transcript of Ron Reagan v. Ann Coulter

[grasswire]

REAGAN: It’s so easy to be a conservative on television today. You can say pretty much any dumb thing you want and people will say how entertaining. We delved into that a little more on the “Today” show this morning. Here is the tape.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COULTER: Well, apparently the higher standard...
REAGAN: She says that liberals are all traitors. We don’t read, and there was no McCarthyism. Well, it would take a good hour to sort of, you know, delve into all that and refute it, but it’s very easy to say. It’s very easy to blurt out something like that. So liberals have a higher standard.
Well...
COULTER: Oh I’d like to see that.
REAGAN: That very conservative and author of the best-selling book “Treason” Ann Coulter. Ann, thanks for coming by.
COULTER: You’re welcome.
REAGAN: So I guess I’m a liberal, so does that make me a traitor?
COULTER: Well, apparently the higher standard that you liberals have to live up to does not include reading a book before spouting off on TV about it. Where is it that I say all liberals are traitors? What page was that again, Ron?
REAGAN: I think it was in your-I have to admit, you may be right.
I don’t read all books, and I haven’t read yours, but I read it in the ad
copy.

COULTER: Oh, an ad copy. Did you...
REAGAN: Yes. Well, advertisement for the book. I think-do you or do you not say that liberals are treasonous, let’s say, because the title of the book is “Treason”, after all.
COULTER: Yes, the title of the book is “Treason.” My book is about a 50-year history-back to what I wrote as opposed to what you were spouting off claiming I wrote. It’s about the 50-year history of the Democratic Party, which has gone from bad to worse beginning with sheltering, promoting, defending Soviet spies to losing continents to communism, losing the Vietnam War, rooting for our enemies during the Vietnam War, losing embassies to fanatics and opposing every reasonable national security measure taken by America’s greatest president, your father, Ron, throughout his triumphant victory over a 60-year evil empire.
And now in the war on terrorism, the Democratic Party has really gone all the way. It’s an instant sedition lobby making the same (UNINTELLIGIBLE) saying caterwauling objections for every reasonable part of the war on terrorism.
REAGAN: Now, the other part of that was the liberals don’t read part, which I imagine will be a big surprise to Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky.
COULTER: Well I think...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: ... you proved it with your statements. You have just admitted you didn’t read my book before spouting off about it, so I guess I was pretty prescient, but I didn’t...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: ... say that...
REAGAN: Well, Ann, Ann, you know, I-there are only so many hours in the day, and, frankly, your book is not at the top of my list.
COULTER: Maybe you shouldn’t spout off about it then.
REAGAN: Well...
COULTER: But I guess that’s not the standard liberals have.
REAGAN: ... I think you justified what I said and here is what’s interesting to me about this, Ann, because you seem like an obviously, you know, reasonably bright person. I haven’t met you, but I’m hearing you, and you seem like, you know, you’re not stupid. But some of the things that apparently you say and some of the things you just said are really dumb, and I’m wondering why you would do that because it would destroy your credibility ultimately, and I’m wondering whether this is really just shtick for you or whether you really mean this.
COULTER: I am worried about destroying my credibility, for example, by attacking a book and calling someone dumb when I haven’t read the book. What precisely are you arguing with?
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: I’m not arguing with your book...
COULTER: Will you address something I’ve said? I have just described my book to you. You tell me what you think is, I quote, “dumb”, and I shall respond.
REAGAN: I think the idea that liberals as a whole are anti-American and coddle our enemies and shelter Soviet spies is dumb, Ann. It’s dumb...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... and I don’t think you’re dumb...
COULTER: Well...
REAGAN: ... and what is curious to me...
COULTER: Let’s take that.
REAGAN: ... about this is why you made the decision to say and write a lot of dumb stuff...


Lots more at the link today http://www.msnbc.com/news/948003.asp

[CatWoman]

1. Sorry I missed this when it aired

and I just read the rest of the exchange (thanks, Grasswire :hi: ), but what struck me is how Buchanan was strangely silent the whole time Ann C. and Ron Reagan went after each other.

[ShaneGR]

16. Cat, Buchanon HATES the neo-cons... got to this website

www.amconmag.com

Here's one of his columns:

(SNIP)
Was Poppy Right After All?

by Pat Buchanan


After five weeks of air strikes and 100 hours of ground war, President Bush ordered General Schwarzkopf to end his attacks and halt his advance. Receiving reports of air massacres of retreating Iraqis on the Highway of Death out of Kuwait City, unwilling to risk a defection of his Arab allies, Bush I ordered an end to the war.

