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Revision as of 23:58, 2 September 2005

The subject of this article is controversial and content may be in dispute. When updating the article, be bold, but not reckless. Feel free to try to improve the article, but don't take it personally if your changes are reversed; instead, come here to the talk page to discuss them. Content must be written from a neutral point of view. Include citations when adding content and consider tagging or removing unsourced information.

Talk:Ann Coulter/Archive 1 – Before 2005

Talk:Ann Coulter/Archive 2 – Criticism, Quotes, Racism/Sexism, Idle rich discussion

Talk:Ann Coulter/Archive 3 – Vietnam comments on the Fifth Estate discussion

Talk:Ann Coulter/Archive 4 – External links, transsexual, birthdate, plagiarism

Talk:Ann Coulter/Archive 5 – More racism, Lots of Quotation stuff, length, some photo stuff

She doesn't like that Time picture

Hi. Sorry if this has been hashed through already, but I read an interview () that she was pretty unhappy with that Time cover picture of her. So this article's use of it (as her one and only picture at least) seems kinda like a biased jab. Can't anyone come up with one that doesn't piss off the page's subject from the get go? I'm clueless about wikipedia and pictures. keith 00:39, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It'd be just as biased to use a photo that she especially endorsed. I think it'd be more interesting to describe her issues with the photo. She apparently dislikes it so much that she didn't read the issue. Most of an interview was devoted to that topic. Anyway, getting public-domain pictures of contemporary figures is hard. Magazine covers count, especially if we discuss them. -Willmcw 01:17, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

When you say, "that topic," do you mean the topic of her dislike of the cover? How can that be the topic of the interview if the giving of interview necessarily preceded the use of the photo? By the way, you're missing the point when you say it's just as biased to use an endorsed photo. Coulter's objection to the photo, in case it's any interest to you (and it is unclear whether that is the case), is that it is intentially distorted to the point of being cartoonish and, at least to her mind, demeaning -- and, more specifically, that Time would not have given that same treatment to a cove--patton1138 04:30, 23 August 2005 (UTC)r featuring a person of a persuasion more friendly to that of allegedly elite, liberal publications as itself. Paul Klenk 01:28, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

I think that new photo I used is p.d. enough, and its not one she endoresed but not one she'd dislike either.-Bedford 01:26, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

Much better photo. A screen shot is much more difficult to distort. Paul Klenk 01:30, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

This is a troubling rationale for altering an article. Whether the subject of an article likes or dislikes a picture should not be a factor is selecting a picture. Misplaced Pages frowns upon people editing their own Misplaced Pages articles. We also frown on proxy editing. Altering an article based on the likes or dislikes of the subject amounts to proxy editing by the subject. Guettarda 01:39, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It is not her like or dislike that is an issue, regardless of how the heading of this section may read. The issue is the photo's obvious cartoonish, feature-distorting quality, whether that quality is intentional, and whether it therefore could be construed as biased, and therefore unobjective. Paul Klenk 02:03, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

The new photo looks fine to me, though I disagree with the logic of changing it. BTW, a screen shot has nothing to do with distortion - the TIME photo was clearly shot with a wide-angle lens, a screen shot could do the same. It may still be interesting to note her passionate dislike of the TIME photo. The interivew I mentioned is this one . -Willmcw 01:42, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

Guettarda maybe those two frowns would cancel each other out and result in a smile. what about that? Back to the pic, its a simple issue of treating people with dignity. keith 01:52, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Do you believe that we should alter articles based on the opinions of the subjects? Should we remove material that the subjects of articles don't want out there? It isn't about any particular image, it's a matter of the rationale used to alter an article. I think this approach has the potential to hurt Misplaced Pages. Guettarda 04:17, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

You'd have a point if we were talking about something substantial. But it's just a picture. Furthermore, it isn't a very representative picture to begin with. I vote that it be changed. --patton1138 04:30, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It's a notable part of Coulter's career that she was featured on the cover of Time, which is unusual for a commentator like her. It's not the best choice for the lead picture -- a boring old head-and-shoulders shot is our normal standard, so the Faux News shot is preferable -- but the reproduction of the Time cover should stay in the article, along with the mention of her having been featured. I think I read somewhere that she said of the photo, "It makes my feet look as big as the Atlantic Ocean." Whether the picture is flattering or unflattering is intrinsically unimportant, but if Coulter has expressed intense dislike for it, and has made a big enough deal about the subject, then we could quote or paraphrase her reaction to the photo. JamesMLane 04:55, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

well if you have a burning need to include the fact that she was on the Time cover, I suggest the following compromise: lose the picture but add a sentence stating she was on the Time cover. Both sides get what they want. As for the picture itself as a "historical fact", I could possibly see that. But it seems to me more of a story about Time, they do that fairly often to people. At the very least we would need to make it neutral by giving both "sides" (like on the OJ Simpson page section about his Time cover fiasco). Perhaps a flattering figure shot right next to it for comparison. But I still think it's disrespectful to show distorted pictures of someone if they object. It's a pictorial lie. keith 06:49, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Do you believe that we should alter articles based on the opinions of the subjects? Should we remove material that the subjects of articles don't want out there? It isn't about any particular image, it's a matter of the rationale used to alter an article. This is not what Misplaced Pages is about - NPOV is the point, not "sypathetic point of view" like some sites. Guettarda 15:59, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Again, you'd have a point if we were talking about something substantial instead of just a picture. The way I see the situation, there's no real positive case for keeping the picture up. That is, the case being made is that the reason given to take it down isn't good enough. That's not much of a case, if there's no good reason to keep it up in the first place. It's not like taking it down will deal a blow to the NPOV-ness of the article... --patton1138 18:05, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It isn't "just a picture" when it's on the cover of a major national magazine. It becomes notable in itself, regardless of its accuracy. For the same reason, we've reported many distortions and outright lies that Coulter and her ilk have spread about their political opponents, because some meritless charges become notable. By contrast, taking a picture of Coulter from an angle that triggers some foreshortening effect isn't deceptive at all. AFAIK, that really is how she looks from that angle. JamesMLane 18:29, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm not talking about content - I don't care what pic the article uses. I'm talking about philosophy. The pic was changed "because Ann doesn't like it". That strikes me as one of the worst possible rationales. The POV is "passes the approval of the subject". How can that possibly be an acceptable reason for altering an article? Guettarda 18:32, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

You can keep repeating and repeating "it was removed because Ann doesn't like it" as many times as you wish, but that doesn't make it true. Your intellectual dishonesty is interfering with your ability to participate in a NPOV project. The reasons for removing the picture have been thoroughly discussed. When you fixate on one aspect of this discussion and ignore the rest, you are displaying your bias and your refusal to step back to a NPOV attitude. I suggest you take a break from the Ann Coulter project. It is participation by individuals who behave such as you that create the controversey surrounding projects like this. Paul Klenk 19:16, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

"Intellectual dishonesty"?!!! Bedford said in his edit

(cur) (last)  20:10, 22 August 2005 Bedford (As Ann doesn't like that pic, I found a neutral pic of her.)

I raised the fact that this is a terrible reason for altering the article. Rather than addressing the issue, you said that it "wasn't the issue". Is that "thorough discussion"? Great "collegial" editor you are - indulge in personal attacks, call me a liar...Come on dude, grow up. Try convincing people through logic rather than name calling. Guettarda 19:44, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Problem solved folks. (Cathytreks 20:10, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

I should have said "controversial pic change; the "doesn't like" was a abd choice. In any even, if we keep both pics, we really need to shrink the Time pic; it's way too big right now. (Bedford 20:31, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

Gee whiz guys! I did shrink it..alot...cant you tell?, p.s., how do you like my stick figure? hope it amuses everyone so that we can all be friends again! (Cathytreks 20:34, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

I don't care which photo we use, but please don't put a left-aligned picture as the lead photo. It messes up the TOC. Rhobite 20:47, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

Re: JamesMLane: For how many other persons on Misplaced Pages has it been deemed that their appearance on a national magazine cover is 'important' enough to warrant inclusion in the article? Furthermore the picture obviously is not representative of her appearance. But because it was on a magazine cover, it's inclusion-worthy? Come on! And who cares if that is how she does look from that angle? It's not 'deceptive', but it's certainly not a 'biographical/encyclopedic' angle, for lack of a better term. --patton1138 20:51, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

