Jon Stewart, What's Going On???

[Don1]

What happened to you, man?

First Zell Miller is a guest and you don't challenge him on anything. Then, Gingrich. Gingrinch! Now, Powell. What about all the information you gave to us previously where Condi, Bush, and Powell all contradicted themselves? You didn't call him on anything.

Jon, did you switch sides? Did they find a picture of you and someone or did they pay you off?

Ah. I know what happened. Jon would never sell us down the river. It must be big money. His bosses must be telling him to do these things. This hypothesis makes sense, because why would these fascists go on his show at all unless they had a hook-up to go on in the first place?

It must be money. Remember when the Carlysle Group bought 30% of Lowe's theatres around the time of Fahrenheit 9/11 and how that helped the fascists out? Okay, research time...

Googling Comedy Central...ah, here's their site:
http://www.comedycentral.com/
No corporate info. Hmm...job postings, lemme see if there is a parent company:
https://jobhuntweb.viacom.com/jobhunt/main/jobhome.asp
Ah, MTV, they've become quite moderate these days...Oh, what's this on the bottom of the page?
MTV NETWORKS, A DIVISION OF VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC

ViaCom??!!

Come to think of it, this has always been the case. Comedy Central is owned by MTV which is owned by Viacom which is 71% owned by National Amusements Inc which is owned by a billionaire media mogul, a "monopolist."
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0403-25.htm

I guess even Stewart bows to the Man.

[tuvor]

1. Does his show make you laugh? If so, he's doing his job. n/t

[Don1]

7. Not Anymore.

I haven't been laughing ever since he started bring conservatives on, agreeing with them, and just having this sort of intelligence missing from his humor.

[tuvor]

Then stop watching.

If a comedy show doesn't make you laugh, stop watching.

Don't beat your head against a wall.

[zann725]

44. I agree I'm concerned about his recent WingNut guests who he

rarely questiions their beliefs, and instead just promotes them unquestioned like old friends..

I guess since Dennis Miller's off the air, there's a void to be filled.

[question everything]

43. The first part does, when he uses the phrases of Bush

and others - as is..

[Dulcinea]

96. Jon Stewart is a comedian, not a journalist.

I'm not crazy about some of his guests either, but the Daily Show is a SPOOF on the news!

[Betty]

2. Well put.

I couldn't even get through the interview with Powell and I purposesly didn't tune in for those other two interviews. All I saw tonight was Stewart letting Powell completely off the hook.

[tjdee]

3. He's a comedian?

Just saying?

The thing is, we're so hungry for people on television that actually take our side. But when they do, they'd better do it every fucking time or else we'll say they're bowing to the man, or selling out, or drinking the Kool Aid.

The man is a comedian. He is a politically and socially conscious one, but it is not his job to be the newsmedia.

Maybe sometimes he doesn't feel like it, or doesn't see an opening, or thinks the beginning of the show laid it on too thick, or wasn't funny, or he had a stomach ache. Or anything.

He really just wants to make people laugh.

[tuvor]

10. Besides, he kicks ass when he's on a NEWS program.

Surely we haven't forgotten his exchange with Fucker Carlson on Crossfire.

(Shah Rukh Khan! Whoo!)

[tjdee]

22. Oh, Shah Rukh Khan...

:loveya:

I'm so very impressed you know who he is. He is so wonderful. I could probably break into a bollywood song/dance number about him, LOL. I won't.

Indeed. When Jon Stewart is serious, he's serious. I think he finds himself, as Gloria says, in a strange and unique position. Which is unfortunate.

[tuvor]

40. I love Bollywood dance sequences.

And frankly I pay more attention to the ladies and their gorgeous costumes than I do to the "hunks".

I think I first started watching Bollywood industry shows out of sheer boredom one day. I so miss Vancouver and Little India, and getting AVS on my cable service! :)

Have you heard Sunidhi Chauhan's song "Dil Mein Jaagi Dhadkan Aise"? Not sure how I came across that song, but it's fantastic. (From "Sur")

Anyway, I do believe I've veered off-topic.

Cheers!

[tjdee]

85. They remind me of the 30s/40s musicals.

The lyrics are so poetic, too--I get a bit irritated because somehow I feel the English translation is lacking. The songs picturizations/dancing are really great. I mean, when you're in love, don't you want to run to the Egyptian pyramids and sing about it? Even if the story is set in Mumbai, LOL?

Some of the women's singing voices I could do without...but I'm listening to Dil Mein Jaagi Dhadkan Aise right now, and her voice is lovely. Haven't heard it before...I'll put Sur on my list of films to watch.
:thumbsup:

[allemand]

68. Can't wait for Paheli...

;-) And Rani is great too!

