[Don]

National Review Online Editor Jonah Goldberg told the Post, "We didn't feel we wanted to be associated with the comments expressed in those two columns." Why did you print them, then?

[hchutch]

The first column, written just after the attacks, was borderline, given the emotional state. Barbara Olson was also a friend of Jonah Goldberg, and so, the column was published. It was somewhat over the top, but she'd lose a close friend in the attack. A person who was a good friend of other NRO writers and the editor.

Unfortunately, the progressives, who didn't care much for Barbara when she was alive, promptly started an attack. That was when the editors probably re-read the column. To their credit, they ignored the flak. But the second column was still over the top. They made the justifiable call not to run it. I have seen the column in question.

I speak as a columnist for my college paper (Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa), who had one column pulled shortly after the 1994 elctions over an item that had to the potential to unintentionally offend people. I asked why it had been pulled, they told me, and I kept that in mind for future columns. This was much milder than what Ann's column, written in the heat of anger.

Had Ann not mouthed off (on Politically Incorrect of all shows), she'd not have been fired. And we'd not be in this fight amongst ourselves. Both sides have som fault in this, and I will continue to read both Ann Coulter's columns AND National Review Online and OnDeadTree. Both have their place among our just and noble cause. And I hope they can patch things up later on.

[Esjay]

Excellent point! Why did he print them???? He loves to grandstand and has done so for years. I quit reading National Review when they started slamming the Libertarian Party. Jonah has not learned that a United GOP will be a winner. He has exiled too many on the edge voters with his rants. His constant attacks on Lew Rockwell are uncalled for.

[xm177e2]

Why did you print them, then?

I think he expected her to retract them at a later time. When she didn't, they forced her to leave.