It's common for entertainment and sports celebrities to be on magazine covers, so I wouldn't find it very notable for one of them to be on the cover. The point I made about Coulter is that it's unusual for a political commentator to be featured so prominently. Similarly, it's unusual for a scientist to be so prominent, and our article on Alfred Kinsey does indeed include a reproduction of the Time magazine cover that depicted him. (Heck, we even have a Time cover in the article on George W. Bush. That was more newsworthy, because he was twice selected as "Person of the Year", but obviously was less important in Bush's career than this cover story was in Coulter's.) JamesMLane 21:26, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Are we all as the children?... my god(s)!, If we cannot even agree on a simple picture or two, or the alignment thereof...what hope do we have to agree upon anything of true galactic import!? Shalom (Cathytreks 21:03, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

At the risk of going completely off-topic, I don't think your stick figure is appropriate for use on talk pages. Wikipedians have a strong aversion to animated gifs in signatures. It's distracting and a little obnoxious. Rhobite 22:24, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

My only regret is that juvenile person used it for malicious purposes on the Coulter page itself, that is so pathetic... I only put it up here on the talk page as a "in joke" between us all, for the purpose of bringing forth some mirth on an otherwise heated debate, Surely we can all agree to the placement of both pictures? I dont even mind which one is more prominant than the other, as long both are placed in the article itself and both sides can now be happy!(yeah...right! ha ha) Best regards to all Wikipedians! Cathy (Cathytreks 22:32, 23 August 2005 (UTC))

And I don't care which pic is used, as long as it doesn't mess up the TOC. Rhobite 22:59, August 23, 2005 (UTC)

Both of the pictures appear fine to me. I see nothing wrong with including them both within the article, but can appreciate User:Rhobite's viewpoint. Hall Monitor 23:18, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

I am disputing the neutrality of using that picture. I have attempted to compromise by making it smaller (similar to the size of the also controversial OJ Simpson Time pic) and was also reverted. No one seems willing to deal. And yes that was a cute stick figure. That is all. keith 00:11, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

NPOV restoration of Coulter Time magazine cover to the Wiki article, please discuss the issue here on the Coulter talk page before you remove it, as it will otherwise be reported as vandalism, I thank you, and the cute stick figure thanks you too. (Cathytreks 00:45, 24 August 2005 (UTC))

Keithd's edit was really vandalism, Cathytreks?!? I would agree with him on shrinking all the pictures a bit. Additionally, if one of the arguments for keeping the Time pic is its importance as a rare media appearance, shouldn't it be in the media section? I think you're being a bit domineering here... Disagreeing is one thing, but to label those recent edits as vandalism simply because you proclaimed it was beforehand does not a vandal make. A bit rude and non-team-player-ish, but no more than your self-proclamation as supreme editor on this issue that you just made above... --patton1138 18:48, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I like ot better w the images spread out, instead of all bunched up at the top. Does that make me a vandal? Also, we need loads more pics of her, she's hot, and photogenic. ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ 01:39, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Please remove that fisheyed Time Magazine Cover (one of Time's favorite tricks is to distort the faces of people they perceive as villains - see Bush, Geo W and Simpson, OJ for details.)

The question is not whether or not Ann likes it.

The question is did Time deliberately use a distortion lens on her photo consistent with the way they've done with photographs of others they don't like and the answer is yes.

Therefore that photo has NO business in here. It's a slam shot and it's INEXPLICABLE that it has been kept.

In fact, the reason SO MUCH CRAP is discussed back and forth in this page is because sane people have to stop the FLOOD OF HATE spewed at Ann from liberal wik's who want to include their venom in this entry. It's almost like it's their religion to hate Ann Coulter and no one is gonna stop them!

Here's a better much more flattering photo. I have no idea of Ann likes it.

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2003/07-23-coulter-inside.jpg

That it's flattering, sized right and appropriate should be good enough. Unless you really don't have a nPOV...

PS It's LAUGHABLE that you guys posted two of the WORST photos ever taken of Ann in this entry. Musta been an accident, huh?

Big Daddy 04:38, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

fascinating

So... the article on Coulter has morphed from a collection of quotes into a collection of pictures. Maybe the article on Paris Hilton can become a collection of her quotes. Symmetry. Gzuckier 01:45, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

ha ha..very funny lol (Cathytreks 01:59, 24 August 2005 (UTC))

the gun pic

well, on to a new topic; that gun pic is unsourced (and up for deletion) plus it looks more like an outtake from the dukes of hazzard than anything you'd typically associate with Coulter, and the resolution isn't good enough that she's really absolutely identifiable, it could be any skinny chick with long blond hair. I'm just saying. Gzuckier 16:04, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I can see your point. Eh, I'm neutral on this one. It does characterize her right-winged-ness, I suppose, but you have a point with the low-res and lack of clarity. --patton1138 18:50, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I think the image is great, and paints her in a more human light. ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ 21:11, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I thought it was a nice pic also. Actually I think its from her web page. Still too small and grainy though probably. Check this one out I found randomly on the web somewhere http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/104031.jpg might be fake but... keith 21:41, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I like the leggy one best, but can't we have them all? ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ 21:46, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Page Vandalism on Ann Coulter

In the latest bit of his page vandalism Keithd states, "...cathy quit trying to dominate the article. multiple people have stated preference for version, you have violated the 3RR.."

Well I am truly sorry Keith if you feel that way, but is it a matter of what "multiple people" want on the Misplaced Pages?, or is it a matter of policy...and what is right?!, ... there are rules that are being ignored and flaunted by you and others, and I can assure you I will at least continue to do everything in my admittedly limited power to overcome such prejudical and inflamatory POV's on the page(s) I may find and always support the NPOV. Shalom! (Cathytreks 19:19, 24 August 2005 (UTC))

Ahhhh, yes, how inflamatory it is to place the Time pic in the media section... I can see how it can also belong in the section that mentions she was on Time, but is it really a 'prejudical and inflamatory POV' to move it to the section on media? --patton1138 19:20, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Patton, please dont misunderstand my comments here, Indeed I was not referring whatsoever to the (of late!) great edit of having the Time picture in the media section, with the Fox news pic up top, I was only reffering to Keithd's and sam spades repeated vandalistic removal of same Time cover picture, in the worst POV unchallenged statements such as... "Ann Coulter doesnt like it"...its not flattering of her.." etc, so, are we here for the truth? or a lie..wrapped up in a pretty xmas present!? There should be no room for pandering to Ann Coulter or anyone on the Misplaced Pages Encyclopedia...are we are here for truth?...or spinzone propaganda? (Cathytreks 19:39, 24 August 2005 (UTC))

I may be missing something, but the last edit to be Time-less (har har), was the one at: 19:10, 23 August 2005 by Shem Daimwood. All of them since then have been people just moving the pic back and forth over and over. Perhaps unwittingly so, but that's what it's been. --patton1138 20:00, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

uh the last five versions you reverted all contained the Time pic genius, in the media section for the last four of them . keith 19:55, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Can someone please explain the point to this argument? There is nothing wrong with the inclusion of the Time Magazine image, nor is there anything wrong with the way it's being presented as the article stands. Are we in agreeance and can we move on? Hall Monitor 20:05, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm... I ummm..I did not...see..that before Keithd I..I'm VERY sorry ..(gulp) Cathytreks now dissapears into The Misplaced Pages Hall of Shame (chrikey me and my big mouth) :( Yes Hall Monitor, I am with you all on this...and am sorry to make fuss, everybody, I'll be more careful before I am quick to judge on anything and I'll be sure of the facts!..damn sure. (Cathytreks 20:31, 24 August 2005 (UTC))

I can't believe people are actually arguing about this. Rhobite 20:35, August 24, 2005 (UTC)

Seconded, Rhobite. I was actually thinking that AS I was reading. But since I'm in a talking mood, I have a question:

Ann Coulter is an especially frequent guest on the Fox News Channel. Her appearances on the Bill O'Reilly program often make for interesting viewing, because she is one of the few regular guests (if not the only one) who seems to cow the notoriously aggressive O'Reilly.

This quote isn't exactly written in an NPOV way. Would anyone object to me shortening it to leave out the fact that her appearances make his show more (much more) interesting?Stanselmdoc 05:04, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

Birthplace

According to the Time magazine story, she was born in NYC. Excerpt from Time magazine cover story: "Ann Hart Coulter was born in New York City on Dec. 8, 1961. That's according to her Connecticut voter registration." I've never seen any other source explicity say she was born in Connecticut, they likely assumed it since she grew up there. Just for simple factual accuracy I've changed her birthplace in the first paragraph to NYC. --Fallout boy 19:56, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

Ann coulter calls New Yorkers cowards and says they would surender to terrorists if NY was attacked

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Hannity-Colmes-Coulter-bashes-NY.mov

have added to this and am the political editor challenging her observations - jozzyoz

The entire New York paragraph needs to be rewritten. As it stands right now, it doesn't even make any sense. Not to mention the fact that it's a paragraph with only one sentence. I don't even understand what it's trying to say. Can anyone rewrite it (in an NPOV way) to actually make sense? If not, I'm going to remove it from the article because it's too confusing. Stanselmdoc 16:39, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

No, this whole paragraph needs to be removed.

