Eric 'Mancow' Mueller adamantly tells Keith Olbermann "Waterboarding stunt was not a hoax" as Gawker.com insists

VIDEO: Mancow Waterboarding hoax?

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KEITH OLBERMANN: I would think that knowing you briefly, if it was a hoax it would have been a much better hoax than this one, Mancow from Chicago's WLS once again in bizarre circumstances
MANCOW: I play pranks all the time, that's the irony here
OLBERMANN: And this isn't one of them
MANCOW: This was real
(note: Mancow's wife and daughter are constantly in frame in the background)

The last time a 'hoax' was accused in punditry was during a fainting on Glenn Beck's program. In that instance, Glenn Beck's constant theatrics made people doubt the authenticity of the fainting episode. In this instance, Mancow's reputation as a juvenile prankster and the reporting from Gawker fuelled the fire.

Did Erich 'Mancow' Muller Fake His Waterboarding for Publicity?
Yesterday we showed you video of Erich "Mancow" Muller, a Chicago-based right-wing shockjock, appearing as a guest on Keith Olbermann's show to discuss his being waterboarded. He claimed it led to an ideological conversion! But now a tipster has provided information that suggests the whole thing may be a hoax.

Read Gawker's response to Keith Olbermann's dressing down of its "sloppy" investigative reporting - Mancow's 'Waterboarding' Was Completely Fake

Again just like in wrestling this often happens because of the constant way they fold reality unto itself. Interesting that this hoax has come on the heels of the anniversary of Owen Hart's death, where the legendary wrestler tragically died in a live stunt that had many wrestling insider's and fans initially dismissing it as another "wrestling work" - a staged event to fool audiences. Even to this day "staged on-air deaths" remain a recurring storyline in wrestling.

Listen to wrestling pundits hoaxes or "works" within wrestling storylines. From the 'May 24' episode of LiveAudioWrestling

JOHN POLLOCK: A lot of fans at that time when that happened on PPV (on-air death), the natural reaction of any wrestling fan is that its an angle (a wrestling storyline) and you look at some the stuff they were doing at that time in 1999 and that really wasn't out of the realm of possibility for WWE to do something like that

Mark Levin defends the very capable Rush Limbaugh from Conservative critics

Conservative RadioTalkers Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh

Listen to Mark Levin defending good friend Rush Limbaugh from his critics

MARK LEVIN: I am so tired of the effort to destroy him [Rush], to mischaracterize what he says when people know exactly what he's saying because he's thoroughly articulate, he's coherent. I mean this effort to attack him now everyday.

Ladies and Gentleman, let me explain something. They're attacking us. He speaks for us. He shares our values and our beliefs. He stands up for our traditions. They're attacking him because they want to take him down because they want to take you down and stop any resistance to what's going on. Now let's be honest, it is time we come to his defense, it is time we come to Rush's defense. I'm sick and tired of this. I'm sick and tired of the backbenchers in this business attacking him. I'm sick an tired of the pantywaists in the blogger world attacking him and I'm sick of the liberal, pathetic, in-the-tank media attacking him. I have nothing but contempt for Republicans who turn on their own like Tom Ridge and Colin Powell...

Mark Levin cut an impassioned promo defending his good friend Rush Limbaugh. Aesthetically it was odd as it actually projected weakness for Levin and Limbaugh. Mark Levin by seeming to take it personal and emotional in defense of a friend appears childish. Almost reminiscent of the much parodied 'Leave Britney Alone' Youtube sensation. Rush Limbaugh who is being defended also comes off looking weak, the irony is that every attack against Rush has only made his influence stronger. Not only in the spike in interest generated by anticipating Rush' response. Everytime the media mentions the talker and pits him against elected Republican officials and people of influence like Colin Powell or President Obama it elevates his status equal to them. As I've mentioned previously, this is very much in keeping with Rush' media strategy of being a "headline maker who's show you tune into".

Every battle he's entered into from Rep. Phil Gingrey, to Michael Steele, to President Obama and Colin Powell. Rush has come off looking the better in the minds of his listeners and supporters. It's arguable whether Rush has won over independents and Democrats, considering his most vocal supporters are the polarising Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. Rush has no interest courting moderates, he sees them lacking in conviction and will only impede in advancing Conservative principles. Whilst this goes for supporters, it also applies to elected Moderate Republicans, exemplified best in John McCain and Arlen Specter whom he has dubbed RINOs (Republicans in Name Only).

Its a curious strategy by Levin but he's not one to play defense, "It’s time to fight back! If they attack us, we attack right back!". Mark Levin's wrestling style promo in defense of Rush is likely setting the table for his new initiative. Mark has been promoting launching a section on his website to highlight bloggers who are harming Conservatism by attacking its proponents like Rush, encouraging supporters to flood their comments' section in kind.

MARK LEVIN: Early next week we will have a a link on MarkLevinShow.com on these degenerate -- a handful of them, we will call them out. You'll be able to go to the link - bloggers, then you go their comments section and you can let them know what you think of them. Because they think nothing of you...

Mark has already begun the 'defense of offense' by dressing down Rush Limbaugh critic David Frum. Mark clearly shows that he wants "people of influence" to remain as strong as possible as they will be the ones best equipped to lead the fight.

MARK LEVIN: We don't need an education from the columnists, the bloggers and the wanna-be who don't know how to fight these people. Never have and never will. It's a lot easier to stab our own people in the back. They have no influence, they're irrelevant. They're only relevenace is in distracting us and tripping us up. Us! Not the other side. Us!

Michelle Malkin VS Bill O'Reilly over HotAir blog smear - CrooksAndLiars joins the fight

Michelle Malkin VS Bill O'Reilly - Anatomy of a showdown courtesy of HotAir. It's worth noting Malkin is a frequent contributor to the O'Reilly Factor. HotAir.com is a popular conservative blog founded by Malkin.