America agreed. Our goal had been to liberate Kuwait. It had been achieved, brilliantly. Saddam’s army had been evicted. The 500,000-man army of Desert Storm was ordered home. And the neoconservatives never forgave Bush I for not going to Baghdad.

A dozen years later, the son, at their fanatical urging, invaded Iraq, seized Baghdad, and committed America to building a democracy that would serve as a model for the Arab and Islamic world.

Three months have now elapsed since Baghdad fell. In those 100 days, the wisdom of the father in disregarding the neocons, and the folly of the son in heeding them, have become apparent.

America has 150,000 troops bogged down in Iraq as proconsul Paul Bremer is demanding thousands more to put down a guerrilla revolt that has broken out against our occupation.

[alaine]

2. I think it gets better at the end of the interview...

It's amazing to me that no one can contain this psychopath...

[liberalpragmatist]

3. Is Ron Reagan Jr a Democrat?

What is he? Is he just moderate? Or independent? Or just doesnt like Bush?

[janx]

5. I don't know if he's a registered Dem or not...but he does not seem to

like today's Republican party.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

10. dunno

but he did vote for nader in 2000, so he's definitely not following his father's politics

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Apparently, he is a Democrat

I was fortunate enough to actually catch this and, before he left, Terry McAuliffe presented Reagan Jr. with his own DNC pin. He must also be a liberal, since he seriously disagrees with Coulter and Buchanan, as a conservative, is paired with a liberal. To be honest, I have agreed with much Buchanan has said lately, which I never thought would happen. He was vehemently against the war with Iraq. Here's the exchange:

MCAULIFFE: I want to give Ron Reagan, welcome him to the Democratic Party. I have wanted to do this for a long time-his own DNC pin.
REAGAN: Hey...
BUCHANAN: His dad used to be a Democrat, too, before he got religion.

[janx]

4. Thanks for the reminder--I remember someone said it would

be posted.

Wow. Reagan's good! He didn't let her get away with her usual bad manners, but he let her babble enough to expose herself.

Interesting!

[David__77]

6. Prepare Reagan for future candidacy?

That would be sweet justice, a progressive-leaning Reagan in politics, son of the one who--rightly or wrongly--is hoisted by the neocons and the paleocons and the plain old cons as being some sort of saint.

[janx]

7. The very old cons and dead cons

don't think his dad is a saint. They think he wrecked the party.

[HootieMcBoob]

8. Reagan was great

Excellent. Finally somebody didn't let those people get away with the they used weapons of mass destruction bullshit.

[Fixated]

9. ...

Refreshing.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. reagan rocks

here's a bit more:

