The All Time Lows

Did anyone see Jon Stewart on Crossfire today? He came right out and started ripping on Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. They tried to talk about his new book, America, but he just wanted to talk about how bad Crossfire is. He was pissed, he was pissing off Begala and Carlson and it was hilarious.

Here's one exchange:

In many ways, it's funny. And I made a special effort to come on the show today, because I have privately, amongst my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: We have noticed.

STEWART: And I wanted to -- I felt that that wasn't fair and I should come here and tell you that I don't -- it's not so much that it's bad, as it's hurting America.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: But in its defense...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: So I wanted to come here today and say...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Here's just what I wanted to tell you guys.

CARLSON: Yes.

STEWART: Stop.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America.

Here are some more:

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

CARLSON: Thirty-five.

STEWART: And you wear a bow tie.

CARLSON: I know. I know. I know. You're a...

STEWART: So this is theater.

CARLSON: Now, come on.

STEWART: Now, listen, I'm not suggesting that you're not a smart guy, because those are not easy to tie....

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

STEWART: You need to go to one.

Here's what Stewart has said about Crossfire in the past (from a Bill Moyers interview):

STEWART: CROSSFIRE or HARDBALL? Which is funnier? Which is more soul-crushing,
do you mean? Both are equally dispiriting in their… you know, the whole idea
that political discourse has degenerated into shows that have to be entitled
CROSSFIRE and HARDBALL. And you know, "I'm Gonna Beat Your Ass" or whatever
they're calling them these days is mind-boggling.

CROSSFIRE, especially,
is completely an apropos name. It's what innocent bystanders are caught in when
gangs are fighting. And it just boggles my mind that that's given a half hour,
an hour a day to… I don't understand how issues can be dissected from the left
and from the right as though… even cartoon characters have more than left and
right. They have up and down.

I mean, how... it's so two-dimensional to
think that any analysis can come from, "It's the left and it's the right and
well, we've had that discussion and that's done."