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THE FIRST REPUBLICAN presidential debate took place this week, and as is so often the case with US politics, there was no shortage of eyebrow-raising quotes.
Frontrunner and former president Donald Trump was notably absent from the event, whom Nikki Haley described on the night as the “most disliked” politician in America.
Trump’s venture into American politics from business has led to more than a few remarks that the US political scene is unrecognisable from cartoon satire.
So today we’re testing your knowledge of that scene, as well as a show that loves to mock it – The Simpsons.
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The 2 organest men in the world in one place.
I didn’t know Trump played the organ.
Yeah; his own!
Two massive organs
cue tsunami of bile directed at Flatley’s social media account
Rightly so.
Michaels wearin that golden costume to the trump shower…
“Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile”
Flatley and Trump. Not sure two blistering egos can share the same place.
The ego has landed
God I hope I can get back in time to watch it
Career suicide for Flatley thought he had retired anyway
Career suicide? Its his job, many don’t let politics interfere with work.
@John003: You see, it’s the belief that it’s career suicide to associate with Trump. The left wing elite have managed to scare many entertainers into not performing for fear for their livelihoods. I personally don’t blame them, many wouldn’t be able to deal with the highly personal abuse let alone the dangers to their physical security from the leftist mob.
As for Michael Flatley, I commend him on performing there and ignoring the ignorant hoards baying for a boycott. I don’t believe for a second it will do any harm to him career wise, I think he’s the kind of person who can brush off the rabid criticism. Also he’s been successful enough over the years to not have to worry about the short term effect of organised bullying targeting him or his venues. Not all entertainers are in such a strong position.
@John003 He’s still looking to replace his horn that was stolen, costs alot of money for a horn that big.
I don’t think it makes a difference one way or another to careers. To appear or not is a decision for celebrities themselves. Some of them are certainly guilty of duality when it comes to past appearances and their new found set of principles.
@Val Martin: You would have no bother booking a hotel room in Washington over that weekend, ‘cos there’s not much demand..I’ve even heard that hotels are now offering two night stays,as they try to entice people to stay there..So much for him filling out stadiums during his scampaign…
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: that’s exactly what a politician would say
@ Shawn – it would appear they do.
@Mike: Can we stop with the left wing elite BS?
Isnt it clear by Trump and his cabinet picks that the right wing is controlled by the richest of the richest.
Or by elite do you mean educated? Is this a crime now?
@TurloughC: By the elite I mean those who control the media, education establishments and it seems now the entertainment industry too. If entertainers are being pressured into not performing at Trumps inauguration that’s wrong. If educational institutions are preventing the people from speaking whose views are not in line with the the educators views, that’s wrong. If nearly all the mainstream media take every opportunity to attack Trump for the benefit of other candidates, that’s wrong too. I’m speaking out at what I see as being wrong. I think it’s the right thing to do. If Clinton won and Trump supporters were carrying on like this I’d be speaking out against them too. Looking back on my post, going on about the “left wing elite” makes even me want to stop reading. That kind language isn’t great, it means different things to different people and sounds like an overused soundbite. My bad. I actually don’t mind his cabinet picks, it looks to me like he has a good shot at good governance with them. Time will tell. FYI, I’ve nothing against the educated, I believe education is essential to enlightenment. Bit of a straw man argument that, to use that kind of rhetoric.
@Mike: what exactly is the liberal elite? Do they have secret meetings? Or is this some imaginary group you made up in your head? There was no pressure put on entertainers not to perform at Trump’s inauguration, the fact is most of them hate the guy.
‘Trumps approval rating is the lowest ever’ says pollsters who predicted a 98% Hilary win and Brexit ref to fail.
I really don’t know how they’re still in a job after getting their primary task so wrong lately ,same as any of the rating agencies over the previous few years. I suppose both serve a purpose to push a favoured narrative though.
Your facts are wrong. Sad!
@Andy Brown: Favoured by whom?
@Andy Brown:
Way to go Andy…
Add more Fake News to the Fake News President…
Don’t let facts hit you in the face…
@Andy Brown: Polls weren’t wrong it was the terrible models from places like the Huffington post that had Clinton at 98% on to win. None of the results were outside of the stated margin of error of the polls. The data wasn’t wrong peoples interpretation of it was. Even on the generous end of the margin of error Trumps approval rating is woeful
Flatley has sank to a new low in a desperate bid to stay in the limelight.
