The appeal of Celebrity Presidential candidates— White House 46: The Rock vs John Cena

"Once in a lifetime III". John Cena vs Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

There's been a lot of chatter on the possibility of Pro-Wrestler Dwayne Johnson contesting for the Presidency. With broad appeal as a social media darling and the world's highest paid actor, the Rock has gotten bipartisan approval from the likes of leftist filmmaker Michael Moore and conservative publication, the National Review.
Outspoken billionaire Mark Cuban has spoken on how Trump's success has paved the way for other entrepreneurs to challenge for the highest office in the land. The same could be argued for Celebrities in general, rapper Kanye West one of the earliest to float a 2020 run before fellow self-promoter Donald Trump cut him off at the pass.
Along with politicians Elizabeth Warren and Ted Cruz, the likely Presidential field also includes celebrity powerbrokers Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg. As guest on the 'Chapo Trap House' podcast, Matt Taibbi explains the appeal and advantages of running for office as a celebrity candidate.

Episode 77 — No Country For Gorilla Men feat. Matt Taibbi (1/29/17)
MATT CHRISTMAN: (32m 52s) It basically boils down to the fact that there's a symbiotic relationship between traditional politicians and the media, right? Because most people especially if they’re running for President on a National scale has never heard of these a**holes. So it's basically the media's job to — in collaboration with the candidate — shape a version of them for people to be introduced to and give them an idea of who they are
MATT TAIBBI: Right
CHRISTMAN: Trump because he's a celebrity had a prefabricated brand that he didn't need the media to help him create so that relationship just broke down because he wasn't a politician.
TAIBBI: That's 100% correct. What people need to remember -who are politicians? Most of them before they enter congress are 4th rate lawyers who get elected from these little... towns who gradually get built up and then they have profile and then in order to be turned into these mythic God-like characters they need the overwhelming attention of lots and lots of media people. But you don't need that if you're Donald Trump, he just bypassed that entire exercise. He's a celebrity by himself, without all the help of these sycophants.

Wrestling journalist Brian Maxwell expands the case for the logical pairing of celebrities and Presidential elections. Arguing elections are basically Reality TV talent shows that incorrectly test the competencies truly needed for the job.

Review America with Brian Mann & Nate Milton — Episode 1: The RNC
BRIAN MAXWELL: (25m 53s) If this whole campaign, this whole election is Pro-wrestling. The actual Presidency is 'Brawl for All'. Being a Pro-wrestling match doesn’t actually determine who the better fighter is...
What’s really harmful with our politics -especially in our current media age- is that the qualifications, the hoops that we have people run through don’t in anyway line up to what it actually means to be President. At all. So we've devised this obstacle course that doesn't actually test someone's readiness for this type of position.
I have no doubt as scary as it sounds- that Donald Trump might win this election cuz he might actually win the media job of converting people into voters... at the end of the day the job of the Presidency isn't necessarily a public relations job... The more that I look at it and I see we kind of opened things up. I think we’ve been doing it long enough that we can question the results.

SNL imagining a John Cena and Dwayne Johnson Presidency

Writing on the analogy that American Politics is Pro-Wrestling for the past 10yrs, I never imagined a WWE Hall-of-Famer in Donald Trump could occupy the White House. The fact the Rock, an actual Wrestler is poised to be a Presidential frontrunner is truly mind-boggling.
John Cena, another marquee Wrestler also makes a compelling case as a dark horse Presidential Contender. Though divisive in the Wrestling Universe ("Let's go Cena, CENA sucks!") especially compared to the "People’s Champion". Cena offers a clearer liberal representative whilst ticking the same boxes as the Rock — charismatic action hero, positive rolemodel and supporter of the Troops. A plus on Cena's ledger, he speaks mandarin.

VIDEO: John Cena supports #WeAreAmerica this Independence Day

If registered Republican Dwayne Johnson were to run, could he possibly challenge Donald Trump in a GOP primary? Could the winner between them face a Democratic nominee John Cena? Might the deciding battle in the "Once in a lifetime" feud between John Cena and the Rock be waged in the Political Arena? The rivalry that began for WrestleMania 28, avenged at WrestleMania 29 could possibly culminate in the election for POTUS 46.

Mike Cernovich proposes a Left VS Right Battle Royale headlined by Keith Olbermann and Alex Jones

I'll donate $100,000 to charity if @KeithOlbermann shows up to debate @RealAlexJones. One hour. Neutral moderator. https://t.co/vMrLhAOtPM

— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) 12 May 2017

Expounding on an earlier tweet, Mike Cernovich proposed a Left VS Right PPV showdown headlined by Keith Olbermann and new boss and partner, Alex Jones. I’ve been meaning to update the PunditFight roster with today’s current stars, the hype behind this hypothetical superfight might just be the inspiration.

