A collection of PunditFight art encapsulating the entire Presidential campaign season. From the primaries starting in Iowa, the three Presidential debates, the Vice Presidential debate and the General Election.
Beginning with the stiff competition of the primaries, the drama between Hillary and Obama in the protracted Democratic contest and finally the shifting storylines of the General Election. This grueling 2 year Presidential campaign all comes to a head November 4th. Who will be the victor?
They say, to the winner go the spoils - it may be a different case this time around. The incoming President will have to navigate through two current ground wars (Afghanistan & Iraq) and an existential one with the 'War on Terror'. They will have to manage an unfolding global economic crisis. Both contenders have promised to turn a new page for America amidst these waiting challenges. All with the backdrop of an ever more ubiquitous and chattering media - 24-hour news and the rise of punditry and opinion media coupled with the influence of blogosphere and let's not forget talk radio.
The grueling journey for the eventual President will pale in comparison to how hard it will be to retain the title - to preserve the esteem of the office and validate the confidence the electorate have bestowed on them.
Before we look forward to see let's remind ourselves of the contenders that might have been:
The fallen Democratic contenders
- Hillary Clinton (withdrew Jan 7, 2008)
- Mike Gravel (changed party Mar 26, 2008)
- John Edwards (withdrew Jan 30, 2008)
- Dennis Kucinich (withdrew Jan 24, 2008)
- Bill Richardson (withdrew Jan 10, 2008)
- Joe Biden (withdrew Jan 3, 2008)
- Chris Dodd (withdrew Jan 3, 2008)
In a recent post I spoke about "celebrity" politicians using their showbiz history to counterattack critics. In my examples, satirist Al Franken was on the defensive when he invoked his past. On the other hand Action starts Arnold Schwarzenegger uses his showbiz past as an offensive manoeuvre.
This was lucidly illustrated in a campaign event in Columbus Ohio:
Schwazenegger Derides Obama as a 'Skinny' Wealth-Spreader
Headlining an event titled "Judgment Day,"* California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tonight delivered an impassioned pitch for electing GOP presidential nominee John McCain before a packed arena of supporters.
*"Judgement Day" was the byline for Arnold's career defining movie - 'Terminator 2'
First Arnold cites the career that originally made him famous - Bodybuilding. Arnold connects with Ohio audience using his charming connections to the city outside of politics to raucous applause:
As you all know I love Ohio. I've been coming here for almost 40 years. I won the Mr World competition here. I've worked in movies here. I've done business here. I've made friends here and every year on the first weekend of March I come to Columbus Ohio... and we organise the 'Arnold Classic' - the greatest bodybuilding expo in the world
This allowed Arnold to segue into an amusing wrestling style promo against Obama. The charismatic Arnold convincingly navigated through a potentially laughable pitch especially in light of earlier McCain commercials that painted Obama as a "celebrity candidate".
Of course the 'Arnold Classic' is all about building up the bodies and pumping up. And that's why in the next 'Arnold Classic' I want to invite Senator Obama because he needs to do something about those skinny legs. Make him do some squats. Then we're going to give him some bicep curls to beef up those scrawny little arms.
Here comes the punchline, then the sell for McCain
But if we could only do something about putting some meat into his ideas.
Now Senator McCain on the other hand he is built like a rock. His character, his views are just as solid... He has spent 5 and a half years as a Prisoner of War... John McCain has served this country longer in the POW camp than his opponent has served in the United States senate.
Ladies and Gentleman, I only play an action hero in my movies but John McCain is a real action hero.
A new wallpaper featuring arguably the most influential, most talked about rolemodel women of this Presidential Cycle and 2008 in general: Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Kindly let me know if you come up with a better acronym
I've written extensively about the role Hollywood plays in Politics. 'Mr President', a French Documentary has used this premise to create an interesting portrait of how Hollywood helps us visualise and acclimate us to future Presidents.
The President has been a regular character in hundreds of films and television series... these images are powerful and potentially influential in the real political arena... they have even affected our view of who should or could be President... as America elects its next President, is their a downside to all this fantasy?. "There are consequences that are not captured on celluloid?"
That's 'Mr President' - a look at Hollywood's take on the Oval Office and it's impact on reality.
Read my previous posts on the "Hollywood Presidency"
- George W Bush and Obama: Flight suits and making a Hollywood President: Part 1 and Part 2
This is a non-partisan blog so as with all PunditFight art it should not be taken as an endorsement.
It needs to be said, Al Franken holds a special place in the PunditFight community. He is the only pundit on the APF roster to throw his hat in for public office. He is also the only pundit I know of that has a wrestling background.
Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean... The trouble started when several supporters of fringe presidential candidate Lyndon Larouche began shouting accusations at Dean.
Franken emerged from the crowd and charged one male protester, grabbing him with a bear hug from behind and slamming him onto the floor.
"I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move," Franken said.
PunditFight recommends Bloggingheads.tv. One of the best destinations for Political junkies, demonstrating the advances and promise of technology. It's creators described their motivation thusly:
Wright and Kaus, both journalists, had long been attracted to the idea of pontificating on TV, but so far few if any TV producers had seen merit in this aspiration.
Selected excerpts Hugh Hewitt & Robert Wright: A Born-Again Experience
Christopher Hitchens & Eric Alterman: On Whether Christopher Hitchens Was Wrong
Another equally impressive video program PunditFight recommends is Maron V Seder, two liberal pundits I've had the privilege of interviewing. Their show is described as:
... the first of its kind; a daily, live online political talk and comedy show... "Based upon the fact that no one has developed a model for what we’re doing, we’re confident that people will consider this a success," said Sam Seder.
They say, to the winner go the spoils - it may be a different case this time around. The incoming President will have to navigate through two current ground wars (Afghanistan & Iraq) and an existential one with the 'War on Terror'. They will have to manage an unfolding global economic crisis. Both contenders have promised to turn a new page for America amidst these waiting challenges. All with the backdrop of an ever more ubiquitous and chattering media - 24-hour news and the rise of punditry and opinion media coupled with the influence of blogosphere and let's not forget talk radio.
