tag:huffingtonpost.com,2009:/tag/daily-show 2009-11-23T14:12:24Z The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/23/daily-show-to-blame-for-n_n_367978.html 2009-11-23T14:12:24Z 2009-11-23T14:12:24Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ While we're on the topic of traversing the aesthetic distance between comedic satire and reality, why not check in <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/newsweek-reporter-suspected-of-being-spy-over-daily-show-vid/">with Glynnis MacNicol over at Mediaite</a> -- who dug out an interesting question from <em>Newsweek</em> reporter Maziar Bahari's <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/223862">account of the 118 days he was held in captivity in an Iranian jail</a>, under suspicion that he was "a spy for the CIA, MI6, Mossad... and NEWSWEEK." <br /> <br /> That question being: "Was "The Daily Show" in part to blame for Bahari's imprisonment?"<br /> <br /> The relevant portion of Bahari's story reads as follows:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"Well," said Mr. Rosewater [Bahari's nickname for his interrogator], who had been fairly quiet up to this point, "we have interesting video footage of you. That may persuade you to be more cooperative." I could not imagine what that might be. Something personal? Something that might compromise my friends? But...I reminded myself I had done nothing wrong.<br /> <br /> <br /> I saw the flicker of a laptop monitor under my blindfold. Then I heard someone speaking. It was a recording of another prisoner's confession. "It's not that one," said the second interrogator. "It's the one marked 'Spy in coffee shop.' " Mr. Rosewater fumbled with the computer. The other man stepped in to change the DVD. And then I heard the voice of Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.</blockquote><br /> <br /> WATCH:<br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-june-22-2009/jason-jones--behind-the-veil---persians-of-interest'>Jason Jones: Behind the Veil - Persians of Interest<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:230712' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> <br /> As it turns out, what Bahari's interrogators unspooled for him was his appearance in the segments that "The Daily Show" produced when it sent correspondent Jason Jones to Tehran. In those segments, Jones presented himself as a broad caricature of a woefully-underinformed American journalist, attempting to look "intrepid" as he searched high and low for confirmations of the broad, cliched ideas about Iranian society that he'd conceived prior to arrival. Bahari's participation in the show's segments ended up landing the <em>Newsweek</em> reporter into a situation that was as deadly serious as it was absurd, in which he had to explain the <i>Daily Show</i>'s jokes to an interrogator who was threatening him with bodily harm and imprisonment.<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"It's just a joke. Nothing serious. It's stupid." I was getting worried. "I hope you are not suggesting that [Jason Jones] is a real spy."<br /> <br /> <br /> "Can you tell us why an American journalist pretending to be a spy has chosen you to interview?" asked the man with the creases. "We know from your contacts and background that you told them who to interview for their program." The other Iranians interviewed in Jason's report--a former vice president and a former foreign minister--had been arrested a week before me as part of the IRGC's sweeping crackdown. "It's just comedy," I said, feeling weak.<br /> <br /> "Do you think it's also funny that you say Iran and America have a lot in common?" Mr. Rosewater asked, declaring that he was losing patience with me. He took my left ear in his hand and started to squeeze it as if he were wringing out a lemon. Then he whispered into it. "This kind of behavior will not help you. Many people have rotted in this prison. You can be one of them."</blockquote><br /> <br /> Of those segments, MacNicol says, "at the time those clips aired I found them non-funny and borderline offensive -- fake news tends to lose its thrust when real news reporters (and civilians) are risking their lives to get the actual news out to world." <br /> <br /> Personally, I'm not as damning -- I think there was some value in showing that much of what Iranian protesters were fighting for was founded in a way of life and in values that we would recognize... and that too often the media glibly elides over such things to make pointless bellicosity seem palatable. But the segments did err, in my opinion, in making too many jokes about the danger that Jason Jones was <i>not</i> in during a time when many of the Iranians he met in Iran ended up in such real, deadly danger.<br /> <br /> What I am reminded of, reading this, is that one of the dangers in satire is that when it's done right, you might miss the joke entirely. This is something that's as true now as it was when Jonathan Swift wrote "A Modest Proposal." But the issue of whether or not autocratic, fundamentalist regimes are capable of "getting" a joke is beside the point. The fact is that Iran is run by deranged and paranoid despots, who need only the thinnest of pretexts to lock people up or do them harm. This is a pretty sobering way to learn that lesson.<br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em><br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/maziar-bahari-arrested">Maziar Bahari Arrested</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/media-criticism">Media Criticism</a>, <a href="/tag/satire">Satire</a>, <a href="/tag/iran">Iran</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jason-jones">Jason Jones</a>, <a href="/tag/maziar-bahari">Maziar Bahari</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/23/fact-check-fetish-now-bei_n_367797.html 2009-11-23T13:43:27Z 2009-11-23T13:43:27Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ I missed the latest <i>Saturday Night Live</i>, but by the next morning I had received an email from a concerned citizen about the content of its "cold open," in which Fred Armisen, as President Barack Obama, is assailed by Will Forte's Hu Jintao over America owing China money. The emailer was angry at <em>Saturday Night Live</em> for <a href="http://business.theatlantic.com/2009/11/sometimes_the_majority_of_americans_are_really_stupid.php">reinforcing flawed media narratives</a> to the effect that the stimulus package has not created any jobs and that health care reform will not save any money -- and overall getting facts wrong. "This is really the wrong time for SNL to be getting basic facts so sorely wrong."<br /> <br /> WATCH the sketch in question:<br /> <br /> <center><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4b0aaa538e5df035/4741e3c5156499a7/4b614af3/-cpid/1a3043b2ad5dc52" id="W4727a250e66f97234b0aaa538e5df035" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4b0aaa538e5df035/4741e3c5156499a7/4b614af3/-cpid/1a3043b2ad5dc52" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></object></center><br /> <br /> <br /> Does anyone actually expect <em>Saturday Night Live</em> to get its facts straight? Well, yes! Very recently, the show ran another sketch that featured Armisen as Obama running down a list of achievements -- and finding that none had been accomplished. This actually led to CNN <i>factchecking</i> the show:<br /> <br /> <br /> <center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7x-dzXVcOw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7x-dzXVcOw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /> <br /> <br /> CNN's judgment was subsequently <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/13/daily-show-destroys-cnn-f_n_318295.html">skewered by <i>The Daily Show</i></a>:<br /> <br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/cnn-leaves-it-there'>CNN Leaves It There<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:251763' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> <br /> Now, I am basically of the mind that holding <i>Saturday Night Live</i> up to some high level of fact-check scrutiny is more than a little absurd. The traction point of this Saturday's cold open was simply that lots of people joke about China holding so much of our debt. The writers basically take this fundamentally oversimplified idea to give the Jintao character room to complain about how America is spending money to ameliorate social problems and bail out banks while China has an outstanding IOU. I suppose that Armisen could have launched into a lengthy analysis of how the stimulus package is rolling out, or delivered a treatise on how reforming health care could keep people out of crippling debt, allowing them to purchase more Chinese exports, but doing so would commit the comedy crime of "negating the premise" -- the premise being that America is <i>literally</i> screwing China. This whole sketch is nothing more than a vehicle for the comedians to make a broad anal sex joke. They even follow the "rule of three," to maximize it's accessibility.<br /> <br /> I'm not sure that we want to go down the road where we factcheck <i>Saturday Night Live</i> every Sunday afternoon. But for what it's worth, <a href="http://www.andycobbonline.com/HOME.html">comedian Andy Cobb</a> offered me some food for thought, via Twitter on this matter, saying, "<a href="http://twitter.com/AndyCobb/status/5958316729">I actually think it's fair to factcheck comics doing topical bits. Otherwise Limbaugh gets a pass, yknow?</a>" and "<a href="http://twitter.com/AndyCobb/status/5958360097">I mean, you can't factcheck a joke or a punchline, but you might factcheck a premise and a setup.