The Listening Post - John Stewart vs CNBC - 20 Mar 09

[TDS10101]

As a "devout" Daily show viewer (and also knowing many others) I can say that people who claim we tune into the daily show to "be informed" are talking out of their asses. I go to the daily show to laugh at the absurdities of the day because otherwise they would become depressing. I go to Jon Stewart for catharsis, not information.

[fjl2x2]

I really want to punch that kid at 8:10 in the face.

[DrCruel]

Oh gee. But my taxes are going up regardless. So are the taxes of everyone I know. I must make a half million dollars a year - maybe the reason I don't have any of it is because it's all taken as taxes.

The reason the Tea Party has been given any attention is because they represent an increasingly influential grass roots voting bloc. That "attention" has overwhelmingly been elitist liberal journalists and pundits taking time out of their busy day to present the Tea Partyists as racist idiots.

[wreckedpc]

Jon stewart takes on smaller opponents like Kramer and Tucker carlson. But he acts like a bitch in front of Bill O'Reilly.

[Kiddolinfen09]

What the hell was that thing at the end. lol : D

[CamiloSanchez1979]

Holy shit, this guy looks like younger John Bergeron

[CamiloSanchez1979]

Sorry. I meant Tom Bergeron, John is my neighbor..xD

[crescendo87]

absolutely

[PureAdrenaline97]

Hypocrisy at its best. Fuck the government and Obama. We need a Revolution.

[aclose78]

I don't like the second global village voice.

[CharlieGProductions]

That was me. I think that Stewart and Cramer are both weak informers and and strong entertainers. They are very similar and their audiences have the same devout following of them.

[aclose78]

The devout thing is where I fall off. I don't care if you say Stewart is a weak informer because he is infact a comedian. Cramer is supposed to be taken seriously. If Stewart says something I don't like I don't just say that he must be right because he knows better. I don't think there is a devout following because what he does is what I'm looking for, if he stopped doing that I would stop watching.

[badgescops]

john stewart is god ... thou who insult him shall be smited

[DrCruel]

Jon Stewart is a hack for the Left - he knocks Rick Santelli, even though he regularly speaks out against the other pundits at CNBC, because Santelli is associated with the Tea Party movement. Stewart's faction is busy painting Tea Partyists as Republican astroturf, so Jon Stewart goes along.

Stewart's a talking head. He's just pitching for the Left, so he gets a bye from Leftist supporters. He's at least as biased and as full of bull as the people he criticizes.

[mrpixelator]

@DrCruel Tea Baggers ARE Republican astroturf. Santelli is 100% worthy of scorn for his behavior.  I mean, the clip speaks for itself - it's not like Stewart made it up.

Of course, if you also believe that people should receive no assistance with health or with banks repossessing their homes, you're going to think Stewart is a 'hack. To the rest of us, he's showing the plutocrats as the hypocrites they are (bankers benefiting from bailouts, tax shelters, stock manipulation, etc).

[DrCruel]

If the Tea Partyists are so-called "astroturf", why are they so hostile to a number of Republican leaders? Why would the Republicans need to court them at rallies?

It's Jon Stewart who is a hack for the Left. He's entirely worthless - except as a source for whatever talking points are being pushed by the mainstream Left at any one moment in time. I've watched his show, hoping he would prove to be an honest 'voice of the public', and in the process have lost any respect I had for the man.

[DrCruel]

I will also note that I am not a "Tea Partier". My stance regarding Jon Stewart isn't related to my opinions regarding health care or the machinations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It's because Stewart can consistently be depended on to support Leftist talking points, regardless of whether he has to obfuscate or lie to do it. He's a complete hypocrite.

Rick Santelli is in no way comparable. As for Jim Cramer, he's a useless idiot - but at least he's not an ideological hack.

[mrpixelator]

There's a difference between being ideological and a 'hack'. They're not synonymous, although you seem to think so. I guess you think Colbert is also a 'hack'?

