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Why do the Republicans have the celebrity candidates?
MSN.com ^ | June 5, 2026 | Matt K. Lewis

Posted on 06/06/2026 10:00:23 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Until recently, American politics operated on a simple premise: Aspiring politicians must suck up to party bosses, run for local office, earn supporters, master policy details and only then earn a shot at higher office.

That model has collapsed.

Today’s rising stars take a different escalator — television, social media, podcasts, activism, entertainment or the internet — that goes straight to the top.

Their chief currency is not institutional support but the attention economy.

Which helps explain why Los Angeles now finds itself facing the possibility that Spencer Pratt could make a mayoral runoff.

Pratt, if you’ve been living under a rock, was one of the villains on the reality show “The Hills.” He’s also a Republican in a city that is not exactly known for electing Republicans, which means the odds of him actually becoming mayor remain very long.

But he’s breaking through, and not just because he’s what passes for being famous in the year 2026.

He talks like an actual person. He sounds angry about things many residents are angry about: crime, homeless “zombies” who abuse dogs, wildfires, government dysfunction and the growing suspicion that the incumbent mayor, Karen Bass, is an empty pantsuit.

To be fair, Pratt is aided by the fact that Bass (who is still the clear frontrunner) is having a hard time persuading many Angelenos that everything is fine when they can see flames, tents and the potholes, despite all those government reports explaining why none of those things are anybody’s fault.

Pratt has been able to point these things out, not just because he’s personally a victim of the Palisades fire but also because he possesses qualities that conventional politicians can’t buy: passion and authenticity.

Democrats have their own version of this phenomenon. Think Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City Mayor Zohran...

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
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Paging Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopie Goldberg, Rachel Maddow, etc!
1 posted on 06/06/2026 10:00:23 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Can you say....Ronald Reagan??


2 posted on 06/06/2026 10:04:39 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Blame the RNC though for not capitalizing on the momentum and ensuring election integrity with attorneys and on the ground poll forces the way they did in ‘24.

And re: Trump. He needs to focus more on California and these United States, than on Iran.


3 posted on 06/06/2026 10:05:08 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege (🩰🎶)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Our elections are rigged and as such we have a bunch of cowards and compromised pedophiles and communists installed.


4 posted on 06/06/2026 10:05:23 AM PDT by WinstonSmith1984 (Make 1984 fiction again.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Few women were involved in politics, and those who were had no likelihood of a career in modeling or acting. (Not that the men were Clark Gable, either) [pistured: Jeanette Rankin, Bella Abzug, Ella Grasso)


5 posted on 06/06/2026 10:09:02 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Sacajaweau
Can you say....Ronald Reagan?

Video Linked from Article


6 posted on 06/06/2026 10:09:39 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If it ain't fun, you ain't doin' it right.)
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To: Dr. Sivana
Few women were involved in politics, and those who were had no likelihood of a career in modeling or acting.

As Rush Limbaugh once said, "Politics is show business for ugly people."

7 posted on 06/06/2026 10:10:48 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If it ain't fun, you ain't doin' it right.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Until recently, American politics operated on a simple premise: Aspiring politicians must suck up to party bosses, run for local office, earn supporters, master policy details and only then earn a shot at higher office.

Maybe that’s why politicians, until recently, were often the apex of villainy and scum.

8 posted on 06/06/2026 10:11:48 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: Sacajaweau
Well, before him there was Gracie Allen, for the "Surprise Party".


9 posted on 06/06/2026 10:12:54 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Professional politicians are really hand-picked by other professional politicians, with the intent of continuing the status quo of corruption and the avoidance of solving any problems. This long-standing political system has tremendous momentum.

If anyone actually wants to make a difference and enact real change (no one in the Democrat Party wants this, and only a part of the Republican Party wants real change) then you have to go outside the existing system and find someone recognizable and charismatic who is not a professional politician. That’s Reagan. That’s Trump. Maybe a few others.


10 posted on 06/06/2026 10:13:21 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Former Pirate Pitcher Jim Rooker ran as a Republican, a Democrat, and an Independent. I don’t believe he was ever elected.


11 posted on 06/06/2026 10:14:26 AM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

the possibility that Spencer Pratt could make a mayoral runoff.“

The rat election cheat machine is in high gear and well on its way to killing that one.


12 posted on 06/06/2026 10:15:11 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Sacajaweau
Can you say....Ronald Reagan??

And Ahnold.

13 posted on 06/06/2026 10:18:17 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, the Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Paging Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopie Goldberg, Rachel Maddow, etc.

None of whom are politicians.

The truth is that Trump loves celebrities, and has supported a disproportionate number of them for office. That's how we got crappy candidates like Dr. Oz and Herschel Walker.

14 posted on 06/06/2026 10:23:34 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
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To: Dr. Sivana

I happened upon Bella Abzug in NYC once. I’m pretty sure it was when she did her bit in Woody Allen’s movie, Manhattan.


15 posted on 06/06/2026 10:27:32 AM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin
None of whom are politicians

Neither was Trump.

16 posted on 06/06/2026 10:29:40 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If it ain't fun, you ain't doin' it right.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Don’t forget Al Franken!


17 posted on 06/06/2026 10:30:22 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

California’s a corrupt commie hellhole - there’s no reason to waste time or money on them.


18 posted on 06/06/2026 10:30:24 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrats support illegals, commies, looters, criminals, and liars in 'the press.' VOTE AGAINST THEM)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s worse than just regular “celebrities”, it’s all of the horrible ones from reality TV and podcasters etc. like DrOz

Kash Patel for example is worried about “his brand” selling his own shoe line and liquor bottles. The lady from WWE professional wrestling is heading up the Department of Education haha


19 posted on 06/06/2026 10:32:14 AM PDT by Nomad577
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Come on! I blame it all on Alina Habba. Hubba, Hubba!


20 posted on 06/06/2026 10:33:54 AM PDT by Kudsman (Nancy Pillowsi)
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