I think one reason why people so want to silence AC is that far too often her words hit too close to home. I was given one of her books recently. Although I don't always agree with the way she says things, the points she raises are interesting and more often than not are backed up by references and facts. She's not that far off base with much of her ideas and interpretations. Of course, the "uber-liberals", as you say, are more than tolerant as long as someone speaks their speak. But, let someone disagree with them, or point out their error, and man, their tendency to tolerate rapidly disappears into a name-calling, repetitive rage against truth. Pretty sad (and transparent).

Might also look at some of the writing of Tammy Bruce, a liberal lesbian and former President of NOW. She's not a conservative at all, but is highly critical of the liberal elite that are ruining our nation (in her opinion). She has a very interesting take on this matter of how the left has become dominated by "malignant narcissists" who promote their personal and political agenda regardless of any notion of right/wrong, truth, morality, etc. In her book, "The Death of Right and Wrong", there's truth guaranteed to offend any and all liberal sensibilites (e.g., homosexuality, left-leaning media, Planned Parenthood, Hollywood, prominent black political leaders). The intriguing thing is that all this comes from a person of her background. Interesting and revealing, for sure.

Ironic, isn't it, that those who trumpet tolerance the loudest are often the very ones who are so quick to abandon tolerance when an opinion seems to conflict with their's. Your story is not all that uncommon, unfortunately. Funny thing, though -- truth has a way of eventually winning out, regardless of how loudly and repeatedly half-truths or untruths are propagaged. Bruce is a self-avowed liberal lesbian and abortion rights advocate. But, more than that, she's a believer in truth. So much so, that she voted for Reagan instead of the liberal alternatives. I don't agree with all of Bruce's views, but I certainly respect her way of boldly standing up and pointing out that so many of today's prominent liberal "Emperors" really don't have any clothes on (despite the persistent assertions to the contrary that continue to flow from the Left).

I'm right here weekapaug. This blog site became very boring when it was dominated by testosterhome, whom you dare not disagree with, and some gal in Romania, although she writes well. Personally, I'm an EOO an Equal Opportunity Offender and loathe PC, just like my hero Ann Coulter. Coulter's column was dropped by the A/C but I don't think it was because she's abrasive. With two consecutive columns last year, she brazenly only promoted her book 'Godless". This was pure commercialism on her part and wrong. BTW if you have not read her column of last Thursday you missed out on a great piece of truths.

