Palin draws the (artificial)battlelines

Jon Stewart is mad. Here, and on the Daily Show, he launches a diatribe against Sarah Palin’s divisive characterisation of ‘real americans’, ‘pro-america americans’ that exist in some magical backwaters – thereby implying east-coast, cosmopolitan, liberal intellectuals are somehow less hardworking or patriotic.

Its Psychology 101 that such characterisations aims to draw boundaries between the in vs out group, thereby drawing out, and solidifying the Republican base. The legitimacy of tactic – questionable. But the liberal media as certainly interpreted it in the worst meaning possible. So New Yorkers aren’t American enough for some, but enough for Al Qaeda? Certainly Stewart’s favourite argument, and packs a dramatic punch.

I think the group Palin is appealing to:

• idealise themselves as part of such a group – more than are part of such a group
• are bitter about disparities – pre-drawn battlelines?

Generally people are diverse – forcing a distinction between 2 tribes are essentially forcing nearly 60% – 80% of people to choose a side they don’t completely believe in (think about a bell curve), which generate unnecessary antagonism.

But nuff said – here are some clips about this issue.

World’s Most Powerful Position, it all comes down to….

ah..the power of demographical analysis. It seems from nightmare that was florida, political analysts have whittled down the deciding factor to a strange demographic – elderly jews! Wonder if its just for comedic effect.

Here – Sarah Silverman and The Daily Show tackle this issue.

Peggie Noonan goes on The Daily Show

I am always stunned by the sheer eloquence of writers, columnists and how they can tell us something we probably already know at some level – and we hear it as if its something new. Actually comedy does the same thing, interesting.

3 items to listen out for:
The candidates have not risen above the largeness of the moment
Bush, a commentator not a leader
Rhetoric over proper debate

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I called it!!! Sort of…..

I promised to talk about Tina Fey, and the timing couldn’t be more apt – she just won an emmy for Best Actress. Some of my favourite shows swept the Emmys which were given out this week. If you didn’t already know, her show, ‘30 Rock’ is possibly a comedy show that has the best mix of crudeness and satire on primetime television. Which brings to mind her equally outstanding co-star Alec Baldwin who won the Best Actor – who plays an over-ambitious Republican who is/was NBC’s CEO. Credit must be given the rest of the ensemble too – all hilarious in there own right.

Here are some great scenes

Well, I was ecstatic but not surprised 30 Rock won, and I was even more excited to know ‘The Daily Show’ won too!

Luminaries – They can be funny

The Daily Show and The Colbert Report may not have as high a rating as primetime television shows in America, but what they lack in quantity they make up with quality. It seems their key demographic are generally made up of younger, educated and possibly influential Americans. Probably because of that they are often able to  attract guests of immense prominence on the world stage. Clinton, Musharrav, Gates, Blair… to name a few

I think its great these shows are doing this, because sometimes people can better discuss important issues when they are not on the defensive all the time. Humor lightens the atmosphere considerably.

Recently (very recently) in an extended interview Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, Tony Blair, being the brilliant debater he is, skirted around the Iraq War issue pretty well I’d say.

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Another favourite guest of mine has to Fareed Zakaria the editor for News Week international. He always seems to be able to succinctly distill the crux of complex world issues into a sentence or two. Fits his job description perfectly too. Also, his latest book, The Post American World is a great read.

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