What the hell is this an encyclopedia or David Brock's blog???

Every time she says something you liberals don't like, you blow it out of proportion by a factor of 100 in an effort to hurt her career. And you do the same thing to Karl Rove and all your other 'bogeyman.'

And now you want to include it in a FREAKING encyclopedia entry?

If you want to spew your vicious hatred for Ann Coulter, just go to democraticunderground.com.

Leave the encyclopedia for the grown ups to work out.

Please get rid of this entire paragraph...and the cheap shot on Bush at the end is just precious, isn't it?. Pretty much says everything about the individual who included this...

Big Daddy 04:57, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

why the arizona daily star is no longer carying her collum

"Many readers find her shrill, bombastic, and mean-spirited. And those are the words used by readers who identified themselves as conservatives," Stoeffler

Oh, where to begin...WHERE to begin???

First of all, let me remind everyone that this is an encyclopedia, NOT The Huffington Post.

Now most people think of Coulter as the right wing counterpart to Michael Moore or better Al Franken.

(Only subjective liberals dispute this with any fire.)

So, we should use the Al Franken entry as a model for creating this entry, right?

And there are NO cheap shots taken at Al in his entry.

Why so many on this entry? Hmmm...

I recomend we start what appears to a massive clean up effort by eliminating this paragraph:

"On the other hand, columnist and blogger Andrew Sullivan has created a parody Michelle Malkin Award for writing which he considers to be cliché-ridden, insulting, and in concordance with the reader's beliefs. Sullivan has declared that "Ann Coulter cannot be considered" for the award on the grounds that "No one else would stand a chance."

This is A PURE CHEAP SHOT. It adds NOTHING to her biography and only serves as a gratiutious slam.

Big Daddy 04:19, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I agree; I removed the paragraph. It was clearly a cheap insult and did nothing to support the point of the section; it was a third-hand reference. This article needs real work by real editors and writers, not people who hate Ann and try to drag every negative thing they can find about her into the article.

Some responsible people with actual writing ability -- not just the ability to copy and paste negative quotes -- should work on this piece. People who can keep their POV in check and approach this subject without hostility to it, and without trying to prove a point about Ann. klenk 05:12, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Klenk,

Thanks for your support and great points! I especially agree with this characterization of much of the writing in this entry.

"People who hate Ann and try to drag every negative thing they can find about her into the article" Sadly, this is not only true of Ann's entry but that of Bill O'Reilly and undoubtedly countless other 'enemies of the left.' I can't wait to see Mel Gibson's page. lol!

On the contrary, I did not find ANY of this sort of venom on the Al Franken etc page. Hmmmm....What does this say about Misplaced Pages?

I'm brand new here, but my gut tells me this POV neutral slogan they bandy about is real suspect. The articles seem largely to be written by liberals. And you know what happens when you get articles written by a group comprised of about 80% Liberals proclaiming a neutral point of view???

Anything but...

Take care,

Big Daddy

Big Daddy 05:22, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

BD, one quick point: try to keep your thoughts in paragraphs; they're easier to read. Just a friendly suggestion (I cleaned yours up as an illustration.

Second, see the latest rewrites I have provided. They are more balanced they don't hide the qualities that outrage people or cause them to love her.

Finally, don't worry about what you perceive as liberal bias here. There is no cabal. Just make the articles better -- more insightful, more accurate, more meaningful. Don't try to protect your subject or make it look bad -- just write about it accurately and clearly.

klenk 05:54, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Two more thoughts to Daddy other others:

1] Please work hard to be as thoughtful in your edits as you can be. It is easy to paste negative quotes. It is not easy to write with clarity, accuracy and precision. It takes work. And it takes serious thinking. The more difficult and more controversial a subject is, the harder it is to write about it well. If you are not prepared for that work, find a topic that is easy, like reality television.

2] If you are not ready to respect people who are on a different side, you will find it hard to defend your work with them. Write in such a way that neither side can criticise you. klenk 06:00, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

A Message To Liberals

I respect your right and desire to write about Ann Coulter. She is a hot topic. But if you want to write about your topic well, you need to understand that topic. Some of you do not understand her, or care to.

Some of you are completely missing the point about her style. (This is what she is counting on, by the way, and she'd probably call you "stupid liberals" for it. She knows by saying this she will get you mad. That is what she sets out to do -- get you angry.) She makes heavy use of hyperpole, sarcasm, and satire. I know you think you know what those words mean, but you do not seem to understand why Ann, as a writer and speaker, uses them, or what effect she intends these qualities to have, or how she uses them to illustrate her points.

The secret to understanding Coulter is: What point is she actually making with this style, not Why is she saying such "hateful" things.

Stop blathering on and on about how hateful she is. How racist. How mean-spirited. You are falling into her trap. You are looking only at the surface, and no further. Try a little harder and try not to take this her so seriously. When you do, you fail as a writer. klenk 06:12, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Klenk,

VERY well put. You nailed it exactly. We either should accord ALL the subjects of Wik articles this evenhandedness...or none of them.

As it stands now, the liberal pundits get treated pretty well. I hope I can soon say the same for the conservatives.

Big Daddy 14:00, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

A Message To Conservatives

Many of you are very threatened by anything negative that is said about Coulter. Stop worrying about it. It is what she intends. She is a good writer, a self-described polemicist, and knows exactly what she is doing. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with her views -- only that she is a good writer. Many liberals don't even read her pieces, or if they do, they don't work hard to understand them. They just react to them. That's not the fault of the writer, but the reader. Be better than that, and be ready to write thoughtfully about what she says.

Treat her as a worthy subject, warts and all, and don't worry whether what you write makes her look good or bad. Just make sure it's accurate, balanced, fair, insightful, and artfully written. Yes, an encyclopedia can be artfully written. It doesn't need to have a plonking style. When you read the article and see a plonking style, just fix it.

There is no liberal cabal at WP. There are people on both sides. Some are better writers than others, some are better at hiding their bias than others. Stop complaining and just dig and and do the work. Make the article better. klenk 06:20, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

"...deliberately distorting facts..."

One thing that is missing in our discussion about Coulter is squarely facing this so-called idea about her "deliberately distorting facts," AND how significant this accusation is among the wider community of critics, not just a new like Al Franken.

We need to therefore argue a bit together on two topics:

1] THE SUBSTANCE of the alleged distortions, rather than that she is being accused. In other words what is important, that she is accused of distortions, or that she actually distorts? I would say that if the substance is not proven to broad consensus, then the fact that she is being accused is much less important, and should not lead the article. And do not make the elementary error of confusing hyperbole with distortions of fact.

Your assignment: Prove that this allegation merits mention in the first paragraph about an article about her. I would say it is highly subjective, and I am going to challenge anyone you makes this assertion and does not back it up. Prove it, just don't say it.

Further to point 1: Quote an example of a distortion, and prove it is not a fact. Then prove it is deliberate.

2] THE CONSENSUS, or lack thereof, among critics across a wide spectrum about this allegation. Are there a few people like Franken, who is on the fringe of the fringe, who say this or do critics broadly agree that she distorts facts? If you assert it, prove it.

I actually have little interest in this article, but if it will help people who actually do have some, go have a look at http://www.spinsanity.org (who did a good and fairly balanced anaysis of spin on both liberal and conservative sides when they were active) and do a search on Ann Coulter. The very first link on the results page, about halfway down, documents several uses of out-of-context quotations in Treason. While "deliberate" is of course impossible to prove conclusively without a telepath, one should consider the context and the way it is being presented to and taken by her readers as well as the general principle that a person intends the natural consequence of their actions.