On the Daily Show, I think that Stewart was very polite and yet Powell didn't look good when he had to defend himself. For a "fake news show" that is quite an achievement.

[tjdee]

82. I'm so there...

Rani is so sweet, definitely my favorite bw actress. She looks beautiful in the Paheli trailer. SO excited.

Their other film together, Chalte Chalte, is also fun.

Um, I'm off topic. :) I didn't catch the Powell interview. Hopefully they'll replay it. Stewart tries very hard to be amiable and respectful, and if they *still* manage to look bad, it's pretty bad.

[Gloria]

12. "He really just wants to make people laugh."....except that he has been

on a crusade against the media and has done serious interviews criticizing same.

Jon finds himself in a tough spot. He's a comedian, but has at times has crossed the line into being a serious commentator on the state of the media and it's coverage of issues. He himself has been interviewed with extensive time spent on his views on the political/media worlds.

We see the disconnect clearly when guys like Powell, Miller and Gingrich go on the show. If he gets "uppity" the interview could get pretty ugly, pretty fast. (another "Crossfire" event).

Frankly, who ever is booking these people should stop doing it. It's putting Stewart in an almost untenable position.

Jon said he was staying with the Daily Show because of the freedom he had. I wonder if there's someone higher up who is forcing these guests on the air and therefore undermining Stewart in a very insidious way...

[tjdee]

26. I'd agree with that.

Obviously he has some very strong feelings about the state of things...I agree with your points.

I almost think that the politicians have realized how popular he is, and *their* people are calling trying to get them on. I can see Comedy Central going "you'd be stupid to turn down these people"....

I especially agree that he is in an almost unbearable position right now. Which is why I am forgiving of him when these interviews are on.

[theboss]

72. Stewart needs to be careful lest he become Dennis Miller

And I don't mean a Republican shill; I mean a once funny comedian who takes himself way way too seriously.

Or to a lesser degree Bill Maher. Both of those guys started out as fairly smart comedians who did political humor. Over time, both began to think that they were actual political commentators. Miller hasn't been funny in years and Maher - who can still be funny - sometimes becomes way too strident.

Stewart could easily fall into that trap too, and I don't want to lose him.

[Stand and Fight]

4. Not that he'll respond, but you could spell his name right.

It's JON. Not John... :evilgrin:

[Don1]

13. Thanks.

Updated.

Yeah, now maybe he'll listen to my craziness.

[Lex]

5. Jon.

[Mojambo]

6. Repeat after me, "Jon Stewart's ONLY responsibility is to be funny"

Whether you want him to be or not, HE IS NOT A JOURNALIST.

If you're looking for direct, confrontational hard news interviews you will not find them on the Daily Show. Actually, you won't find them anywhere in America (try the UK)

It's a comedy show, get over it.

[Don1]

9. It's Not a Comedy Show.

The news there is more informative than regular TV news or at least it was.

There information is now changed. It is watered down and there are right-wing apologies.

[NYCGirl]

16. It's on COMEDY CENTRAL, for Christ's sake. Trust me, it's a comedy show.

Maybe you should watch something else.

[Mojambo]

19. I'm not getting that at all

But I'm sorry that you no longer find it funny. I'll continue to enjoy it even if they do have a right-wing douchebag on every once in a while to make a fool of themselves

And the fact that there is more news content (or was, in your opinion) is more an indictment against what the actual news isn't than what the Daily Show is.

[Renew Deal]

24. He thinks it's a comedy show.

And once you get that, you understand. What do you think will happen if the Dems were in charge? He would be making fun of them.

[name not needed]

84. Actually, it is.

Last I checked, it was on COMEDY FUCKING CENTRAL, not Cspan.

[TXlib]

95. Yes it is.

Did you see Stewart's interview on Crossfire?

He is a comedian.

His biggest guests always get softball, humorous questions. Remember when Kerry was on his show?

Stewart treated him the same as any other big-name guest.

[sendero]

63. Well...

... that's a fine attitude, but there was NOTHING FUNNY about listening to Powell spin and spin and spin and spin and lie like the jackass he is. Nothing funny at all.

Hey, Jon Stewart doesn't owe us JACK SHIT, but he is basically taking all the ground-breaking work he has done and throwing it in the toilet.

I have no idea why.

[Mojambo]

81. YOU found nothing funny about it

That's okay, humor is largely subjective.

I found it to be a picture perfect display of the ignorance and hubris of the entire Bush administration.

