Clay & Buck, the primaries & the general election campaign

Self [Vanity] | 01 Jun 2023 | Self [Vanity]

[relictele]

After some uncertain initial steps and shaky first few months, Clay Travis & Buck Sexton have developed an on-air rapport and rhythm and usually deliver a show (or podcast – more on that later) worthy of a daily listen (at least most of it).

Both tend to play up and play into their stereotypes – Buck the history nerd who doesn’t watch the Super Bowl, Clay the rabid Southern sports fan. They also frequently invoke their previous professional lives, Buck at CIA and Clay Travis as a lawyer and later a sports blogger.

They have been designated as the official heirs to the Rush Limbaugh ‘franchise’ by Limbaugh’s widow and frequently invoke his name, mention his principles and influence and occasionally play his audio clips (which only makes his absence more keenly felt!).

With two engineers in the locomotive they try and usually succeed to keep things moving briskly since both usually comment on the topic at hand. Which brings us to a few criticisms/flaws in the format and the content of late:

1) Podcasts. Everyone knows how to obtain podcasts – not least because there are half a dozen easy, roll-out-of-bed, update-your-phone-or-feed methods. It’s like buying milk or bread these days. Eating up 2-3 minutes of airtime to explain how to use a search engine or click a ‘subscribe’ button is gratuitous and boring. There is also often a bit of off-putting obsessing about download & subscription figures, being in the top 10 or 5 etc. The mentions of the ‘scoreboard’ have lessened of late, perhaps because the podcast is slipping down the chart (still top 20). Instead, ‘#1 in radio market XYZ’ is the frequent claim. Rush could boast with humor. I’m not sure Clay can pull it off.

2) The guest segments. Rush almost never had guests – on purpose. Clay & Buck’s guests are (usually) everyone else’s guests. A politician, someone plugging a book, a conservative journalist. The journalists are mildly interesting and deliver new information (eg Miranda Devine, Ian Miller) but the rest are a dial tone along with the cliched book titles and their even more cliched subtitles. Off the top of my head I can generate some fictional but typical ones:

Breaking The Dam – How I Navigated The Floodwaters Of The Swamp

Long Days, Short Nights – Life Inside The DC Whirlwind

You get the idea. Memoirs are often interesting but if can predict more than 50% of the content before picking it up then it isn’t interesting or worthy of the time investment.

Politicians, of course, are the worst of all. Any discussion of legislative or regulatory fights will fall immediately into ‘They are bad – we are good – I am best.’ Pointless.

3) Clay’s interminable questions. Perhaps he imagines he’s still in a courtroom bloviating on behalf of his client or is in a revival of ‘Inherit The Wind.’ The poor sod will never use 20 words when 200 will do as he a) repeats known information in the question and b) often answers the question in the course of asking it. Rush often said that brevity is the soul of wit and brother do we need some wit.

4) C&B were brilliant, vital, unafraid during the covid nonsense. They railed against the control freakery. They exposed the dangerous farce known as ‘vaccines.’ They demonstrated time and again that masks were useless virtue signals and symbols of conformity and submission.

Covid saw them in proper ‘Rush mode’ – have principles, state them clearly, defend them and never abandon them. Accept and/or praise only those who demonstrate and adhere to those principles. Examine and eviscerate the cynical tactics and motives of corrupt officialdom, media et al.

That said, the crux of this critique is their 2024 election mode. They’ve slipped out of Rush mode now and sound like a couple of gormless pro wrestling announcers pretending to be shocked by scripted events.

Of course Trump is trying to clear the decks of competition to get the nomination. So has every other candidate including Old Joe Biden from either party throughout history. That’s how primaries work. DeSantis may be a (rising) star but he’s still a rival. That’s how these things work. This is not to claim that Trump’s current tactics are all that palatable or even effective but if you trust polls (a big if) then Trump is clearly out in front.

