Comments on: Senator challenges punk to debate http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/ A regular old blog Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:51:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Richard http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-323705 Richard Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:52:30 +0000 http://bennett.com/blog/index.php/archives/2006/07/28/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/#comment-323705 Stewart isn't in the same business as Leno and Letterman, as the content of his show (the few times that I've been able to watch it) is almost exclusively political. He's more or less a political cartoonist, while the others are general purpose entertainers. Political cartoonists are on the editorial page, where they hope to influence policy debates in one way or another. It's basic honesty to acknowledge that, but Stewart can't quite muster the courage to face up to what he is. Perhaps his defense is that his audience is too stoned to deal with policy in detail, so his humor is all they can handle while passing the bong. Stewart isn’t in the same business as Leno and Letterman, as the content of his show (the few times that I’ve been able to watch it) is almost exclusively political. He’s more or less a political cartoonist, while the others are general purpose entertainers. Political cartoonists are on the editorial page, where they hope to influence policy debates in one way or another.

It’s basic honesty to acknowledge that, but Stewart can’t quite muster the courage to face up to what he is. Perhaps his defense is that his audience is too stoned to deal with policy in detail, so his humor is all they can handle while passing the bong.

]]> By: Brian Aalap http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-323668 Brian Aalap Wed, 02 Aug 2006 04:43:23 +0000 http://bennett.com/blog/index.php/archives/2006/07/28/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/#comment-323668 Is Jay Leno (or Conan O'Brien, or David Letterman, or ... ) a political player on the basis that they interview politicians and criticize via humor? I don't think The Daily Show intends to be political in a way that you appropriate to it. It is on the Comedy Central channel and isn't meant to be consumed as political editorializing any more so than the other late night talk show hosts making fun of whomever so happens to embarrass themselves in the news. If you can't see the humor in his depiction of Ted Stevens, then I have to wonder why you would be entertaining yourself with a comedy show. It's supposed to be funny, no? Is Jay Leno (or Conan O’Brien, or David Letterman, or … ) a political player on the basis that they interview politicians and criticize via humor? I don’t think The Daily Show intends to be political in a way that you appropriate to it. It is on the Comedy Central channel and isn’t meant to be consumed as political editorializing any more so than the other late night talk show hosts making fun of whomever so happens to embarrass themselves in the news.

If you can’t see the humor in his depiction of Ted Stevens, then I have to wonder why you would be entertaining yourself with a comedy show. It’s supposed to be funny, no?

]]> By: Richard http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-323534 Richard Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:22:23 +0000 http://bennett.com/blog/index.php/archives/2006/07/28/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/#comment-323534 If he were honest, I'd have no complaint about him. Anybody and everybody can criticize the president of the United States without any substantial fear of reprisal, and many people do. If Stewart wants to pretend he's not a political player he should stop inviting politicians to appear on his show, and if he can't do that he should at least stop performing video fellatio on his idols among them. If he were honest, I’d have no complaint about him. Anybody and everybody can criticize the president of the United States without any substantial fear of reprisal, and many people do. If Stewart wants to pretend he’s not a political player he should stop inviting politicians to appear on his show, and if he can’t do that he should at least stop performing video fellatio on his idols among them.

]]> By: Mumon http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-323533 Mumon Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:14:02 +0000 http://bennett.com/blog/index.php/archives/2006/07/28/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/#comment-323533 Of course the role of the King's fool was to say things that the courtiers could not or would not say. So, no, Stewart's not a "serious" political comentator, just an honest one. Of course the role of the King’s fool was to say things that the courtiers could not or would not say.

So, no, Stewart’s not a “serious” political comentator, just an honest one.

]]> By: Richard http://bennett.com/blog/2006/07/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-323530 Richard Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:47:16 +0000 http://bennett.com/blog/index.php/archives/2006/07/28/senator-challenges-punk-to-debate/#comment-323530 But Mumon, Stewart claims he's not a serious political commentator, just a comedian. That's part of his criticism of Crossfire. So how can we praise him for doing what he says he doesn't do? But Mumon, Stewart claims he’s not a serious political commentator, just a comedian. That’s part of his criticism of Crossfire. So how can we praise him for doing what he says he doesn’t do?

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