One of the reasons I moved from Brookwood was the foul and obscene language I could hear from the HUD house tenants in the house next door and across the street, even when I was inside my home. It didn't matter if they were happy or angry, they would call out to each other, "Hey b*tch!" and continue on in that vein, no matter whether minors were present or not. The father would be teaching the his daughter, the tenant, gospel music on the carport and would start cussing if she made a mistake while singing. The first Sunday morning the new neighbor had a female visitor, they were cursing and my husband stepped out of the car as we got home from church and glanced their way as he was going to our front door. Clear as a bell, across our entire front yard we could hear the visitor blast, "What you lookin' at m*ther-f*cker!" He didn't respond. This was in front of our children. Later, he asked them to stop blowing their horns when they would pick up their children from the daycare she was "not" running in her home, and she told him, "if your wife calls the police on us for honking our horns, I can't guarantee her safety." When I shut my front gate and asked the others across the street at midnight on a Thursday night to please not be so loud, the "mamma" started screaming and cursing and inviting me over to do obscene things with the men there and got a drunk friend of hers to tell the police I was the one carrying on. Despite the false accusation, thankfully, I had recorded proof that it was she, not I. I hadn't even responded to her verbal attacks. They were tyring to set something like this up time after time as retaliation because they thought I had something to do with a lot of their friends getting busted for various drug trafficking. I heard the other neighbor telling her children, "I better not ever catch you playing with those white children, they will hang you and worse!" One neighbor let their pitbulls run loose so much they eventually caught my dog minutes after it slipped out of my gate and killed him right in front of my husband. Their dogs had already killed a calico cat, but on previous occasions when I trapped the dogs animal control gave them right back to the owners because they said they were not aggressive toward them. No, they only chased small creatures like pets and children in my yard, not adults. Not a problem? When I reported our dog being killed, the neighbor boy told the investigator that he didn't understand how we could say anything; that the statute of limitations ran out; "I shot that dog over a year ago." When the investigator told me he said that, I told him that's why my other dog was bleeding from his ear back then, we thought he had just scratched his ear on his chain in the backyard, we didn't realize that boy had shot him. I complained about bad smells coming from a quiet neighbor's backyard for a few years. Turns out THEIR neighbors behind them had buried at least 5 pitbulls in my neighbors' backyard in a stand of trees. One day my dog managed to get loose and through both my fences and got into the across the street neighbor's trash. They called the police. I told the officer I would pick up the trash if the officer would stay with me, and the neighbors stay away so they wouldn't harass me. The officer noted that a good portion of the trash had been deteriorating right where it lay for months and couldn't had not been dragged there by my dog. He didn't mention that in the police report I checked later, unfortunately, which hurt, or that I had offered to pick up the trash. I told him I had called the marshall's department about the trash in their yard several times over the years, but the trash would just lay there and I would check the report online and it would say the marshall's came and didn't see any trash, or minimal trash. Yet, every time their dogs had come into my yard I had just cleaned up their "presents". I had five bicycles stolen the first year the drug-traffickers moved in to the house across the street, thankfully they moved after a couple of years a few blocks away and she finally stopped her several years of harassing me despite my ignoring her. My court order against her , didn't stop her, she actually seemed to think it gave her a green light to increase the harassment. My husband had not recorded the serial numbers on the bicycles, but I did get an officer to write up a report after the fifth one was stolen and just list the makes and models, to show the pattern of theft. I joined the neighborhood association, I called the police when suspicious activity occurred, I told my commmissioners, one of whom lives at the other end of that same street. But I finally took my children and moved as soon as I could arrange it. I got tired of calling in police reports for being shot at, vandalized, harassed, you get the idea. I saw Yang Han lying in front of his store right after he was murdered as I was going to visit my parents. I saw another dead body in a place nearby it was never reported to be, although I reported what I saw to the proper authorities as soon as I realized what I had seen. Another person was found dead near my church; I found out the last place he was was my drug-trafficking neighbor's house and she was questioned about it. So if you wonder why I don't like foul language, it's not just the language it's the whole rotten attitudes that too often go with it. It's too often, in my observation, an outward sign of inward corruption and lack of order and mental discipline. I have been called a nutcase by people with not so hidden agendas, a pathological liar, by a senator now in jail, and worse. I sure wish you could police those untruths. All I can do is pray that they will ask forgiveness, be forgiven and will mend their ways. I will move my family again to a place with a better, safer, quality of life, as so many others have, with good reason as soon as I an if things don't get better quick. The police force is demoralized, underpaid, under-equipped, and exhausted. So are a lot of the city workers. We need to get our priorities straight and stop allowing people at the upper levels of the food chain that don't deserve it to soak up money that isn't even accounted for. Deserving working-class people earning a living wage and getting proper health benefits, are less likely to be tempted to take a detour to a life of crime. You can think whatever you like, but if my children and/or myself hear your foul thoughts expressed or foul music blasting when I am in my yard or in my home, or in public, you've gone over the line and adversely affected my rights.

I'm not really sure what your point was other than you have neighbors who suck at life. I think that your point is that you don't like rednecks and thugs yelling curse words at you and your kids. I'm talking about speaking your mind not blasing obsenities. You sir, just sound bitter.

I'm not bitter, quite the contrary. I'm not a "sir" and they are no longer my neighbors because we moved to a more secure neighborhood. I never heard or saw any rednecks near my old place, except for their too-loud car stereos when young people that at least didn't mind appearing to be rednecks came to buy pot around the corner on Sunday and Wednesday evenings (usually during evening church service hours). But they weren't the only demographic picking up their drugs by any means. My point is as I wrote before, "you can think whatever you like, but if my children and/or myself hear your foul thoughts expressed or foul music blasting when I am in my home or in my yard, or in public, you've gone over the line and adversely affected my rights." Put another way, noone can police your thoughts, but I will call the police to enforce the law if someone infringes on my rights to a peaceful home and public environment. If that call results in an arrest for other charges, because the foul-mouthed moms, dad, boyfriends and their juvenile delinquents are breaking other laws as well, that's their own fault for being stupid. But I'm glad we have the right to speak our minds as long as that does not include obscenities, cursing, or slanderous statements and it is a right we do need to protect. If you recall, the original article was discussing Ann Coulter's use of the "F" word, the one that is another word for cigarettes in Britain but has other connotations in the U.S. The context was not presented but I prefer a higher standard of literacy from columnists, even those I generally disagree with, especially since the media she wrote for is encouraged as a teaching tool in our school system. I would not want a student to get assaulted because they innocently parroted this word in the wrong crowd, not understanding how inflammatory it could be. Use of sewer language in the media is irresponsible.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, the point I was trying to make, was not about censorship of foul language (I'll leave that up to Tipper Gore). The point I was trying to make was about the censorship of ideas or opinions. There are laws regarding how loud you can have your speaker's blasting and if you don't want you kids to hear foul language then monitor what they do and put foul language in context cause they're going to hear it eventually.
The point I was trying to make is that I think that it’s awful that people are forced to apologize for having an opinion. If you don't like something or someone you can not voice your opinion. We are not teaching people tolerance, we are forcing people to think or act a certain way.

