... completely contrarian: A Defense of Ann Coulter by Elspeth Reeve in TNR. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.) I happen to agree. I think if Ann Coulter directed her barbs at George Bush she'd be acclaimed for being what she in fact is: a contemporary Juvenal.
Molly Ivins directs her barbs at George W. Bush and is not acclaimed as a contemporary Juvenal. But then, her barbs are baited with the facts of the outrageous and borderline criminal misconduct of the Bush administration and are not mere slanging matches. But then, again, she is an up-from-the-trenches, school-of-hard-knocks newspaperwoman who knows she has to back up what she says, and not a darling of the elite neo-reactionaries who knows she only has to shout the latest Big Lie long enough and loud enough.
But Molly Ivins is acclaimed by those who share her viewpoint, for you are not alone in praising her. I don't happen to think she is as good at what she does as Coulter is. She certainly doesn't have the glamourous cachet. Bear in mind that Coulter has made herself into a trademark. There is a reason why there is no left-wing counterpart to Rush Limbaugh, and it is ... that there is no left-wing counterpart to Rush Limbaugh.
Something else I forgot: The comparison with Juvenal is not altogther complimentary. Juvenal can be very funny. He is not always reliable and is often cruel.
Molly Ivins directs her barbs at George W. Bush and is not acclaimed as a contemporary Juvenal. But then, her barbs are baited with the facts of the outrageous and borderline criminal misconduct of the Bush administration and are not mere slanging matches. But then, again, she is an up-from-the-trenches, school-of-hard-knocks newspaperwoman who knows she has to back up what she says, and not a darling of the elite neo-reactionaries who knows she only has to shout the latest Big Lie long enough and loud enough.
ReplyDeleteBut Molly Ivins is acclaimed by those who share her viewpoint, for you are not alone in praising her. I don't happen to think she is as good at what she does as Coulter is. She certainly doesn't have the glamourous cachet. Bear in mind that Coulter has made herself into a trademark. There is a reason why there is no left-wing counterpart to Rush Limbaugh, and it is ... that there is no left-wing counterpart to Rush Limbaugh.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing: I posted that only because it was written by a professed liberal, who may, for all I know, now face excommunication.
ReplyDeleteSomething else I forgot: The comparison with Juvenal is not altogther complimentary. Juvenal can be very funny. He is not always reliable and is often cruel.
ReplyDelete