CPAC 2009 is well underway (at the same hotel, in fact, where progressives from all over are gathering for America's Future Now! in early June). And we are beyond thrilled -- really, there are no words -- to learn that, after last year's unfortunate absence, Ann Coulter has finally been released from whatever basement/undisclosed location/far circle of hell they'd consigned her to last year, and will be back at the podium once again in her full venomous glory this Saturday afternoon.
Last year was the first time in a decade that CPAC came and went without La Coulter, with the result that news coverage of the whole event was so much quieter. Evidently, someone in the GOP decided that there really is such a thing as too fascist for prime time, and it might be best to keep the movement's most flamboyant provocateur well out of sight during an election year. Not to mention the fact that her 2007 remarks about Democratic candidate John Edwards gave him an enormous and decidedly unwelcome fundraising lift. As a result, last spring came and went without a fresh Coulter outrage for liberals to bitch about.
We hardly knew what to do with ourselves. It was awful. Really. I seem to recall that I went out and bought some shoes instead.
Since (thanks in no small part to progressive pressure) Ann is persona non grata on most broadcast outlets these days, she makes most of her living preaching to the hordes and selling books. (Oh, and her book sales are down, too.) For over a decade now, CPAC has been her annual Big Shining Moment, her prime opportunity to polish what's left of her legacy. To that end, every year, she saves up her most over-the-top, gobstopping, new-lows-in-bad-taste-setting remarks especially for this appearance, as a summary of her CPAC performances over the years amply demonstrates:
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009020926/cpac-prediction-another-ann-coulter-tantrum