"The Coulterization of the American Right" (Salon)

[El Fuego]

The Coulterization of the American right

The "faggot" episode isn't about Ann Coulter. It's about the deal conservatism made with the devil -- a deal that has cost it its soul.

By Gary Kamiya

Mar. 13, 2007 | So Ann Coulter has done it again. She called John Edwards a "faggot" at a major conservative conference and everyone is outraged. But do we have to go through this ridiculous charade again? Nothing's going to happen. This is old and profitable hat for the shameless buffoon who once compared Hillary Clinton to a prostitute (when Clinton was first lady, no less) and displayed her keen grasp of geopolitical strategy after 9/11 by declaiming, "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." (Following her sage advice, George W. Bush acted on the first two recommendations, with splendid results, but the third, despite the best efforts of some of his holy pals, is proving difficult.) We all know that Coulter will emerge from this episode selling even more books, appearing on even more right-wing talk shows and being even more fanatically worshipped by her legions of fans. A few newspapers have dropped her column, and some GOP presidential candidates condemned her statement -- who cares? As should be amply clear by now, there is virtually nothing that Ann Coulter can do that will cause her to be cast out of the bosom of the American right. And even if she was to lose her head and cross a line that even she can't cross -- calling Obama a "n----" is about the only thing that would do the trick -- a thousand hissing Coulters would spring up to take her place.

For this isn't really about Coulter at all. This is about a pact the American right made with the devil, a pact the devil is now coming to collect on. American conservatism sold its soul to the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world to gain power, and now that its ideology has been exposed as empty and its leadership incompetent and corrupt, free-floating hatred is the only thing it has to offer. The problem, for the GOP, is that this isn't a winning political strategy anymore -- but they're stuck with it. They're trapped. They need the bigoted and reactionary base they helped create, but the very fanaticism that made the True Believers such potent shock troops will prevent the Republicans from achieving Karl Rove's dream of long-term GOP domination.

It is a truism that American politics is won in the middle. For a magic moment, helped immeasurably by 9/11, the GOP was able to convince just enough centrist Americans that extremists like Coulter and Limbaugh did in fact share their values. But the spell has worn off, and they have been exposed as the vacuous bottom-feeders that they are.

<snip>

First the right launched the culture war, a key part of which was demonizing the Clintons. This and a disgraceful Supreme Court decision sufficed to get a featherweight named George W. Bush named president. But Bush lived down to his résumé, and after his first year his approval ratings were tanking. The old culture-war tricks weren't working anymore; the magic was wearing off. And then a miracle literally fell from the skies: 9/11.

More:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2007/03/13/coulter/

[brazos121200]

1. The far right domination of American politics might be coming to a close.

They have dominated in this country for at least 12 years by their recruitment of the religious right in their campaign against gays, minorities, and a woman's right to choose. It has been a long time, but finally it seems the people have come to their senses, maybe just a litle bit. The remarks of General Peter Pace the other day epitomizes the anti gay sentiments of this administration and the power structure in this country (except for VP Cheney of course) for obvious reasons.

Ann Coulter and Pace and all the other wacko right wingaloids in control have finally displayed their utter contempt for anything but their own prejudices. Last November the voters sent the right a message that they were tired of the scandals, incompetence, and sheer lack of caring on the part of their leaders. Maybe, just maybe, the American people are finally waking up to what has been done to their country in their name.

[tblue]

4. Yup. And I think we should frame that anti-gay talk

as hate speech against a vulnerable minority. Put those nutjob righties on the defensive, instead of gay people, for a change.

[Warpy]

7. Make that 27 years

Before Reagan came along, the GOP was a rich man's party, stingy and reactionary, but minority.

Reagan sold the party to the haters and the crackpot religious in 1980 and that is what destroyed any soul it once had. Rank and file long term pubbies are starting to view that as a mistake, even though it bought them enough power to overturn the New Deal.

That party is going to be interesting to watch over the next few years as it begins to rip itself apart.

[tblue]

8. Reagan made it cool to be selfish and turn your back on other people

Mean people naturally gravitate to the Republic party. That's partly why we've had such a tough time fighting them.

[tblue]

2. " * lived down to his résumé" LOL! That's it, baby! I found a similar article in an Evang. blog

CPAC, Civility, and the Coulterization of Conservatism

"Conservatism is dead and Ann Coulter is its corpse."

I first wrote those words last year after hearing Coulter's semi-racist jibe, "I think our motto should be post-9-11, 'raghead talks tough, raghead faces consequences.'" At this year's CPAC convention she went even farther: "I'd say something about John Edwards, but if you use the word 'faggot', you have to go to rehab."

When I wrote that last year it seemed a bit hyperbolic; today it seems prophetic. The Coulterization of conservatism is a prime example of how the moral decay of our movement.

/snip

There is no disputing the fact that Coulter has the politically guaranteed freedom to spew her bile. There is also no question, at least in my mind, that we conservatives should exercise our own freedom of speech by telling her to shut her yap.

There really is no excuse for accepting her as one of our own. Perhaps if she had keen insight and a rapier wit, her cutting barbs might be endurable. But Coulter's "humor" slices like a shard from a Mountain Dew bottle found on a meth lab floor. Her remarks leave jagged gashs that grow infected and fester with pus, infecting all of us in the process.

Conservatism deserves better, deserves more civility and less Coulter. The fact that she is tolerated--much less admired--by conservatives is evidence that we have lost our philosophical moorings. If the Big Tent of conservatism really has room for the likes of Coulter, then it might just be time to close this circus down.

http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/003476.html

[brazos121200]

6. The right should be forced to either accept Coulter's

over the top ideas or reject them. Democrats should try to expose Coulter to the public by using their limited media outlets by inviting her to debate rational representatives of the liberal position. She should be portrayed as representative of the typical republican postion on most issues and let the public decide if that is what they want to support. Liberals should use her to their advantage by giving her as much exposure as possible, it can only hurt conservatives in the long run.

[wicket]

3. K & R

:kick:

[ComerPerro]

5. I am always supect of writers who try to pain conservatism as something pure and good

that has only recently been corrupted.

[tblue]

9. Conservatism = Glorified selfishness

[ComerPerro]

10. a quote escapes me, something to the effect of

"a conservative is someone who is in a constant strugle to justify their greed" or something to that effect.

[El Fuego]

12. And then "Codified selfishness"

[MethuenProgressive]

11. "Bush lived down to his résumé" :o)

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

13. choice quote, stunning in its summary of the truth about republicons

"For this isn't really about Coulter at all. This is about a pact the American right made with the devil, a pact the devil is now coming to collect on. American conservatism sold its soul to the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world to gain power, and now that its ideology has been exposed as empty and its leadership incompetent and corrupt, free-floating hatred is the only thing it has to offer."

republicons = lacking in honor. They worship a leader who is a Connectict preppy deserter from the armed services, and a member of a darkside occult cabal of fatcat EVIL DOERS. What's wrong with the amoral republicons?