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Andrew Adams, KSL NewsradioIt's just three weeks until the big face-off between talk show giant Sean Hannity and controversial mayor Rocky Anderson. As the two egos clash, some outside observers are asking what's really driving the debate—issues or image?
When asked about the impending debate, we got all kinds of interesting responses. "I love name-calling!" and "I think it's going to be more of a smack-off."
I asked some people to come up with wrestling names for these guys, and here's what they came up with:
"Hannity Profanity" or "Rowdy Rocky."
"Hannity's Insanity against Rocky Bullwinkle."
"Hannity the Hammer and Rocky the Loser."
Everyone's down with the spectacle, but beyond that how much do people really care about Sean Hannity and Rocky Anderson debating the issues? One man on the street said, "I don't think very much good will even come out of it. I personally think they're both kind of idiots."
On KSL's Doug Wright Show on March 28th Hannity said to Rocky, "You have taken advantage of a young staffer on my program," to which Rocky replied, "I haven't taken advantage of anybody."
Even political science junkies like BYU assistant professor Quin Monson questions the value of the debate. "Hopefully, it will be forgettable," he says. "I don't see them as debating and coming to any conclusion."
When asked if the debate will have any kind of staying power at all, Monson doesn't think so. "Beyond a few newspaper headlines and radio interviews, I don't think so."
University of Utah political science professor Tim Chambless seems optimistic about the debate, "these individuals - I applaud them." He goes on to say that, "the losers will be all of us if we don't gain resolution to this terrible problem." He says the more dialogue about the war in Iraq, the better.
But are Hannity's and Rocky's motives pure? Monson says no. He thinks they both have "healthy egos" which will play into it.
And with people on the street caring more about who pounds who's face in... "I think Sean Hannity would totally kick Rocky's…uh"... The lasting impact might be the battle scars earned by Rocky and Hannity in "Showdown … Salt Lake City."
