Presidential candidates have begun using B-rated action heroes to support their campaigns. Normally no one would think to mess with the wrath of Chuck Norris, with his roundhouse kicks and other cheesy karate moves along with the never ending jokes, it is no wonder that Republican candidate Governor Mike Huckabee has him by his side. With the plan to secure the border using Chick Norris, who knows this may be a good idea from Governor Huckabee. It has to be better then President Bush’s plan of sweeping it under the rug and hoping American’s do not notice the extra twelve million new neighbors we receive.

Arizona Senator John McCain is now being supported by Sylvester Stallone. Perhaps this collaboration could be a positive political action because of their similarities. Both McCain and Stallone’s character Rambo fought the bad guys of Vietnam, granted Rambo is still stuck there and making another last resort movie. Another resemblance that the two share is the ongoing debate that they are too old to being doing their job. Stallone 62 may need to throw in the towel first, before he makes another Rocky. Surely McCain could make it another four years.

While I was in Chicago over the weekend, they were constantly running commercials for this guy. I have no idea who he is or whether or not these other two guys are crooks, but I thought it was pretty inventive to campaign with a JibJab video, especially since they put it on YouTube.

Ah, Steve…so much time spent, yet none of it accurately addressing the topic at hand…

“Where does one start when documenting how Marvel has gone beyond simple huckster-isms and into straight out lying to their customers?”—Kevin Huxford

Apparently, you’ve never been in sales of any kind, Kevin.

Marvel cared enough to offer an explanation—whether it’s completely accurate or not really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

Dear biased, win-at-all-costs, attain-your-goals-at-the-expense-of-others Ekstrom…if it isn’t completely accurate…and it is shared with full knowledge of its inaccuracy…it isn’t simply sales and marketing, but a full blown lie.
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“Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty.”—Plato

This is the entertainment business, not the honesty business, Kevin. You and I are nothing but nodes which contribute to the propagation of this industry when you look at the bottom line. I do understand that in an ideal world no one would lie to anyone and that all of our farts would smell like lemon chiffon and Koben Kelly would get to bed down with Asia Argento every night but it doesn’t stop publishers from stopping the direction of a project or going against a promise—in effect changing their minds.

What Marvel did wasn’t lying–it was marketing their product.
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Troy here: Recent posts by contributor Kevin Huxford concerning issues surrounding the unmasking of Spider-Man and the subsequent fan reaction to “One More Day” and “Brand New Day” have spread into other sites, blogs, and forums. Over at Blog@Newsarama, a spirited debate began between Kevin and another Shotgun contributor, Steve Ekstrom. All parties involved thought that it would be more appropriate to move the discussion to a more formalized setting. Here.

The Rules, then:
1) Each contributor prepared an opening position statement regarding Marvel, the Unmasking, BND, etc.

2) Both opening positions appear in this post.

3) Due to a coin toss, Steve’s statement appears first, then Kevin’s. Subsequent posts will carry rebuttals and extensions.

4) The Debate, like fights at Fight Club, will go as long as it needs to.

5) And, for the record, Steve and Kevin’s opinions are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ShotgunReviews.com writers and management, Best Shots, Blog@Newsarama, or Newsarama.com.

Everyone good? Let’s go.

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Barb just gave me this:

Ann Coulter just said that she would campaign for Hillary Clinton if John McCain becomes the Republican Nominee. It’s right there in the video.

My head is exploding. In fact, I probably look like Toht from Raiders of the Lost Ark as we speak.

Maybe this is all some diabolical plan to completely screw up the Clinton campaign.

Then again, maybe no matter how it goes, we’re still screwed.

Over on Newsarama, Marc Guggenheim (WGA member) said the following:

“Speaking solely as a WGA member (and not a representative thereof), I’m not disappointed in Joe at all. He isn’t a member of the WGA (or the DGA, SAG or IATSE, for that matter) and, therefore, has no legal or moral obligation to honor the picket line. Nevertheless, he still solicited the opinion of at least one highly successful WGA member before committing to go on the show — a classy move, in my opinion, that he didn’t have to do.

Plus, did you notice the red WGA-solidarity wristband he wore?”

So, it appears that there are at least two WGA members that think it is OK to support the producers by helping them complete one of their shows by filling time as a guest. I give Mr. Guggenheim all the credit in the world for stating his opinion publicly and standing behind it as he has. But agreeing to appear on a show, when you have no contractual obligation, supports the producers by helping them to get new, compelling product out there. Sure, Quesada is not a big mainstream draw and someone else would probably step in, but that doesn’t excuse making the appearance.

