You know you’re on a Foreign Exchange to America when... the Only Man you can Trust is a Short, Salt & Pepper, Jewish Comedian Who Gives You Fake News

I cannot begin to describe how much I love Jon Stewart.

For years now he has been the voice of reason in a crazy world. The last 8 years have seen his show rocket in popularity as his hilarious yet probing news ‘reporting’ has brought into stark focus the failures of the Bush administration. For 13% of 18-25 year olds he is the main source of daily news and, according to a 2007 study, his viewers are better informed than those watching ‘Papa Bear’ O’Reilly or even ‘The Best Political Team on Television’ CNN.

What this says about the American news media is for others to discuss (or me in my dissertation next year!) but the very fact that a comedy show provides better information than 24 hour news networks might go a long way to explaining why some Americans can’t point out Iraq on a world map.

Stewart has come under attack recently though. With Obama’s victory many were predicting the ‘end of comedy’: ‘What will they do now we don’t have an idiot in the Oval Office?’ Comedy or a competent President? I think voters made the right choice and rest assured, so does Jon. But the problem was certainly there. I remember Stewart takin a direct pop shot at Obama during the campaign and his studio audience taking in a collective sharp breath. Stewart’s reply was typical, reassuring them that it was OK to laugh at this guy just as much as the pork obsessed senior citizen from the other team but he learnt his lesson. From then on the jokes were flung elsewhere (having a wolf-hunting pre-madonna in heels as the alternative target really helped).

He has also been usurped by his prodigal son, Stephen Colbert, whose consistent and seemingly constant portrayal of an extreme conservative ideologue is simultaneously pant-wettingly funny and a bit too close for comfort, especially when you hear that some people just don’t get the joke.
However, Stewart remains the last word in serious ‘fake’ news. His recent diatribes against the injustices of the bank bailout contain as many common sense observations as they do jokes, maybe even more and over the past week his razor sharp wit has been directed squarely at what he clearly believes to be one of the causes for the plunging 401k necklines, CNBC.

Last Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Show was completely devoted to the issue of whether the money channels could have given us a little forewarning instead of screaming “BUY! BUY! BUY!” even as the market fell to its death. Stewart and his team’s criticism focussed on the Looney Tunes reject of financial advice, Jim Cramer.

Cramer, who barely five days before its collapse was advising his viewers to buy Bear Stearns, took it upon himself to hit back, going on various talk shows to defend the values of telling people what to do with their money while honking a bull horn. The rest of the news media, who love a good fight almost as much as they love a no pants Britney Spears, billed the ‘feud’ as the ultimate clash. It was like watching the build up to a prize fight between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. As it turned out, the inevitable interview last night, was more like Muhammad Ali verses the before picture guy in a Bio Flex ad.

After accusing Stewart of presenting a “variety show” and completely belittling the idea of a comedian criticizing his words of not so wisdom on other shows, Cramer sat in his seat like a 3 year old that’s just been found peeing on the couch. His shame was obvious as he vainly attempted to wheedle his way out of definitive evidence showing him advising short selling and under a constant barrage of insight and justice coming from the so called ‘jokester’ across the desk.

His main defence was that his is an entertainment show just like Stewart’s. But Stewart makes jokes about politicians whereas Cramer is telling you what to do with your monetary future. Anyone whose projected retirement age has gone from 56 to 105 recently would have a good perspective on that comparison.

In a world dominated by tanned glamour pusses with perfect teeth (and that’s just Brian Williams), it is good to know that the legacy of Rob Morrow and Walter Cronkite lives on in American journalism, collecting and giving the facts from the everyman’s point of view and fighting for the values of the little guy against the misdemeanours of corporate Goliaths. It’s just lot more funny now.

Go here to witness the magic...

You Know You're on a Foreign Exchange to America When...Congress is Full of Twitters!

Lent officially started last week although we all know we’ve actually been giving up stuff since September when the housing market plummeted and suddenly Pot-O-Noodles became al a carte rather than a 2am guilty pleasure.

Usually when someone asks you what you’re giving up for 40 days you can say cigarettes or chocolate. This year the only things you’ve got left are crackers and some canned goods from that hamper your (ex) boss gave you last Christmas. Give up apricots in brandy? Are you kidding? That’s lunch on Friday!

In today’s economic climate we’re not prepared to give up anything...unless we get paid for it!!

Still, tradition is tradition and last Tuesday saw as much beads and boobs action as most years. They shook it in Rio, gave it up in New Orleans and twitted it in DC.

Why Obama chose to give his first joint address to Congress on ‘Fat Tuesday’ in a year when thin isn’t just for the super waifs on the Paris catwalk but a way of life I have know idea. Everyone, meaning mostly the GOP and the media, have been accusing the hope-miester of negativity recently. By being honest and trying to bring home the genuine desperate situation years of financial abuse has brought us to, Obama suddenly doesn’t fit into the box we carved for him. Despite the fact that he seems to singlehandedly be attempting to drag the hulk of the American financial system out of the quick sand, unless he’s doing it all while reassuring the country that it has nothing to do with them and they don’t have to do a thing and everything’s rosy really and there’ll cupcakes and daisies for everyone and don’t worry about the two wars and that global warming thing either, we freak! ‘This isn’t why we voted for him! He’s the inspiration guy!!’

The fact that inspiration can be coupled with honesty is lost on us after 8 years of covering up, of false dreams of a healthy economy and safe, won wars. After 9/11 America was told to go out and shop. Now, at the edge of another precipice our leader is asking us to help him, to be leaders ourselves, to give up consumerism and our spare time in order to serve our community. In return Obama has pledged to bring the soldiers home, create a new green collar economy and cure cancer. Somehow I feel like we got the better deal.

It was nice to see him back on form though. Hope was back, rested and refreshed from its time at the luxury desert spa and he reinstated himself as the no.1 progression purveyor. The crowd loved it. Pelosi was jumping up and down like a preteen at a Jonas Brothers concert and once she was up the rest had to follow suit. I worried grandpa Joe Biden couldn’t take the pace! I was even more worried when he turned up with what looked like a nasty bruise on his forehead the next day. Thankfully it wasn’t sign of a brain aneurism caused by incessant standing ovation but proof he’s a good Catholic boy. Apparently, ‘real’ Catholics get ‘anointed’ with ‘actual’ ashes on Ash Wednesday. And you thought Mormons were weird!

The other anointed one held the audience in the palm of his hand, each filled with rapture as he eulogised on the good America has been and, if they get their collective asses in gear and vote for everything he wants, can be again. He’s the man with the plan and since it’s the only one we’ve got maybe we should give it a chance. Unfortunately, some of the illustrious listeners were too busy being Republicans, the grumpy kids sitting at the back of the class, or ‘tweeting’. This actually doesn’t involve spying a black and white cat and then uttering a popular catchphrase in an annoying baby voice but is just as childish. If your senator can sum up their entire existence in 140 characters I’m seriously worried about the state of the union.

But the message they missed while furiously typing about how totally hot Hils looks in pink or how much of a bitch Mitch McConnell is wasn’t meant for them anyway. It was meant for the American people. Obama’s call to butts was not just to those in the chamber but those on the other side of the tube. He’s not expecting to do this alone. He means you, buddy boy! The years of government being separate from the people is at an end. The government IS the people and coming from a British girl, isn’t that what America is all about? Whatever you do for lent, don’t give up on that.

You Know You're on a Foreign Exchange to America When...You Start Blogging Again!!

Sorry for the break guys!! Travel, classes and life in general kinda got in the way!! Thanks for your patience!