Rocky vs. Hannity: A referee for rhetoric PART DEUX

[helderheid]

Rocky vs. Hannity: A referee for rhetoric

By Derek P. Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 03/13/2007 08:36:31 AM MDT



Wanted: someone with stature, a stopwatch and negotiable sanity to referee the political powder keg between Rocky Anderson and Sean Hannity before, possibly, 15,000 epithet-prone partisans.

And since Salt Lake City's rabble-rousing mayor and Fox News' flamethrower will be sparring - this is a fight over war, after all - the unfortunate candidate must have large lungs.

Utahns' early ballots include a moderator menagerie. They range from Rod Decker (decibel level - check), Doug Wright and Chris Vanocur to Doug Fabrizio, Ken Verdoia and, uh, Michael Moore.

Tom Barberi, the self-appointed "Voice of Reason," even nominated himself.

On the sobering side, a Sandy resident suggested in an e-mail to The Salt Lake Tribune that the proposed debate over the Iraq war and Anderson's push for President Bush's impeachment should be moderated by a military person. "Preferably, a Pfc. who has recently spent a tour of duty in Iraq."

Nothing formal is scheduled between Anderson and Hannity - yet - although a University of Utah student is lobbying for the Huntsman Center on April 20. But one certainty exists: Utah's liberal lion wants a piece of the conservative commentator, and vice versa.

Over the weekend, The Tribune asked readers to name possible moderators who could rein in the rhetoric. Following are some of their nominees:

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http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5423100

[Katherine Brengle]

1. *pssssst*

"deux"

:D

[helderheid]

3. CRAP!

Thanks!! :hi:

[helderheid]

2. Possible moderators:

How about these moderators?

* Ruth Todd - She's shopping for a gig and, unlike KTVX, this may actually be a ratings winner.
* Katie Couric - Speaking of needing a ratings boost, this might help CBS News carry Utah.
* Rod Decker - He's tough, he's nonpartisan and he's loud.
* Chris Vanocur - Can he find his way out of the political backroom?
* Dick Vitale - Awesome, baby! A mouth and an ego to rival the debaters.
* Peter Corroon - Perfect counter to two screamers, or is he just too dry?
* Blair Feulner - Make him earn that six-figure public-radio salary.
* Doug Fabrizio - Genial, bright, respectable. But what if it's pledge week?
* Chris Matthews - For a change, someone who could cut off Hannity in midsent. . . .
* Keith Olbermann - Astute, witty. But too smug, too condescending, too much like the debaters.
* Mitt Romney - Hey, the show could double as a campaign fundraiser.
* Tom Barberi - This smack-off needs a voice of reason. Just ask him.
* Ken Verdoia - Host the debate now, crank out the Rocky-Hannity documentary later.
* Dave Checketts - He's holding out for the Curtis-Corroon clash.
* Joe Cannon - He's no longer a partisan. Now he's a card-carrying member of the Fourth Estate.

Bolded my choice

[Greeby]

4. Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!

*ahem* Sorry, got carried away there ;)

[helderheid]

5. I can relate!

:hi:

[helderheid]

6. .

[gatorboy]

7. I thought Hannity dropped out.

[helderheid]

8. He did - it's very possibly being rescheduled. :D