NewsMax succeeded against all odds this month in finding a way to actually lower the standard of American politics even further with an invitation to Donald Trump (reality television star and professional uber-egotist) to moderate the next presidential debate. Not surprisingly, only two candidates immediately declined on the grounds that the presidential office demands a modicum of dignity: Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman. These two men continue to try to bring some level of principle to the debate and have been rewarded by being continually marginalized by the media. Newt Gingrich just accepted the invitation.
Paul spokesman left little question about how they view NewsMax’s effort to add a Circus theme to the presidential campaign:
“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity. Mr. Trump’s participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.
Mr. Trump’s selection is also wildly inappropriate because of his record of toying with the serious decision of whether to compete for our nation’s highest office, a decision he appeared to make frivolously. The short-lived elevation of Mr. Trump’s stature as a candidate put him on the radar of many organizations and we recall that last spring he was invited to keynote the Republican Party of Iowa’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner, yet at the last minute he left RPI holding the bag by canceling. In turn, RPI canceled its biggest fundraising gala of the year and suffered embarrassment and in addition RPI was required to engage in refunding measures. Our candidate will not even consider participating in the late-December debate until Mr. Trump publicly apologizes to Iowa party leaders and rectifies in full the situation.
Therefore our candidate Ron Paul, the champion of the Constitution, has advised he will not attend.”
NewsMax should be ashamed if there were any room left for shame in its corporate headquarters. Not only did NewsMax select a person widely viewed as a scary clown, but someone who is still suggesting that he might run himself. What is particularly astonishingly is that former CNN figure Eason Jordan has lined up to help produce this sensational event.
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy has issued a statements predicting “the largest audience of any Republican primary debate to date.” Of course, if you add strippers and a contortionist, ratings might be even higher.
The race to the bottom in national coverage is also reflected in this question from Fox News to Ron Paul:
It is important to note that it is the mainstream media that is accelerating this deep dive in quality and decorum. As with faux court programs, politics is being merged into the entertainment industry. This must be reassuring to the world that reality show stars will now help select the next president.
Source: Politico
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TPM2012
Donald Trump vs Chuck Todd – The Highlight Of The Day
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/donald-trump-vs-chuck-todd—the-highlight-of-the-day.php?ref=fpnewsfeed
Talk about a clash of the titans.
You may have thought Donald Trump’s media highlight today came when he noted he would try to entice further GOP candidates into his “debate” by making his endorsement partly dependent upon attendance. Or you might have been under the impression that his new idea of an “Apprentice”-style scheme for poor kids was what won the day.
But if you thought either of these things, you’d be sadly mistaken. Earlier on Monday a rather grumpy Trump was let loose upon Chuck Todd’s morning show on MSNBC and – as they used to say in the TV listings – hilarity ensued. It was an incredibly obstreperous, cranky performance that even had Todd openly rolling his eyes.
Donald Trump Unloads On NBC’s Chuck Todd
mespo…..
I supposed his choice cast the first “nay” vote….
It is said that at the time of the decline of the Roman Empire, Emperor Caligula named his favorite horse, Incitatus, as Senator. It’s nice to see cynicism hasn’t changed much.
What, was Paris Hilton busy that weekend?
sex sells
Pete
I am guessing that we will be using the ladies who hold up the number of the next round. Are you ready to rumble?
they’re really getting desperate trying to get people to watch the republican debates. i’m guessing one of the kardashian girls will be moderating the next one. or the bieber kid.
Hmmmm…. Maybe he can avoid another bankruptcy if he does this….
I see the America that I love taking shape.
can’t debate on an empty stomach. lets give them corndogs first
http://www.gallup.com/poll/151325/Republicans-Gingrich-Romney-Acceptable-Nominees.aspx Republican voters only find Romney and Gingrich to be acceptable nominees with Gingrich being much more acceptable. Gingrich is found acceptable by 82 percent of the tea party republicans. Huntsman and Paul are not well regarded.
Elaine sez: “Principle? I’d settle for a modicum of sanity!”
As for me, I have had my fill of insanity as well. I would settle for a modicum of mediocrity.
Mike A.,
you are correct that Trump is a perfect match for these clowns.
Swarthmore,
I am with you. Paul is more reasonable than most of this crowd on the Republican side, be he has also signed on to the dark side on abortion and health care.
Gene – I LIKE the idea of Jack Bauer running the GOP debates; with one caveat. He has to torture them repeatedly so that we are sure their answers are what they really believe!
I’d vote for waterboarding since the candidates all agree it is not torture but, in their case only, am OK with thumbscrews or repeated blows to the head.
In trying to mimic the last, very successful, Democratic Primary Presidential Debates that so engaged the public with candidates like Clinton, Obama, Biden, Kucinich etc., the Republicans set about this fiasco.
Now the ratings have plummeted. The public is engaged only through laughter and the only ones watching are the news media hoping to catch the latest guffaw. What to do?! Enter Donald Trump.
I’m having trouble gathering any real sympathy for Paul or Huntsman … they chose to stick with the Republicans and like it or not they are Richard Nixon walking the beach in wing-tips trying to look cool while Bill Clinton is blowing them away with his sax.
Pathetic.
My view is that the selection of Donald Trump as debate moderator is entirely appropriate when one considers the Republican field.
I’d say that the only thing keeping the GOP from having Jack Bauer moderate the “debates” is that he’s a fictional character, but that didn’t stop them with Trump.
This is interesting. Management of reality is the norm for us today. “The Discovery Channel is refusing to show the shocking conclusions of its own documentary.
“Frozen Planet” is a seven-part series that serves as a gripping portrait of life at the ends of the Earth, featuring stunning shots of wildlife at the North and South Poles.
But when the series airs in the U.S. early next year, Discovery Channel is only showing six episodes: they’re refusing to air the full seventh episode, which deals exclusively with climate change and exposing its devastating
effects on our planet.
Claudia Abbott-Barish, an American now living in the UK, where “Frozen Planet” is currently airing, started a Change.org petition asking the Discovery Channel to air all seven episodes of “Frozen Planet” to make sure Americans can see the truth about climate change.
The striking footage of “Frozen Planet” is not to be missed — it features never-before-seen images of penguins, polar bears, glaciers, and the great grey owl. It’s an intimate look at the ice-covered portions of our planet, made by the same people who produced the incredible “Planet Earth” series from a few years ago. Throughout the series, viewers follow stories of animals trying to survive in extreme conditions.
But central to the story about life at the ends of the Earth is the reality of climate change.
Some of the show was shot by a cameraman named named Dave, a friend of Claudia’s. While filming in the Arctic and Antarctica, Dave said he was stunned by the experience. He saw shrinking glaciers and melting ice right before his eyes, all while working with scientists who talked about how the devastating effects of climate change are worse than they ever feared.
Discovery Channel prides itself on revealing the mysteries and unseen worlds of our planet. Claudia thinks that by shortchanging U.S. viewers of the reality of climate change, Discovery Channel is doing a disservice to its viewers and the planet.
Please sign Claudia’s petition asking Discovery Channel to air the seventh episode of “Frozen Planet” to tell the whole story about climate change and life at the ends of the Earth.” Add your name here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/president-discovery-channel-air-the-climate-change-episode-from-the-frozen-planet-nature-series