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

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

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

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

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

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

SNL imagining a John Cena and Dwayne Johnson Presidency

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

VIDEO: John Cena supports #WeAreAmerica this Independence Day

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

Alex Jones on the Presidential ticket of Mark Zuckerberg and ‘The Rock

Tag Team contenders Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Mark Zuckerberg

Alex Jones and Infowars counterpart Owen Shroyer discusses the growing push for a Dwayne Johnson Presidential candidacy. Whilst not opposed to the suggestion, they're concerned he might ally with the Democrats or Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who is a top Presidential contender in his own right.

The Alex Jones Show (Friday May 12, 2017) 
ALEX JONES: (3h 23m 12s) Can you imagine if the Rock [aka Dwayne Johnson] runs with [Mark] Zuckerberg?
OWEN SHROYER: Its interesting Alex, I know you've talked to people within the WWE. Its pretty well known the WWE is a pretty conservative group, politically. Considering the people who go out to the media and do interviews. You've got Linda McMahon who's in as the Small Business Administration adviser, Vince McMahon's wife.
JONES: The billionaire strut
SHROYER: And like you said earlier, I don't have a problem with the Rock. I think the Rock is a genuine guy. I think he genuinely cares about people.
JONES: I just know I like all the shows he's on. I mean I won't watch a lot of TV, he's just really funny to watch. I like him and I can't — If he runs with the Democrats, oh huh please don’t do that. SHROYER: Apparently they say he's a registered Republican, I don't know if that's true or not. JONES: I hope that's the case because the word is Zuckerberg is getting him to run.
SHROYER: Well I think that’s what they're gonna try and do Alex. They know the Rock has people power. I mean he's the People's Champion, that's what they call him. They know he will draw a lot of attention. He's already drawing attention just for the notion he might run and the Democrats have nothing. They literally have nothing...

Remember the Rumble: Donald Trump, Election 2016 wallpaper

Donald Trump and Election 2016 wallpaper
and why we should "Remember the Rumble"

Only a week into the Trump presidency and many people remain in a state of disbelief and denial that there's a new sheriff in town. Trump is the first President to arrive into power with a sub 50% approval rating, his second day in office met with a wave of oppositional marches that overshadowed the crowd figures at his inauguration. Not one to take disapproval lying down Trump snidely tweeted:

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

The President's senior counselor Steve Bannon adding "The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while". Whilst it appears like weeping and gnashing of teeth from Trump's detractors it's best described as blind fury. In pugilistic fashion, Trump has worked his opponents into a frenzy with goading rhetoric that aims to distract and debase them.

This is why it doesn’t matter when Donald Trump lies by Joe Hildebrand
Unfortunately many in the American left and liberal media still seem wholly incapable of seeing what drove Donald Trump to power and are thus hopelessly ill-equipped to remove him from it. The only trick in the playbook seems to be to dig up one more scandal, one more "gotcha" moment, and hope that this will be the one that sinks him.

If Einstein is right that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result then it’s not Trump who is the crazy one...

Instead of getting outraged by everything he says over and over again or protesting his very existence, Trump's opponents should find out why people voted for him in the first place and offer them a better alternative.

After all, if he's as bad as they say he is how hard can that be?

Its worth noting that Trump successfully divided and conquered opposition from his right flank, from Fox News to the National Review #NeverTrumpers. He also gave the last rites to both the Bush and Clinton dynasties. Trump has deftly fashioned friends and enemies across multiple, often unorthodox lines. Successfully repurposing the broad, bipartisan discontent on issues (trade, voter registration) and groups (congress, the media) to suit his ends. Redefining the playbook for modern politics, overlooked is how Trump revealed that voters weren't as monolithic as previously thought. Demonstrating it's possible for a leader to convince supporters to accept sworn enemies, welcome"alternative facts" and forgive conflicts of interest.

A potpourri of policies offered by the right salesman may be dutifully adopted especially if one is content to win only marginal support. Brandon Wetherbee and Chris Kelly, authors of 'The Donald: How Trump Turned Presidential Politics into Pro Wrestling' frames Hildebrand's prescription thusly

The Great American Bash "Heel President" (Nov 9, 2016)
CHRIS KELLY: (18m 25s) That's the thing, we just miscalculated that the heel would get his comeuppance now. Cuz there's still "heat" to get.
BRANDON WETHERBEE: I got a text last night saying -- What happens to the heel when he wins? Well he just keeps winning.
KELLY: He just keeps winning until there's a good challenger that you actually want to be the face of the company...