We begin with O'Reilly's "smear".

VIDEO: O'Reilly on blog coverage of Sonia Sotomayor

Video: O’Reilly smears Hot Air
Ah, there’s nothing like yanking a comment out of context and using it to smear the entire site, even though neither Ed nor I have ever referred to Obama as "Hussein." Bonus points to O’R for referring to the comment in question as a "blog posting" even though it’s anything but. And before our lefty commenters ask, yes, I have defended Kos from similar charges.

Now Michelle Malkin's response

VIDEO: Michelle Malkin - Is Obama targeting Republican Chrysler dealers?

Michelle: Thanks for smearing our site, O’Reilly
Sit back and marvel as the boss segues righteously from a rant about whether Obama is targeting Republican-owned Chrysler dealerships for closure into an indictment of big-media denigration of blogs, using last night’s sandbagging on the Factor as an example. The obvious questions at this hour: Will taking a shot at him on air force him to respond tonight? And how long will we have to wait for the inevitable retaliatory Jesse Waters ambush interview outside Michelle’s home?

Update: CrooksAndLiars, a liberal counterblog joins the fray softly agreeing with HotAir but also showing little sympathy for its founder Michelle Malkin

"Hot Air" and Michelle Malkin get a taste of their own medicine: Bill O'Reilly smears them
I do agree with Hot Air that O'Reilly smeared them, but I have no sympathy for them, because Michelle Malkin is the queen of using this tactic. Malkin then went on Fox and complained, and righties are asking for a retraction from BillO. Good luck with that, and too bad. You set this up, and now you get to taste what you cooked.

Everyone knows that comments on blogs do not equal what I or any other blogger means when they post. I never even curse in my posts (who would have guessed, since I'm a dirty f*&king hippie). And if Malkin wants an apology she should start by apologizing to all of us first.

Bill O'Reilly returned to the air with a light apology to Malkin whilst asserting his "maverick" persona by not backing down to his conservative critics.

VIDEO: Bill O'Reilly apologizes to Michelle Malkin and HotAir (sort of)

BILL O'REILLY: Wow Ms Malkin is upset because I did not identify the "Hussein" comment was made by a civilian not her or her staff and that's true. I should have been more precise. But we often cite hateful civilian comments on blogs and say they should be edited like we do on billoreilly.com that's the point...

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

Media Matters gives Bill O'Reilly some credit

Media Matters features a clip of Bill O'Reilly featuring a Media Matters clip on how Bill O'Reilly did a "good job". How meta

VIDEO: O'Reilly highlights "far-left smear site" Media Matters' video saying he "did a good job"

BILL O'REILLY: Check 2 - and this is unbelievable. The far left smear site Media Matters, which pretty much slimes me on a daily basis says I did a good job on this...

This 'hall of mirrors' self-referencing is often satirised by Bill O'Reilly-clone Stephen Colbert:

VIDEO: Stephen Colbert unveils new portrait of Stephen Colbert

STEPHEN COLBERT: Well folks that concludes the third and so far finest year of the Report... I want thank you, the Nation and of course I want to thank me. To mark the start of our fourth year together I got something we wanted most of all - another portrait of me...

Mark Levin smacks down "backbenchers" David Frum, Rod Dreher and Conor Friedersdorf

Mark Levin has gotten a lot of attention lately for his showdown with Conservative author and former Bush speechwriter David Frum. Levin has also caused a commotion on the blogs for some off-color comments he made towards a taunting caller.

The disgusting Mark Levin
MARK LEVIN: Answer me this, are you a married woman? Yes or no?
CALLER: Yes.

MARK LEVIN: Well I don't know why your husband doesn't put a gun to his temple. Get the hell out of here.

Listen to the offending clip between Mark Levin and the female caller here

One of the chief complainers of this patented outburst from Mark Levin has been Conor Friedersdorf. Conor deconstructs Levin's performance in a debate with Levin- friend and defender Dan Riehl:

Debating Dan Riehl -- Top of the First Inning
His words are problematic. On substance, the leap he makes is illogical. It is perfectly possible to love the United States and to believe that President Obama possesses the authority to move War on Terrorism detainees...

Mr. Levin is smart enough to know that. Perhaps anger clouded his thinking, as is common among folks who suddenly begin screaming loudly during conversations about politics. Or maybe the whole thing was theater, in which case the host unfairly berated a fellow American for the sake of entertainment....

Mark Levin responds to his critics Rod Dreher and Conor Friedersdorf directly

Mark Levin On Dreher, Frum And Friedersdorf
And while Rod represents the future of conservatism (just ask him), he doesn't understand my appeal. I mean, he listened to 15 minutes of my radio show and he just doesn't get it. No, Rod doesn't get it and he never will. He's just not that smart or interesting.

Mark Levin seems uninterested in addressing conservatives of little influence. Levin's rebuttal moves on to a higher profile target in David Frum, who Levin takes exception to for attacking his personal friend Rush Limbaugh in this provocative column: -

David Frum on Rush: "A walking stereotype of self-indulgence"
On the one side, the president of the United States: soft-spoken and conciliatory, never angry... He is at the same time an apparently devoted husband and father. Unsurprisingly, women voters trust and admire him.

And for the leader of the Republicans? A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic... With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence—exactly the image that Barack Obama most wants to affix to our philosophy and our party. And we’re cooperating!

Listen to audio of Mark Levin and David Frum's debate

The audio is entertaining like every Mark Levin debate. Mark in typical fashion uses his bully pulpit for advantage which Frum desperately pleads to the ref about. Unfortunately for Frum the referee is Mark Levin.

