Karl Rove channels 'The Rock' with a Nursery Rhyme promo on President Obama

Republican Strategist Karl Rove channeled Wrestling Legend  'The Rock' by delivering a Nursery Rhyme promo on President Obama after his scandalous "Chai Salute" disembarking off Marine One.

VIDEO: Karl Rove not surprised by "Latte Salute" from President Obama

VIDEO: Obama Gives Marines a ‘Latte Salute’
SEAN HANNITY: Did you see the Latte Salute? The President gets off Marine One today --Hang on-- obviously you've seen it. Would President Bush ever do that?
KARL ROVE: Are we surprised? After all we've got a Chai-swillin, golf-playing, basketball-trashtalking, leading-from-behind, I-got-no-strategy, Osama Bin Laden-is-dead, GM-is-alive, Community-organising Commander-in-Chief. How disrespectful was that? Insensitive.
HANNITY: I was shocked. You can't stop and salute the brave men and women, what is that?

Watch the Rock delivering his patented Nursery Rhyme promo style

VIDEO: "The Rock is a Jabroni-beating..."

THE ROCK: Jabroni-beating, pie-eating, trail-blazing, eyebrow-raising, heart-stoppin', elbow-droppin', electrifying-the-dirty-South, so know your role and shut your mouth, the brahma bull, ever-defiant, standing as tall as 'Andre the Giant', this night Wrestlemania Atlanta, the Georgia Dome is bigger than Christmas so no offense Santa because the Rock is bringing it all over Atlanta.

If ya smeeeeeellalalalaloww what the Rock is Cookin'

Read more about the "Chai Salute" brouhaha:
- Full Sean Hannity segment - WATCH: Obama Gives Marines a ‘Latte Salute’
- Talking Points Memo: Conservative Media Freaks Out Over Obama's 'Latte Salute'
- The Colbert Report: Obama's Coffee Cup Salute
- O'Reilly on 'Latte Salute': 'Have to Cut Obama Some Slack Once in a While'
- Jon Stewart on Fox News' 'Latte Salute' Coverage: "F*ck You and your False Patriotism"

Conservative Pundits and the "Great Unwashed": Comedian Russell Brand with Sean Hannity. Rock Star Andrew W.K with Glenn Beck

Comedian Russell Brand VS Sean Hannity.
Rock Star Andrew W.K. and Glenn Beck

Rock Star Andrew W.K. in conversation with Glenn Beck, invited after his empathetic commentary on the 'Village Voice' resonated with the Conservative Talker.

VIDEO: Glenn Beck Interviews Andrew W.K. | "Glenn Beck Program"

GLENN BECK: How do we get people to shed the argument of Politics and also shed the cynicism that "You can't change, you really believe that. You were part of the problem!". Yes we all were, how do we get there?
ANDREW W.K: It's very good question and perhaps the pondering of that question is one of the best ways to get there. Staying in touch with the puzzle that it is to be alive and connecting with other people in that way. The confusion that we feel in trying to decide what we think, what we believe. That's natural and I think its actually very healthy to dive as deep as we can into beliefs, ideas and opinions and allow them to make us passionate and inflame us at times but to never let them replace who we really are deep down inside which is a person. And at the worst we lose sight that other people who have different feelings than us, that they're not people

BECK: The problem is people think that you are surrendering your values cause I still believe the things I believe. I still believe they're important... That's what I felt I was fighting for but I got lost in being part of the problem. But people will tell me "You can't give up!". I'm not giving up, I still believe in those things but I don't believe in the way we were trying to attain those things or to defend those things
W.K: I completely agree and I think its very noble to be able to recognise that in oneself. Its very easy to get lost in your passion and to be humbled occasionally doesn't mean you're a weak person... to be weak in terms of being open-hearted and open-minded isn't a flaw. In fact to be too proud to have moments of being humbled that's more flawed than anything. Its a way to hold on to who you are but not let define you in a way that cuts you from the rest of humanity.

Comedian Russell Brand in a firefight with Fox News' pundit Sean Hannity

VIDEO: Israel/Palestine, Russell Brand/Sean Hannity: Round 2 (The Trews E114)

CLIP OF SEAN HANNITY (3m 20s): But apparently Russell can't get that through his thick head and possibly fathom that this is the reality
RUSSELL BRAND: Its not reality, its a combination of speculation, conjecture and highly contextualised, selected information. That's not reality, that's piecing together a narrative that fits in with Fox News' World view and his own bigoted World view. That's not reality, that's a tiny aperture through which bigoted and particular information is glimpsed, That's sort of the opposite of all-encompassing, wonderful, unknowable reality

Avengers assemble! Glenn Beck's 2014 Summer Rally with Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Ann Coulter and possibly Rush Limbaugh

VIDEO: RWW News - Glenn Beck Teases Pre-Election Conservative Summit 

Beck Teases Pre-Election Conservative Summit with Hannity, Levin & Limbaugh
GLENN BECK: I wrote to Sean about a week before I went on vacation and I said "Sean, I do these summer events and this summer, we haven't announced it yet, but I would like to consider doing the first night of a three night event with you and Mark and possibly Rush [if anybody has the guts to ask Rush] and he wrote back immediately "I'm in. I'll talk to Mark"...
This summer event, we hope to announce in the next couple of weeks. I'm thinking it'll be in June... coincidentally this is the summer leading into the Midterm elections...
PAT GRAY: It'd be weird to be united leading into the Midterm elections... It'd be really sad for the other side

Glenn Beck's Summer Rally 2014:
Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh

Glenn Beck used a cartoon reference to describe this union of Pundit heavyweights, "when Wonder Twins activate… Something big is happening". I would have preferred a wrestling reference but I feel another set of comic book superfriends are more apt - The Avengers!