Original 'American Pundit Fighting' roster (2007)

In the 10 years since it's founding, the APF roster has changed dramatically, escalating within the past year during the recent changeover in administrations. Jon Stewart stepped down from the 'Daily Show'. Stephen Colbert broke kayfabe to replace David Letterman on the 'Late Show'. Ratings juggernaut Bill O’Reilly was stunningly axed over sexual harassment claims. Alex Jones has arguably become the most influential pundit whilst the audacious Trump has effectively made the likes of Rush Limbaugh and traditional media obsolete.

It's telling of the times that the roster Cernovich offered to represent the Right is made up of independent personalities that don't occupy mainstream news outlets.

Cernovich Series PPV:
Team Republican (Cernovich, Weaver, Molyneux, Jones and Watson)

Cernovich Series PPV:
Team Democrats (Maher, Stelter, Olbermann, Harris, Tapper)

ALEX JONES — 2017-MAY-26, FRIDAY 
MIKE CERNOVICH: (3h 15m 08s) I predicted that people on the Right could do it better than people on the left. This a point that is being missed by the media. This is not a threat. I don’t want violence, I want a debate. Again, show me anyone on the left who has ever offered $100,000 to charity to debate me.
Alex Jones, big name. We can raise a lot of money for charity. We can livestream it, have a superchat going. I bet you we can raise a million dollars if we had a big —like a WrestleMania. Wow! I wish Alex were here right now so we could brainstorm off each other. I envision like a major UFC event. A major boxing match promoted by CNN, co-promoted by Infowars. Maybe get Breitbart, Daily Caller, Cernovich Media. Get all of us in a room and we can have an undercard leading to a main event.

So the Left, they can have Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, Sam Harris, Jake Tapper, Brian Stelter. All these guys on the left can come in. Like a big battle royal. And then we can have people on the Right: Alex Jones, Paul Joseph Watson, Millie [Weaver], [Mike] Cernovich, Stefan Molyneux. We could have 5, 10 people on each side and this could all lead — God! Where is Alex right now when you need him?

This would be an amazing, amazing event, we could cut up a promo for it. I bet you we could do a million for charity. I would put up a $100,000 of my own money from Cernovich media to see this event happen for charity. It would be the Battle Royale, the Left VS the Right. Who has the better ideas? Who can gauge with free speech with the most tenacity, the most ferocity. Who has the better argument? Who's more logical, who's more cogent? Millions of people would watch this. We could air it on every network. Air it live on CNN, air it live on NBC, ABC, Fox News, MSNBC. Air it live on everybody’s social media, on everybody's YouTube. Crowdfund donations. Livestream it. All money would go to charity. Why isn't this happening?

Cernovich Series PPV: Team Rep VS Team Smack'Dem

The 5 on 5 matchup is perfectly set up for a team showdown, traditional Survivor Series style. It’s worth noting that only Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann are existing APF pundits. Expect more art to come for this dream fight.

The #TrumpMeetsTrudeau handshake: The Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump showdown

US President Donald Trump met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for the first time last week. It was a cordial affair between neighboring leaders featuring a roundtable discussion of Women in Business alongside Ivanka Trump and several females CEOs from both countries.

However the enduring narrative from the visit were the handshakes, a commonplace but time-honored tradition. Memes circulated about how adeptly Prime Minister Trudeau maneuvered against Trump's infamous handshake style.

VIDEO: Trump's awkward handshakes with World Leaders

What do we make of the fascination behind the showdown. Why were so many people invested in a handshake?

That Viral Photo of Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump Is Not What It Seems
… We live in a new normal of misinformation sharing, one where falsities are pushed as truths by the highest levels of power. And so people are grasping for images that either back up their preexisting notions or turn the mainstream narrative on its head, and then sharing with their followers to further the reach.

In this case, a confrontation between western democracy's top babyface (hero) and top heel (villain). The dreamboat liberal, Justin Trudeau against divisive celebrity mogul, Donald Trump. Both men are evenly matched and have overlapping qualities despite their philosophical differences. They're similarly privileged sons who've capitalised off their father's name and have a keen understanding of stagecraft to bypass traditional media.

Is Trudeau the ultimate image manipulator? Not quite 
Traditional media are weakening, social media and online media strengthening, and the latter feast on image and celebrity. Of course, the Prime Minister’s Office counts on new media to counterbalance the traditional skeptical coverage of old media.

Justin Trudeau headlining ‘Fight for the Cure 5' (2012).
Donald Trump in the Main Event of WrestleMania 23 (2007)

Interestingly both men used blockbuster fight events as a springboard for their Presidential ambitions. With their outsized personas and rabid following as champions for diametrically opposed world views. A showdown between these bordering leaders is a promoter's dream, the ultimate matchup. Even the thought of a clash provides catharsis.

The audience knows what they want

To best sell a fight its ideal that both fighters come in strong and to have juice behind them. In wrestling the positive reaction a fighter gets is called a "Pop". The negative reaction,"Heat". This was evident on Twitter timelines with varied reactions to #TrudeauMeetsTrump depending on one’s political leanings.

