Civil Discourse Watch: 6/26/07 Edition

David Weigel | June 26, 2007

Cultural detritus item one: John Edwards is whimpering about Ann Coulter, leading Ben Smith to ask:

Is Ann Coulter good for anything other than Democratic fundraising any more? It's the only context in which I ever see her name.

Here's what's harshing Edwards: A video in which it sounds like Coulter is ululating for his murder by terrorists.

Look, Edwards is being unfair to Coulter. She was making a joke about her "faggot" gaffe. Here's the whole bit:

Oh yeah, I wouldn't insult gays by comparing them to John Edwards. That would be mean, but about the same time—you know—Bill Maher was not joking and saying he wished [Vice President] Dick Cheney had been killed in a terrorist attack. So I've learned my lesson. If I'm going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he has been killed in a terrorist assassination plot.

If John Edwards was still running for president this would look really bad for his... wait, he's still in it? Nevermind.

UPDATE: On Hardball just now, Elizabeth Edwards called in to challenge Ann Coulter not to use any more "personal attacks" against her husband. Yes, that's the way to rebut charges of wimpery: Send your wife to beg people to stop hitting you.

Item two: Video of Michael Savage doing stand-up. Your brain will melt.

By no means watch all of it, but check out the bit at the end when Savage asks "Does anybody in this crowd give a shit about the Iraqis?"