</a>"<br /> <br /> All of which is true, I suppose. But it's worth pointing out that the sort of comedy Cobb makes is a unique animal. Cobb's Public Service Administration produces hilarious satire, but it's comedy that hinges on being well informed about a topic. For instance, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/04/comedians-take-on-dana-mi_n_250908.html">their take on Dana Milbank and Chris Cillizza's "Mouthpiece Theatre" is fantastic</a>, but wouldn't work with an audience unfamiliar with the two reporters' callow belief that their journalistic perch makes them funny, or the <i>Washington Post</i>'s struggles with creating a web-based brand identity. I suspect this joke would not play well on NBC's affiliate in Des Moines:<br /> <br /> <center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QJEPDwGVirQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QJEPDwGVirQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /> <br /> <br /> On top of that, Cobb often lends his considerable talents to advocacy. His comedic premises account for facts because he is in the business of "making the case" for things. That's what's on display in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/19/insurance-company-rules-t_n_113835.html">this spot for Health Care For America Now</a>, sending up the way insurance companies arbitrarily change the rules on their consumers:<br /> <br /> <br /> <center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bVpX5fUvPlg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bVpX5fUvPlg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /> <br /> <br /> Of course, the mass consumption version of this comedic ethos is seen on Comedy Central's <i>The Daily Show</i> and <i>The Colbert Report</i>, both of which do a great job of informing their viewers because their stock in trade is penetrating and demystifying media narratives and laying them bare.<br /> <br /> Everything I've read from SNL writers describing how their comedic sausage gets made indicates that they do not feel any sort of higher obligation to "making the case" for one particular point of view. Similarly, they don't often apply themselves to decoding media narratives -- because that would get in the way of the anal sex jokes. We could argue whether SNL is passing on the chance to create a better or more trenchant or more "dangerous" brand of sketch comedy, but I think what's unavoidable is that Saturday Night Live has its own unique set of priorities, and they include preparing a show that puts their guest host to his or her best use and putting the talents of their own character-driven comedians on display. (I think if we were to fact-check Kristen Wiig's "<a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Kristen+Wiig's+"Penelope"">Penelope</a>" character, many of her claims would not hold up to scrutiny. Still, LET'S NOT GET WOLF BLITZER INVOLVED, OKAY?)<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, I think that going forward, we're going to see the factcheck fetish continue to be applied to <i>Saturday Night Live</i>. There are two things that are driving this. First and foremost, legitimate news organizations are, more and more, repurposing SNL's content as a cheap way to kill a few minutes every hour. For example, ABC News's <i>This Week</i> devotes a whole portion of its weekly broadcast to the antics of late-night comedians. By the end of today, MSNBC might well show that cold open three or four times, unless their prudishness gets the better of them. No one intends SNL's content to stand in as the literal truth, but as long as comedy is appearing on the same platform as news, people are going to treat it as fair game for high levels of scrutiny.<br /> <br /> The other reason new outlets are likely to fact-check comedy shows is that it makes them look tough, at a time when the public does not have a lot of faith that they are capable of holding anyone accountable anymore. Organizations such as <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/">Politifact</a> and <a href="http://factcheck.org/">FactCheck.org</a> have risen to fill that gap. And now, we're often treated to the spectacle of news organizations <i>citing these outside political factcheckers</i>, which always makes me wonder what's wrong with their own stable of journalists! Watching a spokesman for Politifact come on teevee to talk about what's true and what's not is a lot like walking into a Starbucks and finding out that they've outsourced the boiling of water to a contractor.<br /> <br /> That might be a pretty good premise for a joke actually, but I'm not sure it would play all that well at 11:30pm, live from New York.<br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/cnn">Cnn</a>, <a href="/tag/factchecking">Factchecking</a>, <a href="/tag/fact-check">Fact Check</a>, <a href="/tag/saturday-night-live">Saturday Night Live</a>, <a href="/tag/public-service-administration">Public Service Administration</a>, <a href="/tag/media-criticism">Media Criticism</a>, <a href="/tag/sketch-comedy">Sketch Comedy</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/andy-cobb">Andy Cobb</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/20/jon-stewart-enlist-pro-wr_n_364979.html 2009-11-20T07:59:38Z 2009-11-20T07:59:38Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Last week we told you about young <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/12/10-year-old-wont-pledge-a_n_355709.html">Will Phillips, a boy who refuses to pledge allegiance to the flag</a> and the United States of America until gays and lesbians are allowed to marry. While Will is finding support from op-ed columnists and his parents, the kids at school are not as kind. They are harassing Will and calling him a "gaywad." <br /> <br /> Well, last night Jon Stewart decided to do something about it. After praising this precocious 10-year-old, he decided the boy must be protected so he brought out professional wrestler Mick Foley to deliver a message.<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"I was touched by young Will's plight so I'll tell you what I'm going to do: If I find out that anybody has hassled this young man or teased him or called him a wad of any sort, I and perhaps a few of my friends will come to his school and bring a world of pain. Teachers, faculty, students beware because the eyes of Mick Foley are upon you."</blockquote><br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br><br><br /> <center><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:256380' width='480' height='452' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/pledge-of-allegiance">Pledge of Allegiance</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/ten-year-old-pledge-of-allegiance">Ten Year Old Pledge of Allegiance</a>, <a href="/tag/gaywatch">Gaywatch</a>, <a href="/tag/mick-foley-jon-stewart">Mick Foley Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/will-phillips-daily-show">Will Phillips Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-mick-foley">Jon Stewart Mick Foley</a>, <a href="/tag/will-phillips">Will Phillips</a>, <a href="/tag/mick-foley-daily-show">Mick Foley Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/mick-foley">Mick Foley</a>, <a href="/tag/gay-marriage">Gay Marriage</a>, <a href="/tag/triumph">Triumph</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-mick-foley">Daily Show Mick Foley</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/new-yorkers-react-to-goin_n_363625.html 2009-11-19T11:10:12Z 2009-11-19T11:10:12Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ How are New Yorkers reacting to the recent release of Sarah Palin's new book, "Going Rogue"? Last night on "The Daily Show," John Oliver went to New York bookstores to find out, only to find that most fans had dressed up as the villains in the book, and that New York kids would rather jump into a volcano than read "Going Rogue."<br /> <br /> <br><br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-18-2009/excitement-over-sarah-palin-s-book-release'>Excitement Over Sarah Palin's Book Release<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:256362' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/reading">Reading</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin-going-rogue">Sarah Palin Going Rogue</a>, <a href="/tag/bookstores">Bookstores</a>, <a href="/tag/going-rogue">Going Rogue</a>, <a href="/tag/books">Books</a>, <a href="/tag/new-yorkers">New Yorkers</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin-book">Sarah Palin Book</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin">Sarah Palin</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin-memoir">Sarah Palin Memoir</a>, <a href="/books">Books News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/jon-stewart-lou-dobbs-dis_n_363616.html 2009-11-19T10:28:56Z 2009-11-19T10:28:56Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ The <i>Daily Show</i>'s Jon Stewart welcomed former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs with a Mariachi band because... why not? Over a long interview, only portions of which aired, Stewart and Dobbs discussed the newsman's decision to quit on the air... or not quit on the air... or come to some sort of mutual understanding tied up in contracts that dissolved the relationship between CNN and the controversial anchor. Dobbs basically offered that CNN "wanted to move in another direction," to which Stewart replied, "I see the direction they're going in, I believe it's called down."<br /> <br /> Then, praising Dobbs for having "abhorrent and wrong" views that are nevertheless "consistent," Stewart pressed Dobbs on the issues he invoked in his "I'm quitting, in some contractual fashion" speech: "The issue seems to be -- and you allude to it in your resignation speech -- that the winds of change are blowing this country -- people have, apparently, lost their minds. there seems to be a panic that we have lost the fabric of our society and I'm having trouble getting a handle on what has happened that is so drastic that people would think it's tyranny or fascism or Hitler-esque."<br /> <br /> Dobbs noted that "what has happened" goes back to previous administrations, and that the Bush administration fostered a great "indifference" to the way policy impacted the lives of Americans. Which strikes me as, uhm... suddenly very generalist! Stewart basically countered by saying that it seems to be the coming of the Obama administration that has set everyone's "hair on fire." Dobbs cited the "Obama health care legislation" as something that's uniquely scaring people about the current administration with the prospect of fundamental change. <br /> <br /> Stewart countered by pointing out that there's really no such thing as "Obama health care legislation" ("Obama hasn't really said anything," Stewart said, "to his discredit."), adding, "We're not a fragile country. This idea that somehow getting a health care plan through takes us back to the days pre-revolution is bunk. There's a fear out there that seems irrational." Stewart contended that individuals like David Addington, architect of the unitary executive and the torture policy in the previous administration, represented to him a more frightening agent of change than an administration that seems to, essentially, want to "expand Medicare."<br /> <br /> Dobbs allowed that he thought that "part of that fear is simply catching up with the events of some years ago." Stewart observed, "Why do they always catch up to the fears during the Democratic administrations? It feels like all the people that want limited government really just want government limited to Republicans."