DAVID FRUM: Mark you're the one fiddling with the volume control of the microphone... [bullying] by fiddling with the volume control button... it's the only way -- It's a substitute for argument. It's a substitute for evidence and it's a substitute for thinking

David Frum takes his own shots by describing Mark Levin's radio aesthetic thusly

DAVID FRUM: Your educational background and your intellectual prowess is just as impressive as you said of yourself. But I must say, you have to choose between that and someone's walking up Broadway shouting at passing cars... I said what I had to say but I just didn't sound like a crazy person when I was saying it...

Returning to the earlier observation that Levin values the influence a critic holds. Mark "deviates into questions of ego" of Frum

MARK LEVIN: (interrupting) How many books have you sold? I'm curious
DAVID FRUM: What is that?
LEVIN: How many books did you sell?
FRUM: Over 25, 000. Why does that matter?
LEVIN: It matters if you're gonna have influence.
FRUM: How many -- (exasperated) Oh boy!
LEVIN: It's OK if you sit there and write to yourself... I'm gonna let you make your case to a big audience by the way. The fact of the matter is you've had no influence... it matters
FRUM: Whether I have influence or not will not alter whether what I'm saying is correct or not. If I'm right and I have no influence that's a calamity for others. And if i'm wrong and I have great influence that's a calamity for others also

Dennis Miller tells Bill O'Reilly "Joe Biden hallucinates himself"

This blog has always been interested in hyperreality in Politics. The wrestling analogy applied to American Politics and Punditry basically refers to the "constructs" of personalities and storylines found in both. Most recently pundit Glenn Beck described this construct using the science fiction reference of 'The Matrix'.

Dennis Miller in his regular segment on the 'O'Reilly factor' suggests that eccentric VP Joe Biden is so preposterous that he may have manufactured himself into a simulated reality we're all living in.

VIDEO: Dennis Miller unloads on Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden - O'Reilly Factor (May 19, 2009)

DENNIS MILLER: I don't even know if Biden is the Vice President. I think Biden so believes his own crap that we all tend to believe it. I think this is a story he's telling a stranger at a diner where he's the second most powerful man in the country. and he believes it so much that its actually encroached on my life.

I don't even believe he's in the Senate. I don't believe there's a guy named Joe Biden. I think Joe Biden hallucinates himself.

Howard Kurtz discusses partisanship, polarization and villainry in Punditry: Olbermann, Maddow and Hannity

VIDEO: Cable turns Caustic - CNN 'Reliable Sources' panel on "high decibel" punditry

State of the Union: Reliable Sources - May 24, 2009
KURTZ: Well, I have often argued that the important thing is to have -- no matter what your strong views are -- and it's fine if you're a host, if you're a commentator, to have strong views -- to have people, guests on who have opposing views. I think Keith Olbermann would be more interesting and I think Sean Hannity, now that he's lost Alan Colmes, would be more interest if he had, they had people who flatly disagree with them. On rare occasions they do.

The discussion turns to the therapeutic value of punditry

FREI: No, absolutely. But I think -- and here's the point -- you can actually turn it around. You say this is really good for democracy because it's therapeutic, it's cathartic.

So if you're really mad, you watch these guys who are even madder than you, and you think, you know what? I'm going to -- it's like my kids. When my kids bawl in public, they see another child crying, they stop crying and they watch...

ASHBURN: Hey, I think it completely riles everybody up, just like this. I mean, the more emotional you are, and the more passionate you are, the more you're crying, the more you're yelling, the more people...

This is reminiscent the argument Matt Taibbi laid out in his essay 'Keep on Hatin', a media cycle he describes as "Blame, Hate, Coalesce".

Don't APF hate. Perpetuate!? Matt Taibbi on the vicious circle of hate in punditry
It is amazing to me that people can walk into a bookstore, see a pair of books whose titles begin with "I Hate...," and still believe that the two books are different, simply because the politics of one are conservative and the politics of the other are liberal. Even though it is astoundingly obvious, I'm beginning to think that the vast majority of Americans will not realize until it is too late that this is the same shit.

Watch full video CNN's 'Reliable Sources' - May 2004, 2009
Host Howard Kurtz turns a critical eye on the media

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.

Tom Ridge calls Rush Limbaugh "Shrill" and asks Republicans to be "less judgmental"

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is the latest to wade into to the "commenting on Rush Limbaugh trap". It's a question all speakers representing the Republicans need to anticipate and prepare for. Tom Ridge limply answers the question first but CNN's John King doesn't need to press too hard to get a critical response to Rush Limbaugh

Tom Ridge on CNN's 'State of the Union' with John King
JOHN KING: You've used those terms "we need to be less shrill, less judgmental". Who's being shrill, who's being judgmental?
TOM RIDGE: Well I think a lot of our commentators are being shrill. I don't disagree...
KING: Rush?
RIDGE: Listen Rush Limbaugh has an audience of 20 million people. A lot of people listen daily to him and live by every word but "words mean things" and how you use words are very important...

Tom Ridge has intentionally used one of Rush Limbaugh's famous sayings "Words mean things", #Number 34 in his updated list of '35 Undeniable Truths'

In Limbaugh's 1994 book 'See, I Told You So', he devotes a chapter to his famous line "Word mean things"

Chapter 17: Words Mean things
My vast and astute radio audience has heard me say this over and over again...

"Words mean things" is one of those core assumptions - the kind of common-sense principle most people simply take for granted. Of course words mean things. Yet there is a significant segment of our society that apparently needs to reminded constantly of this fact. These people are called liberals...

Some liberals simply do not view language the way ordinary people do. They don't seem to realize that words have consequences. People, voters, even nations, rely on them. Think about it.

