BUSH MONTAGE: Why would you say to the enemy, you know, here's the timetable ... it makes no sense ... it doesn't make any sense to have a timetable ... an artificial timetable ... there aren't any timetables ... I'm not giving timetables ...
STEWART: One little timetable? No timetables!
Now here's why staying on message with your talking points is difficult: Back when the war began, the talking points for the president centered on weapons of mass destruction. (Laughs) Really drilled that into our heads actually — it was quite a lot of talk. That doesn't seem to come up so much anymore. But you just know some nasty reporter's always going to ask. So the key for your new war rationale talking point is: delivering them as though the person who asked is retarded:
BUSH MONTAGE: We're defeating them there so we do not have to face them here ... our immediate strategy is to eliminate terrorist threats abroad ... we're fighting the enemy in Iraq ... fighting them in Iraq ... to defeat the terrorists abroad ... so we don't have to face them here at home ... where we live ...
STEWART: (Sarcastically) Duh!
Of course, sometimes, no matter how good your talking points, no matter how many times you repeat them, there are still some dissenters and non-believers. If there only was some way you could shut these remaining people up with some kind of emotional bludgeon:
BUSH MONTAGE: The war arrived on our shores on September the 11th, 2001 ... September the 11th ... September the 11th I made a commitment to the American people ... from September the 11th ... the lesson of September the 11th, 2001 ...
STEWART: You know, if I had a nickel for every time Bush has mentioned 9/11, I could raise enough reward money to go after Bin Laden!
And there you go, talking points. Simple! Catchy!
***
And there you go. Stewart! Brilliant!
***
This article first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.
Article comments
1 - Shark
"And there you go, talking points. Simple! Catchy! "
...add: "Tragic. Destructive."
=====
btw: thanks for posting; it was one of the few nights I missed the show.
2 - Jude Nagurney Camwell
Jon Stewart handed Christopher Hitchens his stubborn, stuffy and equivocating defense of the Iraq war right back to him (fried crispy) on a silver platter last night. It was supremo!
3 - gonzo marx
Jon Stewart > the GOP
nuff said?
Excelsior!
4 - Jude
See Wonkette
5 - Dean
It's a very sad commentary on the low quality of the media, when the best, most articulate voice on television news...is a fake news host.
6 - Dave Nalle
The interview with Hitchens was the best thing I've seen on TV in ages. To see two people actually talk that intelligently even if only for a couple of minutes was such a startling change - even from shows like McLaughlin or Tim Russert - that I was riveted.
As for Stewart handing Hitchens his head, I have to remind you that at the end Hitchens maneuvered Stewart into admitting that he kind of sort of wanted to support the War in Iraq. That's a major accomplishment and a credit to Stewart's honesty.
Dave
7 - Kurt
John "Stewart" (not his real name, which he freely admits - anti-Semitism is still very real) for President! Did ya'll see him scolding those Crossfire idiots? The man is wonderful.
8 - David R. Mark
That's right. He was born Jon Stewart Leibowitz.
But I think he shortened the name because Jon Stewart is catchier -- rather than because of a fear of anti-Semitism.
9 - Lisa McKay
Especially since he often uses his Jewish ethnicity as a point of his humor.
10 - D.C.
For crying out loud. I'd rather watch Blue Collar t.v. than this bone head.
11 - Stephan
Used to be..... still financially conservative, socially moderate.
Though I don't think Bush is as conservative as he claims, more like financially liberal, socially conservative.
Love Jon Stewart though. His news show often says what I think - none of the other news shows does that.
What keeps me watching isn't the comedy but the guests - liberal & conservative alike. The intelligence of the conversations often eclipses that of the more "serious" news shows which often treat me like an idiot (like GW with his public). That plus he treats his guests, whatever their politics, pretty fair and at the same time not too seriously - that's a combination not found anywhere else:)
12 - REkz
re: Name Change --
Jon Stewart Liebowitz, eh? Interesting. I also have a Jewish name (sounds Jewish & Russian), and been considering changing it for my forthcoming anti-Hollywood stardom. (Liebowitz is actually Polish, and if his name ended in "icz" (or often in the USA "ich") it'd be Christian, and "itz" is Jewish. I know b/c my name's the same way.)
Is it b/c of anti-semitism, which is rampant in the USA and Europe (and many other places)? Nope.
Will I hide that I'm Jewish? Nope.
I give you the #1 reason a US Star Changes their Jewish name: MARKETING
It's that simple. Jon Stewart can be Jewish, Jon Stewart Liebowitz can be Jewish, but which sounds 'cooler'?
We just live in a monosyllabic America, and if your name is too long
-- you ain't gonna be a star.
13 - gonzo marx
like...Schwartzeneggar?
just messing with ya
Excelsior!
14 - Scott Butki
Oh I'm sorry I missed that exchange. And I usually watch that show religiously too.