He should know better.
A new low? How so? Millions of people will be watching.
@Michelle Keeley: It’s like Johnny Logan but with dancing.
@Michelle Keeley:
Oh give it a rest with this ‘he should know better’ rubbish.
He’s under no obligation to boycott the inauguration.
Thanks Jason. We were all totally unclear about that. So, no obligation. Ok. Got it.
Get real… if celebrities want to boycott the event that’s their business but they should leave others to make their own decision.. I for one am looking forward to seeing the historic event..
@Stephen Duffy: It’s going to be more of a hysteric event, than a historic one
The a-bomb on Hiroshima was a historic event too. – good job you didn’t stay up to look at that one
Bit before my time Ross but I’ll take your word for it…
So sorry Stephen, I thought you were a 90 year old Japanese survivor.
They’re welcome to each other.
Wow, a veritable “who’s that?” of the entertainment industry!
Love it!
Good, it takes a brave man to stand up this modern day “liberal” McCarthyism.
Trump is going to be President whether these PC fascists like it or not.
@Eamon Mac Gowan: Let’s imagine tomorrow was the inauguration of Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker or Rick Perry. Would Democrats and Liberals be freaking out about their agendas? Definitely. Would they be concerned about the nature of their democracy and the freedom of the press? Definitely not nearly to this extent. Ted Cruz is an exception, but while his policies are clearly very scary for the left and moderate conservatives, there would be little doubt of his understanding of how government functions. This false ‘PC fascist’ idea indicates you will pretend Trump is a normal republican and the only reason people don’t like him is because they are cry baby brainwashed liberals. You are categorically wrong. Proof? See almost everything Trump said and did in the run up the election and since. I’m assuming you have a paranoid, ill founded distrust of the media, so just go and see what Trump said himself on video.
@denisj: No matter what he does, he is not nearly as bad as Hillary.
@Eamon Mac Gowan: I don’t agree with you at all about Clinton but it’s irrelevant. As you say, Trump is going to be president. He won, get over it. Now he has to be accountable to the entire electorate. A majority of them are deeply worried. You, like most people who back Trump, have said nothing of substance to say why they and we should not be concerned.
@denisj: Hillary lead the way to war in Libya, overthrowing the Government there and collapse of civil infrastructure which has lead to Jihadi’s taking over and multiple factions still fighting, countless lives lost in the ensuing war which has caused the mass exodus from the coastline of Libya across the Mediterranean Ocean. She adopted an openly agressive stance against Russia across the board. At least Trump opposes that kind of politics of regime change and leave having wrecked the place and a more positive relationship with Russia which can only be good and de-escalate tensions between these two superpowers.
@gregory: It’s an interesting perspective but again largely irrelevant to Eamon’s point. Clinton is not going to be president, Trump is. Eamon claims people need to stand up to liberal McCarthyism, as if that’s the reason people oppose Trump. He’s wrong.
But as you raise the matter of war, let’s not forget Trump has of course offered to ‘bomb the siht out of ISIS’, bring their families into play and revive the use of water torture and much worse (his words). Situational pacifism is not a good look on anyone.
It’s like saying genital warts is at least better than syphilus. It doesn’t mean you have to say the warts are gonna make your pants great again.
@denisj: Actually I supported Bernie.
@Eamon Mac Gowan:
Please stop using the word ‘fascists’ until you learn and have some respect for what the horror of it actually implies.
I don’t think he’s ‘standing up’ to anything, either. I think he’s sort of just dancing for a large sum of cash. You’ve just xeroxed your own hysteria onto his intentions.
@Ross Stewart: In the case of tiny hands Trump, and Eamon, maybe genital warts would make their pants great again
Kenny would be there only hes saving the world at Davos Noonans looking after the cheese board at dinner
Fair play to him never give in to peer pressure. #-uckhilarysupporters
The Donald has always rewarded true loyalty. I think our boy could be in line for a cabinet “pick”. Perhaps Waterford-glass bowl bearer when Enda comes to town with the shamrock on Paddy’s Day?
Better get a ton of spray on ran so. The tan off is on.
Ton of spray on tan
Stop
Hugo Boss!!!
