Question about Conservatism/Ann Coulter

[Munchkin03]

I don't really listen to people on either side anymore. She annoys me, but Michael Moore does the same thing. She has said terrible things about Vietnam vets, and as the child of one, I feel like she can go to hell for that--not necessarily because of her politics.

[Drolefille]

Here's the thing for me. It's not that she's mean, it's that I don't see her able to hold an intelligent debate. Heck, even when it's her fans she's insulting.

And for someone who's all about "personal responsibility" the plagerism accusations, some of which I looked into, are VERY damning. She'll take a quote further out of context than any other well known writer/speaker and then make things up about it.

As for whether she's like the liberal pundits, I don't like them either. The whole Crossfire cast can go to hell and Michael Moore too as well as whoever else is out there.

Jon Stewart made a good point that the media (both sides) are helping to polarize America.

[amanda6035]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I love Ann Coulter. She's brilliant, and she's mean. Good for her, sometimes stupid people need to be told they're stupid. I like her because she believes in things like personal responsibility and giving her opinion regardless of political correctness. Thus, it doesnt surprise me that many on this site dislike her...

As to her avoiding issues and rather simply insulting people, she rarely does that. There is a name for people who avoid the actual conflict and simply throw around blame and insults...Democrats.

couldnt have said it better myself

[shinerbock]

Did you miss a couple weeks ago when she was vindicated about the plagerism claims regarding her last book?

Also, you saying she can't debate makes me think you've never actually watched her. Ann is a little brash for me at times, but I've seen her shame quite an array of opponents.

[Drolefille]

I read her column as it is in our local newspaper and I've seen/read some of the rest of the stuff she's done. Her column is flat out poorly written (and has been preempted more than 10 times by my newspaper because she's promoting her book, they gave her once and then yanked it when she didn't write about anything but the book.) As far as debate, name calling and insults do not a debate winner make. Mocking your opponent and his/her stance and not actually addressing the issue doesn't win you a lot of points.

I haven't seen that actually, last I heard she was still in trouble over it. And dropped from a newspaper or two. Now, I looked at some of the comparison between footnotes and quotes and they don't match up, at least not in my opinion. And for what its worth, when you challenge the integrity of someone's writing and that person says "look I have lots of footnotes, it must be right" it just makes me want to

She is an extremist in every sense of the word and I dislike her for that. People like her make it hard for people like me to take either the left or the right seriously. Look I'm Christian and I believe in evolution! On NOes!! Apparently that's impossible according to Coulter/Moore types.

I don't really listen to them because they don't represent me.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I don't really listen to people on either side anymore. She annoys me, but Michael Moore does the same thing. She has said terrible things about Vietnam vets, and as the child of one, I feel like she can go to hell for that--not necessarily because of her politics.

I'm in the same boat; Coulter is intelligent, but some of the things she has said are way too far over the top for me.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Also, you saying she can't debate makes me think you've never actually watched her. Ann is a little brash for me at times, but I've seen her shame quite an array of opponents.

Oh she can definitely dish it out, and her turns of phrase can surely make me laugh. But intelligently debate? No. One can't actually debate if one refuses to even listen to other opinions or relies on dismissive reponses. (And yes, I have watched and read her a fair amount. She can dodge answering a question with the best of them.)

At core she's an entertainer who panders to a specific audience.

Munchkin03 is dead on -- Coulter and Michael Moore are the the shadow images of each other. It may be fun to see what comes out of their mouths next, and we all love hearing our own opinions equated with The Truth, but are either one of them going to convince anyone who doesn't already agree with them? (Remember that the purpose of debate is to persuade, not to annihilate.) Neither of them really advances political discourse in this country -- they lower it to "[choose your politician/party] is (1) the worst thing ever to happen to this country, and (2) is the devil."

Neither conservatives nor liberals, Democrats nor Republicans have a monopoly on avoiding the actual conflict or throwing around blame and insults.

[moe.ron]

She's a good entertainer. Trying to see who is a better debater between Ann Coulter and Michael Moore is trying to see who has a better street credential, N'Sync or the Backstreet Boys.

[sdsuchelle]

I hate her. She is clearly only out to get attention.

Ann Coulter and Michael Moore are both idiots.

As for the fact that she calls herself Christian and seems to be full of hate... well, unfortunately a LOT of "Christians" do not practice the Christian ideals. There are some Christians who think that you're going to Hell if you don't agree with their interpretation of the Bible, religion, politics, etc. It makes me really sad, as someone who is both liberal AND holds Christian ideals.

[sdsuchelle]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

As to her avoiding issues and rather simply insulting people, she rarely does that. There is a name for people who avoid the actual conflict and simply throw around blame and insults...Democrats.

Wow talk about a hypocritical statement... LMAO.

[shinerbock]

You can laugh, but the entire basis of the DNC platform is centered around destroying the GOP agenda. Perhaps you've never tuned into Howard Dean when he speaks.

As for comparing Moore to Coulter, that is simply ridiculous. Lets examine, for a moment, the credentials of each.

Moore- Perhaps a good filmaker with some interesting pieces, Eagle Scout, attended college at UM-Flint before dropping out. He also has written some pieces which have recieved some acclaim from certain communities.

Coulter- Completed her undergrad at Cornell, graduated from UM Law, where she was editor of the law review (quite a big deal, to those not familiar). She did some public interest law and private practice in D.C. and NYC, and also worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee. She also clerked for Judge Bowman the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Moore is a man, perhaps of intellect, perhaps not, who likes to rebel against the conservative faction of American politics, often with little backing. In so doing, he has at times isolated himself from the left. Coulter, while obviously brash and far-right, is also quite the scholar. She has extensive experience in both politics and law, and I would absolutely love to see her debate Moore on national tv.

[Drolefille]

Yes but their jobs are different. Moore is a filmmaker with a political motivation. Coulter is a political writer/speaker. I wouldn't expect Moore to be more of a scholar than Coulter. Coulter, if she could debate properly, shouldn't debate Moore, but someone equivalent to her in profession.

Moore just gets mentioned because he's visible and extreme.


/dislikes them both

[sdsuchelle]

Moore is comparable to Coulter because they're both attention whores. Its stupid to assume that I was comparing every single aspect of them.

Anyway they both suck.

[shinerbock]

Coulter is, as someone mentioned, a breath of fresh air. Its great to hear someone speak without regard to people's feelings. There are big issues in this world, and we shouldnt fear people's fragile sensibilities when addressing them. UNLIKE Moore, her statements are both direct and rational. She is not only harsh, but intelligent and informed as well. This seems to be a good topic we have going, so why doesn't someone bring up an opinion held by Coulter, and we'll talk about it,

[kstar]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Coulter...rational

SAY what? Those two words cannot be uttered together. She doesn't debate, she insults. She doesn't rationalize, she emotes. Have you ever actually really listened to her? Most people, people in the middle, who the republican party should be courting, are repulsed and turned away from the conservative side, simply by what she says. She's the best thing to ever happen to the Democratic party. Hell, my grandfather who borders on being a Nazi (he's that far right) thinks Coulter is an extremist.