Glenn Beck's Summer Rally 2014:
"Avengers Assemble!" edition

Ann Coulter as The Black Widow
A femme fatale, perennially in Black. Ann is tasked with coaxing the powerful Rush Limbaugh into the fold.

Sean Hannity as Captain America
Sean is a "Great American" and a leader in his own right. He is a patriot with a throwback style.

Glenn Beck as Iron Man
A wealthy industrialist and recovering alcoholic, Glenn Beck is the head of this motley crew of conservative pundits

Mark Levin as Thor
Wielding his hammer of justice, Levin is a lawyer with a thunderous voice. Despite fighting alongside Iron Man [Glenn Beck], they have had their battles in the past.

Rush Limbaugh as The Incredible Hulk
You wouldn't want to see him angry. A one man wrecking crew, Rush is the Lethal Weapon crucial to the Avengers winning the war.

Play with the new APF animation below. Toggle the button on the corner left to see the "Avengers Assembled":

- War is over: Sean Hannity and Mark Levin call truce with Glenn Beck

War is over: Sean Hannity and Mark Levin call truce with Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck appears on Fox Business' Imus in the Morning (Oct 5, 2009)
Glenn Beck on Career, Life Choices
DON IMUS: Saw you on the cover of Time Magazine. Your book's #1 I noticed this week. Sean Hannity, Rush they both hate you
GLENN BECK: No. No they don't
IMUS: They all hate you

Glenn Beck is arguably the most influential pundit in America today. Placing #34 on the 2013 Forbes Celebrity 100 list. He has amassed upwards of 300,000 paying subscribers for his online Blaze Network and attracts tens of thousands to his Summer rallies. Whilst Beck's popularity with audiences shows no sign of abating, he's always had a mixed reception from his peers.

Rush Limbaugh receives universal praise from his colleagues, Beck previously writing a tribute for the perennial Alpha dog for the Time 100 list. Other pundits are quick to come to Rush' aid when he has come under fire despite being entirely capable of defending himself. Beck hasn't enjoyed such support, in the past Mark Levin has patronisingly referred to him as the "5PM'er", a "circus clown" and the "guy with tourettes". Glenn's 2010 CPAC speech had the distinction of uniting Jon Stewart, Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh in deriding it.

VIDEO: John Cena chooses The Rock as his partner for Survivor Series

For the most part no pundit is an island. They're cordial with each other, have a sense of solidarity and will appear on each other's shows. Only Limbaugh, Beck and to a lesser extent Michael Savage have the Main Event clout to remain solo. To Beck's credit, he's the only one with the foresight and grace to seek partnerships, mending a rivalry that would not only assist his peers but galvanizes the cause and elevate him higher still. As this exchange on Hannity demonstrates, Beck is doing fine on his own and doesn't really need any help -

Glenn Beck's next Summer rally alongside
Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mark Levin and possibly Rush Limbaugh

Lies, Incompetence & Polling Woes: Hour 3 (Dec 17, 2013)
ANN COULTER: (25m 30s) Is this going to be in Dallas?...
GLENN BECK: We did Dallas two years ago [Restoring Love, 7.28.12]
SEAN HANNITY: You sold out Dallas Stadium?
BECK: Yeah, Cowboys Stadium
HANNITY: You did not sell...
BECK: Yeah we did. Two years ago and only spoken word to do it
HANNITY: How many seats are in Cowboys Stadium?
BECK: For spoken word there is 60
HANNITY: 60, 63 thousand. Something like that. Did you do it in the big stadium with the big
BECK: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was amazing. It was fun.
...
COULTER: Glenn, do you realise you don't need us
BECK: No I think its really good - I personally think that people on our side, we're winning the argument

Beck explained the dissolution of the "foolish" feud that wedged him apart from influential talkers Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. On the January 30th episode of his show Beck shared the full story:

Glenn explains how he reconnected with Mark Levin and Sean Hannity
GLENN BECK: I am grateful to this audience. I am grateful for you. There was a stupid feud, and the three of us, Sean, and Mark and I, have talked about it... And we know where it came from, and we know who was feeding us lies about each other. And this individual just expected that if they fed us enough lies about each other, we would never talk to each other. And that way he would be able to divide us and keep the Tea Party movement at bay and control it as much as he could or destroy it. And we were foolish.

We are at the end and if talk radio begins to move together and we all understand: I don't do what Sean Hannity does, and he can't do what I can do. Same with Mark. I mean that… Everybody plays a different role. And each of us have an important piece

This is an interesting development for Conservative Talk Radio, especially Beck's consolidation of influence. Glenn not being a wrestling fan used a Saturday Cartoon analogy to describe the improbable teaming of powers "when Wonder Twins activate… Something big is happening... unless you're a progressive then I don’t think you’re going to like this".

Stay tuned as these Avengers Assemble.

Tucker Carlson says NFL superstar Michael Vick "should have been executed" for his dogfighting cruelty

Tucker Carlson on Hannity's 'Great American Panel'

Tucker Carlson addresses Vick role
Fox analyst Tucker Carlson gave the harshest critique of Vick's past yet, saying the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback "should have been executed" for his gruesome dogfighting crimes.

Carlson was guest hosting for Sean Hannity's show on Fox News Channel on Tuesday night when he made the remarks. He led a panel discussion about President Barack Obama commending the owner of the Eagles for giving Vick a second chance after his release from prison. Vick served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring.

