A Medium Comes Into Its Own

Five minutes into this exchange with Garance Franke-Ruta, Ann Althouse absolutely blows up at GFR for having the temerity to mention "the Jessica Valenti breast incident." Finally, BloggingHeadsTV has arrived as a medium.

3/27/07 8:26AM del.icio.us this incoming links

Comments

The thing Althouse haters seem to hate isn't that she's left or right but that she's self-absorbed and crazy.

Posted by: Kyle on March 27, 2007 08:37 AM

I can't stand that woman. I really hope Bob banishes her. She doesn't bring nearly enough to the table to make up for the whole insanity/persecution complex thing.

Posted by: lowellfield on March 27, 2007 08:38 AM

I am a nerd's nerd, a walking human pimple, so of course I saw that yesterday.

And I'd been thinking about a snarky remark--something like Althouse = Coulter--since last night. Because the most extreme comment wins, get it? That's how the interweb works.

Now, in most ways, of course Coulter is worse. The stuff she says is crudely bigoted, cruel, puerile, and vaguely hurtful to our national image.

But with this exchange and her last blow-up, there's something about Ann Althouse that's even worse than Coulter. At least Coulter is a detached manipulator of media, a shrewd shrew and cynic, the bastard love child of Madonna and Rush Limbaugh. There's a very gross game being played there, but it's a game to be sure.

Ann Althouse abuses human beings IN REAL LIFE. She can actually see a person and berate them. In that sense, the difference between Coulter and her is the difference between having a chicken dinner and biting the head off a chicken.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Althouse is suffering from mental illness. Fortunately for her, she's middle class and has a good legal education, so they won't involuntarily commit her to the lunatic asylum.

I do foresee her, with in a few years, mumbling to herself on the sidewalk, covered in her own urine and vomit, complaining that she used to be a prestigious law professor as frightened passers-by quicken their gait.

Posted by: Lust After Althouse on March 27, 2007 09:14 AM

It is pretty damn surreal...

Posted by: Petey on March 27, 2007 09:23 AM

Anne Althouse is Touched By An Angel, Peroxide.

What a great lawyer, professor trait to have such exquisitely thin skin. She must have been fabulous in closing if she ever practiced.

I think someone should start a new blog -

AnneNutHouse.blogspot.com,
and just post the tit (sorry babe!) post and and the wmv.

Or WomanOnTheEdgeofANervousBreakdown.blogspot.com

MiddleAgeMiddleAmericaMiddleClassMiddllingIntellectFREAKOUTS.blogspot.com

CrazyAssBadgers.blogspot.com

TheDairyControversyState.blogspot.com

FendingOffAttacksFromEverywhereGoddamnit.blogspot.com

JustAVoiceOfReasonAloneInTheUniverse.blogspot.com

GlennGotMyBackInTheCrazyAssSecondTierLawProfessorsSocietyHehIndeed.blogspot.com

ThankFIhavetenure.blogspot.com

NoUppityandFirmYoungbloodGonnaGetShitFromMe.blogspot.com

WaitAMinuteOtherThingsIIDon'tAccept.blogspot.com

JFKGotShotIGotCharacterAssasinated.blogspot.com

IFindItVeryOffensive.Blogspot.com

WhenGlennDoesItItMakesMeTingleWhenYouDoItIWillFREAK.blogspot

UglyNastyThings.blogspot

GlancingReferences.blogspot.com

ThingsThatAreOldandWouldTakeTooLongToExplain.blogspot.com

ItsJustABlogosphereFlameWar!.blogspot.com

LeftSideVisious.blogspot.com (could branch into the southpaw minority rights)

BlackIsThinningFakeBlondeIsEmpoweringFeminists.blogspot.com

ISearchForMyName,IknowMF!.blogspot.com

VisciousUglyPeople.blogspot.com (REM covers)

MiddleAgeCarCrashes.blogspot.com

Ihopeshedon'thavekids.blogspot.com

WhyDon'tWeTransitionandTrytoCaptureThisPositiveEnergy.blogspot.

Posted by: Chris on March 27, 2007 09:34 AM

I was surprised that GFR did not address Althouse's question more directly: why does the right blogosphere (seem to) welcome Althouse, while the left (and particularly the wonky left) tend to dismiss her?

The simple answer must be that Althouse leans Dem, but her writing is often critical of the left. Since she provides the right with ammunition, the right often welcomes her to the table. Doesn't everyone want to quote "the other side" to support his argument?

I think there might be something else, though. TAP is wonky, results-oriented, sometimes smart-ass, and composed of at least few different voices. Althouse's style includes pointing out inconsistencies among those voices, decrying biases or motivations, and questioning appropriateness. The right must enjoy having someone on the left raise such questions.

Posted by: circularfile on March 27, 2007 09:52 AM

All that seems to matter to Althouse is her feelings, how she perceives she is being treated on a personal level. Larger issues or principles are subservient to her own self-image. I mean, how many times have we seen her talk about how she feels unwelcome on the left's "team"?

