For an interesting look at Conservative groups using McCarthyism....

[Wetzelbill]

I highly recommend reading the epilogue of "Foley Is Good: And The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling." Actually, I highly recommend reading all three of his autobiographies, they are well-written and unbelievably entertaining.

However, in this instance, the epilogue to "Foley Is Good" specifically addresses the attacks that the Parents Television Council (PTC) made against the content of WWE Smackdown. The PTC is headed by ultraconservative L. Brent Bozell III, whose dad was a former speechwriter for McCarthy and Barry Goldwater and cofounded the National Review with William F. Buckley.

Foley writes an extremely well researched account of the whole situation, and shows how Bozell's group went about distorting the content of Smackdown and exploited the deaths of young children who the PTC concluded died because of pro wrestling. Foley also hammers Senators Sam Brownback and Joe Lieberman who are on the PTC's advisory board, and who made statements about television content that they never bothered to watch etc.

Now I know you may be thinking "WTF?, Why would I read something by a pro wrestler?" But he seriously does a great job here, and as the epilogue is essentially an 80 page essay in and of itself, it isn't necessary to read the whole book. He gives an interesting, albeit brief, history of McCarthy, and of Brent Bozell II, before he actually moves on to the son and the PTC. Well worth checking out. Plus, Mick is a good guy and a solid liberal Dem. :)

[rpannier]

1. I'm not a fan of pro-wrestling

But I've found a few of them, like Mick Foley to be intelligent people.
He's a little screwy, but everyone has their quirks.

[enigmatic]

2. Foley is a very, very intelligent, savvy guy

And you're right, that's a great part of his book...

[Wetzelbill]

3. I'm watching his match right now in ECW

when he accidentally lit Terry Funk on fire. Wild stuff. I bought "Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses" last week.

I also just started "The Hardcore Diaries." I am on a quest to read all three of Mick's autobiographies this week. Two down, one to go. :)

Also, "Bret Hart: Wrestling With Shadows" is on Youtube in it's entirety. What a great documentary! Awesome stuff.

[Wetzelbill]

4. I take that back

It wasn't the one when Mick lit Terry on fire. It was the follow up. Damn, I wanted to see, as sick as it sounds, the fire incident!