Video: Jon Stewart sees something familiar in Obama speech
posted at 4:15 pm on December 3, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
A bit lengthy, but worth it — especially since Jon Stewart seems to take the media job of holding the current administration accountable a bit more seriously these days than the, er, actual media. Stewart compares Barack Obama’s speech on Afghanistan with one given two years ago by that notorious warmonger George Bush, and finds … a lot of disturbing similarities. Newsbusters has the transcript if you want to follow along:
By the way, Stewart was off a bit in his conclusion. Both the Left and the Right hated at least some of the substance; the Right hated the 18-month timetable, and the Left hated the troop increase entirely. And while the Right certainly didn’t like the style, the Left wasn’t singing any hosannas about it either.
Blowback
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Somebody please explain to me why we have to get John Stewart updates. Why not find out what Carrot Top thinks?
orlandocajun on December 3, 2009 at 4:22 PM
This is a test
Mirimichi on December 3, 2009 at 4:25 PM
It the most serious left wing news source.
the_nile on December 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Savage played Obama and Bush clips back-to-back yesterday and they were almost identical. He also compared Obama’s speech to one LBJ gave on Vietnam in 1968 and it sounded almost the same as that too.
Doughboy on December 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
That’s a low bar to clear.
Caiwyn on December 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Yes, and because the rhetoric is similar, the conflicts must therefore be similar, and so trying to stabilize Afghanistan is now a bad idea, because Obama’s speech sounded a little too muchlike Lyndon Johnson from 41 years ago for Mike Weiner’s taste
Anything else, Einstein?
Proud Rino on December 3, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I still refuse to watch fake news, even if it is more accurate than left wing news which I also refuse to watch.
Vegi on December 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM
1. He’s funny (subjective, I know, but I like him)
2. It’s news-y when a high-profile liberal criticizes someone on their own side, like if Hannity knocked Palin.
YYZ on December 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Thanks, Ed. Jon Stewart is finding funny things to say about the President and ClimateGate. Just wow. This stuff leaking into the popular culture is not good for this Administration.
chaswv on December 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Have you SEEN Carrot Top lately?
/scared
Enoxo on December 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let’s do the limbo rock
rollthedice on December 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM
The two clips at the end were truly hilarious.
Typhoon on December 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Well, his critique is from the left…not exactly unexpected. But you are right about what the right finds objectionable about Obama’s speech (other than the style).
AUINSC on December 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Yeah, seconded. It’s a good clip, watch it.
LastRick on December 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I don’t care who his speechwriters steal their material from. I just don’t want him practically quoting Bush word-for-word, yet continue to bash the guy every chance he gets. Especially on Iraq since Obama is essentially adopting the same surge strategy he opposed as Senator.
Doughboy on December 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Whenever Stewart skewers the One, it sounds like 90% of the audience went out for coffee.
Malpaso on December 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Definitely, looks like a good movie.
LastRick on December 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
LBJ has 3 letters.
BHO has three letters.
LBJ mired us down in a war he didn’t start and didn’t want to win.
BHO isn’t lookin’ too good these days.
LBJ thought that Jews were to blame for all of his problems.
BHO . . .
So, what’ya say, Chomsky?
fronclynne on December 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Yeah, I saw a lot of similarities as well. BO said a lot of things in that speech that I never thought in a million years I’d see him ever say.
Here’s how I see it: Obama knows he has to deal with Afghanistan–he can’t avoid it no matter how much he’d like to pander to his base or how much he’d personally like to. He’d be committing political suicide if he did, for himself and for his fellow democrats.
So he’s playing both sides of the fence here–sending in more troops (a “surge” if you will), but not as many as he should. Then, as a pap to his base, he says he has a strict timeline for removing them in a year or so.
What will happen in a year will be this: the job will not be done. He will not be able to withdraw them. He will then make another speech–perhaps this time at Annapolis–where he will tell the world that as much as he would have liked to bring the troops home, circumstances prevent him from doing so. He’ll be reluctant to do that as a not to his far-left supporters, but will be courting the right as well.
I said way back when he was spouting his anti-war rubbish at the beginning of the campaign that he’d change his tune after his first security briefing, and so he has. As Bill Whittle has said, being president is hard.
So I’m not sweating 2011 just yet. I only hope the Taliban doesn’t totally close up shop in the meantime to make it look like we’ve won by 2011, then come out of their holes like so many cockroaches as soon as we bring our military back home. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me.
Bob's Kid on December 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Our movie is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more bad@ss than theirs.
Left = sissies
Right = awesome.
nickj116 on December 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM
I’m amazed the point went over your head. Amazed.
SouthernGent on December 3, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Not Bill Whittle, Steve Green. I get those two handsome fellas mixed up.
