As I don’t read the papers these columnists (?) write for or watch Fox, I never have any comments when such names are raised. But having seen the headline in one of the links you provided ( What is left of Malkin, Hinderaker and Horowitz’s credibility) I have to say that they obviously have no credibility. Who actually takes Coulter and her ilk seriously? Are they really widely regarded? I assumed they were just jokes; no sane individual can take them seriously.
I just think these people are diversions. The higher powers make people like you Richard focus all your attention on them instead of the real issues and debates. The Republicans can disown them in a flash whenever they want. If you take Malkin and Coulter seriously , doesn’t it make you feel used?
I don’t know; I only know Coulter from Franken’s book Lies. But to read people going on about these idiots as if it represents educated discourse reminds me of all the arguments I had as to the merits of the Ultimate Warrior and who was the greatest WWF champion of all time.
OK, enough from me. I’m off to Italy!!!!!!! ciao ragazzi!!!!!

July 3, 2006 @ 6:10 pm | Comment

The elitist snob in me (which pretty much fill all of my skin) wants to agree with what Keir said. But, I hold back when I consider how very similar things were said about Hitler in the earlier days of his career. He was dismissed and disregarded as an insignificant, ludicrous vulgarian, for the longest time.

The problem is, insignificant ludicrous vulgarians are an especially large and growing “market of opportunity” in today’s America. Thus, I think we ignore their leaders and panderers at our peril.

July 3, 2006 @ 7:36 pm | Comment

Malkin-Belsen has a syndicated newspaper column, is a paid Fox “political analyst,” appears all the time on other cable news shows and has an immense daily readership for her blog. She was instrumental in stopping the construction of a proposed museum at the 911 site for partisan reasons, and she frequently mobilizes tens of thousands of readers to write letters to editors she hates, and to jam fax machines at newspapers she disagrees with. Assrocket’s Powerline was Time’s Blog of the Year in 2004 and he, too, is a frequent cable news guest. They have clout and they have been given a big microphone by our mass media. There is no liberal equivalent; the closest might be Kos, but he is underconstant attack by the liberal media and has nothing like the television presence of Malkin. And Kos is no fanatic. He is a leftist activist, but he is no populist thug (and anyone claiming he is had better post links). Sometimes he’s an ass, but he’s not a dangerous ass. Malkin is a lethal weapon and a conscious, serial liar and rqacist.

July 3, 2006 @ 7:45 pm | Comment

Hold on Ivan. Times have changed since Hitler was around. First and foremost, the industry called Cable Television didn’t exist in the first half of the 20th century, which means billions of dollars were not being spent on advertising. Malkin has a stage to stand on because she brings viewers to Fox. Whether you agree or disagree with her ideas, she is controversial. And controversy = entertainment = more viewers = more revenue. Revenue is all Fox (and the others) care about. If no one came to see Malkin, Fox would dump her tomorrow.

July 6, 2006 @ 2:27 pm | Comment

helpsfo, you are seriously underestimating Malkin and her ilk if you think it’s only a matter of revenue. The right wing noise machine is coordinated – they literally receive a fax every AM (or perhaps an email these days) of the daily talking points.

This goes far beyond using controversy to attract viewers. Wander up the page and read Paul Krugman’s latest column if you want to see what it’s really about.

July 7, 2006 @ 11:31 am | Comment