Update: May 25
In anticipation of Rush' response to Tom Ridge. Here was Rush' amicable appraisal of Ridge

CNN Promotes Ridge on Rush
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I last saw Tom Ridge at a football game... The room was very crowded. He sought me out, came up and said hello. We talked about his future. It was purely amicable. It was like two guys on the same team saying hello to one another and having a discussion...

General Colin Powell to answer ctitics after Rush Limbaugh proclaims him "head of the Republican Party"

Influential conservative talker Rush Limbaugh made headlines in the middle of the week for abdicating as the "titular head of the Republican Party", a title he "hadn't sought after". It was a facetious ceremony to illustrate his frustration with the GOP and a mocking counter move to General Colin Powell who has been trying to marginalise Rush Limbaugh.

No Mas! El Rushbo Resigns as Titular Head of Republican Party
RUSH: As any of you and all of you who have been paying attention to the Drive-By news media the past number of months have heard, I am the titular head of the Republican Party... I have not been named the titular or any other head of the Republican Party by anybody in the Republican Party. And so I hereby, ladies and gentlemen, today announce that I am resigning...

I now today pronounce and proclaim General Colin Powell as the titular head of the Republican Party. From now on out, those of you who want to know what the party should do to win elections, to beat back the onslaught of Obamaism, ask General Powell. Look to his wise counsel, his leadership, and his words of encouragement for the Republican Party. General Powell is the one who knows whatever it is that must emerge for him to be a Republican. The media has all said that he is the most genuine Republican out there, the best Republican that there could be and speaks for many, period.

Colin Powell will be addressing his critics, presumably the sarcastic Rush amongst them who have questioned his prescription of "moderation" to resurrect the GOP.

In TV Appearance, Powell Plans To Answer Right-Wing Critics
Under intense fire from the right, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell is preparing to answer his Republican critics this weekend in a television appearance that is likely to add fuel to his long-standing feud with top conservatives in his party...

Since the election, he has called for the GOP to target mainstream moderates and abandon "impractical" ideas... Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and former vice president Richard B. Cheney have attacked Powell in recent days as a traitor to his party.

Update: May 24

VIDEO: Colin Powell On Face The Nation (May 24, 2009)

COLIN POWELL: Rush Limbaugh will not get his wish and Mr Cheney was misinformed... what the concern about me is that "is he too moderate?". I have always felt that the Republican Party should be more inclusive and it generally has been over the years. I believe we need a strong Republican Party that is not just anchored in the base but has built on the base to include more individuals...

What we need to do is debate and define who we are and what we are and not just listen to dictats that come down from the Right Wing of the party

The Daily Show and CNN's 'Reliable Sources' on President Obama and Dick Cheney's duelling speeches on National Security and Torture

Jon Stewart plays clips of how the media presented the competing speeches on Terrorism by President Obama and Dick Cheney as a boxing-style showdown. Whilst the segment supports the "fighting" analogy, as you'll see forgotten 'Top Heel' Bill Kristol makes an interesting analogy of his own.

VIDEO: President Obama VS Dick Cheney on torture and National Security

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
American Idealogues
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

May 21, 2009: American Idealogues
JON STEWART: What gives them [media] a woody? Conflict easily juxtaposed...
--audio from media clips--
President Obama and Dick Cheney's dueling national security speeches... the sniping from both sides has turned personal... they'll go at it on the same day... this high noon duel... Barack Obama, Dick Cheney going at it in the shelter... the gloves come off.. the strongest man wins
STEWART: Is there a more apt metaphor than boxing?

Update May 26:
Howard Kurtz' hosts a panel on CNN's 'Reliable Sources' discussing the media build up of Dick Cheney and President Obama's speeches. Whilst it understandably touches on the media's hand in manufacturing a wrestling style showdown the panel also alludes to the Obama's administration manipulation of Cheney's villainry to suit their needs.

State of the Union: Reliable Sources - May 24, 2009
KURTZ: Barack Obama remains the world's biggest newspaper, a media-certified celebrity as well as a president...

But as in comic books, every superhero needs a nemesis, and the press has now cast in that Darth Vader role a man who left office four months ago as a remarkably unpopular vice president...
PAGE: It's all an Obama plot. That's what it is.
I mean, figure it out. Cheney was scheduled at least a couple of weeks ago to speak to the AEI, the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Obama, just this week, suddenly announced he's going to make this speech on that same morning...

I think the White House is deliberately trying to replace Rush Limbaugh as the unofficial head of the party with Dick Cheney.
KURTZ: Because we can't resist? Because we like the idea of these two heavyweights squaring off?
TUMULTY: And it was -- you know, the White House used the timing. They understood that it would be -- it would be played the way it was. But again, these were two separate speeches in two entirely different parts of town.

Glenn Beck interviews Rush Limbaugh over the phone

Earlier this year the APF predicted that Rush Limbaugh might be usurped by Sean Hannity as the leading talker in America. I later withdrew that prediction once Sean Hannity interviewed Rush Limbaugh.

Since then, Glenn Beck has emerged as a formidable force in Political commentary, confirmed by a CPAC straw poll as the #2 "media personality" behind Rush Limbaugh. Like Hannity before him, Rush Limbaugh grants an interview with arguably his closest competitor in Glenn Beck.

VIDEO: Glenn Beck interviews Rush Limbaugh Pt 2


All told, Rush Limbaugh as the Michael Jordan of Talk Radio will likely never be surpassed. I've stated previously that Glenn Beck's is more a direct challenge to Bill O'Reilly's dominance both in medium and aesthetic rather than Rush'.

GLENN BECK: Rush help me out on this cause you always get thrown under the bus, well where were you when George W Bush was spending etc. etc., address -- cause I have to tell ya the Republican Party doesn't get it... George Bush, this compassionate conservative movement has got to die a violent death
RUSH LIMBAUGH: Yes! Glenn let me tell you something... Personally I don't mind people asking me that question "where were you when all the spending..."

