"You're Getting Testy with Me!"

If it hasn't been obvious by the irregular posting schedule, it's been a rather hectic week with work—yes, even we do this—and travel. One story that we meant to move was the introduction of Ann Coulter's new book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism. The essays rehash many of Coulter's traditional attacks against Democrats, liberals and progressive Christians—but this time, she and her supporters have stooped to an all-time low. Given current events and the upcoming elections, we will be sure to monitor these trends.

Here is a chronology including video links where available:

Tuesday: Coulter's third appearance in eight months on Today. Wearing a slinky black cocktail dress at 7am, Coulter viciously attacks widows of Sept 11:

"These broads are millionaires!" Matt Lauer reads passages from the book and the pundit is not pleased. "Look," she says. "You're getting testy with me!" Transcript and Video at Media Matters. Longer clip at You Tube.

· Kathy Griffin immediately follows. "Who fact checks? You can't just run Ann Coulter without a fact checker!" Honesty, we never were big on Griffin but that last statement has made us fans for life.

· NBC begins taking heat for Coulter's unfiltered appearance.

Wednesday: WWJD? Buy Ann Coulter's book. Wonkette uploads You Tube of Coulter's appearance on MSNBC's Hannity & Colmes and The Situation with Tucker Carlson. Coulter declared that "Jesus would say that we are called upon to do battle" on liberalism and endorse her book.

· Speaking of Jesus ...Did you know that Jews are Christians but Episcopalians are not? A new report slams the scholarship in Coulter's book. Open to page 3, where the right-wing ideologue describes Christians as "anyone who subscribes to the Bible of the God of Abraham, including Jews and others." On page 5, she notes the Episcopal Church is "barely even a church", undoubtedly news to its 2.3 million members in this country, including former Pres. George H.W. Bush.

It's about time. NBC News apologizes for the Today fiasco. Anchor Brian Williams said Coulter's comments about the 9-11 widows were "over the line—the line that is shared by just about everybody because some things, it turns out, are still sacred." Video at MSNBC.

· Sen. Hillary Clinton responds to the Coulter's "vicious, mean-spirited attack." Repubs such as Gov. Pataki and Rep. Peter King join the senator.

· Conservative pundits and GOP strategists defend Coulter. Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor says that she has a "valid point ... No doubt some far left pundits have said far worse things than Ann Coulter will ever say, and the mainstream media often celebrates them." Fox News contributor Sandy Rios: "Ann's words are laser-focused on truth. She says things no one else dare say." Video at Media Matters.

Thursday. Coulter appears on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight. Lou Dobbs suggested the cocktail dress-wearing pundit is the right-wing counterpart to filmmaker Michael Moore. Coulter responded, "I reject that. ... I think I am the right-wing [H.L.] Mencken, the right-wing Mark Twain. I am not the right-wing Michael Moore." Coulter also suggests that liberals deliberately use victims of tragedies—"human shields"—to promote their agenda.

· Not familiar with Mencken? Many of his writings displayed an excess of early 20th century elitism, racism and Social Darwinism, for example: "The educated Negro of today is a failure, not because he meets insuperable difficulties in life, but because he is a Negro. His brain is not fitted for the higher forms of mental effort; his ideals, no matter how laboriously he is trained and sheltered, remain those of a clown."

On MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, GOP strategist Mary Matalin—a former counselor to Vice President Cheney—defended Ann Coulter’s vicious attack. "I take her larger point," Matalin repeatedly said, refusing to condemn her because "I don't know her" and "I haven't read the book." Transcript at Think Progress, Video at Crooks & Liars.

· Raw Story finds that Coulter is "unknown" at the New York City church she claims to attend.

Comments

[Brandon]

Coulter really is out of control. I think she just says these things for shock value.

[TerrenceSays]

Ann Coulter's appearance on the Today Show was atrocious. She needs to be ashamed of herself.

Bitch!

[Erich H]

No, I really don't think she belives this. But she is blonde and used to be pretty? and the old men and college students love her.

And yes, 7am is too early for a "slinky black cocktail dress" hahah

[Carl]

Well, that last factoid sez it all. She attacks liberals as godless heathens and doesnt even attend church.

[Craig Merkey]

WOW,

I am speechless... and that is hard to do! I would recommend a psychological evaluation. This looks like a bizarre cry for help. I really feel like even commenting on this vulgarity validates her… what ever it is.

[Derrick from Philly]

She has the devil in her eyes, and the style of one of those Bill Clinton trashy gals.

[Gdawg]

Republicans are so unwilling to admit they are wrong Ann Coulter is a prime example whenever faced with an argument she cant win she says bullshit like 'Your getting Testy with me' Bitch please he asked you a reasonable question and you lacked the logic to answer it. God forbid that I see her in person it would take everything I have not to SPIT in her face!