It sounds very much like you simply espouse a doctrine that opposes Stewarts and have no substantive basis for disliking him, ergo the generic label of 'hack'. I'll say again - Santelli's rant speaks for itself. I don't care what he identifies himself as. Most baggers are not true libertarians.

[DrCruel]

Colbert is certainly in agreement with Stewart politically, but is more inclined to give people he disagrees with a fair shake. It has a lot to do with the fact that Colbert does not take himself nearly as seriously as Stewart does.

I'd say Santelli's rant does speak for itself. That's the point. And most Tea Partyists are not libertarians or Republicans - they're overtaxed citizens, and they're fed up with the federal government's "Let Them Eat Cake" attitude, regardless of Party.

[mrpixelator]

Stewart even went on O'Reilly's show, and hosted 'opponents' such as Cramer (and was civil to both). He gave both a 'fair shake'.

Santelli is filth. His comment illustrates 'I got mine' greed and rebukes the notion that tax money should be used to help those in need. Baggers aren't 'overtaxed citizens'. They're mentally challenged ignorants, idolizing Sarah Palin and hold up Obama=Hitler cards. They're a joke and nothing more than racists, bigots and faux 'patriots'.

[vessc]

@DrCruel its funny that you say that, because this administration has lowered taxes for 95% of americans. the top 5 percent being those making over 250 thousand a year. And even out of those, the only ones seeing a significant tax increase are those making half a million dollars or more a year.

the only reason the tea party is so famous is because of Fox News' endorsements and their apparent fetish of anything Sara Palin.

[badgescops]

@DrCruel your cometning me on a coment ii made 8 months before the tea party movement so stfu before u get ktfo but it dont mater now u got free helth care

[DrCruel]

@badgescops One key point is correct - this legislation is going down my throat, whether I like it or not. But I'm not getting free health care - I'm going to be forced to pay $700 a year for substandard health care I have no money to pay for. Either that, or I can go to jail.

So yes. Fuck me. We'll see you in November.

[randomgai1234]

You have no idea how to make a strong argument. Making obviously extreme boasts about something is a great way to have people automatically tune you out. I accept some of your premises about them both being entertainers and how Mr. Stewart is not supposed to be the ideal place for serious journalism. I have two things to say to this. One, is that he has no competition as all other American media outlets are garbage. And, two, that Steward does a great job of pointing out the absurdities.

[CharlieGProductions]

Thanks for watching. Other than your first two sentences, where do we disagree? I never said that Stewart's exposés can be discredited because he's not a journalist. I think it's good that he exposed Cramer (and I agree with him that Cramer is off his head), but I see a similarity between devout viewers of both programs where some people take their words to the bank.

[randomgai1234]

I guess, I disagree with the tone of the post? I agree with what you're saying. That people should not accept what Kramer or Stuart says as gospel truth. Because Stuart is a comedian poking fun at the absurd and Kramer is a moron at best and a crook at worst. I think that Steward does a better job at informing than people give him credit for. Especially given the nature of the American news media. Which is a very sad thing.

[brokenleoheart]

tat music video totally make me wanna buy some weapons?! n why r they singing in english?????? isn this directed toward india?

[PapiChuloSavoirFaire]

there is such a variety of languages in India that a generic language was more useful: English. The same it's done in other countries.

[woahzombies]

it sounds and looks a lot like a bollywood-ified version of a high school musical performance.

[98nafets]

Great job Al Jazeera, using liberal people to comment on this battle, especially the young turks! are you kidding me?

[WKaliberr]

Muslim

[vonOhzu]

Cenk?!

[rookieasif]

lol, that rafael video was so inappropriately done. Zionists will be killed by their own hate.

[Gina2NYC]

The media is dead! The FCC should not allow them to brand themselves as factual news agencies. They are simply tabloid!

[covertcovenant]

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems....you should change your business to idiot entertainment...because this music sales vid is awsome.