The Show program for the 'Rally to Restore Sanity' AKA 'March to keep fear Alive'

Here is the planned timetable for the joint Daily Show/Colbert Report Rally held on October 30, 2010 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Via The Christian Science Monitor

Revealed: schedule for 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear'
* 10:00 a.m.: The pre-pre-show begins with videos and music on the jumbotron to keep the gathering crowd friendly and entertained.
* Noon: The pre-show starts with a performance from The Roots.
* 12:40: A comedian (to be determined) warms up the audience.
* 12:57: A video countdown with a show introduction.
* 1:00: The show kicks off with the national anthem by a musical guest (to be announced).
* 1:05: Mr. Stewart welcomes the crowd – whose projected size is ballooning daily. Currently, there are 200,000 sign-ups on the official Facebook page alone.
* 1:20: Mr. Colbert enters, and two actors – Don Novello and Sam Waterston – perform readings.
* 1:40: Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staple perform for 10 minutes, followed by Stewart and Colbert until 2 p.m.
* 2:15: Sheryl Crow performs for five minutes, followed by speakers and guests (to be determined).
* 2:30: Musical guests (also still being lined up) come on.
* 2:40: The show turns to a pre-taped sequence – The Sanity and Fear Awards. (Noting the intense media interest in this event as she reads through the rundown, Ms. Lowe says, “I’d like some sanity, myself.”)

Marc Maron and Mark Riley's 'Morning Sedition': The infamous 'Wrestle a Republican' episode with Mick Foley

Morning Sedition - 12-21-04 - The Wrestle a Republican Sketch...Revealed! (Best Of).mp3
MARC MARON: ... We're going to listen to a segment that got more responses than anything else we've ever done for Morning Sedition... Its our infamous 'Wrestle-a-Republican' show...

-cut to a replay of said 'infamous show' with accompanying running commentary followed by a reunion from the principles of the segment-

MARC MARON: Good evening, geniuses, philosopher kings and queens, working class heroes, liberals of all kinds. Even our conservative friends, you're welcome as well. And of course wrestling fans...

We got really tired before the election of hearing these Republican emails and phone calls. Just these blowhards that would say we're all talk no action and why don't you guys do something about it.

So basically what we did was we solicited our Republican listeners to come in and wrestle one of the hosts...

Considered one of the most talked about bits in 'Morning Sedition' history, here is a recap of the infamous 'Wrestle-a-Republican' segment here:

• Mark and Marc talk about Al Franken's collegiate wrestling background. Maron does his Franken impression but makes it clear he is not mocking Franken. 
• The 'Morning Sedition' hosts play a bait-and-switch and get guest host wrestling legend Mick Foley to fight the republican challenger. 
• Mick Foley promotes his children's book 'Tales from Wrescal Lane' and talks about his involvement in educating the youth on politics and voting
• Talked about his debate with fellow wrestler John Bradshaw Layfield at the 'University of Miami'
• Foley explains the different reactions he's gotten from pundits Paul Begala and Chris Matthews to him being a Pro-wrestler involved and well versed in politics 
• Foley explains why wrestlers might be more equipped in discussing politics as they "Straddle between the two Americas", having access to the working class and the elite with their brand of entertainment.
• 'Dave the Republican' returns to the show and breaks kayfabe by revealing his true identity and the effectiveness the "work" had in duping the Air America audience and management.

Find Morning Sedition archives here

This infamous segment is likely to have informed this bit on 'The Daily Show' which featured Mick Foley and Maron's WTF discussion with Wyatt Cenac that touched on pro-wrestling.

Find Brendan McDonald's original recap of the Mick Foley 'Morning Sedition' appearance here: Mick Foley - Politics is just like wrestling

Connecticut Secretary of State discriminates against wrestling fans, Vince McMahon fires back and "Stands Up for WWE"

VIDEO: Vince McMahon defends the WWE Universe's right to vote

VINCE McMAHON: Last Monday we began a global initiative to Stand Up for WWE. I believe WWE fans, our organization as well as our superstars have been and continue to be discriminated against by elitist government officials and some members of the media...

Politics and Wrestling collide once again, Vince McMahon addresses the WWE universe for 'Stand Up for WWE', an initiative founded by the company to defend against politically motivated attacks besmirching their brand.

