Why Jon Stewart Why? Why did you let Biden slide on that last question?

[SirStev0]

Small Rant.

Just watched the Biden interview. I always enjoyed Biden because he pretty much tells it how it is. I guess people don't like it because it can be kind of abrasive but I love his blunt-ness.

He was dead on about a lot of things and I loved his comment on the repug definition of capitalism as "Socialism for the rich and capitalism for everyone else".

Then it came to the last question. Jon pretty much laid it on the line. It is the question that every socially liberal person has on their mind: Why can republicans force through all their bills when they are in the majority and completely toss aside all debate and filibuster, but the demo's can't seem to get anything through and are constantly being shot down and shut out?

Biden stammered for about a second and automatically Stewart let him off the hook and ended the interview. Seriously WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?

I am tired of congress dragging its feet. Man up and do something. Biden had a great opportunity to let loose one of his classic zingers and maybe it would have actually inspired some balls in congress. Fuck knows they need it.

weak rant off.

Figure P&N is best of this. I will put up a link to the interview tomorrow when they post it on the daily show website.

EDIT: Clips are up and on the front page. Biden Interview 1 and 2. http://www.thedailyshow.com/

 

[brblx]

i think biden explained it rather well. the democratic party has many different viewpoints within it, and many (or enough, at least) see some of the current legislation as watered down stopgap solutions- which is what it is. and they won't vote for it. the republicans are all pre-programmed yeses and nos. so on issues like healthcare, you get a big arbritray block of 'no's thrown into the middle of your democracy.

but it would be much better if all the dems could just agree on a single-payer healthcare bill that they would unanimously pass, and ram that fucker through congress and the senate like shit through my colon after taco bell. uncompromisingly dimwitted cries of 'socialism!' be damned.

 

[Patranus]

Um. Maybe because American is a center right nation and these congressmen are too worried about being re elected....

Notice how Obama gets the gays to rally behind him and then throws them all under the bus when push comes to shove. Being re elected is more important to him and gays.

Oh, ya almost forgot, maybe because John Stewart isn't a real reporter.....

 

[jackschmittusa]

Biden did explain it. Unlike the Republicans who will ostracize someone for not following the party line, the Democrats freely accept independent thinkers of many stripes. They may get flustered sometimes when it's hard to reach a consensus, but they don't have political firing squads like the Republicans do.

 

[Bitek]

Um. Maybe because American is a center right nation and these congressmen are too worried about being re elected....

Notice how Obama gets the gays to rally behind him and then throws them all under the bus when push comes to shove. Being re elected is more important to him and gays.

Oh, ya almost forgot, maybe because John Stewart isn't a real reporter.....

1. No sh!t sherlock.. he's a comedian and talk show host. It is sad tho he often does a better job as a reporter than the actual media does.


2. He hasn't done a whole lot, otoh, W didn't do a whole lot for the christians either. Just did enough to get them to show up in Nov


Lastly, I think the dems just don't have a good message machine, and are not as shameless about using it to browbeat using simple (if simplistic or misleading) message to voters. Need some balls in there.

 

[SirStev0]

1. No sh!t sherlock.. he's a comedian and talk show host. It is sad tho he often does a better job as a reporter than the actual media does.


2. He hasn't done a whole lot, otoh, W didn't do a whole lot for the christians either. Just did enough to get them to show up in Nov


Lastly, I think the dems just don't have a good message machine, and are not as shameless about using it to browbeat using simple (if simplistic or misleading) message to voters. Need some balls in there.

I was going to respond to his post too but then I saw it was winnar11 and decided it was best not to feed the troll. I should have guessed when he lead off with "US is center right"

 

[fskimospy]

The range of political positions inside the Democratic Party is quite a bit larger than inside the Republican Party.

When you think about it in a broad way, it makes perfect sense. On a fundamental level liberals want to change how we do things and conservatives want to generally keep them the same. If 50 people all want to keep things the same, it's a good bet that they all generally want similar things. If 50 people want to change things, they could all want to change it 50 different ways.

In my opinion that's why it's so much easier to herd Republicans.

 

[Genx87]

Biden did explain it. Unlike the Republicans who will ostracize someone for not following the party line, the Democrats freely accept independent thinkers of many stripes. They may get flustered sometimes when it's hard to reach a consensus, but they don't have political firing squads like the Republicans do.

I find this laughable. Why is Lieberman an independent now? Why didnt Bush get his SS reform through???

