Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Political Kombat '12: Obama vs. Romney - Fighting game parody

VIDEO: Political Kombat '12 - Obama vs. Romney

A great Mortal Kombat parody incorporating all the tropes associated with President Obama and the challenger Mitt Romney. The animation created by Taige Jensen and Andrew Bouvé features all the key issues of the Candidate and animates them as 'Special Moves'.
Political Kombat '12: Obama vs. Romney
Find other Kombat videos here:
- Political Kombat '12: Obama vs. Trump
- Political Kombat '12 (Romney vs. Rick Santorum + Herman Cain )

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

NY Times statistician Nate Silver tells Stephen Colbert "he doesn't like pundits"

VIDEO: Nate Silver interview on the 'Colbert Report'
STEPHEN COLBERT: Are you tying to put pundits out of work? Cuz CNN doesn't need any more help
(audience laughter)
NATE SILVER: I'm just trying to explain to people that pundits can be very entertaining but...
COLBERT: What's you opinion on Pundits? C'mon shoot from the hip
SILVER: I'm not very pro-pundit I have to say. I would vote against it... I think a lot of people get on TV and they don't really have a lot of conviction behind them. It kinda becomes a game to entertain the audience or the other half of the audience or whatever else right...
COLBERT: That is the longest possible way of calling him [Joe Scarborough] a bullsh*tter
- Colbert Mocks Scarborough For Trusting His 'Gut' Over Nate Silver's 'Math'
- How Obama got Elected: John Ziegler vs. Nate Silver

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Meme prediction: Romney and Obama go toe to toe at the 2nd Presidential debate

I'm quite late with my meme prediction for the 2nd Presidential Debate but the lasting visuals were apparent for anyone who watched any coverage of the event. Truth be told, the optics were predictable considering the freedom of movement afforded to the Candidates in the Town Hall format.

(16m 12s) Challenger Romney harangues President Obama
in regards to his handling of local oil production
(1h 4m) Romney challenges Obama on his own "Chinese Investments",
questioning if he's checked his pension of late

Friday, October 12, 2012

Meme prediction: Joe Biden can't control his laughter at the Vice Presidential Debate

For the Vice Presidential debate, the meme has to be Joe Biden dismissing Paul Ryan with uncontrollable laughter. Reminiscent of a wrestler bristling off a challenge from someone he considers no contest.

Joe Biden laughing off Paul Ryan at the Vice Presidential Debate
APF Pundit Dennis Miller conceded Biden's performance might have been considered a win but also off-putting to some
The Dennis Miller Show: Give Biden a 10
BIDEN: I do think he was perfectly emblematic of contemporary liberals... that's how I see them, how I saw Biden last night - protective of their time, covetous of yours. Constantly laughing, grinning or throwing their hands up when you're making your point and expect that you'll sit there and act like you're in cyclical when you're speaking. And usually to pull that off they need a magician's assistant (Debate Moderator Martha Raddatz)...

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Glenn Beck says Romney might've been sick "this was a performance with him not feeling well"

MSNBC on suicide watch, admits they are Obama propaganda machine
GLENN BECK: By the way did anyone else notice that Romney had kinda of like a pink upper lip. It looks like he's been sick. I don't know if he was sick but I bet you that he was a sick. This was a performance with him not feeling well... Did you notice the upper lip with it being a little pink from tissue. I think he's got a cold, if this is a guy on Nyquil I'm in. "You had me at Hello"
Its common in the fight game for a fighter to conceal any injuries before entering a fight to not expose possible weaknesses. Sometimes mild illnesses before battle provide for good psychology. Its never used as an excuse for defeat but on the flipside can create a narrative that a sportsman has an imposing will to win, the most famous example being Michael Jordan's "Flu game".

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Meme prediction: Jim Lehrer losing control over Obama and Romney at the 1st Presidential Debate

This seems like the meme to run with, Jim Lehrer as the hapless wrestling Referee
Jim Lehrer as the hapless referee of the 1st Presidential Debate

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Rumble 2012: Jon Stewart VS Bill O'Reilly on PPV

The Daily Show have used the wrestling metaphor in regards to American Politics so its not surprising they've incorporated it playfully for the showdown between Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly.

The Rumble loses a lot of its sting because Jon and Bill are quite cordial with each other. Stewart is very respectful towards O'Reilly, increasingly so with each appearance. I was initially of the mind that O'Reilly was the least likely to break character (kayfabe) of the APF Pundits. His playfulness with Stewart shows he is able to ease up against perceived enemies and not always take himself so seriously.

Personally I feel Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh would make for a juicier PPV as both are monolothic and have successful independent brand names they have more "Aura". Being less answerable to critics they would be risking more in a battle with Jon Stewart. Some future dream matchups to think about for future PPVs.

Exit note: I'm predicting Stephen Colbert will work his way into the angle. As a Guest referee perhaps?

