Anybody watch The Daily Show tonight?

[boxman15]

I thought his segment on the debt ceiling, in which he criticizes how President Obama handled this situation starting in December, and especially his rant against Tea Partiers (where he says "Some of us think government is broken, but we'd still like it to be there!", or something to that extent) was great. Very funny episode, and interesting, too.

Like I've been saying, President Obama was dealt a shitty hand and didn't play it that well. He should've shot the whole thing down back in December, like Stewart said, and none of this would've happened. The bill is nothing great. Jon calls it a turd, which I disagree with if you consider the circumstances and the very low standards set by this "debate," but it's not ideal at all. We shouldn't be having this debate, but since we are, it's an OK deal. It cuts way too much in a recession and has zero revenue, but protects entitlements, cuts defense (with more possibly coming), and still allows for the Bush tax cuts to end in 2012. It's not a good deal at all, but it's not that bad, either, considering this ridiculous debate.

His rant against the Tea Party and the rejection of their bill was dead-on, though. Perfectly summed up how ridiculous the hostage-taking Teabaggers act.

Just wondering what all of you guys thought about it, if you watched.

[Armstead]

1. Honest answer? Hilarious but it made President Obama look bad

When that reporter -- looking very nervous -- asked him with dead-on accuracy last hyear about the possibility that the GOP might use the debt ceiling as leverage to get what they want, Obama's answer was both clueless and irritating by denying that this was a possibility.

[Enrique]

8. Marc Ambinder

from Harpers Magazine, i think:

Marc Ambinder.

Q Mr. President, thank you. How do these negotiations affect negotiations or talks with Republicans about raising the debt limit? Because it would seem that they have a significant amount of leverage over the White House now, going in. Was there ever any attempt by the White House to include raising the debt limit as a part of this package?

THE PRESIDENT: When you say it would seem they'll have a significant amount of leverage over the White House, what do you mean?

Q Just in the sense that they'll say essentially we're not going to raise the -- we're not going to agree to it unless the White House is able to or willing to agree to significant spending cuts across the board that probably go deeper and further than what you're willing to do. I mean, what leverage would you have --

THE PRESIDENT: Look, here's my expectation -- and I'll take John Boehner at his word -- that nobody, Democrat or Republican, is willing to see the full faith and credit of the United States government collapse, that that would not be a good thing to happen. And so I think that there will be significant discussions about the debt limit vote. That's something that nobody ever likes to vote on. But once John Boehner is sworn in as Speaker, then he's going to have responsibilities to govern. You can't just stand on the sidelines and be a bomb thrower.

And so my expectation is, is that we will have tough negotiations around the budget, but that ultimately we can arrive at a position that is keeping the government open, keeping Social Security checks going out, keeping veterans services being provided, but at the same time is prudent when it comes to taxpayer dollars.

[applegrove]

2. I tuned in in the middle of the segment. Yes the stuff he said about

Tea partiers wanting no government was well done.

[KT2000]

3. Yes - saw it

and thought it was good.
Liked Colbert tonight too.

[flamingdem]

4. I avoid Jon Stewart, he's not in the know and into selling entertainment

so irrelevant in terms of trying to understand anything complex.

[boxman15]

5. That's not what The Daily Show is about though.

It's about entertainment. Anybody who watches it for political analysis is fooling themselves. Jon Stewart just mocks those who deserve to be mocked in his opinion. It's on Comedy Central, ya know. I like him because he is a great source of entertainment and I agree with him far more often than I don't. But, I don't watch him for political analysis. That's not what it's for. He's the first to say that.

[politicasista]

6. He makes old jokes/memes about good Dems

who deserve to be more respected for who they are and the legislation they put forth IMO.

[Cosmocat]

7. He throws the odd bone out ...

to the faux balanced thing ... I kind of just buck up and deal with it ...

Overall, he takes the real lunatics to task, which is refreshing ...

[politicasista]

10. +1 n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. He should have shot WHAT down? See, I love Jon Stewart, but he is ignorant.

The president can't shoot anything down! Nancy Pelosi should have shot it down during the lame duck.

Why?

Because these issues are taken up before the U.S. House of Representatives, not in the Executive Branch!

Does Jon not know this?