And it also seems to be a fun sport now to check her facts that she endnotes in her book. People endnote things when they want to make it hard to check the facts...rather than footnoting.
http://www.slannder.homestead.com/
Originally posted by rok
I prefer Garrison Keillor, myself. He's Republican now, you know.
p.s. requires RealPlayer to listen, patience to download, and a sense of humor to appreciate.
We're all Republicans...we're all Republicans now! God, that guy's great.
Originally posted by The Blue Meanie
Here in the UK, the word 'liberal' just means 'member of the Liberal Democrat (political) party'. Over in the US, it seems to mean anyone who isn't a hard-right, hardline, welfare cutting, Bible-bashing, golf-cart-driving, Middle-Eastern-country-invading, from-my-cold-dead-hands-chanting Republican. Los ianquis son todos locos
'Tis a moving target. Those hardcore lefties think anyone who isn't a hard-left, hardline, socialist, Bible-bashing, golf-cart driving and complaining about fossil fuels all the while, America-hating, admittedly racist and hating themselves every minute for it, BJ-lovin Democrat is a conservative. Conservative is a four letter word in that case, BTW.
Originally posted by The Blue Meanie
Here in the UK, the word 'liberal' just means 'member of the Liberal Democrat (political) party'. Over in the US, it seems to mean anyone who isn't a hard-right, hardline, welfare cutting, Bible-bashing, golf-cart-driving, Middle-Eastern-country-invading, from-my-cold-dead-hands-chanting Republican. Los ianquis son todos locos
Funny. Here liberal means "freedom for the money" and side with the conservatives opposite to the social democrats, socialists and social liberal parties.
Who doesn't love a BJ?