Which brings us to callers who, as usual, are the most uninteresting aspect of a radio show. In the age of Twitter & email they are also surplus to requirements and revert to a plodding, linear form of broadcasting/interaction.

Dave in Iowa: ‘Yeah guys you’re doing great with the show…I listen every day. I’m a retired (insert occupation here) and I voted for (insert politician here) but I’m worried that (insert today’s ginned-up controversy) will cause voters to stay home.’ Dave isn’t really expressing a thought, merely expressing anxiety. But do we need more anxiety? Unfortunately, callers like Dave also demonstrate that far too many on our side are STILL being successfully manipulated by cable news and other forms of legacy media.

Stay home? After 4 years of Jumbled Joe? Inflation, interest rates, corruption, war, surveillance and tyranny? Whatever, Dave.

As above, Rush stated principles and demanded others show dedication to those same principles. As a result, it was rather easy for him to comment on and judge GOP primaries. C&B rarely mention those principles and instead are fully engaged in the horse-race aspects that Rush had so much disdain for.

It's actually OK to have favorites or preferences and C&B clearly fancy Ron DeSantis for ’24 especially after his brave covid fights. Trump’s slams of DeSantis are unsurprising, even expected, but the hosts squeal like piglets despite knowing Trump very well – personally, in fact. They are reacting to the What rather than examining and explaining the Why.

Sadly, they sound very much like Laura Ingraham and especially her frequent guest host John Hinderaker (of PowerLine blog fame) who spent much of 2015-2016 declaring that ‘Trump just can’t do things like that’ ie he was violating some unwritten rule book of politics. They said it right up to the point that Trump won.

This is not to say that 2016’s tactics can or should work in 2024. And the incumbent is the sittingest duck in history. And, it should be noted, this is not a defense of Trump. C&B often declare that ‘Trump is being Trump’ but after such a recognition they go back to excoriating him.

As an example, nobody is going to remember what Trump said about Kayleigh McEnany next week, let alone next summer, whether he should have said it or not.

To employ a cliché, The Big Picture is, well, The Big Picture as in the big prize and that should be the focus.

Speaking of focus, the hosts also follow a maddening sequence of illogic on the subject of vote fraud:

1) They concede that there was massive vote fraud in 2020 2) But they claim talking about it turns voters off (how?!?) 3) Instead of talking about vote fraud they want to talk about issues, ballot harvesting, ground game. 4) Clay often claims that ‘talk of vote fraud is self-defeating.’ Again – how?!? 5) If there was vote fraud in 2020 and it isn’t addressed for 2024 then their daily show and all the debates are moot since fraud will overpower any issues or even the GOP candidate and his platform. That isn’t self-defeat…it’s defeat full stop. Guaranteed if something isn’t done about it.

Obviously, Rush is irreplaceable. But some humor and especially mockery of those deserving of it should still be part of his legacy. Buck did this to perfection with Fauci. It drives the left nuts to have the mirror held up to them.

In sum, this show needs to stop reverting back to a radio version of a Fox News swampy chinwag and start demanding that candidates, parties, voters and people dance around the maypole of principles and rights rather than the other way round.

[dforest]

Can’t stand them. They are no replacement for Rush Limbaugh.

[imabadboy99]

I also find them extremely annoying. How did they get this cushy gig ‘taking over’ for Rush, as if anyone could? They must be blackmailing somebody.

Bongino is ok, but he’s no Rush.

[dforest]

I tried listening to them a couple times. Listening to nothing at all was far better.

[JonPreston]

If Clay & Buck are examples of conservatives, leave me out of it.

[z3n]

I used to hear Clay Travis in the mornings sometimes back when he had his mostly sports show Outkick. He was actually more entertaining then. He was edgier, faster with the quips, and when he made commentary about politics, he didn’t seem to hold back.