COULTER: OK...
REAGAN: ... when you are obviously not stupid.
COULTER: OK. Let’s take that. Did the Democratic Party shelter Soviet spies?
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: Wait. I was responding...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Ann, the Democratic...
COULTER: I think I was responding here. We know what-we know that you think I’m dumb. Now I’m responding to what you said you thought was dumb.
REAGAN: Go ahead. Go ahead.
COULTER: Did the Democratic Party shelter Soviet spies? President Roosevelt was warned about Alger Hiss in 1939. He laughed. He promoted Alger Hiss. He brought Alger Hiss with him to Yalta. When Alger Hiss was accused, again, 10 years later and publicly this time by Whitaker Chambers, President Truman called the investigation into Hiss a red herring.
Hiss was defended by the entire Democratic Party elite, Supreme Court justices, the secretary of state. He showed up at a hearing with Dean Acheson by his side. As president, President Truman promoted known Soviet spy Harry Dexter White after being told he was a Soviet spy. President Eisenhower was so shocked by this that when he became president, he directed his attorney general to go on TV and state that President Truman as president had promoted a known Soviet spy. That’s why I say that.
REAGAN: Nothing you said suggests that the Democratic Party sheltered Soviet spies, and a lot of people didn’t know for a long time whether Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy or not. There had been a lot of investigations, and some people are still arguing about that and will probably argue about that after we’re long gone.
COULTER: The fact that the Democrats don’t admit something doesn’t prove that it is not true. I think you have just confirmed this point. What-I don’t know what you mean that-what do you define the Democratic Party by if not...
REAGAN: The Democratic Party...
COULTER: ... a Democratic president...
REAGAN: ... is a political...
COULTER: Two Democratic presidents.
REAGAN: Well, those are individuals.
COULTER: Democratic appointees to the Supreme Court...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Those are also individuals.
COULTER: Well, so you are saying...
REAGAN: I’m not even accepting...
COULTER: OK. Let me respond...
REAGAN: ... your representation of the facts here. I’m just saying that on the face of it...
COULTER: Oh...
REAGAN: ... it’s not convincing.
COULTER: So what you are saying is nothing can ever be said about the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party is made up of individuals. So if I cite several Democratic presidents, Democratic appointments to Supreme Court justices, Democratic elites, and secretaries of state, all of whom defend Soviet spies, you will say that’s not the Democratic Party. Those are individuals. Well...
REAGAN: Yes.
COULTER: ... in that case, you’re saying that we can never say anything about the Democratic Party.
REAGAN: Well here let me give you an example. President Bush has been lying through his teeth for a long time about the war in Iraq. But I wouldn’t go out and say all Republicans or the Republican Party is a party of liars.
COULTER: OK, I’ve given you a series of examples...
REAGAN: I point out that President Bush has been lying.
COULTER: I’ve given you a series of examples. Give me an example of President Bush lying about the war in Iraq.
REAGAN: President Bush knew full well before we entered Iraq that they didn’t have a lot of weapons of mass destruction, that they didn’t have a nuclear program, and now he’s trying to pretend that really that wasn’t important. It really all about saving the Iraqi people. Well if we’re out to save the Iraqi people, and now apparently we have, perhaps we’d be interesting in saving the Liberian people too. But, oh well, oh gee, we forgot the Liberians don’t have a lot of oil and they’re not really strategically important, so who cares. We’ll send a token force off the coast and do absolutely nothing about it. So the humanitarian argument is a lie itself. There...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... now I’ve just given you some examples.
COULTER: OK. My response is everything you just said is preposterous and false...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: ... to whit I was responding here-you have your points, I got mine.
REAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here I am, sitting politely waiting.
COULTER: Unless you just want to speak loudly because you have nothing to say, as I believe you accused conservatives of...
REAGAN: That’s right.
COULTER: We know Saddam had weapons of mass destruction...
REAGAN: Had...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Had weapons of mass destruction...
COULTER: As I was trying to say before I was shouted over, didn’t you say people...
REAGAN: Don’t you go on TV Ann? Don’t you get...
COULTER: ... speak more loudly when they have nothing to say.
REAGAN: ... on these (UNINTELLIGIBLE) conservative shows where they shout at one another. Aren’t you used to this, Ann?
COULTER: Only from liberals like you Ron.
REAGAN: Oh...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: As I was saying...
REAGAN: Really, Ann, really?
COULTER: As I was saying-may I answer now or are you still going to keep shouting?
REAGAN: You sure can. Go ahead.
COULTER: We know Iraq not only had weapons of mass destruction, but used weapons of mass destruction. The U.N. continued to find weapons of mass destruction. In fact, Ron Reagan, Jr. you may be the only person on the face of the earth who doesn’t know that Iraq had and used weapons of mass destruction.
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: They used weapons of mass destruction, Ann, during...



(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... a Republican administration...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... during the first Bush administration and we said well, we really don’t care. In fact, we helped them use weapons of mass destruction against the Iranians and that’s a fact. And I’m afraid we have to stop right now.
Thank you for joining us, Ann. It’s always fun.

[The_Gopher]

13. what? we helped him use WMD? shocked! shocked, i say! liberal lies!

"REAGAN: ... during the first Bush administration and we said well, we really don’t care. In fact, we helped them use weapons of mass destruction against the Iranians and that’s a fact. And I’m afraid we have to stop right now.
Thank you for joining us, Ann. It’s always fun."

it's about goddam time someone for once says this. it's not like it's top secret. but if i had a nickel for everytime some asshole says "but he used them on...", then i'd have a lot of nickels cuz there's a lot of assholes.

[Gman]

14. Isn't Ron's mother Jane Wyman, Reagan's first wife?

I believe he and Nancy never got along. He was sometimes critical of dad Reagan's administration in the 80's and caused a lot of flak by speaking out.

[BuelahWitch]

15. Nope, Ron Jr.'s Mom is Nancy

You must be thinking of Michael Reagan. As far as I know, he's a repuke.

I'm surprised Ron is coming out on the side of the left. I thought Patty was, but didn't suspect Ron Jr.