I got news for you. Jon Stewart is STILL doing ground-breaking satire and comedy. Just because it doesn't hit your partisan sweet-spot 100% of the time is no reason to say he's throwing it in the toliet.

[Erika]

8. I said 2 months ago that he was tilting right

and got lambasted here for it. Stewart is just like Savage, O'Reilly, Hannity, Colmes, Ingraham. They are entertainers who know for right now their bucks come from the right...and they go for it.

[frogbison]

14. If you listen carefully,

you will understand that Jon asked and followed up on tough questions. Colin Powell is still just a tool.

[BlueStateGirl]

23. I agree 100%.

[Ronnie]

66. I agree as well.

He allowed Powell to indict himself. I found it breathtakingly beautiful.

[AX10]

77. I agree.

[Don1]

31. I disagree, if I understand you correctly.

You said "questions." That's plural. Can you give two examples?

[frogbison]

36. Well, he asked Mr. Powell to rescind his support

of the Bush administration's decision to go to war. Powell would not. Jon rephrased his question but got more bullshit. I believe that Jon let his feeling be quite clear on several occasions, even if I can't recall specifics. It's just the feeling that I got.

[Don1]

54. Since we all seemed to disagree on

how often Jon agreed with Powell, I created a poll on DU for it. I thought it would be interesting to see if there are two clusters of listeners here or if the pendulum stops on one side:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1840852#1840920

[loveable liberal]

11. He's not going to have a screaming match on his show, that would be stupid

He invites people on and converses with them. Its not like if he asked a pointed question he'd get a real answer anyway. Pointing out the hypocrisy of the right wing is enough for me.

[Bucky]

15. Nice work! But there's a simpler explanation

He's good at grilling journalists and he pleasantly smiles while sticking tough questions to politicians in power. But look at your list of Stewart balks: "Powell, Miller, Gingrich." Respectively, out of power, about to retire, and out of power and discredited. In other words, Stewart saves his shots. That ain't selling out, that's strategy.

Or look at it another way. Stewart isn't there to grill people. He's an entertainer, making points thru comedy rather than polemics. That gets him better ratings from a far less media-exposed demographic than just about any non-network outlet. He doesn't need to give anybody the fifth degree. He can just subtly make his points with wit and understatement, watch his guests sputter, and then move on to a pleasant rejoinder in the end.

This is how/why he keeps guests coming back. If he gave every right wing hot dog the Fourth of July grilling they deserved (and as much as we'd liked to see), he'd have about as much variety in his guest lists as Fox News. Because he's nice, he's disarming. And because he's disarming, he makes his points without being a bastard.

[Erika]

that's your opinion

Faux/Bushco news still gets Dems to appear. I won't watch either of them other than to click for a few seconds.

[Bucky]

32. Of course it's my opinion. Who's else would I post?

But thanks for quoting Bill O'Reilley to me. I'd forgotten about how he says "that's your opinion" every time someone brings up inconvenient facts he can't respond to intelligently.

[Erika]

39. It was a polite way of saying you have the right to your view

But I have a different view. I respected your right. And you?

[Bucky]

74. Well, that's your opinion

Unless I miss my guess. :o)

[frogbison]

33. never mind

[symbolman]

17. When I saw Zell Miller on

they had just played their version of the Stepford Wife's horse masturbating clip (I fell on the floor laughing) and then Zell came on with a book about "Decency".. like he'd know anything about it..

Jon said, "Well, Sir.. I don't agree with some of what you say.. uh, let's be honest, I don't agree with ANYTHING you say.."

That's pretty funny and non winger ain't it?

[Up2Late]

18. NO! I think he probable had a bunch of RWer's requesting Equal

Time, so he lumped them all together into one week.

The NYT Magazine guy was very lame last night too. "Everything Bad is Good for You" Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessse.

[Don1]

35. Not One Week.

Zell Miller was on May 2nd.

But you could have a point.

I mean, Stewart could have caved to rw pressure to have rw'ers on.

And could have caved to freeper emails and call ins to start agreeing with some of the points.

Hmm...maybe we should call and email, too?

[Up2Late]

50. Dude, You have to let the Zell Miller interview go, that was weeks ago,

Hell, He was my F*cking Traitor of a Senator for 6 LONG years!

Hell I even had to live with the knowledge that I Actually Voted for that Bastard! But I'm over it, I stopped thinking about his wrinkled RW ass the day after the November 2004 Selection.

But, to be fair, He was a fairly good Governor for 8 years, but he DID have Democratic controlled (actually elected), State Assembly to work with.

