One of my favorite diversions from the stress of college studies was sports entertainment, i.e., pro wrestling. Everyone realizes that pro wrestling isn't "real" (although its participants often do suffer very real injuries). It's the morality plays, with variations of good-versus-evil themes like David versus Goliath, patriot versus anti-American, the girl next door versus the mean girl, the rebellious youth versus the authority figure, the turncoat partner, etc. I remember while in college, I went to visit my maternal grandfather in New England for Christmas and was stunned to discover he watched wrestling, too. His favorite wrestler was the babyface (good guy) André "the Giant" Roussimoff, whom quickly squashed nefarious "heels". (To non-wrestling fans, André is perhaps better known for playing the character Fezzik in the movie "The Princess Bride".)
Vince McMahon Sr. was one of 2 promoters whom formed the Northeast region based World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1963. Some 20 years later, he sold the promotion to his son (Vince Jr.), whom recognized the potential of new media (including cable television and pay-per-view events), transformed the company into a national (and international) promotion, and eventually turned the company public, currently listed on the NYSE. Vince McMahon is the chairman of the WWE board, and his wife Linda has served (until the past week) as the company's CEO.
Linda McMahon resigned in the process of announcing her candidacy for the Connecticut US Senate seat currently held by the scandal-plagued senior senator and failed Presidential candidate, Democrat Chris Dodd. Linda is not new to GOP politics, having made a minor appearance at the 2000 GOP convention. I have watched her campaign Youtube video and seen a relevant interview she had on Fox Business Channel. She comes across as highly articulate and smart, targeting unsustainable Democratic overspending and noting that cap-and-trade really means taxing people and businesses in the middle of a recession. She did a very good job of staying on message, noting the tough times she and her husband have gone through in building up the business and the need of the government to incentivize small businesses and entrepreneurship. She's also positioning herself smartly against Dodd, by refusing PAC money and limiting individual contributions to $100 (even less than Obama's much-touted $200 limit). Dodd's political vulnerability will also attract other GOP candidates, including state legislators; I would expect her to distinguish herself as a fresh voice, not a career politician, with the distinct know-how of building a business and creating jobs.
I'm encouraged not only by the GOP's ability to attract quality female business executives like Linda McMahon, but also high-profile former CEO's in California, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, whom is running to succeed Governor Schwarzenegger, and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, whom likely will run against incumbent dingbat progressive US Senator Barbara Boxer. After the disastrous performance of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on the national Presidential ticket last fall, the GOP needed to recruit highly competent, articulate, fresh new faces to speak out against career progressives intent on tax-and-spending their way towards a sticky high unemployment, low business growth European-like economic model. Linda McMahon, Meg Whitman, and Carly Fiorina are a good start.
