Jon Stewart on Romney and Mormonism

[_Buffalo]

Jon Stewart comments on Romney and Mormonism

Classic

[_Kishkumen]

Isn't satire supposed to be funny and entertaining? Those guys definitely are not. The closest thing to satire on that list is Beck, honestly. The others are no more than partisan blowhards whose shtick is to pander to the anger and hatred in their listeners. They come across as bitter and mean rather than funny.

Which, to Droopy, whose closet is full of jackboots and brown shirts, is drop dead hilarious. The only thing he finds funnier is snuff videos featuring kittens.

The advantage entertainers on the left have is that they are actually funny, regardless of whether they are being political. John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Stephanie Miller, Bill Maher and others came from comedy, and their goal is first to be funny, then to make a political point.

The advantage that they have is that humor is a traditional weapon that those who do not have power use against those who do. It is much less charming when used by the Caligulas of the world who find cruelty and oppression hilarious. Oh, and the allies and stooges of the Caligulas of the world also find it hilarious. You know, people like Droopy.

[_Kishkumen]

The only example he had of anyone from the left actually "trashing" the LDS church was O'Donnell, who has a history of saying dumb things about the church since acting in Big Love (I love Lawrence, but I wish he would stop that). The preacher who said Mormons are not Christians is a conservative.

Governor Schweitzer was merely pointing out the political reality that Romney can't talk about his family's roots in Mexico because he wants to avoid talking about his family's polygamist history. It's completely true and totally fair, just as it's true that Obama's father was a Muslim, which is something he doesn't want to dwell on. (I would never assume it was a partisan attack on me or my religion if someone said my great-grandfather was a polygamist. It's true.)

Martin Bashir was criticizing Romney for telling blatant lies in his stump speech. So he looked up verses in the Book of Mormon and D&C that said liars would go to hell, and quoted them. What on earth is wrong with holding a person to what his own scriptures say about his behavior?

John also got the pre-1978 racism wrong by saying black people were not allowed in "the clergy." That makes it sound much more harmless than it really was.

Wow. That entire thing sailed over your head. You really didn't get it.

[_Kishkumen]

droopy is a very weird fella. At times I feel like he is pulling a Steven Cobert just to mess around whereas other times I feel like he is just brief step away from going on a shooting spree targeting females and minorities.

Droopy takes all of his anger, frustration, fear, feelings of inadequacy, and so forth, and focuses them on his ideological rants. Oddly enough, I think he has a basic humanity that some other notorious apologists seem to lack. But at some point he will face a decision in which he will have to choose between his humanity and the need to feel like the big tough guy which obviously plagues him.

I think of him like an older, creepier version of Rolf from The Sound of Music.

[_Runtu]

Droopy takes all of his anger, frustration, fear, feelings of inadequacy, and so forth, and focuses them on his ideological rants. Oddly enough, I think he has a basic humanity that some other notorious apologists seem to lack. But at some point he will face a decision in which he will have to choose between his humanity and the need to feel like the big tough guy which obviously plagues him.

I think of him like an older, creepier version of Rolf from The Sound of Music.

I like Droopy, probably for the reason you noted: he has a basic humanity that shows through occasionally. But I have learned not to expect any kindness from him, which is kind of sad.

[_krose]

What Barshir did was assinine and hypocritical. Why do this only with Mormonism for a Mormon?

Why? Well, because Bashir is a liberal host of a liberal opinion show, and Romney is the conservative candidate. The fact that his religion has additional scriptures that condemn his behavior just adds to the interest level of the "Mitt the Mendacious" point that Martin was making that day. It was obviously used as a "gotcha" point.

All presidential candidates 1) prevaricate and 2) profess to be part of a religion where this is condemned. It's ordinary and Romney only gets singled out because he is the Republican nominee and the quasi-exotic nature of Mormonism can be exploited.

This "everyone does it" line of argument doesn't stand up to the evidence. I challenge you to look at both of their speeches and identify where Obama has lied about his opponent to anywhere near the degree that Romney does on a daily basis. Romney has taken it to a new level.

Moreover, the idea that is really risking eternal damnation by lying according to the Mormon religion is just a moronic understanding of LDS theology. So his argument wasn't a well-researched one. It was a facile attempt at polemic.

Sure, I assume it was the result of a quick text search. But outsiders can't be condemned for assuming that Mormons would hold themselves to what the Book of Mormon actually says. It's not the "as far as it is translated correctly" book.

[_Kishkumen]

Sure, I assume it was the result of a quick text search. But outsiders can't be condemned for assuming that Mormons would hold themselves to what the Book of Mormon actually says. It's not the "as far as it is translated correctly" book.

The humor of Stewart's criticism of Bashir's idiotic comments is that no one with a brain in his head and some maturity ever thinks to expect politicians to tell the truth. Bashir looked like a complete idiot doing that. It was really pathetic and demeaning to him.

[_krose]

Wow. That entire thing sailed over your head. You really didn't get it.

What did I miss? Please tell me so I can be suitably embarrassed and make the appropriate retractions. As someone who hasn't missed an episode in a very long time, perhaps I mistakenly assumed I was tuned into John's wavelength.

[_krose]

Sure, I assume it was the result of a quick text search. But outsiders can't be condemned for assuming that Mormons would hold themselves to what the Book of Mormon actually says. It's not the "as far as it is translated correctly" book.

The humor of Stewart's criticism of Bashir's idiotic comments is that no one with a brain in his head and some maturity ever thinks to expect politicians to tell the truth. Bashir looked like a complete idiot doing that. It was really pathetic and demeaning to him.

Wait, you think Martin Bashir was being completely serious in that piece, regarding Romney burning in Hell for lying?

Also, sorry, but I do expect politicians to tell the truth. I know they often don't, but that doesn't change my expectation. No brain or maturity, I guess.

[_Kishkumen]

Wait, you think Martin Bashir was being completely serious in that piece, regarding Romney burning in Hell for lying?

I don't think he seriously believes that Romney will burn in hell. I do think that he hopes to sway some rubes into being bowled over by the fact of Romney's hypocrisy.

Also, sorry, but I do expect politicians to tell the truth. I know they often don't, but that doesn't change my expectation. No brain or maturity, I guess.

You are using a different sense of the word expect. No one would fault you for having a moral demand that they tell the truth. They would fault you for thinking that politicians will live up to your demand often.