Jon Stewart did the Jane Harman story last night and blew it. Didn't mention Israel for over a minute. Doesn't say Harman's Jewish. Doesn't talk about the Israel lobby really. Doesn't talk about the occupation or Gaza or Iran, the things the lobby cares about. Makes it into a confusing Washington scandal. Says a smart friend:
I caught Jon Stewart on Jane Harman. One of his few I-am-dumb presentations, of the sort most comedians and talk-show hosts do all the time when they talk about politics. He treated it as just too arcane and incomprehensible for words; as if complicated/funny/silly DC thing: not even the flashed image of Gonzales altered this tone. Audience chortled. A rare case of JS teaching below his intelligence.
Jack Ross takes exception to my view:
For God's sake, you can't give him credit for talking about it at
all?!! Yes, there's a sort of odd way that he talks about it, like the
way Olbermann and
Maddow talk about it on the few occasions that they have, but the
audience knew exactly what was going on, and of course it's an open secret that Jon Stewart's views on Israel/Palestine are pretty damn close to our own. So why are you being hard on him?
John Stewart didn't blow anything. He covered for his allies, which is what hacks do.
That is an interesting take. I thought he nailed the story in many ways. I guess that comes from watching Jon Stewart for years and have witnessed a huge shift in Stewarts coverage of ANY issues having to do with the I lobby, the I/P conflict, or the Aipac espionage investigation and trial. These issues have been OFF LIMITS on Stewarts show…OFF LIMITS. His show has opened up the last year. So some coverage is better than none The one thing I objected to is that Stewart said the efforts to get the Aipac espionage investigation/trial dismissed. This was misleading. I believe these efforts have worked. The word is out that the trial will be dismissed.
Depressing. Another chance to take a shower but Uncle Sam's little helpers won't let him though he's just caked in crud. Not even a toothbrush he gets–no wonder Uncle Sam has such bad breath and no decent teeth.
Watch it again! Stewart could have been better, but he certainly mentioned that Harmon was on the phone with an Israeli agent. His main punch-line was apt: that Harmon was wiretapped under the same warrantless program she had supported and defended. Not a small point. You can't expect everyone to zero in on the aspect of a story we notice around here.
If the AIPAC trial does get dismissed — I hope he does an 'honest' follow-up. I thought it was little confusing… but at least he got in some good points. He forgot to bring in Pelosi "going ballistic" tho' — to reveal the 'suspected Israel spy' was at least carrying out his end of the bargain. Let 's see, a 'suspected Israel spy' was willing to help Harman keep her Chair on the Intelligence committee using 'Saban's $$$' — A man that is obsessed with Israel, and a man that Harman admits: "When the Saban Center talks, I listen," ….at a Saban Center briefing in February on U.S. strategy in Iraq…." Thank god Pelosi got to know about the wiretap, is all I can say, at least this could have been used as an excuse to fend of the Lobby not to give her the job. In fact, that CIA whistleblower who gave Pelosi the info may have been the only reason why she didn't get the job!
Jon Stewart is a COMEDY SHOW, people.
Within the confines of a comedy show, I thought he actually did a really good job of explaining exactly what took place, and appropriately ridiculing both the sinister pod-people involved, and the entire corrupt government bureaucracy.
Yes, but Stewart does more than make blonde jokes. .
I'm new to Jon Stewart but so far I've been very impressed with him, especially his take on the Gaza issue. Many non-Americans (including me) watch him to get their US News, which is why they expect a lot from him. I haven't been watching the Daily Show recently but I will do now this has been posted.
Bout as funny as a ruptured hemorrhoid. Stewart knows what side his bread is buttered on. He sneers at protesters who confront the police.
ie
The assessment of the coverage was very astute. While Stewart raked Harman over the coals, it was pretty obvious the connections he went out of his way to avoid.
Stewart is in the same position as every member of Congress, cross the lobby and you're in their cross hairs. And, they won't leave you alone until you're gone from public view.