We need to be reminded that Trump vanquished a gauntlet of opposition from both sides of the aisle. His audacious boast that he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" without losing voters chillingly proved true. It'll be a tall order finding a challenger as teflon as the Don but the candidate pool has broadened, rival billionaire Mark Cuban indicating "I think it did open a door, I think he's set a path for entrepreneurs, for business people".

The road to the White House starts at the Rumble

Using the upcoming WWE PPV as inspiration, I've made a new wallpaper to remind voter's of the alternatives paths offered and what Trump's conquest in spite monumental doubts signifies. Reminiscent of Colbert's 'Hungry for Power Games', I've appropriated the tagline for this year's Royal Rumble in San Antonio. Whilst the theme is "Remember the Rumble", I have a feeling the aftershocks of this political earthquake will remain a constant until the big one returns in 4 years.

- National Review "Against Trump" wallpaper: The GOP 2016 Royal Rumble

First Presidential Debate Wallpaper: PAYBACK

APF presents 'PAYBACK':

Presidential Debate I. Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gennifer Flowers and Mark Cuban ringside at #HofDebate16

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

Billionaire Investor Chris Sacca predicts Mark Cuban will one day be American President, ushered by the Trump phenomenon

BATTLE of the BILLIONAIRES:

Mark Cuban VS Donald Trump

Venture Investor Chris Sacca as guest on the Bill Simmons Podcast posed an interesting theory about what the Donald Trump phenomenon has ushered for Politics moving forward. Whilst most speculate on the fissure in the Republican Party, little has been written about the sudden viability of "Moneyed, Entertainment" candidates for future Presidential runs.

Ep. 95: Billionaire Investor Chris Sacca

CHRIS SACCA: (1h 15m 10s) Can I make a prediction for your audience, I think he will be the President of the United States
BILL SIMMONS: Mark Cuban?

SACCA: Mark Cuban will be the President of the United States. I think Hillary wins this election and probably holds on for two terms and I think its an open field and Mark Cuban runs as a very moderate Republican and wins.
So think about it, Donald Trump. One of the things I've learnt that's just been wild from my own personal journey, watching Cuban and watching Trump. Is that the minute you're labelled a Billionaire in this country everyone takes everything you say as Bible. It's just you can do no wrong. They just think that guy's smart, he made a bunch of money, he must be a genius. And it's completely untrue obviously. You know a lot of Billionaires who are wrong about a lot of things, like I love Mark Cuban but he happens to wrong more than he's right and that's why we've become good friends.
But you listen to people who support Donald and you see that they eat the trough of his Bullsh*t but they think it's all inherently true because look the guy is a Billionaire because of these businesses. United States is a Country, it should be run like a business so let's hire a really successful businessman to do it. Cuban has all that. Watch the engagement he has in Twitter and you'll see that people take what he says as Gospel completely.

SIMMONS: So he's a benevolent Trump?
SACCA: That's exactly right. He's not an idiot and he actually does care. And he does read and he is convincible on some things.
I think America loves that guy. He's not an idiot. America takes him at his word cuz he's a Billionaire. I think he's got crossover appeal. He's the American dream. I'm putting it right out there, right now. Mark Cuban will be President of the United States.

Mark Cuban is a Tech Billionaire best known as the outspoken owner of NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks. He is featured on Reality TV series 'Shark Tank' where entrepreneur-contestants pitch to "shark" investors like Cuban and Chris Sacca in hopes of getting assistance for their projects.

Sorry folks, but Donald Trump is far richer and much better looking than dopey @mcuban!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2013

Mark Cuban and Donald Trump have a complicated relationship, they've sparred in the past via Twitter. A feud as fanciful an inciting incident as that prescribed to Trump's own Presidential motives. Supposedly stung by President Obama's Birther counterpunch at the White House Correspondent's dinner, Trump as the theory goes is striving to get the last laugh by seizing control of the ultimate bully pulpit. Would Cuban run for President to one up Donald Trump?

VIDEO - Mark Cuban: Donald Trump 'Hasn't Learned And That's A Real Problem'
| MTP Daily | MSNBC

   

MARK CUBAN: (6m 16s) He's not the type of person that gets in there and grinds. Most entrepreneurs to be successful, most CEOs to be successful you have to grind. You have to get in there and do the work. 24 by 7 you always have to be learning, always be contributing. Always finding better ways. I just don't get that sense from Donald. 10 months later after he announced, he's just not the candidate where you just say "Wow. This guy has really picked up an in-depth understanding of the issues" and that is a problem. So I don't see him as a reflection of a CEO, a reflection of an entrepreneur. He's good at what he's good at but I don't know if that's applicable...

STEVE KORNACKI: I imagine though you've looked at Trump the last year, you've talked about all the rules of politics he's rewritten. Somebody of your background, its gotta look doable now maybe more than it did a year ago.
CUBAN: Without question. I think it did open a door, I think he's set a path for entrepreneurs, for business people. I just hope he doesn't shut it through his actions *laughs*

Just like Trump did by challenging President Obama to reveal his Birth certificate, Cuban's labeling of Trump as the "Seinfeld candidate" (a candidacy about nothing) is a play for No.1 Contender status. The backhanded compliment distances him from negative aspects of the Donald whilst not alienating his "flock". As an aspirational future contender, just being mentioned in the same breath as presumptive nominee Trump and the "American Presidency" sets up storylines for a Mark Cuban Presidential run down the track.

The Montreal Screwjob of GOP Politics: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz

A wallpaper for the Calgary-born Ted Cruz inspired by legendary wrestler Bret Hart. The Hart Family are arguably the First Family of Calgary.

Ted "Hitman" Cruz wallpaper

The two GOP frontrunners who some speculate will ultimately run in the same ticket come the Presidential elections are locked in fierce battle for the Nomination. Donald Trump has recently soft-pedalled the same "Birther" charges he championed against President Obama.

VIDEO | Rush Limbaugh LOLs at Trump-Cruz Birther-ghazi

Entertained by the disingenuous issue, Rush Limbaugh recaps the brouhaha. Largely a misdirection ploy by Donald Trump in light of tightening Poll Numbers in Iowa.

VIDEO | Birther Sequel: Trump dings Cruz's citizenship
DONALD TRUMP: I just know that it's being questioned all over and a lot of people are asking me that question... All I know is that a lot of people are talking about. I hope it's not so, I hope it doesn't come about but people are worried that if he weren't born in this Country -- which he wasn't, he was born in Canada and he actually had a Canadian passport along with the US passport until just recently. Like within the last couple of years -- So I don't know what it all means. I know that people are talking about it. The problem is that if the Democrats bring a lawsuit, the lawsuit could take years to resolve and how do you have a candidate where there's something over the head of the party and that individual. So I hope it wouldn't be the truth, I hope that wouldn't be what it is.

Ted Cruz dismissed the charge by tweeting a 'Happy Days' clip of Fonzie jumping the shark, "I'm not going to engage in this and the reason is simple, there are far too many serious issues facing this country... what the American people are looking for is whose prepared to be Commander-in-Chief? Who has the seriousness, who has the judgment, who has the knowledge, who has the clarity and vision. Who has the strength and resolve?".

Daily Show presenter Trevor Noah quipped of this turn of events "I didn't know that this shit could happen to Republicans as well... This sh*t is insane! No, no, you've got to understand — because I didn't know that this shi*t could happen to Republicans as well. Like, I thought Republicans were the ones who do this, and not the ones that get this done to them."

Update:

Ted Cruz, judging by the cheers at the latest GOP debate might have put this issue to bed.

VIDEO | Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Clash at the Fox Business GOP Debate

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Clash at the Fox Business GOP Debate
TED CRUZ: (40s) I'm glad we're focusing on the important topics of the evening. Back in September, my friend Donald said that he had his lawyers look at this from every which way and there was no issue there. There was nothing to this "Birther" issue. Now, since September the Constitution hasn't changed but the Poll Numbers have and I recognise that Donald is dismayed that his Poll Numbers are falling in Iowa. But the facts and the law here are really quite clear under longstanding US Law, the child of a US Citizen born abroad is a naturally born citizen...

