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besson3c · May 3, 2007, 11:21 PM

Bill Moyers Journal . Watch & Listen | PBS

This interview really resonated with me. Stewart is a really smart dude and does really well when given opportunities like this.

Even if you don't agree with him on various issues (and that's fine), he seems very gifted at being a sort of onlooker into the political process and media and speaking without the same sorts of constraints that politicians and the media have.

I agree with pretty much everything he said here. Do you take issue with any thing said here?

Really refreshing interview, I enjoyed it a lot.

OldManMac · May 4, 2007, 10:21 AM

Great interview! Thanks for the link. Stewart does have an uncanny ability to get to the meat of the subject without making it boring and dry. Moyers is also one of my favorite journalists.

finboy · May 4, 2007, 10:48 AM

Jon Stewart happens to be a guy with an agenda, so I guess that means he's now "smart." I like him, he's a comedian. And a propagandist. He has no special qualification or vested interest that makes his policy recommendations suddenly brilliant.

besson3c · May 4, 2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

Jon Stewart happens to be a guy with an agenda, so I guess that means he's now "smart." I like him, he's a comedian. And a propagandist. He has no special qualification or vested that makes his policy recommendations suddenly brilliant.

Sure he has an agenda, if by agenda you mean an opinion. If by agenda you think that he is actually trying to change politics, maybe he'd be more effective if he actually became a politician? As it stands, he is an influential media figure with an opinion like so many others.

What I think is brilliant is what he is saying here, based on the merits of his thoughts alone.

I'd rather talk about what he actually said rather than picking apart his character, if you don't mind. There are lots of other "pick apart media figure" threads, such as the Al Gore one.

xi_hyperon · May 4, 2007, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

Jon Stewart happens to be a guy with an agenda, so I guess that means he's now "smart." I like him, he's a comedian. And a propagandist. He has no special qualification or vested interest that makes his policy recommendations suddenly brilliant.

Yeah, it's called "a set of beliefs" and we all have them. Unless you're dead, you have a set of beliefs yourself, as do I. What's your point? Or did you even listen to the interview?

Silliness aside, I liked the interview, especially his analysis and conclusions on why McCain chose to debate the way he did.

Originally Posted by besson3c

I'd rather talk about what he actually said rather than picking apart his character, if you don't mind.

Unfortunately, you're in the wrong forum for that type of discussion.

finboy · May 4, 2007, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

Jon Stewart happens to be a guy with an agenda, so I guess that means he's now "smart." I like him, he's a comedian. And a propagandist. He has no special qualification or vested interest that makes his policy recommendations suddenly brilliant.

I wasn't really going on his "character" in this, it's not mentioned anywhere in the above. His insight and/or opinions from the Moyers interview don't strike me as important or revolutionary either -- he's a comedian. It's like having a circus clown comment on what should be taught in elementary school: he's met a few kids, but he doesn't really have the expertise to set their daily agendas. Nor does he have any responsibility for what actually happens.

The real scary part is that this guy influences elections. Some sheeple out there actual value his opinion! Insane.

besson3c · May 4, 2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

I wasn't really going on his "character" in this, it's not mentioned anywhere in the above. His insight and/or opinions from the Moyers interview don't strike me as important or revolutionary either -- he's a comedian. It's like having a circus clown comment on what should be taught in elementary school: he's met a few kids, but he doesn't really have the expertise to set their daily agendas. Nor does he have any responsibility for what actually happens.

The real scary part is that this guy influences elections. Some sheeple out there actual value his opinion! Insane.

So, go ahead and critique what he said... The fact that he's a comedian in and of itself does not invalidate his points. If any, his points will invalidate his points.

finboy · May 4, 2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

So, go ahead and critique what he said... The fact that he's a comedian in and of itself does not invalidate his points. If any, his points will invalidate his points.

That's just it: I don't think he had any points. Or, at least, not any valid ones. Hell, the transcript's there, cut and paste the points you thought he made.

He's a comedian, so he's funny. On other things, his opinion is no more relevant to me than some other guy at the airport or at the mall.

Now, if he was talking about how to brainwash an entire generation of viewers, I'd listen carefully. He's an expert at that, obviously.

xi_hyperon · May 4, 2007, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by finboy

I wasn't really going on his "character" in this, it's not mentioned anywhere in the above. His insight and/or opinions from the Moyers interview don't strike me as important or revolutionary either -- he's a comedian. It's like having a circus clown comment on what should be taught in elementary school: he's met a few kids, but he doesn't really have the expertise to set their daily agendas. Nor does he have any responsibility for what actually happens.

The real scary part is that this guy influences elections. Some sheeple out there actual value his opinion! Insane.

What's insane is that you think people are sheeple simply because they happen to have come to the same conclusion that someone in the media has. Are you saying people are not capable of rationalizing on their own? Doesn't that make you a member of another group of sheeple? That is the sort of crap talk that a lot of the population is tired of.

besson3c · May 4, 2007, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by finboy

That's just it: I don't think he had any points. Or, at least, not any valid ones. Hell, the transcript's there, cut and paste the points you thought he made.

He's a comedian, so he's funny. On other things, his opinion is no more relevant to me than some other guy at the airport or at the mall.

Now, if he was talking about how to brainwash an entire generation of viewers, I'd listen carefully. He's an expert at that, obviously.

You honestly think that they just sat there for the entire interview and literally talked about nothing?

Pretty transparent dude, try: you don't agree with him, therefore you think it is not valid.

besson3c · May 4, 2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

What's insane is that you think people are sheeple simply because they happen to have come to the same conclusion that someone in the media has. Are you saying people are not capable of rationalizing on their own? Doesn't that make you a member of another group of sheeple? That is the sort of crap talk that a lot of the population is tired of.

Exactly... emotional statements that just distract and detract from the underlying point. One of the points Stewart made in this interview. This is a case in point

finboy · May 4, 2007, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

You honestly think that they just sat there for the entire interview and literally talked about nothing?

Pretty transparent dude, try: you don't agree with him, therefore you think it is not valid.

You started a thread asking for comments about the "awesome" interview, and I gave some comments about the "awesome" interview. If by transparent you mean obvious, then yes, that was the point.

Whether I agree with him or not, I don't think he had any valid points, if that even makes sense. It would be like asking Rush Limbaugh to comment on tax policy -- I don't care what he has to say either. Or asking Paris Hilton about the legal system.

The whole "emotional statement" thing is double-sided: when he does it, it's OK (it's COMEDY), but he can accuse whoever of doing it (whether they did or not) and it's evil. Again, I don't find his points valid. Not an "awesome" interview unless one is drinking the Jon Stewart-flavored Kool Aid.

Cheers.

olePigeon · May 4, 2007, 12:47 PM

Bill Moyers is also a pretty good journalist.

spindler · May 10, 2007, 01:23 AM

Jon Stewart was really good and it shows the power of precise thoughts and communication skills. Unfortunately that is very rare, which works in conservatives favor, since their arguments are usually oversimplified. Rush Limbaugh will always win against his liberal equivalent because he just has to yell simple things.

Jon Stewart was a little unfair. There is at least some chance that the surge will work, but not much.