Good on him! :bounce:

[ibegurpard]

21. Jane's kids were Michael and Maureen

n/t

[dmr]

17. Thanks grasswire

that was a good read. He nailed her at the end of the interview.

(And, Ann saying Sex and the City is by, for and about gay men is hilarious! Oh, puhlease .... )


REAGAN: I point out that President Bush has been lying.
COULTER: I’ve given you a series of examples. Give me an example of President Bush lying about the war in Iraq.
REAGAN: President Bush knew full well before we entered Iraq that they didn’t have a lot of weapons of mass destruction, that they didn’t have a nuclear program, and now he’s trying to pretend that really that wasn’t important. It really all about saving the Iraqi people. Well if we’re out to save the Iraqi people, and now apparently we have, perhaps we’d be interesting in saving the Liberian people too. But, oh well, oh gee, we forgot the Liberians don’t have a lot of oil and they’re not really strategically important, so who cares. We’ll send a token force off the coast and do absolutely nothing about it. So the humanitarian argument is a lie itself. There...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... now I’ve just given you some examples.
COULTER: OK. My response is everything you just said is preposterous and false...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: ... to whit I was responding here-you have your points, I got mine.
REAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here I am, sitting politely waiting.
COULTER: Unless you just want to speak loudly because you have nothing to say, as I believe you accused conservatives of...
REAGAN: That’s right.
COULTER: We know Saddam had weapons of mass destruction...
REAGAN: Had...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Had weapons of mass destruction...
COULTER: As I was trying to say before I was shouted over, didn’t you say people...
REAGAN: Don’t you go on TV Ann? Don’t you get...
COULTER: ... speak more loudly when they have nothing to say.
REAGAN: ... on these (UNINTELLIGIBLE) conservative shows where they shout at one another. Aren’t you used to this, Ann?
COULTER: Only from liberals like you Ron.
REAGAN: Oh...
(CROSSTALK)
COULTER: As I was saying...
REAGAN: Really, Ann, really?
COULTER: As I was saying-may I answer now or are you still going to keep shouting?
REAGAN: You sure can. Go ahead.
COULTER: We know Iraq not only had weapons of mass destruction, but used weapons of mass destruction. The U.N. continued to find weapons of mass destruction. In fact, Ron Reagan, Jr. you may be the only person on the face of the earth who doesn’t know that Iraq had and used weapons of mass destruction.
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: They used weapons of mass destruction, Ann, during...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... a Republican administration...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... during the first Bush administration and we said well, we really don’t care. In fact, we helped them use weapons of mass destruction against the Iranians and that’s a fact. And I’m afraid we have to stop right now.
Thank you for joining us, Ann. It’s always fun.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. Yes! I remember this, thanks!

This was my favorite part! I'm always wondering why no one ever seems to bring this up. He really was very good and she just appeared foolish. Why is it that the best that these conservatives can come up with, and that includes people like Rumsfeld, is that whatever's being said just isn't true? They are very short on facts.:shrug:

REAGAN: They used weapons of mass destruction, Ann, during...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... a Republican administration...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... during the first Bush administration and we said well, we really don’t care. In fact, we helped them use weapons of mass destruction against the Iranians and that’s a fact. And I’m afraid we have to stop right now.

I LOVED that part!:D

[Rhiannon12866]

20. Yes! I remember this, thanks!

This was my favorite part! I'm always wondering why no one ever seems to bring this up. He really was very good and she just appeared foolish. Why is it that the best that these conservatives can come up with, and that includes people like Rumsfeld, is that whatever's being said just isn't true? They are very short on facts.:shrug:

REAGAN: They used weapons of mass destruction, Ann, during...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... a Republican administration...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: ... during the first Bush administration and we said well, we really don’t care. In fact, we helped them use weapons of mass destruction against the Iranians and that’s a fact. And I’m afraid we have to stop right now.

I LOVED that part!:D

[CaptainMidnight]

18. Where's WONK when you need him?

Always a man with an MP3 or Quicktime Mov!

Calling Mr. WONK!

Captain Mike

[jbm]

22. I loved the interview...

and I thought Ron Jr was great! I gotta tell you though..when I first clicked on this thread and scrolled down the subject titles of the reply list? Those "Reagan was great!" and "Reagan Rocks" titles skeered me!! Course now it all makes sense and I feel much better.:hi:

edit...cause apparently I was so shook up I forgot how to spell.