February 02, 2008

Hoo-Boy Howdy, I Admit I Never Expected This

As someone for whom John McCain was way down on the list of preferred candidates (just over Huckabee) I can certainly understand why so many pundits, bloggers, etc. are very frustrated and disappointed that it's looking more and more like McCain will be the nominee. But this is just bizarre. I give you, Ann Coulter:

I'm sure most readers have already seen it but it bears watching again. Ann Coulter often says or writes things both controversial and outrageous because she knows its entertaining (which, arguably, she is). In this case I really believe she's saying something controversial and outrageous because she thinks she's being influential (which, she definitely is not). In fact, she really is holding herself up for ridicule here.

I mean, when you give an opportunity for Alan Colmes to actually be funny at your expense you can rest assured you've probably gone off the deep end.

I always held a firm belief that when all was said and done the majority of the GOP voters would not choose John McCain as their nominee. Clearly now I understand that this preconception was grossly exaggerated by the "conservative" media (and, yes, I include the blogosphere here).

Now, as I've said I am still rooting for Romney to do well on Thunderdome Tuesday and I'm not at the point where I've come to happy to accept the idea that McCain will win the nomination (which is the relationship argument equivalent of "I'm still not talking to you") but I am clear-thinking enough to recognize that John McCain should send Ann Coulter an early Valentine's gift of a dozen - no, several dozen - roses.

This kind of mass hysteria will only drive voters currently on the fence into the McCain camp. I will admit, though, that this is really a fascinating process to watch.

For those who want to read someone who pulls NO punches about the current "McCain Derangement Syndrome", Rachel Lucas' recent post is a must-read (content warning, Rachel is very much a potty-mouth - though she (like Robert DiNero) has evolved it to an art form.

Posted by Gary at February 2, 2008 03:32 PM | TrackBack
Comments

This latest side-show of hers blossomed out of a pretty tame opinion piece on her anncoulter dot com site. Two points she makes are really the substance. The rest has just been added for hyperbole, which is her icing on the cake schtick.

First (and main) point: "With Hillary, we'll get the same ruinous liberal policies with none of the responsibility."

Okay, so maybe the blame game is not that important but the lady hava point.

Second point: "At least under President Hillary, Republicans in Congress would know that they're supposed to fight back. When President McCain proposes the same ideas -- tax hikes, liberal judges and Social Security for illegals -- Republicans in Congress will support "our" president -- just as they supported, if only briefly, Bush's great ideas on amnesty and Harriet Miers."

Admit it, this is pretty plausible.

That said, the whole "we have 3 days to save the Republic!" doesn't help her case, but it gets her on Teevee.

Posted by: Monica at February 2, 2008 04:42 PM

With Ann, it's all about Ann. She'll say anything to get attention.

She may even believe what she's saying. I think that at some level, her mind works this way: if it gets her attention, why then it must be true.

To a lesser extent, I think that's true of Malkin, too. She believes in herself a might too much.

I'm in agreement with Rachel on this one, even though I think she blogs like she has Tourette's syndrome. I mean, she could certainly dial down the profanity a notch and lose none of her effectiveness.

I'm not in love with McCain, either. But I don't want to return to 1970s levels of taxation and have to wait for six months in line at the DMV if I need an arthroscopy, or pay for other people's abortions -- which you know will be a central part of that whole system.

I also don't want to give Gitmo detainees O.J.'s defense team on the taxpayer dime, and I don't want to retreat from the Middle East. The world is a far more savage place without us in it.

Posted by: The Abbot at February 4, 2008 09:50 AM

This kind of mass hysteria will only drive voters currently on the fence into the McCain camp.

Did it for me. I have nothing against Romney, he's a rather dull technocrat without ideological baggage of any sort, but I now have a deep seated animosity towards his supporters.

Posted by: chuck at February 5, 2008 09:28 PM