The Ann Coulter problem

The Economist's Adrian Wooldridge has spoken about the Ann Coulterisation of sections of the Republican Party.  He worries that there is a childishness to much of the debate in the party.  Earlier this week Ann Coulter, right-wing author and pundit, said that she'd rather have Hillary Clinton rather than John McCain as President.  She made the ridiculous suggestion that Clinton (who opposed the surge) was more likely to be a good leader in the war on terror than John McCain (who championed it long before Bush saw the need for it).

I wrote about the childishness of Coulter's fans two years ago when delegates at the CPAC conference of conservative activists cheered her attack on "ragheads".  She wasn't invited to the main stage at CPAC this year but that didn't stop the Young America's Foundation inviting her to an unofficial event on the sidelines of the conference.  She didn't disappoint this fringe grouping, as Think Progress records.

The Economist snapped some of the bumper stickers on sale at CPAC:

"Monica Lewinsky is voting Republican: The Democrats left a bad taste in her mouth."

"10 out of 10 terrorists vote Democrat."

"Republican women... like men!"

Not even funny.

PS These people on the left are much worse, though.