August 28, 2002
Ann Coulter is the Opie and Anthony of punditry

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?

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 28, 2002 to Other punditry
Comments

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?

Posted by: Scott Chaffin on August 28, 2002 11:37 PM

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"?

Posted by: Ginger on August 29, 2002 9:56 AM

I'm rather hoping she's the Andrew Dice Clay, myself.

Posted by: julia on September 3, 2002 9:13 PM

I'm the General. Follow my orders, listen to Opie and Anthony XM 202.

Posted by: Dugout Doug on January 8, 2006 9:20 AM