Via WWE.com

State Of Connecticut Threatens WWE Fans' Right To Vote
STAMFORD, Conn. – The right for World Wrestling Entertainment fans to vote was threatened Friday by Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, who gave the authority to local poll workers to determine that if anyone shows up to the polls on November 2 wearing any WWE merchandise, whether it is a John Cena T-shirt or a Randy Orton wristband, they may be forced to go home and change, cover it up, or take it off in order to vote.

“Denying our fans the right to vote, denying them their First Amendment rights, regardless if they are Democrat, Republican or Independent, is un-American, unconstitutional and blatantly discriminatory,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO of WWE.

To watch a full response recorded by the WWE Chairman and CEO, please click here.

Find previous posts relating to the WWE and politics
- WWE Smackdown: McCain and Obama on the Youth vote
- Wrestling meets Politics - the story so far

Dana White video blog: Talking politics and UFC 121

VIDEO: Dana White video blog UFC 121

 

The UFC has released its latest video blog following UFC President Dana White. The video has been released in the wake of UFC 121 featuring the highly anticipated matchup between heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez. Video highlights include Dana White making appearances with Nevada Democratic senator Harry Reid and UFC legend Chuck Liddell encouraging students to vote. As well as Main Event predictions for UFC 121 from Vitor Belfort, Jon 'Bones' Jones and Junior Dos Santos.

Keith Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh appear on Seth MacFarlane's 'Family Guy'

VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh on FAMILY GUY! w/ Seth MacFarlane

Rush Limbaugh and Keith Olbermann do share something in common. They've both lent their talents to Fox's 'The Family Guy'.

Rush Limbaugh recently played himself on a recent episode where he ideologically converted the Family Dog, 'Brian Griffin' a staunch liberal. Rush' appearance has caused quite an uproar amongst the right who feel it is an unworthy vehicle for Rush:

Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy--Why?
Rush Limbaugh is due to appear on "Family Guy" as himself on Sunday, October 3rd. Considering the reputation that Seth MacFarlane's show has for childish, gross out, far left humor, Rush's fans are asking why.

One explanation might be the same reason Jesus associated with the Pharisees and other people of bad repute; that the audience of "Family Guy" is very much in need of Rush's wisdom.

Rush Limbaugh spoke to Radio Equalizer to explain why he accepted the invitation to appear on 'The Family Guy'

Exclusive Interview: Rush Limbaugh Answers Critics Over Family Guy Starring Role
RADIO EQUALIZER: Did you get a lot of flak at the time for the Playboy interview? Similar to this? A question I've received: "why's he helping lefty Hollywood types who hate us?"

RUSH LIMBAUGH: Yes, I did. And on other occasions I can't recall. This is my third Family Guy but first as the star. Seth MacFarlane doesn't hate me. Or Andrew Breitbart, who he met on Maher's show and really liked.

Besides, it was a new career challenge, a new experience. It was a LOT of work. I sing, and I'm deaf!... I'm a performer. This was fun. Seth wants to do even more.

Seth was among the FIRST to reach out to me in Hawaii when I had that heart scare. I am not helping the Hollywood Left. His show is going to be on the air regardless what I do.

BUT, the better way to look at this is that they bent for me. I did not bend to them. It's not as though I endorse or support libs on this show. The other way around. A huge lib character becomes a conservative.

RADIO EQUALIZER: Thanks, Rush, we'll be watching.

Limbaugh's ideological counterpart, Keith Olbermann has also lent his talents to 'The Family Guy'. Watch Keith hosting show creator Seth MacFarlane and writer Alex Borstein on his 'Countdown' show talking about the 'Family Guy' and his involvement in it.

• Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane on Keith Olbermann's Show
• Alex Borstein interview - Keith's debut as a cartoon

Jon Stewart on NPR's 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross discussing Glenn Beck and The Daily Show's 'Rally to Restore Sanity'

Terry Gross interviewed Jon Stewart on Sept. 29 at the 92nd Street Y
in New York City. (Joyce Culver/92nd Street Y)

Jon Stewart recently sat down with NPR's Terry Gross in front of a live audience to discus his show and the upcoming duel rallies he is hosting with Stephen Colbert, 'The Rally to Restore Sanity' and 'March to keep fear alive'.