She cried at a conference dinner when a libertarian dared to stick by their libertarian outlook. (It made Althouse sad to learn that libertarians aren't gaga about the 1964 Civil Rights Act.) She says the left is vicious, and then smears the left with name-calling and smears. My favorite was a few months ago when a few hours after bemoaning name-calling, she let loose with a stream of ad hominem attack against Glenn Greenwald.

Althouse thinks left-of-center bloggers are mean and nasty, and that right-wingers are generally polite. It's all about her.

Posted by: Jim E. on March 27, 2007 09:57 AM

It's really funny/pathetic. The story Althouse is now telling on her own blog is that she roughed up GFR, who needs to be a little heartier if she's going to participate in the rough & tumble of grown-up debate.

Let's roll the tape... Ok, who was it that, like a simpering little teenager, threatened to hang up? Yep, the mighty Althouse. And, uh, who was it that whined about how her character had been "assasinated," and how she's been "assaulted" and "mistreated"? Yep, again, the mighty Althouse.

Ah, the power of self-delusion.

Posted by: jw on March 27, 2007 09:58 AM

I demand that Yglesias recreate Ultimate Warrior interviews on his next appearance.

"You need to open your eyes and ears, take control of the limited ability you have to understand the words I am about to say. For years, I have watched while this industry, with you as it’s figurehead, try to recreate what is simply unrecreatable. I have heard, listened to all the innuendoes and speculation that something ULTIMATE or WARRIOR may soon re-appear. Welcome to the reappearance! Those things, Jonah Goldberg, which are irreplaceable, whether they be people, places, or things, are never forgotten. You are witnessing that RIGHT NOW! History tells us, Jonah Goldberg… Let’s talk about something he doesn’t know.

"History tells us, Jonah Goldberg, that a man’s legacy is built from the premise that within his life, the moments lived, once lived, become a piece of his history. Somehow, you have conveniently, even eloquently misplaced pieces of your history. In the one time, epical battle between us, Jonah Goldberg, you were the quintessential influence of what was good, great, and heroic. But different than you may remember, and albeit you may have beaten myths, legends, giants, and other great men, you NEVER, NEVER beat a warrior. AND, CERTAINLY, NOT THE ULTIMATE ONE! As the victor of that one time battle, I defeated what was, until then, undefeatable. I conquered what was then unconquerable. I dominated what was, until then, indomitable. On that day, you were great. I WAS ULTIMATE!"

Posted by: GUY on March 27, 2007 10:04 AM

by "arrived" surely you mean it has become meaningless drivel? and in that spirit, is garance the ugly betty of the blogosphere? and i second the motion on The Ultimate Warrior. you should be required to wear a hoodie for all future media appearances and preferably rap your responses in a style reminiscent of grandmaster flash.

Posted by: alias on March 27, 2007 10:16 AM

Posted by: alias on March 27, 2007 10:17 AM

Unrelated to Althouse's craziness: Is it possible to say the word "blogosphere" out loud without sounding like an idiot? After watching this, I'd say "no."

Posted by: too many steves on March 27, 2007 10:26 AM

back on topic: Can they see each other? If, when Althouse was yelling and ranting, Garance starting making mocking, "wow, she's gone nuts" faces, could Althouse see it? Either way, Garance should have done it.

Posted by: too many steves on March 27, 2007 10:28 AM

Look, I'm being Ann Althouse:

Ahhhhh You are nothing but a normal, you don't deserve to breathe the same air that I and too many steves do. too many steves, I must ask you now as you asked me, do you too many steves want your ideas, your beliefs to live forever? For too many steves in this normal world, physically none of us can live forever. But the places you have taken the toomanystevesamaniacs, the ideas and beliefs that you have given them can live through me too many steves. That is why I breathe, that is why the Warriors have come. too many steves there are ones that question where you are taking them. Do you no longer want to walk or step into that darkness? too many steves that darkness I speak of is nothing of fear. It is about the beliefs...of excepting any and all challenges at the cost of losing everything too many steves. You have lived too many steves for the last 5 Wrestlemania's for this one belief. Now toomanysteves, I come to take what you believe in, further then you ever could. I come too many steves, not to destroy the toomanystevesamaniacs and toomanystevesamania. I come too many steves to bring the Warriors and toomanystevesamaniacs together as one as we too many steves except all the challenges with all the strength of the Warriors and Hulkamaniacs together. too many steves the colors of the toomanystevesamaniacs are coming through the pores of my skin...and too many steves when we meet too many steves, I will look at you and you will realize then that I have come to do no one no harm, but only too many steves to take what we both believe in to places it shall never have been.

Posted by: guy on March 27, 2007 10:31 AM

Guy, can you just slip into Ultimate Warrior-speak anytime you feel like it? Because that's a precious gift, sir.

Alternatively, is there a collection of Ultimate Warrior texts that you are drawing upon? If so, I would very much like to know about them so that I can better Warrior-ize my speaking and writing styles.

