Jon Stewart

[Pika78]

I'm assuming many of you saw/heard/read the recent Jon Stewart interview on The Axe Files, in which he was quite candid about his rather low opinion of Hillary. Now, I love Jon, and deeply miss his presence on The Daily Show. However, I have not always agreed with what he has said in the past (certain criticisms of Obama come immediately to mind), and in the case at hand I flat-out disagree. His comment about Hillary lacking the courage of her convictions is patently false, and what he said about there perhaps not being a "real person" who exists "underneath there," really made me angry. That is straight up bullshit - the same kind Jon used to preach against. Buying into and promulgating the "inauthentic" meme is a total cop-out and quite disappointing coming from such a generally lucid man. I am not throwing him under any vehicles, but I am definitely saddened by his opinion and his choice to share it NOW, when misinformed anti-Hillary sentiment from (his fellow?) Bernie supporters is already doing its share of harm.

Anyway, this op from the Boston Globe takes a shot back at Stewart and with all due respect I kinda have to say bravo. As the article says,

Throughout his tenure at “The Daily Show,’’ Stewart hammered one basic note: that the establishments we’re stuck with are hopelessly corrupt, that our politicians and journalists are buffoons.

That's a pretty dismal view to adopt in a year when we really need to be looking at the true worth of the candidates instead of plunging headlong into Cynical Lake. Jon argued that it isn't cynicism, but ... yeah, it is, actually.

Just because he's often right doesn't mean he's always right. And when it comes to Hillary, he's wrong. End of story. As for humor, it's true that Jon was elated at the prospect of a Trump candidacy, for it promised endless satirical potential. The sad thing is that what began as a joke has become a horrifying reality. Trump could actually win if this country doesn't get its head out of its rear end. Satire isn't going to save us. It sure as hell didn't in 2000 or 2004, despite the walking joke that was George W. Bush.

[Cha]

1. Thank you, Pika.. Jon can be really good @ times.. other times.. he shows

he doesn't know enough about his subject to make an informed opinion.

[Koinos]

2. Jon Stewart has made being flip and cynical into a well-paying career.

I don't take his humor seriously anymore. It has enriched Jon, and that is about all I can say for it. He is not really an expert in any field.

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Money quote:

"To position Stewart as an anti-Trump “savior” is not just wishful thinking. It betrays a basic misunderstanding of the symbiotic roles played by Stewart and Trump. They are both entertainers, charismatic showmen whose careers are predicated on mocking civic dysfunction. In fact, it would be more accurate to describe Stewart as one of Trump’s enablers."

[SharonClark]

4. Satire isn't going to save us.

You are so right.

[Rose Siding]

5. I think satire did help some with McCain/Palin and even Romney

Comics and satirists won't be much help this time around, though, I'm afraid. They were all way too giddy with the prospect of a decade of material from Trump.

I strongly disagree with Jon on this but he provided me with too much therapy for me to take much issue about it.

[betsuni]

6. Stewart isn't funny when he does the "Democrats and Republicans are the same" thing.

I stopped watching his show because of that. Embarrassing, stupid.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. I always preferred Colbert anyway. LOL!

[Walk away]

8. He's going to change his tune PDQ when it's Hillary vs Donald!

[BlueMTexpat]

9. I must say that I enjoyed

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show very much. But the program was - and is - entertainment. In fact, I remember how disappointed I was when Stewart and Colbert had their rally in 2010 where both specifically did not rail against media abuses when they had a forum - and enthusiastic supporters - to do so.

I too was disappointed about his remarks about Hillary. He's entitled to his opinion, but IMO his opinion is inaccurate when it is clear that Hillary has, for the most part, led her life in a way that demonstrates clearly that her convictions are important to her. She has worked much harder for them and accomplished more real improvement in people's lives than Stewart's clever, but facile, comedy can ever hope to.

This is one reason why I adore John Oliver and much prefer him to Jon Stewart right now. Oliver is brilliantly witty, although sometimes not as side-splittingly hilarious as Stewart. But Oliver chooses at least one cause per show and digs deeply enough into the related injustice(s) that he brings out actual FACTS. As a result of his reporting, some people have actually been moved to positive action or at least investigation. He is almost a hybrid of a comedian and an investigative reporter - and I LOVE what he is doing.