Who saw the Daily Show tonight?

[paulcs]

I don't think Stewart was especially hard on Goldberg. This was nothing like the mugging he delivered to Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala on Crossfire. He certainly made it clear he disagreed with Goldberg, but he didn't make a colossal jackass out of him.

I wouldn't want to get into a debate with John Stewart. He's a media critic in his own right (with CNN a frequent target), he's very knowledgable, and he's very quick on his feet.

Paul

[schmosef]

I think Stewart's biggest asset is his ability to turn a phrase so quickly. Like you said Paul, he's very quick on his feet.

I missed that episode of Crossfire. I've heard about it and read a partial transcript, but I wish I'd seen it. I wonder if there's a video floating around the net.

The beginning of the second part of the Goldberg interview felt kind of fake to me; staged. As if Stewart felt bad for roasting Goldberg in the first part and they setup a rejoinder for him. Goldberg fumbled when delivering his line about criticising Conservative judges but he still got applause, as if on cue. It felt orchestrated, like Stewart was letting him win a point.

As the interview went on Goldberg seemed progressively frustrated. Early on he avoided using the “N” word. Then later, when he was frazzled, he used it.

I think that Stewart did get Goldberg’s point, but was trying to say that the coarseness of society doesn’t affect everyday lives the way that ending slavery did, ending segregation did, etc. Stewart was saying that the coarseness of society is less important than whether people are free, employed, secure, and have access to medical care, etc. And that Goldberg, an accomplished journalist, has the skills and integrity to really go after politicians that are hurting America; that he wasted his talent on going after Hollywood.

Basically, he told Goldberg that the subject of his book is beneath his abilities and that he should have gone after bigger fish.

I don’t know how I’d respond to that. I could agree and say I wasted my time. Or I could disagree and say that I’m not as good as Stewart thinks. Tough call.

[cjolley]

Chuck, I think you'd recognize him if you saw him...

Never heard of him.
Never seen him before.

But then, I don't watch sports either.

Go figure.

[Dr Mordrid]

Goldberg isn't "right wing" at all. In fact he's a Democrat, but one of the "old school" who feels that todays Dems and liberals in general have gone more than a bit over the top.

Dr. Mordrid

[schmosef]

Doc's assessment is spot on!

In fact, I was going to post something similar.

[schmosef]

The Daily Show will be on in 10 mins. I bet Stewart will make mention of last night.

Just enough time to put on some tea...

[Dr Mordrid]

PS I issue a challenge to Doc: Name one (just one) person to the left of far right that you don't consider to be an idiot or corrupt.

How about my top 10?

No particular order, save for #1 who I think was one of the greatest US Senators ever;

1. deceased now, but former NY Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The old boy would gag at what todays Dems are up to. Hillary Clinton taking over his seat was a definite step down.

2. Dem. pollster Pat Caddell

3. Dem. Congressman Harold Ford, 9th district Tennessee

4. Dem. Senator Evan Bayh of Illinois

5. Dem. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut

6. Dem. Congressman Charlie Stenholm, Texas

7. Dem. Congressman Adam Smith, Washington

8. Dem. Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico

9. former Dem. Senator Zell Miller, Georgia

10. Dem. Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota

They share one thing in common: generally they are intellectually honest, something that is sadly lacking in todays Democrat party leadership.

Now for something I've posted here before but you apparently don't remember or didn't register:

I WAS A DEMOCRAT FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS

In fact I participated in many of the civil rights marches of the 60's and worked in Sen. Bobby Kennedy's campaign in 1968. Like Bernie Goldberg my positions remained consistant while my party drifted towards insanity, starting with the 1972 candidacy of George McGovern.

The nominating process "reforms" McGovern and his ilk put in place after his monumental loss made sure that anyone to the right of Teddy Kennedy had no place in the party.

These changes, and their after effects, are the largest reasons why so many Democrats have been becoming independents and even Republicans. They didn't leave their party; their party left them.

Dr. Mordrid

[cjolley]

Hey Doc that's a pretty good list.
I might have quibbled about listing a dead man first but since it's Moynihan I'll let it pass and just say I agree.

Also, Zell Miller is a raving lunatic.

But why did you only list Democrats?

One reason could be that what you complain happened to the Democrats 30 years ago has now happened to the Republicans.
They have been taken over by the exstremists in the party.

I could make a list of 10 Republicans that I did not consider stupid or corrupt, but not one of them would be in the leadership of the party.

The closest would be McCain, and he's considered sort of the Republicans Pet Lefty by the leadership.

On topic:
There was an article in the paper about Bernard Goldberg today.
I almost read it, but decided my time would be better spent reading "Car Talk" to Becky.

[agallag]

Finally watched the Goldberg episode last night. It was a particularly good one. Thanks for the tip. Now that I've got my HTPC set up, I'll be recording all of them.

I missed that episode of Crossfire. I've heard about it and read a partial transcript, but I wish I'd seen it. I wonder if there's a video floating around the net.

I have a copy at home somewhere, I'll see if I can dig it up for you.

[schmosef]

Thanks so much agallag!

Jon Stewart destroyed Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson.

I used to like Cross-Fire quite a bit but when the primaries started for the Democratic nomination it turned into pure partisan hack theatre, just like Stewart said.

They used to tackle real issues about events around the world, but they reduced themselves to talking about garbage issues on the campaign trail.

Good for him!

I haven't watched the show in months but a friend told me that CNN has slated it to be cancelled and that the original hosts have already left.