"I'm a Christian, I've made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances," Carlson said on the show. "But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did [it] in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should've been executed for that. He wasn't, but the idea that the president of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs?"

HotAirs' Ed Morrissey asked Tucker Carlson for a clarification of his controversial statement

Video: Tucker Carlson says Vick should have been “executed” for dog killings
I love dogs — we have three — and I think what Vick did was horrifying and shockingly cruel. Executed? I don’t know. I do know that 19 months is a joke. People get more than that for tax evasion. He certainly shouldn’t be back in the NFL with Obama rooting for him. What the president said is disgusting. That’s the story as far as I’m concerned.

John Cena and Hugh Hewitt on Sean Hannity's 'Great American Panel'

It was remiss of me not to report on this when it originally aired in March 09'. WWE Wrestler John Cena was a featured guest for Sean Hannity's 'Great American Panel' alongside Journalist Nina Easton and Conservative Commentator Hugh Hewitt. Readers of this blog will be aware that Hugh Hewitt, apart from being a PunditFight Wrestler is also an avid wrestling fan and has previously endorsed this blog.

Cena's appearance was on the back of his promo tour for Action movie '12 Rounds'. The WWE has always been active in politics in its support of youth voting and its 'Tribute to the troops' specials. It has also been accepting of its employees voicing their personal political opinions.

Topics discussed included President Obama's reliance on the teleprompter and his Aunt living illegally in the US, foreign affairs and whether wrestling is real.

John Cena On Barack Obama, Politics, If Wrestling Is Real
Just passing along that John Cena was on Hannity as a panelist on the Great American Panel segment. The segment started with a clip of 12 Rounds.

The first topic was about President Obama's teleprompter, Cena wasn't directly asked about that question. He was asked if he had to learn his lines in the movie, or did he need a teleprompter for that. A second topic was asked, but Cena did not answer before the break.
...
As always with politics you need to see things in context. Cena seemed comfortable being in a completely different type of environment than what he is used to. I was surprised that he would comment on political questions.

VIDEO: Hannity's 'Great American Panel' -
Hugh Hewitt, John Cena & Nina Easton PT.2

Find notes of Hugh Hewitt and John Cena's appearance from the 'Great American Panel' blog

New Tag Team: Hugh Hewitt & John Cena
A few thoughts from the green room last night that housed an unusual duo prior to the show. The likes of conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt and former WWE champion and action movie star John Cena.

Both seemed to really enjoy each other's company a great deal, chatting about all things from politics to pro wrestling...

AllahPundit equates the Anthony Weiner/ Peter King debate on the Hannity program to pro-wrestling

AllahPundit of HotAir.com uses the pro-wrestling analogy to describe Sean Hannity's conversation with congressman Anthony Weiner

Audio: Hannity and Anthony Weiner scream at each other for 10 minutes
Via the Right Scoop, behold the hallmark of a summer Friday news day: Until just a few minutes ago, Weiner’s dopey House floor freakout was top of the pops this afternoon on Memeorandum. Since it’s officially, albeit momentarily, now one of the Hottest Stories In The Blogosphere, here’s a follow-up to the Fox News meltdown I posted earlier. Skip ahead to 2:00 or so and then again to the last few minutes of the clip for the best parts. Think of this as the political equivalent of pro wrestling: If the Weiner/King dust-up is the main event, the Weiner/Hannity face-off is the part where a rival runs down the aisle and into the ring and starts hitting someone with a chair. In other words, it’s fantastic.

VIDEO: Hannity interviews Peter King and Anthony Weiner

Marc Maron's WTF podcast Ep 23: Wyatt Cenac talks pundits and professional wrestling

Sean Hannity VS Keith Olbermann

On November 9, 2009 Cable News rivals Keith Olbermann and Sean Hannity were in attendance at Yankee Stadium for Game 6 of the World Series. On March 15, 2010 Wyatt Cenac performed a sketch that used the analogy that American Punditry was like professional wrestling.

At the time of the sketch I speculated whether the analogy was simply drawn from the ether like it had been so many times. Or quite ambitiously, perhaps somehow this blog was in their orbit.

On November 19, 2009 Marc Maron hosted Comedian and Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac on his WTF podcast. Among other things they spoke about punditry, pro-wrestling and the interactions between Sean Hannity and Keith Olbermann at that baseball game.

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: Episode 23 - Wyatt Cenac (starts at 39min mark)
WYATT CENAC: ... It gets frustrating... You can watch Hannity or Countdown. Then you can watch Hannity or Olbermann talk about each other or each other's networks. Or talk about how horrible the other side is. Yet then they can take photos of each other at a Yankees game like its no big deal.

MARC MARON: Like you said before, it really is all professional wrestling. The sad thing is, people are really struggling for a lot of different reasons... and they don't really know what to do with those frustrations. So when you've got these ideologues or these pundits... who are driving media culture leading them in a direction. They just want some temporary relief or some satisfaction and they are so easily misguided in times that are desperate...

Because like you said these guys are going to Yankee games together... having steaks and beers, laughing at the different sides they're on but are in the same business. But a great many people in the country just want some resolution or truth. Something that will bring them together that isn't based in some kind of choosing sides.

WYATT CENAC: Maybe in some ways we need pro-wrestling to step up...