Hey look, a Disco Dancing! Monkey and a Dancing Banana!

[BlueStateGirl]

20. I didn't get that impression at all. He wasn't confrontational.

He still asks tougher questions than any so called "journalist " out there. He just does it in a very cordial way. A lot of the time, that's how he gets many of his guests to hang themselves with their own words. That's what he did to Zell Miller. He let Zell prattle on and on about indecency, and then , very nicely asked him if he didn't think that bankruptcy bill was indecent.And made the point is rap music really more indecent than hanging the poor out to dry? And I thought made the point that morality is about more than sex.
I thought he asked Powell a couple of very important questions. And then he allowed him to answer them. I don't think he is a sell out because he doesn't interrupt, yell, or cut off his guests like Hannity, Scarborough or O'Reilly. I think he made the point that the administration sold the American public on this war by scaring the crap out of them, and now since there were no weapons, it's been repackaged as a war of Liberation. He said to Powell " That wasn't a vial of Freedom Powder you were holding at the UN." When was the last time you heard a 'real journalist' even suggest anything like that? And when Powell said there was plenty of open debate, John challenged him by saying, " I don't think so, I think the next thing they debated was Freedom Fries"

Sure, he's a little fawning sometimes, but as they say... You catch more flies with honey....

*edited to delete a misplaced sentence.

[frogbison]

41. There it is.

[sundancekid]

90. oh, thank you... you have the fine gift of "in a nutshell" -- Jon's finest

moments are never about coultering a phrase with which to bitch-slap a guest (and his/her views) -- rather, it's Jon's nearly-dumb-mouse schtik that gives him the total upper hand of the implied/inferred/stated dissent in the communication exchange ...

JON still rocks our world! and, of course,
:yourock:

[bunny planet]

21. I think Jon does a good job with his comedy 'fake news' show.

I think what we are all experiencing frankly is fake news burnout. It's been a fun substitute for awhile for the missing real news we all crave but really we are so starved for the truth at this point I just don't know how much longer we can continue laughing. I think we've crossed some line, the outrage is beginning to get louder in our hearts and minds. I think we realize there is nothing funny about it anymore. It's serious facism we are dealing with now, and no amount of Jon Stewart quips are going to make us feel better.

:-(

[Don1]

28. Hmmm...

You could be right. I have been feeling burnt out and I am not sure if the one has to do with the other.

[crikkett]

25. BTW who's the "monopolist"?

...don't think the article you pointed to actually said the name of the 71% owner of National Amusements Inc. billionaire media mogul.

Come to think of it, this has always been the case. Comedy Central is owned by MTV which is owned by Viacom which is 71% owned by National Amusements Inc which is owned by a billionaire media mogul, a "monopolist."

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0403-25.htm

thanks!

[Don1]

27. You're Welcome!

"Media mogul Sumner Redstone puts the business in show business through National Amusements. What began as a humble drive-in theater operation has evolved into a powerhouse that controls about 71% of Viacom. Redstone is chairman and CEO of Viacom, with holdings that span cable networks, Paramount Pictures, TV networks CBS and UPN, and publisher Simon & Schuster. True to its roots, National Amusements operates Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas, and Cinema de Lux with about 1,425 screens across the US, Europe, and Latin America. The firm is also a partner in online ticketing service MovieTickets.com. Other interests include stakes in video game maker Midway Games and slot machine maker WMS Industries."
http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/42/42260.html

[Riverman]

29. Its not Stewart, its the sheepishness of the Big Media

Larry King is successful because he is the best soft baller in the biz! Anyone who asks even mildly touch questions will not get people back onthe air, will not get advertisers, will not have a meally mouth program on the air. So they pick "go along to get along." The entire mainstream media, including Comedy Central, is cowed, self-editing, self-censoring. Gil Scott Heron sung over twenty years ago "the Revolution will not be Telivised" Still true! Stop expecting the media darlings who at times appear to "speak truth to power" to actually do that.

I am listening to Mike Malloy right now and he is willing to speak truth to power, but short of Free Speach TV, no one gets on corporate media with any real, sustained message of speaking truth to power.

[Don1]

34. It's Not Just the Questions.

It's the fact that Stewart was agreeing with the answers.

[Idioteque]

30. He is always nice to his guests.

I think he sort of has the philosophy that if you are going to be my guest, I should treat you with respect. He did the same for Kerry.

[Don1]

37. Respect doesn't mean agreeing.

Yes, I understand you may want to be diplomatic...but constant agreeing with Powell about the WMDs and anthrax and all the lies?

