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Author
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Topic: Daily Show
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Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted 01-16-2004 01:54 PM
   
Does anyone else watch the Daily Show. For the last few nights they have been really knocking NASA and the space program, especially Bush's speech. I understand that it is a very liberally bent show and maybe that I've been a little too sensitive to their treatment of the subject. However,I can't help to wonder if this is how a substantial part of the population feels about Bush's plan. What do you all think? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-16-2004 02:12 PM
I need to find the source of this again, but I recently heard that two identical polls were taken about the new space vision, with only a few words changed between each.In the first poll, they asked whether you supported the United States plan to return to the Moon and go on to Mars. A majority said yes. In the second poll, asked of another 1000 or so people (different than the first), they asked whether you supported Bush's plan to return to the Moon and go on to Mars. The majority said no. Now, polling being what it is, you would probably need to repeat this experiment several more times (at least) before you could draw any conclusions, if then at all. But I could see why people could be confusing politics with projects. After all, most people I have talked to think this is Bush's plan, as if he alone developed it. Missing from most of the news coverage has been mention of the inter-agency review that arrived at this vision... [This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited January 16, 2004).] |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 01-16-2004 03:35 PM
I think that Jon Stewart is a comedic actor portraying a news anchor. He gets paid to have people laugh at him. Think of him in terms of his peers, Kent Brockman of the Simpsons and Chevy Chase from SNL’s Weekend Update.------------------
Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! |
Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted 01-16-2004 04:25 PM
You are right that he is a comedian, however, he is taken somewhat seriously. His photo on the cover of Newsweek points to that. It is sort of like the jester's role in court policits.The problem with it is that it is a heavily bent show to the left. Rarely is a conservative on the show, and when they have been there, I've seen them be hissed at. This is not to say that I don't like the show. I actually love it and think it is hilarious. I also love NPR, but know that that is a left bent program also. It is just that when I see those sort of portrayals, I feel it gives me somewhat of an insight (although comedic) to the fight that is about to happen on the whole proposal. This is basically the problem. Bush gave the proposal. Therefore, it being an election year, it will be linked to politics. The Democrats will have to fight this proposal tooth and nail. No matter what Bush does, they can not afford to let him become even more popular. Furthermore, if Bush looses the election, I believe that the push for the moon will die. Every president is searching for a lasting legacy. The democrats know that the new space proposal could be a lasting one for Bush if it passes and comes to fruition. It is just like the race to the moon. It's hard to separate it from Kennedy's speech. |
mikej
Member Posts: 481
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-16-2004 05:48 PM
A link to a story including the poll results Robert mentioned is at http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/13/bush.space.ap/index.html. It's about 1/2 way down the page. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-16-2004 05:49 PM
There are other entertainers/politial activists walking on the fine line. (please) Take Al Fanken for example. He criticizes conservatives, but when they strike back he uses the "it's only satire" defense.I do remember that when NEAR landed on Eros the Daily Show really played it up. However, it was primarily couched as a dig at JPL and the failures of the Mars Polar Lander and the Mars Climate Orbiter. They played up a suble yet sarcastic comment made by the NEAR mission director as Dan Goldin and Maryland Sen. Mikulski listened on. But I don't remember the exact quote. It was rather funny. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-16-2004 08:21 PM
I wouldn't take ANYTHING on the Daily Show seriously. I think Stewart is a horse's *ss;
Actually, I think the same of Chevy Chase, but at least he was funny sometimes (IMHO).Rush Limbaugh has made the observation that for anything to be funny, it has to have some basis in reality. So much of Stewart's stuff is unfunny because there's no substance to it, just right bashing. -chet (with no sense of humor whatsoever) |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-16-2004 08:45 PM
This is getting somewhat off-topic... but I find The Daily Show one of the cleverest shows on television. It is not afraid to make fun of everyone - left, right, center - as well as frequently spoofing the media's simplification or misreporting of major stories. I sense that to "get it", the viewer needs a healthy sense of irony, and an ability to laugh at the absurdities of current events - even if they relate to your most cherished beliefs. I therefore understand why many people dislike it - but feel they are missing out. |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-16-2004 10:12 PM
He's making fun of Bush because that's who the President is right now. Leno mercilessly dragged Clinton over the coals for years about being a philandering crook and now he makes fun of Bush for his oil buddies and butchering the English language. That's Leno's job. That's what comedians do - they use timely, current events for their material. What do you expect them to make fun of - Watergate and Jimmy Carter? Lighten up, y'all. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-16-2004 11:12 PM
(And BTW, I DO "get" what the Daily Show is trying to do, insofar as humor....I just don't find Stewart funny. I thought Kilborne was much better. For funny, I'll take South Park and The Simpsons over Stewart and Leno any day).-chet [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited January 17, 2004).] |
OPOS
Member Posts: 200
From: Inverness, FL
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 01-17-2004 09:21 AM
Keep in mind that Stewart and Co. were the ones who made Buzz Aldrin's attacker (what was his name?) look like such an a** a year or so ago. That segment did more to make hoaxers look bad than all the rational discourse before!! Satire, or just plain making fun, is something that can sometimes help our views, or hurt them. Just take it for a laugh, and be glad we live in a place where we can do that without fear of reprisals.Tom Edmonds [This message has been edited by OPOS (edited January 17, 2004).] |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-17-2004 11:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by OPOS:
Keep in mind that Stewart and Co. were the ones who made Buzz Aldrin's attacker (what was his name?) look like such an a** a year or so ago. That segment did more to make hoaxers look bad than all the rational discourse before!!
That's right, Tom. I myself rarely watch The Daily Show, but Stewart deserves our thanks just for that alone. |
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