VIDEO: Jon Stewart VS Bill O'Reilly PPV - The Rumble 2012

Coming this Fall | 2 Men | 2 Podiums | 1 Air-conditioned Auditorium | O'Reilly VS Stewart | The Rumble in the Air-conditioned Auditorium | It's On! | The Internet! | Live Streaming | October 6th 8PM ET | It's why | It's why Al Gore invented the internet | www.therumble2012.com

Bill O'Reilly


Jon Stewart

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Joe Scarborough will test the waters for a Presidential run in 2016

When you thought it couldn't get any worse, the Morning Schmoe wants to be president? 
- Mark Levin on Facebook
Conservative pundit Mark Levin links to a Vanity Fair piece on his Facebook page, taking a dig at fellow APF pundit Joe Scarborough
MSNBC's Hot Ticket... After the presidential inauguration in January, Joe (no fan of Mitt Romney’s—"I've been very critical") plans on publishing a memoir that will serve—no joke—as a vehicle to test the waters for a presidential run in 2016. Take that, Mr. Romney.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

North Korean film 'Propaganda' (2012) features Professional Wrestling

VIDEO: North Korean film exposes
Western propaganda (9 of 10)
NARRATOR: (8m 50s) This game is based on something called WWE, which stands for World Wrestling Entertainment. Extreme violence cheered on by Americans baying for blood. They know the names of each one of these actors and yet they don't know where Britain is on the map despite the efforts of the British to be their best friends 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

UFC Fighter Chael Sonnen on his planned book linking Politics to ProWrestling

For the last 6 years I've been covering the analogy that American Politics is not unlike Professional Wrestling. UFC Fighter and Promo king Chael Sonnen offers an interesting variation on the meme. He aims to discredit the credibility of the American Government for having been duped by Professional Wrestling.

VIDEO: UFC 148 - Chael "I Misunderstood Rules In 5 Round Fight w/ Silva"
CHAEL SONNEN: (1m 2s) I've been writing this book in my head for a decade. For a decade I had this idea I could explain everything you need to know about Government if I can get you to understand Professional Wrestling. You have to understand Professional Wrestling was sanctioned within 38 different States in this Country, which means it passed the Senate, it passed the House and was signed by Governors into law to oversee and regulate as a licensed referee watches a licensed athlete with a folding chair while he pretends to be unconscious with an earpiece in his right ear. 
These are the same guys that though Professional Wrestling was real. That's why they did it. These are the same guys that are in charge of Healthcare, your Social security, your Education, teaching the Children, the military. These same guys. So when Vince McMahon goes to trial in 1989 and has to admit under oath the whole thing is a play. This is the most embarrassing thing that's happened in American Politics. Very quickly, State by State did away with their Wrestling commissions because they were embarrassed they fell for it. Our best and brightest, our elected officials fell for it and passed laws. But not all of them...

If I can get you to understand that then I can get you to not just accept things like Bird Flu or Global Warming or the War in Iraq or Party lines. These are the same guys that fell for Professional Wrestling.
 
Unfortunately as Chael explains he was never able to properly organise his concept to make the book.
SONNEN: Now with that in mind, do you wanna hear the bad news for me? So I've been working on this for 10 years. The whole concept, get the whole thing written out. I got 20 some pages and that's it. I've got nothing . In my head I've got this whole, I've got book after book. I've got nothing!
Find previous Chael Sonnen Punditfight posts here:
Mark Levin interviews UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen
- Republican UFC Fighter Chael Sonnen withdraws from Oregon Senate Race 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Shaun Micallef's MAD AS HELL, American Punditry done Australian style

Australian funnyman Shaun Micallef parodies American style pundits for his new ABC show, 'Shaun Micallef's MAD AS HELL'. Micallef's second foray into satirical news after 'Newstopia' in 2007

Shaun displays impressive improv chops reminiscent of Stephen Colbert whilst carving his own path, the program owning its Australianness and preserving Shaun's signature absurd style. The show's title comes from the movie 'Network' (1976). News Anchor, Howard Beale famously rouses his discontented audience with an impassioned "I'm Mad as Hell" speech. APF pundits Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck have channeled Beale in recent years, Micallef similarly has modeled his comedic Anchorman after him.

All Pundit parodies will forever be judged on the gold standard that is Colbert and Micallef holds up capably as the following monologue shows. Stephen Colbert parodied the bravado and naked passion of punditry with lines like "I speak straight from the gut, okay? I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument" and "The 'truthiness' is, anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news at you".

Read Micallef's own fresh take
MAD AS HELL Intro. Episode 4 
SHAUN MICALLEF: What's all the whooing there. Are you out of your minds? Your sounding very American. You know I don't like that. It's crazy, its the start of the show. Its completely uncalled for reaction in my view. I'm sorry about starting the show in this way. Gun's down, the gun's down. I'm sorry I've never pulled a gun on an audience in my life 
I'll be honest with you, I'm very angry this week and I'm not sure why. I feel a certain way about something but when I actually think about it I get just as angry but for a completely different reason and that makes me mad. So my anger this week is unfocused and double what it would be normally. So when how we feel and what we think are on the same road but are traveling in opposite directions you're on a collision course with blind fury and I don't like blind fury. It makes me furious! That's right I'm talking about...
Watch an excerpt of the show, featuring Sean's regular offsider Francis Greenslade.

VIDEO: Shaun Micallef's Mad As Hell - Positivity and Growth Rate

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Chaser’s Empty Vessel at the 2012 Sydney Writers' Festival

The last time I was at the Sydney Writers' Festival I had the privilege of seeing the late Christoper Hitchens.
The 2012 Festival offers a similarly juicy treat for Political junkies with the The Chaser’s Empty Vessel, what they've described as "A Variety, Talent show without the variety or talent".