<br /> <br /> WATCH:<br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-17-2009/exclusive---lou-dobbs-extended-interview-pt--1'>Exclusive - Lou Dobbs Extended Interview Pt. 1<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255844' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </center><br /> <br /> <br /> The Daily Show has made extended versions of the interview available. <br /> <br /> PART TWO: Dobbs raises a good point about the lack of priority on ending the unemployment crisis, but insists that the current state of play -- where one party controls the legislature and the White House -- doesn't allow any avenue for the "expression of frustration." Stewart counters by pointing out that <i>elections</i> are the avenue for this expression, and that people are confusing "losing an election" with tyranny.<br /> <br /> Dobbs goes on to discuss at length his contention that government is best led from the center, and that the past two administrations are scaring the center. Stewart's contention is that the crazy anger spilling out into the street isn't centrist, noting the lack of angry protesters carrying signs that read "Be reasonable!"<br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-17-2009/exclusive---lou-dobbs-extended-interview-pt--2'>Exclusive - Lou Dobbs Extended Interview Pt. 2<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255845' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> <br /> PART THREE:<br /> <br /> In this final part, Dobbs and Stewart wind down their discussion, with Dobbs continuing to press for a return to centrism, and insist that the nation is in a "delicate" state. Stewart won't sign on to the idea that the nation is somehow fragile. "It's trumped-up fear that's being used as a wedge."<br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-17-2009/exclusive---lou-dobbs-extended-interview-pt--3'>Exclusive - Lou Dobbs Extended Interview Pt. 3<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255846' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em><br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/lou-dobbs">Lou Dobbs</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/cnn">Cnn</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/lou-dobbs-on-daily-show-m_n_363562.html 2009-11-19T09:58:05Z 2009-11-19T09:58:05Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Lou Dobbs continued his post-CNN media tour Wednesday with a stop at "The Daily Show."<br /> <br /> Jon Stewart greeted Dobbs with a Mexican mariachi band &mdash; a clear reference to his stance against illegal immigration.<br /> <br /> Dobbs took it in stride, laughing and saying the band "could play at any party."<br /> <br /> Discussing his departure from CNN, Dobbs repeated the talking point that he and CNN are heading in different directions, citing CNN/US President Jon Klein's decision to practice "middle of the road journalism" instead of Dobbs' "advocacy journalism."<br /> <br /> "You sure it wasn't adult contemporary journalism?" Stewart asked. "He really said, 'We're moving towards middle of the road journalism?' A flavorless gruel of journalism?"<br /> <br /> Stewart also joked that the direction CNN is going in is "down."<br /> <br /> Watch:<br /> <br /> <table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-17-2009/exclusive---lou-dobbs-extended-interview-pt--1'>Exclusive - Lou Dobbs Extended Interview Pt. 1<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255844' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/lou-dobbs">Lou Dobbs</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/lou-dobbs-daily-show">Lou Dobbs Daily Show</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/jon-stewart-explains-to-c_n_363387.html 2009-11-19T08:25:21Z 2009-11-19T08:25:21Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Jon Stewart gave what seemed like his final word on Sarah Palin last night, explaining to Fox News pundits that he doesn't dislike her because she's from Alaska or because she hunts, but because "when you peel back the pretty, shooty layers of the Palin onion, there's no onion. It's just a conservative boiler plate mad lib: 'Freedom is good and taxes are--ooh I need an adjective--how about, I don't know, silly?' And the worst part it's a mad lib delivered as though it were the hard-earned wisdom of a life well lived," he explained.<br /> <br /> Stewart took exception to the accusations that Democrats don't like Palin because she's attractive and religious, but he was particularly angered by the words of Bernie Goldberg who said on Fox that liberals have "Palin Derangement Syndrome" and are driven crazy by her because she has five kids--one with Down syndrome which "liberals certainly don't allow that to happen [to them.]" <br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/ghY6LrFR49LMRO8hRJWUcQ/247/471/i350"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/ghY6LrFR49LMRO8hRJWUcQ/247/471/i350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-sarah-plain">Jon Stewart Sarah Plain</a>, <a href="/tag/fox-news">Fox News</a>, <a href="/tag/rogue-warrior">Rogue Warrior</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/going-rogue">Going Rogue</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin">Sarah Palin</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/17/joe-biden-car-crash-injur_n_361483.html 2009-11-17T19:29:28Z 2009-11-17T19:29:28Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ The advanced security detail for Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a car crash in New York today.<br /> <br /> According to <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Biden-in-Town-for-John-Stewart-Show-Motorcade-Hit-by-Cab-70327962.html">NBC New York</a>, three advance NYPD vehicles "were moving down 49th Street near 10th Avenue when they slammed into the back of a livery cab." <br /> <br /> Reports vary on whether Biden was in the motorcade at the time, with the <i>New York Post</i><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/several_cops_hurt_in_joe_biden_motorcade_KDF60KBidd66CVtQoxOSWM"> claiming he was</a> and NBC New York reporting that he was not.<br /> <br /> Reached for comment, an NYPD detective said that three people were injured in the collision.<br /> <br /> This is the third car accident involving Biden's motorcade or security detail in less than a week. On November 11th, a pedestrian was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/11/bidens-motorcade-strikes_n_354400.html">struck and killed</a> by two Secret Service employees in Temple Hills, MD. In another incident yesterday, a sheriff's deputy was <a href="http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/abqnewseeker-mainmenu-39/17073-breaking-biden-escort-involved-in-wreck.html">hit by a car</a> while escorting Biden's motorcade in New Mexico.<br /> <br /> In 1972 Biden's wife Neilia and 13-month-old daughter Naomi were killed in a tragic car accident.<br /> <br /> Biden is in town for an <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/11/17/oh_joe_car_in_vp_bidens_motorcade_i.php">appearance</a> on <i>The Daily Show</i>.<br /> <br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cVyKHUESDdU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cVyKHUESDdU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></center> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/joe-biden-car-crash">Joe Biden Car Crash</a>, <a href="/tag/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/joe-biden-car-accident">Joe Biden Car Accident</a>, <a href="/tag/joseph-biden">Joseph Biden</a>, <a href="/tag/west-side-joe-biden-car-crash">West Side Joe Biden Car Crash</a>, <a href="/tag/joe-biden-motorcade">Joe Biden Motorcade</a>, <a href="/tag/biden-motorcade-accident">Biden Motorcade Accident</a>, <a href="/tag/biden-motorcade">Biden Motorcade</a>, <a href="/tag/nypd-accident">Nypd Accident</a>, <a href="/new-york">New York News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/13/jon-stewart-discusses-lou_n_357019.html 2009-11-13T12:43:07Z 2009-11-13T12:43:07Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ At some point in the future, Jon Stewart may again have to endure the hour-long waterboarding of the soul that is the Sean Hannity show. But he'll never have to watch Lou Dobbs on CNN again, so upside! Thursday night, the <i>Daily Show</i> host brought his audience up to speed on Dobbs's decision to depart, saying, "Nothing says honest and straightforward better than a surprise announcement that you're quitting for reasons you can't explain to do something you can't discuss."<br /> <br /> So true! The only thing that differentiates Dobbs's "I quit" announcement from Sarah Palin's was that there were no woodland creatures squawking in the background. At least none that you could hear. Stewart would go on to make this obvious link.<br /> <br /> Dobbs, of course, has some vague plans to wander the earth, kickin' mad science and "contributing positively to a better understanding of the great issues of our day." <br /> <br /> Stewart responded: "So, in order to contribute positively to a better understanding of the issues of our day, you must leave your nightly television show, devoted to understanding the issues of our day. I actually agree with you on that one."<br /> <br /> [WATCH]<br /> <br /> <table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-12-2009/lou-dobbs-goes-rogue'>Lou Dobbs Goes Rogue<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255693' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/lou-dobbs">Lou Dobbs</a>, <a href="/tag/loudobbsquits">Lou-Dobbs-Quits</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/sarah-palin">Sarah Palin</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/13/stewart-responds-to-hanni_n_356702.html 2009-11-13T09:42:23Z 2009-11-13T09:42:23Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Earlier this week, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/11/jon-stewart-catches-sean_n_353447.html">Jon Stewart did a segment on Sean Hannity's health care protest coverage</a> in which he revealed that the Fox host had used footage of a different, larger event to make gathering look more impressive. The "Daily Show" went on to mock Fox by adding more video to Hannity's story, this time from Woodstock and the movie "300."