(not really, I’m just brain-addled)
Bob's Kid on December 3, 2009 at 4:41 PM
The sight-gag with the mask was funny!
Made me miss ol’ Rodney Dangerfield, too. Chuckles in one second and sniffs in the next. Gotta admit, this was a great segment.
RushBaby on December 3, 2009 at 4:46 PM
I was hoping to hear from the newsman on the Simpsons.
leftnomore on December 3, 2009 at 4:46 PM
It’s worth noting that in a recent commerical, Carrot Top’s preferred product was a “juicer”…
hawksruleva on December 3, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Just once I’d like to hear Stewart propose how to solve a problem himself.
John the Libertarian on December 3, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I was thinking more high jump than limbo…
Caiwyn on December 3, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Why??
nickj116 on December 3, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Yes, and because the rhetoric is similar, the conflicts must therefore be similar, and so trying to stabilize Afghanistan is now a bad idea, because Obama’s speech sounded a little too muchlike Lyndon Johnson from 41 years ago for Mike Weiner’s taste
Anything else, Einstein?
Proud Rino on December 3, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I don’t know what your’e issue is with Michael Savage, or why your hatred of him made you too ignorant to see the analogy, but just for you here it is……. Beware the Industrial Military Complex. The Point is that no matter who is in charge in Washington, the policy is not being written by them, it is being written by the war profiteers and Corporations that stand to profit enormously from this. In fact, the most telling part of the Savage piece was when we was explaining that these filthy, evil throwbacks have been fighting in those mountains for hundreds of years, and he was asking of the 30,000 that are going there how many are actually trained to operate and thrive in the mountainous environment. How many of these 30,000 are mountain division troops that can exist and function in these harsh conditions? He wasn’t suggesting we get out, just suggesting we don’t deploy “boots on the ground” without first blasting the shit out of the place.
Joey1974 on December 3, 2009 at 5:00 PM
When Stewart AND SNL start dumping on Obama even before his first yeat is finished, he may as well join “Habitat for Humanity” early and try for another undeserved Peace Prize.
AnthonyK on December 3, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I’ll start watching again when Craig Kilborn returns…
phreshone on December 3, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Okay, I have to admit…the alternate speeches for the left and right were hilarious. And Stewart’s monologue was actually more than tolerable.
MadisonConservative on December 3, 2009 at 5:21 PM
“Run away!!!!!!”
So funny.
Abby Adams on December 3, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Hey not bad! I have a great idea. Why don’t we use JS’s spoof clips at the end, supposedly tailored to fit the desires of the left and right as campaign promos for 2012?
I think most rational Americans would prefer the policies as advocated by Slim Pickens than that of the Monty Python crew!
Archimedes on December 3, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Painfully unfunny.
Mike Honcho on December 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
I purposely avoid ever turning on the daily show, and couldn’t care less what Jon Stewart has to say about anything. there was plenty of material last year re: Obama that he could have used, but he didn’t have the balls back then. now that the genie is out of the bottle and everyone can see that the emperor has no clothes does he feel bold enough to take on the One. where was he before when he was kissing ass every day?
exceller on December 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
That bit meshing together the movie clips of the speeches each side wanted to see was hilarious.
Did ya catch Stewart’s comment after the right’s montage (which totally pwned)?
“That looks like a pretty good movie.”
Damn straight.
Good Lt on December 3, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Much as I hate the audience, notice how they reacted to that movie, compared to the previous one.
Even Daily Show dips have a hint of nationalism, deep down.
MadisonConservative on December 3, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Stewart doesn’t seem to understand that people elected George W. Bush for reasons other than his speechmaking abilities, while Obamaphiles did it for that very reason.
Speedwagon82 on December 3, 2009 at 5:50 PM
John Stewart is nothing but a potty-mouthed windbag. That said, it’s nice to see even a potty-mouthed windbag wake up & smell the coffee.
KS Rex on December 3, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Stewart is probably only getting b*tchy because Barry hasn’t gone on his show yet. He probably figures he’s “owed” since he’s had him on before he ran for president and even talked him up. It’s like high school lovers spat. Somebody has the hots for somebody, does everything to get near that person and basically is their biggest fan. Then the object of their attention gets popular and dumps their old friend for the new crowd. It’s kind of like that.
Dave_d on December 3, 2009 at 6:03 PM
If we pull out of Vietnam then tomorrow we will be fighting them in Hawaii and next week in San Francisco.
- Lyndon Baines Johnson
The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe-haven along the Pakistani border.
- Barack Baines Obama
MB4 on December 3, 2009 at 6:14 PM
President Johnson has committed a further 50,000 US troops to the conflict in Vietnam.
