Obama on the Daily Show

[Atreides]

I was about to post that Keith Olbermann clip, seriously everyone needs to watch that

[Eanae]

Thanks for posting that video. That is probably the best thing I've seen on youtube in a long time.

[Max™]

Now, how to get that on Fox News?

[Kerberoz]

I don't know why people are surprised that he gave easy questions... don't they realize that's the only way a sitting president is ever going to agree to appear on basic cable?

[Yugl]

Not sure how many of you are familiar with the concept of path dependence, but I enjoyed how Obama employed this concept in defending Healthcare reform.

[Milkster]

It physically hurt me to watch how insane those people are...

[GRT]

lol, i don't watch Olberman much, but when has he started copycatting Edward R Murrow? don't remember hearing him say it before

[kuronosan]

Man, I'm just thinking of how terrible this country will be when fucking stupid people vote those guys into office because they think they're going to help America.... then watch it get all fucked up and people say it was because of Obama.

[Acturus]

Man, I'm just thinking of how terrible this country will be when fucking stupid people vote those guys into office because they think they're going to help America.... then watch it get all fucked up and people say it was because of Obama.

Idiocy is non-partisan. Every election has increased its level of "those last guys fucked us up" rhetoric.

[kuronosan]

That's zero-accountability for you. Good ol' America and its "That wasn't our fault, blame someone else" mentality.

[Tellahh]

Thoroughly enjoyed this interview, I'm not hugely political but I've never not enjoyed an episode of The Daily Show and this was no exception. Was nice hearing Obama not say the same copypasta'd crap and Stewart definitely was nothing but easygoing towards him, even got quite a few laughs out of him heh.

Also, yeah the clapping got annoying fast.. you'd think the audience would have the common sense to STFU for such an important interview, not like they gave him the entire half hour or anything.

[Acturus]

That's zero-accountability for you. Good ol' America and its "That wasn't our fault, blame someone else" mentality.

Oh, absolutley. I won't disagree with you at all. Our campaigns are pretty much all built on one of two platforms:

1. I will fix what those last guys broke, and
2. The rent is too damn high!

[Kuya]

The constant clapping during the interview gave me a bad impression. I would have thought that Daily Show viewers wouldn't be the sort to suck Obama's dick, in fact, i would have thought that they would be the sort that would be more antagonistic towards Obama.

[Anton]

California, 37 million people - 2 Senators
Texas, 24 million people - 2 Senators
New York, 19 Million people - 2 Senators
...
Delaware, 885,000 people - 2 Senators
South Dakota, 812,000 people - 2 Senators

etc etc etc.

Not silly at all. Nope.

Just one facet: Heavy agriculture states, with generally sparse population, have just as much pull in the Senate as the biggest states. As a result, Ag interests are overweighted in the Senate system vs the House.

Obama wanted to cut down on the subsidies paid to US farms (dating back to the Great depression), but, thanks to the Senate, that will never, ever happen. Every time there's a green bill, heck any bill, very often there's some pandering for farmers in the fine print, just to pass the senate.

[Acturus]

California, 37 million people - 2 Senators
Texas, 24 million people - 2 Senators
New York, 19 Million people - 2 Senators
...
Delaware, 885,000 people - 2 Senators
South Dakota, 812,000 people - 2 Senators

etc etc etc.

Not silly at all. Nope.

Um, that's the point of the Senate. Every state gets two votes, as a balance for the House, which gets votes based on population.

US Gov 101 or Schoolhouse Rock. One of the two taught that.

[Kuya]

Balance for the House or an unnecessary obstacle to the House? ( by the latter, i clearly imply it to be very negative).

[Anton]

Um, that's the point of the Senate. Every state gets two votes, as a balance for the House, which gets votes based on population.

US Gov 101 or Schoolhouse Rock. One of the two taught that.

Yes, I know it's the point. Is it really a good point though? If 812,000 people represents 2 senators, California gets 2% as much representation, Texas 3%, New York 4%...

In the house... Well ok Delaware and South Dakota get one seat in the house. Don't know where that was going.

But it also promotes this weird system where you can't get anything passed without also reducing the price of manure by 10 cents, or it could get stonewalled by the Senate's procedural gadgets until it dies. Only the Senate has the filibuster toys - rather than come to a conclusion, without a two thirds majority a bill could die in the Senate by being EXTREMELY IGNORED in a long winded... something or other, that has no relation to the bill at hand. Now, a bill can be forced to a vote by being the only thing on the agenda repeatedly - so basically after the motion to introduce the bill is filibustered, and cloture called, the bill itself is filibustered and cloture called, any amendments are filibustered and cloture called, serial votes are called and quorum calls repeatedly made, maybe a bill might make it to a vote.

It's no wonder senators miss so much session - In all US history there has never been remotely as many attempts(cloture votes) to stop long-winded something-or-others as the last 3 years. Nowadays, cloture is pretty much invoked on everything just to preempt any possible filibuster. Don't hate the players, hate the game - but know that changing the filibuster rule can be filibustered itself.

So is pork/handouts and boredom what the copy-pasted civics line was promoting?

[Pirian]

Yes, I know it's the point. Is it really a good point though?

Yes, it is. It keeps the balance so the bigger states aren't pushing the smaller states around and everyone has a more equal say. No one said it is a perfect system, but it is better than the suggested alternative

[Yabby]

Yes, it is. It keeps the balance so the bigger states aren't pushing the smaller states around and everyone has a more equal say. No one said it is a perfect system, but it is better than the suggested alternative

I agree its good for that reason.... if only most of the hillbilly small states were not a bunch of redneck's.

Edit: Yes i know i'm just generalizing, i shouldn't do that lol.

[Acturus]

The day before Obama came on the Daily Show, Jon Stewart had a good interview with Senator Ted Kaufman.

If you're wondering about the Senate's effectiveness, this is a good piece to watch:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tu...10/ted-kaufman