I was reading this article in the Chron about shock jocks and crossing the line when it struck me: Ann Coulter is to punditry what Opie and Anthony are to deejays.
Opie and Anthony’s sex-in-church stunt has earned them a place in the shock-jock hall of shame, and they have plenty of company.
Broadcasting’s biggest mouths regularly push the boundaries of bad taste with the blessing of their bosses — until the day they cross an invisible and movable line.
Really, I don’t know why this came as such a revelation to me. I should’ve seen it a mile off. She’s exactly like a shock jock in every way. She coarsens the debate, as O&A coarsen the culture. She pushes boundaries and gets rewarded for it as long as she’s a cash cow. When she inevitably pisses off the wrong person, there’s always someone to defend her. Eventually, someone remembers that she’s a cash cow, so she gets a new home where all is forgiven and she can start again.
Therefore, in honor of current events, I propose we call her Ann “Opie” Coulter from here on out. Who’s with me?
I’m not with you, because I happen to agree with most (MOST, Chuck, not all!) of what she says. But I think you’re right. Can we call Al Franken “Andy”? And what are we going to call Carville?
Maybe everybody with a shred of decency should shut up about her, and fulsome praise of her loathsome opinions (especially the ones including the words “kill [anybody]”) could just be a mark of “not worth reading”?
I’m rather hoping she’s the Andrew Dice Clay, myself.
I’m the General. Follow my orders, listen to Opie and Anthony XM 202.