I hate to say it, but I'm thinking about blondes this morning-- Anne Coulter and Paris Hilton What else can I think of if I have CNN or MSNBC on? Oh, that's right, a new missing child, courtesy of MSNBC, as I write this line... and a newer faux news obsession-- forest fires, for the pyromanic media lovers.
But let's get back to Anne Coulter, for starters. We've published several articles by liberals since her latest "Edwards moment," criticizing Ms. Coulter.
Well, make that one article, and then some blogs. I intentionally don't like to give her too much oxygen, media-exposure-wise. That just feeds into her marketing strategy. Sigh. But I'm doing it here.
After thinking about it, I'm okay with Anne coulter's trash talk. Why? because I must plead mea culpa. I do it too.
Tough political talk should be, must be allowed. That said, I have a hard time not using animal and anatomy terms to describe Coulter-- terms women don't like. But Edwards has every right to complain about the toxic stuff COulter spews... and to exploit it to raise campaign funds. That's the funny part. Then there's the whole self-righteousness thing, which is usually the domain of the far right-- shame, how dare you?, etc.. Here's a Democratic taking strategy from the right wing play book. Good on Elizabeth.
But just because tough political talk should and must be allowed doesn't mean that the main stream media have to cover it. There a handful of rightwing people currently in power, not all elected, some appointed, who I would not mourn if they dropped dead. But I don't say it, or wouldn't say their names on national TV. Well, I don't think I would.
Actually, with a bit of encouragement, I might. But then there's that annoying Patriot Act, where they can take you away for months, with no recourse. Coulter figured out how to do it. She cited and copied Bill Maher.
On Joe Scarborough's show, Coulter was really whiny and cranky, complaining.. If she can't take the heat, she should shut the eff up. But she won't because this is the way she sells book. She makes outrageous statements that give her millions in free media coverage.
There are times I have an impulse to write a book like Coulter's, eviscerating and excoriating the right. I could do it with articles I've already written-- a lot of them.
America For Sale (published the first week of OpEdNews.com’s existence)
Last year, I reviewed the list that existed then, actually thinking about putting together a collection of my articles, into a book, and I was a bit shocked at my productivity in churning out this kind of Coulteresque stuff. So I wrote this article Being a Positive AND Tough Progressive and I literally spoke to my minister about loving my enemies, even Hitler, after he gave a sermon on that topic. Since that epiphany, I’ve written less of this stuff.
That said, I still do the ocassional angry, tough, even meanspirited piece, perhaps my latest being my obituary cursing Jerry Falwell, for which I took some, but not very much flack, and lost a few readers (with 90% of the email supportive and in agreement.)
More recently, I've resisted going to that Coulter trash talk place as much as I had, partly because the remaining supporters of the right wing are dwindling, so I've had less inclination to do the sociopsychological analysis of stupid white men, rednecks, abused fundamentalists, etc. that I have done in the past. (I reserve the right and pleasure of doing more.) Actually, reviewing the articles again,there's a bit of pleasure in calling a koolaid drinking, nay, injecting right wing idiot... whatever fits. And actually, there is a need for more people to deflate the self righteous right wingers' self image of being Right, God-Chosen, heroic, patriotic and all the other crap they believe. Actually, if a publisher came along with a good offer, or a radio station with a talk program... I'd seriously consider it.
Then, there's Paris, who told Larry King she's never used drugs, outside of her ADD drug, Adderal. Not even marijuana? As a commentator said after the King interview, even presidential candidates admit to using pot. And after reading the bible for hours, she has no message or phrase she remembers. Well, at least she hefted it.
Still, maybe she will turn a new leaf. As one member of the paparazzi said, she will still be photogenic going to charity events. Maybe the lamestream media will be financially motivated to report on a shallow, pathetic celebrity who actually engages in acts of redemption, growth, kindness and love and travels a personal path that leads to her becoming a good, even wise person. What the heck-- a boddhisatva saint with a porn video in her past.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
To learn more about me and OpEdNews.com, check out this article.
and there are Rob's quotes, here.
To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
My radio show, The Rob Kall Show, runs 9-10 PM EST Wednesday evenings, on AM 1360, WNJC and is archived on www.whiterosesociety.org Or listen to it streaming, live at either www.wnjc1360.com or here.
A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
Rob, what can I say, Ann is no friend of yours, and she never will be. You see, Rob, Ann Coulter has one, that is ONE, friend and that friend is a conservative. Not sure if the friend is male or female. Her guards are not her friends. They are hired help. Could Maher be her one friend? From watching them on his program, I would say NOT! Maher is smart. So, who is her friend and why is she in the closet about it. Poor girl cannot walk on a college campus without people screaming obscenities at her or rotten fruit or rotten eggs. Are you feeling sorry for her?