People might want also to search the archives at http://www.salon.org for articles on Coulter. Although some might probably accuse that of being a biased source. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 08:12, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

i agree with much of the original point, but the harping on "prove" (with repeated bold) is just setting up the floor for a broken-record response of "you didn't prove it — nyah nyah nyah", especially regarding "deliberate" (as noted above), a word with definitions ranging from tight to loose. i believe that most of what she says in print (especially in a book) could fall under, excuse the term, res ipsa loquitur with respect to deliberateness — no further proof necessary. those itching to get this phrase into the article might do better to drop the "deliberate" part though. the rest should be easy enough to prove, assuming one doesn't invoke the metaphysical. coulter's a loose cannon, and misfires go with the territory, especially when your primary mission requires pretending that democrats and "republicans" aren't all raving socialists in real (non-rhetorical) life. SaltyPig 09:08, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Sorry SaltyPig...

But going to Spinsanity and Salon to 'learn' about Ann Coulter is like going to Christopher Hitchens to 'learn' about Mother Theresa.

Ps Sheesh, this place is so far left, they don't even realize how left they are.

And for those who say 'there's no liberal cabal' I say -nice dodge.

I never insinuated a 'cabal.' I simply said just about every editor I've encountered since I've been here, albeit a VERY short time, IS A LIBERAL. Yet NOT ONE will admit it. They just dodge the issue. That's a sure sign. And the conservative pundits are SAVAGED while the Al Franken and Bill Maher are treated with kit gloves, respecting how 'they feel' about things.

So it's been quite disillusioning to discover what I USED to think was one of the BEST things on the net...is in fact teetering on the brink of being 'the world according to leftists.'

I know it's Wik's STATED INTENTION to not become that, but what I've discovered here so far certainly is disturbing.

Ps And as far as ticking people off with my comments, that's the least of my concerns right now. I'm SO TICKED OFF MYSELF at how long this bias has been allowed to stay in Wik, it's hard for me to imagine how it got this bad.

as a former major contributor to freerepublic.com (as in $1,000 a fundraiser), and blog operator who regularly freaked out these so-called liberals you see hiding in the woodwork, i find your assumptions... plain idiotic and stupid, to be frank -- just like the "race card" most stereotypical "conservatives" rant about. look at my edits at Che Guevara for one. then maybe you can check my voluminous work at United States Constitution. the examples go far beyond that. some leftist you stumbled into. liberal? you bet. from the original latin. stop being paranoid and assuming that anybody who disagrees with you isn't as conservative as thou; quite possible it's the other way around, whoever you are. SaltyPig 14:20, 2 September 2005 (UTC) (that's called a sig, BTW.)

SPig writes: "As a former major contributor to freerepublic.com as in $1,000 a fundraiser..."

But that was before you got SAVED, right salty? lol!

Look dude or dudette, I have no intention of getting into a pissing war with you. I called you out as a liberal and you copped to it. That puts you WAY ahead of most of the other liberals in here. But please don't run that game on me that I'm seeing 'devils behind doorknobs.' I'm two jumps ahead of you there, buddy. Unless you wish to deny the editors in here are mostly liberals. Do you??? (Watch him try to re-define liberal ala John Kerry.)

Anyway, I'm not here to debate politics. I respect your right to be a liberal.

I'm simply trying to make Wik the best *fair* encyclopedia it can be.

The facts are obvious. The editors here are OVERWHELMINGLY liberal. That's a problem that needs to be addressed by the powers that be at Wik.

There's ABSOLUTELY no way I'd feel comfortable claiming ANY publication I was involved in was nPOV if 80% of the editors were conservative. Give me a break!

Having just peeked under the hood at Wik, I am really disappointed at what I have found here so far. It's a shame that the Ann Coulter entry as well as Bill O'Reilly's and I'm sure many others I've yet to discover, are almost held HOSTAGE to hateful liberal ideology. In an encyclopedia no less!

Having said that, I can assure you there are plenty of liberals and conservatives who can work TOGETHER to make Wik a fair and honest resource.

So far, it doesn't appear you are one of them...

Ps Am I right about this or did I underrate you? Big Daddy 15:06, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

You need to stop focusing on editors and start focusing on edits. Hipocrite - «Talk» 15:13, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Oh, you want me to love the sinner but hate the sin, huh? Sorry, if this place were edited by 80%+ Born Again Christians, it'd be laughed off the internet as any kind of repository for nPOV info. The same holds true if it's the other way around. I haven't made any final judgements yet, but it sure seems that way.

The editors politics, as should be OBVIOUS to everyone by now, do affect their perception which in turns affects their editing.

Big Daddy 18:31, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

BigDaddy777... wow, but i don't know how to respond to you without kicking your ass all over this page! wow. i'll try though.

if there could be a more obtuse response to my latin comment, it would require relativistic equations to chart. you still haven't figured out that i'm more conservative than you (and freerepublic). can't help you then, BigD. sorry. i didn't leave freerepublic; it and most every other "conservative bastion", including coulter, left conservatism. some light reading for you, should you ever pull your head out. later much. SaltyPig 17:28, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

This is rich. He's TOO conservative for Free Republic. That's like being too east of Kamchatka...all of a sudden your west again!

As for your other childish insults, about kicking my ass, (yeah, like you'd stand a chance) I will report them as they seem to be in violation of some TOS around here (or should be.) Big Daddy 18:31, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

:::::no research necessary right now. you edit-war types are going to do what you're going to do, and i'll counter when the time is right. you lost me when you started sneaking around like a first-year AOL chat roomer. you know what i'm talking about too. SaltyPig 14:58, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Pig, whatever your bend, you have betrayed a decidedly anti-Coulter bias, and since she's the subject of this page, I do think it's fair to say it's getting in your way. paul klenk 14:24, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

perhaps some bible is in order, since we're all so "conservative" here (um, something about planks and motes?). objectivity meets a wormhole on this page, apparently. i've registered mild support of coulter in this discussion today (as i have elsewhere before, despite my serious problems with her style and substance). guess that's still blowing by you, since you pegged me as a kerry fanatic from the outset (absolutely ludicrous), based on nothing except my lack of appropriate worshipfulness. SaltyPig 14:37, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I only suggested you add a similar sexual remark on his page, too, to make the point tha it would not have been tolerated there (even if you had, it would surely be deleted). I never hinted that you were a liberal or a kerry supporter. You read that into my comment. By the way, how is your research coming? Tick tock, tick tock. paul klenk 14:45, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

no research necessary right now. you edit-war types are going to do what you're going to do, and i'll counter when the time is right. you lost me when you started sneaking around like a first-year AOL chat roomer. you know what i'm talking about too. SaltyPig 14:58, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Your comments about first-year AOL-types and edit-war types can very easily be construed as personal attacks. Attack the argument, not the person making it. The only reason I openly encouraged someone to revert edits (which I would do again), is because some anonymous IP-er with no prior history at WP thrice added comments about her sexual history that were neither germaine to the article, nor even to the paragraph in which they appeared, and I reverted them myself. I also reported this to an admin to ask for advice and I worked very closely with him to make sure I was doing things properly. Let's keep civil here. I am willingly laying out my arguments and thinking, listening to your responses, and then return with my answer. Do the same, please. paul klenk 15:07, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

that is a typical misunderstanding of logical argument. the subject at hand now, unfortunately, is your behavior, which i characterize (civilly) as AOL chat room material and sneaky edit-warring. if you wanted to be open about edit-warring, you would've discussed it here. you didn't. that is quite relevant to wikipedia guidelines, not illogical, and not a personal attack. you are the person who kept trying to rush the discussion here (ludicrous, considering i was arguing with about 4 opponents below, edit conflicting almost every time i tried to save), after i told you that i would respond to you by this evening (because your many questions required far more time than the pace allowed then). i told you below that because of your actions (not your arguments), i am done discussing it with you now. i also state that you exhibited bad faith. again, that is relevant to wikipedia editor interaction, factual, and not a personal attack. i'm sorry that things got to this point. wish you hadn't done what you did. could have been a good argument, with some valuable research on this admittedly minor, though contentious, subject. if you think i'm afraid to deal with this subject point by point, without ignoring anything you wish addressed, you haven't been paying much attention. it all comes down to accepting that when a man says he'll address it by tonight, he might be telling the truth. cheap tactics, paul. very cheap. even if you weren't 3RRd out, you shouldn't have even thought of reverting in the middle of a discussion that hadn't gone 12 hours. SaltyPig 15:54, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

bill maher sexual relations jokes

...Real Time with Bill Maher (who has joked about their sexual relations)...

