The Elephant and Pony Show is the process in bipolar partisan politics where liberals (Democrats) and conservatives (Republicans) spar off on ideas phrased in a false dichotomy. The audience and electorate are convinced that the only possible solutions are the precisely two proposed by Elephants (Republicans) and Ponies (Democrats). Both solutions are actually awful, but the electorate are unaware of this, and incapable of discovering a superior third option. Elephant and Pony show is a variant of Dog and Pony Show, and it refers to the elephant symbol of the National Republican Party and the donkey symbol of the National Democratic Party.