I bet she is boiled, big time, that Bush's Immigration Bill didn't pass. Wait, ... the way Bush acted this morning, he may only have one friend, and that friend is certainly not Cheney. Who likes a boss who keeps his office double dead locked?
Ahh, ... I forgot. Bush has 3 friends. His wife. His 2 daughters, but the daughters are iffy. I don't know why polls put Bush's popularity below 30%. Some people do like him, but that doesn't mean they are his friends.
Coulter should be banned from any TV exposure as should Ms. Hilton. It's embarrassing if either are on TV without a text monitor.
by
Dale Hill (58 articles, 0 quicklinks, 101 diaries, 347 comments)
on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 12:17:25 PM
If we truly believe in free speech, then we must defend Coulter's right to say what she says even though it is repugnant to us. However, do we really know what Ann Coulter believes in other than lining her pockets with money? Being married to a natural blonde, a very talented opera singer (New York City Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Indianaoplis Opera are among her credits), I really have to take issue with the whole Coulter persona. She gets her hair color out of a bottle, she's a chain smoker (yech!), she deliberately says the most outrageous things just to get attention for herself, the question must be, how genuine is she? I agree that when she spews forth response must be quick and direct. However, at the end of the day, is she really worth all the fuss? I say this as the son of a Holocaust survivor who knows what it is to ignore threats to freedom. I asking here, I really don't know the correct answers for the problem that is Coultergeist (props to Keith Olberman).
by
Kenneth Barr (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 77 comments)
on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 12:17:34 PM
It is me you may have noticed in the ad on this site for I have claimed to be:"The Left's Response to Coulter"
In all honesty, I have NEVER read a complete article by Ann or more than the back cover of one of her books, for I was completely turned off and nauseated by her mean-spiritedness; which is NOT Christian at all!
Ann claims she is a Christian, but she adheres to the very UN-Christian neo-con, neo-Christian philosophy as espoused by her militant minded supremacist comrades, such as John Hagee, Hal Lindsay, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell;
Who all have about as much in common with the PRINCE OF PEACE-Jesus Christ's other name- as President Bush does!
How much better for America and the world it would be, to actually FOLLOW the Philosophy of JC such as the non-Christian professing Thomas Jefferson and Tom Paine did,
Than to make a mockery of Jesus by claiming to love and follow him, but corrupting his message which remains:
THOU SHALL NOT KILL and you must LOVE your enemies and do good towards them, you must forgive to be forgiven and the PEACEMAKERS are the children of God:
JC NEVER said it was OK to bomb, torture or occupy another! He was also SILENT about the Mystery of Gay LOVE!
Both were invited on Larry King Live. Moore first to discuss his brilliant (please go see it everyone) film Sicko. But alas, he got bumped for Paris! Go figure.
by
Cheryl Biren-Wright (19 articles, 23 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 351 comments)
on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 4:18:17 PM
...I also have to concede that no matter how reprehensible I find Little Orphan Ann, I too agree that she is within her right to be as obnoxious and pathetic as she desires. One of the biggest bees in my bonnet is freedom of speech. If I want it for myself, and we all know I do, I have to be willing to allow others theirs as well.
However, unlike yourself, I have yet to rein in my poison keyboard. I don't really see a reason.
Far too many people hide shitty motives and agendas under shiny, pretty, sparkly, political correctness. While there are times that this sort of social diplomacy is needed, there are other times when you have to call a spade a spade. I have had numerous situations in my life where my ass has been brought back to reality by someone talking plain and without extra bullshit. Only plain talk was able to penetrate my rose-colored glasses.
I find political correctness to be an affront to my intellect. I am a big boy. I can handle unpleasant truths, even if they are about me. Why must other people be so delicate and easily offended? I am offended on an almost daily basis. I don't fall to pieces. I growl under my breath, roll my eyes, and sometimes scratch my head in amazement.
Is it just me, or does Little Orphan Ann look like she's been dining at the bulimia banquet a bit too long? Anorexia wrecks ya! Sorry, couldn't resist.
Blessed be! Pappy
by
Pappy (61 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 860 comments)
on Friday, June 29, 2007 at 1:57:45 AM
I agree that people on the Left should be more feisty and outspoken, but I don't think that ad-hominem arguments improve political discourse in a way that is advantageous to the Left. (Rob, a historian I know objects to "redneck" as a class slur, just as inappropriate as a racial slur.)
As for Coulter, what's so disturbing about her is her eagerness to attack people in their most vulnerable place--the death of loved ones. This is beyond the pale of civilized discourse. It has no place in politics, and Coulter should be shunned for it.
Coulter is incapable of empathy, shame or remorse. This makes her a psychopath, and she should be identified as such (for more on this diagnosis see redemma's diary at dailykos.com)
by
Carol V. Hamilton (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments)
on Friday, June 29, 2007 at 12:43:26 PM
6 comments
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