Telling the truth is profoundly "cynical"; it's also profoundly IRONIC when done with style -- ironic meanings at its root to be able to hold two positions simultaneously: what is and what should be.

Most of my "liberal" or even "progressive" friends don't want to hear that time's up. They don't want to know we're already screwed globally, and that America with its innocence is essentially hopeless and probably has been for some time.

And needless to say, corpocrats have a permanent investment in DENIAL. They will fall very hard. Good.

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What a surprise. Major News? Networks ABC CBS NBC are pathetic. 10 seconds of talking heads. Fox should be called the Bush network. Stewart is satire. The problem with satire is it requires a significant level of truth and a decent amount of intelligence to understand. Would the equivalent of Swifts recipes for cooking the babies be understood today? You answer the question.

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The interviewer on this clip is working from the premise that the Daily Show is comedy. Though it can be very funny, it's certainly not merely comedy, but usually well-crafted satire, which when applied skillfully - as Stewart and his writers often do - can be a hugely powerful vehicle of criticism, and even instill seeds of counter-measure.

I also think the interviewer and his apparently misguided guest underestimate the intelligence of American college/university students with their other rather odd assumption that students are unable to differentiate between humour and satire. If this were truly the case, your country is in far worse shape than I thought.

I suspect this guy would prefer students get their news from Fox. He and those like him are simply afraid of students knowing the truth, and for good reason - enlightened intelligent people are exactly what those in power down there don't want. It seems to be yet another blatant disinfo tactic to discredit what they perceive as a dangerous source, and maintain their so-meticulously cultivated ignorance of what's really going on.

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...when after the upcoming 2006 mid-terms the voter turnout for the 18-35 demographic is astronomicaly high? What do you think they'll try to credit it to?

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It's the Republicriminals who are ruining it! Jon is just revealing that it's been ruined!

/sorry, I had to, before someone else did.

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... if they're effective is by the Right Wing response. The harder the hit, the more freightened they are.

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People age 18-35 are cynical? (Faux gasp) Noooooooo. I'm so shocked!!! Debt check anyone?

It doesn't matter your political stripes, people can smell bullsh*t by merely exercising good listening skills and, let's face it, most of our politicians are just self-serving individuals masquerading (albeit badly) behind the cloak of public interest.

When the media shoots Jon Stewart because he dares expose the absurdity of our political royalty, it sounds like somebody's ratings are down. Buck up little campers!!!!

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I have come to expect tactics like this from Newsmax and the Right in general. Oh, it´s OK if you "poke fun" like Jay Leno, but don´t actually draw blood, because then you´re "dangerous". Humorists shouldn´t actually put our glorious leader "on the spot" -- should they? Darn right they should! And more so in the case of this lame administration!!!

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Unless I manage to catch its Global Edition on CNN, but thanks to a fast internet connection, I have begun checking out their online bits and pieces. And I must say: Jon Stewart has reinstalled my 'faith' in America. (No pun intended, but that kind of media output really lets me hope that current political and social developments are just a phase and will pass in time.)

And why is everyone so scared of satire? (It happens here, too.) Someone here used the term "enlightened," and I now I find that more important than ever before as politics and the media appear to obfuscate more and more every day.

And if I remember correctly, there were also studies which showed that those students only those students generally interested in politics actually watched The Daily Show during the last election; and those students were much better informed about the candidates respective viewpoints than other people.

Seriously, I doubt anyone watches The Daily Show who doesn't already think that political leaders are incompetent, that the electoral college is flowed. And, of course, we all distrust the media.

If Jon Stewart really is sabotaging America's youth by making them _think_, I say: Go ahead sabotaging!

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James Hirsh from Newsmax claims people cannot tell entertainment from reality. How much is that caused by the right-wing talk shows? At least the Daily Show says it is entertainment, not news. The shows like O'Reilly and Limbaugh cannot seem to make up their minds what they are.

O'Reilly claims to be a political commentary show--until he gets caught in an outright lie or attacking a public figure unfairly. Then he suddenly becomes an entertainment show.

It is a shame when a comedy show is the most reliable source of news and "political shows" feature clowns like Ann Coulter.