A change in orientation (turn) from hero to villain or vice versa is commonplace in wrestling. Not so in politics as flip-flopping is ordinarily viewed as political suicide. Reinvention is integral to wrestling, characters change gimmicks and switch allegiances to keep audiences engaged. There's also the opening for a glorious return to form, a reboot of their persona. Interestingly this mirrors the transformation of public figures like Trump and successful celebrity cum politicians before him. Such as Governors, Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's worth noting all three are in the WWE hall of fame.

In today's partisan times its rare for politicians to cross the aisle to get matters resolved, let alone switch parties. Those who do are generally viewed with skepticism, seen as pariahs from both sides. The antidote to this is having the support of the people. To fashion yourself as a "maverick", an outsider taking on the establishment. With the correct gimmick and the unwavering support of your fans you can get away with anything. The same in wrestling goes for Politics.

Irreverent wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin had license to assault respected celebrities and an elderly woman. Likewise, Trump’s popularity and charisma inoculated him from scandals that would have felled previous politicians. Inexplicably, stoushes with war heroes and the Pope only strengthened his aura.

The media are fantasy booking a would-be epic, between Face @JustinTrudeau and Heel @realDonaldTrump. Don't force it.#TrudeauMeetsTrump pic.twitter.com/wKyBGDvaq2

— jim stark (@PunditFight) February 14, 2017

Whilst a duel between Trump and Trudeau would be a major draw, it will unlikely yield what political partisans are after. Especially the #NeverTrumpers longing for a bogeyman to finally dethrone the Donald. Annihilation is only possible through the erosion of public support, the key is preserving relevancy. As main event fighters and image savvy personas, Trump and Trudeau understand this. If both men remain standing, the rival fanbases would only become further entrenched rather than converted by defeat.

In wrestling, the slightest event can trigger a program. A stolen action figure or a spilled coffee cup could foreshadow a future rivalry. Donald Trump is not known for his subtlety, he telegraphs his intentions through tweets and isn't afraid to make enemies. Conversely, Trudeau takes after Barack Obama. The former top babyface and Trump's predecessor, a sensible diplomat who'll be restrained in his engagement with the World's Most Powerful Man. The social media response over the handshake teases the excitement that would come off a Trump/Trudeau face-off. I just wouldn't force it.

First Presidential Debate Wallpaper: PAYBACK

APF presents 'PAYBACK':

Presidential Debate I. Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)

There's an adage in combat sports, "Styles make fights". Not unlike Rock–Paper–Scissors, attributes become advantages or impediments depending on what they're matched with. Trump's striking VS Clinton's resilience. His passion VS her poise. The Unorthodox VS the Seasoned. Business Outsider VS Political Insider. Reflex VS Preparedness. In the upcoming Presidential Debate, we'll finally see what shakes out from the "Styles Clash" between Republican Nominee Donald Trump and Democratic stalwart Hillary Clinton.

In the inaugural episode of the 'Race to the White House' podcast, Associate Professor Brendon O'Connor summarises the competing styles and why It's difficult to predict how it'll go down.

Race to the White House - Episode 1
BRENDON O'CONNOR: (18m 53s) There's two ways of approaching Politics. One way is to be very policy-oriented, which forces you to think about process and costings... and there's another way of seeing Politics as a symbolic business. That you're about making people feel good about themselves, that politics is very therapeutic. That you talk about America being a great place or making America great again. You talk about things that are to some extent fantastical, like "Change" or putting up a wall between United States and Mexico. And there's no real possibility that you could bring about a process really to get these things into action. They're about reassuring Americans, I like to call it Public Self-Help talk. They're about soothing people and saying that everything's going to be OK. We're still going to be a great or exceptional nation. Politics has gone along that path, every election in America since the 1970's. It's just gone along more and more in that regard.

Trump in some ways is the extreme end of that Therapeutic Politics that really overpromises on a sense of something that is illusionary, something that is a fantasy but its gonna soothe the American public. That is gonna sound reassuring or different.
Where Hillary Clinton is a throwback in some regards. She's a Policy wonk. She's someone where her clear strengths are when she talks about details and process and so you have quite the contrast...

How you campaign against Donald Trump as Hillary Clinton is very challenging and when you debate him as we'll see in the coming weeks is even more challenging because you're speaking a totally different language. You're not working on the same assumptions. You're not attempting to engage in Politics in the same way.

A strangely overlooked aspect of the upcoming showdown is the shared history between the Clintons and Trump. Whilst photos and stories surface about Trump's cordial relationship with Bill and Hillary, this history has been overshadowed by the polarised rhetoric of Election season. The Clinton's have been such an enduring force in American Politics that although they've become institutional punching bags for the masses, they've also calcified into allies amongst the elite. Hillary released an Ad quoting Donald Trump's praise for her before they were pitted as opponents.

