There's nothing unique about Jim Cramer

[Xiahou]

I don't know much about salon or the author, but blaming the media for "too much reporting" is ridiculous. Essentially they're saying that if media had kept saying everything was ok the bubble would have kept growing and never burst? Right

The only mutterings I've heard along those lines is that the panic mode the media is in could be further depressing the economy by scaring consumers, which makes them spend less, which further drives down home prices, which further devalues mortgages held by banks, which means they have to write off bigger losses.... you get the idea.

There's always been an annoying air of entitlement in the media, I think. They expect to be fed news- to have all the work done for them by someone else, so all they have to worry about is what direction they want to spin it in, rather than actually doing any fact checking, or investigating of their own. Of course, this is going to continue until news consumers demand higher standards from the reporters- which I don't see happening anytime soon.

As to John Stewart, he -even in this story- continues to annoy the hell out of me. He can freely go out and trash the methods and credibility of those in the news business while having the comfort of not being held to any of the standards he seems to be demanding. He can do whatever he wants and if anyone would try to call him out for making ad-hominem attacks or distortions, inaccuracies, or anything he can just fall back to "Oh, but I'm just a guy on a comedy show!".

Here's a take from a writer whose view largely parallels mine. The difference is this was about the infamous Crossfire incident, as opposed to the Cramer kerfuffle. But I think the same criticism applies.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

But there's something that rubs me the wrong way about you going on someone else's news show and telling them they do a job. Wouldn't it be weird if Adam Clymer came to your show and told you it sucked and wouldn't you please make it better, for the sake of American laughter everywhere? Because really, Adam Clymer may tell some great jokes at dinner parties, but he probably doesn't know about how to make people laugh. And that's what you do — you make them laugh at the truth to keep them from crying.

The fact that Crossfire isn't exactly the pinnacle of American journalism isn't even the point. Walter Cronkite, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Ted Koppel — whoever. I have a hunch you would have taken whatever opportunity given to kick the Fourth Estate in the ass. Lord knows the media could use it. But still, Jon, I'm not feeling you on this one.

Because, you know, it's really easy to launch firebombs of criticism and then back off and say you won't help because it's not your job. The "comedy show" guise is pretty disingenuous too, Jon. Your show is an op-ed page and everyone knows it. That's why we watch it. Conan O'Brien makes us laugh. You make as laugh and think. You of all people should know that.

It really raises the level of discourse when you call Tucker Carlson a and make fun of his clothes. There you are, playing concerned citizen and funnyman. You demand the truth and meaningful discussions but then revert to the third grade. But, I forgot, you're a comedian.

I still watch your show and you still make me laugh. But stay behind the desk, my friend. Keep doing your comedy. It's what you're great at.

I think Stewart needs to figure out what set of rules he wants to play by and just stick with those. If he wants to be a serious news commentator clamoring for reform, then he needs to start holding himself to his own standards. If he wants to be a cutesy funny man, then just stick to that. Right now, he's just being a shameless hypocrite.