Did you watch the show?

[Ronnie]

67. I didn't see "constant agreeing".

I guess I'm going to have to watch it again. What a chore!

[noise626]

38. Comedy isn't pretty

As Stewart said himself when Tucker gave him shit about not asking Kerry hard enough questions on his show:

"But my point is this. If your idea of confronting me is that I don't ask hard-hitting enough news questions, we're in bad shape, fellows."

He is on Comedy Central. On Comedy Central there are shows about crank calling puppets, Con artists, foul mouthed kids in Colorado, and other quality and not so quality programming. He is there to make you laugh and occassionally make you think. That's it.

I mean, sure. It would have been cool to see Jon reach over and slap the SHIT out of Zell. But why bother? His job is not to make an ass out of these people (at least, not all the time); they are more than capable of doing that themselves :)

pax
ant

[question everything]

42. But before Powell came he had a good dig at Bush n/t

[Don1]

48. Yes.

But Bush is easy now. Bush was not so easy when Jon started his work years ago. The majority no longer approve of Bush.

Powell is tougher because he has so much popular support. It would be courageous to ask him tough questions and follow those questions up with more. Jon asked a couple of tough questions but always agreed afterward with the answer. Never delved deeper.

[question everything]

79. I wonder what Powell is doing now

what was the reason for having him - as opposed to other guests who come with books attached.

And... with barely 10 minutes any talk is bound to be a series of one liners.

Last, Powell is out of power now and everyone knows that he favored the diplomatic approach. He hinted to it saying that Bush got all the info and eventually made his own decision - OK, we know that Wolfowitz made it for him - so what else could he have said?

For me, as I was watching Powell I could not have wondered why not him, instead of Bolton, as UN ambassador

[Gloria]

45. I just watched the video and got a much different impression from

what is expressed in many posts here...

Jon was offering "rebuttals" to Powell in his questioning! He framed all the questions from the "devil's advocate" position, which was a very clever thing to do. He set up all the arguments before hand....then, as Powell spun, his answers were actually in "defensive" mode.

This was a far more effective technique that trying to argue with Powell...he wouldn't have gotten very far and probably would have been "dealt" with.

Jon lives to fight another day, as it stands now. He really did frame all the questions in a way that he got out all the questions, doubts, etc. about Iraq into the open. In that sense, without being confrontational, he did actually challenge Powell.

And he did it so smoothly that Powell jabbered away and didn't even see what Jon was doing....

(posted also to another thread)

[napi21]

46. You're right about Jon's questioning. I was very disappointed in Powel

tonight. He fought against the neocons better when he was still Sec. of State! I'm also not sure I believe Shrub and Pickles visiten him at his house a week ago, and they had a lovely evening.

Why does that sound like a blatent lie?

[demwing]

47. Where do YOU work?

and to whom do you bow?

[Don1]

49. The Man.

And I admit it.

[demwing]

51. So do I, as do most Americans

So maybe we could cut Stewart some slack? :)

He does much more good than harm...

[Don1]

52. Like I said in another thread.

I am giving him one more chance. If he screws up again, I am not watching him. I am free not to watch, right, just like you are free not to buy my watches for sale?

[demwing]

53. You're free to watch, bitch, not watch, complain, or all of the above

in any combination you choose.

I am also free to ask you (and especially some of the more rabidly accusatory) to cut the guy some major slack.

He's earned it.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Don1]

56. I am not a liberal.

I am talking about a very specific issue...media conglomeration and its impact on what you think you know.

Here's an example. When Colin Powell said Saddam killed 5000 of his own people, what did you think?

[woodleydem]

58. I don't doubt that Saddam killed 5,000 of his own people. In fact, he may

have killed more than that. But it doesn't mean that I necessarily support unilateral military invasion. (which I don't) But Saddam Hussein was a dictator who oppressed people who opposed him. And Bill Clinton, a great Democratic President, says he wish he would have ousted him. I don't think we (as America) should allow brutal dictators to operate with a license to kill. Clinton has stated repeatedly that not interfering in Rwanda is the biggest regret of his Administration. I'm not supporting Bushie invading on fraudulent evidence, but I consider myself to be a hawkish Democrat (as a result of 9/11). Saddam had to be dealt with eventually, but I just wish it was done multilaterally instead of in the belligerent manner that it was dealt with by Bush.

[Don1]

61. Doubt Smout.

What are the facts?

Colin Powell said he visited the site where 5000 people were gassed by Saddam. Don't you get it, man?

There was an Iraq-Iran war around the Kurdish border that WE instigated. We gave the Iraqis mustard gas. We gave the Iranians almond gas.