@danilic "I'm at The Chaser's Empty Vessel it is like an intellectual gang bang #tcev #swf"
The maiden (Wednesday, May 16) show for 'The Chaser’s Empty Vessel', featured Chaser Muckrakers, Julian Morrow, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Chas Licciardello and Scott Dooley as they welcomed three authors on stage. Joe McGinnis and Nick Bryant were particularly interesting because of their anecdotes on American Politics. Mcginnis spoke of his friendship with Fox News president Roger Ailes, sharing his blunt appraisal of employee Sarah Palin. Joe is the author of 'The Rogue', a book he wrote whilst being next door neighbors with the the Palins. He shared a few stories proving there's no love lost between himself and the diminutive Todd and revealed having photos that could be gamechangers for the Palins.

Nick Bryant, an Englishman now living in Australia shared his experiences working with the Daily Mail. He offered anecdotes of his time covering Bill Clinton for his uni paper when he was a candidate and being a part of the Lewinsky circus in proceeding years.

There was an interesting exchange where Chris Taylor posed the question if the blurring of politics and entertainment was detrimental, the trivialising of politics is something this blog constantly wrestles with. The authors replied that likability has always been crucial to garnering votes citing how presidents like Nixon and Clinton had used Light Entertainment TV to appeal to the electorate.

The Chaser’s Empty Vessel will be on every evening from May 16th to the 20th  for the Sydney Writers' Festival, featuring authors Joe McGinnis, Glenn Carle, Michael Hastings, Jeffrey Eugenides, Walled Aly and Marc Lewis.

'The Chaser' began as a satirical newspaper but are best known for their TV shows 'The Chaser's War on Everything' and faux news show 'CNNNN'
VIDEO: The Chasers War On Fox News

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Will Ferrell & Zach Galifianakis’ Political Battle in "The Campaign"


VIDEO: 'The Campaign 'Movie trailer 
starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis


Will Ferrell & Zach Galifianakis' Political Battle in "The Campaign" 
A new political satire starring comic super cast Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, The Campaign is bound for theaters this year. Indulging in his known penchant for George W. Bush impersonation, Ferrell plays a Southern politician running for office opposite Galifianakis in a congressional comedy making fun of American politics. A strong supporting cast include Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd and Sarah Baker. This hilarious Warner Bros spoof preempts the real presidential elections with its August 10 release.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Wrestlemania 28: Rock VS Cena - White House 45: Romney VS Obama Wallpaper

WrestleMania: White House XLV Romney VS Obama Wallpaper
Just like Rock VS Cena for WrestleMania 28, its seems like Romney VS Obama has also been a year in the making.

Some Handy links looking back at the 2008 Election Season:
- View all the Art of the Primary PPV Posters
- Relive the struggle Between Hillary Clinton and Obama in the Democratic Primary
- Watch the main event between Barack Obama and John McCain
- Watch the rise and influence of Saturday Night Live
- Watch the entertaining sub plot involving the Vice Presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden

Update: John Cena and Mitt Romney pose for photos at Daytona 500 in Florida. Find more photo photos from AP here - Romney takes campaign detour to Daytona

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney with Wrestler John Cena

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Laughspin: Marc Maron gets his own show on IFC

Though Marc Maron has well and truly stepped away from the Political Talk arena, this is welcome news for fans of comedy and podcasting.
IFC greenlights Marc Maron show straight to series (Exclusive)
MARON explores a fictionalized version of Marc's life, his relationships, and his career, including his incredibly popular WTF podcast, which features conversations Marc conducts with celebrities and fellow comedians. Neurosis intact, Maron is uniquely fascinating, absolutely compelling and brutally funny.
Produced for IFC by Fox Television Studios and Denis Leary and Jim Serpico's Apostle, MARON (wt) is directed by Oscar® winning director Luke Matheny (God of Love) and executive produced by Marc Maron, Denis Leary, Jim Serpico, Olivia Wingate, and Duncan Birmingham, who also serves as the series' writer.
- Listen to my 2008 PunditFight interview with Maron here, NerdsGoneWild presents: A conversation with Marc Maron
- Marc Maron's WTF podcast Ep 23: Wyatt Cenac talks pundits and professional wrestling
- Marc Maron and Patton Oswalt talk about Right Wing pundits and bad comedians

Monday, March 12, 2012

Newt Gingrich and Hulk Hogan are "Real Americans" but only one has a sex tape

Hulk Hogan put Professional Wrestling on the map, during the height of his fame his iconic entrance theme sent fans into a frenzy. President Obama used it for comedic effect at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner and now Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has adopted it also:
Newt Gingrich Looks to Hulk Hogan for Inspirational Georgia Win
What do Republican Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich and the "Immortal" Hulk Hogan have in common? Well, they're both "Real Americans." Newt Gingrich bounced out to Hulk Hogan's epic 80s theme song when he was introduced to a crowd of supporters in Georgia on Monday. Apparently Gingrich is hoping that, much like the theme song helped inspire "Hulk-a-Mania" in the mid 80s, the song will inspire "Newt-a-Mania" on Super Tuesday in Georgia.
Professional wrestling and American politics make strange bedfellows...
Check out Talking Points Memo's tongue-in-cheek gallery - Newt Gingrich, Real American: An Anthem In Pictures

For those in the know, there is an amusing layer to Gingrich's mistimed use of the song as it coincides with rumors of a Hulk Hogan sex tape surfacing. Newt Gingrich has had a patchy Family Values history, having been married three times amongst other indiscretions.   

