SmugFest 2010: Jon Stewart Wages Political War on Civilians

So last week Jon Stewart announced he was going to hold a rally of his own in Washington DC, to restore reason, sanity or whatever.

It’s a cute idea- not as good as a gay bar next to a mosque – but it’s an appropriate, hipster response to the tea parties and Glenn Beck’s thing. It’s the kind of thing that the bald nerdy guy in glasses from the New York Times subscription commercial might attend. And feel totally good about himself, afterward.

Which raises an interesting question: would Stewart have announced his event if those other events had a decidedly liberal tilt?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: noooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Which makes the jokiness of the stunt wear off fast. Think about it: what Stewart is doing is not speaking truth to power, but poking fun of the people who are speaking truth to power.

I mean – Stewart isn’t going after politicians or leaders – he’s mocking people who are standing up to politicians and leaders. While the tea party is a “bottom-up” phenomenon, Stewart is on top, looking down. His is a reaction from the establishment, not against.

Here’s proof. Yesterday Democrats actually complained that Stewart’s rally being too close to the elections will hurt the Democrat’s chances. They worry their supporters will be more inclined to see Stewart than campaign.

Translation: Stewart will harm the establishment left, because he is the establishment left.

So that doesn’t make Stewart brave. It makes him a toady.

But no surprise. This is what passes for rebellion in media – which is really just making fun of people in fanny packs who prefer Sarah Palin over Sarah Silverman.

I’m with them on the fanny packs, though. They suck.

And if you disagree with me, you’re a racist homophobic islamophobic urophobe.

Kind of an awesome show tonight, if you ask me:

Rob Long

John Bolton

Anna Gilligan..

‘nuf said.