Who Jon Stewart should have raked over the coals...

[SnoopDog]

Sure, CNBC and Cramer are very much of the problem.

The REAL problem is Wall Street... Yes, they basically stole $trillions from Americans. They destroyed
the American Economy. And they destroyed the World economy.

But wait... let's think for a second...

The Real REAL people responsible for this global economic crisis...?

That's right... those who dictate the rules and laws.

Yes, you know who it is.

Presidents. Congress. Senators.

Let's start with Mr. Stewart interviewing President Clinton and ask him why the fuck he signed the
repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. Then march the Bush in front of Mr. Stewart and ask him why the fuck
he did not stop Wall Street when, once again, he was Warned of what was happenings. And also ask
him WHY he sued Governor Spitzer to stop HIS ability to stop the predatory lending. Then march every single
god damn Rep and Senator who Voted to deregulate the Money Industry.

Our government has allowed and made it possible to have Economic Treason committed against US.

And we are the ones without homes, diminished savings, and no jobs.

But they have their billions.

You do know this will never stop - until we stop them...

[BeyondGeography]

1. Stewart also failed to get Nixon on his show during Watergate

and his questions for Eichmann at Nuremburg were total softballs.

Damn you, Jon. Damn you.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. He's worthless

And he's not even on tonight so that he could interview Cramer again and this time, REALLY take him to task.

Coward. Worthless coward. I'm sure the Higher Ups at Comedy Central told him he couldn't appear. You know how those suits are. It's all a corporate conspiracy.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Lol !

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. This is something that's also contributed.......

The repealing by states of their usury laws. That's how the credit card companies got such traction to institute interest rates that surpass even those imposed by the Mob.

This guy is impressive, and I like his thinking: http://www.plotkin.com/blog-archives/2009/02/bring_back_usur.html

[w4rma]

5. That's a huge reason we are where we are today. (nt)

[misanthrope]

20. Heaven forbid! Then what would happen to all those...

..."Cash 'Til Payday" places that sprout like mushrooms around the poorer neighborhoods?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

24. Those parasites........

My beloved blue Commonwealth, Virginia, passed a law nailing their interest rates. It just went into effect this past January 1.

But, the shit they've gotten away with is heartbreaking.

[misanthrope]

27. I'm ashamed to say my wife has friends in that biz...

...A longtime friend of hers, in fact, whose mother owns one of those predatory practices. They see nothing wrong with it and gleefully roll in the money it makes for them.

I've disliked her (my wife's friend) for decades and the usury business just exacerbates it. In fact, most of the time I'm quelling the urge to spit on them when they're around.

[Seen the light]

6. You know, I agree to an extent

He's had Clinton and McCain on his show numerous times, yet he never questioned them like he did Jim Cramer. He's had Bill Kristol and other clowns like him on there too and has hit them a little harder, but nothing approaching what he did to Cramer.

I really don't understand his vitriol towards Jim Cramer of all people as if he's public enemy #1. Sure he's a public enemy, but there are hundreds if not thousands of people that deserved to be humiliated on TDS before he did. That being said, HAHA Jim Cramer! You suck!

[SnoopDog]

8. It seems you, so far, understand what I am getting at...

Thanks.

It is the responsibility of our government to insure the public safety whether it is from
attack or from economic crisis.

Our government makes the laws and provides oversight to insure our businesses
do not ruin America and her citizenry. Our government failed us. On purpose.

My point about Stewart is that it would be nice if ANYONE in MEDIA would rake our
government officials over the coals about the destruction they allowed to happen.

[AlCzervik]

9. the 4th estate now exists only at comedy central.

how sad is that.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. I was two minutes behind you.

GMTA

:toast:

[misanthrope]

21. Very sad indeed. As I've said, I think the demise of newspapers...

...is tied to the lack of respect the public has for journalism as a whole these days.

[AlCzervik]

22. I get 2 newspapers a day and I will be beyond sad if they close down the print side.

It's a morning ritual for me, coffee maker on and go get the papers.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

10. What's really pathetic,

and I lament it and share your belief that the proper people haven't been questioned, is that we are actually discussing something done by the host of a comedy show.

This is what America has come to.

I wonder if we'll ever have smart and courageous reporters again.

[annabanana]

12. He wasn't especially aiming at Cramer to start with... His target

was the whole of CNBC.. Cramer was the one who took the bait.

It is personal for Jon. As he said, his 70-something year old mother believed that stocks would always pay off in the long run, and her 401k and, I guess, her pension fund, tanked along with everyone else who was fed bs by "financial experts" like the staff of CNBC.

He's angry.

[Seen the light]

16. Oh I missed that

I should have figured there was a personal aspect to it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

25. That was part of the unedited interview -

it wasn't shown on TDS.

When he said that about his 75-year-old mother, I thought, "Aha!"

It's all personal. We all know people who have lost big.

[sandnsea]

13. The media is not supposed to be political

People have traditionally trusted the media to sort out the partisan bull and tell the truth. It doesn't do that anymore. People are inclined to be skeptical of politicians and corporations because they already believe they're crooks. They don't understand the media is lying to them too because they're just another branch of the rotting tree.