Jon on distancing the rally as a direct reaction to Glenn Beck's 'Restoring Honor' event

Jon Stewart: The Most Trusted Name In Fake News
"Like everything that we do, the march is merely a construct," he says. "It's merely a format, in the way the book is a format, a show is a format ... to be filled with the type of material that Stephen and I do and the point of view [that we have]. People have said, 'It's a rally to counter Glenn Beck.' It's not. What it is was, we saw that and thought, 'What a beautiful outline. What a beautiful structure to fill with what we want to express in live form, festival form."...

"I very much wanted to avoid the idea that [the march] would be a reaction to him. 'Cause I don't think that'd be fair to him and it's not meant to ridicule activism or the Tea Party movement or religious people."

Stewart on defining what they value and do on the 'Daily Show'

But even though The Daily Show often comes up with facts and stories missed by other news sources, Stewart says, it would be wrong to describe what he does as "journalism."

"We don't do anything but make the connections," he says. "We're just going off our own instinct of, 'What are the connections to this that make sense?' And this really is true: We don't fact-check [and] look at context because of any journalistic criteria that has to be met; we do that because jokes don't work when they're lies. We fact-check so when we tell a joke, it hits you at sort of a gut level — not because we have a journalistic integrity, [but because] hopefully we have a comedic integrity that we don't want to violate."

Jon Stewart on Glenn Beck

On similarities between himself and Glenn Beck
"He's a reaction to what he feels like is the news, and so are we. We actually share quite a bit in common in terms of, not point of view necessarily, but reason for being. We're both in some ways an op-ed. We consider ourselves editorial cartoonists in some respect. Not him, but the show. Op-ed cartoonists, or the Messiah. We're both different...

On deconstructing Beck
"The beautiful thing about what he does is, it's very difficult to argue with his facts. It's the conclusions [that are problematic]. ... It's that slippery slope. ... So what you do is, you just grab together facts and put them together and then do a grab bag of conclusions. Everything is discovered as evidence of secret plots, of secret things that could be occurring."

Read the entire article and listen to the 40+ minute conversation between Jon Stewart and Terry Gross here - Jon Stewart: The Most Trusted Name In Fake News

Pete Dominick: 'CNN's What the Week' and Pete shares his side of the story on the Rick Sanchez firing

CNN's new show hosted by Comedian and RadioTalker Pete Dominick,

'What the Week'

Below are video excerpts of Pete Dominick's new show on CNN, 'What the Week'. As Pete's Facebook declares: "CNN has given What The Week an extension". PunditFight encourages everyone to check out the show. If you like what you see and hear...

Pete Dominick on Facebook
Please please add the Facebook page for CNN's "What the Week". Spread the word about this new TV show as much as you can. We really think we have something special here

VIDEO: 'What the Week' with Pete Dominick

'What the Week' with Pete Dominick
The new CNN show featuring comedian and talk-show-host Pete Dominick. In this segment: Show Intro, Week that Was, Undercovered Stories, Afghanistan man on the street and panel including Arianna Huffington and Todd Zwillich

Pete Dominick airs his side of the story on the Rick Sanchez firing where he draws a distinction between public interest and public fascination. I suggest you listen to the audio attached, it is a good primer on Pete's presentation style and value system. Particularly handy as this Sanchez controversy is likely to have drawn Pete many new listeners.

Pete Dominick, Rick Sanchez Interviewer: Sanchez Came With 'Live Grenade In His Mouth' (AUDIO)
... Speaking on his Sirius XM satellite show "Stand Up With Pete Dominick," Pete Dominick recounted the events leading up to the fateful interview...

"Frankly, I didn't really want him to do the radio show," Dominick said. "He's not the type of guest we have on this show. We generally have experts on the issues."

When the interview began, he said, he was shocked at what Sanchez said. The anchor, he said, came "with a live grenade in his mouth, and he pulled the pin. I tried to put it back for him but he wasn't having it."...

Listen and Download the Pete Dominick Audio here - Pete Dominick: Rick Sanchez came with "live grenade in his mouth"

Read and Listen to my 2008 interview with Pete Dominick - Introducing the newest APF Pundit: Pete Dominick

Where to watch Glenn Beck's 'Restoring Honor' Rally (8/28/2010)

August 28, 2010. Glenn Beck's 'Restoring Honor' Rally

On August 28, 2010 Glenn Beck organised a rally in Washington DC at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Glenn Beck and the rally received some early criticism, accused of hijacking the date which would have been the forty-seventh anniversary of the Great March on Washington, where Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King famously delivered his "I have a Dream" speech.