@Jack Ross, Listen to yourself!!! "but the audience knew exactly what was going on, and of course it's an open secret that Jon Stewart's views on Israel/Palestine are pretty damn close to our own. So why are you being hard on him?" How do you know that the audience knew what was going on? Are you refering to the studio audience, or the American audience at large? If it's the latter, of course they DON'T know what's going on!!! Why are Jon Stewart's views on I/P a secret? The man is one of the most visible entertainers/media personalities/political analysts in the United States. Why does he find it necessary to keep his views on I/P a secret? Perhaps because he lacks integrity. Thank you in advance to your answers to these questions. PM
I thought Stewart's coverage was much better than I expected. @ Paul, it IS the case that the American populace is still somewhat uncomfortable thinking and talking about a Jewish/Zionist lobby. And it IS the case that Stewart is running a comedy TV show. Sure we can criticize him for pulling some punches, but we can also say that he cannily tailored his attack to the currently acceptable level of discourse. I say give the man the benefit of the doubt, at least for now.
Seems he has done a pretty good record so far of pushing the political envelope on a cable channel. He sure has pushed it past Bill Maher who thinks all is open target except Jews and Israel–perhaps that's because he's only a half-jew?
Rewatching the segment, I'll have to agree. He did take Israel and AIPAC to task; certainly far more than any MSM outlet. And you are absolutely right about Bill Maher, who fancies himself a Zionist apologist. He simply gushed over Bibi Netanyahu on his vist to the show. I think it is less his heritage than not wanting to step on the wrong toes in Hollywood.
The whole Harman thing is hysterical. Now it looks like the making public of the tape was a machination of Porter Goss, who has some animus towrds Harman. And thus, Harman is rewarded for her part in covering for Bush. What a crew. Yup, there nobody like the neo-cons when it comes to taking care of Jews, you can trust them, Jane. But to me, it's the ziocaine. Jane gets on the phone with the guy, (who ever he turns out to be) they get a little high going, and suddenly Jane's got that ziocaine invulnerability and omnipotence going. "Sure, I'll tell 'em it's anti-Semitic to put Jews in prison!" It's like something gets in their veins, and all the normal parameters no longer apply. But it's hilarious if Porter Goss was the impetus for making the tape public, as TPM speculates. Gosh, they sure do reward Democrats who go along with neo-cons!
I think it's fascinating. Also, hope that Marcy Winograd decides to have another go at taking Harman's seat. So, was it Goss's Harman Hit Squad or was it the Justice Department leaking the tape transcript — we still don't know for sure? Also just another thought: Rozen: "…As Hastert's aide told Jeff Stein yesterday: "At that point, Hastert’s aides grew concerned that the whistleblower 'was becoming agitated' and that the existence of the wiretap might surface, which would have the twin effect of exposing a highly classified operation and unfairly 'smearing' Harman as a foreign agent herself." Hastert's concern about the agitated 'whistleblower' seems to have been realized…" Could this whistleblower have been an AIPAC friendly intelligence official freaking out that yes AIPAC might be exposed — and it wasn't going to look good. Hastert and Pelosi [both AIPAC friendly] frantically being notified to try and seal the leak and do whatever they needed to do. Still haven't heard any questions on the left why Pelosi was ok with Goss being a member of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)? According to Wayne Madsen, he thinks Goss was put on there to neuter him, should a Harman ethics case arrive on his desk. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/goss-among-fo... Anyways, at the end of the day — I think what is really important is what was on those tapes? I'm hoping that most people have made up their minds by now as to what the important details are.
I was glad that he touched it even though it is late in the game….I guess better late than never. Although he was so wrong on the claim that the efforts to shut it down have not worked
It has just been the last year that Stewart has been willing to take on these issues. The I/P c onflict, the I lobby, Israel. Has just been willing to go there the last year. Better late than never. Stewart along with his writers hit the nail on the head on so many issues so great to witness them take on an issue that has been OFF LIMITS on the show
I thought it was the most cogent, damning, understandable, and accurate description of the entire affair that I have seen, and he absolutely EXCORIATED Harman, who richly deserves it. But for christs sake, its a freaking comedy show, so give the guy a break for not spending a half an hour talking about subtext. It's fantastic that he mentioned it and condemned the Israeli-AIPAC spies, condemned Saban, Condemned Harman, and condemned the government for NOT doing anything about any of it.