The Daily Show

[CountArach]

The problem is when people take comedy seriously as their source of opinion on politics.

That is the same problem with EVERY news outlet. Everyone is innately biased, and as such no news can be seriously covered. The Daily show must be commended for talking about things that many other news outlets don't, as well as holding the news media to task.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

That is the same problem with EVERY news outlet. Everyone is innately biased, and as such no news can be seriously covered.

I'm rather disenchanted with the media at the moment, actually, for precisely that reason - you pretty much hit the nail on the head. I usually go to Die Welt and BBC News for an idea of what's going on in Germany and the world, and sometimes the National Post or Globe and Mail - and with these it's mostly to get an idea of what the situation is, and I try to base my opinion on the situation rather than the slant (I try, don't always succeed). I haven't watched television news in forever.

[KarlXII]

BBC News has always been my favorite site to check out neutral news

[CountArach]

I'm rather disenchanted with the media at the moment, actually, for precisely that reason - you pretty much hit the nail on the head. I usually go to Die Welt and BBC News for an idea of what's going on in Germany and the world, and sometimes the National Post or Globe and Mail - and with these it's mostly to get an idea of what the situation is, and I try to base my opinion on the situation rather than the slant (I try, don't always succeed). I haven't watched television news in forever.

Yeah I'm pretty much the same, but with different sites... that said I do read heavily slanted news every day, but that is mostly for analysis and after I have made up my opinion.

[Crazed Rabbit]

You make up your opinion before you read the news?


CR

[CountArach]

You make up your opinion before you read the news?


CR

No, before I read the analysis of the news.

[HoreTore]

The problem is when people take comedy seriously as their source of opinion on politics.

Yes. As I said, I fear for the world.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Yes. As I said, I fear for the world.

I agree - it is disturbing to hear a number of people say "I only have time to get my news from "the daily show" or "Rush in the morning"

[Fragony]

Holy crap.

Now we're discussing the politics of comedy....?

I fear for the world.

Really, that sort of dedain really doesn't suit lefties.

[TevashSzat]

I think its pretty obvious there....

As for taking the Daily Show seriously, CNN and Fox News have both criticized Jon Stewart in interviews for not being "journalistic" which I just find hilarious. This is the show that comes on sometimes after Reno 911. Any "real" news outlet comparing themselves to Comedy Central ought to seriously reexamine themselves

[Ronin]

I think its pretty obvious there....

As for taking the Daily Show seriously, CNN and Fox News have both criticized Jon Stewart in interviews for not being "journalistic" which I just find hilarious. This is the show that comes on sometimes after Reno 911. Any "real" news outlet comparing themselves to Comedy Central ought to seriously reexamine themselves

Jon Stewart Legendary appearance on Crossfire

they try to throw the "you don´t make serious news questions either" line at him....his response? "are you kidding me? the show before mine is puppets making crank phone calls!"

he totally embarrasses them and their supposed debate show....the network pulled the plug on crossfire a few days later.

I think he also addresses a lot of the accusations that have been leveled at the daily show here.

[ICantSpellDawg]

"MSNBC drops Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from anchor chair... David Gregory will anchor news coverage of the coming debates and election night.... Developing..."

Suckers.

[TinCow]

The problem is when people take comedy seriously as their source of opinion on politics.

Using it as a primary source is perhaps a bit off, but comedy has always been one of the leading methods for criticizing those in power, particularly in the area of politics. This is well-recorded going all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece and I personally suspect that it's as old as language itself. Mockery and exaggeration are excellent methods to make undermine someone's position and credibility. Nothing is more degrading to a position than public humiliation. That's why Mel Brooks thinks that the best revenge on Hitler is to simply laugh at him and make him a joke. That's why the history books are replete with hapless 'satirists' being executed for making a dig at the local regent. It's no coincidence that court jesters gained a reputation for being some of the few people who could openly criticize the King.