even though it's just an aside, i think this adds useful, valid information to the article, and also says a lot about coulter's tolerance if she puts up with it. if it's rewritten to convey that he's speaking wishfully or something like that (and that she's in on the joke), i think it should be in the article. their on-camera chemistry is pretty good, and (IMO) noteworthy. SaltyPig 09:16, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Salty, I remember during the 2004 Pres. campaign, a lady who dated Kerry blogged about their sexual history. It was never refuted by him. Should we go add it to the article? I did a search on Kerry's page. The only mention of sex was Middlesex County. What do you say? klenk 09:44, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

as i suspected, you apparently think that anybody criticizing coulter is a "democrat" — like i give two shakes what anybody says about john kerry the walking turd/idiot/tyrant. "oooh, don't put something bad about kerry in his wikipedia article!" but to answer you anyway, if john kerry meets with the woman repeatedly on TV, she jokes about it regularly, and he laughs back regularly... yeah, i'd say that's noteworthy. from what i recall, coulter was cool with it. have you seen their interaction on the show? they get along well. my reason for suggesting its inclusion is that i think it's a positive comment on coulter amid the usual polemical angle people usually assume she grinds all day. but whatever. really don't care that much about it, though i do think you're too sensitive about it being a smear of her. it's not. BTW, your apparent analogy between what i wrote and the kerry example... wow — not so rigorous. SaltyPig 10:32, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Late comment. None of this would be encyclopedic. Here or Kerry's article. Something can be notable, but not encyclopedic. --Lord Voldemort 15:16, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

here it could be made encyclopedic (not as it was tried), and same at kerry's. completely different situations, but can be added properly both places. in kerry's case, it should be mentioned as a major aspect of the campaign PR equation, assuming they get that detailed. SaltyPig 16:37, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

alright, i moved it out of the top section and included it in the media relations section.--71.112.11.220 18:55, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Ann Coulter, Constitutional Attorney -- POV?

SaltyPig has removed mention that Coulter is a constitutional attorney, with this remark: (remove "constitutional" from before "attorney" -- POV, roundly disputed, and pretty much meaningless except for the hype factor)

Perhaps he believes by piling on three reasons, it will add up to something. 0 + 0 + 0 still equals 0.

Let's discuss his three assertions:
1] POV: She is either this type of attorney or she is not. There are patent att'ys, corporate atty's, landlord/tenant atty's, civil rights atty's. There are also constitutional atty's. They exist. Coulter either is one, or she is not. Not a matter of POV. Sorry. Strike one.
2] roundly disputed. Outside WP, where is this roundly disputed? Please cite your sources.
3] "pretty much meaningles except for the hype factor" This, Salty, smacks of POV. One person's credentials is one person's hype. This is one of your credentials. I'm sorry that it upsets you that she has credentials, but mentioning them does not constitute hype. This betrays your bias against Ms. Coulter.

I did a Google search on "Ann Coulter" and "constitutional attorney" and below are the first hits I got, both good, bad, and stupid. I did not include mention of her title at a blogforbush site, but I didn't delete any others. I cannot find anyone using Google who refutes that she is constitutional attorney. If you can, please let us know here at the talk page.

• Media Matters, one of her left-wing detractors, pooh-poohs this but doesn't refute it with any facts.
  
• City Beat puts scare quotes around this title, but also puts scare quotes around "best-selling author." They do not refute the claim.
  
• Satireonline makes reference to it. Does not refute it. Great, I'm impressed.
  
• Perspectives chat forum user makes a mention only.
  
• Worldnetdaily, a right-wing site, mentions she is a C.A. No "proof," no "refutation."
  
• Findlaw's review of books sez: "A former federal judicial law clerk, congressional staffer for Senator Spencer Abraham and constitutional attorney, Coulter was even named in a controversial article as one of the top 100 public intellectuals in 2001, by respected federal jurist Richard Posner."
  
• Newshound chat user "newswatcher" twice asserts she is a C.A.
  
• World-O-Crap News Report gets a Google hit, the term is not used with her name.
  
• Storymania.com poet Bransom Storm calls her a C.A.
  
• Orthodoxytoday.org user make mention that she is a C.A.
  

Salty, your bias is showing. 'Fess up.

I would appreciate criticisms of my thinking above. klenk 09:38, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Seems to me that FindLaw, the most credible source, designates her as a former constitutional attorney. I don't believe she's still in practice, is she? --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 09:44, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

On second thoughts, the sentence as constructed is grammatically ambiguoous. It would help, though, to know if she is still practising and, if so, what the nature of her practice is. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 09:51, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

We had an edit conflict here, before you published the above. I'm going to post what I intended to anyway:

Seems to me you've mischaracterized what they said, and read into it. Read it again: "A former federal judicial law clerk," not "a former constitutional attorney." The sentence is not clear. Please play again and pick up a can of Turtle Wax.

Is she still an attorney? Yes. She is still an attorney. She is not a former attorney, even though she evidently does not argue in court. She is an attorney, undisputed. What kind of attorney? A constitutional attorney.

Are you going to argue that she is a attorney, but a former constitutional attorney? That is worse than stretching it, it is absurd. Please, Khaos, do some research and refute that she is a constitutional attorney.

It's okay to admit you're wrong, people. klenk 09:56, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

first, thanks for bringing up here instead of reverting. let's start with the term which you paint as being an on/off switch (i.e., one is either one or isn't). precisely what is a "constitutional attorney"? it's a "credential"? c'mon! further, given that the constitution is supposedly the supreme law of the land, what attorneys are not "constitutional attorneys"? please don't get hung up on my edit summary like it's a doctoral thesis or something (though i'll defend it if you insist); i looked through all the discussion archives to see if this had been disputed before, and didn't really expect any opposition. would've brought up here first otherwise.

yeah, i googled well enough before making the change. what i found was that most of the instances of "constitutional attorney" re coulter emanated from her marketing. let's at least agree that it's a very impressive sounding term, and that she uses it to describe herself. from that drones again the question of what is and what is not a "constitutional attorney" (this apparently bright line you see). for starters, i'd say that anybody accurately quoted as stating that NRO's censoring of her column had anything to do with "repealing the First Amendment" shouldn't have the word "constitutional" within 50' of her bio.

but perhaps we can go from your direction instead. what is a "constitutional attorney"? what has she done to distinguish herself as such? your apparent setting up of this subject with a requirement that sources be found to refute her claim (and that is primarily whence many appearances of the term came originally) is fallacious. please don't continue in that direction. what evidence do you have, aside from POV from others, that she's performed the duties of a "constitutional attorney" (whatever those may be -- you tell me), and how is a lawyer not one? how does a lawyer become one? relevant, i'd say, if this is not POV but a statement of fact. last, don't overestimate my bias against coulter, though it's perhaps irrelevant whatever its intensity/existence. my background and preferences may not be what you might assume. SaltyPig 10:19, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Your argument is based on a somewhat veiled claim that there is no such thing as a constitutional attorney, or at least "I've never heard of such a thing." I think I am being fair in that respect. So, first, we have to determine whether there is such a thing, and then, if proven, determine whether she is one.

Also, it is not just "her" claim that she is one. She is referred to as one all the time, not just in press releases.

Also, you did not delete the reference the word attorney. What does her being an attorney have to do with anything? Evidently it is relevant. I would say so, you haven't denied this. If she is, in fact, and attorney, and it is okay to mention it, then why not mention what kind she is? If you were to find out that she is a patent attorney, would you not think that is relevant vis a vis the focus of her commentary?

I'll tell you why: Because in her role as a writer and commentator, she focuses on constitutional issues time and time again. Read her columns. It is a recurring theme. It is a theme because she knows her subject. What is her subject? Constitutional law. You have taken an interest in this article. Now take an interest in its subject and familiarize yourself with her enough so that you know her area of specialty.

They exist, Salty. Constitutional lawyers exist, she is widely referred to as one across all spectrums in the media, no one disputes it, and it relates to the subjects she talks about every day.