The discussion is quite incisive and expansive moving on to speculation that Keith Olbermann and Sean Hannity should take a page from the Iron Sheik and Hulk Hogan. The conversation degenerates into absurd imaginings of an Annual "Pundit Cage match to the death". Its worth noting that the act of preserving the illusion that wrestling is real is called 'kayfabe'.

MARC MARON: ...We've rendered down [hatred in America] to a problem with professional wrestling. But sadly there's always going to be the crazy caller type of person who still will not be able to deal with the fact that the Iron Sheik and Hulk Hogan will have lunch together
WYATT CENAC: And that's when we need to do a better job with our professional wrestlers. When the cameras are off they still can't interact...

... with the amount of hatred and anger that they seem to have for each other... the way you guys [Sean and Keith] talk about each other I expected that you guys would have just picked up bats and started going at each other
MARC MARON: Own it! Stay in it. Stay in character. Maybe if we had Olbermann and Hannity dress up as professional wrestlers...

Read Keith Olbermann's original posting on his Sean Hannity encounter at the World Series below:

America's Biggest Small Town
And lastly, a reminder that baseball does erase boundaries. The guy [Sean Hannity] I'm taking a photo of, who's taking a photo of me [Keith Olbermann] - we get along perfectly at the ballpark - less so during our day jobs.

Wyatt Cenac expands and popularises the Wrestling analogy on a later episode of the 'Daily Show'
- Jon Stewart, Wyatt Cenac and Mick Foley endorse the analogy that American Politics is like pro-wrestling

Jon Stewart exposes Hannity for using Glenn Beck's 9/12 rally footage

November 10, 2009: Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest FootageJON STEWART: Can we back up a little, Cuz that was weird. When that clip started it was a clear fall day in Washington DC. Not a cloud in the sky, the leaves have changed. It's well attended but sparse but then the leaves turn green again, then it's cloudy and it looks like thousands and thousands more people arrive. If Ididn't know any better they just put two different days together. Where have I seen that last footage before.

(Glenn Beck footage is played)

Wow! That was actually from Glenn Beck's 9/12 rally two months ago, his much bigger 9/12 rally.It seems Sean Hannity used footage of a totally different event to make the GOP Healthcare rally more heavily attended

Though the analogy isn't airtight in this instance, Wrestling has its own storied history of inflating audience numbers

WWE (WWF) - FAQ
Was the Wrestlemania III attendance really 93,173? I've heard from several credible sources that it was a work, and that the actual number is closer to 78,000. Can you guys clear that up?
First of all you have to understand that the WWF back in those days routinely lied about attendance numbers on TV to make them bigger than they were...

Meltzer asked Vince McMahon himself why they used to inflate the numbers, because the shows were sold out themselves and the real number was impressive enough. Why add a few thousand? Vince was quoted as saying what appears on television people should consider for entertainment purposes. This actually isn't exclusive to WWE, as other forms of sports and entertainment often lie about the actual attendance to make it sound impressive.

Read discussion of The Hannity shows' "creative editing" from Conservative blog 'Hotair' - Uh-oh: Jon Stewart catches Fox News’ creative editing

Update: November 12, 2009
Sean Hannity apologizes and concedes that Jon Stewart was right, thought he inserts a subtle dig by referencing "Jon Stewart's writers"

VIDEO: Hannity Apologizes To Jon Stewart For Airing Wrong Protest Footage

SEAN HANNITY: Although it pains me to say this; Jon Stewart, Comedy Central - he was right... He was correct... It was an inadvertent mistake but a mistake nonetheless. So Mr Stewart you were right, we apologize and by the way I'd like to Thank You and all your writers for watching.

Jon Stewart follows up on Hannity's apology and comments unflatteringly on the 'Hannity' program - Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon

Michael Moore VS Sean Hannity 2009: talking Capitalism, the war and religion

Sean Hannity and Michael Moore debated on Fox News' 'Hannity' program. It was a largely cordial debate with both men being gracious toward each other and even yukking it up. They recounted how they made a bet on their last encounter on Hannity's radio program in 2002 which incidentally Moore lost.

In this photo Michael Moore carries a sign that says "Sean Hannity was right" holding up his end of the bargain after losing the wager that George W Bush would be impeached from office.

This latest debate was quite broad and meandering partly due to Hannity's way of constructing questions and Moore never fully engaging, mostly facetiously "uh huh-ing" for this first half of the segment

VIDEO: Michael Moore on the Sean Hannity Show - October 6th, 2009 (Part I)

Sean Hannity is one of the few high profile conservative pundits willing to challenge equally formidable liberal counterparts. Sean Hannity previously debated progressive Utah mayor Rocky Anderson in a ticketed live event. Hannity also previously sparred with Michael Moore by becoming a counter guest of honor for the students of Utah Valley State College. This was expertly documented in the 2004 documentary 'This Divided State'.

Glenn Beck appears on Fox Business' Imus in the Morning

Glenn Beck recently appeared on Don Imus' new show on Fox Business. Imus played devil's advocate by bringing up perceived frictions with stalwarts Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh who Beck threatens to eclipse in ratings and influence.

VIDEO: Glenn Beck on Career, Life Choices

Imus in the Morning

October 5, 2009: Glenn Beck on Career, Life Choices
DON IMUS: Saw you on the cover of Time Magazine. Your book's #1 I noticed this week. Sean Hannity, Rush they both hate you
GLENN BECK: No. No they don't
IMUS: They all hate you
BECK: They don't, they don't. Why? Why? Why must you stir up the hate?
IMUS: You're telling me Rush is happy you're on the cover of Time
BECK: No actually I got a note from Rush
IMUS: What did the note say?
BECK: "I hate you"
(group laughter)
BECK: Rush has - you know what- been very gracious. The whole time he has.
IMUS: Fine
BECK: Do you hate me?
IMUS: No, I'm not competing with you. They are...