You can peruse Trump's Twitter timeline for a trail of his enemies, anyone who's wronged him gets mentioned and pilloried. In person however, he remains affable and conciliatory. Trump and Jeb chummily low-fived despite relentless attacks in the Debates. Though he launched his campaign with contentious rhetoric towards Mexico, Trump was gracious towards Mexican President Nieto during their face-to-face. Trump employed a winning defense during the GOP Primary, reversing his coziness with Hillary into a spiel about Business buying Political access. Everything's fair game when you're selling a fight. It'll be interesting to see how real the bad blood is when they finally step in the ring.

Best friends, Bitter enemies:
Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

Watch how Wrestling sells a feud between former best friends, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The shared history heightens the drama and raises the stakes for their match. Their intimate knowledge of each other offers the possibility of deeper cuts and tangled motivations. In the Wrestling example we're keenly aware of the theatre in repurposing their relationship into a compelling feud. I wonder how much we'll sense from Hillary and Donald's friendship once they finally clash.

VIDEO: NXT Champion Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens tell their history

Mirroring the showdowns between Sami and Kevin. I'll be making Presidential Debate Wallpapers using the WWE PPV timeline, starting with 'PAYBACK'.

Update:
After Trump rival and Businessman, Mark Cuban tweeted he had front row seats for the First Presidential Debate. Trump, in true heel fashion threatened to put Gennifer Flowers alongside him. Flowers had an affair with Former President Bill Clinton whilst he was Governor of Arkansas.

Gennifer Flowers and Mark Cuban ringside at #HofDebate16

Update: Gennifer Flowers won't be attending the Debate. Trump's guests include a Benghazi attack survivor and Gold Star mother among others.

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

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.

Netroots Nation and and Right Online Conferences face off in Las Vegas

VIDEO: Ed Morrissey at RightOnline 2010

Ed Morrissey at RightOnline 2010 from AFPhq on Vimeo.

My speech to AFP’s Right Online conference
...I decided to try a lighter, humorous touch to make my point, and those of you who listened to my last night on the Hugh Hewitt show will recognize where I got my inspiration to talk about the sudden re-emergence of 1970s nostalgia.

VIDEO: Senator Al Franken Netroots Nation Las Vegas

Huffington Post: Sen. Franken to the Netroots: Only You Can Stop the Corporate Takeover of Free Speech
Over the weekend, Sen. Al Franken (D.-Minn.) made the corporate takeover of our media, and the government’s acquiescence to these corporations, frighteningly clear.

VIDEO: Netroots & Liberal Media Bias: Cenk Hosts MSNBC

Right-Wing Blogger Tells Cenk: Liberals Have The 'Liberal Media' On Our Side
Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks was filling in for Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC yesterday, and had on Sam Seder and conservative blogger Matt Lewis about Netroots 2010, Right Online, and media bias.

Who, me unleash violent nutcases? Beck wonders why the concern about the Tides Foundation -- but doesn't mention shooter
Glenn Beck was all hyped up about last week's Netroots Nation gathering in Vegas, especially the frequency with which he was mentioned. The reason, he said, was that "this was really about you" (which is, of course, one of the rhetorical devices Beck uses to get his viewers to identify with him).

"Sultan of Snark" Joel Stein insults Fox News' Bill O'Reilly

Time columnist Joel Stein in an attempt to get his brand as "The Sultan of Snark™" mileage has started a feud with Bill O'Reilly by saying he is

a balding, jowly gerbil whose job has been reduced to wiping Glenn Beck's whiteboards
- Love Me, Love My Brand, Says the Sultan of Snark™

If you read the full context of Joel's smear you will see its largely facetious, though he would gain mightily if O'Reilly were foolish enough to take the bait. This wouldn't be the first time O'Reilly's been called out into a challenge

Joel's Stein's goading of a higher profile personality, fishing for some exposure is not unlike the promos found in pro-wrestling where a lesser tier wrestler will spend segments challenging the main eventers. For the most part its an exercise in comic relief with the main eventers rarely participating as it would lessen their value to associate with the lowly challenger.

But one never knows. Every once in a while a main eventer will accept the challenge, a demolition usually follows. Here's hoping Bill O'Reilly takes Stein's challenge.

VIDEO: Stone Cold gives Santino Marella a beer bath

Find a previous APF post featuring Joel Stein here - Political life imitates art: Stephen Colbert for President and Al Franken for Senate

Andrew Wilkow VS Senator Daylin Leach

Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) and RadioTalker Andrew Wilkow have begun a feud with Daylin using his 'DaylinSights blog' as the platform and Wilkow utilising his radio show. The feud could potentially lead to a tantalising face to face interview on Wilkow's Radio Show, we'll keep you posted if that eventuates

Read senator Daylin's original post on Andrew Wilkow and other Right Wing talkers

Right Wing Talk Radio
One thing Mr. Wilkow is not is open to different perspectives. The slogan of his show, screamed at every commercial break is "We're right, they're wrong. End of Story!!, which I must say is more punchy and effective than the liberal equivalent often whispered on NPR, "We're intrepid, they're Jejune, lets start a dialogue!".