TDS is just a modern version of this old tried and true system. Yes, it is comedy, but it is also serious political commentary. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[Goofball]

Because in Britain political shows are of a much higher caliber than a man sipping coffee and pulling a funny face every time he thinks something funny has happened...

Funny you say that. I was under the impression that British comedy consisted mainly of men being caught wearing ladies underpants.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I don't understand. Are you claiming that the right has some sort of manifersto that holds sole proprietorship over the terms "partisan" or "hackery" (which I believe is a made up word.)?

We can't use terms that can be applied to any side of "partisan hacks"? I've used the term to describe both Limbaugh and Stewart. They both have an angry and sarcastic tone that harps on ideological issues at the expense of objectivity. I think we can call them both hacks who are exceptionally good at what they do - entertain listeners who want to hear about politics in a wya that gets their blood boiling.

I can use "political hackery" without being the same as a Marxist who uses terms like Proletariat and Burgeoisie - which are arguable ideological groupings - rather than objective adjectives.

Hmmm...perhaps I shouldn't have attributed partisanship and hackery to the right. Partisan not, because both major parties suffer from it. And hackery not, because I in fact haven't got the faintest clue what the word means, if anything at all.

'Media bias', 'liberal elite', and a certain anti-intellectualism though, are distinctly conservative issues. I can't be bothered to write a page long essay about it, sorry. Can't find a decent link either. Which of course, even if I did, would no doubt be considered biased itself. )

[Vladimir]

I don't know. The Daily Kos is about as wacky left as you can get.

I just obtained this info. and need help getting it to go viral. AIP Is not a
harmless group. It seems that they are tied to terrorist. Please help this go viral. If this was a Dem. Candidate, this would be on the msm 24/7.
The scoop below the fold. emphasis added

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Using it as a primary source is perhaps a bit off, but comedy has always been one of the leading methods for criticizing those in power, particularly in the area of politics. This is well-recorded going all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece and I personally suspect that it's as old as language itself. Mockery and exaggeration are excellent methods to make undermine someone's position and credibility. Nothing is more degrading to a position than public humiliation. That's why Mel Brooks thinks that the best revenge on Hitler is to simply laugh at him and make him a joke. That's why the history books are replete with hapless 'satirists' being executed for making a dig at the local regent. It's no coincidence that court jesters gained a reputation for being some of the few people who could openly criticize the King.

TDS is just a modern version of this old tried and true system. Yes, it is comedy, but it is also serious political commentary. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Good point

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Using it as a primary source is perhaps a bit off, but comedy has always been one of the leading methods for criticizing those in power, particularly in the area of politics. This is well-recorded going all the way back to ancient Rome and Greece and I personally suspect that it's as old as language itself. Mockery and exaggeration are excellent methods to make undermine someone's position and credibility. Nothing is more degrading to a position than public humiliation. That's why Mel Brooks thinks that the best revenge on Hitler is to simply laugh at him and make him a joke. That's why the history books are replete with hapless 'satirists' being executed for making a dig at the local regent. It's no coincidence that court jesters gained a reputation for being some of the few people who could openly criticize the King.

Nonetheless, as you admit, mockery and exaggeration are key parts in political comedy, and therefore comedy should never be your primary source of news.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Nonetheless, as you admit, mockery and exaggeration are key parts in political comedy, and therefore comedy should never be your primary source of news.

"A man who reads nothing at all is better educated than a man who reads nothing but newspapers"

--Thomas Jefferson

[Lemur]

Why does Thomas Jefferson hate freedom?

[seireikhaan]

[Big_John]

Why does Thomas Jefferson hate freedom?

no it's cool.. he was only talking about the new york times.

[CountArach]

I don't know. The Daily Kos is about as wacky left as you can get.

The vast majority of people on DailyKos are very sensible progressives. Its just that with all of the heat of the Federal Election and what they believe Bush has done to the country - they can get a bit heated and zealous at times.

@ Lemur