Daniel Horowitz on how "Republicans VS Democrats is as real as Pro-Wrestling". How the fake fight is debasing American Politics.

Daniel Horowitz laments to his audience how Conservatives have forsaken their ideals, engaging in rhetorical fights that have the appearance of conviction whilst not actually standing up for traditional principles.

CONSERVATIVE CONSCIENCE | Republicans VS Democrats is as real as Professional Wrestling
DANIEL HOROWITZ: (1m 27s) What we have going on nowadays is a phony conservative party, a phony Presidential nominee, a phony conservative media... where you basically have a false flag operation where everyone's yelling and fighting. There's a lot of acrimony but when you peel back what's going on they're fighting over nothing...
That's today's topic -- Republicans VS Democrats is as real as Professional Wrestling. WWE!
You see the bodyslams and the chairs, knocking the guy's heads in. This and that, all the noise but its fake, there's nothing going on. That's exactly what today's political discourse is. Today's political reality is. And I want to go through the news of the day, what's really important for Conservatives to focus on and through that we'll come to the conclusion that the Republican Party on the Presidential level, the Congressional level and at the Conservative Media level engage in a fake fight with the Left when it really matters and how it debases who we are and moves the contours of the political debate inexorably to the left and also into the gutter...
We are everything the left is, minus some change. Minus some pennies... this is not just on fiscal policy. This is on who we are as people. This is on morality, this is on culture. This is who we are. This phony, binary fight where everyone gets wrapped up in -- "Oh man, everything's going to hinge on what happens". Its all fake. Its all fake wrestling... lots of fireworks in that debate. How many policy statements were really in contention? How much did they really disagree on?
Lots of insults traded. But over what? Because you're the Red Team and I'm the Blue Team so we have to fight...

The phoniness accentuated this Presidential Election as both parties promote deeply flawed and unfavourable nominees. Policy wise both candidates are more centrist than their base would prefer whilst conversely representing the most partisan figurehead imaginable for their opposition. A tricky balancing act for any would-be supporters.

The gravitational force this election has undoubtedly been Donald Trump, a unique political animal. A celebrity businessman with wrestling bona fides. He has leveraged his sturdy following and "Crash TV" appeal to commandeer the GOP and the media. Arguably the entire political process. Writer Virginia Heffernann offers her take on how a seasoned statesman like Hillary has had to bend to this pehnomenon albeit a political novice

TRUMPCAST | The Boys on the Bus
VIRGINA HEFFERNAN: (5m 23s) In this great book from years ago called the 'Epistemology of the Closet' by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick... There's this wonderful moment where she talks about bilingualism and the dominant position of someone who only speaks one language, even one dialect the way Trump does. This coarse dialect that he has.

She cites [US President] Reagan and [French President] Mitterand. Mitterand was super-worldly and spoke French and English. Reagan only spoke English and so they always negotiated in English, so Mitterand's always in his second language. And Trump always gets to talk like this and everybody else -- because most women are familiar with this idiom. Hillary Clinton is certainly familiar with this idiom but has had to completely abandon her way of talking and her way of comporting herself to have a conversation on this level
JACOB WEISBERG: Right, he defines the terms of the debate

Jacob Weisberg expands on the point in a later episode, citing how Trump's competitors resorted to mimicry as his brash presentation proved a winning formula for the primary

TRUMPCAST Extra: The "Grabfest Post Debate Special" Edition
JACOB WEISBERG: (14m 46s) There's the Marco Rubio example, I mean he's [Trump] trying to drag you down to his level. If you respond to him at his level, although it could be satisfying in the moment and everybody kind of wants it. Its almost definitely a mistake because at that point people are saying "Oh, the problem is both candidates -- its this campaign, the campaign is disgusting." and to refrain from being disgusting and respond to someone who's treating you vilely is really hard and takes a lot of discipline

Jacob and Daniel have divergent political interests but raise similar concerns about the lowering standards of American Politics

DANIEL HOROWITZ: (20m 18s) Imagine if all of Talk Radio, if all the internet sites, if all the concerns people are focused on would focus on what's important. Would lead a movement that's important. Would lead a movement that we can be proud of. Instead this is what we've become. Its all this, this is WWE. Its all an entertainment now. Its all entertainment business. Complete nonsense, this whole thing is immoral. But this is how you shift the contours of the debate permanently... If we don't fundamentally change the movement, if we don't fundamentally change the game we've already lost anyway...

We've become desensitized because again the Left is so evil and immoral but the more immoral they get we can always point to the fact we're one or two steps less immoral than them so you can create a fake fight over that. "You're this and I'm that. Well you did this". Meanwhile the more immoral and evil they get, the more immoral and evil we get. Cuz we keep getting schlepped over with them. So by engaging in that fight you're almost validating and consummating that degree, its like that ratchet theory we talk about. You hone in, you lock it in. You can only keep moving forward but not backwards. You already lost it.

Sadly the spectacle and team sports aspects of American Politics are big drawcards for casual watchers. Trump has capitalised on his name recognition and showmanship to deliver an engaging product, electrifying his populist base and enthralling everyone else. Whilst the debasing of political discourse has depressed donor funding, the "Trump effect" has increased public engagement and become a boon for News Networks. In Combat Sports anything goes when you're selling a fight, competitors are forgiven for throwing missiles and brawling at Press Conferences because promoters know all publicity is good and whets the audiences' appetite.

Trump has been a perfect ratings vehicle, his thirst for attention driving his popularity, the "fight" between Trump and the Media mutually beneficial. Tapping into the Reality TV zeitgeist, if a Presidency doesn't pan out the "Trump Show " could spin-off into a Media Empire. Wyatt Cenac once said on the 'Daily Show' -- "You think politicians wanna win their arguments when all they really wanna do is keep having them. They know arguments are interesting, they energize voters, they keep the money flowing in.".

