Daily watch: Inglourious chainsaw bears

On Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart led with one of the most incendiary political issues currently dominating American political discourse: healthcare.

In the process, he gave the funniest, most biting report of the week and did a bit of fancy word-dropping with 'diaspora'—as in the decade-plus power diaspora Democrats suffered until 2006 when they finally won control of both the House and Senate.

They still accomplished little, Stewart noted, and were, basically, “the kind of people who’ll switch to Geiko and lose money.” Earlier this year though, Democrats achieved the political Holy Grail: a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate.

“They will be unstoppable!” Stewart croaked, speaking in what sounded like an impression of 5-year-old boy imitating a WWE wrestler. He compared the new Democratic supermajority to a grizzly bear with chainsaws for claws and spoke exicitedly of their unleashing the beast into the healthcare battle.

“Oh chainsaw-pawed bear of reform,” he opined with mock nobility, “have mercy on your opponents’ souls.” Then he shifted to a CNN clip, revealing that two separate government-run public healthcare options—previously a cornerstone of Democratic healthcare reform—had just been defeated in the senate. By the Democratic supermajority.

At one point, having just played clips of vague, absurd Republican arguments against a public option, Stewart looked earnestly into the camera, “For God’s sake Democrats,” he pleaded, “they’re countering your arguments with nonsense and crushing you.”

A minute or so later, he again stared into the camera, this time with his best befuddled look, delivering his funniest diatribe of the week: “Still not convinced that the Democrats couldn’t get laid in a house whose sole purpose is to have consequence- and-disease-free sex with legislatures on finance committees? Well strap in kids…”

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Democratic Super Majority
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

The interview, embedded below, featured Jon Krakauer, author of the book Where Men Win Glory, which tells the story of the death of Pat Tillman. Tillman was a former NFL player and Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan in 2004 by friendly fire. A patriot in the strictest sense of the word, Tillman valiantly served his country despite misgivings about American foreign policy. In fact, he sacrificed a lucrative NFL contract worth millions to serve, a decision that ultimately led to his death. This was another solid interview—not quite as interesting as Ron Paul’s interview from the previous night—but very well done nonetheless. Though I've forgotten the moment of zen, this was the strongest, most balanced episode so far this week.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Jon Krakauer
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview