First, Kathy Griffin defends her lofty art. Deletes that, and goes into "career salvage mode." Apologizes

Now, we're seeing it again, as Kathy Griffin took the violent imagery football, ran it downfield, and spiked it in the end zone. Seriously, what makes a person think this is going to be "OK?" How deranged do you have to be to think this is acceptable? If you're a rodeo clown who puts on an Obama mask, Griffin will gleefully cheer as the left destroys you. But this is supposed to get a pass? Bear in mind that, per her little intro spiel, Kathy Griffin knew precisely how offensive this would be. She says as much when she admits the image "will make noise." I'd go so far as to say she knew - in advance - that she was crossing the line of 18 U.S. Code § 871 as well. She even jokes about running to Mexico. Remember, she could have changed course at any time. When they were discussing the concept for the shoot, when she was in makeup, or when she first saw the severed head, she could have simply said "you know, maybe this isn’t a great idea" and she would have avoided her current predicament. She never did. In fact, she did it precisely because she knew what an atrocious spectacle it would be.

Now, people are applauding her supposedly straightforward apology

Now, people are applauding her supposedly straightforward apology. I'm not. I call B.S. Griffin's first instinct was to defend everything she did. This was, supposedly, lofty art. It was high-brow political satire created by a "great Photog/film maker." You were too dumb to understand what she was doing. It was YOUR fault if you were offended, and the peons should stop questioning things they don't understand. She has since deleted her defense. ...But the internet is forever.

.@KathyGriffin's "apology" is utter BS. She's in career salvage mode. Her first (now deleted) instinct was to defend her lofty "art" pic.twitter.com/yvyY9mDtJK

— Robert Laurie (@RobertLaurie) May 31, 2017

In place of her now deleted missive, she uploaded a brief filmed apology.

I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong. pic.twitter.com/LBKvqf9xFB

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) May 30, 2017

Guess what. I'm not buying it. I believe that quietly, behind closed doors, there's a small army of like-minded liberals telling Kathy Griffin how brilliant she is. They may tell her that she should "just do the apology and get it over with," but they don't mean it for a second. Secretly, they adore what she did, but they're also secure in their belief that America is a nation of simpletons. The little people can't understand such complex satire, so Griffin has to do the phony mea culpa. Kathy Griffin didn't apologize from any place of sincerity. She apologized to wriggle her way out of a tight spot and salvage her dismal career. As I said, we've watched this play out time and time again. Trust her first instinct. The initial defense was her version of the truth. This is who they are.