Some have played "chicken" with Trump because he represents a foil for the GOP. As people like Jacob Weisberg and Daniel Horowitz have asserted, we might be allowing the "Trump Show" to take down American Politics altogether.

Was Donald Trump booed at the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame induction for his politics?

Trump Booed at WWE Hall of Fame Induction in Madison Square Garden
Donald Trump had to cut his acceptance speech short Saturday night during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame after fans booed him at Madison Square Garden. Trump, a real estate mogul and longtime WWE supporter, was one of the five inductees into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame during Saturday's ceremony. He was the only one to be booed.

Donald Trump's 2013 Hall of Fame speech

The WWE has considerable history with American Politics. Presidential Candidates have appeared in video packages addressing their coveted demographic. The White House also partnering with WWE for 'Get out the Vote' campaigns. Wrestling legend and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura plotted to leverage WWE's ground game for Ballot access on his idle Presidential bid. Vince's wife and WWE President Linda McMahon mounted an unsuccesful campaign for a Connecticut Senate seat as a Republican.

Considering Wrestling's populist appeal you might think Trump was warmly welcomed at his 2013 WWE Hall of Fame induction. In fact he was booed. It's an unfair sample, the Hall of Fame Celebrity Wing is an absurd concept ripe for ridicule for fickle Wrestling fans. Whilst the ceremony was held in Trump's Liberal hometown New York, it wasn't immediately clear that a clash of politics was behind it.

When TV Guide pondered why Trump was booed at the Hall of Fame event, the handful of commenters offered that it was due to his idiocy. An incredulous charge as the foundation of Wrestling and Reality TV is taking High status idiots seriously. Even if that were the case with charisma being the currency in Wrestling, Trump should've been able to win the crowd over with his rhetoric. As former WWE commentator Jim Ross wrote "Trump is a natural-born communicator, a showman who seamlessly integrated into the WWE lexicon..."

Many sites at the time pondered as to why Trump was booed during their reporting of the event. The comments from 2013 offer a time capsule of the perceptions people had about Trump as a celebrity figure before this newfound gravitas as the Republican nominee.

"You're not even gonna let him [Trump] come out here before you boo him"
- Vince McMahon

WWE Hall of Fame 2013 (April 6th)
New York MetLife Stadium as part of WrestleMania 29

VINCE McMAHON: (2h 37m) There's so many ways I can describe Donald Trump. One that you may not be thinking of... Donald Trump is a Wrestlemania institution. It all started over a quarter of a century ago, it started when Donald hosted Wrestlemania IV at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino...
When you think about it, second only to me Donald might very well be a great President of the United States
-- pause for a smattering of boos mixed with tepid applause --
Would I be a better President?
-- instant cheers followed by a "YES!" chant --
Donald's gonna find out soon that this is a very partisan crowd.
To show you how Magnanimous I am and how I never carry a grudge, its my distinct honor to introduce you to the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2013
-- murmur of boos --
You're not even gonna let him come out here before you boo him
-- "No!" chants --
I can assure you Donald Trump knows exactly what he's getting into so Ladies and Gentleman, my friend Donald Trump
-- no reaction as Trump's "Money, money" entrance theme hits. Slight boos as he approaches mic --

"Woah!? Tough, tough people."
- Donald Trump

DONALD TRUMP: Woah! Tough. Tough people. Thank you very much everybody... Now Vince has been trying for the last 6 years to break our PPV record. He's had some great people on but you know what, it's not gonna happen. The same enthusiasm and love you have for me tonight, I feel it. That's why you all came down to watch me get my ass kicked and my head shaved but it didn't happen so we're happy about that.
Now I have to introduce a few you really great people. My son Eric Trump, stand up Eric.
-- boos begin to which Donald nervously laughs --
My daughter and a really big Television star she's become. Ivanka!
-- cheers from the crowd--
Aaaay! Come here, come here Ivanka. Oh finally they like somebody in the Trump family. Well this is Ivanka, we're very proud of Ivanka and she does great on the 'Apprentice'. Do we agree? Aaaaaiee, good. Ivanka you turned the tide, thank you...
This is a major honor... and I consider this my greatest honor of all. I do, I really do. So for Vince, Linda and the whole family I just want to thank you all and I really do love you people. Even the ones that don't like me so much. Have a good time, thank you so much.

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.

Bill Simmons & Jon Favreau on Trump as a performer and American Politics as Pro-Wrestling

I came up with the American Politics is pro-wrestling analogy in 2007, finding commonality in the showmanship and psychology in both.
I primarily made comparisons in the world of punditry where similarities were more ripe. Personalities were larger and less constrained, the hours of daily TV and radio time providing a forum for feuds and angles to develop. Politicians cut their promos on the senate floor and on cable news shows, election season being the political equivalent of the run-up to Wrestlemania.

In the near decade since starting the blog, I've tracked instances where the media has used the analogy. For a time former wrestler and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura was the perfect representation of the meme. This election cycle, the politics as wrestling analogy has turned into conventional wisdom as Donald Trump rampages his way to the GOP nomination. A WWE Hall-of-Famer, reality TV star and political influencer, Trump as Presidential candidate has distilled the meme into a winning formula for ratings and votes.

The Bill Simmons Podcast | Ep. 75: Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer
JON FAVREAU: (10m 24s) My theory on Trump is, he's basically what you'd get if you had someone who just watched cable news all day, specifically FOX and listening to right wing radio
BILL SIMMONS: Like if TV created a candidate or had a baby
FAVREAU: He knows just enough. Because its all surface level, its all bad news. Its all about how everyone in Washington on both parties are a bunch of crooks and liars. Its all punditry. Its all talking about poll numbers. This is what he does. He's better at political punditry and reciting poll numbers and reciting who's up and who's down and all that kind of stuff than he is talking about issues. And you could see like in the debate last night, every time you press him past... He's like an inch deep and a mile wide on knowledge on just about everything. So you press him more than 5 or 10 seconds on any given issue. He can't, cos he doesn't know.

'Sports Guy' Bill Simmons is a wrestling fan with the privilege of recording the first podcast with a sitting U.S. President (Maron later recorded the first long-form podcast). In conversation with fellow Holy Cross alumni Jon Favreau, former director of speechwriting for President Obama they illustrate the politics as wrestling analogy and how Trump perfectly embodies it.

Bill Simmons at SummerSlam 2015,
with President Obama recording a podcast in the White House.

BILL SIMMONS: (20m 15s) I'm not positive what the debates are supposed to accomplish because its a totally unnatural interaction and somebody like Trump who's a performer, he's such a better performer than anyone else on stage and he's just blowing everyone away in these debates until they finally started coming back at him. But in the first couple of ones, he was just being a bully and it worked
JON FAVREAU: Trump has realised what most candidates, including my old boss Barack Obama never realised which is that they are complete performances, these debates. Obama was terrible in debates for a long time. He got better during the primary the more he did them...

SIMMONS: Why was he terrible? Was he overthinking it?
FAVREAU: Because he thought they were on the level. And he told us that. I though you get up there and debate issues with other people
SIMMONS: ...And it's pro-wrestling
FAVREAU: *agreeing* And it's pro-wrestling
SIMMONS: You're grabbing the mic and you're yelling at Stephanie McMahon, getting the crowd going
FAVREAU: and the way you have to, the way you're taught to answer a question in the debate is soundbite first, main message and then you sort of go backwards. So its not like you answer a real question where you build a logical argument from beginning to end which is what Obama does. He's a professor, a lawyer. In a debate you yell, scream, you ignore the question. It's WWF.
SIMMONS: *imitating Trump* "That's why Marco, that's why you're losing". Its like your opener. "That's why Ted Cruz is a liar". This is my point on that.
FAVREAU: That's like Trump the pundit again too right? The best moments in the debate is when he just says what everyone on cable has been saying anyway. "You're at the end of the stage Jeb because you suck".

SIMMONS: That's one of the few defensible things about what Trump's done these last few months. The debates are ludicrous anyway. They are pro-wrestling and everybody kinda danced around it and Trump was the first one that was like - This IS pro-wrestling!
FAVREAU: Right, I'm just gonna go with it.
SIMMONS: Insulting everyone and that's how you win this. His messages are basically just this big, black and white headline. This, that, this. You're a liar, You're a jerk. You're losing
FAVREAU: Low energy
SIMMONS: You're low energy. Its really tough. Poor Jeb Bush he just didn't know what to do
FAVREAU: Well Jeb is just -- he looked like a candidate from another era... the last time he had campaigned was a decade ago maybe. So he had been out Politics for so long he hadn't realised how much it had changed. So he still thought that people were having debates like they used to back in the day. He was so not prepared for what Trump was...

Donald Trump has been welcomed by some as Frankenstein's monster revealing what the GOP has become. In a similar vein, Trump's rise has also laid bare the values of News Entertainment. The Presidential Donald persona birthed from the resentments of the Tea Party and the bombast of cable news. Both astutely manipulated by Trump as an apparatus to deliver him to the White House.

Is there a Donald Trump exit strategy?: "Arrive, Raise Hell, Leave." Twitter Wallpaper

Twitter Header graphic:
Donald Trump "Arrive, Raise Hell, Leave."

As soon as Donald Trump threw his hat in the ring, some speculated whether his campaign was a publicity stunt.

Would You Rather: GOP Edition
STEPHEN COLBERT: That's right, Trump's voters will not leave. I think that represents a huge problem for one person - Donald Trump. Cuz when I hear this man say nothing can stop me from winning, not even shooting people. I don't hear appeal to voters, I hear a cry for help. Let's remember here's a guy who ran for President to promote probably a Reality show or his mattress brand or his line of premium ex-wives and now he looks like he might actually win... cause Donald Trump can't possibly want to be President. Its the hardest job in the world.

Whilst Trump has expressed his desire to be President and "Win for America" as far back as '88. Some contend his primary fixation is on winning, garnering the acclaim that comes with it but not undertaking the job itself. Donald has run an unprecedentedly autonomous campaign, seemingly writing his own tweets and speaking extemporaneously on the stump. Could Trump sidestep the shackles of bureaucracy and become Kingmaker instead?

The Donald Trump / Ted Cruz Love Affair
SAM SEDER: (1m 04s) What's even more likely in my mind is that Trump may essentially all throw it behind Cruz
CLIFF SCHECTER: I can see that. I don't think he really wants this. I think he wants it right until he gets nominated and has to worry about traveling around with the Secret Service and stuff that he has no control over and he doesn't have the freedom to be as much of a jackass as 100% Donald Trump could be and I think you're right. You could see him right at that moment saying, if you supported me and you believe in what I believe - you have to support Ted Cruz.
SEDER: I mean who knows? One thing Trump is determined to do is that Jeb Bush does not become the nominee. He seems to have a genuine, deep-seated dislike of this guy... It's all speculation at this point... I think Trump would much rather appoint the President essentially than actually have to do the work
SCHECTER: ... and not have to bother with all the crap himself but he could be the guy the TV asks about it constantly

Sam and Cliff's suggestion of anointing Ted Cruz was well before Donald's success in the debates and subsequent Primary victories. This was also at a time when both current frontunners were still amicable with each other. Running with the theory that Trump is after an exit strategy, Comedian Louis C.K. offers his own target for a possible Trump handoff.

Louis C.K. Slams Trump: "The Guy is Hitler," "We Are Being Germany in the '30s"
A vote for Trump is so clearly a gut-vote, and again I get it. But add a little brain to it and look the guy up. Because if you vote for him because of how you feel right now, the minute he's president, you're going to regret it. You're going to regret it even more when he gives the job to his son. Because American democracy is broken enough that a guy like that could really fuck things up.

Former APF Pundit cum Late Night Talk show host, Stephen Colbert continues to offer the best psychoanalysis on what might be driving the mogul.

VIDEO: Trump, Pile Of Meat 2016
STEPHEN COLBERT: I think if we're honest, I think I know what's going on here. Donald is just insecure. I don't know if Donald even wants to be president. The guy just needs constant validation, that's clear and isn't that what all of us want? Love. Just love and maybe steak. And if we just give that to him maybe he'll go away. So Mr Trump, Mr Trump, Mr Trump and I know you're watching because I said your name three times I just want you to know that everyone thinks you're cool. OK. You're smart, you are good at companies and business-ing and no doubt you're hung like a pool noodle...

Whilst offering no prescription, Bill Maher imagines how Donald Trump's reign might end. No doubt to the delight of many from both sides of the aisle.

Maher Fantasizes About Trump Dying on Stage, Jokes About Cheney Dying
BILL MAHER: Although, here's a little bit of hope, you know. I know, nothing ever seems to stop this guy no matter what you throw at him. You ever see the movie War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise movie, right? That gives me hope because, if you remember the movie, the space invaders are just totally kicking our ass. I mean, they got their tripods, they got the forcefields around them, nothing can stop them, and then they just die.
They just die. Nobody does anything. They just f***ing die. I mean, it's like they just got to page 100 in the script and went, "F*** it, they just die." Have Morgan Freeman come and do a voiceover. They get the flu or something.

Update: (March 30)
Trump is winning far too much for him to find a clean exit. Could a likely brokered convention be his last out?

New theory among anti-Trumpers: He's deliberately sabotaging his campaign
That theory, the "honorable exit," worked out well, didn’t it? Markay’s version is really just the "honorable exit" in the form of a brokered convention. 

Update 2: (May 26)
Now that Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, what now for "honorable exit"? Why not just license the Trump brand to a Republican White House and get the VP to do the heavy lifting:

Trump Adviser: Trump Will Outsource Being President to His VP
Being president of the United States of America is, to put it mildly, hard work. It's an incredibly taxing job that involves making an untold number of decisions—a few big and splashy, the vast majority small-bore and likely to go unnoticed unless something goes catastrophically wrong—that will impact millions and millions of people. Setting aside the power and the prestige, the day-to-day job doesn't sound like one Donald Trump would actually want. And, according to his top campaign strategist, he doesn't.

Update 3: (June 22)
Rachel Maddow expands on Colbert's premise that Trump is doing all this to promote his brands and line his pockets

VIDEO: Donald Trump's Campaign A Cover For Moneymaking Scheme | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC
RACHEL MADDOW: (4m 26s) These are not the kinds of expenditures you would expect to see from someone who's actually running a campaign for President who intends to win the Presidency. The expenses, when you look at what the Trump campaign is actually spending its money on. What they're actually spending time doing. Its more like a Concert Tour. Its more like a promotional tour for a Celebrity who's hawking something than it is a campaign where you need people to go out and vote for you in November...
Its a racket. It is not necessarily designed to win the election -- I don't know if its not necessarily a problem to win the election -- think of the merchandising opportunities in the Oval Office? You can tell that winning *might* happen but its not the aim. It would be the byproduct of what is the principle effort, which is to make money.

Quotes compilation: GOP Debates as Pro-Wrestling matches

VIDEO: Trump Turns GOP into Pro Wrestling  

MICHAEL SMERCONISH: (0m 18s) What went on in Houston Thursday night gave me a flashback. Early 1970s, Saturday mornings, our Family rec room. My brother and me on bean bag chairs watching Pro-Wrestling... Good guys VS Bad guys, mudslinging and foreign objects. Well, guess who learned on those mats too, Yes the classy Trumpinator. And so it was in Houston, Rubio and Cruz tagteamed the villainous Trump but their victory was short-lived as the Trumpinator pulled someone else into the ring thankfully not wearing tights. Former arch-rival Chris Christie was suddenly his sidekick but can anything stop Trump's ascent before this episode of Wrestlemania wraps up on Tuesday?

Kurtz: Trump controls the media (and bumps me!)
HOWARD KURTZ: (1m 52s) The debate was fascinating because even though Rubio finally did what the press wanted him to do and attack Trump. They went toe to toe and Cruz did some attacking as well. There was so much yelling and so much crosstalk and these guys talking over each other. It was one eccentric moment after the other, Wolf Blitzer had utterly lost control of the debate at several points. I think that blunted the whole thing. I think many of these attacks cancelled each other out because it was such a professional Wrestling match.

Carson: Moderators didn't want to gain control of GOP debate
ERIC BOLLING: We just got out of a raucous debate sir. What are your thoughts? How did you do tonight?
BEN CARSON: Well I did fine with the few questions I was asked and the few opportunities I had to weigh in. But it was clearly a debate that was aimed at World Wrestling Federation. There was no interest in hearing about the actual issues and what the solutions are
BOLLING: Boy there was a lot of fighting. The middle three especially Trump/Rubio/Cruz going back and forth. Did the debate moderators lose control of that a bit?
CARSON: I don't think they wanted to gain control because I think they were enjoying the fight. They probably figure it was increasing their ratings
BOLLING: Let me call you on that sir. At one point, I think it was you that said "Could someone please fight with me?"
CARSON: It seemed that was the only way you were going to get airtime if somebody attacked you. It's pretty sad that we've gotten to this point in our Country. Where we're talking about a Presidential debate. Where we're talking about electing a President and we're not talking about people's real policies. What do they believe? Why do they believe that? Don't the people deserve to know that?

Rubio changes tactics, tries to 'out-Trump' Trump
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: (2m 04s) Everybody in Stevens Point is watching and thinking "We're all nuts here". They watched that punching back and forth. I wonder if they're thinking this is great democracy working or this is just a bunch of nutty people yelling insults at each other going way off the rails.
CONGRESSMAN SEAN DUFFY: I think this is where the debate is today and if you wanna win and you're going to wrestle with a pig you're going to get dirty. Marco Rubio got dirty last night wrestling with Trump but he came out the winner and ate his lunch...

Deep rifts on display in 9th Republican debate
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I tell you what that was a horrible debate, I know it was like the most watched. Not only what was going on on-stage, I'm sorry the crowd was offensive.
WILLIE GEIST: I loved it
(panel laughs)
SCARBOROUGH: Of course you would. But it was so offensive you would have candidates halfway through their answers and they would start booing. It was like a Gladiator match...
KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON: It made me feel like I was a watching a Professional Wrestling match. These are important conflicts between these candidates that we need to tease out... it's not that these candidates don't need to be engaged in hand-to-hand combat on stage but something about the audience did give it more of a feel of watching a Professional Wrestling match.

Rubio attacks on Trump too little, too late?
LELAND VITTERT: (1m 10s) Rubio continues to pound on Trump, "Conman, Con-artist and everything else. Hair Force One". Too little, too late by Marco or does he have Trump rattled?
PETE SNYDER: I was half expecting John Cena to pop out of the back screen, classic WWE style. I think this has gotten a little out of hand Leland and I think it is a little too little, too late. We had months and months to see who could be the alpha and who could stand up to Trump and noone did. I can understand the strategy of Marco trying to make it a two-person race but this thing is all but over on the Republican side.

- Politics is wrestling, Quote roundup (2010)

Ducking Donald Trump with Phil and Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty.

Not all Pay-Per-Views in Wrestling are marquee events. Most are stepping stones that serve to ratchet up storylines for an eventual pay-off. Main events for marquee PPVs will feature the dueling contenders mano a mano, the result leaving no ambivalence as to who came out on top. The placeholder PPVs leading up to this conclusion will feature gimmick matches and fights buffered by other contestants that allow for muddled resolutions leaving viewers wanting more. Examples include rivals pairing up with Celebrities, working alongside new partners and sometimes even each other. The aim, to tease proximity and conflict but delaying gratification. The clean finish, the full stop. Anticipation building is the product, when done well every moment in Wrestling is calculated to build hype.

VIDEO: Will Donald Trump show up to the Fox News debate?

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: (3m 41s) I think the prize as Trump defines it always is being the center of attention. Calculated or not -- and I think most likely it is-- is going to concentrate all the attention and all the discussion between now and when you go on the air Thursday at 9 on whether he's going to show up or not. So between now and then he's the story which he's managed to do, brilliantly since June. Always creating new storylines, look the genius of a Reality TV is that it has to constantly be changing. You can't have the same storyline week after week or the show dies.
He kept his going for 14 years. He keeps changing the story, when he makes an outrageous statement and he's waiting for incoming. He makes another outrageous statement so that all the attention is focused on the second. He's used that --I think again brilliantly-- for 6 months to manoeuvre himself to the top.

With a week out before the Iowa Caucus, polls consistently show the GOP race is ostensibly between two people - Donald Trump and Ted Cruz with Marco Rubio a distant third. The upcoming Fox News/Google Debate, the sixth of its kind for the GOP still fields 7 contestants. At best the protracted "job interview" gives voters a large sample to gauge a Candidates' temperance and fortitude. At worst its a fatiguing ceremony that primarily serves as a cash cow for the 24 hours News Media.

In the WWE, there are 5 marquee PPVs spaced out over the year. As such, storylines are paced so big events occur in time with these dates. The Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania have historically been must-watch viewing for Wrestling fans to start the year. Sandwiched by these two powerhouses is the 'Fastlane' PPV. I've used this as the template for my latest wallpaper.

'American Pundit Fighting' presents Ducklane
Celebrity Tag Team match: Ted Cruz and Phil Robertson
VS Donald Trump and Willie Robertson

Chief rival Ted Cruz capitalised on Donald Trump skipping the debate by hatching a #DonaldDuck meme with a 'Ducking Donald' page on his Campaign website. Earlier this week, conservative Reality TV stars, Phil and Willie Robertson of 'Duck Dynasty' split their vote by endorsing each of the GOP frontrunners.

VIDEO: Phil and Willie Robertson open up about their endorsements

The "Duck Lane" refers to Donald Trump's bold move to parlay his frontrunner status into a powerplay that could either catapult him into a league of his own or derail his campaign. Gleaming from another set of headline-grabbing Trump antics, former APF Pundit Stephen Colbert noted

Would You Rather: GOP Edition
STEPHEN COLBERT: That's right, Trump's voters will not leave. I think that represents a huge problem for one person - Donald Trump. Cuz when I hear this man say nothing can stop me from winning, not even shooting people. I don't hear appeal to voters, I hear a cry for help. Let's remember here's a guy who ran for President to promote probably a Reality show or his mattress brand or his line of premium ex-wives and now he looks like he might actually win... cause Donald Trump can't possibly want to be President. Its the hardest job in the world.

Win or lose, Trump has controlled the narrative allowing him to spin the result to his advantage. Even giving him the opportunity to exit the entire Presidential race while preserving his aura. Let's see how this plays out.

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

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

A new Trump wallpaper inspired by the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble. Dubbed 'One versus All', reigning Champ Roman Reigns is tasked with defending his title against the 29 other entrants. A stipulation created by WWE Establishment to strip him off his power.

National Review (Feb 2016): 'Against Trump' issue

Mirroring this storyline, conservative journal 'The National Review' published a special issue arguing "Against Trump". Featuring 22 prominent conservatives outlining their concerns for Trump as GOP nominee, headlined by APF pundit Glenn Beck and notables like Michael Medved and "top heel" William Kristol.

Donald Trump has already hit back by dismissing the relevance of the magazine whilst feigning concern. A classic Trump retort.

National Review is a failing publication that has lost it's way. It's circulation is way down w its influence being at an all time low. Sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2016

Whilst Glenn Beck has been actively warning his conservative viewers and counterparts of Trump, this latest assault might have awakened the GOP frontrunner and spun off a potentially juicier Feud. No doubt Trump will eventually go after Beck's own Media Empire and challenge its influence and financial standing. For now, the new program was teased with this promo on the "crying Glenn Beck"

Word is that crying @GlennBeck left the GOP and doesn't have the right to vote in the Republican primary. Dumb as a rock.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2016

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!

Brony Glenn Beck wallpaper: #StandWithGrayson

It's been a while since I've made dedicated Wallpapers but it's worth the wait for "Brony" Glenn Beck

#StandWithGrayson: Brony Glenn Beck wallpaper

#StandWithGrayson: Brony Glenn Beck wallpaper (small)

#StandWithGrayson: Brony Blaze logo

Find other Glenn Beck Wallpapers here:
- Beck, Colbert and Stewart Posters for 'Rally to Restore Sanity' and 'March to keep Fear Alive'
- Glenn Beck vs. Rush Limbaugh: Politico wonders what the rise of Glenn means to Rush's influence

Glenn Beck is the Brony Messiah: #StandWithGrayson in solidarity for a 9yr old student bullied for his 'My Little Pony' lunch bag

Last week President Obama made headlines for appearing on Zach Galifianakis' faux interview show 'Between Two Ferns' presented by 'Funny or Die'. Whilst critics found the parody beneath the dignity of Presidential office, others saw it as astutely reaching out to the youth using their language.

President Obama has always had a crossover appeal due to his perceived cool which proponents (Bill Maher) and detractors (Roseanne Barr) have been critical of in the past. Ultimately its a play for a younger, connected audience. This week, arguably the most influential person on the Right went for an equally influential youth audience - Glenn Beck revealed himself as a "Brony".

VIDEO: Know Your Meme: My Little Pony  

KNOW YOUR MEME: (4m) Whilst it may seem the initial fires of war have subsided and each side, those who seek the magical friendship of Ponydom and those who see it a cancer to the web are locked into an unbreakable stalemate. It is prophecised that one great Brony will unite the herd and usher in a new era of love and tolerance to the entire web.

Is Glenn Beck the prophecised Brony Messiah?
Glenn Beck came to the defense of  9 year old Grayson Bruce who was bullied in his Buncombe County school for bringing a 'My Little Pony' lunch bag. Showing solidarity with the boy and his mother, Beck spoke of the callousness of the School Counsellor who suggested he "should hide his lunch box in his backpack and that when you carry things like that these things happen."

#StandWithGrayson: Glenn stands in solidarity with a 9-year-old NC student
GLENN BECK: We're not aficionados on My Little Pony. But I am an aficionado on what it takes to be a man in today's world. And just because you like little ponies means nothing. You having the courage to be who you are and stand up no matter what society says, that is worth its weight in gold.
Send us your snapshots or whatever else you might have and we'll post them. And Grayson, if you and your mom ever want to come down to Dallas, you let me know. You can bring your My Little Pony lunch bag, and I might bring My Little Pony lunch bag. And we can have lunch.

Brony Glenn Beck: Welcome to the Herd.

Brony Glenn Beck: Don't Feed the Parasprites

Avengers assemble! Glenn Beck's 2014 Summer Rally with Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Ann Coulter and possibly Rush Limbaugh

VIDEO: RWW News - Glenn Beck Teases Pre-Election Conservative Summit 

Beck Teases Pre-Election Conservative Summit with Hannity, Levin & Limbaugh
GLENN BECK: I wrote to Sean about a week before I went on vacation and I said "Sean, I do these summer events and this summer, we haven't announced it yet, but I would like to consider doing the first night of a three night event with you and Mark and possibly Rush [if anybody has the guts to ask Rush] and he wrote back immediately "I'm in. I'll talk to Mark"...
This summer event, we hope to announce in the next couple of weeks. I'm thinking it'll be in June... coincidentally this is the summer leading into the Midterm elections...
PAT GRAY: It'd be weird to be united leading into the Midterm elections... It'd be really sad for the other side

Glenn Beck's Summer Rally 2014:
Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh

Glenn Beck used a cartoon reference to describe this union of Pundit heavyweights, "when Wonder Twins activate… Something big is happening". I would have preferred a wrestling reference but I feel another set of comic book superfriends are more apt - The Avengers!

Glenn Beck's Summer Rally 2014:
"Avengers Assemble!" edition

Ann Coulter as The Black Widow
A femme fatale, perennially in Black. Ann is tasked with coaxing the powerful Rush Limbaugh into the fold.

Sean Hannity as Captain America
Sean is a "Great American" and a leader in his own right. He is a patriot with a throwback style.

Glenn Beck as Iron Man
A wealthy industrialist and recovering alcoholic, Glenn Beck is the head of this motley crew of conservative pundits

Mark Levin as Thor
Wielding his hammer of justice, Levin is a lawyer with a thunderous voice. Despite fighting alongside Iron Man [Glenn Beck], they have had their battles in the past.

Rush Limbaugh as The Incredible Hulk
You wouldn't want to see him angry. A one man wrecking crew, Rush is the Lethal Weapon crucial to the Avengers winning the war.

Play with the new APF animation below. Toggle the button on the corner left to see the "Avengers Assembled":

- War is over: Sean Hannity and Mark Levin call truce with Glenn Beck

War is over: Sean Hannity and Mark Levin call truce with Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck appears on Fox Business' Imus in the Morning (Oct 5, 2009)
Glenn Beck on Career, Life Choices
DON IMUS: Saw you on the cover of Time Magazine. Your book's #1 I noticed this week. Sean Hannity, Rush they both hate you
GLENN BECK: No. No they don't
IMUS: They all hate you

Glenn Beck is arguably the most influential pundit in America today. Placing #34 on the 2013 Forbes Celebrity 100 list. He has amassed upwards of 300,000 paying subscribers for his online Blaze Network and attracts tens of thousands to his Summer rallies. Whilst Beck's popularity with audiences shows no sign of abating, he's always had a mixed reception from his peers.

Rush Limbaugh receives universal praise from his colleagues, Beck previously writing a tribute for the perennial Alpha dog for the Time 100 list. Other pundits are quick to come to Rush' aid when he has come under fire despite being entirely capable of defending himself. Beck hasn't enjoyed such support, in the past Mark Levin has patronisingly referred to him as the "5PM'er", a "circus clown" and the "guy with tourettes". Glenn's 2010 CPAC speech had the distinction of uniting Jon Stewart, Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh in deriding it.

VIDEO: John Cena chooses The Rock as his partner for Survivor Series

For the most part no pundit is an island. They're cordial with each other, have a sense of solidarity and will appear on each other's shows. Only Limbaugh, Beck and to a lesser extent Michael Savage have the Main Event clout to remain solo. To Beck's credit, he's the only one with the foresight and grace to seek partnerships, mending a rivalry that would not only assist his peers but galvanizes the cause and elevate him higher still. As this exchange on Hannity demonstrates, Beck is doing fine on his own and doesn't really need any help -

Glenn Beck's next Summer rally alongside
Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mark Levin and possibly Rush Limbaugh

Lies, Incompetence & Polling Woes: Hour 3 (Dec 17, 2013)
ANN COULTER: (25m 30s) Is this going to be in Dallas?...
GLENN BECK: We did Dallas two years ago [Restoring Love, 7.28.12]
SEAN HANNITY: You sold out Dallas Stadium?
BECK: Yeah, Cowboys Stadium
HANNITY: You did not sell...
BECK: Yeah we did. Two years ago and only spoken word to do it
HANNITY: How many seats are in Cowboys Stadium?
BECK: For spoken word there is 60
HANNITY: 60, 63 thousand. Something like that. Did you do it in the big stadium with the big
BECK: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was amazing. It was fun.
...
COULTER: Glenn, do you realise you don't need us
BECK: No I think its really good - I personally think that people on our side, we're winning the argument

Beck explained the dissolution of the "foolish" feud that wedged him apart from influential talkers Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. On the January 30th episode of his show Beck shared the full story:

Glenn explains how he reconnected with Mark Levin and Sean Hannity
GLENN BECK: I am grateful to this audience. I am grateful for you. There was a stupid feud, and the three of us, Sean, and Mark and I, have talked about it... And we know where it came from, and we know who was feeding us lies about each other. And this individual just expected that if they fed us enough lies about each other, we would never talk to each other. And that way he would be able to divide us and keep the Tea Party movement at bay and control it as much as he could or destroy it. And we were foolish.

We are at the end and if talk radio begins to move together and we all understand: I don't do what Sean Hannity does, and he can't do what I can do. Same with Mark. I mean that… Everybody plays a different role. And each of us have an important piece

This is an interesting development for Conservative Talk Radio, especially Beck's consolidation of influence. Glenn not being a wrestling fan used a Saturday Cartoon analogy to describe the improbable teaming of powers "when Wonder Twins activate… Something big is happening... unless you're a progressive then I don’t think you’re going to like this".

Stay tuned as these Avengers Assemble.

Sarah Palin transcript at CPAC 2013 - Politics is reality, diss of Architect Karl Rove

VIDEO: Former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin at CPAC 2013

Ever the showman Sarah Palin put on a raucous display for the audience at CPAC 2013. Whilst electrifying the crowd she cautioned about how Politics felt a little too staged and that Politicians of both parties were hamstrung by the "process of politics".

Former Governor Sarah Palin at CPAC 2013
SARAH PALIN: Entertainment TV is a good description of what's going on in D.C. because more than ever it feels like a put on. Every event feels calculated to fool us somehow, every speech feels like a con. Washington politicians, too many of both parties have a bad habit of focusing on the process of politics instead of the purpose of politics which is to lead and to serve.
Even our guys in the GOP too often have a habit of reading their stage directions, especially these days. They're being too scripted, too calculated...

Palin has diagnosed the same problem that is hampering effective leadership in American Politics, the endless campaign and the staged conflict. An opinion shared by the PunditFight blog and the likes of Jon Stewart and  Ann Coulter.

