And Now, a Moment of Civil Discourse With Ann Coulter

[5711-Marine]

And Now, a Moment of Civil Discourse With Ann Coulter
By Dave Itzkoff
AnnCoulter.com
Ever wondered what would happen if a hapless reporter from The New York Times attempted to interview Ann Coulter, the writer, columnist and conservative firebrand? Here’s your answer.

Last week, we sent a few questions via e-mail to Ms. Coulter, the author of books like “Guilty: Liberal ‘Victims’ and Their Assault on America” and “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans,” for a story about her debate with Bill Maher at Radio City Music Hall on Monday.

Here in its entirety (with all capitalization intact and a couple of redactions to protect its author’s privacy) is the text of Ms. Coulter’s reply.

from Ann Coulter
to Dave Itzkoff

date Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 9:45 AM
subject Re: NY Times questions/Bill Maher debate

Reply

HELLO! ANSWERS IN CAPS BELOW!

On Mar 3, 2009, at 5:20 PM, Dave Itzkoff wrote:

Dear Ms. Coulter,

This is Dave Itzkoff at the New York Times; [your publicist had] given me your contact information and said you’d be open to answering a few questions for a story I’m writing about your coming debates with Bill Maher.

DELIGHTED!

Many thanks, in advance, for taking these questions — let alone opening an email from the New York Times.

I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW, I AM THE TREASON TIMES MOST LOYAL READER. I WAS HOPING YOUR EMAIL WAS A DISCOUNT SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

For your background, I interviewed Bill by phone yesterday and will be attending the debate next week at Radio City Music Hall. Here are the questions I was hoping you could answer by Thursday, if possible:

*How did you first start getting booked as a guest on Bill’s “Politically Incorrect” show? What did you enjoy about appearing on it?

I DON’T REMEMBER HOW IT STARTED, BUT PI WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW ON TV LONG BEFORE I BECAME A GUEST. IT WAS FUNNY AND POLITICAL AND UNLIKE MOST SNOOZEFEST POLITICAL SHOWS, BILL BOOKED GUESTS WHO DIDN’T ALL AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

*I know that Bill has very fond recollections of your days as a “Politically Incorrect” guest, but your more recent appearances on his HBO “Real Time” show seemed very contentious.

YES, I WAS HIS MOST FREQUENT GUEST ON POLITICALLY INCORRECT. DOES BILL HAVE A NEW SHOW?

Have the events of recent years put a strain on your relationship with Bill, or do you still regard him as a friend (politics notwithstanding)?

I LOVE BILL, BUT I HATE HIS RETARDED MOVEON.ORG AUDIENCE ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE DOES.

*How did the idea of these debates with Bill come about,

NO IDEA.

and what made you want to participate in them?

I THINK MY AGENT TOLD ME IT’S A BENEFIT FOR SOME HORRID DISEASE LIKE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. ALL I KNOW IS, I’M GETTING A PRIVATE CAR.

Are they an attempt to foster more bipartisanship in the new Obama era?

YOU SEEM TO BE UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT OF “DEBATE.” THE IDEA, SINCE AROUND THE TIME OF, OH SAY, ARISTOLE, IS TO DERIVE TRUTH. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE POINT OF THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS TO “FOSTER MORE BIPARTISANSHIP.”

An opportunity to laugh at the current state of our politics (and/or economy)?

NO, THAT’S A NANCY PELOSI PRESS CONFERENCE YOU’RE THINKING OF.

Something else?

*Even though you and Bill are on opposite sides of the aisle, some people I’ve spoken to see the two of you as essentially performing the same professional function, even though you’re a political commentator and he’s a comedian. Do you see that as a fair assessment? Do you ever say things just to get a laugh, or just to provoke your audience?

I DON’T SAY THINGS JUST TO “GET A REACTION” OR “PROVOKE MY AUDIENCE” ANY MORE THAN ANYONE WHO TALKS ABOUT IDEAS DOES. I IMAGINE CHURCHILL HOPED TO “PROVOKE HIS AUDIENCE” WITH HIS “WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES” SPEECH. I’M TRYING TO EXPRESS IDEAS, USUALLY ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND IF A POINT IS MADE WELL THAT WILL TEND TO ELICIT A REACTION.

*Do you consider yourself as speaking for the conservative movement, or just someone who has attracted many conservative fans? Something else?

I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO THINK NEWSPAPER EDITORS WHO PRINT THE DETAILS OF TOP-SECRET ANTI-TERRORIST INTELLIGENCE GATHERING PROGRAMS ON PAGE ONE IN WARTIME SHOULD BE EXECUTED FOR TREASON.

[Pector55]

Very quit witted... gotta give her that. There are times I think she is off the deep end and other times she really nails it for me.

[Berks_Iraq_Vet]

Most of the time, she nails it, head on. If you like sugar coated fluff, go buy some peeps.

[SIG-Girl1911]

I will always agree with Ann she is amazing

[jerkin]

and hot too.

[SIG-Girl1911]

yes well republican women are hotter

[Spishack357]

Haha thats awesome, I don't even know who that is and I would marry her on the spot... maybe

[camper]

I don't really like Ann or Rush...agree with much of what they say I think...but the way in which they say it grates on me. Reading it doesn't bother me so much, but I just can't stand to listen.

camper

[Dannytheman]

I've been a big fan for years. I have a little issue with the nasally/CT tone of her voice. But I love her books and her though processes.

She has good comedic phrasing in her writing..

[NineseveN]

She's an asshat. Rush, I can listen to, he's entertaining, but Coulter is pretty much an ignorant idiot who moonlights as an attention whore.

But I digress, I almost can't wait to see Maher help her sound like more of an idiot.