The folks at Live Audio Wrestling capture it succinctly:
Mar. 11 Edition of The LAW w/ Steve Austin, Vader
JASON AGNEW: As the story of the Hogan sex tape was breaking, US Politician Newt Gingrich used the Real American by Rick Derringer to come out for his Post-Primary win in Georgia on Tuesday night. What a - just not informed.
DAN LOVRANSKI: I thought that was pretty funny yes
APF's own Sam Seder talked Wrestling and Politics, largely at the insistence of his producer Matt
VIDEO: Newt Gingrich: The Pro Wrestler of Politics

Find related posts below:
- Real American: Jon Stewart, Sarah Palin and Hulk Hogan
- Hulk Hogan brings change to 'TNA Total Nonstop Action' Wrestling
- Mike Huckabee Wallpaper - Huckamania!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Dean Barnett, Hugh Hewitt, Mitt Romney and PunditFight

Hugh Hewitt, who has been gracious to this blog in the past recently referenced PunditFight as he laid out his delegate hypothesis to his peers. Not surprisingly its Pro-Romney.
What Just Happened? Punditmania 2012
I will test this conclusion against a line-up of guests from the Daily Mail's Toby Harnden, to Michael Barone and Conn Carroll of the Washington Examiner, AEI's James Pethokoukis, Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard, Chris Cillizza and Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post, Commentary's John Podhoretz, and the original dynamic duo of on-air blogging and punditry show-downs, Glenn Reynolds and Mickey Kaus.
Interestingly on this day, I was compelled to reference an old interview I did with the late Dean Barnett, a good friend and occasional fill-in for Hugh. Though this blog has always strived to be post-partisan, I recalled Dean's statement about wrestlers warring on screen but being cordial in the lockers. How civility may not always be possible but that it wasn't as heated as the audience were led to believe. These reflected my own personal thinking during my time away from full-time pundit watching.

My published transcripts didn't say as much as I remembered however I did find some endorsements of Mitt Romney that might be relevant for this time.
A PunditFight conversation with Dean Barnett
APF: It seems to me that Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson had the most compelling conservative credentials but there was a disconnect somewhere personality wise.

DB: One of the things that still irks me, is I don’t think the true Mitt Romney ever really came through to the electorate. If it did, this is a guy who worked for a big Company. Everybody who worked with him, everybody that did business with him loved him. Universally respected, universally liked.

I remember I was in Washington during the Primary season having lunch with another conservative writer and the name Mitt Romney came up, he’s question about Mitt Romney was "how come nobody like him". The people who know him like him but its true – and I’ve overstated it a lot – bur Mitt Romney didn’t quite connect with the electorate. Part of it was Mitt’s an idea guy. Mitt’s not a pound the lectern kind of guy. He’s an idea guy. He’s a thinker. He’s not a technocrat in that he’s also warm and outgoing and engaging guy. He is at his core an idea guy, I think if ran a campaign that communicated that side of his nature rather than what he did I think it might have gone differently. I hope he stays involved in public life because he has a lot of ideas and especially with the economic problems we’re having right now. He has a lot of ideas that should be heard, it’d be nice to have someone in politics who understands something about economics.

APF: It was certainly more pronounced in the case of Fred Thompson and we’re seeing the opposite with Palin. Do you think that kind of deficiency in the minds of voters can be overcome.

DB: To use your wrestling analogy, on the one hand you’re born with what you’re born with. On the other hand there’s a craft of getting through to people. You look at some wrestlers who get so much better – look at Hulk Hogan in his initial incarnation didn’t go over at all. But in his latest incarnation after Rocky III he was the biggest thing since sliced bread. They can develop their craft to become better and better. I think the same is true of politicians. They can learn what works, they can learn what doesn’t work they stay away from their weaknesses, they can emphasize their strengths. As you point out there is no substitute for - if you’ve got someone who can deliver a speech like Barack Obama, if you’ve got someone with the charisma and personal appeal of Sarah Palin. That’s being born on third base in a political sense with that kind of talent.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Atlantic: Rush Limbaugh Should Be Shamed Into Debating Rachel Maddow

'The Atlantic' Promotions presents:
Rachel Maddow VS Rush Limbaugh
Conor Friedersdor does some Political Wrestling fantasy booking for the Atlantic. With all due respect to Conor, this proposal has 0% chance of happening as Rush knows his power lies in the fact that he's capable of constructing his own Matrix, his "Aura" is amassed by never entertaining challengers. Heck Rush rarely has guests on, I remember him once interviewing then-VP Cheney for a rare PR offensive. Otherwise Rush has always taken the stage on his own, he knows that as the undisputed Top Dog sharing it would only surrender his power.
Rush Limbaugh Should Be Shamed Into Debating Rachel Maddow
... Instead of apologies, why not demand that future Limbaughs submit to a public debate? Let the object be to hash things out, not to signal contrition that most people are going to doubt anyway. 

In this case, I'd nominate Rachel Maddow as his interlocutor. She's smart, informed, and adept enough at the broadcast medium to hold her own on a stage with one of America's most technically proficient communicators. She'd need to be prepared, for this wouldn't be a one-sided inquisition.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Super Tuesday and Mitt Romney - Flashback 2008

Mitt Romney headlines the Super Tuesday 2008 poster
To commemorate the upcoming Super Tuesday Primary, I present the 2008 PPV poster co-headlined by Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.
- Super Tuesday: Live on PPV

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Rick Santorum: Satan, Michigan Primary and Judgment Day

Judgement Day for Rick Santorum: Michigan Primary
Does it pass the smell test? Its an expression that acknowledges that we initially judge things superficially. In the case of the Rick Santorum story on Drudge - Do you smell sulfur or a political circus brewing.