I am not done addressing your last post. I will do some research and return. Many thanks, klenk 10:39, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

-----------

Well, FindLaw, which khaos was happy enough to cite as a credible source, makes the distinction of a constitutional lawyer. They list "Constitutional Law" as a sub-group fo Civil and Human Rights, and provide many referral links to what they describe as "Constitutional Lawyers". I think we can let this rather elementary point rest, and move on: Is Coulter one? klenk 10:54, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

for argument, yes: let's assume that constitutional lawyers exist. it's a starting point. since i guess you're coming back later with more stuff on the "is coulter one" question, i'll keep this short(er). to answer your previous question about lawyers in general, though i don't agree with the standard, it's commonly understood that if somebody in the U.S. passes a state bar and isn't disbarred, he's a lawyer. i don't agree with it, but the term has a standard meaning. given the jobs she's said to have had (not disputed), i think it's likely coulter's a lawyer, and i agree with you that it's relevant to this argument. however, if she worked for a corporation, representing it, it would be fair to say she's a corporate lawyer. fine. does clerking for a federal judge make one a "constitutional lawyer"? well, i don't think so — at least not to the extent that one should be distinguished as such where other lawyers are not. i'll hope you come back with some reasonably strict criteria on what makes a constitutional attorney (beyond being called one by somebody), and we can discuss it with respect to coulter and her accomplishments (beyond generic clerking for a federal judge, and beyond mere writing about the constitution while also being a lawyer ). SaltyPig 11:11, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

What is common usage of the term "constitutional attorney"? I suppose the most important issue is the circumstances under which lawyers and professional bodies use the term. Maybe an RFC request for a lawyer to answer that question might be appropriate. I don't think it's a question that can be answered simply by logical deducation or by google. Guettarda 11:38, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

To clarify. There are such things as constitutional attorneys. They handle cases involving issues of constitutional law and/or interpretation of the constitution. In the same way that there are criminal attorneys, corporate attorneys, tax attorneys and so on. It doesn't mean that a criminal attorney doesn't do anything else, or that he never does cases that touch on constitutional issues, but that's not his specialization - he may, for example, argue fifth amendment and sixth amendment issues, which are constitutional, but only where directly related to the criminal process. If someone wanted to argue about the conflict between federal authority and state's rights, however, they would go to a constitutional lawyer, not a criminal one. All of us get a general practitioner's training in law school, but where we go from after we graduate is our business. I became a prosecutor, for example, and while I know a bit about tax law and company law, again for example, and could talk a bit on it, I wouldn't feel confident enough, not having practiced it for any appreciable length of time, to act for someone in a case based on it. Now, clerking for a federal judge doesn't make Coulter a constitutional lawyer, but that's not the connection being made here. Her status as a constitutional lawyer is separate from that. Writing academic articles about constitutional interpretation and making it a specific field of study and practice would, however, allow her to legitimately call herself a constitutional lawyer. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 11:48, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

1] Not for argument's sake. For real. They exist. Admit it. 2] Whether you agree with "what is a lawyer" is not germaine to this discussion. 3] "I think it's likely Coulter's a lawyer"? 4] You are the one who deleted the term "constitutional"; I should point out that there have been discussions about this in the past. The term was alternately deleted and added. 5] You are framing this argument in terms of her "accomplishments." Passing the bar makes you an attorney. Disagreeable to you, admittedly, but nothing else matters on that point. 6] If passing the bar makes you a lawyer, I am prepared to argue that your specialty of study (that is, law school) By the way, I hope we don't have to have an argument over whether you consider getting a law degree an accomplishment. You seem to be framing this in a very arbitrary way. "If you can't prove this to me based on MY criteria, then you haven't proved it." I am not going to fall for that; neither am I going to let you frame the issue. I am going where the facts lead me. If I am wrong, and she is not a C.A., then I will admit it. I hope you are prepared to admit you are wrong and not play word games.

I opened this discussion by laying out your three points about why you deleted the entry. You have lost the argument on POV -- it is not a POV issue, it is an issue of fact. Therefore, you have lost the argument over whether it is hype. If she is one, then it is no different than saying she is a "patent attorney". A C.A. is the kind of attorney she is. You still have not addressed it is "roundly disputed" that she is a C.A. Please do so with evidence -- beyond some arguments in Wikiland.

To Guettarda -- that would be a good area for you to research. I'll bet a lot of universities out there have info about specialties of law. Glad to see you back. Hope you find the answer to your question. klenk 11:51, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Writing academic articles about constitutional interpretation and making it a specific field of study and practice would, however, allow her to legitimately call herself a constitutional lawyer.

couldn't disagree more. under that description, she might have no more credentials as a columnist writing about the constitution than a non-lawyer columnist writing about the constitution. i think what she did is join the federalist society, clerk for a fed judge, and go on to bigger, more exciting things while dragging her lawyer title with her to engage in the same thing many non-laywers do — constitutional analysis — from what i've seen no better than many hacks who claim to know about the constitution. surely a "constitutional attorney" must do more than this. she wears the same title as a career supreme court litigant? nah, that doesn't wash. where are the objective criteria for this title other than POV. it's all been POV so far.

when does one become a "constitutional attorney" (this supposed switch flip written about here)? what are the parameters? where's the line? most of the hype on this term's association with coulter came directly from her and her marketing reps. there must be more than that and some claims from prominent lawyers. writing about the constitution is something many people do — some non-lawyers better than the lawyers.

(after another edit conflict!) klenk, if you think this "you've lost the argument on POV" approach is working, open your eyes. i'm waiting for you to clarify what is and what is not a CA, and all you've offered is POV! please. (the editing rate on this page is faster than any other i've seen). i'll respond to your other stuff later. we're talking past each other out of sheer posting frequency. gonna slow it down. SaltyPig 12:11, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I'm not arguing whether she is one or not, even though it's clear that FindLaw considers her one. I'm telling you what the definition of a constitutional lawyer is, and I'm sorry if your own definitions don't fit. And I'm talking more than just a few op-ed columns. I'm talking law review articles, I'm talking about actual legal analysis instead of polemics. I'm talking about practicing in the field of constitutional law. If you can find her resume, perhaps that would help. You've already admitted that you don't really know what a constitutional lawyer is. As a legal practitioner, I'm telling you what it is - whether you accept that fact doesn't change what it is. What you think she did is, unfortunately, not relevant. What she actually did is, and that has yet to be determined either way. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 12:28, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I find it amusing that we can find tons of references to her as a constitutional lawyer, but no referenes (outside WP) this is in dispute. What you are doing is asking me to prove, to your satisfation and your own standards, something that 1] is broadly referenced outside WP but 2] not disputed outside WP. (If it is, prove it.)

Why are you applying a standard of "prove it to ME" that is not used in WP on other issues. All you have done is picked a fight over it, over your own standards of proof.

This is not so complicated. klenk 12:36, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

to khaosworks: argument by authority alert — hello! i like this: you get to tell me what the definition of a constitutional lawyer is (still haven't seen that, but apparently you claim to have decreed it), whereas i may only offer what i think the definition is! what a snotty approach. i'm almost laughing out loud reading it. it's likely, from what you've said here, that i know more about the constitution than you do, but that's not relevant, is it? -- no more than you claiming authority because you're a "legal practitioner" (which i am as well). BTW, where have i "admitted that don't really know what a constitutional lawyer is"? please show me. i'm asking for the supporters of the term's application to coulter to stand up and give me criteria. nowhere have i said i don't know what a constitutional lawyer is. i know as well as anybody else, considering that it's all arbitrary opinion (i.e., POV) — something nobody here but me will admit, it looks like. (klenk, i'll have a pile of rebuttal for you by tonight. excited?) SaltyPig 12:48, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

this is getting very long. should we take it to a temp page or something, assuming you guys want to hash it out completely? shame to clutter the main talk page for this one point. SaltyPig 12:57, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Keep it here so others can weigh in on this point. It is no shame to talk -- that's what talk pages are for. It would be a shame to hide from other users that this subject has come up again. Remember, there were past attempts to delete the term, and it made it back in. paul klenk 13:01, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I did not say what you thought the definition was. I said that what you thought she did ("i think what she did is join the federalist society, clerk for a fed judge, and go on to bigger, more exciting things while dragging her lawyer title with her to engage in the same thing many non-laywers do" - that's what you said) was not relevant. What she actually did is.