@Cathal Leonard: Not very original, are you?
Musicians and actors should stay out of politics and keep their opinions to themselves
So you agree with the boycott.
Haha, right Captain. How dare they have opinions?
Their boycott is politics
Captain What, Politics should be left to politicians?
Reality show hosts are okay, though.
When reality TV hosts are voted in then yes theyre allowed
This is to inflate flatleys ego even more than it already is..and that’s the only reason he’s doing it. .but he’s now quite old. Fat and probably stiff.. so it will be interesting
At 58, Michael will probably tap out after this gig in honour of The Donald.
Looks like Gordon Ramsey hit himself in the face with a frying pan a few times
I guess he was offered some shows at Trump hotels in return – Michael Flatley’s Orish dancin and a chicken-in-a-basket supper for $9.99
Flatley must be desperate. And the list! Well,I’ve never heard of any of them in my life before.
Wonder if Kenny and Noonan will get to perform their hilarious Laurel and Hardy act? I hear it was one of the unofficial highlights at the Davos shindig.
Grand soft day begosh and begorrah
“Select few” more like desperate few.
I can’t believe it.
Lord of the Dunce
Youve both been tangoed lol go mickey boy be gorra.
Does he sing?
His feet does the talking.
@Shane Kinsella: Your comment made my day.
@Shane Kinsella: His a**e too!
Lets hope he sings “By the Window” and we’ll all help him out
Bravo Michael.
We’ll all be Irish/American on Friday.
Do Irish/americans say “bravo”?
Thankfully this is just the Journalistas having a group hug and some therapeutic virtue signalling. It is not a sign that Ireland has suddenly become ignorant and intolerant.
Sad.
for tis one michael …its 2 steps fwd 3 steps back….
Didn’t Hillary use up all the “A” listers, didn’t seem to help her much. Toby Keith is probably one of the biggest names in country music.
Probably… cos we’ve never heard of him
Sam of Sam & Dave, tell me it ain’t so
I’m cancelling my tickets to his performance in Baltimore
He’ll get a residency in Doonbeg out of it. Softdaythankgod.
Quite appropriate one Arrogant, self promoting, pompous, cringe enducing clown would both support and perform at another arrogant, self promoting, vomit enducing clowns little party, hope they have a wonderful time.
He will be dancing the “Mrs McLeod’s” Reel
Good one
So to be clear Riverdance is not performing – just Michael Flatley is dancing himself into oblivion
Can I ask the author of the piece, why he used inverted commas in the headline? It seems redundant. Is it a ‘swipe’ at president elect Trump?
Why did you put the word swipe in inverted commas?
It’s river dance, a cheese fest of an idea, so it’s a match made in heaven. Unfortunately for us this crap is associated with the Irish, that is the reason it shouldn’t be allowed happen.
Am I the only one who saw the picture and thought it was Mario Rosenstock doing I, Keano for second?
Trump also tweeted that Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen and George Michael are performing !
Its funny, if you could call it that, but I don’t recall Republican Party supporters whining and smashing things when Obama was elected, or Clinton. This is the real measure of difference between Left and Right – maturity, and the Left’s clear and distinct lack of it. Flatley is making a wise move by performing as it will create good ambience which is a necessary for doing business.
I look forward to the next four years and hopefully another four after that.
Vote Trump 2020 !!!
Haha, good one! Maturity? With trump? At 3am on Twitter, the man turns into a toddler who needs some time out on the naughty seat
@Ross Stewart: elaborate, Ross.
Adjective or verb?
This is going to be awesome. I hope he calls him O’Trumpach and does that weird eyebrow thing while he jigs with some poor cailíns only on stage for the cash haha.
Here’s comes MRS MACLEOD REEL
Fair play Michael Flatley!
Wonder will he bring his rhino horns
@rossstewart. “Irony”.
Boooo!!!
Takes two to be tangoed
Who???
That entertainer list is beyond pathetic. He couldn’t even get Nickelback lmao.
I don’t want to criticise like like a snowflake, but I don’t think it was very nice to leave Dana Kamide off the bill. This number would have stolen the show and jerked a few tears from the eyes that will be present, going forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmnYnYX4soI
Good for him
It’s not surprising – didn’t he have a killed bit of endangered species in his gaff.
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