<br /> <br /> The next night, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/12/hannity-jon-stewart-was-r_n_354887.html">Hannity apologized</a> saying Stewart was right. Stewart watched the show in anticipation of this moment, but after tons of tears and teddy-bear hangings, he revealed that "nothing's worth sitting through this." <br /> <br /> Stewart went on to praise Ramin Hedayati, the young producer who caught the Hannity flub. (Full disclosure I know Mr. Hedayati personally.) "He" came came out on stage to take a bow and despite having graduated college in 2002, Ramin looks surprisingly old and begged Stewart to kill him so he could stop watching Sean Hannity's show.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255694' width='570' height='452' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/hannity-apology-video">Hannity Apology Video</a>, <a href="/tag/stewart-hannity">Stewart Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/sean-hannity">Sean Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/stewart-on-hannity-apology">Stewart on Hannity Apology</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-sean-hannity">Jon Stewart Sean Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/hannity-stewart">Hannity Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/hannity-apology">Hannity Apology</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chez-pazienza/sean-hannitys-act-of-neo_b_355385.html 2009-11-12T12:49:29Z 2009-11-12T12:49:29Z Chez Pazienza http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chez-pazienza/ So last night, Fox News host Sean Hannity did something many will call shocking, some will call phony and insincere, and I'll call, at the very least, uncharacteristic of his network and those it speaks for: he apologized. <br /> <br /> At the end of his show, which as usual featured an hour of unrestrained Obama-bashing and GOP cheerleading, Hannity copped to something he in many ways had no choice but to cop to -- at least if he wanted FNC to be able to maintain the illusion that it's a legitimate news network. He admitted that Jon Stewart was right when, two nights ago, the host of <em>The Daily Show</em> pointed out that Hannity and Company had run video of a September Tea Bagger rally on Capitol Hill during a story about <em>last week's</em> Tea Bagger rally. The difference? Maybe 40 or 50 thousand people. Stewart's point was that it looked as if Hannity had used the old footage of the much bigger crowd to try to hype the numbers at the more recent protest; what made <em>The Daily Show</em> staff apparently think that Hannity's deception was deliberate -- aside from the fact that it would take a 6-year-old with Down Syndrome to mix up file footage with brand new video -- were the startlingly obvious differences in the images themselves: leaves still on the trees in the September clip, people in late-summer short sleeves versus mid-fall coats and scarves, etc.<br /> <br /> Regardless, Hannity now says he's sorry:<br /> <br /> <em>"Although it pains me to say this, Jon Stewart, Comedy Central, he was right. Now on his program last night, he mentioned that we had played some inccorect video on this program last week while talking about the Republican health care rally on Capitol Hill. He was correct, we screwed up. we aired some video of a rally in September along with a video from the actual event. It was an inadvertent mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. So, Mr. Stewart, you were right. We apologize. But by the way, we wanna thank you and all your writers for watching."</em><br /> <br /> You've almost gotta admire Hannity for managing to come off as both contrite and a smarmy little prick to the end. More on that in a minute, though. <br /> <br /> If you're asking yourself right now whether Sean Hannity really is sorry that his show ran a bad piece of video -- one that regardless of intent would've mislead the viewer into thinking that last week's Frootloopalooza was on the scale of September's -- you're obviously not familiar with the Fox News Channel or right-wing punditry in general these days. True, Hannity made the somewhat surprising and magnanimous gesture of admitting to an error and crediting the right's mortal enemies at <em>The Daily Show</em> for busting him on it. Contrast that with Rush Limbaugh's response a few weeks ago when confronted with the news that he'd just spent an entire radio show angrily railing against Barack Obama for writing a college thesis decrying the Constitution, when in reality the paper in question had never even existed -- the article he got the story from was nothing more than satire. Limbaugh didn't give a crap that he'd just made what any well-adjusted person would consider a monumental ass out of himself; "I don't care if these quotes are made up, I know Obama thinks it," was his jaw-droppingly defiant response. So yeah, the fact that simply admitting you fucked up is such a big deal isn't so much a nod to, say, Fox News's reputation for honesty and respectability as it is proof of how far we've lowered the bar when it comes to what we expect from the right's obstinate mouthpieces. <br /> <br /> Once again, Hannity pretty much <em>had</em> to man up because he may not have a responsibility to the truth but, unlike Limbaugh, he has a responsibility to the illusion. He couldn't <em>not</em> concede that the video his show aired was essentially a lie because no matter how much we all know that it's bullshit, Fox still goes to great lengths to bill itself as an unbiased news network. There are some things that are beyond the pale, even for a nominal news outlet that slants drastically in one direction: You can't run one piece of video and say it's something else.<br /> <br /> Did Sean Hannity's show really make an "inadvertent mistake?" Probably not. Like I said, something like that is a <em>very</em> hard mistake to make. Is Hannity really sorry for the screw-up? No, of course not; he's sorry he got caught, and his less-than-humble admission that he'd been busted -- right down to getting in that last little barb in his retraction, the one that's the trademark faux-genteel "fuck you" of all official Fox responses to critics -- is the tip of the cards that lets Fox acolytes know that while he's conceding this battle to the enemy, it's being done with a wink and crossed-fingers. <br /> <br /> Because in the end, Fox News still wins the war. <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/sean-hannity">Sean Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/fox-news-channel">Fox News Channel</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/11/jon-stewart-catches-sean_n_353447.html 2009-11-11T07:04:35Z 2009-11-11T07:04:35Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ The tea party protests continued last week, as Congresswoman Michele Bachmann held an anti-health-care-reform rally on the steps of the Capitol. While she estimated that 20,000-45,000 people attended the event, the Washington Post reported it was actually more like 10,000. <br /> <br /> Still, that is a sizable number of Americans exercising their right to free speech and assembly, and that warrants news coverage. But Sean Hannity and his team did more than cover the event. They not only inflated the number in attendance with their words, but actually used footage from a heavily-attended protest this summer to make this health care rally appear more popular. Hannity even pointed out that this was a huge crowd for a Thursday, when the protest footage they used was from a Saturday. <br /> <br /> Jon Stewart and his team caught this discrepancy and ran with it, pointing out neither the color of the leaves nor sky in the tacked-on video matched that of the actual footage. They went on to mock Fox by adding more video to the interview, this time from Woodstock and the movie "300."<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255662' width='540' height='452' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/sean-hannity-glenn-beck-footage">Sean Hannity Glenn Beck Footage</a>, <a href="/tag/sean-hannity-falsified-footage">Sean Hannity Falsified Footage</a>, <a href="/tag/sean-hannity">Sean Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-sean-hannity">Jon Stewart Sean Hannity</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-hannity">Jon Stewart Hannity</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/jon-stewart-mocks-use-of_n_351911.html 2009-11-10T07:51:55Z 2009-11-10T07:51:55Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ The House passed the health care bill 220 to 215 this weekend, but opponents did not sit quietly by and watch in the days and hours leading up to the vote. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann lead a rally against the bill at which a protester waved a giant sign comparing the slaughter of millions of Jews in the Holocaust to the president's attempt to bring health coverage to the uninsured. Stewart re-enacted this man's trip to Kinkos to create the sign:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"Hey, how's it going? I got this photo here of a German death camp. How big can you make it? I'm going to this rally on health care and I really want to equate the health care reform bill to the Holocaust. You see they're the same as Nazis, because the health care reform bill is Socialism and the Nazis were the National Socialist Party. You know the same way I'm a Communist cause I'm a Republican and there's the People's Republic of China."</blockquote><br /> <br /> But the use of props didn't end outside the House. No, the venerable Ms. Bachmann used a Hawaiian lei, made by god, to argue that this bill kills freedom, while Representative John Shadegg used a baby to argue that this bill kills freedom.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/hUqAUBH6vPfAQvuiG5gz9w/60/521/i465"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/hUqAUBH6vPfAQvuiG5gz9w/60/521/i465" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p><br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/health-care-bill">Health Care Bill</a>, <a href="/tag/health-care-reform">Health Care Reform</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-health-care">Jon Stewart Health Care</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/jon-stewart-does-glenn-be_n_348129.html 2009-11-06T07:39:31Z 2009-11-06T07:39:31Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ We knew Jon Stewart was a talented comedian, but until last night we didn't know he had missed his true calling: Being Glenn Beck. Yes, the "Daily Show" host spent an entire segment acting like, talking like, crying like, dancing like, and gesticulating like Glenn Beck. He was inspired by the fact that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/glenn-beck-hospitalized-w_n_346212.html">Beck recently had his appendix removed</a> to create the 11/3 project--taking America back to a time before Beck lost his vestigial organ. <br /> <br /> "Apparently the medicine that was good enough for our founding fathers is now considered politically or medically incorrect," Stewart said employing both air quotes and crazy voice registers that left the viewer wondering who and what he was quoting. "I'm not saying this is a plot by Hitler to steal Glenn Beck from all of us internal organ by internal organ by internal organ and then reprogram him to use as a weapon. But isn't it fascinating that I'm the only one with the courage to ask these questions?" He proceeded to jump up from his seat and run over to a chalk board that had the human anatomy scrawled on it alongside Che, acorns and the Russian flag. It only got better from there.