I sure wish we could enforce the law on obscene language and on the speakers blasting without totally wearing out our police force. I do realize it is by necessity so low on the priority list in this county that I hate to even mention it. Foul words do hurt and so do actions triggered by words that hurt. You are absolutely right, we are failing to teach tolerance, but I think that is because some people choose to hate and/or disrespect each other no matter what they have been taught. When we voice an opinion we won't need to apologize if it's communicated in a considerate and respectful manner. I think then others would be more willing and able to try to comprehend the entirety of the message. I am glad you treasure and wish to protect the right to express your/our opinions. You're right, we mustn't let anyone force us to think or act a certain way, at the least, life would become incredibly boring. Thanks for staying vigilant.

The problem of filing charges, police reports, confrontations etc. is the sure-to-come retaliation that is done in the middle of the night by the perps. Without substantive proof, the cops are helpless to pursue wanton retaliation such as keying cars and slashing tires. What's even more enraging is seeing the triumphant look and high stepping attitudes in that low-life, they've won and they want you to know it. That's what brings on primal urges.

Yes, I know all about retaliation. if someone finds out who is doing the reporting the perp and every single person they know will gang up on you, harass and curse you, vandalize your property, slander you, shoot at you, threaten you, steal from you, try to tempt your children with drugs, etc., and gather every drug dependent customer they have to bait you, and bear false witness against you. Then accuse you of being a racist if you try to defend yourself. mgroothand, you sound like you've been through some of what I've been through. I wonder how many people have been driven out of their homes because of this seige. I noticed it started in 1999 in my neighborhood. At last report, my only remaining good neighbor (a new one) at my old neighborhood discovered four very dead pitbulls in a dense stand of trees in his backyard, one actually still chained to a tree. When he told me about it he asked me worriedly, "I wonder, what have we done moving here?" I am so glad I moved. I actually had an officer try to track down that smell a few years ago, inbetween owners of that property. I even told the officer it smelled like a dead pitbull. The smell was really bad on warm days and one of the motivations for our move. But the officers didn't see anything at that time. At least I tried to spare them this and at least they didn't have any children stumble on that traumatizing sight. Oh, but I've strayed really far from the original topic, sorry. I'm just so worried about the good people of Augusta, and that includes me and mine. I really love Augusta and want caring people to get out of denial and do anything they can no matter how small you might think it is, to stop this evil from spreading.

Hate is awesome! Without hate we wouldn't know who or what not to like, and without hate there can be no love. We would just feel "eh" about everything. So without hate one can not love. The Yin and the Yang my friend. That's why everyday I pick something to hate on. Today I hate ... that cheese that Arby's puts on their big beef and chedder. That's not chedder, it's some molten hell spawn goo that ruins the whole sandwich; and I hate it!

baronezz111: What you and I are describing is something otherwise known as anarchy. Bad neighborhoods all over the country have succumbed to that form of "government". Gangs or wannabees from Topeka to Pleasantville reign supreme and the victims don't dare complain for fear of reprisals. The court system in most places release the perps with a slap on the wrist and citing poor environment as cause for their gangsterism. The victims go in hiding waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's a vicious circle and cycle. Moving out is an option until that same cycle hits your new neighborhood. Not everyone can afford to live in gated communities. Arming oneself to the teeth and making it known you will defend yourself with all force necessary is a deterrent. However that furthers more anarchy.

weekapaug: Your post reminds me of more innocent times. Times when South Pacific music rated tops rather what Snoop Dog is spewing. The lyrics of one such tune from that musical:
"You've got to be taught to hate and fear
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught".

I have no problem with AC, she does seem to hit close to home on all of her subjects. However her joke about Edwards was truly personal of nature and unbecoming for her statue. I do believe the public at large should censor what they feel as a majority is going too far with anyone persons individual rights to say whatever you/they please.
Many were up in arms over Chavez remarks about our sitting president being the devil, but Coulter is allowed to insinuate that someone is a "F", with no provaction or proof? Why the separate rule for her? Is it because she is a conservative? How is what she said any different a freedom as what Edwards's own staffers said about the catholic religion?
It does seem to me that the double standard is alive and well in America.

Well, America is certainly not boring and many good thinkers are definitely not lukewarm in their opinions. That's a good thing. Lots of good points by most everyone. These blogs are thought-provoking and that's also a good thing. I've learned a lot and am inspired to learn more. Maybe we will help chart some progress. I might even go back and read me a little more Ann Coulter.

Is it just me or is the thought of someone going to rehab for using a derogatory term completely ridiculous? Celebrities going to drug rehab I can understand...but this? There was a famous actor from the Greys Anatomy (I think) who had to do something similar for using the same f-word. He said afterwards in an interview that the whole thing was just front to give the media something positive to report back so the show could save face