When Mehdi Hasan sat down with Jon Stewart last month, the roles were reversed. This time, the Emmy-winning host of The Daily Show was the one asking the questions — about corporate media, Gaza, Do…
I think the biggest determinant of a politician’s success is their ability to delegate to the right people, and a big determinant of that is their ability to assess other people and to question them critically. Stewart’s interview skills suggest he wouldn’t be terrible at that.
I’m not saying Jon would be a terrible politician. I’m saying choosing him to be president would be a terrible idea… in like an opportunity cost way.
Trump is just the tip of the GOP spear. Progressives need to build a political machine instead of continuing to expect that electing one person will fix everything.
You’re right, except I’d say comparing apples to screws or something. Zelenskyy and Stewart, Ukraine and the US like our situations…. Are only similar in that they are in fact people and those are in fact nations.
Also, yes can we stop electing …… tv personalities?
I think even if he isn’t, which is not as sure a thing as it should be, Trumpism will still be a central facet of the campaign and needs to be thoroughly defeated, reversed, and ridiculed. Whoever the Republican candidate is will be running to be a continuation of Trumpian fascism and cannot stray too far from it, so being ready to win that battle, not with politicianspeak but passion and charisma, will be important.
Disagree. Each and every political party needs to focus on finding leaders that have made their name through action, not through commentary and grandstanding. We don’t need another TV president with infinite experience hiding behind words and cameras, we need a person that can fulfil the executive function of the executive branch government.
I mean… of the TV personalities out there who could potentially run for office… John Stewart has actually put his money and hard work where his mouth is.
Treating politics like teams sports instead of serious civics is what got americans into this mess.
Americans need a leader who can fix their problems. Jon speaks truth to power but he’d be the first to admit he’s not the guy for the job of president.
We are here now and going to lose our country because one side doesn’t care about criticism like this. They do what strengthens their power and ignore people like you.
I mean you are just showing your whole ass here that you really don’t know what you are talking about.
You realize that Jon Stewart literally spent almost a decade lobbying both sides of congress to get support for 9-11 first responders. He’s literally gotten laws passed through congress.
Which is a more significant contribution than fucking Buttigeig or any other number of political animals that get trotted out when its time for us to be told who its “allowed” to run for president. Ire for someone like Stewart is ridiculous if we’re also expected to take a small college town mayor (like Buttigeig who couldnt even win a down-ballot state race).
And honestly, a real political read and understanding of where people are at is the most important quality right now, Jon has that in spades.
The other side is effectively a monolith. They all fall in line on messaging and talking points. They take money from billionaires, they gerrymander shamelessly, if there is a hurdle that exists due to convention or tradition they tear it down. They have no qualms about doing whatever is necessary to grow their power. So, one day they will have ALL of the power. And people like you will still be criticizing your own side for trying to find an effective leader that is willing to upset the weak, ineffective status quo of their own party.
And people like you will still be criticizing your own side for trying to find an effective leader that is willing to upset the weak, ineffective status quo of their own party
Except you guys aren’t trying. You’re lazily demanding someone who built their platform entertaining shift over to the most stressful job in the world.
Go nominate and support someone primarying the status quo. The otherside may be a monolith but they understand they need to do that much.
“it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” -Douglas Adams.
He doesn’t want the job. He’d be the best President since Teddy Roosevelt.
That’s a logical fallacy. Just because people who don’t desire power tend to wield power more ethically than people who do; has no bearing on either individual capacity to lead, nor the political context.
Jon is a great guy, but you’ll be setting him up to fail electing him to counter trump becuase trump is just the tip of the GOP spear. Unless you guys are willing to do the work of mass primarying the DNC than nothing will change.
Why? He already has a history of involvement with politics. He got legislature passed to provide support for 9/11 first responders who weren’t getting medical help they needed.
Because advocacy is not the same as civic leadership. Just because Jon can knock a few issues out of the park doesn’t mean he’s the guy to send to bat for every issue.
Jon succeeded because he built a platform as an entertainer. That platform holds very little political weight outside of people who watch him though.
If Jon comes out and says he thinks he can do the job… sure. But in the words of Bill Burr… expecting a comedian to do someone else’s job is just pushing the buck.
See, this whole “I wont support anyone short of the absolutely perfect candidate” is just the most bizarre thing to me. Like a man dying of thirst in the desert unwilling to drink unless he knows the water is bottled spring water blessed by the pope and certified by at least 3 notaries.
