July 21, 2008
I'm Not His Demographic
I'm not really a "Daily Show" guy. Politically, I might me more a "Colbert Report" guy, but as I've said, the whole concept of faux news is rather creepy to me. I know a lot of people who get their news from Mister Stewart. I ignore this and live a pretty happy, satisfied existence.
Until Greg Mankiw posts this on his blog:
Yeah, there are some funny bits, but it seems very slow to me, speaking as a comedy critic and not a political critic. You kind of know every joke before it happens. I don't know. The Bush/Bernanke clips are well assembled and I did laugh out loud at the Fannie/Freddie graphics. I'd call it 45 seconds of laugh-riot comedy jam packed into 7:55, but you probably saw that gag coming.
As for the politics and as for the substitution of Stewart's program for news, I fear for the Republic. Ben Bernanke is "an economic expert" when he disagrees with the President. I wonder how many other officials appointed by the administration are held in such high esteem? I'm sure all the ones who repent are.
The Indymac bank failure is implicitly attributed to Bush in a happened-on-his-watch way. Kind of funny that the funny man wouldn't take a jab or two at Senator Chuck Schumer (D - NY) who <john stewart sarcastic screaming voice>I don't know, actually caused it???</john stewart sarcastic screaming voice>
End with the accepted truth that the President mislead us into Iraq.
Nope, no need to wipe any nose coffee off my keyboard after that. I'm not sure what Professor Mankiw appreciated enough to post it.