Good point, how do you quell a civil war when it's not your country? Especially when nobody seems to want you there? Our soldiers have surely won all the confrontations that they have been in, they're not to blame.

How can they control a country of 15 million(?) when nobody is asking for their help? Doesn't that just make them moving targets?

A mess from the beginning, we went there under false pretenses, let's get out. Pulling back and guarding the border sounds like it might be a good idea. (If that's remotely possible)

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

by going up against the brilliant Jon Stewart on the Daily Show?
I've never seen Jon stewart get so worked up, yet he never loses it. But McCain's sleaze is palpable. He gives the impression of a sputtering whorish politician who will say anything. and he is never, ever even remotely funny

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Along with his deft yet sharp handling of Sen. McCain, when McCain made some ludicrous comment about Iraq which produced howls of derisive laughter and loud hooting from the audience. McCain said dismissively, "I can see whose side they're on" to which Stewart shot back, "They're on America's side, sir, and they are patriots."

By the way, if you haven't heard, Bill Moyers interviews Jon Stewart on May 2 on his PBS program Bill Moyers Journal about why so many people get their news and analysis from his fake news show. (If you rely on WNED in Buffalo for PBS, don't bother looking for the show; the station isn't carrying the series.)

I suspect the answer is because people realize that The Daily Show, a fake news program, and Mr. Stewart do more thorough and intensive interviews than all of the MSM networks (broadcast and cable) do combined.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There's been considerable discussion over the past several years regarding Stewart's rise to national prominence, & the role that his show (& increasingly, the Colbert Report spin-off) plays in shaping & expressing the political thought of younger Americans. As part of this debate, there has been no small amount of distressed hand-wringing on the part of the Media Establishment over the fact that so many young people turn to Stewart for the bulk of their "news". The general line here is that this is somehow "tragic", & that his massive & devoted viewing audience is somehow "missing out" on the "real news".

What's tragic is that Stewart is one of a very few people active in the Media who is really going after any sort of truth when he gets on the air- No wonder that the rest of the MSM is confused & jealous. Stewart is trouncing them at their own game, & on a "comedy" show, no less! We may not always agree with his conclusions (comedic or otherwise), but we tune in because his earnestness & passion are palpable. As this interview (& a recent one with the execrable "Ambassador" John Bolton) prove, Stewart approaches each guest with an underlying assumption of their basic humanity & a desire to engage in honest debate. The end result is that most of his guests leave the interview chair looking better almost despite themselves. I would imagine that even for those guests who go on the show knowing that they are about to be completely outclassed (as even the increasingly unhinged McCain surely anticipated), the benefit of being able to get beyond their day-to-day sound bite drudgery outweighs the risks.

It's this deep respect for interviewee & audience alike that has endeared Jon Stewart to his legions of fans (& of course, the sharp humor doesn't hurt either). Watching his show is like a blood infusion.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

to paraphrase: "I ask them all the time and they tell me it's a noble cause"


Does this idiot honestly think that some private or NCO is going to speak frankly to a pro war US Senator?!? Is he completely nuts?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

HOW DARE HE EXPRESS HIS OPINION TO THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD, JON STEWART! JON STEWART IS THE MOST FINE JOURNALIST WE HAVE TODAY! MCCAIN SHOULD SHUT HIS MOUTH! HOW DARE HE HAVE A PLAN!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...but I didn't see the same McCain interview that you all saw. Sure, McCain is advocating the continuation of the war; sure I don't agree with him on an ideological level; but I think he came across quite likable on the Daily Show.

Not likable in an "I'd vote for him" kind of way mind you... But likable in a "Meh, he's not so bad" kind of way. They looked like friends who've agreed to disagree. Especially when Jon said, "And you know I love you," and McCain raised his fist.

Oh well.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

McCain's been on the Daily Show alot over the years and its pretty obvious that Jon likes John, and they've developed a repoir. Stewart seems to be getting worn a bit thin by McCain lately though. Might not be related, but what i can't feel positive about McCain for is that he is only opposed to the "execution and mismanagement" of the war. He feels no rancor at being lied to for why we should go to war, nor for the fact that war is always a mark of moral weakness. When we wage an unprovoked war on another country we expose our moral weakness, and McCain has no problem with that. I think that Stewart might be seeing thru the veneer of McCain's lame-ass arguments. It's like he's saying "Vote for me because i will fight the war in a better way". Kerry tired that and "lost".

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Back in '68, Hubert Humphrey (HHH as he was known), grabbed the Dem nomination by being Vice President, RFK getting shot, Eugene McCarthy running out of steam, and Mayor Daly controlling the Dem convention in Chicago with strong arm delegate tactics, riot gear and tear gas. Were it not for the Chicago debacle, HHH might have beat Nixon.

McCain blusters and babbles his points with bubbly manufactured desperate overenthusiasm as did HHH. HHH was quite the blusterer, and he was forced to play the defender of a war and a strategy he really didn't like so much, just as is McCain, just to get to be President. Both became sellouts to such a policy to succeed their bosses.

HHH was likeable to many since he had long a liberal record in Congress championing unions, the poor, and other liberal issues. McCain has a very con voting record but we used to know him for his independant and honest streak and willingness to work for such issues as campaign reform. The stink of Neocon war has stuck to McCain so strong that he has transformed himself into a blustering '08 version of HHH, he is now the Republican's Hubert Humphrey.

Congrats, McCain, didn't know you had it in ya.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]