More from Senator Daylin Leach on Wilkow

Right-Wing Radio Hate Part Deux.
I did, and the first thing I heard was someone screaming "What do you think of that Senator Daylin Leach" out of my speakers. And I thought, hey, wait a minute! How many Daylin Leaches could there be? And how many of them are Senators?? Four, five at the most? I began to think this might be about me.

It turns out that Mr. Wilkow had somehow gotten hold of my blog and was commenting on it. He then spent the next hour or so either replying to or referring to me. I must say that it made for most excellent listening for my long ride to Dauphin County.

Read the followup here

Wilkow's false literalism
So the argument here is that Mr. Wilkow is literally correct and therefore not being offensive at all. This is of course nonsense. But lets deconstruct it a bit.

First, before we even get into parsing the phrase, one wonders why Mr. Hilton's sexuality is even relevant....

But whatever it is he did to piss off Mr. Wilkow (and based on Wilkow's reaction to me, it was probably saying something less than worshipful about Mr. Wilkow), it probably had nothing to do with who Mr. Hilton sleeps with. So Wilkow's choice to use any term for "gay" in connection to Hilton would be a homophobic statement. Why mention it if it isn't relevant unless you think it will cast Hilton in a negative light.

Read American Pundit Fighting's interview with Andrew Wilkow

Jon Stewart, Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh unite against Glenn Beck's CPAC speech

I've spoken previously of Beck's ascendancy and how it has made him Public Enemy #1 for those on the left and the right.

Mediate has a comprehensive round up of the pundit pushback of Glenn Beck's CPAC keynote speech. Videos and response summaries from Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Jon Stewart are all featured:

Strange Bedfellows: Rush Limbaugh, Jon Stewart Slam Glenn Beck’s CPAC Speech
Wow. So, Glenn Beck’s CPAC keynote speech on Friday was apparently so powerful it united Jon Stewart, Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin... against him. I’m not sure what that says about Beck except that he really has managed to carve out a place all his own in the media landscape these last few months and he maybe is making some people nervous. Well not Jon Stewart per se (‘gold mine’ might be a better description), but it’s certainly interesting to hear Rush Limbaugh (ever so gently) push back at Beck. Sign of things to come? Is Beck on his way to becoming the Frankenstein of the right? The tone of both Levin and Limbaugh suggest they were less than thrilled at Beck’s conservative bashing/reality check

Watch Glenn Beck's entire CPAC Keynote speech here - Watch Glenn Beck’s rousing keynote speech at CPAC 2010

VIDEO: Glenn Beck Keynote Speech at CPAC Pt 3 of 6

Read the speech here - Full Transcript of Glenn Beck's Keynote Speech at CPAC, February 20th, 2010

Mark Levin tells Glenn Beck "stop acting like a clown" and asks "what is your point?"

I've spoken previously about Mark Levin's disagreements with the rising Glenn Beck. Levin is once again voicing his opinion of Beck and again he pulls his punches somewhat as Beck is a popular figure amongst many on the right.

Mark Levin's monologue takes a few indirect shots at Beck but his point can be distilled in this line of questioning

Glenn Beck is no Ronald Reagan (but Rand Paul is a lot like his father)
MARK LEVIN: If we are to attack with a broad brush, in generalised terms an entire political party that is itself is in the midst of transformation. What is the point?

If you're on the one hand going to encourage people to rise up, speak out, to get involved and in the next breath discourage them from getting involved in politics and not endorsing Conservatives over liberal establishment Republicans. What is your point

To flirt for month after month with third parties and third party ideology and then when called on to say you've never done it when the record is overwhelming. What is your point?

and let me say this to promote Ron Paul over and over and over again. One of the most irresponsible politicians, who blames America for her enemies and at least when it comes to foreign policy... you're promoting a radical agenda that has nothing to do with conservatism

Listen to complete audio clips at MarkLevinFan.com - Glenn Beck is no Ronald Reagan (but Rand Paul is a lot like his father)

Mark Levin goes on to speak to Politico cautioning Beck

Mark Levin to Glenn Beck: 'Stop acting like a clown'
“The mainstream media is not your friend. It will promote you for the purpose of destroying you,” he said, seemingly alluding to the somewhat favorable coverage of Beck’s speech. “Be careful playing footsie with the mainstream media.”

“Decide what you are,” Levin added, “A circus clown, self-identified, or a thoughtful and wise person. It’s hard to be both.”

Jon Stewart questions if he or his fellow pundits really do "disembowel, maul and hammer" opponents

VIDEO: Jon "The Mauler" Stewart on the blogosphere
The Blogs Must Be Crazy

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Jon Stewart examines the blogospheres' tendency to pit any disagreement between political personalities into feuds by using hyperbole. Its worth noting this is the stock and trade of this blog - dedicated to the analogy that American Politics and Punditry is not unlike Professional wrestling.