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-5-2009/the-11-3-project'>The 11/3 Project<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:254892' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/11-3-project">11 3 Project</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-glenn-beck">Jon Stewart Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/glenn-beck">Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-glenn-beck-impression">Jon Stewart Glenn Beck Impression</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-does-glenn-beck">Jon Stewart Does Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/john-stewart-glenn-beck">John Stewart Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-glenn-beck">Daily Show Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/glenn-beck-jon-stewart">Glenn Beck Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-as-glenn-beck">Jon Stewart as Glenn Beck</a>, <a href="/tag/john-stewart-glenn-beck-impression">John Stewart Glenn Beck Impression</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-glen-beck">Jon Stewart Glen Beck</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/jon-stewart-revels-in-ina_n_345103.html 2009-11-04T08:59:57Z 2009-11-04T08:59:57Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ The 2009 elections that have been dominating cable news coverage of late consisted of two gubernatorial races and two congressional seats. Of course, every race is important and deserves coverage but the hyperbole which reporters, anchors and pundits have employed claiming these races are referendums on the president and his policies, and predictors of the 2008, 2010 and 2012 elections caused Jon Stewart to take exception.<br /> <br /> He focused specifically on New York's 23rd District race in which Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava was undermined by her own party mostly because she supports gay marriage, abortion rights and has a close relationships with leading labor officials. Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, Michele Bachmann, Fred Thompson, Steve Forbes, and more decided to support third party candidate Doug Hoffman who is much more conservative. The media took this race and ran with it, asking over and over again if this race will define the GOP for years and years to come, prompting Stewart to ask, "Might the media, with really very few other elections to cover, be stuffing one hundred thousand pounds of their bullshit into District 23's five-pound bag?"<br /> <br /> He went on to skewer CNN for its inane panels, and convene his own group of pundits to speculate about what he might ask them tomorrow.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-3-2009/indecision-2009---reindecision-2008-and-beyond'>Indecision 2009 - Reindecision 2008 And Beyond<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:254850' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/ny-23">NY 23</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-indecision">Jon Stewart Indecision</a>, <a href="/tag/john-oliver">John Oliver</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/aasif-mandvi">Aasif Mandvi</a>, <a href="/tag/cnn">Cnn</a>, <a href="/tag/indecision-2009">Indecision 2009</a>, <a href="/tag/samantha-bee">Samantha Bee</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maegan-carberry/how-jon-stewart-killed-ba_b_344873.html 2009-11-04T02:11:41Z 2009-11-04T02:11:41Z Maegan Carberry http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maegan-carberry/ Apparently, losses yesterday in New Jersey and Virginia mean that the Progressive Majority James Carville predicted -- built a year ago on the backs of Obama's zealous Facebooking young voters -- has nose dived one year after the country's historic election. For those who don't put much weight, however, on the traditional rules of the game: It's clear that as a country we've returned to the pre-2008 narrative, despite <a href="http://awe.sm/6DHa ">compelling examples from countless young activists</a> that grassroots-netroots organizing persists. <br /> <br /> What has changed is the communications model that surrounds our efforts. If rogue viral video bloggers and Iowa-embedded tweeters led the news cycle in 2008, the MSM is back in 2009. The Obama administration, despite its hipster Flickr feed and weekly YouTube address, has presented a television-driven strategy, ceding a great deal of its street cred with the president's digital Millennial generation base. <br /> <br /> Who fills this gap? Beyond apathetic conjecture, it's been up to Jon Stewart and FunnyOrDie.com to keep the kids engaged. Real journalists and concerned academics often scoff at this 'infotainment' model, but story telling of this nature tends to resonate. <br /> <br /> On Sunday I gathered together a few of my colleagues who work in the infotainment space to discuss the role their craft has played and will continue to play in the growing momentum of the generation's political coming-of-age. Check out the panel discussion, which took place at <a href="http://www.livingliberally.com">Living Liberally</a>'s The Tank, featuring <a href="http://www.baratunde.com">Baratunde Thurston</a> (<em>The Onion</em>, Jack & Jill Politics), <a href="http://katiehalper.com">Katie Halper</a> (Huffington Post), <a href="http://www.gocause.org">Matt Hooper</a> ("Life is Cause"), <a href="http://twitter.com/michaelskolnik">Michael Skolnik</a> (GlobalGrind.com) and moderated by <a href="http://www.arimelber.com">Ari Melber</a> (<em>The Nation</em>). <br /> <br /> <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7427369&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7427369&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/7427369">INFOTAINMENT POLITICS IN THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1891122">Matt Hooper</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /> <br /> Obviously it would be crass for the White House to operate on the same level as College Humor. However, it would be exciting to see the ground-breaking Obama new media team make an effort to push the boundaries in this realm of their strategy. <br /> <br /> Of course, the onus is also on members of the generation to embrace our entrepreneurial spirit and initiate from within the types of communications that will further our issues. We can't expect hand-holding from our fearless leaders, especially when we are often the experts in these emerging mediums.<br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/obama-won-one-year-ago_b_344144.html 2009-11-03T15:41:08Z 2009-11-03T15:41:08Z Greg Mitchell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/ Yes, Barack Obama ended up beating John McCain rather easily one year ago, but Stephen Colbert didn't stay in the race for the White House or Obama could have really been in trouble (for a minute or two, anyway). So on this anniversary day, allow me to recall Colbert's tentative entry into the 2008 race and what might-have-been. <br /> <br /> Remember, Obama did not start surging until Colbert suddenly pulled out of the race for the White House -- or was booted out. And recall that Colbert ended up pulling out of the primaries despite topping Bill Richardson and closing in on Joe Biden in one national poll. Maybe if he'd stay in it would be Vice President Colbert today.<br /> <br /> He had kicked it off during an appearance on Larry King's show in October 2007 to promote his new book,<em> I Am America (And So Can You)</em>. The Comedy Central star was accused by the host of using the book as a platform to run for president. Colbert happily confirmed this, saying that he would likely seek the nomination from both parties. When King said this was a "cop out," Colbert said that it actually demonstrated true "courage" because "I could lose twice."<br /> <br /> Likely he would launch his grassroots crusade in his native state, South Carolina, as a "favorite son." Colbert refused to knock any of his competitors, but did allow that Fred Thompson's campaign slogan should be, "Do Not Disturb." He pointed out that Mike Huckabee had already offered him the veep spot if the former Arkansas governor got the GOP nomination.<br /> <br /> Soon, a major South Carolina public TV station offered Colbert airtime to officially announce his candidacy. The Colbert bump kept growing when, on October 14, Maureen Dowd turned over her <em>New York Times</em> column to him for the day. Colbert revealed, "While my hat is not presently in the ring, I should also point out that it is not on my head. So where's that hat?"<br /> <br /> Keeping nothing under his missing hat, he went on to describe his platform. On gender: "The sooner we accept the basic differences between men and women, the sooner we can stop arguing about it and start having sex." On race: "While skin and race are often synonymous, skin cleansing is good, race cleansing is bad." On the elderly: "They look like lizards."<br /> <br /> And finally: "I don't intend to tease you for weeks the way Newt Gingrich did, saying that if his supporters raised $30 million, he would run for president. I would run for $15 million. Cash. Nevertheless, I am not ready to announce yet -- even though it's clear that the voters are desperate for a white, male, middle-aged, Jesus-trumpeting alternative."<br /> <br /> Two nights later, after nearly a solid week of dropping hints, Colbert did find, and throw, his hat in the ring. On his own show, <em>The Colbert Report</em>, with balloons falling, he screamed, 'Yes, I'm doing it!" Then he welcomed CBS political analyst Jeff Greenfield to analyze his impact on the race "in the past three minutes."<br /> <br /> Greenfield said it was "astounding."