The 'Restoring Honor' rally turned out to be less overtly political and more religious, honoring America's fighting men and women and a celebration of freedom. Its most notable speakers included Glenn Beck (Conservative Commentator and organiser), Sarah Palin (2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee) and Alveda King (former Georgia State Representative and niece of Martin Luther King)

Watch the official documentary made by the enterprising Glenn Beck team:

8/28 the Documentary now available on-demand!
This is our first full-length documentary and it’s going to blow you away. It’s an exclusive inside look at the making of the 8-28 Rally. When we say exclusive, we mean it. From the time Glenn arrived in Washington DC to the time he took the stage our cameras were rolling. You will not believe what went on behind the scenes:

• We’ll show you how most of my staff had no idea what the plan was just days before the event.

• You’ll see the panic that took place when we heard that Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa may not show up.

• And the best part…we’ll tell you the story of how the script to Glenn’s speech went missing on the way to the rally.

You can also watch the simulcast of the event that was originally aired on C-Span
'Restoring Honor' Rally aired on C-Span

Paul Levesque (aka Triple H) rallies support for Linda McMahon with Video message

After making a special appearance to thank Linda McMahon's campaign volunteers, Paul Levesque (Triple H) tapes a special video message explaining the value Linda McMahon offers to her State.

VIDEO: Paul Levesque (aka Triple H) Rallying Support for Linda

TRIPLE H: I'm just out here supporting Linda and trying to meet the people that are out here helping her, the volunteers that are knocking on doors, putting up sign, spreading the word about what she's trying to do and helping to get her elected.

I'm just here thanking them and letting them know that its appreciated by Linda and by everybody else. I know why she's doing this and that's the benefit of her being my mother-in-law. She's doing it for my kids you know. She looks at the state and thinks things are screwed up, she looks at the government and thinks things are screwed up and going in a bad direction and she wants to change it and I feel she has the ability to.

That's a sacrifice. She's making a sacrifice, sacrificing all those things - the money, the time and personal life - to try to better the state, to better the country.

And that to me - what more noble of a thing do you need right?

This follows in the line of wrestling personalities getting involved in Politics:
- Nikolai Volkoff: Former WWF wrestler Nikolai Volkoff 's political bid in 2006
- Jerry Lawler: WWE Wrestling personality Jerry "The King" Lawler runs for Mayor of Memphis
- Jesse Ventura: Read all Jesse Ventura posts here

Linda McMahon rolls out wrestling superstar Triple H to help in her Senate campaign

Meet Triple H as he campaigns for mother-in-law,
Senate Candidate Linda McMahon

Politics and Wrestling together again! Via Senate candidate Linda McMahon's facebook page:

Linda McMahon Facebook
Come meet my son-in-law Paul Levesque (aka Triple H) before door knocking in Fairfield tomorrow morning! He'll be at the Fairfield Republican Victory HQ (map: http://bit.ly/ctazcm) at 9:30 am. Let's spread the word door-to-door and get pumped!

Find previous Linda McMahon posts here
- Olympic champion and wrestling superstar Kurt Angle endorses Linda McMahon
- Video: Linda McMahon's Primary Victory Speech (with cameo from Triple H)
- Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon wins GOP nod in Connecticut
- WWE's Linda McMahon on 'The View', leads GOP hopefuls for Connecticut Senate seat
- WWE's Linda McMahon prepares Connecticut Senate run

Update: October 2, 2010
Here is a photo of Paul Levesque (AKA Triple H) rallying Linda McMahon supporters before their door-knocking campaign

LINDA McMAHON: Thank you, Paul, for rallying the troops this morning!
It's a beautiful day to knock on doors and get out this grassroots effort. Only one month to go!

Rick Sanchez appears on 'Stand Up with Pete Dominick', conversation contributes to CNN firing

Rick Sanchez has been released by CNN presumably for comments he made on APF pundit Pete Dominick's show

BREAKING: Rick Sanchez Fired From CNN
CNN released this statement today:

“Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company. We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.“

They will broadcast CNN Newsroom from 3-5pm for the foreseeable future.