February 4, 2010: The Blogs Must Be Crazy
JON STEWART: Seeing how just in these past few weeks I have disemboweled. I have mauled. I have hammered. Ripped. I have slammed and I Bitchslapped? Really?...

You know if you just follow this show on the blogs, you would think I was just running around town cutting people open from scrote to sternum wearing their skin as a trophy which I only did once with Jimmy Carter

Its almost as if these headlines are freakishly out of proportion to the content contained within them designed to take relatively benign interactions and cast them as murderous feuds...

I've compiled a list of the blog posts Stewart highlighted on the above clip for their hyperbolic descriptions of his interactions with other Political personalities:

1) Jon Stewart Disembowels Mike Huckabee On Gay Marriage
- State of the Day
2) Maddow, Stewart, Colbert maul Lieberman
- Unpolitical
3) Stewart Hammers Fox News For Cutting Off Obama's GOP Q&A
- The Huffington Post
4)Stewart destroys Hannity for a second night this week
- Raw Story
5)Stewart Rips Maddow for Using Haitian Disaster to Bash Bush, Maddow Foolishly Strikes Back
- NewsBusters
6) Jon Stewart Slams Media for Blacking Out Iraq War Lies Report
- Crooks and Liars
7) Jon Stewart bitch slaps Keith Olbermann for Brown tirade
- Capitol Hill Blue

Keith Olbermann responds to Jon Stewart's crtitique

VIDEO: Keith Olbermann's response to Jon Stewart

Keith Olbermann responded to Jon Stewart's critique of him by replaying Stewart's skewering of him in its entirety and sheepishly apologising. Olbermann also referenced an earlier parody that Ben Affleck did of him for SNL in 2008.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Well yesterday Mr Stewart was first critical of Rachel [Maddow] and then last night of me... seriously Mr Stewart's critique of me won't mean much unless you see it so I will show it in a moment with 2 prefaces only

1) Jon you invited me on the show in 2003 and I said I couldn't make it because of the taping time. It didn't mean I couldn't make it forever. What, you can't pick up the phone and make a jingle?
2)I think it should be noted that when Affleck did this he didn't have a teleprompter. That guy was a technician like Rembrandt was a technician.

(Daily Show clip played in its entirety)

You want some baseless name-calling? You are... You know what? You're right.I have been a little over the top lately. Point taken. Sorry.

Jon Stewart mocks Keith Olbermann with his own "Special Comment"

VIDEO: Special Comment - Keith Olbermann's Name-Calling
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Jon Stewart once mocked Glenn Beck by parroting the manic conservative pundit's patented monologue. Stewart recently did the same for Keith Olbermann, mimicking his brand of self righteous speech. This isn't the first time Stewart has chided Olberman.

Transcript via InOtherNews
"For years, sir, your outrage was warranted - based in fact, saturated in reason; marinated in malice, but tenderized with the cleaver of careful consideration, once wielded so masterfully by the demigods of discourse whose very chair you sit (in): Murrow, Cronkite... You fought your fight, and you fought it furiously and forthrightly. But is it a fight, if ill-foughten folly? Ferhaps. How far, sir, how far will you fall once you’ve toiled in the fields of the factual, equal parts punditry and profundity, with prodigious prose? It was as powerful as it was purple.

But now, this! Now, this, sir! This, sir! This, sir! And, no, sir, this TelePrompter is not stuck! I am doing something called repetition for dramatic emphasis, sir - you invented it. I like it. But now, you’re just calling people names.

To whit, you said this of Joseph Isadore Lieberman, Democrat, Connecticut: "A senatorial prostitute"; of Roger Ailes, "fat ass"; Chris Wallace, "a monkey posing as a newscaster"; Rush Limbaugh, "a big bag of mashed-up jackass." (All right - I’ll give you that one.) And of Michelle Malkin, you said "A mindless, morally bankrupt, knee-jerk, fascistic mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it," end quote. That, my fine-feathered friend, sounds a lot more like violence against women than anything Scott Brown ever said.

You can’t resort to childish attacks that are as hominem as they are nauseum. You’ve ceded the high ground and now you wallow in the fetid swamp of baseless name-calling, and as you know, sir, that’s my thing… A man of your intellect need not be me - petty, pompous, pusillanimous - or poopyhead."

Impersonations have their home in comedy sketch shows like SNL and are a staple in punditry, these theatrics are also found in politics as Hillary showed last year mocking Candidate Obama. Not to be outdone wrestlers are also fond of using impersonations to get the psychological edge over their opponents.