The glass house democrats build around themselves is hilarious to watch fall down when they throw a stone at the republicans.

 

[SirStev0]

I appreciate what everyone is saying and I realize he "sort" of answered it. But what about the point that repubs seem to have a free pass when they are in majority? How has it been so incredibly easy for them to filibuster, but I never saw a full on block filibuster from minority demo's during the Bush Admin.

To be honest, I think the answer is simple. Demo's just don't have the balls and are scared shitless of bad press and faux news. I mean fuck, Kerry lost because he was boring and he was bullied by a bunch of liars.

Want some proof, look at the butthurt conservatives on here. Demo's in control and doing things not even remotely close to as bad as repugs did during the Bush Admin and we have a ton of posters on here sounding like a 5 year old who just found out there is no Santa after they skinned their knee. We fall for their fakeness so easily it is pathetic.

Their victim complex has us so razzled it makes me want to scream.

 

[Genx87]

I appreciate what everyone is saying and I realize he "sort" of answered it. But what about the point that repubs seem to have a free pass when they are in majority? How has it been so incredibly easy for them to filibuster, but I never saw a full on block filibuster from minority demo's during the Bush Admin.

To be honest, I think the answer is simple. Demo's just don't have the balls and are scared shitless of bad press and faux news. I mean fuck, Kerry lost because he was boring and he was bullied by a bunch of liars.

Want some proof, look at the butthurt conservatives on here. Demo's in control and doing things not even remotely close to as bad as repugs did during the Bush Admin and we have a ton of posters on here sounding like a 5 year old who just found out there is no Santa after they skinned their knee. We fall for their fakeness so easily it is pathetic.

Their victim complex has us so razzled it makes me want to scream.

Or dems agreed with the legislation repubs and Bush pushed through. I know the dems like to paint this picture of being victimized during the Bush era. But they sure didnt seem to have a problem voting for many of his initiatives.

Conservatives are up in arms for other reasons. Reason lefties dont find that big a deal. The intervention within our markets is getting crazy. Obama basically does what he wants with little oversight. This pay czar is absolutely crazy. Sets the wages for the top 25 at banks. Who has oversight over this czar?!?!?!?!?

 

[SirStev0]

Or dems agreed with the legislation repubs and Bush pushed through. I know the dems like to paint this picture of being victimized during the Bush era. But they sure didnt seem to have a problem voting for many of his initiatives.

Honestly, I will have to agree with you there. I think that also comes partially from the fact that they have no balls.

The last thing they wanted was to be painted as another Dennis Kucinich and made to look like a crazy person in the media.

I mean look what the repugs do to their own when they don't march in line. They have faux news propagandize them into obscurity.

 

[SirStev0]

Conservatives are up in arms for other reasons. Reason lefties dont find that big a deal. The intervention within our markets is getting crazy. Obama basically does what he wants with little oversight. This pay czar is absolutely crazy. Sets the wages for the top 25 at banks. Who has oversight over this czar?!?!?!?!?

That was amazing. You hit almost every talking point in one paragraph. If you would have throw socialism in there somewhere you might have gotten your own radio show warming up the crowd for Rush.

 

[Patranus]

That was amazing. You hit almost every talking point in one paragraph. If you would have throw socialism in there somewhere you might have gotten your own radio show warming up the crowd for Rush.

Nice work attacking their point on substance.

 

[Deeko]

"There's nothing but hardcore conservatives in the Republican party" - what is he talking about? Did he not examine the politics of his opponent, John McCain? I'd counter that there are very few true conservatives in the Republican party - they just tend to band together and do whatever the party wants them to do.

Also, what did you expect Stewart to do - he did hammer the question, till the point that Biden said "yea, you're right, should do that and don't". What the hell is the point of asking it again?

 

[Robor]

I appreciate what everyone is saying and I realize he "sort" of answered it. But what about the point that repubs seem to have a free pass when they are in majority? How has it been so incredibly easy for them to filibuster, but I never saw a full on block filibuster from minority demo's during the Bush Admin.

To be honest, I think the answer is simple. Demo's just don't have the balls and are scared shitless of bad press and faux news. I mean fuck, Kerry lost because he was boring and he was bullied by a bunch of liars.

Want some proof, look at the butthurt conservatives on here. Demo's in control and doing things not even remotely close to as bad as repugs did during the Bush Admin and we have a ton of posters on here sounding like a 5 year old who just found out there is no Santa after they skinned their knee. We fall for their fakeness so easily it is pathetic.

