SLEIGHT OF HAND: OF COULTER, COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, AND CACOPHONY

While the blogosphere is going absolutely apeshit over this woman, I am going to go a different route.

I invoke Formosa’s law.

Answers.com defines this as: “Formosa's Law -
“The truly insane have enough on their plates without us adding to it.” That is, flaming someone with an obvious mental problem can't make it any better. Most often cited on alt.usenet.kooks as a reason not to issue a Kook-of the-Month Award; often cited as a companion to Godwin's Law. “

I mean, let’s face it; the woman’s deranged. I won’t even quote some of the nonsense that’s come spilling out of her mouth (she kisses her mom with that?)

Oh, all right. If you insist.
Anyone remember this little gem?

“When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that [American Taliban supporter] John Walker [Lindh] is not getting the death penalty. We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed too. Otherwise they will turn out to be outright traitors.”

Let’s face facts: she’s a madwoman. Pure and simple.

In the meantime, while most of us are getting our panties in a twist, I’m pretty sure something’s going on behind the scenes. What, I couldn’t tell you.

Because, let’s be clear here: this kind of nonsense is simple sleight-of-hand. Right up there with Uri Geller massaging a spoon with one hand, nothing happening, but bringing up another utensil in the other hand that’s bent. “See? I really DID do it!”

If you can’t figure out how that’s bullshit, abandon all hope.

I play the blame game here: those horrendous, cheap, shallow talk shows (thanks, Donohue, for coarsening our culture just a touch more, like it needed it), where ‘he said she said’ rapidly devolves into free-for-alls, fists flying, chairs being used for something other than their normal functions.

Jesus, it’s all so middle-school.

And we (by we, I mean us ‘leftie pinko commies’, hehehehe) fall for it just about every single time. I mean, get a clue, folks! So while we’re focusing on this harbinger harpy of doom, meanwhile, those clowns (the Powers That Be, you know who you are) are snickering behind clenched fists. Because it works every time.

Criticize the criticizers. Muddy the waters. Turn it into a battle of personalities, only in this case, whoever’s more deranged wins.

And of course, since the Neo-cons have more wackinoids on their side, guess what? Lost battle. Lost cause.

I say we take up a collection for the poor creature. Let’s all pitch in and supply her with a year’s worth, of say, Prozac, or Thorazine, Xanax, whatever.

Let’s face facts: I live in the S.F Bay Area. I’ve had crazy people say absolutely bizarre things to me.

Do I put them on TV? Do I stop, and calmly discuss their (ir)rational rationale with them? Do I call the local newspapers, with a human-interest story? No.

I keep walking.