My analogy that American Politics is like Professional wrestling can be dismissed as frivolous depending on how you view it. In actuality whilst both elements can at times be ridiculous they can be discussed seriously if a premise is agreed upon. In literature it is referred to as Verisimilitude - a "willing suspension of belief" tempered by its grounding in reality. For example in Superman comics, the audience has already accepted the premise of a heroic alien saving the people of earth but the storytelling needs to convince us of his loving relationship with Lois Lane. We need to find authenticity within the skewed reality.

Some people are incapable of appreciating the story on its merits if they can't accept the premise. Depending on a person's value systems the notion may never be entertained, nuances become overlooked and whole arguments are dismissed outright.

Audiences unfamiliar with wrestling might not be aware that there are two classes of wrestling fans - Marks and Smarks
What is your definition of a Mark and a Smark?
A mark is someone who enjoys the show for what it is. They are able to suspend their disbelief and watch wrestling for what goes on [onscreen and they don't care] what goes on backstage. A pure mark is unaware of the scripted nature of the program and believes that wrestling is a legitimate competition.

A smart mark (Smark) is someone who is aware of the staged nature of the show but can still suspend their disbelief to a certain extent... A smark is someone who thinks they know everything about the business. They tend to put down marks and others who can suspend their disbelief while watching the show...
The nuance of discourse would be lost on observers who see wrestling as mindless entertainment for gullible people. In fact most times when American Politics is viewed as wrestling, its meant in a dismissive patronising way. This blog acknowledges the manipulation, hyperreality and framing found in both. With that said there is a threshold that can be crossed, where storylines can become cartoonish even by the standards of wrestling or politics.
  
Rush Limabugh as a fellow conservative accepts Rick Santorum's premise. The larger question is will the general electorate see it in the same frame.
Santorum Will Have to Answer on Satan
SANTORUM: The Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country -- the United States of America. If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age?
...
RUSH: Okay, so he said it. Can we take you back to the United Nations? What was it, 2000... I don't know, three or four or five or six. Hugo Chavez shows up, he speaks either the afternoon Bush spoke earlier or the next day, but he gets to the microphone at the United Nations and the General Assembly and starts sniffing around. (Sniffing) He says, "I can still smell the sulfur. The Devil was here," and he had accused Bush of being the Devil...
Hugo Chavez can show up and call George W. Bush Satan. "Hey, hey! You know what, that's right! That's great. Let's laugh about it. Let's applaud it." Santorum gives a speech in Ave Maria, Florida, back in 2008. "Oh, my God, we're dealing with a nutcase! Oh, wow, what a fanatic weirdo. What are we gonna get next, an exorcism?" So the double standard does exist.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Rick 'Flair' Santorum has former ties with WWE

Rick. Flair? Santorum has ties with the WWE.
Does it hurt him or just make him more interesting?
Straight-laced Rick Santorum has been revealed to have had a former relationship with the WWE. Santorum, equipped with his sweater vest has always fashioned himself as the "Family Values candidate". The WWE particularly during its "Attitude Era" of the late 90's was a raunchy product onscreen, the industry has been dogged by deaths and drug abuse which extend from the hard-living wrestling lifestyle. The brand has consciously become more PG-friendly in recent years, a business direction that paved the way for Linda McMahon's bid for Senate in 2010.

Whilst wrestling has had its share of controversy, it has always had a relationship with politics because the style of entertainment by its nature appeals and is a mirror to a large cross-section of the public. Its odd that a relationship with the WWE would be viewed as a smear as the Presidential candidates in 2008 had no problem associating themselves with the brand: Wrestling meets Politics - the story so far
Rick Santorum’s slimy WWE past
In the late 1980s, as investigative reporter and pro wrestling chronicler Irv Muchnick (no relation) has written, Santorum served as a WWE (then WWF) lobbyist while a lawyer for the Pittsburgh firm that the McMahons still keep busy. 
and
Rick Santorum, Family Values Candidate and Pro Wrestling Advocate?
The future candidate helped the WWE elude athletic regulators in Pennsylvania—which opened the door to a wave of steroid abuses and other unintended consequences.
- Linda McMahon rolls out wrestling superstar Triple H to help in her Senate campaign
- John McCain's wrestling promo on WWE
- WWE Smackdown: McCain and Obama on the Youth vote

Friday, February 17, 2012

Hoopheads Sarah Palin and President Obama are both on the Lin bandwagon

Sarah Palin has "Linsanity"
The parallels between Palin and Obama
Palinsanity! It seems the Jeremy Lin phenomenon is postpartisan. From a strictly basketball perspective its understandable how former basketball stars Obama and Palin would appreciate Lin for his oncourt ability. His humility, overall approval and faith also make him palatable to a large population so its not surprising that he would cross the partisan divide.

- Barack Obama and Sarah Palin: Basketball and Politics
- Lebron James follows Rush Limbaugh to Florida. 'Sports Guy' Bill Simmons likens Lebron to a wrestling heel
- The rise and fall of Sarah Palin (Part 1 of 2)
- Rise above hate: John Cena, Jeremy Lin and President Obama + Lebron James

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Elimination Chamber: The Republicans and WWE Superstars Debate

Elimination Chamber: The WWE meets the Republican Primary debates

VIDEO: WWE Raw - Elimination Chamber
Preview debate (Feb 13, 2012)

Each competitor for the 2012 Elimination Chamber said their peace moving forward their respective narratives. The debate format is an entertaining approach to build for the event that will earn them the right to face the defending Champion. Each competitor has their strengths, their unique brand of charisma garnering varying degrees of support. Some simply point to their record, others exude confidence whilst some have a chip on their shoulder.

