Note to a Poop Stirrer

Liberal is derived from liber, which can literally be defined as the state or quality of being free. In the dust jacket of Ms. Coulter's new book it says, "Liberals loyalty to the United States is off-limits as a subject of political debate." Really? Since when? Does she suggest that being a liberal is tantamount to being disloyal to the United States? Those are fighting words; words that make one want to dump a truckload of tea in her stinky harbor.

Ms. Coulter's new book is titled, Guilty - Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America. Why she places "Guilty" in front of "Liberal" or why "Victims" follows "Liberal" I don't know. But there you have it, straight from the Coulter's mouth.

I call myself a liberal and I am very proud to embrace the ideals of liberalism and the freedoms they impart. So, I am happily and patriotically guilty of being a liberal. I proudly place my hand over my heart and pledge my allegiance to the flag. When I arrive at the last sentence, it gives me pause to reflect on the lives lost in the pursuit of liberty and justice for all.

I assume, not having read her book, that Ms. Coulter is implying that liberals feel victimized. By whom I wonder? By conservatives? I don't think so. I am not the victim of conservatives or their lifestyles. I may not agree with some conservatives or their lifestyles, but they do not victimize me. Sometimes I do feel sorrow for them. Liberals are, generally, very forgiving of individuals or groups that are not progressive thinkers or innovators. I appreciate how conservatives hold onto traditions and I believe that it is important to balance my liberalism with a small dose of conservatism. But I use it like salt, lightly, and with full understanding of the dangers to my health should I sprinkle it too heavily.

It's hard to imagine our modern world without the sacrifice of those liberal thinkers that paved the way of modern democracy. Imagine our societies without the abolition of slavery, secular government, child labor laws, trial by jury, or the Bill of Rights? Could Ms. Coulter be so loud and expressive without our freedom of expression and freedom of speech?

American soldiers are presently fighting for, amongst other things, the protection of the liberties we enjoy. The sooner liberated Afghan and Iraqi citizens appreciate and embrace the ideals of liberty and democracy the safer the whole world will be. Many people in those regions would prefer to hold onto their histories, refusing to embrace progressive thought. Much like so many conservatives around the globe and in America. American soldiers are not fighting "bad guys" so much as they are fighting an archaic government and theology. Let me ask you, isn't our current conflict a war against a "conservative" way of life. Conservative by definition is, support of established institutions or tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions. So we "Liberated" the Iraqi people from their "Conservative" government. Sounds like a good idea, but in my opinion revolutions should always start from within a country. Not something foreigners should try to impose, lest you find yourself fighting a war on two fronts. One against the oppressor, and a second against the people you are 'liberating."

Perhaps Ms. Coulter is just a poop stirrer. Her outbursts and loud declarations are just a way of attracting attention, like a child throwing a temper tantrum. Actors make their living playing outrageous characters so I know a little about this kind of behavior. Ms. Coulter is an interesting character and nothing to take too seriously. If you squint your eyes, just so, she can be rather entertaining. Like an old, opinionated relative that barks about the good old days. Maybe Ms. Coulter is just an old lady at heart.

Comments

[bornfamous]

Excuse me, Mr. Modine, but as an old lady myself, I take exception to being lumped in the same poop bucket with Coulter. There are plenty of old liberals out there. Please don't equate age with conservatism.

[SiberianRat]

Excellent comment!

[Lhommecouture]

I don't think he meant to offend, but only say that generations tend to lean towards the thought of their own; and that Ms. Coulter speaks as if she were from the pre-Feminist, pre-Civil Rights era and hold onto the bigotry of that time.

[demofem]

Ann Coulter and Sarah Palin are both in the same category for me----I long for them to just go away. I think, in fact, they only want attention. Let's ignore them. Let's start right now!

[GDR14]

well written article with great points imo, especially about the "liberal" idea behind the wars in the Middle East

...but I dont agree that most "liberals" are very tolerant of non "liberal" views. The least open minded people tend to be "liberals", at least in many of my half way "conservative" experiences.