[peacetalksforall]

14. Anyone who saw the film of Cramer telling the interviewer how he contribunted to

wall street crime on his own - would blow up and do something about it if they were in position and I think that video of Cramer was the turn point. I don't think anyone should criticize him retroactively. Things evolve. If he handles everyone the way he did Cramer, no one would come on the show. Consider it a milestone night. Things are not going to be the same - my gut tells me.

Thanks to Jon for saying what we wish we could say - or make that - saying it to over 2 million people - we would never have that opportunity.

Don't look back - it's a new day.

[Larkspur]

17. Stewart went after CNBC because Rick Santelli called ordinary Americans

who took subprime loans from banks that were peddling them that they were losers and Obama should not help them keep their homes.

Stewart's initial show was aimed at CNBC and at the financial reporters in general who are more concerned with access to corporate execs than they are in ferreting out the truth. Stewart only went after Cramer after Cramer took up the mantle "Defender of CNBC" and attacked Stewart.

Jason Links, HuffPost, sums up why Cramer had his butt handed to him by Stewart -- Final Thoughts On Cramer Vs. Stewart

SNIP

Cramer was bound and determined, at the outset, to be a good soldier for his network, and to put Stewart, who he described as a "comedian," in his place. And Cramer was full of bluster until the hour drew nigh. That's when he started trying to manage expectations. That's when he started striking a plaintive chord. I was primed to expect to see Cramer come on The Daily Show and plead guilty. The only mystery was whether he would properly allocute to the offenses, and how hard Stewart would make it for Cramer if he went without satisfaction.

SNIP

For my part, I thought that last night's interview was more akin to what Jon Stewart did to Chris Matthews on October 2, 2007. Back then, Matthews was pimping his latest book, Life Is A Campaign, and Stewart conducted a vertigo-inducing confrontation in which Matthews' very philosophy of life was ridiculed. So it was with Cramer. Certainly, Cramer has been wrong on specific facts and has dispensed suspect and contradictory advice. And those videos Stewart showed of Cramer big upping market manipulation certainly cut to the core of whether you can take the man seriously as a stock picker or a market expert. But really, Stewart's ire wasn't directed at matters of fact. It was directed at matters of philosophy: that it all could be turned into "a fucking game."

The eerie similarities between Cramer and Matthews don't end there. Both men, more than anything else, seem rather desperate to be liked. When you read Mark Leibovich's story on Chris Matthews in the April 13, 2008 edition of the New York Times Magazine, Matthews' desire to simply be admired comes aching off the pages with a ruinous intensity. I believe that the dividing line between Cramer the Sober Market Manipulator and Cramer the Happy Jester of Mad Money, is bridged by that same desire. Cramer just wanted to be thought of as a fun guy, an entertainer, a comedian in his own right. And, honestly, that's probably the reason why he unnecessarily leapt full bore into the fray with Jon Stewart. He had impugned CNBC's honor and the credibility of all those colleagues that gave him acceptance and that egged him on.

But the fact that no one bothered to spare Cramer the same presumed indignity that Rick Santelli was spared is telling. And even Stewart attested to the fact that it was simply unfair for Cramer to be bearing the weight of CNBC's sins. The thing is, that's what he'd always done. Cramer's antic disposition has always helped CNBC's own irrational exuberance seem sober by comparison. His propensity for mistakes made everyone else's record look shrewd. Cramer didn't mind because his clown act fulfilled him. And CNBC gave him everything he wanted - that Pee Wee's Playhouse set, those nonsensical sound effects - and together, they sold the dream of a boom time without end.

SNIP

[napoleon_in_rags]

26. Santelli is the far bigger asshole in my book.

I kind of agree with the OP. I thought the interview was good, but having every top post on the greatest page be about celebrating Stewart vs. Cramer is really ... Its almost missing the point by making it too about personalities. Jon's critiques that made the interview good were systemic. The whole media got put on notice.

[AlCzervik]

7. And how about John Pope, Jon could have grilled him over Bull Run, demanded answers!

[MannyGoldstein]

15. A Man's Got To Earn A Living

If Clinton hadn't signed Glass-Steagall (and handed the signing pen to the CEO of Citi Group), he'd have only made a few million after leaving office, like that loser Jimmy Carter. If he hadn't rammed through almost-free-trade-status for China, he'd be down to his last few hundred thousand.

[misanthrope]

18. Stewart has had Clinton on his show before...

...and he kissed his ass for the most part.

[Occam Bandage]

19. I hear he also let Stalin get away with everything, too. nt

[upi402]

23. Clinton: Telecommunications & Glass-Steagall Acts, NAFTA, GATT

He was the best Republican ever! It sure would be nice to have an opposition party. I'd have some hope of change if we did.

Jon Stewart was amazing. A true patriot. I hope history reports that thses folks didn't flinch: Maher, KO, Jon Stewart, real Democrats in office who confronted power, Air America, Jones Radio, Nova-M Radio. Many others too...
:patriot:

[misanthrope]

28. I'm regularly chastised...

...for calling Bill Clinton "the best Republican president of my lifetime." Get ready...