An interesting stand taken by a small-town editor

The editor of a small town newspaper -- The State College (Penn.) Centre Daily Times -- has decided to drop the weekly syndicated column of arch-conservative columnist Ann Coulter. She's the columnist who is famous for being blond and for writing a piece in the aftermath of Sept. 11 that the U.S. "should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."

After a huge negative backlash against that original blatt, Coulter was dropped by the conservative National Review, which published it. But that only seemed to encourage her and to strengthen her base with the far right.

The most flaming conservatives need someone like her -- young, blond, attractive, and female -- to confound liberals and act as a lightning rod. But with the Sep. 11 anniversary approaching, the stand taken by the small-town editor might be more significant. It could be -- I hope it is -- a sign of a real backlash against Coulter that will leave her high and dry.

Of course, the internet, not to mention right-wing talk radio, means that no one ever really goes away; Alan Keyes and Oliver North are as popular as ever with the far right, and I'm sure the stations that carry their b.s. would love to stick Coulter on their rotation as well, if they haven't already. But it's a small sign of hope that the flyover-country mainstream is willing to draw the line someplace.