The Kurdish town had 500 dead and it was reported as 5000 in our corporate media. At the same time, all the US intelligence guys were saying wait a sec, it wasn't Saddam, because the Kurds were killed with ALMOND gas.

This is so screwed up and such hypocrisy of the highest order.

[Blue Belle]

57. So let me get this straight...

You are OUTRAGED because Jon Stewart didn't deliver hard hitting journalism?? John Stewart... the hard hitting journalist. Jon Stewart... they man who can't say the word "balls" without stifling a giggle.

Good Lord people... this is not the sign that Jon Stewart has sold out to the right... it's a sign that the journalistic bar has been set so low that we feel it's up to a Comedian to be our champion. This is a sign that we're so starved for even a scrap of substinative reporting from our MSM, that we're ready to cut all ties and lable this comedian a traitor when he fails to meet our need?? I've seen the word traitor lobbed in Jon Stewart's direction tonight, I'm starting to wonder which one of you is Ann Coulter.

Yes, he does interview prominent politicians, and yes, he ask more probing questions than Tweety or Scarborough on any given night... but expecting him to deliver Breaking News is a little out of the nature and scope of a show that's time slot is sandwiched between Crank Yankers and old SNL re-runs. Seriously... what do you expect??

Granted, his show is smart and cleaver, and yes, in a nuanced way we do get a lot of information from his "reports". The Daily Show is about the only show on cable that isn't hemorrhaging viewers right now. His show entertains, and though it carries the guise of being a news cast, his interviews are non-combative and very guest friendly. No one gets attacked, and no one storms off the set in a huff. That being said, It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Right is taking advantage of it now that Bush's polling numbers are continuing to tank.

As far as having Powell on tonight... what did you think was going to happen after Powell's friendly, informal dinner the other night with W. Bush has exhausted trotting out the wife to do damage control, and they knew the DSM questions were coming down the pike. Of course they're sending out Powell... he's the least repulsive out of the bunch and his credibility - though marred - is still respected by Republicans and Dems alike (though everyone here knows he's full of shit).

What did you really envision would happen tonight anyway?? Did you expect Powell to say, "Yep, George made me lie. He knew they didn't have any weapons. They DSM is correct". Did you really think the hard hitting expose that topples the Bush Administration was going to come from the Daily Show??

I think you may be expecting a little too much from Jon Stewart.

[demwing]

59. bravo kick

well said.

[Don1]

62. Right.

"...it's a sign that the journalistic bar has been set so low that we feel it's up to a Comedian to be our champion."

Exactly. Don't make arguments about journalists or comedians, though. Journalism is long dead.

And Stewart was our champion, but not anymore.

[Blue Belle]

73. Correction...

Stewart was your Champion... most people still see him as a comedian and it's important that you keep him in that context. If you want to be pissed off, be pissed off at the non-existent fourth estate. If you want to put your anger to good use, organize a boycott of Fox, or Russert, or help donate to keeping PBS fair like they are over at Media Matters for America, but don't lay the burden of keeping our Politicians accountable on comedians. Expecting them to get the job done is about as effective as pissing up a rope.

[In Truth We Trust]

75. well written and very articulate post. I agree with much of what you've

stated.
My biiggest bone to pick with Jon is his referring to the lies and manipulation leading up to this illegal war as "spilled milk". That comment by Jon outraged me. People this is an illegal war and c powell was a key component in facilitating it at the U.N. Well over 100,000 innocent lives have been loct and many times that have shed their blood and become permantly maimed and disabled. This country is in massive economic trouble and we are paying thus far 300 billion dollars for an illegal war. Jon Stewart referred to these acts (lies) as spliied milk as though this is now water under the bridge. I think not. These are impeachable criminal acts and we have a smoking gun in the form of the dsminutes as further proof of such.
Jon Stewart may be just a comedian but even so to refer to the state of these lies as spilled milk is a serious insight into his thinking. I happen to adamantly disagree.

[Blue Belle]

76. Again...

I think you are making a MAJOR mountain out of an off handed comment at the end of an interview. Yes, the crimes of George W bush and his Administration are impeachable - FOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION... not Stewart. I think you are reading too much into Jon's "spilled milk" comment, and I don't think he intended it to mean "water under the bridge". He had been interviewing Powell for close to 10 minutes and had to cut to commercial... I agree the term "spilled milk" was a terrible choice, but I think he was just trying to wrap up the segment. Besides, when the DSM is only now starting to trickle out to the rest of the non-blogging public, did you really think that Stewart was going to lamb baste him with it?? Has he ever done that to any of his guests?? I'd be willing to bet that 80% of his audience hasn't even read the memo... and it's not his job to educate them.

