Stewart doesn't pretend to be an equal opportunity offender, either, but ok, don't tell the truth. That's cool.

Your use of generalities would indicate to me that you're on the left side of life. Am I wrong? I'm not sure what your post means and I'm not sure how to respond. Normally I don't even respond this much to those who won't use their real name. But, to quote you, "That's cool." I welcome your comments.

How's this for more specific... Stewart doesn't pretend to make jokes about Democrats as much as makes jokes about Republicans. Pretty simple. And it's the truth. How's the truth mean I'm in the "left side of life"? Because something you said was false and I corrected you? Ok, whatever... that's cool.

Every time I've heard Stewart questioned about his jokes, he's always said he tries to make fun of both sides equally. Maybe recently, he's changed his tune, but last time I checked, I was right. I don't post things that I know are false, but I could stand corrected on an honest mistake.

I looked this issue up because your belief made me less certain of my belief (I don't post things I know are false, either). I found this, a section of a Rolling Stone article on Stewart, that says:

'In reality, Kerry has always maintained an air of nonpartisanship, although, as Election Day nears, he's been delivering some particularly blunt attacks on Bush. "Sometimes," he says, "we decide to drop the irony and just say it."'

And an MSNBC article...

'...one night he shows a tape of Clark bragging at a Democratic debate: "I worked it for Haiti, I worked it for Bosnia and I worked it for Kosovo." Cut to Stewart: "Please tell me those are the names of places and not Japanese businessmen." Clark, by the way, appeared in person on "The Daily Show" the very next day, and was thrilled to be there. Most politicians are.'

I would conclude that while Stewart does, indeed, "maintain an air of nonpartisanship," but I think he says this as he says everything else -- with a sense of sarcasm and a grain of salt. I bet Stewart knows most realize he's anti-Bush, and I don't think he seriously tries to hide that. He only, as you said, "pretends" to be an equal opportunity offender -- because everything is a joke to him. Both the Rolling Stones and MSNBC articles stressed, however, that Stewart is anti-hypocrisy and anti-mainstream media more than anything else.

I fully agree with you that his true m.o. is to "dis" the media, and that he does quite well. The main flaw with his show is that his political paradigm is exactly the same as the mainstream media. But I still love him. Thanks for the quotes. It's always good to have hard facts from research. I appreciate your sleuthing.

I don't agree that the main flaw of his program is that his political paradigm is exactly the same as most of the media. The whole basis of his show is to be a fake news program. This allows him to parody the mainstream media more than if his show was radically different in terms of style. But in terms of substance, Stewart's show IS radically different than those of the mainstream media, because Stewart cuts through spin and confusion to produce an intelligent, funny, and bitingly ironic program.

Right, but he still leans to the left, just like the mainstream media. So, he's not radically different on those terms, but he sure is on format and style.

I don't think the mainstream media leans to the left or the right. I think the media is simply incompetent. Liberals can go on about Fox News, and conservatives can go on about ABC News, or CBS News, or whatever News they'd prefer to go on about, but in the end it comes down to the media just not being hard enough on either party.

Besides that, yes, Stewart is liberal, but his main thing is hypocrisy in the media. He doesn't care if you're a Dem or a Repub -- if you say or do something stupid, be prepared to get called for it. He's hard on anyone who has warranted it. I think his ability to be nonpartisan lies in the fact that he isn't devoted to either party, at all. He's guided by his own individual sense of right and wrong and smart and stupid, and his show reflects that. Leaning to the left doesn't affect a thing with him. If he were a Republican, but everything else about him was the same, he'd be all over Bush just the same way he is now.

You're definitely right...if you're in the public eye and you do something stupid, be prepared...Jon Stewart is on the prowl. I do love him; he's thoroughly enjoyable. I don't get to watch him often, but when I do, I just giggle the whole time. I think the way he handled things after 9/11 was brilliant. He did so well balancing sensitivity and humor. My hat's off to him.

BTW, how did you find my site? I always am interested in knowing how people stumble upon it.

I was searching for Republican blogs to get some insight into what they're saying about the election, and I randomly picked yours. Albeit yours seems to be more than just centered on politics.