Senator Ted Cruz cuts a promo on the media in the 3rd GOP debate

VIDEO: Fox & Friends (Ted Cruz rails on the moderators)

"The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media."Ted Cruz rails on the moderators
Posted by Fox & Friends on Thursday, October 29, 2015

TED CRUZ: Questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media. This is not a Cage match, you look at the questions
- Donald Trump, are you a comic book villain?
- Ben Carson, can you do math?
- Jon Kasich, will you insult two people over here?
- Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?
- Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?
How about talking about the substantive issues people care about?
...
the contrast with the Democratic debate, where every fawning question from the media was "which of you is more handsome and wise... the men and women on this stage more ideas, more experience, more commonsense than every participant on the Democratic debate. That debate reflected a debate between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.

APF Battle of the Billionaires Wallpaper: Donald Trump vs Mitt Romney

1280 x 1024 wallpaper: Republican nominee Battle of the Billionaires

Donald Trump is the clear frontrunner of the Republican race whilst Jeb Bush, the expected "establishment" candidate has been sliding in the Polls. Experts like Trump supporter, Ann Coulter have predicted that former Republican nominee Mitt Romney will eventually prevail but there have been no signs of him throwing his hat in the ring yet.

Ann Coulter Predicts Who Can Win in 2016
ANN COULTER: Listen to me, watch the debates, we're going to be so sorry we're not running Mitt Romney and we're gonna demand that he get back in because Mitt Romney would crush Hillary Clinton. You have no idea, you have no idea how good you had it. And you were lied to by fake Tea-Partiers and fake conservatives who cared more about pretending they were the only leaders of Conservatism and only trust them.
As you'll see in the end of the book [Adios, America], I'm evaluating candidates on the one issue, the only issue that matters because it determines everything else and Romney is the best we have on immigration other than Donald Trump and I don't think he's gonna be our nominee.
LARRY ELDER: Who will be the nominee?
COULTER: Mitt Romney
---- crowd applauds, panel laughs ---

Watch the conversation in full here - A Special Evening with Ann Coulter — 7/16/15

Paying homage to the WrestleMania 23 match that pitted Donald Trump vs WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, I present the Republican version of "Battle of the Billionaires".

VIDEO: Battle of the Billionaires [WrestleMania 23 PROMO]

Update: With Donald Trump still leading the polls and Ted Cruz making a spirited run. The only hope for a Trump/Romney showdown is through a "Brokered Convention" - Mitt Romney. A Brokered Convention. Please, Lord, Make the Pain Stop!

Comedian Jackie Mason on the preposterousness of running for President in America

VIDEO: Michael Savage Interviews legendary comedian Jackie Mason (8-13-15)

Jackie Mason skewers the way Americans select their Presidents

JACKIE MASON: (8m 15s) I talk about the preposterous system the Presidency is. Take a look at these debates, is there anything more idiotic than these debates. You have one minute to express all your thoughts on Foreign Policy, the American domestic policy, anything that's happening in the world and you have to do it in one minute. If you happen to breathe a little slow, you've lost the debate. And you have to make sure you tell a joke better than the next guy because they don't remember any policy or position. They just remember who told the best one-liner or the best joke.
The next day that's all they're talking about, so it becomes a comedy contest. If this was 50 years ago, Groucho Marx would be the President.

#AndNew Donald Trump for President Wallpapers

Following on from my Sarah Palin Wallpapers and Presidential PPV Posters, I've decided to warmup the Poster Factory for 2016.
With 44th President, Barack Obama wrapping up his two terms and the prospect of Bush VS Clinton III or a Donald Trump Presidency it was an opportunity I couldn't resist.

Drawing inspiration from the UFC and their man of the moment Conor McGregor, I've fashioned #AndNew posters for the soon-to-be 45th President, Donald Trump.

Donald Trump #AndNew

1366 x 768 wallpaper

Donald Trump #AndNew
Optimised Facebook Cover page

President Obama in conversation with Marc Maron

President Obama in the Garage with Marc Maron

Episode 613 - President Barack Obama
PRESIDENT OBAMA: (25m 55s) Increasingly I've spent my time thinking about "How do I break out of these old patterns that our politics has fallen into?". Which is part of the reason I'm here, I'll be honest with you. One of the conversations I've had with my communications team about is "How do we talk to folks who aren't already so dug into a particular way of thinking about politics that we can create more space for people to have a normal, ordinary conversation and one where the lines aren't so clearly drawn black and white, It's not this battle in a steel cage between one side and another.

MARC MARON: Well I became a little disillusioned. I used to do left-wing talk radio and I realised that there was a lot of things I was naive about...