Depending on the competency of the Moderator and the tone of civility set. Each debate enhances, weakens or preserves the candidate's status quo. Ultimately the debate will not settle a thing, its the referee's count that will determine the next champion.
WWE Raw: Elimination Chamber debate (Feb 13, 2012)
CM PUNK: To you the WWE audience. I give my word, I promise you that this debate will not end in violence...

VICKIE GUERRERO: Excuse Me! [Moderator] Jerry, I think there should be no booing allowed...
DOLPH ZIGGLER: Everyone knows I'm a better wrestler than CM Punk. I'm better than anyone in the ring at everything including the audience. That's kind of my deal. Except I back it up every single night and then there's people like R-Truth who don't even know what State we're in
R-TRUTH: Is that right? Well if I'm elected. The first thing I'm going to do is trade Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler to Smackdown for Hornswaggle and a box of spiders
ZIGGLER: We're not running for office you idiot! How do you even work here? King! (pleading to moderator)
Moderator JERRY 'THE KING' LAWLER: Its OK, continue..
R-TRUTH: Thank you your honor...

Moderator LAWLER: You were in the main event of last year's Wrestlemania?
THE MIZ: Correction Jerry! I wasn't in the main event of last year's Wrestlemania. I WAS the Main event of last year's Wrestlemania! I made history when I retained my title not once but twice...
*buzzer sounds*
Moderator LAWLER: Miz you're time is up...
KOFI KINGSTON: Miz why don't you shut up. An Afterthought? You called me an afterthought. I'm sure most of the people in this ring probably agree with you because I have been overlooked for far too long. That's alright though because that's the beautiful thing about the Elimination Chamber is that in the course of one night everything can change...

CHRIS JERICHO: Its obvious that I'm surrounded by neophytes in this ring, surrounded by neophytes in this entire arena. All of you need to quiet down because the true "Best in the World" at everything I do is about to enunciate...
- Republican Primaries - Flashback 2008
- Super Tuesday and all the primaries before it

Rise above hate: John Cena, Jeremy Lin and President Obama + Lebron James

The hottest sporting sensation in America received the highest honor today by being mentioned by US President Barack Obama:
President Obama watching Jeremy Lin
Meanwhile, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told ESPN.com that President Barack Obama has been following Lin this past week and watched Lin hit the game-winning 3-point shot that beat the Raptors Tuesday night in Toronto. "That's great. That's a great story," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "(Obama's) a basketball fan. He might even think he can take (Lin), I don't know."

The president discussed the shot with aides on Marine One earlier Wednesday on the way to Andrews Air Force Base, before flying to Milwaukee. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Lin's success is "just a great story, and the president was saying as much this morning."

It's a story that "transcends the sport itself," Carney added.

Lin said he is, "very honored, very humbled" over the attention from President Obama. "I mean, wow, the president. Nothing better than that," he said after scoring 10 points and handing out 13 assists in the Knicks' 100-85 win over Sacramento on Wednesday night.
Lin like Obama is superficially a story of race and overachievement. As Obama has found out approaching the end of his first term, with the Tea Party movement and his approval rate declining. The same light that shines is the same light that burns. Eventually performance does trump novelty but this is nothing new for Lin as he has had to defy "haters" doubting him from the beginning:
Harvard's Hoops Star Is Asian. Why's That a Problem?
Some people still can't look past his ethnicity. Everywhere he plays, Lin is the target of cruel taunts. "It's everything you can imagine," he says. "Racial slurs, racial jokes, all having to do with being Asian." Even at the Ivy League gyms? "I've heard it at most of the Ivies if not all of them"...

In the face of such foolishness, Lin doesn't seem to lose it on the court. "Honestly, now, I don't react to it," he says. "I expect it, I'm used to it, it is what it is." Postgame, Lin will release some frustration...
Ultimately its what the "haters" want - for their targets to get caught up in the emotion. Its up to the heroes of the story to 'Rise Above Hate' and leave it all on the floor. At least that's what would happen in wrestling.

VIDEO: John Cena Vs Kane Royal Rumble Promo

- Barack Obama and Sarah Palin: Basketball and Politics
- Lebron James follows Rush Limbaugh to Florida. 'Sports Guy' Bill Simmons likens Lebron to a wrestling heel
- The rise and fall of Sarah Palin (Part 1 of 2)

Update: Lebron James replaces Jeremy Lin
After deliberating about it, I realised Jeremy Lin doesn't fit in 'Rise Above Hate' trio. If he were to have his own tagline it would more likely read 'Rise Above Doubt'. Lin unlike Obama, James and Cena has been doubted from the very beginning and has only recently had weight put behind and on him. The trio all got rockets strapped to their backs, getting monster pushes only to receive a backlash when people grew weary. Their performance not living up to their lofty title.