Instead of getting angry at Stewart, maybe you should focus your anger on educating the public about the Memo and it's implications. Don't expect Stewart to do your dirty work or be your monkey... it's not his job.

[samsingh]

86. you nailed it on the head blue belle

i think stewart is serving us well by showing restraint, comedy, and non-partisanship. He basically uses common sense to show the stupidity in the arguments some of his guests make.

We should share our frustration with the people who are supposed to be journalists and have become propograndists for the bush family.

[MirrorAshes]

60. Jon let Powell hang himself. What more do you people want? n/t

[Coexist]

64. I thought the interview was great

Jon clearly felt out of his depth with Mr. Powell, but asked tough questions anyway.

I admired the way he went after the "intelligence failure". He got Colin Powell to admit that there were people there said Curveball was not trustworthy, that those voices just didn't reach his ears. That is a clear indication of a DoD scrub machine in my opinion.

The dissenting voices were there, but they didn't get to the final decision makers, therefore they didn't get to the Congress and didn't come across in our argument to the U.N.

He as much as asked Powell if he was being played for a fool with the "that wasn't a vial of freedom powder" statement.

Stewart knew that Powell had a lot of inside information that he would never in his life have access to - and he clearly felt intimidated by that fact.

Powell was not and WILL NEVER backtrack on his support for the case for this war - just getting him to qualify the Curveball info was huge, in my opinion.

[Blue Belle]

88. Good point.

:-)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

65. John is great at being a comedian

you are expecting too much from a comedy show. he is non-confrontational. that's why people come on the show. he challenged powell when he could in a nicey nicey way.

if you don't like him don't watch him. there are 100s of other TV personalites who completely whore for the admin's agenda, comparatively john and the writers are doing a fine job exposing the hypocritical absurdness.

[WoodrowFan]

69. he's polite to all his guests

He's polite to all his guests; RWers, LWers, moderates, movie stars, authors, etc. He asks some questions, jokes a bit and that's it. It's not meant to be a "When did you stop beating your wife" grilling. I'd be more upset that the shows that are supposed to be asking the hard questions, like the Sunday Morning gabfests, are playing kissy face with the RW.

The first half of Jon's show is the political stuff. I've noticed that it's almost always RWers who get lambasted in the 60-minutes style interviews they play.

[adigal]

70. Didn't he go on vacation? Probably reprogrammed n/t

[theboss]

71. You do realize that he is not a journalist or politician, right?

I wonder if people used to get mad at Mike Douglas for selling out to the man.

[RunningFromCongress]

78. IT'S A FAKE NEWS SHOW!!!! He's not supposed to ask "hard" questions...

hard questions..

The guests come on and it's fluffy fun time. He makes fun of headlines...

[MsTryska]

80. Okay......first of all Jon Stewart is comedy.

And he covers more newstories than the entire MSM put totgether, and he performs a valuable service.


now about his guests - pretty much everybody that comes on his show is pimping a book or flogging a movie. His job is to be cordial and give them the opportunity to do that. I'm sure many have pre-arranged agreements on what wil be spoken about and what won't.

he's not the Liberal's Attack Dog and never has been.

[Julius Civitatus]

83. Two words: SELL OUT (Disney looming)

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has noticed a serious toning down on the Daily Show this spring.

I don't know what happened to them, but they are not showing any teeth lately, not since the Jeff Gannon expose. I wonder if the bid that ABC/Disney made to buy The Daily Show has something to do with their softening. I read recently that the Mickey Mouse network made a multi-million bid to buy the Daily Show from Comedy Central, but never heard what happened next.

If ABC/Disney (the most servile network to Rove's requests and desires) buys the Daily Show, they will turn it into a Dean-trashing fest hosted by Dennis Miller, and some asshole pundits as "correspondents." Just the thought of it hurts my brain!

:scared:

[The Blue Knight]

87. Jesus fucking Christ.

Jon Stewart is the man. He had Newt Gingrich on, so what? He's A COMEDIAN. He's not there to CHALLENGE these people. He's not there to ask the "hard questions" and get the "scoop" on these people. He's a comedian on a fake newscast.

You guys are sounding like a bunch of Carl fucking Tuckersons whining about Stewart lobbing "softball questions" to his guests. He's not a real member of the press. I don't watch the Daily Show to see Stewart grill people. I watch the Daily Show to see John Stewart skewer politicians on a regular basis. Something he has always done, and will always continue to do.