Stewart would be better than probably anyone else the Dems would run next election.
But that is the sentiment, no? If he did run you wouldn’t support him because he’s a comedian and any political work he’s done holds no weight in your eyes.
It’s the same bullshit as with Kamala. People wouldn’t vote for her because of x y z issues so instead we got the worst fucking clown and government in the history of the US, because god forbid the candidate available isn’t the most perfect ideological fit.
Yeah, I wouldn’t vote for Bill Burr either. Have you seen what Jon has to say about Palastine or how he stuck up for the 911 first responders? Jon is better than any politician you can name. He’s honest, smart and knows what’s going on.
No matter who the Democratic nominee is the right will attack him or her in the exact same way, calling them radical communists that want all of our boys turned into girls and all of our murderers to have taxpayer funded penthouses. I just want a candidate who understands the severity of the situation and isn’t going to fuck around. Jon Stewart definitely fits the bill.
They get that charisma is the most dangerous trait in an opposing politician. Same reason they lose their shit over AOC. There are other progressives with similar politics, but she’s a danger because she’s charismatic. They know that and that’s why they’ve been working since she got elected to try to take her down.
Jon Stewart has been working politics for decades as essentially a pundit. I get that you want to think your politicians are better and educated for the position but that’s a lie you’re telling yourself.
There is not one nation on this earth who’s politicians are chosen for being exceptionally qualified. Politics is at it’s core theater. Because while you may(think) you’re always chosing based on logic that logic is always perception driven.
I love John Stewart… but this is a terrible idea.
I think the biggest determinant of a politician’s success is their ability to delegate to the right people, and a big determinant of that is their ability to assess other people and to question them critically. Stewart’s interview skills suggest he wouldn’t be terrible at that.
I’m not saying Jon would be a terrible politician. I’m saying choosing him to be president would be a terrible idea… in like an opportunity cost way.
Trump is just the tip of the GOP spear. Progressives need to build a political machine instead of continuing to expect that electing one person will fix everything.
I wish I wasn’t American with this BS.
You’re right, except I’d say comparing apples to screws or something. Zelenskyy and Stewart, Ukraine and the US like our situations…. Are only similar in that they are in fact people and those are in fact nations.
Also, yes can we stop electing …… tv personalities?
I hate doomerism… but the USA is defs cooked if these comments are any indicator of American progressives as a whole.
Disagree. Democrats need someone who can make Trump look like a loser
He wouldn’t be running against Trump anyway.
One can hope
And if Trump did try to pull a third term, I’d hope the democrats would have the guts to put Obama up again.
At least we hope he won’t be
I think even if he isn’t, which is not as sure a thing as it should be, Trumpism will still be a central facet of the campaign and needs to be thoroughly defeated, reversed, and ridiculed. Whoever the Republican candidate is will be running to be a continuation of Trumpian fascism and cannot stray too far from it, so being ready to win that battle, not with politicianspeak but passion and charisma, will be important.
Disagree. Each and every political party needs to focus on finding leaders that have made their name through action, not through commentary and grandstanding. We don’t need another TV president with infinite experience hiding behind words and cameras, we need a person that can fulfil the executive function of the executive branch government.
I mean… of the TV personalities out there who could potentially run for office… John Stewart has actually put his money and hard work where his mouth is.
Nice. +1 to viable exceptions then.
Jon Stewart has taken actual political action and enacted change because of it (eg. for 9/11 survivors).
Treating politics like teams sports instead of serious civics is what got americans into this mess.
Americans need a leader who can fix their problems. Jon speaks truth to power but he’d be the first to admit he’s not the guy for the job of president.
We are here now and going to lose our country because one side doesn’t care about criticism like this. They do what strengthens their power and ignore people like you.
Treating the entire other side like a monolith implies to me that you have a very limited perspective on things.
By you logic you should be skipping right over Jon and electing Matt and Trey to a ticket.
Leading is more than talking shit. Not that Americans like you would know that.
I mean you are just showing your whole ass here that you really don’t know what you are talking about.
You realize that Jon Stewart literally spent almost a decade lobbying both sides of congress to get support for 9-11 first responders. He’s literally gotten laws passed through congress.
