I have to wonder why someone like Bill Maher calls Ann Coulter a friend. I heard this from his own lips, on his show, with her there and she agreed with him. He was trying to be polite in confronting her about her more incendiary remarks but that part of the panel conversation didn't go very far. They went back into joking about dating each other.

It *does* make me wonder how much of that is "Ann Coulter (tm)" and how much is Mrs. Coulter's baby girl all grown up. How much of that is the image she's portraying in order to sell books and keep her income stream healthy?

But when it comes to that kind of political humor? I'll take P. J. O'Rourke over her any day (I have several of his books and his essay "Terror of the Euroweenies" reprinted in his "Holidays in Hell" book is probably my favorite of all time).

While folks like Coulter & Limbaugh & Beck & Olbermann & Schultz may actually have some belief in what they are communicating, it is my belief that, in truth, they know what they do earns them their considerable income. Disciples of theirs are probably more vehement in adopting their beliefs that they are themselves...and that is what is scary. :doh:

I have heard Bill say that she was a friend as well. Never made any sense, but what you say is a good explaination. I think MOST of what she says is for shock value and maintaining a persona to rake in the big bucks. Feels kind of like the TV preachers who wind up being pretty scummy and/or in it for the bucks.

:agree:

Ann Coulter and liberal N.Y. Congressman Andrew Stein dated for a while. Who knows what attracts one person to another. Maybe Ann Coulter appreciates Bill Maher's caustic humor which is much in the same vein as hers, albeit from the opposite perspective. Most likely, despite all this political turmoil, they've interacted in a human way and found each other to be caring people.

(Full disclosure: I loathe Bill Maher and cannot tolerate what he calls humor. So, I guess that put me in an intellectual quandary on this topic)

My ultra conservative brother is married to the most left wing radical vegan woman I know. They don't discuss politics. She is also one of the most loving caring involved parent I've ever seen, who dotes on her children, and now their children and always has youngster vying for her lap.

Spot on Dale! And it is scary, something about worshiping graven idols.......