There’s something slightly forced and perhaps too structured about how Clay and Buck interact. I don’t listen to them a lot, but their conversational back and forth has improved a little in it’s flow since they began, but it still doesn’t have an organic feel to it. I suspect they are being guided a little too much by production in steering their content.

[Bratch]

The Odd Questions Never Asked About the DeSantis Operation – And a Florida Grassroots Activist Explains the Sense in the Sunshine State

May 29, 2023 | Sundance | 304 Comments

It always puzzles me when I come across an obscure data point that comes directly from the mouths of people who follow politics, and yet watch them not ask the obvious question.  In this video segment, the first 20 seconds by podcaster Patrick Bet-David are interesting.

The video was recorded on Monday May 22nd, two days before Ron DeSantis officially launched his campaign (May 24).  The meeting being described by Bet-David is on Thursday May 18, approximately four days before the interview, and six days before the campaign launch.

PBD notes he was invited with 10 to 15 other people to “watch Governor Ron DeSantis, work” in the governor’s mansion.  In essence, it seems like someone from the DeSantis campaign was continuing to reach out to ‘influencers’ in advance of the announcement the following week.

QUESTION:  Why do none of these influencers ask why they are being invited to “watch” DeSantis? 

It just seems odd.   The podcast segment is a pretty good discussion with Sebastian Gorka, but watch the first 20 seconds.

"You're Acting Like a Child!" - Can DeSantis Defeat Trump In The 2024 Election?

What PBD outlines rather casually is exactly what I drew attention to last year.  The DeSantis operation was clearly working in the latter part of 2021 to seed the landscape for the 2024 election, including the January 6, 2022, influencer meetup.  Yet for some odd reason, none of the participants questioned what the purpose of the unsolicited engagement request was.

I first wrote about this last July and August, it’s all just weird.

If you have followed the management and branding efforts of the team around Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the protestations today by campaign official and registered foreign agent Christina Pushaw are quite bizarre.

In early January of 2023, the Daily Beast wrote an article [SEE HERE] about how Ms. Pushaw organized an astroturf campaign of support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, which included the recruitment of several conservative influencers.  The substance of the article is generally well known.

In late 2021, early 2022, Ms. Pushaw invited a group of “influencers” to spend time with Governor DeSantis.

It’s not a debatable event. Factually, the collective group took gleeful pictures of their first visit on January 6, 2022, and continued to post frequent pictures on their social media of events throughout last year.  The group went to the reelection celebration and inauguration of DeSantis in January before the Daily Beast article.

However, for some odd reason, likely more concerned about people realizing the ‘organized‘ nature of the creation, in a bizarre turn of events, Ms. Christina Pushaw was denying she ever organized the assembly.  Then she stated, without any documentary evidence proving she organized it, saying she organized it was a conspiracy theory. [Tweet Link]

If Ms. Pushaw is to be believed, the random group of Florida conservative “influencers” just happened to show up at the Governor’s office on January 6, 2022, without any invitation, organization or coordination on her part.

Even lacking the invitation details, hanging your defense on the absence of a paper trail under these circumstances seems like a very odd position to take.

Why does the DeSantis team fear sunlight on the origin of how this outreach and subsequent meetings took place?  Very odd.

I sincerely doubt this group just randomly showed up at Ron DeSantis’ office, on January 6, 2022, without an invitation or organizing.

The same group then continued meeting throughout the year….

Nothing about their recruitment, continued meet-ups and aggressive promotion of Ron DeSantis for the GOP nomination in 2024, would be that interesting or even noteworthy if Ms. Christina Pushaw didn’t paint them all into a box by denying she ever organized their first assembly.

And there’s the rub…  Why was Christina Pushaw denying she first organized them on behalf of the political aspirations of her boss, Ron DeSantis?

The only logical reason to make such an outlandish and transparently false claim, was if original 2022 assembly was intended as seed material to use the “influencers” for another purpose, like a 2024 presidential bid.  This truth would cut through the pretense of the “book tour”, national branding launch and subsequent nonsense.

