Monday, December 27, 2010

The Power of Jon Stewart????

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/business/media/27stewart.html?_r=1&nl=us&emc=politicsemailema1

Does Jon Stewart really have the influence necessary to shame Republican senators into ending a filibuster and voting in favor of the 9/11 Bill to provide a financial support package for the 9/11 first responders. I watched the latest "Daily Show" a couple of days ago and was quite impressed that Jon Stewart not only insulted the Republican party(and Fox News)- as can be expected, but he made a valid argument as to why the 9/11 bill should be passed. I thought it was quite ironic that the first responders of 9/11 are the epitome of "American" and the event that revitalized American pride, yet the Republicans in the Senate not only refused to vote for it, but they also instituted a filibuster in attempts to kill the bill.

When Jon Stewart had Mike Huckabee from Fox News on the show, Stewart asked Huckabee why Republicans were dragging their feet on the bill, Huckabee couldn't think of a excuse. Stewart accused Fox News of making 9/11 a trite expression that is used liberally by the station to mobilize its viewers for many issues, most recently, the "terror mosque." Unfortunately, when legislation that was intended to benefit those that defended Americans on that dreadful day, Fox News as well as CBS and NBC failed to cover the issue. How is that possible? It is eerie to know that the media is so heavily intertwined with politics to the point that most watched news stations omit significant government actions because the parties have an agenda to maintain. Although I watched the episode after the show AND after the senate had passed the bill, I wonder if his voice really tipped the bucket.

Earlier in the year, there have been other pieces of legislation that have passed now that we are in the lame-duck period that previously were shot down time and time again. I find it quite interesting that the President and congress are making so much progress and actually have their noses to the grind. The Majority Whip, Senator Reid is making the senate work up until the end of the year and I am eagerly watching to see what else will transpire before the conclusion of the democratic domination.

Who knew that some late night comedy could have such an impact?

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