Posted by: Dr. Anatole Gavage-Huskanoy on March 27, 2007 10:53 AM

There are a lot of Ultimate Warrior transcripts online. This is really a must-see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P39b7v1wzfg

He's a raving right winger these days who gives gay bashing speeches to Young Republican groups.

Posted by: guy on March 27, 2007 11:04 AM

Have you seen the full Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior? It's pretty awesome.

Posted by: Antid Oto on March 27, 2007 11:27 AM

I was surprised that GFR did not address Althouse's question more directly: why does the right blogosphere (seem to) welcome Althouse, while the left (and particularly the wonky left) tend to dismiss her?

As far as I can tell, this is because Althouse discusses politics in exactly the same way that she discusses fashion. She expresses a deep interest in gossip and surface appearances, she adopts various poses to provoke a response, and she exhibits disdain for anyone who actually cares about serious political issues.

Naturally, since she's not a serious critic of the Bush Administration, the right blogosphere sees her as cute and harmless. The Left, and especially the wonky left, has absolutely no use for her and considers her to embody most of the worst traits of political coverage in the American media.

Oh, and props to GFR for getting Althouse to show her true colors on camera as a vapid, self-absorbed bully.

Posted by: LaFollette Progressive on March 27, 2007 11:35 AM

I love the part where GFR puts her hand over her heart and her eyes bug out.

Posted by: Sam Spade on March 27, 2007 01:07 PM

Wow. She is craaaaaaaaazy. Whoops, I'm smearing her on a left blog. I guess she's right.

Posted by: Mike on March 27, 2007 02:23 PM

the difference between Coulter and her is the difference between having a chicken dinner and biting the head off a chicken.

Awesome.

Posted by: Pooh on March 27, 2007 02:41 PM

Ms. Althouse manages to embody every single cliche about over-educated self-professed "feminist" law professors. Ranting. Illogical. Chip-on-the-shoulder the size of the moon.

One of my friends had to deal with one of them while at law school. Since she does not suffer fools gladly and has a fine sense of logical argumentation, the law professor ended up in little ribbons on the floor.

Posted by: grumpy realist on March 27, 2007 04:24 PM

Lust After Althouse sez: "I do foresee her, with in a few years, mumbling to herself on the sidewalk, covered in her own urine and vomit, complaining that she used to be a prestigious law professor as frightened passers-by quicken their gait."

I, on the other hand, see her covered in the urine and vomit of others...go figure!

Posted by: frigg on March 27, 2007 04:42 PM

over-educated

Althouse? Hardly.

Posted by: Anderson on March 27, 2007 05:38 PM

I'm a law student (and former history grad student) and believe you me, law professors have incredibly thin skin. Althouse seems like par for the course to me. The idea that you can go to law school for 3 short years and then be a "professor" of a fake discipline is so obviously ludicrous, it's no wonder they act like that. Anecdotes, plural: Friend of mine actually got kicked out of law school for (and I shit you not) asking too many questions of one professor who thought she was being harassed by him. Another would openly mock, in front of classrooms full of 1Ls, a new colleague for being a "distinguished" chaired professor when everyone in that class had the new chaired prof the very next class that day. They're a bunch of 'fraidy cats, the lot of them.

Posted by: luckyjack on March 28, 2007 12:16 AM

Althouse is sort of like Maureen Dowd on crack. She has some of that same simpering, vaguely flirtatious quality, except she's also unhinged and raving. Not to mention an idiot -- she consistently makes some of the dumbest arguments in the right-wing blogosphere.

GFR came off like a bit of a coward in that exchange though. The stream of frightened apologies was painful to listen to. You could see Althouse sort of light up when she realized she had actually made her interlocutor actively uncomfortable and a little intimidated. Finally, she had successfully bullied a proxy for her liberal tormentors! Fight back, Garance, stand up to the crazy person!

Posted by: MQ on March 28, 2007 02:28 AM

Why does anyone give Althouse any attention at all? Why do people link to her or bother to appear with her on this blogheads.tv thing. She brings almost nothing to the table, except an intense desire to get noticed and get traffic. I do not understand it.

And why didn't the other person this this video make a strong response. As in, "Why the hell are you screaming" and "Which of my colleagues 'hate' you" on the left," "And who at Wisconsin fell asleep at the wheel when you were tenured."

Posted by: 123@gmail.com on March 28, 2007 10:07 AM

Jim:

She cried at a conference dinner when a libertarian dared to stick by their libertarian outlook. (It made Althouse sad to learn that libertarians aren't gaga about the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

I'm staggered that you can manage to find a way to make it a criticism of the woman that she feels emotionally attached to the proposition that segregation is a very bad thing, and that people who espouse normative political ideologies that would deny the state the power to break the back of segregation don't have a very good normative theory. How you manage to wield someone's hostility to racism as strike against her is beyond me. I mean, bravo. Who's better.

Posted by: Simon on March 28, 2007 05:27 PM

have you flowers

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