However, with Ron DeSantis announcing his candidacy for the GOP nomination, suddenly all these background moves look like proactive steps on behalf of the management team.  The January 6, 2022 meeting would then infer the presidential aspirations went as far back as December 2021.

In combination with the $200+ million in Wall Street money assembled by DeSantis, it certainly appears that hiding the long-constructed 2024 plan was the motive for the absurd denial. 

To give you an idea of how Florida voters feel about this campaign fraud, watch this twitter video.

That Trump-supporting DeSantis organizer is exactly how the majority of Florida grassroot activists feel.   He’s 100% spot on.

[cymbeline]

“They are no replacement for Rush Limbaugh.”

That’s the truth but no one else is either. I listen to them at work and usually tune away after 30 minutes or so.

The author says, “nobody is going to remember what Trump said about Kayleigh McEnany.” I will remember.

Regarding Trump’s put-down of her, Clay or Buck pointed out that Trump’s reputation for badmouthing former employees will hinder his ability to recruit good ones for his presidency since they’ll fear being badmouthed somewhere along the line.

[1Old Pro]

Here's the deal, all of these programs are basically the same. I can watch 4-5 programs on FOX and they use the same stories in each and every one.

RUSH stood out, I picture Sinead O'Connor singing “Nothing compares 2 u”.

Not a single one of any of the 100’s in the media have stood out and elevated their program by being different and highly entertaining. Can't think of a single one I waited to hear what they had to say about something Like I did with RUSH.

There is a colossal vacuum, if anyone is different it was Tucker, and where is he?

[animal172]

I recently did some painting in my home. Remember how bored I was waiting for the paint to dry so I could hang some pictures. I feel the same way listening to Clay and Buck. There will never, ever be another Rush. Can’t believe how much I miss him. I am what I am today because of him. God is so lucky to have him.

[vortigern]

They’ve turned their gig into “The Ron DeSantis for President Show”

[OKSooner]

+1. I'm often listening during that time slot and I've given up on them. It's like a DeSantis infomercial, or another front in the "Orange man bad" movement. It's really that bad... shouldn't be surprised with the CIA having its hooks in the program.

Mark Kaye is on another station so I've just started listening to his grab-assy program in short, tolerable segments, or to rotate thru my preset music stations.

It's more important to listen to music than the likes of CIA operatives or political comedians anyway.

[kenmcg]

Nah, Clay never shuts up. No one can ever replace Rush. Recall how every day Rush was so well prepared, and how he would always be optimistic even when lousy news was on the forefront.

[spincaster]

Buck is excellent and he knows how the Deep State runs. Clay, all he thinks about is sports, every analogy on politics is shaped into sports. Don’t like it at all.

[x]

They aren’t entertainers, so they aren’t entertaining. I don’t listen to them as much as I listened to Rush in the Nineties, but I wasn’t listening to Rush as much in his last ten years as in his first ten.

Talk about Trump getting cheated in 2020 does turn off voters, but talking about problems with elections and changes that need to be made implicitly includes a recognition of the problems with the 2020 election. It’s looking forward, though, rather than backwards and making the issue about something more than Donald Trump.

[spincaster]

I didn’t watch the Super Toilet Bowl either. I would rather be a history nerd than know how many yards were rushed for, in a meaningless football game.

[joshua c]

why no names?

i recognize a few

one of the bearded guys use to appear on warroom billed as a polish journalist

he was on the project veritas board and was involved in kicking out james okeefe

[lilypad]

They should put Tucker in that time slot. I think he is the only one close to taking over Rush

[TomGuy]

Clay is the one who irritates me. He starts to ask a question (of a guest or caller) and then goes on and on and on editorializing before shutting up and allowing the response.

Much of his digression is irrelevant.

[LS]

Can’t listen to them.

NeverTrump spoogeocrats, not entertaining.

Rush’s company/widow never should have allowed this position to be filled.