Correction and elaboration:

Your earlier correspondent is a little confused. While Cameron Diaz hosted SNL last week, the huge roar for “Ann Coulter” went up because she was being played by Drew Barrymore, a surprise guest whose appearance on the show had not been announced. The audience was, at that point, pre-disposed to happy-happy-joy-joy, as the sketch – the very funny “Barry Gibb Talk Show” – also featured two other surprise appearances, former cast member Jimmy Fallon and heartthrobby former host (and Diaz boyfriend) Justin Timberlake.
The lukewarm claps for DeLay I think we can chalk up to, “Huh? Who?”
It’s not like he’s a big name outside of political circles. Heck, most folks here in Houston have no idea who the man is.