Pete Dominick's website (www.standupwithpetedominick) was down for several hours, though it seems to be fine now. Pete will be expanding his role on CNN with a new Saturday show, 2:30pm ET. His facebook page offers a hint of the show's content

On our show tomorrow on CNN at 2:30 and 10:30 I will bring a camera to the people every week. We will talk about the weeks stories that weren't covered enough. We will highlight people from the week who are "better than me" and we will never prep a segment on pop culture unless it slams americans obsession with it

Here are is a sample of of Sanchez' contentious remarks

Partial transcript of conversation between Rick Sanchez and Pete Dominick
RICK SANCHEZ: Its not just the right that does this cuz I've know a lot of elite, north east, establishment liberals that may not use this as a business model but deep down they look at a guy like me and they automatically see a guy in the second tier and not in the top tier...

I think to a certain extent Jon Stewart and Colbert are the same way. I think Jon Stewart is a bigot... [he is bigoted towards] anyone who isn't like him. Look at his, I mean what does he surround himself with?...

I’m telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority? Yeah.

That what happens when you watch yourself [Sanchez] on his show all day and all they ever do is call you stupid...

I think Jon's show is essentially prejudicial... against anybody who doesn't agree with his point of view which is very much a white, liberal, establishment point of view. He can't relate to a guy like me...

He's upset that someone of my ilk is at almost his level. I'm sorry that's my impression. Why would a guy constantly berate you night in and night out?...

VIDEO: Rick Sanchez calls Jon Stewart a bigot on Pete Dominick's radio show

Read and Listen to my 2008 interview with Pete Dominick - Introducing the newest APF Pundit: Pete Dominick

David Letterman in conversation with Jon Stewart compares Glenn Beck to Bobby Heenan

VIDEO: Jon Stewart on The Late Show
with David Letterman (Sept 29, 2010)

David Letterman and Jon Stewart have used the wrestling analogy to describe American Punditry more than once. So it's no surprise to see Letteman make this comparison between Glenn Beck and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. What it does show is that Letterman has put some thought to the analogy and that he knows his wrestling.

Jon Stewart on The Late Show with David Letterman (Sept 29, 2010)
DAVID LETTERMAN: ... I finally figured out who Glenn Beck is, he's Bobby Heenan. Do you remember Bobby Heenan?
JON STEWART: Bobby Heenan, the wrestling manager!
LETTERMAN: That's right. That's exactly who Glenn Beck is.
STEWART: Bobby Heenan?
LETTERMAN: Bobby Heenan. Yes. He's just looking to make trouble. He has no idea what he's talking about. He just wants trouble.

Find previous occasions where Letterman and Stewart have used the wrestling analogy here:

• Jon Stewart, Wyatt Cenac and Mick Foley endorse the analogy that American Politics is like pro-wrestling
• William 'Bill' Kristol - Top wrestling heel (villain)
• Bill O'Reilly on David Letterman talking about Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh

Glenn Beck discussed this exchange between Stewart and Letterman with radio co-host Pat Gray on 'The Glenn Beck Program'

Jon Stewart hearts Glenn
PAT: The reference to Bobby Heenan or whatever, whoever he's talking about there is a really good reason not to go on Letterman's irrelevant show. Nobody knows who Bobby Heenan is.

GLENN: Doesn't matter. Look, David Letterman, you know, he doesn't believe, I believe, in anything I say. I don't believe in the things that he believes in.
PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: You know, why would I go there?
PAT: It's a useless exercise.
GLENN: I don't believe
PAT: In futility.

GLENN: Yeah, I don't believe in boycotting anything. I just believe in this: I spend my money and my time in things that I believe in. I don't believe in David Letterman. David Letterman does what David Letterman does. He's funny sometimes, he's I don't know honestly, David, I don't know how you do it every day. I don't know how you are still doing the top 10 and you don't think, really? Again? I'm doing this? I mean, I don't know how you do that...

What is most astonishing about this exchange is that Glenn Beck's showmanship and craft is seemingly not informed through a boyhood interest in wrestling. I hope someone will one day get a chance to ask if Beck ever watched wrestling as a kid. Not knowing who Bobby Heenan offers some clue to the negative.

To enlighten Pat Gray and Glenn Beck, here is a sample of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's work

VIDEO: Bobby Heenan Angry with Andre the Giant

To be honest I actually don't see the Heenan/Beck comparison. The one I used was an amalgam of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Doink The Clown and Edge and Chris Jericho.

According to David Letterman, Glenn Beck is Bobby "The Brain" Heenan