Jon Stewart the most trusted newscaster in America !

Jon Stewart is the most trusted newscaster in America. The debate is already over, sorry FOX, your anchors didn’t come close, CNN, not even an “also ran”. Okay, it’s just an online Time poll, but it still tells us where people are looking for news. In the Time poll 44% voted Stewart the most trusted newscaster and Brian Williams came in second with 29%. If you want your news tailored to your political leanings the way FOX and MSNBC do, you may not like Stewart very much. How about celebrities, are you waiting for the latest scoop on Justin Beiber or Simon Cowell? Stewart is not for you either, well, maybe, Stewart does point out the absurdities we see in our daily news. If you are titillated by the latest car chase or fire, Stewart is not going to provide you with either, so what is his draw?

What Stewart does do is look at important issues while pointing out the ridiculous aspects and foolish people in the news. Stewart himself points out that the Daily Show is about entertainment not information. Stewart says his job is "throwing spitballs" from the back of the room.

Recently Stewart was credited by the New York Times as a modern day Edward R Murrow journalist and given the credit for passage of a bill that gives health care to the 9-11 responders who worked in the collapsed World Trade Center. Apparently the Daily Show had called so much attention to the 9-11 Responders bill that the politicians were embarrassed into passing the bill. Calling Stewart a journalist seems to be a bit of a stretch, he is a comedian and an actor first and foremost and a damned good one. If Stewart is responsible for the 9-11 responders bill being passed, by embarrassing politicians into doing their jobs we might need more Jon Stewarts and fewer politicians.

Jon Stewart, if you don’t already know, is one of the biggest draws on the Comedy channel and his Daily Show is watched by millions of people who won’t tune in the major news outlets. Stewart leans left but when he interviews people he is invariably polite and respectful. Stewart lampoons everyone, it doesn’t matter whether someone is liberal or conservative they will feel the sting of his wit when they do something stupid and Stewart has the team of writers to back him up and keep him current. Our politicians always manage to provide lots of ammunition for Stewart to work with. The Daily Show is cool and hip, a place where the movers and shakers want to go to display their ideas and catch a younger audience. Except. . .

Many of the biggest names in politics have taken their turns talking to Stewart, President Obama, Bill Clinton, Donald Rumsfeld and New Gingrich to name a few. Unlike the talking heads on Fox and MSNBC Stewart uses a reasoned approach to issues and allows his guests to make their points without rancor or name calling. Even Bill O’Reilly has taken time away from naming “Pin Heads” to chat with Stewart. That still leaves a considerable list of conservative thinkers that have yet to appear with Stewart. Where are the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Glenn Beck? Why are these illustrious leaders not putting their ideas forward on the Daily Show? Have they simply not been invited? Or are they afraid of the exposure in a place where they don’t get to call the shots? Sarah Palin’s representative has gone so far as to say she is “Not afraid to appear on the Daily Show”.

America was founded and built with a principle of reasoned debate leading to rational decisions. We listen to each other and decide an issue based on the evidence presented. Many of those debates have been heated with passions running high on all sides of an argument, people don’t yield easily but somehow we have found ways to compromise. In order to form a union the founders made many compromises, even accepting slavery for the greater good of uniting the states.

What about today, have we stopped listening to the other side? Have the debates turned into diatribes of hatred, producing lots of heat but no illumination? What about yourself, do you see politicians on the other side of an issue as opponents or are they enemies that need to be destroyed? Are the liberals your enemy or is it the Tea party that you want to destroy? Are your political beliefs so extreme that you’re not offended when someone asked “Who is going to shoot Obama?” This was asked of Rep. Paul Broun, a conservative from northeast Georgia.

There is still at least one place where you can go for “Civil Discourse” and be entertained in the process. That is “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and if you haven’t found it your kids certainly have.

This is a Hoot; Jon Stewart channels Glen Beck

There are millions of people in this country that get their political opinions not from reasoned debate and not from exposure to the issues. These people have their opinions spoon fed to them and Rush, Glenn, Keith and Sarah are holding the spoons. People that believe what is presented by biased sources without checking the facts are doing themselves and our country a great disservice. It makes no difference if you take your opinion from MSNBC or FOX or Rush, for this country to thrive we need citizens that think for themselves. When you research issues you may be astonished to find out that your favorite broadcaster fudges facts. By pointing out the absurdities that go on in politics constantly Stewart is providing a service to the community. Doing it with grace and humor is merely the icing on the cake.