Ann Coulter, sweetheart of the Republican Party and firebrand columnist who has reigned on The New York Times Best Seller list with titles such as Godless: The Church of Liberalism (June 2006), How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)(October, 2004), Treason: Liberal Treachery From the Cold War to the War on Terrorism (June 2003); Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right (June 2002); and High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton (August 1998), has tumbled from the heights of Right Wing celebrity with an off-the-cuff comment about Democratic presidential contender John Edwards.

She used a term usually reserved for gay men to refer to Edwards during a recent speech before Right Wing big shots. In fact, she may have been repeating something she heard in the wings before she took to the podium. She may have been reflecting the feelings of many of those she was speaking to. And then, she may have been revealing her own innermost thoughts. Who knows?

One thing is for sure -- she certainly alienated a lot of people.

I was thinking. There might be yet another reason so many Republicans are down on the poor girl. It may be that some of them were looking to Edwards as a possible alternative to those being offered as candidates from their own party. As you know, during the last election I went on record as saying Edwards would make a much more viable candidate than John Kerry. I still believe he is one of the best candidates the Democrats have -- far more presidential than either of the current "front-runners."

As an aside, I must say that of all the current candidates vying for a spot on the 2008 presidential ballot, I would choose Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Not because he's from Arkansas, but because of his values, his integrity, and his concern for his fellow man.

But, back to the subject at hand. Ann Coulter.

I wonder how it feels to fall from such lofty heights. I wonder if she needs the support of folks like the former mayor of New York City to make her feel important. I wonder if she even cares. My gut feeling is that she doesn't need the backing of a bunch of D.C. politicians to make her feel she is worth something.

Maybe she is feeling a bit sheepish for her blunder. Maybe she is feeling like she ought not to have said what she said when she said it. Maybe she is lying awake at night wondering about her future as a spokesperson for the Right. Maybe. But I doubt it.

I say leave her alone. Let her do her work. Let her speak. As an American, she has that right. As a person with a platform that people take note of, she has that responsibility. She may say something every once in awhile that we don't like or that she wishes she could take back. But if anyone is going to dig a grave for her career, let her do it herself. God knows a good many journalists and columnists have done just that.

I don't think this incident will knock Coulter off the map. She's too strong. She's too sure of who she is. I hope she keeps speaking her mind and making others who put words out there for everyone to pick apart proud.

The Shepherd's Heart appears Thursday.