Obama OKs 17,000 new troops for Afghanistan (Feb 17,2009). The new troops could be a down payment on an even larger influx of U.S. forces (now another 30,000).
MB4 on December 3, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Yesterday, President Obama presented his “comprehensive new strategy” for Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was neither new, nor a strategy. Behind all the rhetoric, he just said, I’m sending more troops and more money.
Barack Obama? I heard Lyndon Johnson. The only LBJ touch that BHO lacked was the word “escalation.”
The rhetoric was masterly. The content was drivel. He said, “The situation is increasingly perilous.” Which situation? Why? For whom? Certainly, it’s becoming more perilous for our troops as we escalate in support of the wrong policy.
Our pathetically naive president articulated one sound goal — defeating al Qaeda — then told us how he wasn’t going to do it. Like LBJ, all he can think of is more troops and more aid. Can’t we ask ourselves why the Taliban’s thriving? After the military beatings we’ve given them? How many of our troops must die for an empty policy?
Hey, hey, ho, ho, BHO, why don’t your supporters go?
- Ralph Peters
MB4 on December 3, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Why I’m addicted to Hot Air:
PoodleSkirt on December 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Okay… I was thinking we might have left the twilight zone since Gore isn’t going to Copenhagen… but when the most accurate news is coming form Stewart we are firmly in the twilight zone.
petunia on December 3, 2009 at 6:48 PM
This was a real gem of humor.
Mutnodjmet on December 3, 2009 at 6:49 PM
I’m thinking this is a new meme… since they hate anyone to use his actual middle name… this is a good sub.
petunia on December 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM
What I smell is this: Nobody knows where the al-Qaeda pukes really are and if they do they can’t get to the. The Taliban are another problem. We know where they are but can’t get to them either unless they come after us us which brings me to the point. What happens if they scale back their operations to the point they appear to have been defeated and we run up the flag and leave after which action they simply resume operations without the obstacle of our presence? That is how they think and I think that is exactly what will happen. Time and timetable are on their side.
LarryG on December 3, 2009 at 6:53 PM
SNL can smile. They still have the corner on the funniest critique so far with the Chinese skit.
AnninCA on December 3, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Could be.
It could also be that a group of Brooks’ Brothers political terrorists like ourselves somehow infiltrated the audience.
Either way, EPIC WIN.
Good Lt on December 3, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Yeah, he hit the steroids pretty hardcore or something. Freakishly muscular now… almost a joke unto itself and is actually funny, unlike Carrot top.
Yakko77 on December 3, 2009 at 7:18 PM
As for Jon Stewart twice in a row, it’s a interesting trend that a guy who fairly Left-wing like him is slamming the Left-wing God.
Yakko77 on December 3, 2009 at 7:19 PM
You may be half right but the bottom-line for any show is ratings and most of all money.
The cable news show are getting HAMMERED by Fox and they are getting a little desparate.
Obviously Stewart sees the writing on the wall and would rather walk the plank now in opposition to Obama than try to catch up later. It’s a smart “business decision”.
That is exactly why you are starting to see the MSM trying to “cushion” their enthusiasm as of late. It’s about the money and ,then again, it’s about the money!! :)
AnthonyK on December 3, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Why does anyone think Stewart’s holding anyone accountable?
The Left is simply going after Obama because he’s sending more troops. That’s why Stewart basically called Obama a ‘fearmonger’ and compared him to Bush. The Left is more brutal to their own candidates when they stray from the Party line than the Right could ever be.
But Obama felt, for some reason, that he had to do this. I think he knew that if he didn’t, the Right would be able to complete the narrative they’d been building of him as a ‘weak’ president. And the Obama camp felt that would have killed them. But he doesn’t want to do this.
That’s why his speech was so pathetically limp. He doesn’t want to do this, but if he doesn’t, he’ll get eviscerated by the Right and it could be his death blow, politically. This is pure politics, with 2010 and 2012 in mind.
Nothing else is happening. Obama’s making a Right move to survive politically, and the Left is attacking him for doing it. Nothing else.
Sixth Guard on December 3, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Quoted for Truth.
Also True.
The Problem is that Democrats that are not evil bastards seem to have this idea that someday everyone is simply going to be happy and good and crime will end.
Bluntly, they’re wrong. It’s one thing to live YOUR life as a good person, but as the guy who keeps badguys in prison, I can tell you that through evil or stupidity, there will always be people who want what you have and don’t want to work for it.
And that ignores the existance of Madmen/zealots.
Jones Zemkophill on December 3, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I like how Obama pronounces PAkistan and Afghanistan differently
V-rod on December 4, 2009 at 3:17 AM