For some background, read Jason Linkins speculation on Hannity's concern over Glenn Beck's ascendancy

Is Sean Hannity Afraid Of Glenn Beck?
I can imagine that Hannity might find the attention lavished on Beck to be a little bit galling. Hannity's had the longer career, after all, during which he's dutifully suited up, sat behind a desk and occasionally had to fend off actual arguments: from Alan Colmes in the pre-solo days, to various panels now. The deck was always stacked in Hannity's favor, of course, but he had to at least offer the appearance of an honest broker of debate. Beck doesn't have to do any of that. Beck gets to stand up and riff about whatever he wants, pull morning-radio stunts and, really, not even worry about making any sense at all.

NY Times David Brooks likens Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity to Wizard of Oz

NY Time Columnist David Brooks challenges the myth of influence Right-wing talkers like Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck have over the GOP base. Key players in what is derisively dubbed as the "Political Entertainment Complex". It is a reiteration of the questions raised after Huckabee's emergence and McCain's Lazarus-like return during the GOP primaries despite resistance from the "conservative-entertainment complex.

The Wizard of Beck
So what is the theme of our history lesson? It is a story of remarkable volume and utter weakness. It is the story of media mavens who claim to represent a hidden majority but who in fact represent a mere niche — even in the Republican Party. It is a story as old as "The Wizard of Oz," of grand illusions and small men behind the curtain.

But, of course, we shouldn’t be surprised by this story. Over the past few years the talk jocks have demonstrated their real-world weakness time and again.

David Brooks goes on to explain how pundits have managed to preserve their aura despite their many missteps. Its a similar perception juggling act found in wrestling - Aura: How pundits and politicians preserve their image

But this is not merely a story of weakness. It is a story of resilience. For no matter how often their hollowness is exposed, the jocks still reweave the myth of their own power. They still ride the airwaves claiming to speak for millions. They still confuse listeners with voters...

So the myth returns. Just months after the election and the humiliation, everyone is again convinced that Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity and the rest possess real power. And the saddest thing is that even Republican politicians come to believe it. They mistake media for reality. They pre-emptively surrender to armies that don’t exist.

Rush Limbaugh returns fire via Politico, accusing David Brooks of being "jealous" and inconsequential - "how many Americans know who David Brooks is?". A sentiment echoed by talker colleague Mark Levin

Rush Limbaugh on David Brooks: 'JEALOUS'
"Here's a little insight into conservatives, conservatism and talk radio — we don't care what David Brooks has to say," Levin said. "He is irrelevant. He is incoherent. And you guys should rely less on The New York Times. Its circulation is plummeting for a reason."

Fran Drescher and Sean Hannity debate Healthcare

VIDEO: Fran Drescher debates healthcare with Sean Hannity

SEAN HANNITY: You want to put your faith hope and trust in a government that has been unsuccessful in every single major endeavor they've ever had. Why?
FRAN DRESCHER: Because we have to stop thinking that big business is going to do right by us. They do what they have a right to do, not what's the right thing to do. They're making money on us being sick longer...

Sean Hannity has had Fran Drescher a few times on his show, always spirited and cordial. Fran has credentials as a Health care spokesperson but its speaks to Sean Hannity's style that he would choose a celebrity (though a committed advocate) to debate this issue.

Read about Fran Drescher's history as a healthcare activist:

Fran Drescher -- Actress, Healthcare Activist and 'Hometown Girl' -- to Keynote North Shore-LIJ's Cancer Survivors' Day on June 2
Born in Flushing, NY, Ms. Drescher is best known for her role in the CBS TV show The Nanny (1993-99), but in recent years she has become an outspoken advocate for women's health after being diagnosed with cancer in 2000. In Cancer Schmancer, Ms. Drescher wrote about her experiences with the healthcare system during her ultimately triumphant battle against uterine cancer, which earned her a writer's award from the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Jonathan Klein: "CNN should blacklist Talk show pundits"

CNN President Jonathan Klein recently made headlines for suggesting a ban on Talk Shows hosts as debate guests for their political programming.

No More Talk Radio Hosts on CNN?
... in his morning editorial meeting today, CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein asked his show producers to avoid booking talk radio hosts. "Complex issues require world class reporting," Klein is quoted as saying, adding that talk radio hosts too often add to the noise, and that what they say is "all too predictable."

Andy McCarthy of National Review Online comes to the talk show's defense in his post

CNN Bans Talk Radio Hosts
I wonder if the folks at CNN ever actually listen to the in-depth coverage complicated issues get for hours at a time on Rush's show and Sean's show. I wonder how Mr. Klein's assessment of talk-radio dullards squares up with, say, Mark Levin — an authentic scholar of constitutional law and American history, a mega-bestselling author of books on those subjects, and a former chief of staff to an attorney-general of the United States. Or, say, Hugh Hewitt, a cum laude graduate of Harvard, Order of the Coif student at UMichigan Law School, veteran of two prestigious federal court clerkships, like Mark a former Reagan Justice Department official, and now a professor at Chapman Law School. I wonder if Mr. Klein has ever heard Laura Ingraham or Steve Malzberg or Dennis Praeger (and I could go on and on) mixing it up with advocates for every side of every important issue.

Radio talker Hugh Hewitt in defense of his profession takes a similar tact as Andy McCarthy listing the esteemed credentials of his [conservative] peers.

