Crossfire

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yknow, i used to watch crossfire quite often (you'll do that when you don't have a real job, sadly) and i wish that jon stewart had been on when i was watching. i mean, seriously, check out these choice quotes:

STEWART: See, the thing is, we need your help. Right now, you're helping the politicians and the corporations. And we're left out there to mow our lawns.

BEGALA: By beating up on them? You just said we're too rough on them when they make mistakes.

STEWART: No, no, no, you're not too rough on them. You're part of their strategies. You are partisan, what do you call it, hacks.

or here's one:

STEWART: Now, this is theater. It's obvious. How old are you?

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Thirty-five.

STEWART: And you wear a bow tie.

And again:

STEWART: You know, the interesting thing I have is, you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.

CARLSON: You need to get a job at a journalism school, I think.

STEWART: You need to go to one.

Or the best of all of them:

CARLSON: I do think you're more fun on your show. Just my opinion.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: OK, up next, Jon Stewart goes one on one with his fans...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You know what's interesting, though? You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.

(LAUGHTER)

Now the best part isn't Jon Stewart calling Tucker Carlson a dick, or telling him he needs to go to journalism school, or pointing out that he wears a bowtie. Well, maybe it is, but the second best part is, reading the transcript, listening to the Crossfire audience laugh at Stewart's jokes and not at Carlson's or Begala's. So not only were these guys getting it handed to them by the guest on their own show, but also from the audience for their own show. So I only saw a few clips of it, but it was some of the best television in the world.

Alex's blog

murmurs of discontent
Submitted by Anonymous on 20 October, 2004 - 7:55am.

Lots of people are pretty upset about this. I think it goes without saying that many (or even most) of them are right-wingers. The personal attacks are pretty broad-spectrum. They range from criticizing Jon Stewart's perceived wealth and status ("how dare he say he's mowing his lawn while Crossfire sells out the American people?!?! HE HAS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS MOW HIS LAWN!") to criticizing (still) his 'shoddy journalism' and 'superficial analysis.'

It would be funny if it weren't so sad. People who take themselves that seriously should be having fatal strokes.

Loss of concentration
Submitted by Rook (not verified) on 20 October, 2004 - 9:20pm.

Did you notice how Tucker and Begala lost their poise and ended up with their backs to the camera and the audience. We are talking major slap down. They missed their camera marks. And Tucker! Damn, he was one major pissed dude. Let's face it, they have never truly been held to the light. Jon showed them how they are suppose to do their jobs.

hrm, guess I'm anonymous now
Submitted by Anonymous on 21 October, 2004 - 8:24am.

Just one tiny follow-up: I'd read the entire transcript of Jon Stewart's portion of that show, and I have to say, Carlson was a little thick-headed; trying to humiliate your guest by saying he's not being funny, while *your audience* is laughing at *his jokes* (and by corollary *at you*) displays a level of obliviousness below the very low bar set by modern media. I mean, at least most right-wing hatefests are fascistic enough to make their guests look bad before they berate them. These jokers can't even make the trains run on time.

tucker
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on 21 October, 2004 - 9:17am.

yeah. and tucker calling stewart kerry's "butt-boy" - i mean that's really at like a 7th grade level (max - you'd really like to think that most 7th graders are above that kind of thing, but let's give tucker the benefit of the doubt) of discourse. how did this guy get on TV. i mean really, he's a gimmick (which is what jon was trying to say) - a good looking young guy with a bowtie and conservative talking points. something to offset novak's scary old guy conservative vibe. and of course, the other two are gimmicks too - carville with his louisiana drawl and his shaved head and jeans and jackets. and begala with his wanna-be texas folksiness. what a farce.