Pundit pops Post

A story in the New York Post July 2 alleged that conservative writer Ann Coulter had committed plagiarism in her column, which runs in about 100 newspapers, and her new book, "Godless." Using plagiarism-seeking software, a Post source found a few sentences that closely resemble passages in other publications. Crown Publishing Group, publisher of Coulter's book, dismissed the instances as trivial, as did Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Coulter's column.

For Coulter, firing back at the Post was a challenge, since the paper isn't known for its liberal tendencies. And she wasn't about to mention the allegation. So she wrote July 5 in her online column, "Once considered a legitimate daily, the Post has been reduced to tabloid status best known for Page Six's breathless accounts of Paris Hilton's latest ruttings, and headlines like 'Vampire Teen H.S. Girl Is Out for Blood.'"

"Reduced"? I'm picturing the Post's editors sitting around fuming, "How dare that brazen hussy call us a tabloid! She is just too cruel."