The CNN Blacklist: The Most Busted Name In News Hits Itself In The Eye Again
Sure, I have many conservatives on... they are rarely given anywhere near the time or opportunity for serious conversation on MSM platforms as the left gets on my program or on the programs of my Salem radio network colleagues Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager or Michael Medved. (When did you last see Victor Davis Hanson on CNN?) And CNN never allows the voice of the average center-right American to be heard in the same way that Rush allows, nor for the variety of guests --left, right and center-- plus the fun, passion, and patriotism of Sean Hannity or for the analysis of constitutional issues and presentation of political theory that Mark Levin provides or the humor and guests of Dennis Miller. Let's see, which CNNer has clerked at the Supreme Court as did Laura Ingraham?...

Mark Steyn also comes to Talk Radio's defense in his weekly chat with Hugh. He rebuts Jonathan Klein whilst maintaining his premise

H1: Mark Steyn, Andrew Breitbart (Thursday August 20, 2009)
MARK STEYN: Essentially they are discriminating an entire demographic there. There are plenty of talk show hosts just like there are plenty of cable TV hosts and there are a good Cable TV hosts and there are a lot who are no good and a lot of them happento be on CNN and are dying in the ratings. I don't think this is anyway out of the hole for them, CNN is dullsville a lot of the time...

Wrestling legend Jim Cornette rants on the right wing

I've often likened the rhetoric and diatribes heard on Talk Radio to wrestling promos. Devastating stream of consciousness rants targeted at rivals or condemning policy, best exemplified in talkers Marc Maron, Mark Levin and Michael Savage. So what would a scorching political monologue sound like delivered by a wrestler? I present to you Jim Cornette.

Legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette is considered one of greatest talkers in the history of wrestling. Recently he has made news for a rant on conservatives triggered when a fellow wrestling commentator, Joey Styles called Obama a marxist on Twitter.

VIDEO: Jim Cornette ranting about the Right Wing (Pt1 of 2)

- Listen to Part 2 of the Jim Cornette promo on the Right wing. Find the entire interview at 'Who's Slamming Who' - Cornette's Commentary with Jim Cornette

The expletive filled rant was impassioned as it was expansive, first Cornette explains the appeal of Conservative Talk Radio

JIM CORNETTE: I'm sick and fed up, I listen to the news everyday. I listen to this conservative Talk Radio in the car because I want to get mad because I'm driving a long way and I want something to keep me awake...

Driving back from Orlando, at about hour 10 I get really desperate and I turn on the Satellite Radio with these Conservative whackjobs like Limbaugh and Hannity and Michael Levine (sic) and some of these other guys -- I forget their names. They're all just just angry and screaming and yelling and talking about the end of the country...

Cornette goes on to speculate about Style's possible career motives for the Obama smear, invoking WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. As I've explained on this blog, Vince is personally invested in Politics using the WWE brand to promote voter engagement but largely plays a non-partisan role. Cornette thinks otherwise on Vince partisanship.

JIM CORNETTE: Maybe Joey Styles doesn't really believe any of this sh!t. He's just trying to blow Vince McMahon to try to get back on the air somewhere. Cause I guess Vince is a big time Republican too. We never talked about politics when I was there but I guess he is now. That's what I hear on the internet...
F*ck Vince McMahon and his Republican sh!t too. How about that?

But my favorite is when Cornette likens wrestling to punditry as this blog argues and commentators and wrestlers before him have illustrated, from Mankind to Marc Ambinder, Ann Coulter, Cyrus, Jon Stewart to David Letterman. Cornette charges that Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are just like wrestling heels (villains)

JIM CORNETTE: Maybe Styles is like Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or all these people I listen to that are -- You know that -- they're too smart to believe the sh!t that they say. They're heels cutting promos and its obvious and they're doing it for the marks who are dumb enough to believe it and they get paid big money to do it.

But in the process they're convincing these other mullets that what they're saying is true and they're dividing the country just like Cheney who can't stop talking about how we were right... and what's more Unamerican than publicly hoping that the President of the United States fails. That's like hoping the pilot of your airplane fails because you don't like his opinion on global warming...

Read a full uncensored transcript of Jim Cornette's rant here, via Willo of DemocraticUnderground.com - 33. Uncensored transcript

Watch vintage Jim Cornette in his element, cutting a promo in a wrestling context

VIDEO: Jim Cornette shoots on WCW

Sean Hannity's exclusive interview with Gov. Sarah Palin (June 8, 2009)

After holding court with the biggest name in Conservative media last week, Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity proves his clout again by landing an interview with arguably the biggest name in Conservative politics, Sarah Palin. The poplar Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee has limited her profile after the intense coverage and criticism she got as fallout from the GOP electoral defeat.

Sean Hannity talks to Sarah Palin tonight, no doubt touching on how the Obama presidency has panned out so far, how she as VP would have done things differently and her likely 2012 run to challenge for the Presidency. Watch a preview below

VIDEO: Sarah Palin On Obama's Disastrous Economics: "We Told Ya So"

SARAH PALIN: ... actions to reign in spending, slow down the growth of government. Instead Sean its the complete opposite, its expanding at such a large degree if Americans aren't paying attention unfortunately our country could evolve into something we don't even recognise, certainly something that is so far from what the founders of our country had in mind for us
SEAN HANNITY: Socialism?
PALIN: That is where we are headed...

