Surprising everyone, Barack Obama announced today that he and political pundit Ann Coulter were forming a professional wrestling tag team.

The strains of Jimi Hendrix's version of "Wild Thing" blared through Madison Square Garden's sound system as strobe lights and flashbulbs from paparazzi illuminated the arena. Barack Obama and Ann Coulter emerged holding their hands aloft like winners. An ecstatic crowd of wildly cheering wrestling fans urged them on. Together, they strode to the squared circle. Obama politely lifted the middle rope to allow Ms. Coulter to enter the ring.

A microphone was lowered into Obama's hand. He gazed lovingly at the crowd and shouted,"OUR TIME HAS COME!"

The crowd responded with deafening applause.

"We challenge all comers. I will batter them with bombast. Ann will sear them with sarcasm. Together, we will kick their butts up one side of the political landscape and down the other!"

Ms. Coulter took the microphone. "Want to know how to talk to a liberal? I'll show you how to talk to a liberal. I'm going to rip John McCain's lungs out. I'm going to send Popeye crying back to Olive Oyl. When I get done with him, he'll think the Hanoi Hilton was a rest home."

The new tag team exited to tumultuous cheers.

Reaction by pundits across the country came swiftly.

"This certainly is a surprise," said Keith Olbermann, of MSNBC. "I never thought I would see the day Ann Coulter would rip a Republican like that. It is really fun to watch. She looked surprisingly hot in that leotard. Obama could stand to put on a little muscle."

Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly was flabbergasted. "I'm flabbergasted," said O'Reilly. "I knew Ann's book sales were flagging a little, but even I wouldn't do a thing like that. Geraldo would, though. Besides, I don't think she could take John McCain. He's just meaner than hell. They don't call him Insane McCain for nothing."

Democratic political strategist Steve McMahon was more reflective. "This is a brilliant political move by Barack Obama. He will make serious inroads into Hillary Clinton's blue collar political base with this move. He couldn't have done much better winning the Daytona 500. Having Ann Coulter brand John McCain a liberal will help Obama and hurt McCain badly. 89% of American voters have no idea what a liberal is, but they are quite sure they don't want to be one or vote for one. I see clear sailing ahead for Mr. Obama."


The band played on.