VIDEO: Booker T mocked and impersonated by The Rock and Big Show

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

I've often highlighted the comparisons between pundits and comedians. Pundits, like comedians are ultimately masters of their own fiefdoms. They create loyal followings of people supportive of their idol's world perspective. The fans of the comedian or pundit will usually share their affinity with their friends and associates and likewise share their animosity towards their rivals.

Whilst its expected across party lines i.e a liberal pundit dissing Rush Limbaugh's "dittoheads", there are also internecine feuds amongst conservative and liberal listeners. The most prominent of this is between Conservatives Mark Levin and Michael Savage, both pundits stir their passionate supporters into deriding their respective rivals. Whilst Levin and Savage have a heated rivalry between each other they also impassion their listeners against other competing conservative pundits.

During Comedian Jimmy Pardo's 'Never not Funny' podcast. The host Jimmy spoke to fellow comic and APF pundit Marc Maron, they discussed the listeners of fellow Comedian and Podcaster Adam Carolla and used an interesting pundit analogy to describe his belligerent fanbase. Carolla's fans are known for haranguing "rival" comedians on Carolla's unsolicited behalf

'Never not Funny' Episode 610 - Marc Maron
JIMMY PARDO: This is a horrible comparison... I would listen to Rush Limbaugh... I didn't always agree with what he said. Most of the time I didn't agree with anything he said. but to me he was an entertainer...

MARC MARON: (assisting) Engaging

PARDO: He was engaging, he would keep me company for 4 hours and he was fine. I didn't mind him. It was when the asshole callers would call in and they would just be "Why is the President feeding us lies" then Rush would say "You're wrong sir, here are my thoughts. Like everybody thought they would call up and kiss his ass, you know "Mega dittoes". Then he would say "No you're misunderstanding everything I'm saying"

MARON: (completes his sentence jokingly) "I did not say kill the President"

PARDO: Right (laughing). He's not the same now than he was back then mind you. Then he was just a broadcaster, now he truly thinks he is changing the world...

MARON: Now he's a monster

PARDO: and its the same with Carolla. I think Adam is a terrific broadcaster. He's got funny in his bones... he doesn't have to fake being funny. He's got it. But his listeners -- Not all of them! Some. I don't want to get those emails. A small percentage of them are these neanderthal idiots like - "You suck. Listen to Adam instead". You can listen to both. There's no rule that you can't listen to both.

- Listen and Download the full 'Never not Funny' Episode 610 podcast

Taking a page from wrestling and punditry Marc Maron cuts a promo, facetiously calling out Adam Carolla. Pardo's co-host and producer Matt Belknap sets the table by explaining why Carolla and his fanbase (what Maron calls "Carolla-tards) might be so angtsy.

MARC MARON: I like Adam. I've not listened to his show a lot. I did his show once years ago when Bonaduce was on and I'd love to do the show again. And I've got no problem with him but there's always this weird thing like "You're just doing Adam". And I'm like I don't even know what Adam does for the most part...

MATT BELKNAP: He gets some heat in certain circles for being a little conservative

MARC MARON: He probably calls himself libertarian though. Anyone who calls themselves libertarian are just Republicans who are little scared to say they're Republican now

BELKNAP: But I think that's what people want. They want to see you, you're political slant but the same style -- not the same style but the same energy go up against his energy

MARON: I'd love to do that because I don't even know what his politics are and I'm not really doing political talk anymore but I'm not aligned with any political party necessarily but I do think some things are righteous and some things aren't and I'd be curious to talk to him about that. I think I'd actually like to.

I keep doing this on podcasts, I'm like "I'm out on the streets man (laughter). Let's go Carolla!

Laura Ingraham chides Bill O'Reilly, asking if "he ate an ACORN cookie?" O'Reilly calls Ingraham a "Kool-Aid drinker"

Laura Ingraham appeared on 'The O'Reilly Factor' to talk about the Healthcare bill. Before the discussion, Laura lightheartedly chided Bill for his "gushing" over the Obama family the night previous when he spoke of attending the White House Media Christmas Party. Bill takes offense at Ingraham's dig and in typical fashion overheats, angrily making note of Ingraham's stubbornness as an ideologue.

This isn't the first time Ingraham has been unimpressed by O'Reilly's cynical positioning in order to be seen as a moderate opinionmaker

VIDEO: Ingraham Calls O'Reilly Out for Kissing Up to the Obamas - 

Did You Eat an ACORN Cookie Last Night?

The O'Reilly Factor December 17, 2009
LAURA INGRAHAM: ... Its like you and Michelle Obama, we're like this
BILL O'REILLY: (facetiously) Hey me and Michelle Obama are very, very close
INGRAHAM: I'm gushing over your gushing last night over the Christmas Party
O'REILLY: I' gonna call you out on this. I thought she was very nice at the party... she was nice. I reported what happened and you have a beef with it
INGRAHAM: I have one question for you Bill - Did you eat an ACORN cookie last night? Yes or no?
O'REILLY: Oh bull! You are a blind ideologue, and even if somebody is nice to you. You won't admit it. Talk about a kool-aid drinker I mean c'mon...