- Find behind-the-scenes photos of Marc's meeting with the President here: Marc meets Obama
- Listen to Marc Maron and [friend-of-blog] producer Brendan McDonald: Episode 614 - The President Was Here

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

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

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

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

Watch the Rock delivering his patented Nursery Rhyme promo style

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

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

If ya smeeeeeellalalalaloww what the Rock is Cookin'

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

Rise above hate: John Cena, Jeremy Lin and President Obama + Lebron James

The hottest sporting sensation in America received the highest honor today by being mentioned by US President Barack Obama:

President Obama watching Jeremy Lin
Meanwhile, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told ESPN.com that President Barack Obama has been following Lin this past week and watched Lin hit the game-winning 3-point shot that beat the Raptors Tuesday night in Toronto. "That's great. That's a great story," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "(Obama's) a basketball fan. He might even think he can take (Lin), I don't know."

The president discussed the shot with aides on Marine One earlier Wednesday on the way to Andrews Air Force Base, before flying to Milwaukee. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Lin's success is "just a great story, and the president was saying as much this morning."

It's a story that "transcends the sport itself," Carney added.

Lin said he is, "very honored, very humbled" over the attention from President Obama. "I mean, wow, the president. Nothing better than that," he said after scoring 10 points and handing out 13 assists in the Knicks' 100-85 win over Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Lin like Obama is superficially a story of race and overachievement. As Obama has found out approaching the end of his first term, with the Tea Party movement and his approval rate declining. The same light that shines is the same light that burns. Eventually performance does trump novelty but this is nothing new for Lin as he has had to defy "haters" doubting him from the beginning:

Harvard's Hoops Star Is Asian. Why's That a Problem?
Some people still can't look past his ethnicity. Everywhere he plays, Lin is the target of cruel taunts. "It's everything you can imagine," he says. "Racial slurs, racial jokes, all having to do with being Asian." Even at the Ivy League gyms? "I've heard it at most of the Ivies if not all of them"...

In the face of such foolishness, Lin doesn't seem to lose it on the court. "Honestly, now, I don't react to it," he says. "I expect it, I'm used to it, it is what it is." Postgame, Lin will release some frustration...

Ultimately its what the "haters" want - for their targets to get caught up in the emotion. Its up to the heroes of the story to 'Rise Above Hate' and leave it all on the floor. At least that's what would happen in wrestling.

VIDEO: John Cena Vs Kane Royal Rumble Promo

- Barack Obama and Sarah Palin: Basketball and Politics
- Lebron James follows Rush Limbaugh to Florida. 'Sports Guy' Bill Simmons likens Lebron to a wrestling heel
- The rise and fall of Sarah Palin (Part 1 of 2)

Update: Lebron James replaces Jeremy Lin
After deliberating about it, I realised Jeremy Lin doesn't fit in 'Rise Above Hate' trio. If he were to have his own tagline it would more likely read 'Rise Above Doubt'. Lin unlike Obama, James and Cena has been doubted from the very beginning and has only recently had weight put behind and on him. The trio all got rockets strapped to their backs, getting monster pushes only to receive a backlash when people grew weary. Their performance not living up to their lofty title.

Rise Above Hate: President Obama, John Cena, Lebron James

Transcript: Bill O'Reilly Interviews Jon Stewart - Day 2

VIDEO: Bill O'Reilly Interviews Jon Stewart (Day 2, 05/17/11)

Part 2: O'Reilly and Stewart Discuss Presidential Politics
O'REILLY: Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, but left office with high approval rating.
STEWART: I'm sure she did.
O'REILLY: Yes.
STEWART: Then they got to know her.
O'REILLY: No, she left with high approval rating. She was in there.
STEWART: Fair enough.
O'REILLY: Like her?
STEWART: I'm not a particular fan of her style of rhetoric. I think she's too thin-skinned.
O'REILLY: Sounds like Colbert you're describing.
STEWART: Colbert, I would actually endorse for president. She's reminiscent to me much more of a television personality than a politician because I think that her inability to get past slights, it makes it very difficult to -- like I would just imagine her at night just with the hands going, did you see that thing that Maher…

UFC Fighter cuts a promo on President Barack Obama - Jacob Volkmann after his Victory at UFC 125

VIDEO: Jacob Volkmann Calls Out Barack Obama After UFC 125 Win

After Jacob Volkmann's decision victory over veteran Antonio McKee at UFC 125, he was interviewed by MMAFighting's Ariel Helwani who got another major scoop when the interview deviated from a standard post-fight chat into a wrestling-style promo. Jacob speaking as a concerned Small Business operator calls out the American President over his healthcare policy and its impact on his Chiropractic practice.

