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January 27, 2004 10:56 AM   Subscribe

The popular radio show, This American Life, has an upcoming series devoted to Jerry Springer's previous life in politics. Along with the radio piece, an entire website has been launched to try and convince Springer to re-enter politics and "revitalize the Democratic Party." Is Springer the new Arnold of the left?
posted by mathowie (25 comments total)
 
Jerry is a Democrat and it would be a great thing for the Nation if he were to run against the current occupant!
posted by Postroad at 11:05 AM on January 27, 2004


good lord! have you seen his show???? trailer trash city??? stupid morons flashing their stretched out cow-like udders and pummelling one another while springer looks on with a smile???

come to think of it, maybe he *should* run...
posted by quonsar at 11:08 AM on January 27, 2004


Good god. What a horrible idea.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:09 AM on January 27, 2004


I think the html in the original post did something screwy.
posted by mecran01 at 11:26 AM on January 27, 2004


altogether now:
Haughey!
Haughey!
Haughey!
Haughey!

and I was just getting used to picturing him as Fearless Leader on the Bullwinke Show
posted by wendell at 11:26 AM on January 27, 2004


Back on topic, I think the shunning of Springer by the Democratic Party establishment is the best evidence yet that the Republicans don't have a monopoly on morality.
posted by wendell at 11:35 AM on January 27, 2004


Springer can do nothing good for the Democrats. I'm actually surprised he doesn't have a show on Fox News. Maybe a 'Hannity and Springer' isn't too far off in the future??
posted by skechada at 11:46 AM on January 27, 2004


Maybe a 'Hannity and Springer' isn't too far off in the future??

The mighty Alan Colmes would never allow it!
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:51 AM on January 27, 2004


skechada: Springer can do nothing good for the Democrats.

Why do you think so?
posted by rusty at 12:05 PM on January 27, 2004


Springer would reinforce all of the negative (to them at least) stereotypes right-wingers have about Democrats: immoral, irreligious, anti-white, elitist, etc.
posted by callmejay at 12:09 PM on January 27, 2004


elitist

Wait... you've seen his show, right?
posted by gyc at 12:12 PM on January 27, 2004


"...stupid morons flashing their stretched out cow-like udders..."

Sounds good to me, where do I sign up?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:19 PM on January 27, 2004


gyc: elitist in that his show makes fun of the dumb hicks.
posted by callmejay at 12:20 PM on January 27, 2004


Its posts like this that remind me just how, well, unusual American politics is, if:

1. Jerry Springer is called left-wing
2. Someone is suggesting he could run for the top office in the country.
3. He might actually win.
posted by lerrup at 12:33 PM on January 27, 2004


My comment is about the show "This American Life."

Ira Glass is a genuis. The radio show is simply wonderful. Beautiful. Simple. Direct. He should win many awards.
posted by nofundy at 12:35 PM on January 27, 2004


Just to clarify a little, the JerryforOhio site was not created by or because of This American Life, but rather by a political campaign. As posted on MeFi, Springer suggested last year that he might get back into politics.
posted by me3dia at 12:37 PM on January 27, 2004


I can see Springer pulling this as a publicity stunt and everything he says and does is always a publicity grab.

I can't fathom what Ira Glass is hoping to accomplish tho.

Springers got no cred to lose, while Glass is at the top of his game. Even Geraldo was nowhere near Springer's nadir of credibility. I just can't see anyone with a brain ever believing there's one iota of altruism in anything he does.
posted by Fupped Duck at 12:38 PM on January 27, 2004


Is Schwarzanegger even really good for the Republican party? Sure, he walked away with the California recall vote but I don't see him as a Republican poster child. He might be fiscally conservative but socially he seems more liberal (at least here from 2500 miles away).

Contrast this to President Bush, fiscally he's reckless but socially he's very conservative. The people I'm surrounded with are more than willing to ignore his fiscal irresponsibility as long as he heaps on more of that conservative stance towards social issues.

Now contrast Schwarzanegger to Springer. Springer actually does have a political background but he's spent a decade providing the television that my conservative co-workers are quick to condemn but seem to love to watch. I don't know whether there are any real skeletons in his past but if there are they'll quickly surface and it'll be played up like Larry Flynt's run for Governor. Jerry Springer will be seen as the ring leader of a three ring circus.

Schwarzanegger has lots of skeletons in his closet but they're mostly ignored. A very wide variety of the general public has watched his movies, admires his rise from a starving bodybuilder and tends to blur his movie characters with the actual Arnold Schwarzanegger. The conduct of his movie characters counted for more than his actual conduct in real life.
posted by substrate at 12:38 PM on January 27, 2004


Actually, the primary link in the previous post I linked to now forwards to the JerryforOhio site. So this is a partial, unintentional doublepost. Doh!
posted by me3dia at 12:41 PM on January 27, 2004


(link)“In 2004, electability has become the issue and John Kerry has benefited by developing a sharper message, by his veteran status, and -- this is particularly significant -- New Hampshire Democrats tell us that he looks like a president.” [emphasis mine].

It's clear, and has been for awhile, that the majority don't actually care about issues, only catchy framing and a solid look. So if Springer has a slogan, some nice suits, and renounces his evil pagan ways he's probably got a shot.

It seems America is the only country in the world that really cares about the look, that look that sets a man apart from his counterparts. Pierre Trudeau certainly didn't look presidential (or prime ministerial) pulling up to the parliament building in his convertible, wearing sandles, but he certainly did more for my country than perhaps any before him or since.
posted by The God Complex at 12:42 PM on January 27, 2004


Ah, just when Carol Marin is thinking about coming back to NBC Chicago after quiting over their short-lived hiring of Jerry.
posted by john at 5:12 PM on January 27, 2004


It's very easy to see Mr. Springer being a force in Ohio politics again, he's got a lot of political experience there, solid qualifications... and a lot of baggage too:

- Mayor of Cincinnati, 1977-78
- Candidate in primary for Governor of Ohio, 1982
- Six years on Cincinnati City Council
- Worked on Bobby Kennedy's Presidental Campaign
- Has seven emmys (none for his current show)
- On the board of a few children and AIDS related charities
- Law degree from Northwestern

If you doubt the guy's got legitimate supporters, it's worth noting that he resigned that City Council position in 1974 after a scandal (admitting he paid a prostitute with a personal check), then won it back the next year and STILL went on to be mayor.

But fear not... Mr. Springer was born in Europe to non-U.S. citizens, so according to the constitution he's not eligible to be President. There, don't you feel better now?
posted by frallyth at 7:54 AM on January 28, 2004


Maybe the Constitution can be amended to allow non-"native-born" citizens to be President; then we can have Jerry vs Arnold in 2008...
posted by Rebis at 9:09 AM on January 28, 2004


Springer, Shwartznegar [sp!], Reagan, Bono, Eastwood -- the American population is addicted to entertainment to the point that they want their government to be a Hollywood production.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:16 AM on January 28, 2004


frallyth, you forget one thing. He sings country.
posted by john at 11:04 AM on January 28, 2004


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