What happens when a Pundit (Sam Seder) calls in to debate another Radio Talker (Ken Pittman)

I've previously discussed liberal talker Sam Seder's debating prowess against conservative callers. I've also highlighted his ability to rebut arguments forwarded by Conservative Talkers from Rush Limbaugh to Michael Medved and Glenn Beck. Usually achieved by playing a clip then deconstructing it to expose what he sees as absurdities or flaws in their case.

I've always wondered what would happen if a Radio Talker called into another talker's program like any other citizen and conducted an impromptu debate. Sam Seder, an able debater does just that. It takes a certain type of pundit to even attempt this, someone with an ego and reputation small enough that they're willing to play "on the road" by calling into a rival's program but big enough that it still projects strength rather than desperate plea for attention.

Sam Seder calls into "Janeane Garofalo Stalker" Ken Pittman, a rematch from his harassing crank phone calls when Sam was sticking up for his former co-host. The two have an impromptu debate about what the Tea Parties were really about.

VIDEO: Sam Seder VS Ken Pittman Round 2. Pt 1

Some credit has to go to Ken Pittman for allowing the debate to play out, without filibustering or cutting it short. The only other pundit besides Sam Seder himself that has a personality or show format that would accommodate an impromptu marathon debate (which is great radio I might add) is conservative Hugh Hewitt and liberal Thom Hartmann.

Wherein Conservative Talk Radio hosts get stripped naked
SAM SEDER: When you tell me people are out there because of the spending, you have no answer for the fact that the vast majority of our national debt was accumulated under Republicans and George Bush. You still have not answered that question? Why did it take you so long. Why did it take Barack Obama to be elected for you guys...
KEN PITTMAN: That's a fair question, but the idea that you're going to spend now...
SEDER: Do you have an answer for it?
PITTMAN: I don't think people are aware of it. Collectively. Honestly.
SEDER: Now how do you think it is
(crosstalk)
PITTMAN: Now hold on -- in order to have a debate you need to have an exchange of thoughts here

Update: May 21
VIDEO: Sam Seder VS Ken Pittman Round 2. Pt 2

PT 2 Pittman to the cleaners
KEN PITTMAN: ... so we're not 180 degrees there, we just see things differently
SAM SEDER: Right, you're not suggesting a cut, you're just saying a shifting of priorities... so the issue wasn't really that there was too much money being spent -
PITTMAN: Absolutely
SEDER: You would have liked to have seen it more targeted. Now I don't remember anybody on Fox News ever saying that and you didn't go to the Tea Parties so maybe that's why you're confused as to what they're about
PITTMAN: I'm not confused about anything and I don't represent Fox News and not one time have I tried to insult your intelligence and you've tried to do it to me 3 or 4 times
SEDER: Now I wouldn't try and suggest that but you know what are you gonna do?
PITTMAN: What do you mean what am I gonna do?
SEDER: Well, I didn't mean to insult your intelligence there are times where you have been getting your facts wrong...
PITTMAN: Tell me where I'm getting my facts wrong... Sam all you're doing is interrupting me

Update: May 22

VIDEO: Sam Seder VS Ken Pittman Round 2. Pt 3

Seder calls Garofalo Stalker Round 3 of 3
SAM SEDER: Go down the list, tell me one or two infrastructure projects that you think were not worthwhile
KEN PITTMAN: OK how bout the bridge in Missouri, it's a $300 million dollar project
SEDER: How much was it?
PITTMAN: I think it's a $300 million dollar project in Missouri, I don't have it right in front of me nor did I know you were gonna call cuz I certainly would have been more prepared.But I'm trying to do this off the cuff which is fine.

Read Ken Pittman's post game analysis of the debate on his official site -

Sam Seder pranks then interupts and lies to survive debate with Ken
5) Now, to his credit, Seder caught me flat footed on the specifics of my objections to the American Economic Recovery Plan or the 'stimulus' package the president designed for improving our economy. Despite his interupting and digression tactics, I was abhorant in response in my opinion. The list is long and complaints many but all I came up with to begin was the infrastructure plans and he made sure I didn't get on track. This was the strongest point in the debate for Seder but I have to take the blame for perhaps being a bit over accomodating his constant interuptions which affected my train of thought. I look forward to another exchange on 1420 AM WBSM.

Glenn Beck challenged by the ladies of 'The View'

VIDEO: Glenn Beck appears on 'The View'

It seems like a rite of passage for any Superstar pundit to make an appearance on ABC's 'The View'. High profile commentators like Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck have made appearances. Though tangential, Rush Limbaugh also had a sit down with Barbara Walters for her 'Most Fascinating People' special.

There was interesting exchange where the ladies challenged Beck's embellishments recounting his earlier encounter with the ladies on a train.

Glenn Beck on The View, Part I
JOY BEHAR: Why did you lie about that?
GLENN BECK: I don't know, I came over. I don't know
(crosstalk)
BEHAR: You had the breaks on or what?
BECK: I guess so... You're accusing me of lying, let me tell you what...
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: What do you mean I'm accusing you of lying. You sat there and you're a lying sack of dog mess. (audience laughter) C'mon man. You lied

Another interesting exchange occurs when Barbara Walters asks Glenn Beck about his "crying". Which leads to an odd exchange where Barbara Walters and Glenn Beck "doth protest too much"

Glenn Beck on The View, Part II
BARBARA WALTERS: You cry and that's one of your trademarks and you get very passionate and so forth, What are your real convictions. Tell us some things that real important to you?
GLENN BECK: Let me say something the crying thing... do you think that I want to be that guy. I'm on the quintessential chick show and your making fun of me for crying?
WALTERS: Excuse me, Excuse me (indignantly) Glenn! There was nothing in what I said that made fun of you... and what you did was say that I was making fun of you

Update: May 20
Glenn Beck responds to the ladies of 'The View' claiming he was ambushed on his official website and articulating the same on his show

Glenn ambushed on 'The View'
Glenn knew this wasn't going to be pretty -- but Glenn's interview on The View was even worse than anticipated, mostly because of the childish accusations (which they wasted an entire segment of TV on) that Glenn 'lied' about his chance encounter with Barbara and Whoopi on an Amtrak train down to the Correspondents dinner in Washington DC.