Read a comprehensive transcript from Conservative blog, Newsbuster.org - O'Reilly Calls Ingraham 'A Blind Ideologue' 'Kool-Aid Drinker', She Asks If He Ate 'ACORN Cookie' At White House Christmas Party

The Stephen Colbert and Richard Branson feud

Asked which historical figure he would most like to fist fight "rebel bilionaire" Richard Branson reponded with a dig at Colbert. Watch the unfolding feud between Colbert and Branson.

May 6, 2009: Colbert-Branson Duel
RICHARD BRANSON: Yeah maybe Stephen Colbert. He's getting far to big for his boots
STEPHEN COLBERT: Branson! You wanna fight? You come over here and fight me... and since you - a knight of the realm have challenged me to a duel... in which case I say we duel with naked models clinging to our backs. A feud with the dudes with the nudes - a no-holds-barred chicken fight between you and me and a couple of hairless shoulder monkeys

Colbert-Branson Duel

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Jon Stewart mocks Laura Ingraham's Tea Party Speech, paraphrasing holocaust poem

Jon Stewart channeling Keith Olbermann at his snarkiest cut a promo on Conservative Radio Talker Laura Ingraham. It was part of a segment highlighting some of the humorous aspects of the Tea Party protest against the administration's Healthcare proposals which was well attended by demonstrators and politicians. Stewart took exception to Ingraham's cynical appropriation of the renowned 'Holocaust poem - 'First they came'

December 16, 2009: Highway to Health - Last Tea Party Protest of the Year
JON STEWART: Look! I get it, you're a little frustrated by policy choices that may or may not come to pass. But you do realise that the phrase "came for" in the poem is a euphemism for round up and kill. So let me today make this pledge to you, if the government begins to round up and kill the rich, the land-owning and those who choose to bear arms - I'll speak up

VIDEO: Highway to Health - Last Tea Party Protest of the Year

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I fully expect Ingraham to return fire as soon as she returns to the radio on Monday

Stephen Colbert fights with Weekly Standard's Christopher Caldwell

Al Franken is not the only Pundit who isn't afraid to actually fight. Stephen talks about coming to fisticuffs with one of his guests on a recent episode of 'The Colbert Report'

VIDEO: Stephen on his fight with Christopher Caldwell (Nov 11, 2009)

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Sign Off - Stephen's Fight With Christopher Caldwell (Nov 11, 2009)
STEPHEN COLBERT: That is it for tonight's show. I thought that it went pretty well except for the violent fistfight I had with Christopher Caldwell that we had to edit out. I bet he tells everybody back at the Weekly Standard he walked into a door. Goodnight everybody

Watch Stephen's full interview with Christopher Caldwell - November 11, 2009: Christopher Caldwell

The View's Hot Topic - "The Battling Presidents": George W Bush and Bill Clinton

The View - Day of Hot Topics (November 11, 2009)

The ladies of 'The View' discuss the wrestling style promotion of the touring lecture series featuring former Presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton.

Bush, Clinton to appear at Radio City Music Hall
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are set to appear at Radio City Music Hall in February - though if history is any guide, the matchup is likely to produce few fireworks.

The famous New York City venue announced Wednesday the two former presidents will share the same stage February 25, nine months after the ex-presidents shared a similar stage in Toronto, Canada.

As the ladies discuss, because the event was beginning to be billed as something it was not - A fight event rather than concurrent speeches from two former Presidents, it was canceled.

'The View' - Hot Topics (November 9, 2009)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: A debate between Presidents Bush and Clinton that was billed in an ad in the New York Times as the hottest ticket in political history has been cancelled. A Clinton spokes person said it happened because it was being billed into something it was not.What do you guys think?

BARBARA WALTERS: ..the first thing that sort of annoyed me and it's happened in other place. Is this what's happening. Is this show business now? That the two ex-presidents come on together and do mano-a-mano. So I thought I'd buy the ticket, cuz they'd done this in Toronto... but evidently this was being described as a debate. But these two men don't want to do a debate. They want to do nice- nice. In the other cities it was very boring and people were disappointed. So they tried to Jazz it up. So that's why this happened and it got canceled.

JOY BEHAR: You got to sell tickets. Radio City is a big hall

The ladies go on to discuss the value of the former Presidents debating and why it should or shouldn't be billed as a wrestling style battle in order to generate ticket sales.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG: ...they don't want to be billed as the battling presidents cuz that's not what they're doing

JOY BEHAR: In the Toronto report they were making nice with each other and I thought that was pretty boring

BARBARA WALTERS: So that's the point people were not buying tickets... If you're going to try this guys and you're coming on like show business. And you're getting paid $100,000 maybe more. You can't just come on and do a nice (inaudible)

ELISABETH HASSELBECK: Wait a minute,Why do we have to demand show business from our Presidents