<br /> <br /> Colbert took out one of the "Colbert/Stewart 2008" bumper stickers that have circulated for awhile and cut out the Stewart part, saying that he might replace Jon Stewart as a possible vice president with someone named "Huckabee" or even "Putin." To finance his campaign, he threatened to sell advertising patches on his suit, like a NASCAR driver.<br /> <br /> Questions quickly rose about his ballot status in South Carolina but the situation there appeared murky. Stewart signed a contract extension for his <em>Daily Show</em>, explaining, "I love doing this show... I look forward to using this extension to having great fun at President Colbert's expense."<br /> <br /> Stephen, in fact, was already threatening to overtake the lesser-rans on the Democratic side. The Public Opinion Strategies national poll in mid-October found him drawing 2.3 percent in the Democratic race. This put him ahead of Richardson (2.1 percent) and Dennis Kucininch (2.1). He trailed Biden by just a tad (the future Veep polled 2.7 percent).<br /> <br /> A week later a Rasmussen poll showed that his surge was continuing. In a projected three-way context against frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani he was pulling 13% of the vote (28% of the 18-to-29 demo). At E&P we predicted: "If he keeps gaining over 10% a week, Colbert should be leading the field before November is out."<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, a Facebook group titled "1,000,000 Strong For Stephen T. Colbert" had attracted more than 880,000 members in just over a week -- making it the most popular political group on Facebook by far. And that was before he, improbably, appeared on <em>Meet the Press</em> with Tim Russert on October 21. From the transcript:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>RUSSERT: You've thought this through.<br /> <br /> <br /> COLBERT: That's a generous estimation. Thank you.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: The press reaction to your announcement has been mixed. Here's one headline.<br /> <br /> COLBERT: OK.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: This was on Thursday. "Electile Dysfunction: Colbert Running For President."<br /> <br /> COLBERT: That's good work. That's good work.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: Are they, are they questioning, shall we say, your stamina?<br /> <br /> COLBERT: I don't know. I think a lot of people are asking whether -- they say is this, is this real, you know? And to which I would say to everybody, this is not a dream, OK? You're not going to wake up from this, OK? I'm, I'm, I'm far realer than Sam Brownback, let me put it that way.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: Would you consider Senator Larry Craig as your running mate?<br /> <br /> COLBERT: I would.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: Have you had conversations with him?<br /> <br /> COLBERT: Define conversation.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: Have you spoken to him?<br /> <br /> COLBERT: No, no.<br /> <br /> RUSSERT: Have you met with him? Have you been in the same room together?<br /> <br /> COLBERT: Sorry, my lawyer's telling me to say no more.</blockquote><br /> <br /> Colbert visited Columbia, S.C. and received the key to the city from the mayor on "Stephen Colbert Day." The local newspaper, <em>The State</em>, published a side-by-side comparison of its two native son candidates, Colbert and John Edwards. The latter's hair was described as "naturally fluffy" while Colbert's was "very stiff." Colbert, perhaps angered by that, was quoted saying of his opponent: "John Edwards left South Carolina when he was 1-year-old. He had his chance. Saying his parents moved him -- that's the easy answer."<br /> <br /> But just as momentum was building uncontrollably in early November, the state's Democratic party ruled that he was not "viable" enough to be awarded a spot on the ballot. Colbert was reduced to citing -- and showing on the screen -- an article in <em>E&P</em> to prove that he was, indeed, not merely a joke candidate for president. The audience roared its approval of E&P as potential kingmaker.<br /> <br /> Too bad, he said, he wouldn't get a chance to run, waving a thick file of papers -- he had an exit strategy for Iraq all mapped out.<br /> <br /> <em>Greg Mitchell is editor of </em>Editor & Publisher. <em>His book, </em>Why Obama Won, <em>was the first look at the entire 2008 campaign from a progressive perspective.</em><br /> <br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/2008-campaign">2008 Campaign</a>, <a href="/tag/stephen-colbert">Stephen Colbert</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="/tag/one-year-later">One Year Later</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/daily-show-beat-meet-the_n_343923.html 2009-11-03T13:11:57Z 2009-11-03T13:11:57Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Here's an excellent observation from Mediaite's Rachel Sklar, <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/print/tillman-mcchrystal-controversy-jon-stewart-had-it-first/">who reminds us that</a> while the "big news to come out of Meet The Press this week has been author Jon Krakauer's assertion that General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, was implicated in the cover-up about the death of Pat Tillman," that big news had already been more or less broken by Jon Stewart and <i>The Daily Show</i>:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>Krakauer was on [The Daily Show] over a month ago. It's surprising that this one flew under the radar, given how many sharp-eyed journalists, bloggers and media-watchers tune into the Daily Show, and regularly report on the news it makes. But it can and does happen, and happened here. What this says about Krakauer, McChrystal and his book is no different than what was picked up from Meet The Press. But what this says about so-called 'fake' news is, keep your eye on it. People with important things to say make a point of trying to say them on the Daily Show. So don't fall asleep before the interview.</blockquote><br /> <br /> All of that is absolutely right, and it's worth pointing out that Stewart conducted <em>his</em> interview with a greater awareness of where the "news" is in an interview with Jon Krakauer. That meant that <i>Daily Show</i> viewers got an interview that began with the Pat Tillman story and went on for six probing minutes. Meanwhile, at <i>Meet The Press</i>, Krakauer sat on the set like window dressing, and the subject of Pat Tillman wasn't broached until the show's final sequence of questions. Why have him on then?<br /> <br /> <blockquote>GREGORY: Jon Krakauer, I want to get to a key element of your book, "Where Men Win Glory," about Pat Tillman and how it relates to this current conversation about Afghanistan. Because it does involve General Stanley McChrystal, who was obviously critical on the stage now and was critical in the Tillman story of well. As a reminder, if you look at pictures of Pat Tillman, the NFL star with the Arizona Cardinals, decides to enlist in the Army, serves in the Rangers after 9/11. This was certainly a big story when he enlisted. And at the time, General McChrystal was actually head of Special Operations command. So Pat Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident and ultimately won the Silver Star, and that's what you focus on in the book and in a subsequent piece that you wrote for The Daily Beast. And here's what you wrote: "An October 5 Newsweek article [said, about General McChrystal] that `he has great political skills; he couldn't have risen to his current position without them. But he definitely does not see himself as the sort of military man who would compromise his principles to do the politically convenient thing.' In the week after Tillman was killed, however, this is precisely what McChrystal appears to have done when he administered a fraudulent medical" -- excuse me -- "a fraudulent medal recommendation" -- we're talking about the Silver Star -- "and submitted it to the secretary of the Army, thereby concealing the cause of Tillman's death." Briefly explain what happened.<br /> <br /> <br /> MR. KRAKAUER: The--after Tillman died, the most important thing to know is that within--instantly, within 24 hours certainly, everybody on the ground, everyone intimately involved knew it was friendly fire. There's never any doubt it was friendly fire. McChrystal was told within 24 hours it was friendly fire. Also, immediately they started this paperwork to give Tillman a Silver Star. And the Silver Star ended up being at the center of the cover-up. So McChrystal -- Tillman faced this devastating fire from his own guys, and he tried to protect a young private by exposing himself to this, this fire. That's why he was killed and the private wasn't. Without friendly fire there's no valor, there's no Silver Star. There was no enemy fire, yet McChrystal authored, he closely supervised over a number of days this fraudulent medal recommendation that talked about devastating enemy fire.<br /> <br /> GREGORY: And that's the important piece of it. And, and he actually testified earlier this year before the Senate, and this is what he said about it.<br /> <br /> (Videotape, June 2, 2009)<br /> <br /> LT. GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL: Now, what happens, in retrospect, is--and I would do this differently if I had the chance again--in retrospect they look contradictory, because we sent a Silver Star that was not well-written. And although I went through the process, I will tell you now I didn't review the citation well enough to capture--or I didn't catch that if you read it you could imply that it was not friendly fire.<br /> <br /> GREGORY: Even those who were critical of him and the Army say they don't think he willfully deceived anyone.<br /> <br /> MR. KRAKAUER: That's correct. He, he just said now he didn't read this hugely important document about the most famous soldier in the military. He didn't read it carefully enough to notice that it talked about enemy fire instead of friendly fire? That's preposterous. That, that's not believable.<br /> <br /> GREGORY: All right, part of this debate. Thank you all very much.</blockquote><br /> <br /> All part of the debate! <a href="http://twitter.com/davidgregory/statuses/5395254555">But not a part deemed important enough to televise</a>.