Update: June 9
Watch the entire Palin/Hannity interview here

VIDEO: Gov. Sarah Palin Interview With Sean Hannity (June 8, 2009)

Sean Hannity interviews Rush Limbaugh for the second time in the Obama era

The first time Sean Hannity interviewed Rush, I at the time speculated that Hannity might usurp Rush Limbaugh. Then the new rising star and emerging perennial second-to-Rush Glenn Beck interviewed 'America's Anchorman'.

Sean Hannity has interviwed Rush for the second time since Obama's inauguration and this time it's a more personal and expansive interview which includes a tour of Rush' estate.

VIDEO: Sean Hannity interviews Rush Limbaugh (Part One)

Rush explains to Sean how he has been painted as a 'wrestling heel' (villain)

Rush Interviewed by Sean Hannity (Part One)
HANNITY: "The new game in the Beltway is the 'Bash Rush.'" You're in the news almost every day. What's going on?

RUSH: Well, I think it's primarily because the Republican Party or the -- let's say, whatever, that the opposition to Obama has not surfaced politically in Washington. So it's us. You know, those of us who are consistent on the radio and on television criticizing him, we become the focus. For whatever reason, the Republican Party at any level has chosen not to take Obama on and has chosen not to try to attach him to any of the disastrous things that he's doing. I do. And, of course, liberals need a villain; they need a demon. They can't win a debate in the arena of ideas. They need a demon, and they need somebody to demonize, and I'm it, and I'm happy to be it.

Rush gives Hannity credit for his role in challenging Barack Obama

Rush Interviewed by Sean Hannity (Part Two)
RUSH: You were the first out of the box with the Reverend Wright and the Bill Ayers stuff.
HANNITY: Yeah.
RUSH: And people didn't want to hear it because they have a cult-like association and attachment to Obama. But fact of the matter is, the way to understand him is, is he wants to return the nation's wealth to its "rightful owners." He comes from a belief that those in America who have succeeded have done so on the backs of the poor and the disadvantaged. They've had their wealth stolen from them. Everybody. That's why he wants to cap CEO pay. That's why he doesn't want them, the achieved, flying their jets to Vegas. He can. He can take two GV's and three helicopters to New York for a date that you and I pay for; but if I pay for it, even myself on my airplane, I get castigated because it's somehow not cool. I think if you want to understand what this man is doing, what his policies are about, it's returning the nation's wealth to its rightful owners. That's how the UAW, the union, ends up with a major ownership stake in Chrysler and GM.

- Watch Rush Limbaugh on Fox News' Hannity program Part One
- Watch Rush Limbaugh on Fox News' Hannity program Part Two

Howard Stern, Mancow, Opie and Anthony talk politics: Waterboarding, Obama supporters and Pete Dominick

People often picture talkers like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage when thinking of influential radio personalities in politics. There is another breed of talkers separate from political talk, who command equally formidable audience who also tackle the subject of politics.

Sometimes referred to as "shock jocks", Radio personalities like Howard Stern, Mancow and duo 'Opie & Anthony' are wildly popular talkers who appeal to a broader and younger audience. Their shows deal with topics ranging from sex to politics with a format more risque and juvenile than regular political talk.

The talkers less likely to be politically partisan, most consider themselves "libertarians" as reflected in their very liberal content which include guests like strippers, comedians and rockstars. It's also worth noting that this category of talkers are more likely to appeal to the wrestling fan demographic.

To demonstrate the reach of these "shock jock" talkers compared to regular political talkers, consider "America's Anchorman" Rush Limbaugh's 20 million listeners and reported $400 million paycheck. 'King of all Media' Howard Stern commands an estimated 5 million listeners and a paycheck nearing $500 million as a pioneer for Satellite Radio. In terms of political influence however the "shock jock" talkers are considered to have less sway as they appeal to a younger hence arguably apathetic or more casual political listener base.

I will highlight each of these "shocks jocks" and feature a relevant political episode

Matthew Erich "Mancow" Muller
Mancow made headlines by volunteering to be waterboarded live for his radio show, following in the footseps of Christopher Hitchens amongst other journalists. Colin Powell referenced the stunt in an interview illustrating how well the video was circulated.

Keith Olbermann who had earlier dared conservative talker Sean Hannity to follow through with his own boast of volunteering to be waterboarded interviews Mancow on the experience.

VIDEO: Mancow tells Olbermann "Waterboarding is torture"

KEITH OLBERMANN: Let's stipulate at the beginning, you and I are not gonna agree about anything politically...
MANCOW: Let's find some comon ground. First of all Sean Hannity called me and said, "It’s still not torture." I said, "Sean" — he is a friend of mine — "it is torture." All right. But look, you are giving 10,000 dollars to the VeteransOfValor.org. So I think you are stand-up guy for doing that. That's why I'm sitting here.
OLBERMANN: That's are common ground...
MANCOW: Now let's fight

Update:
Conservative blogger speculates that Mancow's waterboarding stunt was well planned hoax, Mancow denies it.

Lefty blogs punked by Mancow "torture" stunt(?); Updated
Now, there’s a paper trail that suggests the glaringly obvious — that it was all an elaborate hoax, reportedly orchestrated with the help of Jerry Springer’s publicist.

Time for B.S. detector tune-ups, people. Next time, libs, don’t be so eager to hype a veteran radio entertainer crying “torture.”

You’re the ones who end up all wet.

