Published 5 March 20095 March 2009 · Main Posts the aestheticisation of politics Jeff Sparrow There’s a clip floating about featuring a particularly odd exchange between snake-lipped hatemonger Ann Coulter and lunatic eliminationist Glen Beck about the Conservative Political Action Conference, a kind of Lollapolooza for right-wing Bedlamites. ‘One thing that is overwhelming about CPAC is all of the hot babes,’ Coulter says. ‘I would be a conservative if we weren’t so good looking. But wow, we have a lot of pulchritude on our side. […] The males are pretty good looking. […] OK. The other stations would find the dorkiest-looking person, the most empty room at the convention that had 9,000 participants and fixate on the one dorky-looking person.’ Below, an actual poster from CPAC, which puts this bizarre exchange in context. Jeff Sparrow Jeff Sparrow is a writer, editor, broadcaster and Walkley award-winning journalist. He is a former columnist for Guardian Australia, a former Breakfaster at radio station 3RRR, and a past editor of Overland. His most recent book is a collaboration with Sam Wallman called Twelve Rules for Strife (Scribe). He works at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne. More by Jeff Sparrow › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 8 May 202611 May 2026 · Nakata Brophy Prize The 2026 Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers (Poetry) Editorial Team Please follow this link to enter the prize. Sponsored by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne and supporters, the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 […] 6 May 20266 May 2026 · Main Posts Join the Overland Board Editorial Team Overland is looking for a Treasurer to join the board. If you care about literary culture, have governance experience and a head for finance, please consider applying. Expressions of Interest […]