<br /> <br /> Krakauer did get to respond to other matters on <i>Meet The Press</i> and, in one instance uttered a line that was pure Beltway anathema when he suggested that the answer to the War in Afghanistan wasn't an immediate, Kagan-style troop surge:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>GREGORY: And, Jon, the fear that you hear among critics of the president, or even if they're not critics, they're just skeptical of the policy, is that he'll ultimately choose a half measure, which they believe would be deadly in the circumstance.<br /> <br /> <br /> MR. KRAKAUER: I don't, I don't agree with that. I mean, there's a, there's a huge range of options between pulling out and bringing in 40,000 or 85,000 troops. I mean, 40,000 isn't going to be enough to make much of a difference. Most--I think most people would agree to that. There's a whole, there's a whole range, and, and so I think you have to be careful of that black or white, either/or, all or nothing thing.</blockquote><br /> <br /> RELATED:<br /> <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/print/tillman-mcchrystal-controversy-jon-stewart-had-it-first/">Tillman-McChrystal Controversy? Jon Stewart Had It First</a> [Mediaite]<br /> <br /> WATCH:<br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-30-2009/jon-krakauer'>Jon Krakauer<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:250807' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em><br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/meet-the-press">Meet the Press</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/david-gregory">David Gregory</a>, <a href="/tag/war-in-afghanistan">War in Afghanistan</a>, <a href="/tag/pat-tillman">Pat Tillman</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-krakauer">Jon Krakauer</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/daily-show-asks-which-cit_n_343369.html 2009-11-03T07:51:35Z 2009-11-03T07:51:35Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ As the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies this week, the Eagles were crushing the Giants. This unprecedented moment in the New York/Philadelphia rivalry made the folks at the "Daily Show" ask: Which fans are the douchiest? Jason Jones and John Oliver were there as the sports supporters battled it out for the title. Clad in the ugliest suits anyone has ever seen, they ran down the criteria of being a douche: excessive drinking, excessive cursing, gay-bashing opponents, and defiling the icons of opponents.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br><br><br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-2-2009/clash-of-the-cretins'>Clash of the Cretins<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253755' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/clash-of-the-cretins">Clash of the Cretins</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/phillies-yankees">Phillies Yankees</a>, <a href="/tag/new-york">New York</a>, <a href="/tag/philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-philly">Daily Show Philly</a>, <a href="/tag/john-oliver">John Oliver</a>, <a href="/tag/jason-jones">Jason Jones</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-new-york-philly">Daily Show New York Philly</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-douchiest-fans">Daily Show Douchiest Fans</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/valerie-jarrett-bungles-f_n_340504.html 2009-10-30T16:09:53Z 2009-10-30T16:09:53Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ One of the things that's getting little discussion from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/jon-stewart-takes-on-war_n_339788.html">Jon Stewart's penetrating take-down of Fox News yesterday night</a>, is the way in which White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, when asked to compare Fox News to MSNBC, basically fumbled the exchange.<br /> <br /> <blockquote>Interviewer: Do you think FOX News is biased?<br /> <br /> <br /> Valerie Jarrett: Well of course they're biased, of course they are...<br /> <br /> Interviewer: Do you also think MSNBC is biased?<br /> <br /> Jarrett: Well, you know what, this is, this is the thing, I don't want, actually, I don't want to just generalize all FOX is biased, or another station is biased...</blockquote><br /> <br /> But that's silly! Valerie Jarrett <i>definitely</i> wants to generalize about the biases of Fox. And why not? As Stewart points out, "Just say of course MSNBC is biased, but they agree with us! So we're not fighting with them!"<br /> <br /> Of course, that's a bit of an oversimplification. Joe Scarborough is a former GOP Congressman-turned-MSNBC host who frequently objects to the Obama administration. Dylan Ratigan, formerly of CNBC, frequently objects to the Obama administration and Democrats for their failures to ameliorate the ills of the financial markets. Ed Schultz is a liberal firebrand who frequently calls out the Obama administration for abandoning the Democratic party base. Rachel Maddow is a beloved figure in liberal circles, yet here she is, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Z2ac34RDI">criticizing the Obama administration on detainee policy</a>. Here she is again, criticizing the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozKF7HHNu94">Obama administration on how they handled the financial crisis</a>.<br /> <br /> All of which demonstrates a distinction between MSNBC and Fox that <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/kausfiles/archive/2009/10/20/what-s-your-beef-with-fox-mr-dem-basher.aspx">Mickey Kaus got exactly right</a> when this "war on Fox" first bloomed (emphasis from the original):<br /> <br /> <blockquote>I guess there are two distinct axes on which you can judge press organizations--actually, there are many more than two (see below), but two are important here: <b>1) Neutrality</b>--Are they attempting to be "objective," trying to serve the "public interest" in some balanced way, or are they ideologically (or otherwise) driven in a way that inevitably colors their coverage--what topics they pick, what 'experts' they rely on, etc. <b>2) Independence</b>--Whether they are biased or generally neutral, can somebody--a political party, a Mafia family, a government-- tell them what to do?<br /> <br /> <br /> I think it's pretty clear MSNBC and the NYT and Breitbart.tv are not neutral. They all have an agenda and they pursue it. But they are independent. The Obama White House can't tell Bill Keller what to do. They can't tell Keith Olbermann what to do. (They can suck up to him, and it will probably work, but that's a different issue.) Breitbart is for sure independent--I can't see anyone telling him what to do.<br /> <br /> I think <b>Fox is also not neutral (which, again, doesn't bother me) but it's also not independent (which does)</b>. This isn't because it's owned by Rupert Murdoch--moguls are, typically among the more independent sorts. It's because it's run by Roger Ailes. I have zero faith that Ailes is independent of the Republican party or, specifically, those Republicans who have occupied the White House recently--the Bushes. As I said, I think if Karl Rove called Ailes in 2003 and said "We don't want so much coverage of X" it's extremely likely that X would not be covered on Fox. A ... suggestive example of Fox's loyalty is the debate on immigration, in which Ailes' network initially seemed to try valiantly--against the beliefs of most of its audience--to push the Bush White House line in favor of "comprehensive" legalization (while brushing aside its viewers' views).</blockquote><br /> <br /> Now, I have to imagine that Kaus views Stewart's segment from last night as a rather elegant demonstration of his point -- party hack talking points are absorbed by Fox and opined upon. Those opinions become reported news. The reported news is re-advanced by the opinion meisters as confirmation of the validity of their opinions. The reheated opinions attract more newsy attention. Then they throw a Tea Party, and voila, the talking point is out in the world, from the GOP's brain to the lips of protesters, laundered and amplified by Fox's Party-cle accelerator. Now, if they wanted to, MSNBC could make a series of editorial decisions and build a set of mechanisms to mimic this sort of thing, but as it stands right now, nothing of this kind is happening there.<br /> <br /> Going forward, whenever Valerie Jarrett is asked what makes Fox different from MSNBC, she can simply say, "What Jon Stewart said." Stewart has basically done her a solid (in a strictly non-neutral but independent way) by pointing out what he pointed out. (And <i>The Daily Show</i> again demonstrates their dizzying capacity to produce razor-sharp, well-researched critiques. REAL TALK: their capability in this regard far exceeds the White House's own.) But let's face it, Jarrett should have had a clear and concise answer at the ready. How could the question, comparing Fox to MSNBC <i>not have been anticipated</i> from Jump Street? All of this basically reiterates to me that the White House decided to do battle with Fox without much of an idea about what they were going to do once they let slip the dogs of war.<br /> <br /> <em>[Would you like to <a href="http://twitter.com/dceiver">follow me on Twitter</a>? Because why not? Also, please send tips to <a href="mailto:tv@huffingtonpost.com">tv@huffingtonpost.com</a> -- learn more about our media monitoring project <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/join-huffposts-media-moni_n_173136.html">here</a>.]</em><br /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/msnbc">Msnbc</a>, <a href="/tag/for-fox-sake">For Fox Sake</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/media-criticism">Media Criticism</a>, <a href="/tag/valerie-jarrett">Valerie Jarrett</a>, <a href="/tag/fox-news">Fox News</a>, <a href="/tag/waronfox">War-on-Fox</a>, <a href="/tag/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="/tag/mickey-kaus">Mickey Kaus</a>, <a href="/media">Media News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/jon-stewart-takes-on-war_n_339788.html 2009-10-30T09:55:03Z 2009-10-30T09:55:03Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Jon Stewart devoted half his show last night to the Fox News/Obama "war" sparked either by White House Communication Director Anita Dunn or the cable network's constant attacks on the president, depending on how you see it. The former accused Fox of acting on behalf of the Republican party, the latter accused the president of being Stalin. Apples and oranges.