Please tell me your definition of what a constitutional attorney is. I don't believe it's arbitrary, any more than calling a person a corporate attorney or a criminal lawyer is arbitrary. I know constitutional lawyers and I know what they do, so I think I have a pretty good idea what a constitutional lawyer is. Now, whether Coulter has actually done those things is something else entirely, but that doesn't take away from the fact that an attorney who actually practices or writes in the field of constitutional law can legitimately be called a constitutional attorney. I've shown you my definition. You show me yours. I've tried to be civil. Do the courtesy to be the same. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 13:07, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I don't know if this maters but for purposes of seeing if there is a consensus, I vote for keeping the constitutional attorney reference in. As an attorney, I can emphatically state that she would be considered by most attorneys to be a constitutional attorney. If it were not the fact that she is so conroversial, this point would not even be raised in my opinion. Those are my two cents. Argue on.Gator1 13:11, September 2, 2005 (UTC)

(never seen so many edit conflicts. is it always like this here?) to paul klenk: okay, though i figured we could end the section with a link to another page. either way. have to go for a while, but re your claim that there were past attempts on this, before editing i did look through all the talk archives (the 4 i saw) for any word starting with "const". not a peep. i'd be interested in reading any prior discussion, if you can point me to it without too much trouble. thanks, and talk to you later. BTW, i just saw a "tried to be civil" comment. no idea what that's about. FWIW, i'm not pissed at anybody here (yet -- heh heh). SaltyPig 13:15, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I seriously cannot believe we're arguing this... Constitutional attorneys exist, whether you think so or not, SaltyPig. Coulter is one, whether you think so or not, SaltyPig. She is consistently referred to as one. Keep the phrasing in there as it was. Sheesh --patton1138 13:22, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

patton1138, you and others have completely mistated the point here. whether i think CAs exist isn't relevant (one reason i conceded it for argument, despite the complexity of the subject), but it keeps being brought up as a smoke screen and straw man. i notice it's been added back (and then some -- as a "minor" edit, no less). fine. i will cease discussion, assume bad faith, dubious tag, RfC, etc. nice work. this is disputed across the internet, as anybody who googles can easily see, despite much pretense above by paul klenk. SaltyPig 13:34, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Sez you: this is disputed across the internet, as anybody who googles can easily see, despite much pretense above by paul klenk.

Then prove it. I have asked you this time and time again and you have cited nothing. Where is it being disputed? I am beginning to be a bit insulted by your statement. I have gone to great lengths to outline my arguments and explain them, and have worked hard doing so. "Pretense"? You dare to discount my efforts to lay out a well-established argument as pretense and bad faith? Watch yourself, sir. paul klenk 13:42, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

watch myself? where is the good faith in sneaking around on user talk pages and encouraging the edit warring of something that's in active dispute — a dispute in which i told you i would respond fully (specifically to you) by this evening? watch myself. right. don't even start to think that you're intimidating, intellectually or otherwise. you've missed more subtle points in this thread than is even worth going into. however, i had planned to answer every question you raised, including the ridiculous 3-point hammering of what was a casual edit summary (which i asked you not to continue, but said i would defend if you wanted). good faith? out the door. you've been exposed as an edit-warring sneak. save your "dare" talk; it's on the record. SaltyPig 13:53, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Yes, watch yourself. Your comment about bad faith was out of line. If I wanted to sneak, I would have e-mailed him. Do you think I'm so stupid I don't know people review everyone's talk pages? And if I have missed some subtle points, please point them out. That is why we are on this page. I think I'm smart enough to understand your arguments, even if I don't accept them -- please don't insult me by suggesting otherwise. By the way, the only way an edit war can take place is if two sides get involved. I dare you, too. paul klenk 14:00, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I have no dog in this fight but I have to say it's hysterical and so typical of liberals. They will fight to the death on every...single...point...if they feel it can diminish one of their adversaries. In this case SP just can't STOMACH the possibility of Ann being elevated to a 'consitutional' attorney. It's like the Bill O'Reilly page where they spend COUNTLESS words debating whether or not he ACTUALLY came from Levittown.

These arguments are instigated and fueled by liberals. Church lady liberals as I call them. They just nit pick the tinies little things in order to 1) prove someone a 'liar' or 2) diminish their standing.

If you think I'm off on this, I make this challenge: Go th the Al Franken entry or the Bill Maher entry or any other leftist pundit and see if any conservative is on the talk page 'straining at a gnat' to prove that Bill Maher's GPA was actually 3.3 not 3.4 or that Al Franken really is 5'6" not 5'8".

What a crock. Your petty arguments speak FAR MORE LOUDLY than the points you're ultimately trying to make.

Big Daddy 14:08, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Daddy-O, Salty has been at this page for FIVE hours and has had plenty of time to cite research to prove, or even marginally indicate, that her designation as constitutional attorney is in dispute. What has he done with those five hours? paul klenk 14:16, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Starting this from scratch

To be a constitutional attourney, one must be in private practice centered around constitutional issues, yes? To be a former constitutional attourney, one must have been in private practice centered around constitutional issues, yes? According to this page, Ms. Coulter Esq., "pract corporate law for four years." This would make her a former corporate attourney, correct? If she did, in fact, practice constitutional law for four years, I'd have to ask for a cite. Hipocrite - «Talk» 14:59, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Well, I'm not going to argue about Coulter's label, but you can definitely be a Constitutional Attorney and not have a private practice. You don't even have to practice at all. If that was your area of study, you still qualify as a C.A. even without the practice. --Lord Voldemort 15:13, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

I'm not a lawyer, so I defer. My understanding of Law School, however, is that because of the wide and deep requirements for the Bar Exam, the course of study has very little chance for "focus," and any such focus needs to be done after graduation. Is this not correct? Hipocrite - «Talk» 15:16, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Not necessarily. There are general courses that everyone takes to fulfil the bar requirements, but there's also more focused courses you can take which go into deeper detail. For example, everyone took criminal law, which covered some bits of evidence law and procedure (enough for you to deal with the bar exam), but I also took a more detailed evidence course. Also, you can be a constitutional attorney even though you practice corporate law if you do research and publish in the field.

Of course, it would bolster the case for applying the constitutional lawyer label if Coulter had actually argued cases based on constitutional issues or had written academic articles based on analysis of constitutional issues. I'm not saying she's done this, merely that this kind of background - or lack thereof - is what is needed to establish the legitimacy of the claim. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 15:23, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Don't make me hire you! Ok. I'll settle for any of the evidence above - course work on conlaw above and beyond, any published article, or arguing a case that was based on constitutional issues, or clarifying "constitutional" with a cite of someone who called her that.Hipocrite - «Talk» 15:29, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Okay, from her website:

After practicing law in private practice in New York City, Coulter worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she handled crime and immigration issues for Senator Spencer Abraham of Michigan. From there, she became a litigator with the Center For Individual Rights in Washington, DC, a public interest law firm dedicated to the defense of individual rights with particular emphasis on freedom of speech, civil rights, and the free exercise of religion.

A Connecticut native, Coulter graduated with honors from Cornell University School of Arts & Sciences, and received her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, where she was an editor of The Michigan Law Review.

So I think this shows she definitely is an attorney. The bolded makes it seem like she very well could be involved in constitutional law. Just my thoughts though. --Lord Voldemort 15:29, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

That seems definitive to me. Reinserting constitutional shortly.Hipocrite - «Talk» 15:47, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

yeah, from her website. definitive. great work, everybody! proud day for wikipedia. SaltyPig 15:57, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Oh man, let this one go. She's a constitutional lawyer and that's that. Even if we're wrong, there's a clear consensus here. Live to fight another day.Gator1 16:00, September 2, 2005 (UTC)

I accept that on disputed matters, her website can't be taken as fact. However, you don't deny she worked for the Center For Individual Rights, do you? The Center For Individual Rights ? That's constiutional law. Look at what they've done, case wise. We don't have to agree with them, or think they are right about the consitution to realize they are such. Hipocrite - «Talk» 16:06, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Wow, you beat me to the punch. She may be a little off, but she did work there. That's what they do. Therefore, it is reasonable to presume she is a CA. --Lord Voldemort 16:11, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

calling what happened here "consensus" is too silly for words. still, i always enjoy the construction "we're right, but even if we aren't right..." issue's not closed. if i'd known this was the coulter temple, i would've compiled a full case before. didn't think it was necessary. notice that paul hasn't bothered to find the supposed multiple attempts to change this before. notice that nobody ever specified any objective criteria for this opinionated claim. it was all POV. what makes a constitutional lawyer? "whatever makes coulter one!" who is not a constitutional lawyer? "patent attorneys!" (wrong) google CA for coulter. you'll see readily that it's disputed often -- one reason i didn't bother responding immediately to that, since i wanted to compile many links rather than just say "google it". but apparently things operate on a tight schedule here when the swarms are swarming. all you fighters on this, at least recognize that you can't criticize me for fighting the point when you're doing the same thing -- over "such a small nitpick". of course, this is all because i'm a leftist. right. all hail AC. the perfect correlation to the leftist rant about "greedy capitalists"; the producer is greedy for wanting to gain wealth, but the consumer who wants to gain wealth is... "thrifty". every one of you was nitpicking this right along with me (many against one), so stop with the pretense. the POV tag will be here forever probably, if this is par. SaltyPig 16:27, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

