Jon Stewart Vs. Jim Cramer: Reality Bytes
Just finished watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’s interview with Jim Cramer from last evening. It was beautiful. Full show, both edited and unedited available below.
I think we’re at a strange crossroads when it comes to our news media. As “mainstream” organizations drop left and right, many have been wondering who would be the muckrakers of the future. Who will reveal corporate or political misdoings? I kind of doubt it’ll be asshole bloggers like me.
I think part of the reasons the news organizations failed was they didn’t fulfill their obligation to the public. While I’m long divorced from network television, when I do find time to watch the news, it’s pathetic. It’s violent, quick, and there’s no analysis. People jump through hoops and deep fry stimulus bills and repeat the words pork and earmarks until everyone turns off the TV and begins their daily walk to the food bank. (Unless you’re already homeless, then perhaps you sleep right outside.)
Somehow Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have managed to really stand up for the people. Their role as comedians gives them room to be truthful, and call out people when they are wrong. I’m in awe.
I still look fondly upon Colbert’s speech/roast at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner. At a time when everyone else was ignoring the fact that this country was going down fast, he had the cojones to insult the president and the lame-duck media all in one sitting. I remember telling my roommates at the time (a bunch of smelly drunks and a ChiMo) that I was sure he’d die in his sleep of a heart attack.
He didn’t.
And here we are, a little over two years later, and we’ve fallen out of the frying pan and into Abu Ghraib. The deregulation of markets (which began in the Clinton years) has led to a global collapse. And yet who in the media is really taking a look at how the hell we got here?
Two men, and a depressing woman named Amy Goodman.
Here’s the entire unedited video of the Stewart vs. Kramer, as well as the full show courtesy of Hulu And for good measure, I threw in Colbert’s speech.
Remarkable that a “comedy” show should lead the way to a critical examination of how all of this came about. But I am not so sure that it isn’t “asshole bloggers” that won’t lead the way.
And yes, I love Mr. Colbert, too.
Keep up the good work.