Espresso Ramblings

Things I think about while under the influence of too much coffee...or not enough coffee...

Jon Stewart Tells It Like It Is

Jon Stewart of the Daily Show made a recent appearance on Crossfire, which is something like the Jerry Springer show for partisan politics. The San Francisco Chronicle covers the incident here, but what it came down to is that Jon lashed out at the show and it's hosts for "hurting America" by not being an unbiased news source. My favorite exchange between Stewart and Crossfire's Tucker Carlson went like this (taken from Reuters article):

"..."You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably," Stewart said.

"Crossfire" co-host Tucker Carlson hit back by citing the comedian's own interview with Sen. John Kerry a couple of weeks ago. Carlson suggested Stewart shouldn't lecture them when he lobs softballs.

"You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls," Stewart replied..."

And while Carlson fired back to the Philidelphia Inquirer that "I just thought he was lame and out of his depth. Completely banal. He didn't tell me anything I haven't heard from drunk people in airport bars," probably in reference to the fact that Stewart called him a dick on national television, I still feel that Stewart was absolutely correct when he criticized Crossfire's biased reporting.  And besides, Tucker Carlson wears a bow tie...to me if your over 7 or under 80, bow ties are verboten!  Chime in...see the video on the Crossfire link above and let me know what you think!

posted by: jlhpisces at October 20, 2004 16:27 | link | comments (6) |

Comments:

#1  20 October 2004 - 20:25

 

I always thought that Paul Simon (the Senator, not the musician) looked very good in a bow tie. It was his thing. As for crossfire, it's not my cup of tea but, as was pointed out on the show, it's 30 minutes in a 24 hour news day. It's essentially an entertainment show for political junkies. If you think that those 30 minutes "hurt America," I suggest that you're a little too wrapped up with politics. Dennis Miller has a monkey in a diaper on his show. Is he "hurting America" because he happens to be on CNBC? Please. Not everything can be "This Week with David Brinkley." You know what's hurting America? Reporting lies like they were truth ala 60 Minutes and Dan Rather (and not the first time for Rather). Purposely slanting your coverage of an election towards one candidate, like ABC news has decided to do. I don't see Stewart confronting them or calling Dan Rather a dick (well, they are on the same side). Political hacks yelling at each other and their guests (who eagerly volunteer to be there) for the amusement of America? America can take it and we don't need Jon Stewart to protect us.

Jheka

#2  20 October 2004 - 20:47

 

While I respect your opinion :) all I can say is :P

jlhpisces

#3  20 October 2004 - 21:25

 

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html

Read the transcript and you will see that Stewart obviously made Tucker Carlson feel defensive, and that Carlson went on the attack long before Stewart himself did...while I agree that both shows have entertainment value, I have to say that Crossfire still purports to be "more" and I still say they are "less."

jlhpisces

#4  21 October 2004 - 02:40

 

I think I always skip the "editorial" shows so I never watch "crossfire", but the transcript was funny. I had just seen Jon Stewart on another show talking about how the media is biased. I am glad to see that he had the balls to actually go on THEIR show and argue his point and even make them go back to it when they tried to change the subject. I wonder if he is heading into politics? He says he isn't but stranger things have happened!

RicoAnthony

#5  21 October 2004 - 10:25

 

Why settle for the transcript when you cav watch the video.

Jheka

#6  21 October 2004 - 15:19

 

Look at you Jheka with your fancy links in the comment...I couldn't get that to work...actually, I've seen the video, and there are many places to view it on the net, but I preferred the text version, so that's what I put. :)

I agree, Rico. It's one thing to rip people on your own show, but to go on someone else's show and rip them is a step up! Go, Jon! :)

jlhpisces

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