The Ann Coulter Defense

A nation is a community of diverse people, held together by common beliefs, goals and aspirations.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - What do Theo van Gogh and Ann Coulter have in common? Religious extremism.

Van Gogh was murdered in 2004 in Amsterdam by an Islamic fundamentalist who believed that van Gogh had insulted Islam. Similarly, Coulter implicitly urges her readers to kill those who do not agree with her own extreme religious conservatism.

Her 2003 book, Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism, promotes a hatred no less vile than that of Osama bin Laden. Treason, in most countries, and certainly in the United States, is a crime punishable by death. Liberals are guilty of treason, thus implicitly suggesting they should be killed—as was van Gogh.

"Liberals have a preternatural gift for striking a position on the side of treason,” she opens on page one. “You could be talking about Scrabble and they would instantly leap to the anti-American position. Everyone says liberals love America, too. No they don’t. Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence.” On the last page she concludes that “the fundamental difference between liberals and conservatives is: Conservatives believe man was created in God’s image; liberals believe they are God….They instinctively root for anarchy and against civilization. The inevitable logic of the liberal position is to be for treason. (emphasis added)”

What is the motive for her extremism? It’s the same as any Islamic fundamentalist. Both believe they have the absolute pipeline to truth and not only will neither brook any dissent, but for them death to the infidel/enemy is a “rational”, wished for, outcome. “Liberals are always against America,” she says, which makes them enemies of America. “We won’t have any enemies because we’re going to kill them.”

At the end of her book she quotes political philosopher Paul Johnson from Enemies of Society who says that “a man who deliberately inflicts violence on the language will almost certainly inflict violence on human beings if he acquires the power.” The violent language in Coulter’s speeches, articles and books cannot be missed and must not be underestimated.

I’m surprised that some crazed right-winger hasn’t taken her seriously, deciding that, in the name of Coulter patriotism, it’s his duty to kill as many “liberals” as he can. Then, if captured alive, he can offer the “Ann Coulter defence”. Just as Islamic terrorists act in the name of Allah, he would be acting in the name of Ann. Murder in the name of ideology is neither new nor uncommon.

The historical trend is clear and Harper’s magazine (or some other publication) would be doing America, indeed the world, a service in reprinting its November 1964 article “The Paranoid Style in American Politics” by historian Richard Hofstadter who, in presciently describing the Ann Coulter of today, said he used the term paranoid style “simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy” of its followers.

The paranoid fantasies of Hofstadter’s 1960s Goldwater fanatics are nothing compared to today’s Coulter. “Any historian of warfare knows [war] is in good part a comedy of errors and a museum of incompetence,” wrote Hofstadter, “but if for every error and every act of incompetence one can substitute an act of treason, many points of fascinating interpretation are open to the paranoid imagination.”

A nation is a community of diverse people, held together by common beliefs, goals and aspirations. When some individuals are seen as irredeemably bad, then the grounds for community are lost. When people like Ann Coulter preach hatred and exclusion with such uncompromising intensity; when the argument is so emotional and immune to reason; the foundations of community itself crumble across what Coulter says is the greatest nation on earth—its greatness diminished and existence itself threatened, she says, by Godless liberals—but really by her and her hate-filled adherents.

Daniel Johnson was born near the midpoint of the twentieth century in Calgary, Alberta. In his teens he knew he was going to be a writer, which is why he was one of only a handful of boys in his high school typing class—a skill he knew was going to be necessary. He defines himself as a social reformer, not a left winger, the latter being an ideological label which, he says, is why he is not an ideologue. From 1975 to 1981 he was reporter, photographer, then editor of the weekly Airdrie Echo. For more than ten years after that he worked with Peter C. Newman, Canada’s top business writer (notably a series of books, The Canadian Establishment). Through this period Daniel also did some national radio and TV broadcasting. He gave up journalism in the early 1980s because he had no interest in being a hack writer for the mainstream media and became a software developer and programmer. He retired from computers last year and is now back to doing what he loves—writing and trying to make the world a better place

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realamerican March 23, 2009 10:40 pm (Pacific time)

Thank God for our right to bear arms without a permit that's all I gotta say. I'll take out any mass shooters that try to kill anyone around me with a quickness believe it.

Erik March 23, 2009 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

Oops, too late! Convicted murder James Adkisson recently did write a Coulteresque "manifesto" explainong his shooting spree at a liberal church: Google James Adkisson manifesto.