What the heck was that all about? We were trying to be civil, but apparently we hit a nerve. Please, let us finish this discussion. Don't be scared away by a few editors. --Lord Voldemort 16:38, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Totally. Continue the discussion. No offense intended, Salty. Have fun.Gator1 17:01, September 2, 2005 (UTC)

No idea what he is on a tear about here. His statement that "nobody ever specified any objective criteria for this opinionated claim," is quite bizarre as right above there are several back and forth postings discussing how to establish if a person is a constitutional lawyer or not, and equally establishing that a person can be both a constitutional attorney and another kind of attorney. Perhaps he should simply have answered the question put to him and specified what his own, presumably NPOV, criteria were rather than insinuating that anyone who disagrees with him must have a conservative POV or is a Coulter worshipper. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 16:58, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

The issue is never closed. I'll revert war with myself if you come up with objective criteria for CL that coulter dosen't fit. I was operating on my initial criteria, "To be a constitutional attourney, one must be in private practice centered around constitutional issues," supplimented with Volde's addditional "if you do research and publish in the field" and "more focused courses you can take which go into deeper detail." Coulter passed my most stringent criteria, but if you'd like to convince me to be MORE stringent, I'm able to be convinced. I don't think you can glean my political affiliation, aside from anti-censorship and pro-science from my contribution history.Hipocrite - «Talk»

I can.

Hip's a liberal straight up.

A FAIR liberal to be sure, but a lefty. The proof: Easy.

He won't say what he is.

That's a dead giveaway 80% of the time. Conservatives (or right of center folk, etc) don't mind the transparency. For liberals, they somehow think if they play fair (at least from their perspective) it doesn't matter. They actually think they're fooling people but I can sniff them out a mile away. That's why Hip is always trying to steer me away from the editor. He's got a point, but at some juncture you have to ask yourself, if SO MANY of the editors are liberal, then why does Wik even posit itself as nPOV? Big Daddy 18:36, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

What? I know plenty of conservatives that hide their views, and I know liberals who are proud to be. Maybe you should start a subpage, like User:Big Daddy777/Editor's POVs listing everyone that come across and their POV. It would be an immense help from an editor who can see so clearly. --Lord Voldemort 18:46, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

For the record, is there anyone else here who agrees with Salty? Or is this truly a Salty vs. The World venture? --patton1138 17:46, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

WP:NPA.... Hipocrite - «Talk» 17:50, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Didn't mean for that to be a personal attack at all. I was just trying to get a grasp on what the current tally/consensus - if any - is. Wanted to make sure there wasn't a silent majority siding with Salty with a vocal minority making all the objections. --patton1138 19:08, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

OK....OK!!!

For the THIRD FREAKING TIME, I corrected the cite about Ann and racism (which is a crock and shouldn't even be in there at all except Wik is CONTROLLED by liberals. )

The first two times some liberal REMOVED it for no good reason.

This is the correction:

For instance, in an article published one day after the 9/11 attacks, she wrote "We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity". http://www.anncoulter.org/columns/2001/091301.htm

It adds a link and factual context to the INFAMOUS quote. (That is was written in the heat of battle less than a day after our country was attacked and the sentence prior to the infamous comment which LIBERALS WANT TO CENSOR, that speaks of who she specifically is referring to -he ones cheering and dancing right now."

There is no reason, except Misplaced Pages is just another domain name for Democratic Underground, to remove this correct, thorough and much more FAIR entry. 23:35, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Daddy, I support this change. It places the quote squarely in context. However, please, please calm down. Everything's going to be okay. paul klenk 23:40, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Paul Klenk: "Everything's going to be okay." LOL! Well, I appreciate that Paul. But I am VERY passionate about this. If Wik is going to fulfill it's mission it just CAN'T be another left wing screed site. And everytime I tried to correct this cite, it got erased ALMOST immediately.

No wonder I was upset.

Ps I'm also glad they changed the name of the sub-head from racism to 'anti-islamic.' I think it's fair to critique her on being anti-Islam.

It is NOT fair to accuse her of being a racist for comments such as these which have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with racism. That is the OLDEST trick in the liberal smear book. Big Daddy 23:58, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Gator, your allegation that this is "spin" is absurd. It is the quote itself, it isn't a "spin" comment about it. Context sheds light. Context is not spin. Spin would be what Coulter or someone else says about it later. paul klenk 23:45, 2 September 2005 (UTC)\

Whoa just relax, it ain't worth it. It wasn't absurd, and you know that. I find your definition of spin to be interesting if not narrow, but it's not worth it to me so go ahead and revert I don't care. The truth: I though it was POV against Coulter and I hate that :) ( i.e. "How dare she say such awful things so close to 9/11!") But truth is in the eye of the beholder...sometimes. If you really feel strongly about this small point, I'll defer. Good day.Gator1 23:54, September 2, 2005 (UTC)

GATOR: "I thought it was POV against Coulter and I hate that."

SURE...

Big Daddy 23:58, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

canada/vietnam war

tinydaddy ... please. canada did not send troops do the vietnam war. there are many immigrants in the us who join the forces, it doesn't mean their countries sent troops to iraq. coulter was shooting her mouth off and was wrong, this was not a 'clarification' --71.112.11.220 19:43, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Well, the far right TIME magazine (lol!) said they did. The interviewer was STONE COLD WRONG. Ann didn't specify whether they were combat or non combat troops. She said 'troops.' Period.

She was right and you are wrong.

And her larger point, which you would get if you weren't such nitpicking church ladies is that Canada used to be much more of an ally and indeed they were in VNam era sending non-combat troops which they did not do in Iraq.

So, she's right on the point and right on the facts.

Bummer, huh??

Big Daddy 23:38, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

"Controversy" section

This section on Paula Jones needs a rewrite and a major trimming. I will start working on it when I have some time (besides, in the interest of full disclosure, I have a 3RR on this article anyway, until tomorrow morning).

Problems with this section:

• It is mostly about Jones, not about Coulter, and belongs on Paula Jones' page.
• It seems artificially bloated to shed negative light on Coulter by association
• It seems written, more than any thing, to discredit Jones -- again, what is the point in a Coulter article? Go discredit Jones on her page.
• The detail is excessive, again, not about Coulter.
• Who sez this is "controversial"? Seems like a very POV headline. I would like some suggestions on alternatives. Looks like a big red flag -- "Look here -- read about Coulter and Paula Jones.
• It relies heavily on one article, "Oh, Paula," quoting it in detail. Let's read the original article and make sure this isn't basically a rewrite of that. This should be attributed up front in the article, and the "facts" it asserts should be checked against other sources.
• Statements like "Jones (who had divorced her husband during the case, purchased a house after the settlement, and incurred a large tax bill) then posed nude" are very loaded
• Paula Jones' remarks about her own book deals are irrelevant, even if she tangentially invokes Coulters name to do so.
• It seems more like something you'd read in Salon, not an encyclopedia.
• In short, it could easily summarized. After that, we can take a good look and see what value there is.

I would appreciate direct criticism of the above.

Meanwhile, let's get working on this. Before I get into it in detail, I will listen to comments, and encourge others to start without me. paul klenk 22:55, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

Substance behind criticsm is being ignored

Let me lay out another problem:

• 1] This article repeatedly states Coulter is criticised for her remarks. I don't dispute the factual basis for this, or its relevance to her as a subject.
• 2] The article then gorges itself on quotes. Are they are exessive compared to quotes on other people's pages, like Franken's? We should check. Perhaps Coulter merits this; it is a valid possibility, I am willing to admit.
• 3] However, none of her remarks are placed in context, to understand them or explain them, or to review them as criticsm of actual policy. They are simpy pulled out, paraded around, and labeled "controversial". Analysis and context is non-existent.

Since she is so criticised for her statements, their substance -- not just the criticsm of them -- must accompany discussion about her, including her self-admitted view as a polemicist, and meaningful analysis from all sides.

Coulter is all about substance -- whether she is right or wrong. She hasn't been called one of the top 100 legal minds for no reason. She is extremely sharp and has a quick mouth. That is a fact, whether you like her or what she says. Perhaps she is a great big liar, too. Doesn't mean she isn't brilliant at what she does.

Some of you may wonder why I am going to such lengths to discuss this article. The reason -- there are a lot of problems with it. It is going to take a lot of work and discussion to fix it. I don't pretend to have all the answers to this. But I have found that when I tackle such problems head on, I can find them. paul klenk 23:34, 2 September 2005 (UTC)

• Misplaced Pages controversial topics