Their victim complex has us so razzled it makes me want to scream.

Like 'Going Rogue'? :biggrin:

 

[thraashman]

The range of political positions inside the Democratic Party is quite a bit larger than inside the Republican Party.

When you think about it in a broad way, it makes perfect sense. On a fundamental level liberals want to change how we do things and conservatives want to generally keep them the same. If 50 people all want to keep things the same, it's a good bet that they all generally want similar things. If 50 people want to change things, they could all want to change it 50 different ways.

In my opinion that's why it's so much easier to herd Republicans.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.

And as far as Jon Stewart goes, he never attacks his guests or hammers them on things. Guests go on the Daily Show BECAUSE it's press time that's easy. It's a fake news show. Jon Stewart admits to that freely. What was it Jon Stewart said on Crossfire, something like "I'm not a dick to people on my show".

 

[SirStev0]

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.

And as far as Jon Stewart goes, he never attacks his guests or hammers them on things. Guests go on the Daily Show BECAUSE it's press time that's easy. It's a fake news show. Jon Stewart admits to that freely. What was it Jon Stewart said on Crossfire, something like "I'm not a dick to people on my show".

Believe me I realize that as well. But he had Biden on a roll I wish he would have let him get in one more zinger.

 

[SirStev0]

Nice work attacking their point on substance.

And for my argument with you I am going to go to the next level and go ad hominem, winnar. Once all this transfer stuff is finally done and they can focus, they will figure out your trolling ways and you will be banned like so many times before.

 

[cubeless]

Biden did explain it. Unlike the Republicans who will ostracize someone for not following the party line, the Democrats freely accept independent thinkers of many stripes. They may get flustered sometimes when it's hard to reach a consensus, but they don't have political firing squads like the Republicans do.

yeeeaaahhh... see 'liberman, j' for democratic luvin'...

 

[sandorski]

I thought Biden gave the correct answer. With the exception that I don't think that all Republicans are extreme(or whatever termed he used) Right Wingers. It has to do with how the 2 Party's coordinate. The Republicans really do force everyone to Vote as a Block, while the Democrats don't or possibly don't force near as much. The Dems could do the same if they wanted to, but it would be a fundamental change that they appear unwilling to make.

 

[LumbergTech]

stewart always lets people off on his show, if someone says crazy enough shit he will counter it with logic, but in general he doesn't go outright in attack mode unless the person really pisses him off

 

[sandorski]

stewart always lets people off on his show, if someone says crazy enough shit he will counter it with logic, but in general he doesn't go outright in attack mode unless the person really pisses him off

He keeps it humorous.

 

[fskimospy]

"There's nothing but hardcore conservatives in the Republican party" - what is he talking about? Did he not examine the politics of his opponent, John McCain? I'd counter that there are very few true conservatives in the Republican party - they just tend to band together and do whatever the party wants them to do.

Also, what did you expect Stewart to do - he did hammer the question, till the point that Biden said "yea, you're right, should do that and don't". What the hell is the point of asking it again?

Well you could say that the Republican base is even further to the right than the Republicans serving in Congress, but there really isn't much argument about the fact that the Republican party is CONSIDERABLY to the right of where it was 30 years ago. Were Ronald Reagan to run today he would almost certainly face a primary challenge due to the fact that he was not conservative enough.

So yes, when you look at the average Republican member of Congress as compared to the historical average, they are nearly all hard right wingers.

 

[Jhhnn]

Will Rogers once said he wasn't a member of an organized political party, that he was a Democrat...

Some things never change.

Modern Republicans are a different matter entirely, simply because of the way they're funded and led. Few elected republicans are capable of independent thought, or care to engage in such. That's why they received funding and support in the first place- because they'd toe the party line. They respond well to authority and would be lost without it. Being a toady to Big Money is easy, and it pays well. They let the guys at the various thinktanks, institutes and foundations do the thinking and policy formulation, simply act as an element of the echo chamber when called upon to do so.

Easy-peasy, slick and sleazy.

 

[Lemon law]

I certainly agree with Jhhnn there, but we also have to realize that Biden is a little bit of a loose Cannon. I somewhat compare Biden to Gingrich without the knee jerk power mad aspect. They are both first rate minds that are well springs of new ideas they tend to fall in puppy love with. Two weeks later they have some new idea panacea, and the old idea is forgotten. But in the grand scheme of thing Biden is not the polarizing figure that both Spiro Agnew and Dick Cheney delighted in being.