A few excerpts:

"This was a hate crime. I hate the damn left-wing liberals. state. Shame on them...This was a symbolic killing. Who I wanted to kill was every Democrat in the Senate and House, the 100 people in Bernard Goldberg's book. I'd like to kill everyone in the mainstream media ... Someone had to get the ball rolling. I volunteered. I hope others do the same. It's the only way we can rid America of this cancerous pestilence."

"I thought I'd do something good for this Country Kill Democrats til the cops kill me....Liberals are a pest like termites. Millions of them Each little bite contributes to the downfall of this great nation. The only way we can rid ourselves of this evil is to kill them in the streets. Kill them where they gather. I'd like to encourage other like minded people to do what I've done."

Reality March 23, 2009 11:32 am (Pacific time)

So for eight years Bush trashed this country. You ever read even brief outlines on what White Racist Theology is all about? Look at the crime rates of all these so-called loving christians on a global level. By the way Jerimiah Wright is a fantastic man, he's a real Christian Tim King, you are really going places and I wish every day I was a little more like you.

Thorn March 23, 2009 7:17 am (Pacific time)

Daniel, the real question is how many American civilians would be dead here in America if the Bush administration desided not to go into Iraq and suck all the Al-Qaeda fighters from the entire Islamic region into one place and destroy them? This hundreds of thousands of Al-Qaeda members would be blowing everything up here in America if it wasn't for war in Iraq. Remember how during the Clinton administration we had the mysterious airline crashes almost on the monthly basis. The recipient of Saudi money, Bill Clinton prefered back then to sweep everything under the rug, and destracted public attention by waisting FBI resources by fighting the "millitia". This is how 9/11 attacks were missed. After them it was no longer possible to ignore "camel in the room" and islamists had to be shown force - the only language they understand

Editor: Thorn, you're blowing smoke again and stating things that aren't true in our comments. Next time I flush it, so take your paranoia and fearful thinking and go find some other group to lie and amplify your BS to. There are so many Muslim people I would trust over someone like you.. Being a religious bigot makes a man very dark and ugly.

Thorn March 23, 2009 6:45 am (Pacific time)

To the editor: I read the entire story, but it looks like you didn't. Even the very headline of Mr Johnson's article is called "The Ann Coulter Defense". That was his message. Also, if you think that Ann is the desease, then what do you think about your fellow unhinged liberals who were demonizing the republicans for the last eight years of the president Bush administration? Just read Huffington Post, Daily Kos or any other liberal blog, this is where accusations are solely based on emotions and comepletly immune to reason. Your elected, democrat politicians are equally outrageous in their rhetoric. Before accusing someone for the speck in the eye, remove the log from your eye first.

Editor: The Republicans that we write about could keep us busy for years... Bush drove this country farther into the dismal depths than any president before him. He tarnished our reputation as a decent nation and the most embarrassing part is having to read things like this. You can not change history; Bush is a criminal and Coulter is evil. The Bush agenda was evil and childish at best. Advocating for him is something I doubt you would do in public. Even you would probably be too ashamed to do that. Someday when Coulter is fully exposed people will keep their distance from her, and in the meanwhile she is only sticking around because she makes big bucks, the only thing besides taking away freedom and growing government that neocon Republicans really care about. That is not everyone in the GOP, mind you. There is still honor in the ranks of the GOP but the good people have to find their way.

Daniel March 22, 2009 8:52 pm (Pacific time)

Thorn the real question is how many american solders would be whole and healthy if they were not sent to a bogus war by your hero BUSH . Nixon got out of Viet Nam not because of any antiwar movement but because it was not winnable . You can not impose a puppet government on a country and not expect a revolt . The french learned this the hard way in the 50s . What about the so called domino theory that justified the American incursion ? SE asia is now produces running shoes and American apparel , and OIL . Both wars had been built on lies and cooked intelligence . I did not see Ann fighting in Iraq , i only saw her cheerleading for Bush , bring them on . Ann is not a patriot she is a parrot ! I see Ann is posting under the name Wallace , after her hero george .

Wallace March 22, 2009 6:13 pm (Pacific time)

It's amazing you all are wasting your time talking about someone (Coulter) who only serves to have you not look at what's really happening right now. Obama was on 60 minutes today (EST time) and here is the rundown: "Kroft to Obama: Are you punch-drunk (Obama jokes about "gallows humor") Politico ^ | March 22, 2009
President Barack Obama said he believes the global financial system remains at risk of implosion with the failure of Citigroup or AIG, touching off “an even more destructive recession and potentially depression.” His remarks came in a “60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by an incredulous Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy. “You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, "I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—” How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asks at one point. “Are you punch drunk?” Kroft says. “No, no. There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama says, with a laugh." You evaluate that exchange and then the one he had with Leno where he mocked his "bowling ability" as akin' to the "Special Olympics." Sure he should be excused because he didn't have his teleprompter on (sarcasm). This is just one of many gaffes and it goes directly to both his experience and judgement, which he is proving daily he has none. Look I voted for him also, now I feel totally sick by that vote. I was totally misled.

