politics is too much like sports

[Syrinx]

That was Jon Stewart's point.

[sandnsea]

1. No, they LIE

That was Jon Stewart's point. They get on t.v. and make stories where there aren't any and lie in order to do it. That doesn't sound like sports to me.

[Julien Sorel]

2. I think Stewart had several points.

The biggest one was his charge -- which is absolutely correct -- that shows like Crossfire and cable news in general are more about entertainment than journalism. A key component of journalism is that it serve the public interest; these show not only don't do that, but they do the opposite by being more interested in ratings and making money than in uncovering truth.

Crossfire is a particularly apt subject for Stewart's scorn, as the show's debate format and relatively big-name hosts would make it an ideal crucible. Instead it seems a farce, if that show was any indication. The dead giveaway for me is that no one on Crossfire made any attempt to refute Stewart's charges; instead they simply attacked him in return, as if his show and theirs served the same purpose, and so should be judged by the same criteria. It was a blunt force display of either stupidity or dishonesty, perhaps both.

[izzie]

3. Only trouble is the game is never over.

How society will live is an endless thing.