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The Daily Show is doing exactly today what Twain and Rogers did in their day… and will be remembered and revered for it in the future the same way these two great Americans are today. They had their critics too, it only fed their creative genius.

I'm fifty-five and I catch every show I can. The Daily Show, as well as The Colbert Report, are smart and superbly written.

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I think anyone who is paying attention knows that Jon Stewart poses a threat to democracy by undermining public confidence in it among the young. It is equally apparent that automotive mechanics are a threat to the automotive industry (a bulwark of our economy) when they undermine people's confidence in their cars by telling them that they need repairs. Perhaps the worst offenders, however, are doctors. Every time they render an unfavorable diagnosis, they undermine our confidence in our bodies, which are the very foundation of our existence!

We ignore these threats at our own peril! WAKE UP AMERICA!! Yes, we must silence Jon Stewart, but if we ignore automechanics and doctors it will be to no avail. All of them must be interred in re-education camps and given the opportunity to mend their ways. In fact, anyone who claims that our country, our system, our selves are anything other than perfect, needs some time in camp. Cops arresting people give the impression we live in a criminal environment, teachers make us feel ignorant..., the list is endless! ALL YOU BASTARDS ARE RUINING MY LIFE!!!! TO THE CAMPS WITH ALL OF YOU!!! Aaaaaaaaaagh!!!!!!

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for the segment on scarbo was to reach their viewers who have children who watch comedy central and jon stewart to talk to them and try to convince them they dont know anything. its like the republican convention is to reach the delegates to send them out to the populace with the message, in this case scientist say jon stewart is hurting america.

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I don't think so! When you are at the mercy of a vile gang of hooligans and ignoramuses such as the present "administration", whose fondest desire is to keep ordinary citizens ignorant and compliant, you need a counterweight such as a Jon Stewart. Why do so many Americans blindly follow the bush regime's lead without even so much as a cursury look at the "other side of the story"? We need many more Jon Stewarts thumbing their nose at the powers that be. Too bad Groucho Marks is no longer with us.

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When I was a teen in the sixties, my Goldwater Republican father forbid The Smothers Brothers and Laugh-In in his house, because they were the tools of Communist Propaganda.

I watched every episode of each. I protested the Vietnam War, and for Civil Rights (MLK was also a Soviet agent, planted by the KGB), and I have voted for and worked on liberal campaigns and causes ever since that time.

Let the Fascists rail against Jon Stewart....if anything, it will assure a fine crop of liberals for the future. They're afraid....very afraid!

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Then what do you call the disease you get from entertainment like Fox news? But of course that's real news. Give me a break; James Hirsh from Newsmax is a nut case for the neo cons sent out to spread disinformation.

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What do you suggest we do next Miss Doom and Gloom?

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It's the clips he shows of Bush, his administration, Congress and the mainstream media who are a joke. I wasn't completely disappointed that Bush took the 2004 election, because the Daily Show just wouldn't be as funny without him.

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Totally cool.

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I love that they got an entertainment guy to provide political commentary...about an entertainment show that does political commentary.

Comedy Central has a clip of Jon's reaction to this bit on their website -- worth checking out.

Best of all is what immediately followed this segment (see the transcript at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13595264/). My god, these guys prove Jon's whole message so well, and they don't even realize it....

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SCARBOROUGH: ...certainly, Jon Stewart is more left-leaning than the rest, but at the same time, you know, as this study shows, it just doesn‘t turn them off for Republicans. It stops them from voting for Republicans and Democrats, or at least to be more cynical.

I‘m joined now by Rita Cosby, the never cynical host of Rita Cosby “LIVE & DIRECT.” Rita, what do you have coming up for us at 10:00?

RITA COSBY, HOST: I agree I‘m never cynical. And tonight, Joe, why is Congress stepping in to stop sexual predators online? Today some dramatic testimony on Capitol Hill. Find out why some members of Congress were so stunned that their jaws dropped.

Plus, a new arrest in the Natalee Holloway case. What did this man see the night she vanished?

And you may remember him as Screech from the famous TV sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” Tonight, he‘s going to join me live pleading for your help. Find out why. We‘re going to have that and a whole lot more, Joe, “LIVE & DIRECT” at the top of the hour.

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