Opie (Gregg Hughes) and Anthony (Anthony Cumia)
Opie and Anthony regularly welcomes wrestlers and comedians. APF pundits Marc Maron and Pete Dominick have both appeared on their show, talking politics with a looseness and vulgarity that typical of their act but otherwise stifled on their own programming. Demonstrated in Pete's last appearance on the show here -
Pete offering a disclaimer for his appearance with Opie & Anthony

Pete on Opie and Anthony this Morning
This is the audio of Pete’s appearance on Opie and Anthony this morning. Topics include stand-up comedy, guns, and torture. This is NOT a POTUS-style chit-chat, so if you’re easily offended, don’t listen.

Listen to audio of Pete Dominick as guest on The Opie & Anthony show

Howard Stern
Howard Stern's associate producer 'Sal', conducted an experiment during the 08' Presidential election where he would ask self confessed Obama supporters misleading questions. Sal would credit campaign policies that were originally John McCain's to Barack Obama, the test was to see if Obama's supporters would support views based on Obama's endorsement rather than on their individual merit.

VIDEO: Howard Stern - Sal Interviews "Obama Supporters" in Harlem

HOWARD STERN: It's so ridiculous for people to argue politics with anyone because most -- I'd say 99% of people don't know what the fu@ck they're talking about. So Sal went to Harlem yesterday and he questioned black people on who they were voting for. Obama pretty much they all said in Harlem... He'd list all McCain's policies but attribute them to Obama and they [black people] were all for McCain's policies

Bill Maher interviewed by Howard Kurtz of CNN's 'Reliable Sources'

Howard Kurtz of 'Reliable Sources' interviews comedian Bill Maher. Topics included mocking President Obama, swine flu hysteria, religion and Miss California. Kurtz also questioned Maher on the criticisms leveled at him by Fox News' personalities Sean Hannity and Greg Gutfeld as well as the difficulty of booking conservatives for his show.

VIDEO: Matching wits with Maher

KURTZ: You seem not to be the most popular guy on Fox News these days.
Sean Hannity --
MAHER: Really? What changed?

(play video clip)
HANNITY: I see this with Bill Maher. Bill Maher's become an angry, bitter guy.

MAHER: No, he's an angry, bitter guy. That's called projecting.
That's called taking what you feel and giving it to somebody else. I'm a happy, single guy. He's a repressed, typical Republican.

I'm sure just terribly sexually repressed and it comes out in all their sorts of hatred and vile and bile -- why would I be bitter? First of all, our side won. You know, their side is in a wilderness like there's been before.

Bill Maher spoke about the difficulty of booking conservative guests and the way the men for the most part are the most sensitive to criticism. Not the compliment to Maher's "friend" Ann Coulter.

BILL MAHER: Is it harder to get conservative guests? Absolutely. Half the time when they come on they whine about it. They come on our show and write a blog about how "terrible it was because they sandbagged me". Which is ridiculous. I don't sandbag anybody. You're suppose to be a speaker for a living, you have a microphone. Talk. If I said something so awful. Make me look ridiculous, you have that ability.

It's interesting, the women guests never do that. Ann Coulter never does that

HOWARD KURTZ: You're friends with Ann Coulter
MAHER: Absolutely. She never whines. Amy Holmes, she never whines. It's the men in the Republican Party who are such girls.

Former wrestler Jesse Ventura appearing on 'Hannity', 'Larry King Live' and 'The View'

Former wrestler, Navy SEAL and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has been doing the rounds to promote the paperback release of his book, 'Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!'. A book I have previously noted for it's exceptional account of how Jesse planned to run for American President using a "wrestling angle" (storyline).

Below are videos of Jesse Ventura's appearances on 'The View', 'Larry King Live', and 'Hannity' with partial transcripts included. It's also worth noting the playful ways presenters act macho or incorporate wrestling terms when speaking to 'The Body'.

VIDEO: Jesse Ventura interview with Hannity On FOX - May 18, 2009

JESSE VENTURA: I think he's [President Obama] very intelligent, I think its far too early to be judgmental because let's face it he inherited a mess. He inherited two wars. He inherited an economy in the tank
SEAN HANNITY: You can't stop yourself
VENTURA: I wouldn't have wished that on my worst enemy
HANNITY: Well George Bush inherited a recession. He inherited the negative impacts of 9/11... Do you wanna arm wrestle (jokingly)
VENTURA: You're telling me that the United States was better off before George Bush or after
HANNITY: After
VENTURA: My God!...

VIDEO: Jesse Ventura on 'The View' - May 18, 2009

JESSE VENTURA: The point is this -- Alright, wait a minute if waterboarding is OK
ELISABETH HASSELBECK: Do you want me to put you in a full-nelson?
(audience laughter)
VENTURA: Wait, if waterboarding is OK then why don't we let our police do it to suspects so we can learn what they know... if waterboarding is OK then why didn't we waterboard McVeigh and Nichols, the Oklahoma City bombers to find out if there were more people involved

VIDEO: Jesse Ventura on Larry King Live - May 11, 2009

JESSE VENTURA: I don't have a lot of respect for Dick Cheney, here's a guy who got five deferments from the Vietnam war. clearly he's a coward. He wouldn't gp when it was his time to go. Now he's a chickenhawk. Here's this big tough guy who wants this hardcore policy and he's the guy who sanctioned this torture by calling it "enhanced interrogation:
LARRY KING: Do you think Rush Limbaugh is a better Republican than Colin Powell
VENTURA: No not at all. In fact if you compare the two, let's look at Colin Powell who's a war hero. Who's strapped it on for his country and didn't run and hide. Then you look at Dick Cheney who ran and hid. Well I have no respect fro Dick Cheney. I have tremendous respect for General Powell