[SiberianRat]

The problem with views that are "not liberal" is that they are usually based on the idea that some people's happiness, health, security, prosperity, etc. is more valuable than others'. The country was founded on very liberal principles--the further to the right, the less in touch with those principles one becomes.

[cmr2323]

The people who voted to define marriage in the way that it has been defined for centuries, chose to speak peacefully by participating with their vote in a legal, government sanctioned referendum. The gay community has made black lists, put restaurants out of business, and have physically intimidated employees and patrons of certain businesses. They have gotten people fired for no other reason than their vote. This is classic intimidation and has been used against the African American community in decades past.
This is not tolerant. Maybe they should have just 'gotten out the vote'.....­. Obama did.
I am sorry you think one behavior justifies the other.

p.s. Ann Coulter sucks

[butters2004]

May be "gay people" would be a majority someday in the future and choose to "speak peacefully by participating with their vote in a legal, government sanctioned referendum" against heterosexual marriage. After decades of effort, may be some members of hetero-community would make "black lists, put restaurants out of business, and ... physically intimidate employees and patrons of certain businesses," you know , as a tangible manifestation their frustrations (race riots, Boston Tea Party, etc.)...

[Foreground]

Of course, by putting someone's right to marriage to public vote, those gay people had their rights actually taken away from them; while intimidation is always wrong and individuals should not be fired over their vote, blacklisting and subsequently boycotting businesses who supported their oppression is well within their rights - those of which are left to them.

I imagine if a measure to, let's say, ban latinos from marrying, the Latin community and those who support their rights would and should refuse to give money to those businesses who deliberately tried to remove their rights. That wouldn't be intolerance; that would be a protest against the intolerance that was legislated against them. Any businesses that closed because of that has no one but themselves to blame for failing to see the obvious consequences of their actions, any more than if they'd changed their name to a racial slur.

Civil Rights should NEVER be put up to public vote.

That being said, you're right about Coulter.

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

The Constitution also serves to save us from the tyranny of the majority. Proposition 8 was an abomination and must be repealed.

[falls1105]

You people take her too seriously

[auntiecairo]

Thanks Mr. Modine - glad to know you are a proud liberal as well as a great actor. I think Ms. Coulter is a card carrying member of the "Losers" party -- and not worth talking about except as an object of pity and how not to raise a child (obviously her childhood sucked to have so many obvious issues now) -- which is probably why she already dislikes the Obama - they are a happy, loving, normal family --

[SOLERSO68]

"Those are fighting words; words that make one want to dump a truckload of tea in her stinky harbor."

loved it.


BTW ann c. would make a great poop stirer, or just a regular stirer if she were mumified ( further) and shellacked.

[cmr2323]

All due respect Mr. Modine, but the idea that liberals are "generally, very forgiving of individuals or groups that are not progressive thinkers or innovators," is utter and complete bullsh**.
That assertion is a damn joke, and not a very funny one.
The African American community, as well as the Mormon community, might have something to say about that. The hateful, hurtful, and physically assaultive attacks that these groups have suffered at the hands of the gay community do not support your hypothesis.
In the state of California, using the term 'traditional' to describe marriage in a government building will get you charged with a hate crime. A hate crime!!!! So where is your liberal tolerance on that one?
See, in San Fransisco, it is okay to walk in a parade wearing nothing but chaps, a dog collar, and a mustache, but the mere act of saying you are straight and believe in traditional marriage, can get you hated on and sued. This does not prove your assertion. In California, Army registration centers are closed down or attacked by vandals. Again, I fail to see the tolerance.
The truth is that the liberal playbook dictates that if someone doesn't agree with certain 'liberal' principles, then there are charged with racism, and hate-speech.
This is a more accurate description of your 'liberal trolerance'.
Sorry Mr. Modine. I am no Ann Coulter fan, but liberals are only tolerant of other liberals, and NOTHING else.

[KillgoreTrout43]

The hateful, hurtful, and physically assaultive attacks that these groups have suffered at the hands of the gay community do not support your hypothesis.


