Personally, I've always found it amusing when Republicans--or at least a good portion of their party--praised AC for her wit and impartiality, as if wit and impartiality relied entirely on 5th grade name-calling aka "raghead" and "faggot"  or the ability to render sense into nonsense. But can we blame Ann entirely? Think about it. Her behavior has long been sanctioned by the Grand Ol' Potty (yeah, we Dems can sling' em too) even if they're now fleeing her like rats fleeing a sinking ship--crying "Ann's no more a part of the Republican party than the Democratic party." My ass.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  we know the party line. Anyone, repeat, ANYONE who disagrees with No child left behind is a "terrorist,"  pro-choicers, hell, the frigging terrier that bites the GOP on the toe are all "terrorists." And, as we've seen here amply, anytime a liberal defends affirmative action, the alarm goes up--"they hate whites!" Anytime someone criticizes abuses of religion,  "they're godless!" (oops, that was Ann). You see, folks, it all boils down to double standards for the GOP--just like everything else they've done in the last decade (e.g., philandering Henry Hyde passing judgment on Clinton!). That's how the game is played. Liberals are "shrill," conservatives are "fair and balanced"; liberals make silly and childish remarks (e.g., Al Franken commenting on Rush Limbuagh's weight), Ann is just "so funny."  I could go on but you get the point. Ultimately,  given this tendency for knee-jerk conservatism, the GOP really oughta stand by their woman. She's helped make them what they are.