The Daily Show (March 15, 2010) - Crumbums and Fat cats 
WYATT CENAC: Jon here's your problem. You think politicians wanna win their arguments when all they really wanna do is keep having them. They know arguments are interesting, they energize voters, they keep the money flowing in.
JON STEWART: You're telling me their interest is in conflict, not in resolution?
WYATT CENAC: Yes. Jon do you watch professional wrestling?

Sarah Palin offers a remedy for the stagecrafted Politicians whilst sending a veiled diss to "Architect" Karl Rove. A shoot promo reminiscent of CM Punk' inside baseball diss of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

SARAH PALIN: (23min) Ending the top-down approach to D.C. also means changing out top-down political process. The next election is 20 months away, now is the time to furlough the political consultants, tune out the pollsters, send the focus groups home and toss the political scripts because if we truly know what we believe, we don't need professionals to tell us...
it means looking to our communities, our PTAs, our service clubs, small businesses, Tea Party rallies and city halls for people who are willing to lead. Do you know someone who's judgment you trust? Someone who doesn't just preach commonsense but actually lives it. Encourage her -- or him to run for office.

Are you Mad as Hell and think that you have a better way? Then run yourself. Don't let the Big Consultants, the Big Money Men, the Big, Bad media scare you off. Don't let them invalidate you. When you have more real world, practical experience with family, real work. That's real life than those in the political bubble that try to tell you who's worthy and who just doesn't fit their bill. The last thing we need is Washington D.C. vetting our candidates. If these experts who keep losing elections and keep getting rehired and raking in millions. If they feel that strongly about who gets to run in this party then they should buck up and stay in the truck. Buck up and run!

The Architect[s] can head on back to the great Lone Star state and put their name on some ballot though for their own sake I hope they give themselves a discount on their consulting services.

Joe Scarborough will test the waters for a Presidential run in 2016

When you thought it couldn't get any worse, the Morning Schmoe wants to be president? 

- Mark Levin on Facebook

Conservative pundit Mark Levin links to a Vanity Fair piece on his Facebook page, taking a dig at fellow APF pundit Joe Scarborough

MSNBC's Hot Ticket... After the presidential inauguration in January, Joe (no fan of Mitt Romney’s—"I've been very critical") plans on publishing a memoir that will serve—no joke—as a vehicle to test the waters for a presidential run in 2016. Take that, Mr. Romney.

Jon Stewart's unedited interview with Chris Wallace on 'Fox News Sunday' (transcript)

 VIDEO: Exclusive: Jon Stewart on 'Fox News Sunday' (unedited)

Transcript of Chris Wallace interviewing Jon Stewart (June 20, 2011)
WALLACE: I'm just trying to understand you.
STEWART: Is that really true?
WALLACE: Yes.
STEWART: Because here's the thing that surprises me about that. I've existed in this country forever. There have been people like me who satirize the political process and who have satirized — what was it that Will Rogers said? How crazy is it when politicians are a joke and comedians are taken seriously? I've existed forever. The box that I exist in has always been around, the change is the box that you guys, you've moved closer to me. But I'd like to know what I'm doing that's really different than what you've seen previously from satirical comedians that work in the political milieu. What is different about it, that makes you so perplexed?

Townhall Magazine: "100 Americans the left hate most!"

If one's mission were to "win friends and influence people" they would most likely do their best not to criticize, condemn or complain and act in a friendly manner. You may be mistaken for thinking this is what Politics is about, not quite. Winning elections is about having more votes than your competitor, its not necessarily about winning everyone over. If you're able to impassion a majority to victory it would almost be wise to cut your losses, sometimes having a constant opposition as a bogeyman can be the best motivator.

The world of wrestling is built on the very notion of "Us vs Them". Wrestlers orient themselves as either 'Heels' (villains) or 'Faces' (heroes) by their actions and their words. Their appeal however is based entirely on how they connect with the audience and not their orientation. Its not uncommon in wrestling to find that you root for the villain and loathe the hero.

Identity politics is built on proudly distinguishing oneself as part of marginalized group, insisting on such a narrative is a source of empowerment, a badge of honor. Its a tactic used by politicians and pundits with Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck arguably being the most effective proponents. Not surprisingly the marginalisation angle works best for the pundits when their ideological side is out of power and their supporters most engaged. As evidenced by the introduction of Liberal radio station Air America and pundits like Randi Rhodes, Sam Seder and Al Franken during the Republican Bush' second term. Also seen in the emergence of Glenn Beck and his brand of restoration during President Obama's first term.

Its not uncommon for these "marginalised" groups to glorify their status by identifying their biggest targets as TownHall Magazine have done below. But these lists can easily be recontextualized so the positions of strength are inverted as seen in these set of ranking  - Top 10 list of anti-Barack Obama conservatives

100 Americans se left hate most!
The more effective the voices that oppose their agenda, the greater the venom the Left spews in their direction. It’s this out-of-control behavior from our fellow citizens who are sold out to the ultraliberal progressive Obama agenda to “radically transform” the United States that led us to create this list of “The 100 Americans the Left Hates Most.”

The Townhall editorial staff compiled a massive list of those we believe have the largest bull’s-eyes painted on them by the Left and the Democrat-dominated government...

Download the PDF here - The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most

The usual suspects of PunditFight conservatives appear on the list, you'll have to go to TownHall magazine to find their respective rankings:
Hugh Hewitt, Bill Kristol, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck

Watch how marginalised heel personalities negotiate between each other to elevate themselves

VIDEO: WWE Over The Limit 2010 Randy Orton Vs Edge