"These groups," are trying to take away or prevent the equality and freedoms of a large segment of our supposedly free society. Their complaints aren't even near the oppresive and hatefilled actions of "these groups." Intolerance breeds intolerance.

[citizensrus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllogism

[Eva Lili]

what is the point of using these extreme examples in your attempt to expose Modine's extreme point? You are no less extreme than he....as usual....c­onservativ­es!

[citizensrus]

"In the state of California, using the term 'traditional' to describe marriage in a government building will get you charged with a hate crime. A hate crime!!!! So where is your liberal tolerance on that one?
See, in San Fransisco, it is okay to walk in a parade wearing nothing but chaps, a dog collar, and a mustache, but the mere act of saying you are straight and believe in traditional marriage, can get you hated on and sued."
I have not heard of this? Do you have a link to the legal cases where this happened? I'd like to read more on the particular facts where this happened. Thanks.

[VioletDatura]

cmr2323 - please - go off and marry anyone of your choice if you haven't already. While you're busy doing that, please spare a thought for people - taxpayers like yourself - who are denied this right based solely on the fact that you and others like you believe Gays are somehow less than human and thereby don't deserve the same rights as you and your ilk.

Then go ahead and cry about how you've been treated "hateful, hurtful, and physically assaulted".

Tolerance? You don't seem to know the meaning, unless you define it as strictly a one-way street, with all tolerance going into forgiving you and your bullying divisive tactics. You want to behave badly.. and get away with it.

Basically, you and your bully-boys want to define and limit the rights of other human beings... and you want to do it without anyone pushing back. Nice.

So.. maybe you are correct, and Matthew Modine is wrong in saying that on the whole liberals are a forgiving bunch.

Maybe though, they are more than happy to forgive when one is truly repentant. Which isn't exactly what we're talking about with you, is it?

[Fremon]

I will just add my 2 cents as I know there may be other commentators saying the same. Why first, do we listen to her? She has nothing to offer save being a right wing partisan commentator who say's outrageous things to get on TV. So, she is a lawyer which is the best I can say as to her qualifications. Writing books and getting them published is nothing more than pandering to those who share her political leanings and think they will get justification in hearing her say what they believe. I understand Faux news having her on but can't understand any legitimate newsmedia outlets who have her on as she adds nothing to the intellectual political discourse. I can't undertand why Bill Maher calls her a friend and has her on his show. I think he is too intelligent to fall for her shtick. Then again he may be boinking her but that would be like making it with a bicycle.

[PartyofLogic]

I agree. She is a poop stirrer. But not necessarily because she seeks attention, though I do think she enjoys it! Rather, she is a poop stirrer because by agitating dung, she generates a lot of coin. Crap sells, after all. Until it doesn't anymore, she has a lucrative - and very dirty - job.

[yellowdogdemocratic]

"The sooner liberated Afghan and Iraqi citizens appreciate and embrace the ideals of liberty and democracy the safer the whole world will be."

I truly believe that in order to make the world safer, every adult needs to be able to take care of their families by providing people with jobs, education, and affordable healthcare. I always remember this quote: "Poverty is the worst form of violence", although I don't remember who said this. Nothing could be more true, though. I think that much terrorism is caused by poverty. The feeling of not being able to take care of yourself and your loved ones causes such despair and anger in people and many turn to these terrorist organizations because these organizations also give money to people who join them and an outlet for their anger and despair. Oil billionaires in middle eastern countries don't seem to share their wealth with their country in order to strengthen their countries. If democracy brings about these changes, that's wonderful and bring it on. However, I think the first priority should be on finding a way for citizens of these countries to take care of themselves and their families.

[veganphoto]

I dont think much of any thing has been near that harbor.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Harbor is too pleasant a metaphor. Quagmire would be better.

[Tulka2]

Thank you.

Conservativism is not admirable. A Traditionalist is more interesting. To me, "conservative" means "pinched".­....pinche­d and small and frightened. A Traditionalist, on the other hand, is someone who understands history and knows the new is folded, hopefully carefully, like whipped eggwhites, into always new America.