But I want to know who this highly successful WGA member is and whether or not they are a current Marvel writer. I don’t want to support anyone who makes excuses for someone crossing a picket line. As far as comic book writers, that means no purchasing works by Guggenheim, thus far. I can only hope that the Skrull WGA member Joe spoke to will have the courage of his convictions to put his name to that advice so I can swear off purchasing their material as well.

Plus, did anyone notice the attempt to act like the red WGA-solidarity wristband that most of America has no recognition of might outweigh helping producers create a show without writers?

A Democrat…saying that Reagan effected more/better change appealing to what the people wanted than Clinton? With the endorsements of unions, he praises Reagan? Right before a caucus where those unions now have an easier time voting?Any union member who votes for someone who praised the biggest union buster of our times should scald the skin off their hand in the Hobart machine.

Don’t take my word for it…watch Obama:

He’s playing politics worse than a long time Washington politician. Conventional wisdom suggests he’s saying this to appeal to independents and shaky Republicans in California…that it might bring them in to vote for him during their open primary. More “saying whatever it takes to get elected, whether you believe it or not” politics. That’s at least as bad as Hillary or anyone he’s indicated our country needs a CHANGE from.

That’ll never be me…
That’ll never be me…
That’ll never be, never be me.
NO… NO, NEVER, NEVER, EVER.
And don’t you EVER THINK IT.

British twins unwittingly marry.

Good Lord.

Twenty bucks says the Republican party laughs hysterically at this photo.

On other matters, Kerry, shown in close-up below . . .

. . . has indeed decided that neither Obama, nor the other Democratic candidates, are, in fact, orcs.

FBI wiretaps have been suspended because they haven’t paid their phone bills.

The FBI now plan to move in with their Aunt May to save money.

In a previous blog, I jokingly made reference to reasons why Obama might be the anti-christ. This was mostly centered around how he seemed to be taking the primary season by storm.

So what happens? He immediately loses in New Hampshire.

There goes the thought that he could be the anti-christ.

Unless…

…he lost it just to throw me off track!!!

Back in 2006, I wrote the following blog about John McCain. I was just starting to think maybe he’s back to being his own man, but after reading this again…I don’t know that I can trust that feeling enough.

Wow. If this doesn’t just crush any hopes I had that there’s anyone on the Republican side that is genuinely trying to help this country. At this point, Senator Specter is the best Republican I can think of off the top of my head…and he’s not without his sizable flaws, too.

From AP Political Writer, Rob Fournier:

Later, the senator outlined his position on the Senate immigration debate, saying tougher border enforcement must be accompanied by guest-worker provisions that give illegal immigrants a legal path toward citizenship.

Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. “Pay a decent wage!” one audience member shouted. McCain curtly threatened to cut the speech short, which quieted the crowd.

In the speech, McCain also argued that withdrawing U.S. troops prematurely from Iraq would turn terrorists loose on the United States.

That’s when one audience member unleashed the barnyard epithet.

McCain got another laugh when he finished the speech and asked whether anybody had “questions, comments or insults.” One audience member obliged with a pointed question on his immigration plan.

McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain’s job offer.

“I’ll take it!” one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. “You can’t do it, my friends.”

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Did you see these Hot Trends?

“Assassinate Obama” was the #19 Google Trend at the time of this blog. It had peaked an hour earlier, but I don’t know what spot that meant it got up to. Not a happy thing.

Will the stories this trend points to effect Obama’s polling going forward? Does this have anything to do with texting my brother last night to say Obama might be the anti-christ? Does this mean, as Dave Chappelle’s joke goes, he’ll need to pick a Mexican vice president?

Edit: OK, I’ve been asked to explain my anti-christ comment by a friend…so….

1. Virtually came out of no where
2. Ascended from one term (I think) as State Senator to less than a term as US Senator to likely President of the most powerful nation in the world (no, not China…the US)
3. Enraptures people with his speeches that are all feel good and no substance (or, at best, somewhat shifting stances)
4. Renounced Islam (admittedly a personal reason here)
5. Insulated from some constructive criticism by cries of racism (look at what happened to Biden when he said Obama speaks so well)
6. Most importantly: he’s related to Dick Cheney

So…there you go…the 6 reasons why he MIGHT be the anti-christ. Still…if he wins…I hope he at least has Edwards as a VP. :)