This is another major scoop for Ariel Helwani after being involved in many of the Fight World's most memorable moments of 2010. Listen to Helwani talking to friend-of-Show 'Live Audio Wrestling' discussing the many times he has been "at the right place at the right time".

UFC 125: Jacob Volkmann Calls Out Barack Obama After UFC 125 Win (skip to 3min mark)
ARIEL HELWANI: Now you got a big win over a veteran, who do you want next?
JACOB VOLKMANN: It doesn't matter, [Clay] Guida. I don't now. Actually Obama.

HELWANI: Wow! You're calling out Barack Obama, that's pretty big. That's ballsy.
VOLKMANN: He's not too bright. The Making Home Affordable plan, and then his health care plan. Somebody's gotta knock some sense into that idiot.

HELWANI: Wow this interview just took a turn into the political world. Are you a Sarah Palin fan? Please say no.
VOLKMANN: No! I just don't like what Barack was doing. Cuz i'm a chiropractor so I know the healthcare situation is not good but he's making it worse

HELWANI: This is the most I've ever seen you fired up
VOLKMANN: Yes. Its irritating cuz i'm starting my own business and its not real easy when you're given insurance companies the power to decline you and not pay you

HELWANI: What kind of business? A chiropractic practice?
VOLKAMNN: My own chiropractic clinic in White Bear Lake. I had to throw that in there right?

Visit Jacob Volkmann's official Chiropractic Practice website - Volkmann Chiropractic

Funny or Die presents SNL Past Presidents: Ferrell, Carrey, Carvey, Chase and Aykroyd

Funny or Die have made a star studded video in support of 'The Main Street Brigade's' campaign for a "strong and independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency".

Yes. Rub your eyes all you want, it is a reunion of SNL past Presidents with a special cameo by 'In Living Color's' Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan. The advocacy short was directed by acclaimed director Ron Howard.

The full cast as follows:
Fred Armisen as Barack Obama
Will Ferrell as George W Bush
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton
Dana Carvey as George H.W Bush
Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan
Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter
Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford
Maya Rudolph as Michelle Obama

VIDEO: 'Funny or Die' presents SNL's Past Presidents Reunion

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion
Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it's so important.

Pundit Roundup of President Obama's State of the Union (2010): Laura Ingraham, Rachel Maddow and Rush Limbaugh

Read Obama's first State of the Union address 2010

Transcript of Obama's State of the Union speech
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the president shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.

The Republican response to Obama's State of the Union speech by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell

Transcript: GOP Response to State of the Union
Good evening. I'm Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago, I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia...

I'm joined by fellow Virginians to share a Republican perspective on how to best address the challenges facing our nation today.

We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs. All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

Many -- many of us here tonight -- and many of you watching -- have family or friends who have lost their jobs. In fact, 1 in 10 Americans is unemployed. That is unacceptable.

Read and listen to the Pundit response to President Obama's State of the Union

Laura Ingraham's State of the Union response

Laura's 'State of the Union' Address - January 27, 2010
LAURA INGRAHAM: The State of our Union is imperiled because we knowingly went down the path OF Obamanomics, Obama's approach to foreign policy and basically an absentee approach to the culture - where life is dispensable, Hollywood is coddled and its party time USA every Wednesday night at the White House. The State of our Union is imperiled.

- Listen to Laura Ingraham's State of the Union speech

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow's State of the Union response

Rachel Maddow- Building on the State of the Union
RACHEL MADDOW: The list of pecific proposals the President made tonight. A lot of them are very conservative ideas. Ideas that have been auditioned politically in recent years by Republican politicians. Things like off-shore drilling, capital gains cuts, business tax cuts, the spending freeze, so-called "clean coal". Terminology that makes me just want to cringe. Singling out earmarks...

VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh's State of the Union response

My Letter to President Obama
RUSH LIMBAUGH: I penned a message to Obama that I would like to deliver now. Because Mr. Obama, I think it's time we had a heart to heart talk. Let me be the father that you never had or never really knew, because I think you need some guidance. It's time to man up. It's time to grow up. That speech last night was an embarrassment. You couldn't focus, you lashed out in all directions, you refused to accept responsibility for your own actions, and you were angry.

And he was, folks! He was mad. Being president is a big job. It's a big responsibility. You wanted the position, Barack. You campaigned for it...

"The Rock" Obama. Saturday Night Live smells what Barack is cooking

We've had actors emulating Presidential candidates on wrestling programming. We've had Presidential candidates emulating wrestlers. We've had comedians compare the president to a wrestler. Now we bring you a wrestler emulating President Barack Obama.

"The Rock Obama" on SNL

The Rock is simply returning the favor after Candidate Barack appropriated his patented "If you smell what The Rock (Barack) is cooking" on WWE TV.

Watch and Download video of The Rock's SNL skit here - Saturday Night Live: The Rock Obama.
The sketch plays off the desire supporters have for Obama to show more emotion and get mad at the way things are being done under his watch.

The Rock, once speaker at the Republican National Convention appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live recently. Kimmel complimented The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) on his amusing impersonation and The Rock shared with the audience his interactions with President Obama and the First family.

VIDEO: The Rock On Jimmy Kimmel!

(Says President Obama told him Michelle had a crush on Dwayne Johnson)

Jimmy Kimmel Live with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (January 21, 2010)
JIMMY KIMMEL:Has he seen your impersonation of him, which is great by the way
DWAYNE JOHNSON (THE ROCK): Thank You. He has, he has. I got the word from the White House that he really enjoyed it. Its one of those things, I go on Saturday Night Live - its "The Rock Obama".

Our President is a former athlete and its all done within that spirit of locker room and guys poking fun at each other. What I do is what he would love to do which is throw a lot of Republicans asses through the window. That's what we do on Saturday Night Live.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JibJab's latest video: "He's Barack Obama" (Superhero President)

The brilliant team at JibJab have unveiled their latest political animation. This one playing on the meme that President Barack Obama is a superhero who has come to save the day. Stylistically its a little different and more advanced than their previous animations (which is saying a lot). You can find a comprehensive "how it was made" feature on their blog including their account of meeting President Obama himself - Behind the Scenes: The Making of “He’s Barack Obama”

VIDEO: JibJab presents 'He's Barack Obama' (The Superhero President)

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The President as superhero meme isn't new, considering the extraordinary burden they have in protecting and uplifting the citizenry. Barack Obama came into office tasked with saving a country that was in the midst of two wars and a collapsing economy, a mission seemingly so monumental it would need superhuman leadership to execute. The amount of hope invested in President Obama plus his promising rhetoric had him painted as either a god or a superhero, often sarcastically by his detractors.

Barack self deprecatingly referenced this meme at the Al Smith dinner

US elections: Barack Obama jokes he is Superman
Speaking during a high-profile political fundraising dinner in New York, the Illinois senator also mocked his own acceptance speech at the Democratic Party's national convention, which he delivered on an elaborately-constructed stage.

"Contrary to the rumours you have heard, I was not born in a manger," Mr Obama said.

"I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the planet Earth."

One might be mistaken for thinking that all heroic Presidents are righteous and clean cut defenders, not so. In the same way heroes are nuanced and complicated so are Presidents. Australian conservative columnist, Andrew Bolt drew a comparison between heroic vigilante Batman and former President George W Bush. Likening the way Batman was often vilified and under-appreciated because of his controversial and thankless efforts the same way Batman is by the citizens of Gotham City. Whilst both popular, Superman and Batman offer vastly different templates for heroism.

It’s George W. Batman
FINALLY Hollywood makes a film that says President George W Bush was right. But director Christopher Nolan had to disguise it a little, so journalists wouldn’t freak and the film’s more fashionable stars wouldn’t walk. So he hides Bush in a cape. He even sticks a mask on him, with pointy ears for some reason...

Anyway, the citizens hate Batman, especially once they are safe, for disturbing their sense of order, and violating their nice rules for defining their goodness...

And they hate him also as many Europeans hate Bush, for showing that what protects their world are not ultimately the laws they pass, but a violence that intimidates them, because they cannot match it.

Its worth noting Barack Obama's favorite comic superhero is Spiderman.