Rise Above Hate: President Obama, John Cena, Lebron James

Monday, February 13, 2012

Henry Rollins on travel: "Fox News is pro-wrestling and MSNBC is a TV Blog"

Henry Rollins is a Punk Rock legend and ever evolving artist. Known for his outspokenness Rollins toured with APF's Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo on their 'It's Not a Play and There's No Music' tour in 2007.
Interview with Henry Rollins: Punk Rock World Traveler
WORLD HUM: So how does an experience like that color the way you consume mainstream media about, say, Iran and U.S.-Iran relations?
HENRY ROLLINS: Good question. It occurs to me that CNN, as neural and sometimes milquetoast and mediocre as they can be, and they’re the nicest, and FOX news, they’re the professional wrestling, and MSNBC, they’re a blog that’s a TV show, all these outlets ultimately are pro-war—some people might argue with me—and pro-corporate bottom line. Whereas Al Jazeera, to me, that’s news. Where you get to hear the full soundtrack of what an Iraqi hospital sounds like full of people with no anesthesia, when you just hear nothing but human screams. That’s bringing it home...
- Marc Maron's WTF podcast Ep 23: Wyatt Cenac talks pundits and professional wrestling

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Adam Carolla and Glenn Beck: On being loved and hated

VIDEO: Adam Carolla on the Glenn Beck Program

VIDEO: Adam Carolla Glenn Beck Interview GBTV 01-17-12 (TheBlaze.com)
GLENN BECK: (5m 34s)... I said on the air we probably disagree on a lot of stuff but good for him. Listen to him. I know because I heard a clip from you later saying that people were like "How can you be friends with Glenn Beck?". We're not friends.

Why can't people who may or may not disagree with each other on a lot  (I don't know what you think about everything), it didn't matter to me. Why can't we have a dialogue like we're having right now without you being in bed with a bad guy like me or me selling out because [of your] language... Why can't we have a normal conversation and come together on big things?

ADAM CAROLLA: I'll tell you why. I think people are in such a hurry to put you in a box that they cannot take the time to peel your onion and they cannot realise that there are shades of grey. We may disagree on religion but we may agree on border policy or raising the taxes and we may disagree on other topics but ultimately we're both family men.

For me I don't really care what your religion is or what you pray to or what colour you are. You're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

BECK: (mild sarcasm) You're not saying content of character?

CAROLLA: I am. I'm just saying there's a big bicycle we're all on. You're either pedaling or your dragging your feet and what you do after you get home is your business. I'm interested in finding the guys who pedal and praise them and I'm not interested in talking about what our differences are in religion. I'm interested in finding the guys dragging their feet and throwing them off the bicycle.

BECK: (impressed) I love you man 
In a democracy there are several types of people, those pedaling, those dragging their feet and those who are content or distracted enough that they're not bothered where the bike ends up. Depending on the location and direction of the bike, its reasonable that we might alternate between feet dragging and pedaling.

Adam Carolla closes his conversation by essentially describing the metric of how a wrestler's success is measured - To be taken notice regardless of whether you're loved or hated ('face' or 'heel')
ADAM CAROLLA (13m 2s): Ultimately all you have is your voice, especially when we do what we do [Punditry for Beck, Comedy for Carolla] and if you just speak the truth. The truth as you know it, the truth as you feel it and speak your voice. You'll get a certain amount of people who love you and a certain amount of people that hate you.

But I'd rather have a bunch of people that love me and bunch of people that hate me than a bunch of people in the middle who went "Eh, he's alright". That's what I want.

The worst thing anyone can say about you, I mean back in High School you wanted the Head Cheerleader to either or love you or hate you. The worst answer answer would be "Glenn who? I don't think I know that name".
- Glenn Beck hosts Adam Carolla on his show
- Stand up comedian Glenn Beck - 2009 Common Sense Comedy Tour
- Jon Stewart parodies Glenn Beck again, explains "Glenn's rules of the blackboard"
- What makes a successful wrestler - Ann Coulter: Top Heel (wrestling villain)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Stephen Colbert with the aid of his [Not] SuperPAC starts his own 'Operation Chaos' in South Carolina

VIDEO: The Word - Raise Cain

In 2008 influential Conservative pundit, Rush Limbaugh gleefully used his influence to create chaos in the hotly contested Democratic Primary. In 2011, influential faux pundit Stephen Colbert is manufacturing some mischief of his own.

Stephen encouraged his audience to vote for Herman Cain as a proxy for him. Cain suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual misconduct but he remains on the ballot. Colbert isn't eligible for the ballot after being two and a half months late to file for official candidacy. Stephen came up with next best thing:
STEPHEN COLBERT: Anyone who shares my values can show it by voting for Herman Cain. Independents, Democrats, college kids, viewers of my show, people who attended my rally, my Twitter followers, my good friends on Reddit. Young people of the Internet, stand up and shout! Because you are legally eligible to go down to the polls and tell the world how much you love Herman Cain.
The mischief doesn't end there as Colbert's SuperPAC helmed by Jon Stewart has begun airing tongue-in-cheek attack ads levelled at frontrunner Mitt Romney. Things are getting real!

Update:
Colbert Super PAC's Herman Cain Ad
The 'Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC' released a new ad endorsing a vote for Senator Herman Cain in the South Carolina Primary. It cleverly appropriates Stephen Colbert's branding with its patriotic Capıtal 'C'.
Watch Stephen unveiling the ad on his show - Indecision 2012 - GOP Attack Ads & Colbert Super PAC's Herman Cain Ad

- Rush the Vote: The Operation Chaos movement
- Political life imitates art: Stephen Colbert for President and Al Franken for Senate

Glenn Beck hosts Adam Carolla on his show

Glenn Beck who has been gushing of Adam Carolla for his rants on the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement finally welcomes the comedian on his show.
via Glenn Beck's Facebook
Tonight I finally get to meet one of the bravest Americans ever – no, not George Washington... Adam Carolla! Remember his EPIC rant against Occupy Wall Street where he called out the protesters for their out of control sense of entitlement?! Don’t miss my interview with Adam tonight at 5pm ET on GBTV!
VIDEO: Adam Carolla tears OWS, ‘millennials’ a new one

- Comedians Marc Maron and Jimmy Pardo liken Adam Carolla fans to Rush Limbaugh dittoheads

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Fox News featuring Bill O'Reilly, Brian Kilmeade and wrestlers Kurt Angle and Jesse Ventura

Three separate videos surrounding a remarkable claim that accusses Former Governor Jesse Ventura of disparaging the military and a young SEAL Sniper supposedly teaching him a lesson.