This is also something that goes on here at DU that drives me nuts. A lot of people like to heroworship around here. But when one person utters one statement that you guys disagree with, it's "WHAT A SELL OUT" or "HOW MUCH DID KKKARL ROVE HAVE TO PAY YOU, ASSHOLE?" It's ridiculous.

Like the 2nd poster said, if he doesn't make you laugh...don't watch it. Dennis Miller didn't make me laugh, so I didn't watch him. It's that simple.

[Riverman]

94. I hope Stewart and his writers read this stuff

I can see a report from the "Blogosphere" lampooning our brilliant lambasting of his Colin Powell interview.

On the other hand, were there any comedians working the beer halls of 1930's Germany? Certainly not Jewish ones! Or Gay one's, or slightly physically or mentally disabled ones, or unionist, or any of the many scapgoats for Germany's failed economy and military ventures!

Whose responsibility is it to speak-up? Only politicians and journalists? Bloggers? lefties? progressives? feable democrats? enlightened religious believers? Why would anyone ever expect a comedian or entertainer to actually use their craft, their art to speak truth to power? Gosh, they don't a stack in this society, except for making money. So, if the country goes down, they can always take their act to Canada, especially that espisode of South Park when the self-righteuos mother organized the US to go to war with Canada for promoting filthy language in american youth! It was very entertaining and hilarious and right on!

[Generator]

89. I understand these posts

The sad truth is the Jon Stewart is the only REAL news that we get. We savor that show, we worship Jon and we want it to be more than it is-which is a comedy show with a major liberal and that now means honest-bent.

We want him to DO what Wolf, Tweety, Russert (you know the crowd the names escape me because I don't watch anymore) or even Stepanhopalous or Begala WON'T.

Which is be our media Howard Dean and just freaking call it like it is.

I never missed a Daily Show for almost two years until November 2nd. After that, as Jon says, not so much. His show was a nightly inditment on the Bush adminstration crimes. It was a countdown to Bush being ousted. It didn't happen and we watched Stewart's sadness-near tears and outrage that night. As someone posted on DU that night when they saw Jon, they knew it was over.

The Daily Show will never be the same. IT was an insider thing-we all knew the truth-we knew Bush must lose by any sense of decency on this planet and it didn't happen. We counted on this one TV refuge to tell us the truth. Now, the show is just a damn good comedy show. (until Sweet Jesus please be with us-something happens to bring these mofos down)

I'm relieved I missed this one with Powell. Powell's lies or shadings of truth are crimes against this country. I don't find it funny either. It can't be funny. And Jon is between a rock and hard place-he wants to do a good show and tell the truth. But he's not our savior and the sad sad truth is we don't have one.

It's us and the occasional Galloway or McKinney or David Griffin on C-span.

It's lonely. And Jon Stewart is not a journalist but we all know compared to the bile shoveled nightly on TV he sure is more of one than they will EVER be. And there's the freaking rub-our only truth teller isn't even a journalist and the show isn't even a real news show.

Surreal times.

[TexasLawyer]

91. Jon Stewart has always

treated his RW guests with kid gloves. That's what you have to do to get some of these guys to appear as guests. These guys don't like confrontations and avoid situations where they're made to feel (in a high, and sing-song voice) "awkward". Richard Perle, Zell Miller, all sorts of RW authors, last night's interview with Colin Powell, etc..., they've all been treated with deference.

The only RW-er that I ever saw Jon really skewer was Henry Bonilla, and even then, I don't even think Mr. Bonilla knew he was being skewered.

He balances these guys with Howard Zinn, Michael Moore, etc...

Lighten up on Jon, everybody. He's the best of the best comedians out there, and unlike anyone else on TV, he spotlights the political and media "douche-baggery" that has been rampant during these Bush years.

[The Blue Knight]

92. I would suggest not heroworshiping next time.

I watched TDS simply because it was funny and witty. (something lacking in television today). Stewart isn't a liberal activist, nor is he a real member of the press.

[kamqute]

93. I sincerely hope the debate is over the social commentary aspect of it..

..because the Daily Show is DECIDEDLY not a news show.

That aside, I put it to you, which of these roles seems more feasible for our friend Jon?

a. Jon Stewart, subversive and invincible entertainer

b. Jon Stewart, ingenious social critic and confrontational public speaker

Everyone who watches the show gets the message; if he doesn't make the Man feel comfortable, he loses his direct line to the media-imbecilic base of Comedy Central, a sector which is almost unreachable with anything of the sort.