Defining a Coultergeist

I love Lynne's phrase "coultergeist" below so much I think it needs a definition.

Coultergeist: The 2 to 3 day media swirl after an intellectually inferior pundit (and therefore usually one on the "Right") publicly makes an outrageous statement or erroneous claim. The claim is often so far off the beam that more thoughtful people feel compelled to respond resulting in the pundit, who is usually hawking a book, receiving even more free publicity. This is a Coultergeist.

"Her claim that 9/11 widows should 'take their money and shut up' has created yet another Coultergeist on the cable news programs."

Another result of a Coultergeist is establishing stupidity and crassness as just as valuable and important in public discourse as hardwork, thoughtfulness, and deeply held, well reasoned convictions. For although the intellectually inferior pundit is rebuffed and the media swirl is short lived it has the effect of elevating him or her -often by equating him or her with a clearly more accomplished and more intelligent person who felt compelled to respond to the offensive remarks.

So Ann Coulter (a pair of legs with an editor) insults 9/11 widows, Senator Clinton (one of the nations most accomplished lawyers, a Senator, Ivy League Grad, former First Lady etc etc) feels compelled to defend those who lost so much in the state she represents and the story becomes: Clinton vs Coulter.

"Pauly Shore to debate Einstein!" Next on CNN!!!