Editor: So what? Obama only appears poorly in this comment because you intentionally work really hard to magnify the holy living crap out of any negatives in his statements and you labor in vain in obvious hope of taking him out of context. What is that nonsense about you voting for him you schill? Give me a break and learn to understand what is going on around you. Obama is far from perfect and he is a man in a tight spot, but trolling for stories about him to pollute makes me sick. Because of people like you, any legitimate criticism of this man is greatly challenged. I will not in the future approve any comments that are totally inaccurate. If there is one thing Barack Obama is, he is a personable and sensitive person, greatly unlike that last president. You know, that would be the the one who along with Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rove and people like YOU, enacted and backed decisions that ruined the America economy. Bill Clinton had the budget balanced and Bush drove us into waters that we may never emege from. Welcome to the new Depression, is isn't so GREAT though. Greed has driven us to this point where even those who are peace based, and have the best intentions for this country... are fighting mad. Republicans supporting Bush are who we have to thank for the mess we are in, along with the politicians, many of whom are Democrats but all of whom are Republicans, who are responsible for all of the suffering of the last eight years. It is not political to state that. It is a fact and it makes me sick when people try to hang it on the new guy who wasn't even there. Take your complaints in the future, and send them to this email address instead of leaving a comment here: roundfile@salem-news.com.

chris jones March 22, 2009 12:20 pm (Pacific time)

Thorn: How do you not know that the GWOT is a scam yet? You need to watch the movie TERRORSTORM: A history of government sponsored terrorism. False flag terrorism is the oldest trick in the book to get us in line and, they hope, to quell dissent by labeling any patriot who dares question the illegitimate government as a terrorist. What did you think we were building concentration camps all over the US for? Check out infowars.com and listen to Alex Jones' radio show on there free every day.

Thorn March 22, 2009 6:31 am (Pacific time)

It's seems like Daniel Johnson wishing for some "right-winger" to kill as many liberals as possible and then provide the "Ann defense" in order to discredit Ann. What a cook! This man is wishing the death of his fellow people so he could make a point. So far it was American citizens who died because of liberals giving aid and comfort to the enemy in the time of war. I wonder how many of our killed american soldiers would be alive today if it wasn't for antiwar demonstrators with Bush=Hitler posters? Would Iraqi insurgents fought for so long if they didn't saw those antiwar protesters? I doubt it. This is how the war in Vietnam was lost. Ann Coulter is the patriot for pointing this out. The hater is Daniel Johnson and his fellow liberals.

Editor: Thorn, you should go back and actually read the story, then your comment has a better chance of making some degree of sense. Ann Coulter is a disease and bright people like Daniel don't have anything to do with it, except for the delivery of the message. If you are so twisted in your heart that you actually support Coulter, then you are obviously cut from the same cloth and all the evidence in the world wouldn't convince you. I won't let your ridiculous acccusations be posted here unaddressed.

Adam Cartwright March 21, 2009 6:24 pm (Pacific time)

Coulter is terrible and God bless you for taking the time to show us what her presence in the world means.

bob March 21, 2009 6:02 pm (Pacific time)

ITS TIME TO GO BACK AND FIX COMPUTERS.YOUR TOO CAUGHT UP WITH THIS"MIDDLE OF THE ROAD"ADMINISTRATION.WERE YOU THE ONE WHO ATTEMPTED TO THROW A PIE IN HER FACE WHILE SHEWAS ADDRESSING AN AUDIANCE.YOUR VISION APPEAR TO BE ON THE SIDE OF MARX.

stephen March 21, 2009 5:40 pm (Pacific time)

I believe in Christ. It is the utmost part of my life. ok, its not, I screw up all the time, but it is my hope to make Him the upmost of my life. But these people, who promote such violence, ignorance, and no thought to the freedom and liberty that was taught by Christ, makes me kinda sick. I agree with this article and very well written. I am attaching video from the Hagee church, and Tom Delay is part of it. It is a 10 minute video, but dont be concerned, after about a minute you will simply turn it off. This is sick in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjMRgT5o-Igandeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwhatreallyhappened.com%2Fandfeature=player_embedded

chris jones March 21, 2009 5:09 pm (Pacific time)

Good thing nobody takes this obviously devilish witch seriously.

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