The Videos feature some of the APF's greatest stars
- Bill O'Reilly, arguably the greatest PunditFighter of them all
- Jesse Ventura, Former wrestler turned Politician
- Brian Kilmeade, Fox personality and former UFC commentator
- Kurt Angle, one of the greatest wrestler of all time

VIDEO: Navy SEAL Sniper Chris Kyle Tells O'Reilly: I Decked Jesse Ventura

BILL O'REILLY: So once he [Ventura] said "You deserve to lose a few guys" you popped him? (punching motion)
CHRIS KYLE: Yes Sir
O'REILLY: Did he fight back?
KYLE: He went down, The cops were there. I took off running.
VIDEO: Jesse Ventura Responds on the Alex Jones Radio Show - Chris Kyle Navy Seal Punch (Full Interview)

JESSE VENTURA: I have never supported the Iraq War. And let me say this clearly. Wars are not cause by the soldiers, the sailors or the airman. Wars are caused by politicians. Politicians take us to war and I have been so critical of the politicians that took us to the Iraq War...

I have all the sympathy in the world for the soldiers having been one and anyone who questions my patriotism, that I would behave in this manner that is a direct insult to me, my family. Its a direct insult to my mother and father. My father had 6 Bronze Battle stars in WWII, my mother is a WWII veteran, a nurse in North Africa... my entirely family are veterans, we were all enlisted men. We were at the bottom rung...

So for someone to state that I would take joy and pleasure -and especially one of my SEAL teammates would die - that I would enjoy that? Is despicable, its wrong and this never happened...
VIDEO: Wrestling BADASS Kurt Angle takes down Brian Kilmeade

KURT ANGLE: Yeah I mean, Jesse had his own viewpoint. I don't-- I love Jesse Ventura, he's a great guy but his choice of words and what he said I think was wrong so I don't blame this SEAL sniper for what he did. But with Jesse Ventura you never know how tough he really is. I'm glad the guy ran (laughter)

Stephen Colbert to make big announcement Jan 12, 2012

On yesterday's show, Stephen Colbert teased a big announcement regarding the third Republican Primary in his hometown South Carolina. Despite not even being on the ballot, Stephen is polling as high as 5%. Higher than New Hampshire's 3rd place finisher Jon Huntsman.

VIDEO: Indecision 2012 - South Carolina's Fresh Face
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Indecision 2012 - South Carolina's Fresh Face
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire BlogVideo Archive

Stephen has more on Twitter:
@StephenAtHome
SUPER HUGE BIG TIME ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE REPORT TOMORROW @ 11:30 PM EST! TUNE IN!!! ALSO, MY CAPS LOCK IS JAMMED!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Republican Primaries - Flashback 2008

Its unfortunate I've been unable to cover the intriguing Republican Primaries whilst I've been occupied traveling. In lieu of this I hope you enjoy this flasback to the 2008 Presidential Election and the Democratic and Republican Primaries:

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obama, mccain, presidential, election, primaries, art
US Presidential Primaries 2008
A collection of PunditFight art encapsulating the entire Presidential campaign season. From the primaries starting in Iowa, the three Presidential debates, the Vice Presidential debate and the General Election.

Some Handy links looking back at the Election Season:
- View all the Art of the Primary PPV Posters
- Relive the struggle Between Hillary Clinton and Obama in the Democratic Primary
- Watch the main event between Barack Obama and John McCain
- Watch the rise and influence of Saturday Night Live
- Watch the entertaining sub plot involving the Vice Presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden

Sunday, January 1, 2012

UFC Fighter Jacob Volkmann continues his one-way feud with President Obama

After creating news in January for calling out President Barack Obama, UFC Fighter Jacob Volkmann is at it again:
UFC 141 Results: Jacob Volkmann Trolls President Obama After Beating Efrain Escudero
UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann dominated Efrain Escudero for a ho-hum decision at UFC 141, but things got interesting-ish after the fight. Volkmann received a visit from the Secret Service in January of this year after saying he'd like to fight President Obama because, "someone's got to knock some sense into that idiot."

Volkmann attempted to follow up on that notoriety last night by donning a "Volkmann for President" t-shirt and launching into a terrible joke about Obama when UFC announcer Joe Rogan interviewed him after the fight.

"I'd like to give President Obama a glassectomy. Ask me what a glassectomy is Joe," Volkmann said to a groaning Rogan. "A glassectomy is when you cut a hole in the belly button and put in a glass window so you can still see with your head up your ass."...
In a post match interview with Ariel Helwani, Jacob Volkmann seemingly gives up on his feud with with President Obama but interestingly calls out Joe Rogan for being a leftist sympathiser

VIDEO: Jacob Volkmann UFC 141, wants to punch Joe Rogan in the balls...

ARIEL HELWANI: Are you disappointed in him [Joe Rogan]? Maybe he didn't want anyone doing the comedy thing next to him?
JACOB VOLKMANN: I think he's a Democrat even though I know he's not. He's a more independent kind of guy. I think everyone knows where he stands...