VIDEO: Glenn Beck responds to 'The View' via phone call-in, 

"Judge" Andrew Napolitano filling in

Update: May 21
During his radio program, Glenn Beck tells a caller that she wants the ladies of 'The View' to apologise

VIDEO: Glenn Beck wants a "damn apology" from Barbara Walters

GLENN BECK: I was not lying period. The story happened exactly the way I said it did. [Executive Producer] Stu clarified that I never said that I approached them, Barbara Walters -- The only thing in that story that did not happen was Barbara Walters did not say my name first... I said "Ms Walters, [I'm]Glenn Beck". [She said] "Yes Glenn Beck, I understand you're going to be on our show in a couple of weeks" and I said "yes"... both my assistant and my wife were outraged and insulted and you know what? I think maybe I'll kick it up a notch. I believe 'The View' owes me a damn apology. I didn't lie. Why don't you apologise and explain yourself. How the hell did you get those seats Barbara Walters? Call me a liar, Bullcrap!

Michael Savage calls out Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly

MICHAEL SAVAGE: And yet here in America, I've had some people come to my aid. They see the bigger picture. They're not like [Bill] O'Reilly; they're not like Limbaugh, who's the biggest disappointment of all. Limbaugh has turned out to be the biggest phony of all of them, all of them. Amongst all of them, he is the biggest fraud. Rush Limbaugh is a fraud. When he was accused of the drug usage, I supported him. But that man is a one-way street. It's all about him. He's in it for nobody but himself.

John Amato of Crooks and Liars, sympathetic to the wrestling analogy quipped "Talk about a big pay-per-view gate" of Savage's wrestling style promo.

Crooks and Liars commenters followed suit, drawing the analogy further

I stopped watching professional wrestling when I was twelve.
Weiner vs. Limpballs is just like two professional wrestlers hyping a fight.

Weiner may also be making a switch to the left because that's where the money is these days. He sees the writing on the wall. He is just into his career.

There is certainly no love lost between the three pundits - Rush Limbaugh the pure conservative, Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly self described "independents". All divisive and extremely influential talkers. Honoring the Triple Threat wrestling format here is a rundown of promos the pundits have leveled at each other.

Rush Limbaugh on his challengers
Limbaugh on Bill O'Reilly - "Somebody’s got to say it... the man is Ted Baxter"
Limbaugh on Michael Savage - "He’s not even in my rearview mirror"

Bill O'Reilly on his challengers
O'Reilly on Rush Limbaugh - Rush Limbaugh is a talk show host, they're not journalists
O'Reilly on Michael Savage - "far-right", "fringe", "smear merchant"

I've discussed previously how Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly are arguably #1 and #2 when it comes to being uniformly marginalised by their talker peers, Limbaugh save for this outburst by Savage is usually granted some deference due to his overwhelming influence. But for sheer spectacle alone, it would be a pleasure to see all three pundits at each other's throats in a wrestling smackdown like so:

VIDEO: Randy Orton, Triple H and John Cena talk trash in a triple threat showdown

Michale Savage not content with calling out Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, also challenges Sean Hannity whom he refers to as "Wall Banger" and refers the Glenn Beck, the APF's fastest rising star as the "hemorrhoid with eyes". Only natural that a wrestling feud expand from a Triple Threat match to a Fatal Four Way.

VIDEO: Michael Savage on Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck

MICHAEL SAVAGE: Rush Limbaugh is the General Motors of Talk Radio, Wall Banger [Glenn Beck] is the Chrysler of Talk Radio and both of them have been propped up by TARP funds which is the Republican Party itself. If it was not for the TARP listenership of Republican Party boobs, Rush the General Motors of Talk Radio would have been out of business, Wall Banger... would have been out of business. I am the smallest one in the major leagues. I am the underdog and I will fight with everything in me against General Motors and the Chrysler of talk Radio and if they wanna start a war with me, well let's get it on my friends!

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

Republican Congressman Tom Price disses(?) Rush Limbaugh on Scarborough

Another GOP Congressman has waded into the trap of criticising Rush Limbaugh, a mea culpa that politicians inevitably recant to avoid the wrath of the influential talker. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have cheekily made a "Rush Apology generator" website - I'm Sorry Rush

Its know that the Obama administration has deliberately been marginalising Rush, putting politicians in the untenable position of either supporting or disavowing the polarising but popular Right Wing figurehead. Republicans Michael Steele and and Phil Gingrey have been the two most recent politicians ensnared in this trap.

Representative Tom Price is the latest to challenge Rush Limbaugh. His words were quite moderate but Joe Scarborough insisted on his line of questioning hoping to yield a spectacular rebuke of Rush. Which didn't come.

VIDEO: Rep. Price Disagrees With Limbaugh, Cheney

Rep. Tom Price: ‘It’s Not Up To Rush Limbaugh To Decide Who Ought To Be In The Republican Party’
SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you disagree with Rush Limbaugh that Colin Powell should leave the Republican Party?

PRICE: Look, it’s not up to Rush Limbaugh to decide who ought to be in the Republican Party. There are all sorts of wonderful folks across this land who hold dear the fundamental principles that we, as Republicans — [...]