Which is a more significant contribution than fucking Buttigeig or any other number of political animals that get trotted out when its time for us to be told who its “allowed” to run for president. Ire for someone like Stewart is ridiculous if we’re also expected to take a small college town mayor (like Buttigeig who couldnt even win a down-ballot state race).
And honestly, a real political read and understanding of where people are at is the most important quality right now, Jon has that in spades.
And yet he’s never run for office. It’s almost like he’s simply using his platform to do good.
Americans need to elect new leaders. The opportunity cost of rallying behind Jon will be building up a new generation of progressive leadership.
You just don’t know what you are talking about.
The other side is effectively a monolith. They all fall in line on messaging and talking points. They take money from billionaires, they gerrymander shamelessly, if there is a hurdle that exists due to convention or tradition they tear it down. They have no qualms about doing whatever is necessary to grow their power. So, one day they will have ALL of the power. And people like you will still be criticizing your own side for trying to find an effective leader that is willing to upset the weak, ineffective status quo of their own party.
Except you guys aren’t trying. You’re lazily demanding someone who built their platform entertaining shift over to the most stressful job in the world.
Go nominate and support someone primarying the status quo. The otherside may be a monolith but they understand they need to do that much.
“it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” -Douglas Adams.
He doesn’t want the job. He’d be the best President since Teddy Roosevelt.
That’s a logical fallacy. Just because people who don’t desire power tend to wield power more ethically than people who do; has no bearing on either individual capacity to lead, nor the political context.
Jon is a great guy, but you’ll be setting him up to fail electing him to counter trump becuase trump is just the tip of the GOP spear. Unless you guys are willing to do the work of mass primarying the DNC than nothing will change.
👆
This attitude right here is the attitude that put Trump into office.
Why? He already has a history of involvement with politics. He got legislature passed to provide support for 9/11 first responders who weren’t getting medical help they needed.
Because advocacy is not the same as civic leadership. Just because Jon can knock a few issues out of the park doesn’t mean he’s the guy to send to bat for every issue.
Jon succeeded because he built a platform as an entertainer. That platform holds very little political weight outside of people who watch him though.
If Jon comes out and says he thinks he can do the job… sure. But in the words of Bill Burr… expecting a comedian to do someone else’s job is just pushing the buck.
See, this whole “I wont support anyone short of the absolutely perfect candidate” is just the most bizarre thing to me. Like a man dying of thirst in the desert unwilling to drink unless he knows the water is bottled spring water blessed by the pope and certified by at least 3 notaries.
Stewart would be better than probably anyone else the Dems would run next election.
That is an impressive strawman. Jon isn’t even running for office and you’re conflating me suggesting there’s better options with that?
But that is the sentiment, no? If he did run you wouldn’t support him because he’s a comedian and any political work he’s done holds no weight in your eyes.
It’s the same bullshit as with Kamala. People wouldn’t vote for her because of x y z issues so instead we got the worst fucking clown and government in the history of the US, because god forbid the candidate available isn’t the most perfect ideological fit.
Why, Zelensky has been awesome. Same deal.
Zelensky is a war time leader. The scope of his concerns are entirely different than what the next US president will need to address.
https://youtu.be/dkhiBQMlgas?t=53
Yeah, I wouldn’t vote for Bill Burr either. Have you seen what Jon has to say about Palastine or how he stuck up for the 911 first responders? Jon is better than any politician you can name. He’s honest, smart and knows what’s going on.
*Jon
No matter who the Democratic nominee is the right will attack him or her in the exact same way, calling them radical communists that want all of our boys turned into girls and all of our murderers to have taxpayer funded penthouses. I just want a candidate who understands the severity of the situation and isn’t going to fuck around. Jon Stewart definitely fits the bill.
You can tell it scares the right by how quickly they showed up in this thread. Very funny to see.
They get that charisma is the most dangerous trait in an opposing politician. Same reason they lose their shit over AOC. There are other progressives with similar politics, but she’s a danger because she’s charismatic. They know that and that’s why they’ve been working since she got elected to try to take her down.
Jon Stewart has been working politics for decades as essentially a pundit. I get that you want to think your politicians are better and educated for the position but that’s a lie you’re telling yourself.
There is not one nation on this earth who’s politicians are chosen for being exceptionally qualified. Politics is at it’s core theater. Because while you may(think) you’re always chosing based on logic that logic is always perception driven.
Also money. Duh.
Please elaborate…I gotta hear this