Second-rate pundits. And Mark Steyn too.

Chet nails the American pundit-class right between the eyebrows:

One of the biggest problems that the United States has today is that it has very few public intellectuals, as most other countries do. And most of the Americans who are standing in the position that public intellectuals hold in other countries -- namely, the pundit class -- are astonishingly second-rate. At their best, they're people like George Will and David Broder, who express themselves moderately but have never had a real idea in their entire lives. At their worst, they're abusive freakshows like Coulter and Christopher Hitchens.

Then Jill points out the hypocrisy of one of the most vitriolic of that group, Ann Coulter, and the law Coulter recently ignored:

(a) Whoever, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicits, commands, induces, or otherwise endeavors to persuade such other person to engage in such conduct, shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half of the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the crime solicited, or both; or if the crime solicited is punishable by life imprisonment or death, shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years. 18 U.S.C. § 373(a).

You might feel Chet and Jill have identified Teh Stupid pretty well. Then along comes Mark Steyn who adds a dimension to the world of right-wing punditry that will leave you slack-jawed. In reference to the current Immigration Reform Bill before Congress: (Which has the right-wingers pissing themselves)

There's something creepy about a political class so determined to impose a vast transformative bill cooked up backstage in metaphorically smoke-filled rooms on a nation that doesn't want it. It's an affront to republican government and quasi-European in its disdain for the citizenry.

Jesusfuckingchrist. Creepy? Ya think?!!

Where to begin, where to begin?! This is a veritable quicksand of irony and hypocrisy.

Let's not even mention the lies, deception, subterfuge and threats used to justify an invasion of Iraq. No, no. Let's go closer to the bone, Steyn.

Can you say Surge?

Can you say Abstinence Only?

Can you say Warrantless Domestic Electronic Eavesdropping?

Can you say Unprecedented Christian Fundamentalist Influence in Government?

Can you say Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and Torture?

Can you say... DICK CHENEY?

Yeah, the "citizenry" of the United States wasn't shown any disdain there, were they?

And speaking of citizens. A Canadian citizen and protege of Conrad Black, film-critic turned political-pundit, with a multi-inflected British accent, living in New Hampshire, claiming an affront by a US government which he has no part in choosing?

Welcome to the real world, Steyn. Welcome to what you helped create. Chew on the "affront" to... your sensibilities, if you actually have any.

Oh yeah, glad to see you promoted yourself in that little piece.

Same with the immigration bill. I think I say somewhere in my book ...

Second-rate indeed.