SCARBOROUGH: Congressman, do you believe that Rush Limbaugh or Dick Cheney are better, quote — I’m just using terms that we hear every day on TV and radio — that they are somehow better Republicans than Colin Powell?

PRICE: No. Goodness.

I highlighted this case not because I anticipate a Rush response to Congressman Tom Price, but rather a response directed towards the conservative Joe Scarborough. The best I could find was this

How Could Powell be a "Better" Republican Than Dick Cheney?
RUSH: Look, throw me out of this for a second. Throw me out of the equation here. How in the world can a Republican say that Colin Powell is a better Republican than Dick Cheney? How? And that's what Tom Price said here, and Scarborough applauds him for some reason!...

President Obama names Republican John Huntsman as ambassador to China

President Obama has stated previously that of all the likely Republican challengers, the administration fears Utah Governor (and Mormon) John Huntsman.

Obama's campaign manager fears Jon Huntsman the most in 2012
While no republican presidential candidate yet makes Obama's team "shake in {their} shoes...," President Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, tells the U.S. News and World Report that Governor Jon Huntsman makes him, a "wee bit queasy...I think he's really out there speaking a lot of truth about the direction of the party."

It's also worth noting Huntsman polled 6th of the "Current crop of Governors with brightest political future" as voted by GOP insiders, besting Sarah Palin by one.
Strategically President Obama has named Huntsman as his ambassador for China neutralising a formidable 2012 contender and swerving the Republican base.

Obama naming Huntsman ambassador to China
President Barack Obama named Republican Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. as his pick for ambassador to China, likely removing one of his strongest potential challengers in the 2012 presidential campaign from the running.

In an unusual Saturday announcement broadcast live on some cable networks, Obama acknowledged that Huntsman’s decision might not be easy for him to explain to the Republican Party.

And Huntsman said he, as a former national co-chairman for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, never expected “to be called into action by the person who beat us,” but added that "When the president of the United States asks you step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge."

AllahPundit of HotAir provides his analysis on Obama's shrewd move and John Huntsman's turn

Shock: Huntsman quits as Utah gov to be Obama’s ambassador to China
So much for the great moderate hope in 2012. What’s his angle here? Three possibilities: (a) Despite all appearances, he was never thinking of running for president. (b) He was thinking of running, but he’s enough of a patriot that he couldn’t say no when the president called on him. (c) He was aiming at 2016 all along and this is actually a brilliant move to burnish his bipartisan cred and his foreign-policy gravitas in advance, especially insofar as it makes him a player with a rising superpower like China.

The best moderate Republicans can hope for is that John Huntsman is planning the biggest swerve of all come "decision time" in 2012. A la wrestling, note the pun that Sting is choosing between a team that is half black/half white or Red.
VIDEO: Sting joins the NWO (but which one?)

Glenn Becks says American Politics is like 'The Matrix'

I've talked about hyperreality plenty of times in this blog, Glenn Beck runs with the concept using the ultimate pop culture reference on the subject - The Matrix (1999)

Wikipedia describes Hyperreality thusly

Definition - Hyperreality
Hyperreality characterizes the inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from fantasy, especially in technologically advanced postmodern cultures. Hyperreality is a means to characterise the way consciousness defines what is actually "real" in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter the original event or experience being depicted.

Glenn Beck, complete with props invoked the famous Matrix scene where 'Morpheus' (Lawrence Fishburne) offers 'Neo' (Keanu Reeves) a choice between finding the truth or remaining in denial as symbolised by the red and blue pills. It's worth noting the pun the pill colors Red (Republicans) and Blue (Democratic) represent politically in America.

Time to Shatter the Matrix
Let me put it this way: Remember the movie "The Matrix"? Nothing was real, the world people lived in was a fabrication — a computer program. Our lives have been like that movie and it is not about Barack Obama. It's about Obama and Bush and Clinton and Bush. It has been going on for years, it is just a play and it goes back to the progressive movement — on both sides of the aisle.

In the movie the hero is offered two pills: red to learn the truth about the Matrix; blue to go on living blissfully ignorant to what is really going on.

The way to take our country back will short-circuit the Matrix we are living in. And it has to do with gun rights, state's rights and what I call the civilest war.

It is too much to get into now — but next week take the "red pill" and get the truth.

VIDEO: The Red Pill/Blue pill scene from the Matrix

John McCain's mother, Roberta McCain calls out Rush Limbaugh and Keith Olbermann on' The Jay Leno show

At 97 years old, John McCain's mother Roberta McCain takes the record for being the oldest person to call out an APF pundit.

When Jay Leno asked the elder Mother McCain "which commentators bothered her on the left" she remarked

ROBERTA McCAIN: Olbermann - Myself I can't figure out the type of person who really, more or less gets joys denigrating people, humiliating people. I'm just not that type of person and I don't have friends like that and thank God I'm not around people like him.

Jay Leno naturally followed up with "Who annoys you on the right", Roberta McCain didn't give a clear answer but offered this about Rush Limbaugh once Leno insisted:

ROBERTA McCAIN: What he [Rush] thinks about or what he represents about the Republican Party has nothing to do with my side of it. I don't know what the man means, I don't know what he's talking about... well also the Chairman of the Republican Party, Steele was exactly right when he defined this man as an entertainer and to my horror the Republican Party made him back up on it. Limbaugh you're a compliment when he says you're an entertainer. I don't know what he is but he does not represent the Republican Party I belong to

VIDEO: Roberta McCain on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' (5/13/09)

Meghan McCain proving to be quite the 'wrestling heel' (villain or provocateur) gleefully twittered "I love that my Nana talked smack about Rush on Jay Leno..."