[jbrennan33]

Though not a Coulter fan, I wish Matt would have read the book. It might help his credibility. I think that Coulter often strikes a nerve because at the root of what she's saying there is some truth. Much of our victim society was created by those who believe they are entitled. They believe they are entitled because they've been told they are by liberals.

[-0013]

Exactly. Modine is basically saying because he's an enlightened liberal he can opine on a book he didn't need to read. Classic liberal nonsense.

[johnwinner]

Classic Rightloony missing the point. Coulter is insane, she should be ignored by the press, and commited to an asylum.

[KillgoreTrout43]

He was speaking of the title, which he did in fact read.

[rshrink]

The book is nonsense which is the reason no one wants to waste time on it.

[rshrink]

Do you need to read Play boy to find out if there are n ude wo men in there?

[rshrink]

This is jbren na n 33's apparently fir st po st to this sit e. Very interesting. Did j come to stir up the poop too?

[WoodyGrant]

Why on earth would ANYONE spend good money to buy and read anything Anne Coulter had to say? Her opinions are totally off the wall, very far out extreme, filled with hate for anyone who doesn't agree with her narrow and bizarre political ideology. Barry Goldwater, the godfather of the modern conservative movement looks like a liberal compared to her.

[cthmontgomery]

HERE! HERE!

[epotruchyeahright]

Coulter, Limbaugh, and Hannity -- or Maddow, Olberman, and Maher -- all are entertaining to some degree, and all play to their audiences. And all speak some degree of truth at any given moment, though with some, like those of the right wing persuasion, tend to define the truth on their terms only. I singled out the right wingers because, in general, liberals tend to dole out criticism wherever it is warranted. Glenn Greenwald has heaped great concern about President Obama's positions on FISA, for example. Bill Maher calls BS on anyone of any ideology when he smells BS. Olberman regularly puts liberals in his "worst people in the world" segment. I would love to see a Rush Limbaugh perform a smackdown on a Republican who wasn't conservative enough. Perhaps there have been occasions when that has in fact happened, but usually all conservatives eventually find their toes on the line where someone of sufficient influence has placed the official talking points. And let's be honest: liberals aren't the only ones with a sense of entitlement. I wouldn't be calling the CEOs of Bank of America or AIG liberals AT ALL. And has there been anything from them except strong support for their entitlement to billions of federal taxpayer dollars?

[JScott]

Why read it, he could do what I do - go to the bookstore and read a few pages FOR FREE of her book in the store-IF YOU CAN FIND IT! and then find how hard it is to read her prose, it's the same ol same ol that's in ALL OF HER BOOKS, it's getting a litte stale. And there are other works that are more intelligent and can be backed up with facts than what she writes, and are probably more concise too.

[ADS]

With all due respect here, if everyone seems to be in agreement that Ann Coulter is: a political hack, a shock jock, full of hatred, an attention seeker...w­hatever. If none of us value her opinion nor take her as a valid voice for conservatives, why do we continue to respond to her attacks (aka books)?

Who cares what this woman has to say anymore than you care about what the old whino is ranting about down at the bus station?

Why do we continue to fuel the fire that allows her to continue to proper from the spread of irrational hatred? FOX News will always book her as she's their little poster child, but the other networks won't book a guest that no one cares about. They will, however, book a guest that incenses her opponents and who can draw eyes to the screen.

Ann Coulter is like a little child clamoring for attention.­..just ignore her and eventually she'll stop.

[nonconformist2]

So True!

[broezekiel]

Well said!!!!

[rshrink]

Check!

[rshrink]

I'm the one who gave a one word response, "check," and that one word is being reviewed to see if it can be approved. I guess they think I have stirred some p o o p in the past.

[JScott]

just ignore her and eventually she'll stop.


That's what Jo recommends, hmm, maybe she needs a session with SUPERNANNY or NANNY 911 hey it's on the same corp. media as FNC.

[cthmontgomery]

THAT'LL WORK...HOP­EFULLY!