Since what the Republicans are doing has been likened to a hostage taking, Jason Jones decided to get the advice of an expert in hostage negotiations when he talked with Noelle Nikpour, a Republican strategist. [Read more…]
The Onion had a point-counterpoint exchange with John Boehner debating himself over the shutdown and his role in it. In the first part, Boehner recites the official line, saying the same things he has been saying at his public appearances. [Read more…]
Scott Rigell, a Republican congressman, seems to have decided to not follow the party line on how to vote on the shut down and is now calling for a vote on a ‘clean’ continuing resolution. He was the only Republican to vote against a continuing resolution that defunded the Affordable Care Act, though his reason for doing so was because it didn’t replace the sequester. [Read more…]
That is what the character Dr. House said in one episode of his eponymous TV show. That particular episode about a 15-year old faith healer is hilarious and sharply written. An excellent summary of that show that lasts 17:30 minutes and contains all the good bits can be seen here. [Read more…]
It looks like Jon Stewart will not run out of opportunities to express his outrage and mockery at the ridiculous state of governing in the US. [Read more…]
Feeling that he needed to do his bit to show his solidarity with the shut down, Conan O’Brien decided that he needed to furlough some of the people who worked for him so he set out to find who were the people who were non-essential. He was surprised by what he found. [Read more…]
Jon Stewart is at his best when explaining politics by stripping away the absurd ways that the media frames the discussion, thus exposing the essential features of the conflict. [Read more…]
Robert Costa writes for the National Review and thus has access to Republican party insiders. He confirms and expands on what I wrote about two days ago about the dilemma facing John Boehner, who is as conservative as most of his members but is powerless as a deal maker because the tools to bribe and punish people to follow his lead are simply not there anymore. So he has become largely a follower. [Read more…]
(This clip aired on September 26, 2013. To get suggestions on how to view clips of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report outside the US, please see this earlier post.)
The Daily Show spends a considerable time on the new Iranian leader president Rouhani and the delicate diplomatic maneuvering taking place between him and president Obama. [Read more…]