To which a FreePer astutely noted that

Meghan McCain happy that her grandmother "talked smack" about Rush last night
Her "Nana" also "talked smack" about Olbermann, but she didn't seem to love that.

It will be interesting to see if Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olbermann return fire at 'Nana McCain' considering her frail age. Both have the merciless personas capable of it and a show format that would support it.

Pro wrestling never had a problem with keeping the gloves off no matter how old the targets or aggressors were. As this blog has proven, Punditry looks to follow suit.

VIDEO: Mae Young, Fabulous Moolah & Test VS Bossman & Albert

Update:
It didn't take long, Rush Limbaugh responded to Roberta McCain on his program following day. A tame response all things considered but it did have a cheeky illustration

McCain's Mother Dumps on Rush!
RUSH: She's right. She's absolutely right. The Republican Party she belongs to get shellacked election after election after election. Man, send McCain's mother out to dump on me? (laughing) No, I love it. I love it. Her son said the same thing. (impersonating McCain) "He's just an entertainer, he's just an entertainer, got it, got it? He's just an entertainer, he-he, he-he, he-he. He's a clown, good clown, circus, that's it. He-he, he-he. You got it?" I don't know what the man means; I don't know what the man means.

With Rush's 'Stop or my Mom will shoot' reference gives McCain the Stallone trifecta having been likened to Rocky, Rambo and now Sgt. Joe Bomowski from the aforementioned movie.

Janeane Garofalo VS Ken Pittman, Fox News, Griff Jenkins and Sean Hannity

Janeane Garofalo stalked by Fox News' Griff Jenkins

There has been some excitement today surrounding liberalism's Top heel (villain) Janeane Garofalo, lingering fallout from her provocative charges against the Tea party protesters. Appearing in Somerville Boston, for the 'Alternate Comedy Festival', Janeane Garofalo was stalked and ambushed by two separate conservative critics - Fox News' Griff Jenkins and local Talk Radio host Ken Pittman.

Ken Pittman, the self proclaimed "voice of reason in Massachusetts" made news for a planned protest of the comedian.

Janeane Garofalo gig sparks protest in Somerville
A group of steamed citizens led by conservative radio talk host Ken Pittman of New Bedford’s WBSM-AM plan to protest outside her gig tonight at the Somerville Theatre.

"She has exposed herself as a bigot" Pittman said.
About 20 to 40 people are expected to show up, he said.

Janeane's former co-host, Boston-raised Sam Seder stands up for his embattled friend and has some fun at the expense of Ken Pittman and his underwhelming protest.

VIDEO: Conservative Talker Ken Pittman gets ambushed by Sam Seder @ BreakRoomLive.com

SAM SEDER: Do you think its gonna be awkward when he goes on Fox for him to just say that it was just him at that protest or what?... Well because I read in the Herald, I saw on Hannity that there were going to be people inside, that they were gonna have a real big surprise. It just turned out that he went out there with a Fox camera man and just recorded her

Friend and fellow comedian Marc Maron interviews Janeane Garofalo to get her side of the story

VIDEO: Janeane Garofalo Interview @ BreakRoomLive.com

Ken Pittman shares his side of the story on his blog - Garofalo unapologetic and

Garofalo on Ken Pittman:
Basically, she is right about the protest. I was technically the only one there but on the bright side, I am tied for first for the smallest protest ever... I felt compelled to stick around for a few in case someone wanted to ask me anything or even tell me anything.

Watch the footage of Janeane Garofalo confronted by Griff Jenkins shown on Hannity's program

VIDEO: Fox News Griff Jenkins' confronting Janeane Garofalo

Rush Limbaugh doesn't respond to comedian Wanda Sykes, no sells WHCD entertainer

Rush Limbaugh has stated that he wants a program people tune in to see "what he'll do next".

Rush Limbaugh explaining 'How Talk Radio Works'
I want people to call because they are reacting to what's happening on my program. Not what happened yesterday on somebody else's. Not what happened on the guy before me... I want to be the reason people listen in to my program. They way I react to the guests, the way things might happen on my program. The things I might say and the things I might do.

A testament to Rush' influence and brilliant execution of this scheme is that even his non-responses are newsworthy. Comedian Wanda Sykes had made a pointed joke about Rush during the recent White House correspondent's dinner over the weekend. Listeners were expecting a rebuttal once Rush returned to air:

Limbaugh avoids Sykes catfight
Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh took the high road Monday following Wanda Sykes saying he is a terrorist and making other acerbic comments about him during a comedic routine at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner over the weekend.

Talk-radio fans and political junkies buzzed in anticipation about what Mr. Limbaugh might say on his national, three-hour radio show.

In wrestling, this is called "no-selling". When a wrestler doesn't even bother reacting to a hit, usually a way to project strength. This was discussed in a previous post - The art of "Selling": Christopher Hitchens with Ralph Reed on 'Hannity and Colmes'

Rush Limbaugh didn't no-sell Sykes completely Monday, an admission his non-response was a calculated move.

Rush Limbaugh mum on Sykes' remarks
There was, however, a mysterious moment during the show's final minutes, when Limbaugh interrupted a dialogue on fiscal policy and, in a statement seemingly directed at his prodding producer, said, "How can they be running a response, when I didn't respond? Well, there isn't going to be a response!"

Rush Limbaugh has made headlines in the last year with each of the feuds (no matter how trivial) he's been a part of. Having been challenged by the likes of Michael Steele, President Obama, Colin Powell and various congressman, Rush has piqued attention and ratings with each of these feuds.

Perhaps its a uniform policy regarding entertainers, Rush Limbaugh also didn't take the bait set by fellow comedian Janeane Garofalo - Keith Olbermann and Janeane Garofalo VS Rush Limbaugh: APF handicap match