Obama's Losing Allies

It seems it is not just me who is becoming disillusioned by the president. It seems Jon Stewart is getting in on the action.

"Last week, though, the president was the punch line. After showing video of Obama speaking to schoolkids, the "Daily Show" host said in amazement: "You set up a presidential podium and a teleprompter in a sixth-grade classroom? . . . I'm not a political adviser, campaign strategist, et cetera, but that's not a great photo op in a middle school classroom."

As you read, it seems that Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, and Keith Olbermann also might be getting buyers remorse.

I really do think all this comes down to this. For 8 years we, dems/liberals, had a president who thumbed his nose at us. He went out of his way to give us the middle finger. The way he legislated, gave speeches, and in his appointees, Bush did not give a rats ass about the other side of the table. Now that dems are back in control, we want someone who is not afraid/timid to show his liberal side. I don't want a president doing what Bush did. What I do want is someone who is unabashed about being liberal. I wanted Obama to be a leader who will work with the other side but if they don't want to work then screw them. This timid/overly cautious road that he is taking is pissing us off. Stop cowtowing to such a bunch of obstructionists and get the countries shit done.

And here's the vid:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Obama Speaks to a Sixth-Grade Classroom
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"Its Supposed to Taste Like a Shit Taco"

You have to love John Stewart. He takes the crazies of Fox to task as well as the rest of the crazy wingnutisphere. This is too F-ing funny.

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Baracknophobia - Obey
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They really are getting a little crazy over there on Fox.

John Stewart Unloads on Cramer

John Stewart had another extremely honest moment this week. The previous one is when he unloaded on the hosts of crossfire several years ago.

His newest honest moment came this week while interviewing Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money on CNBC. It really was an honest moment. There are three parts. Parts 2 and 3 are the best. Here's part 2

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Intro - Brawl Street: Get Ready to Buy Low! And Sell Die

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Part 1 and 3 are here.

Needless to say, Cramer did not come for a real debate. I think Cramer was thinking it would be like all the other John Stewart interviews: cordial and funny. Cramer didn't get that. What he got was brutally honest and real. Stewart did an excellent job of taking complex financial problems and making them simple. Stewart then stood in the difficult position and really did hold Cramers feet to the fire for participating in those problems. I feel that expression is often over used or not used correctly but this was one of those moments. Stewart filled the position of a jerk because no one has been willing to be one. While he was not a jerk, (our society's leaders prefer if you don't make them answer for crap they have done and if you do you are a jerk.) it was unfortunate that Cramer had to be the whipping boy. Because lets be honest, if you have a news show you won't get any interviews with big names if you are constantly holding people accountable for their sins. So, I think over time the media chooses access over substance. Access gets more viewers, more viewers means better ratings and that means more ad dollars.

At the end of the day, rewatching Stewart on Crossfire and then the Cramer interview, I feel Stewart has stepped into a new role. He is now the "old style hard news" spokesperson. He has complained about the media's inability to really go after failing politician or othe media. Stewart expects a level of professionalism but is unwilling to take any major steps to change things. Yes, his comedy show is not for that. What he needs to do is start a new show, either hosting or producing, that does just that. Show the media how its done.