What happened to Ann Coulter?

My MIL used to know Ariana Huffington. At some point, she stopped inviting Ariana over to her parties, so I asked why. My MIL said she didn't like Huffington because she was too conservative for her tastes. I said "are you crazy?????". But, the more I learned... I realized that indeed Ariana is quite conservative... but just happened to find a lucrative business niche with the Huffington Post. Things are never what they seem.

Makes perfect sense. While there are some 'true believers' in both camps, the greater majority of public figures are simply in it due to the considerably lucrative career to be made in the industry. An articulate persuasive (and it doesn't hurt to be) attractive person hammering hard on conservative/liberal issues, ensuring they touch on all the 'necessary' conservative/liberal talking points, and especially those that are hot news in conservative/liberal fora, will definitely make a lot of money. Definitely.

However, that person doesn't need to be a conservative/liberal at all in their private life.

What's even more amazing is that when that person slips up and makes an error that rubs some of the patina off their conservative/liberal facade, the believing masses will cover for them. For example, a liberal demagogue can say that they personally believe in God and attend church regularly, and the folk who would normally attack such practice as pie-in-the-sky beliefs (which some of the more rabid left like to do) will say its ok since it is good to have spiritual grounding. Another example, a conservative luminary is found out to have a drug problem of some sort, and the folk who listen to him will simply say that it is a personal failing that he is working to fix (yet if it was someone else they would be untouchable ...this is especially true for sexual sin).

It is a lucrative career, and one that has inherent protective aspects. The person would have to consistently mess up. Even now I am sure there are quite a number who would defend Ms Coulter on FR.

Huffington, Coulter, Miller, and other people on both sides (some on 'our' side that I cannot mention since I will get needlessly flamed) are simply businessmen/entertainers who have found a viable and profitable niche.

Question - if Ms Coulter was who she says she is, would she be so close to people like Bill Maher, Bob Guccione Jr and Andrew Stein?

Another question - how hard is it really to sound conservative/liberal? Simply be bombastic and quote Reagan/JFK while attacking Obama/Bush and throwing in semi-controversial statements that will offend the other side but make those you want to tap into buy your books or listen to your programs. Do that enough and the fanbase will become truly fanatically, viciously attacking anyone who tries to tell them you are not as conservative/liberal as you sound. It is extremely easy, and the only reason more are not doing it is getting a national platform is not that easy. However, with a stage it is extremely easy. Even switching from one side to the other is not hard (e.g. Dick Morris, Dennis Miller).

Many people like to say there's a sucker born every minute, and they automatically assume that doesn't apply to them. That is the mistake many of us make, because every day we are played for suckers. I wouldn't be surprised if Maher and Coulter get a good chuckle out of the clueless Liberals/Conservatives who consume their sop and deem it sweet ambrosia.

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