<br /> <br /> Fox News Senior Vice President Michael Clemente struck back at the White House after Dunn's remark saying, "It's astounding the White House cannot distinguish between news and opinion programming. It seems self-serving on their part." (Full disclosure: I worked for Clemente at ABC News.) Fox went on to define its news hours as 9am-4pm & 6-8pm, parameters which exclude Cavuto, O'Reilly, Fox & Friends crew, Glenn Beck, Greta Van Susteren, and Sean Hannity from the news category and leave a bunch of people you've never heard of.<br /> <br /> Stewart not only skewered Fox for this defense and editorializing during their designated news hours, but also took on the Obama administration for saying they are speaking "truth to power" by fighting with Fox. Stewart pointed out that they are in fact the power: "It's your job to f*ck up power, it's Fox's job to f*ck up truth."<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-29-2009/for-fox-sake-'>For Fox Sake!<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253738' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/for-fox-sake">For Fox Sake</a>, <a href="/tag/fox-news">Fox News</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="/tag/michael-clemente">Michael Clemente</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/idaily-showi-tackles-wall_n_338684.html 2009-10-29T13:10:51Z 2009-10-29T13:10:51Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Last night, <em>The Daily Show's</em> John Hodgman took on Wall Street pay in his "You're Welcome" segment. Though, Hodgman predicted that "no meaningful changes whatsoever," will come to Wall Street, he did point out that the financial sector has an PR problem on its hands. <br /> <br /> Hodgman's suggestions to improve Wall Street's image include: renaming CEOs "TLCEOs" (Tremendously Lucrative Chief Executive Officers), and executive wardrobe changes (like plaid hunting gear and sports jerseys) to make them more appealing to, "a simple commoner." <br /> <br /> Then, there's a hilarious suggestion that captains of industry should become actual sea captains, and, of course, a new "Angry Mob" credit card.<br /> <br /> WATCH: <br /> <br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-28-2009/you-re-welcome---wall-street-reform'>You're Welcome - Wall Street Reform<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253728' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br /> </br><br /> <br /> <b>Get HuffPost Business On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/HuffPost-Business/57059743374?ref=nf">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffBusiness"> Twitter</a>!</b> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/wall-street-crisis">Wall Street Crisis</a>, <a href="/tag/youre-welcome">You&#039;re Welcome</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/wall-street">Wall Street</a>, <a href="/tag/john-hodgman">John Hodgman</a>, <a href="/business">Business News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/jon-stewart-takes-on-medi_n_338113.html 2009-10-29T08:44:24Z 2009-10-29T08:44:24Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ After much debate and speculation, after every cable news network declared it dead one point or another, Senator Harry Reid announced that a public option would be included in the Senate health care reform bill, allowing millions of Americans to purchase government-run insurance. <br /> <br /> Despite the fact that <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/27/2109332.aspx">support for a public option is at an all time high</a> with nearly half of the country in favor of it, cable news reporters and politicians on both sides of the aisle continue to say that the Senate has caved to the "left wing" by including the public option. Joe Lieberman is so disgusted by the idea that he said he will join the Republicans if they filibuster the bill, denying the Dems the 60-vote super majority needed to quash a filibuster. <br /> <br /> Jon Stewart took on both the media and Senator Lieberman last night saying, "You know what's worse than being sick and not having health insurance? Having to sit through the Lieberman filibuster that kept it from you."<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br><br><br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-28-2009/public-option-limited'>Public Option Limited<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253727' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/public-option-limited">Public Option Limited</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/public-option">Public Option</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/joe-lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-joe-lieberman">Daily Show Joe Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show-public-option">Daily Show Public Option</a>, <a href="/tag/lieberman">Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/senator-lieberman">Senator Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-lieberman">Jon Stewart Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart-joe-lieberman">Jon Stewart Joe Lieberman</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-matlack/shock-barack-trick-or-tre_b_336688.html 2009-10-28T14:30:42Z 2009-10-28T14:30:42Z Tom Matlack http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-matlack/ So while most people are worried about health care, the growing conflict in Afghanistan, and the continued recession, two zany guys are still thinking about the stupidity of Detroit's CEO taking private jets to the Capital to ask for billions of dollars.<br /> <br /> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2152" title="Picture 1" src="http://www.goodmenbook.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Picture-1.png" alt="Picture 1" width="418" height="233" /></p><br /> <br /> Two guys with neck tats, a twenty, and a laptop set off on their Brammo electric scooters on a mission to deliver our President the answer to oil dependence, and perhaps our oil-related wars, on a silver-platter...or a couple of nifty electric scooters actually. They rode their 21st century vehicles that same route taken by the fat cats but instead of jet fuel they depended on a <a href="http://www.shockingbarack.com">wickedly funny blog</a> to supply couches to surf on and sockets to plug into en route.<br /> <br /> Its kind of like <em>Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</em> meets <em>The Daily Show</em>. A serious mission with a sense of humor and adventure. There's plenty of digression into the folks our boys meet along the way, dumb car facts, and sofa surfing trivia.<br /> <br /> But in the end they want to deliver their scooters to the President at the White House. Only one problem: apparently he wasn't expecting company.<br /> <br /> Ultimately the guys resort to<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRxwoU18lys&feature=player_embedded"> ringing the White House door bell</a> with some shocking results: <br /> <br /> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SRxwoU18lys&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SRxwoU18lys&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> <br></br><br /> <br /> <blockquote>After what seemed like an eternity, a stone-faced Secret Service officer emerged from the booth and strode toward us. This was it. Prison. Waterboarding. Sensory deprivation. But when the officer extended his hand, it wasn't holding a taser; instead he gave us a phone number to call, and said someone would be right out. And moments later, to our disbelief, we were greeted outside the gates by an actual White House attache, a friendly young woman in a gray business suit who thanked us for our offer, and immediately returned us to the bureaucratic vortex by suggesting we call the White House Press Office and ask THEM if they could help us. Hey, at this point we were so relieved not to be in Guantanamo Bay that we actually felt blessed by the magnanimity of the gesture. Anyway, it all proved to be another dead end, but we're not beaten yet.</blockquote> <br /> <br /> Our protagonists need your help. If you know Barack will you give him a call on the red phone and ask him to meet these poor, funny, tired gen-Xers at the gate? If you don't know Barack personally but still think the mission noble will you call or write the White House to ask our Pres to let the boys in? After all, we own the joint.<br /> <br /> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2148" title="bike" src="http://www.goodmenbook.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/bike.jpg" alt="bike" width="385" height="513" /> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/oil">Oil</a>, <a href="/tag/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="/tag/electric-cars">Electric Cars</a>, <a href="/tag/shocking-barack">Shocking Barack</a>, <a href="/tag/electric-scooter">Electric Scooter</a>, <a href="/tag/shocking-barack-bloggers">Shocking Barack Bloggers</a>, <a href="/tag/scooter">Scooter</a>, <a href="/tag/the-daily-show">The Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/health-care">Health Care</a>, <a href="/tag/auto-executives">Auto Executives</a>, <a href="/tag/brammo">Brammo</a>, <a href="/tag/detroit">Detroit</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/28/daily-show-investigates-b_n_336576.html 2009-10-28T08:44:44Z 2009-10-28T08:44:44Z The Huffington Post News Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/ Do you need some motivation to get your career on track? George W. Bush can help! He can tell you all the ways he worked his way up from nothing to attend the finest universities and go on to become commander-in-chief. Oh, that's not true you say? He grew up in a powerful and connected family with deep pockets? Well, might as well go see him speak anyway as it will only cost you $19, and that's for your entire office.<br /> <br><br /> <strong>WATCH:</strong><br /> <br><br><br /> <center><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-october-27-2009/george-w--bush-hits-the-lecture-circuit'>George W. Bush Hits the Lecture Circuit<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253712' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /> <br><br /> <center><p style="font-size:large;"><em>Get HuffPost Comedy On <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HuffPost-Comedy-236/58336723679?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/HuffPostComedy">Twitter!</a></em></p> <p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/bush-get-motivated">Bush Get Motivated</a>, <a href="/tag/daily-show">Daily Show</a>, <a href="/tag/jon-stewart">Jon Stewart</a>, <a href="/tag/george-w-bush-motivational-speaker">George W. Bush Motivational Speaker</a>, <a href="/tag/george-w-bush">George W. Bush</a>, <a href="/comedy">Comedy News</a></p>