Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Donald Trump Gets Earful in Spanish as Latino Outlets Air Disdain

Continue reading the main story Video

Trump’s Troubles With Hispanic TV Journalists

From the beginning, Spanish-language TV has been covering Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign more critically than the mainstream news media, especially after his remarks on immigrants.
By MICHAEL LESTER on Publish Date August 26, 2015. Photo by Bryan Thomas for The New York Times. Watch in Times Video »

Spreading the Word

Commencement Address           
Master of Professional Studies Degree
New York Theological Seminary
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Ossining, New York                                                                                                June 10, 2015

by Daniel Rose

Congratulations, Masters!

You are heroes, you are role models, you are demonstrations of what a 21st century educational program can achieve for the incarcerated.
   The self-disciplined, clearly-focused effort you have shown in academic classes three hours a day, five days a week – along with afternoon study and 15 hours per week of volunteer work in evening service to other prisoners – have prepared you, when you eventually re-enter the outside world, for lives of service to society that will be fulfilling and productive for you and your families.
   Your example will encourage others to follow in your footsteps and will convince sceptics that lives can change and that spiritual, intellectual and moral values can be strengthened.
   The ZERO rate of recidivism of your academic predecessors in the Theological Seminary’s Sing Sing program over the past five years, versus the 40% recidivism rate of all New York State former prisoners and some two thirds nationally, should convince the most penny-pinching doubter that effective prison education does not “cost” but “pays.” Your eventual higher employment rates, higher incomes and the higher taxes you will pay recall the famous economic studies of the post-World War II G. I. Bill. Research revealed that to be the federal government’s best investment since the Louisiana Purchase or the acquisition of Alaska. Rand Corporation studies show that each dollar invested in successful prison education reduces incarceration costs by $4 to $5.
   The transforming experience of the unique program of Professional Studies you have undergone at this “uptown branch” of the New York Theological Seminary should encourage other institutions to embark on similar demanding and ambitious activities and, we hope, will persuade legislators, churches, foundations and private individuals to provide the necessary funding.
   This formidable program, which since its inception in 1982 has served more than 350 graduates, receives no government funds; and students pay no tuition. What a huge “bang for the buck” for all contributions!
   Your success in the years ahead will also stimulate the long overdue reconsideration of America’s criminal justice system compared to those of other advanced nations. The U.S. has 751 people incarcerated for each 100,000 in population, while England has 151 per 100,000; Germany has 88 and Japan has 63. Imprisonment rates have little relation to crime rates or to national well-being.
   While other advanced countries focus on prevention of crime and rehabilitation of perpetrators, only the U.S. is obsessed with punishment and isolation. Other advanced nations differentiate between the bulk of the incarcerated and those – like seriously mentally disturbed or hardened career criminals – who are in separate facilities.
    Throughout Europe, for example, the majority of prisoners are exposed to educational and/or vocational training programs designed to help them eventually re-enter society successfully. International recidivism rates tell the story. The recidivism rate of Norway, for example, with the best prison system, is 20%, a fraction of ours.
   America’s criminal justice practices can evolve over time, if an informed citizenry demands it. Neither optimism nor pessimism is called for, only the realism reflected in an effective campaign to increase public awareness, echoing the insight of Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who says, “Our resources are misspent, our punishments are too severe, our sentences too long.”
   Former Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach wrote, in a report for the Vera Institute of Justice, “America’s prisons are dangerously over-crowded, unnecessarily violent, excessively reliant on physical segregation, breeding grounds of infectious 
 diseases, lacking in meaningful programs for inmates and staffed by underpaid and undertrained guards in a culture that promotes abuse.” Friends, we must spread the word. What you are achieving here at Sing Sing can help change our nation!
   As you receive your degrees, let me raise one other significant point. Politicians pay more attention to those who do vote than to those who do not, and your voices and those of your families should be heard on two important issues: “felon disenfranchisement” and the role of the private, for-profit prison industry.
   Voting restrictions are a state-by-state issue, with some states like Vermont and Maine removing all limitations, while others make them permanent. National opinion is increasingly in favor of political liberalization and for the restoration to the formerly incarcerated of economic, social and education opportunities such as Pell grants; and this should be encouraged.
   The private, for-profit prison industry today runs 130 private prisons containing 157,000 beds, with some 6% of all state prisoners and 16% of federal prisoners. They take in some $4 billion a year, with great profits. And they spend millions a year lobbying fiercely in support of candidates who favor longer minimum mandatory sentences, stricter anti-parole regulations, more and longer imprisonment of anyone for any reason. Where do you stand? Your voices, and those of your families and friends, must be heard!
   In closing, let me reinforce two key messages that the Theological Seminary has tried to convey to you. You are seen by the outside world as thoughtful, caring, educated individuals, and you should consider your activities – whether in the ministry, teaching or social work – not as a job, but as a vocation – a “calling” to grow to your full height and to be all that you can be.
   And should you seek an appropriate thought from Scripture, let it be your personal answer to the biblical question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
   We are all our brothers’ keepers; and we should not rest until our flawed prison system is reformed.

Thank you.


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Trump Reignites Feud with Fox News Host Megyn Kelly


Fox Chief Roger Ailes Demands Apology From Trump over Twitter Tirade
The feud between Donald Trump and Fox News reignited Tuesday after the GOP frontrunner took a swipe at host Megyn Kelly on Twitter and retweeted others who called her a "bimbo" and "a waste."
Learn More

Monday, August 24, 2015

Twenty Thousand Considered Disappointing Turnout for Racist Event in Alabama

Donald Trump. (photo: Mark Wallheiser/Getty)
Donald Trump. (photo: Mark Wallheiser/Getty)

Twenty Thousand Considered Disappointing Turnout for Racist Event in Alabama

By Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker
22 August 15
 
The article below is satire. Andy Borowitz is an American comedian and New York Times-bestselling author who satirizes the news for his column, "The Borowitz Report."

rally featuring a racist speaker Friday night in Mobile attracted a crowd of just twenty thousand people, widely considered a disappointing turnout for a racist event in Alabama.
According to racist event planners in the state, a crowd of twenty thousand would rank the event as one of the smaller racist rallies in Alabama this year.
Organizers of the rally were quick to defend the size of the turnout. “There is always a lot of competition for the racist audience in Alabama,” an aide to the speaker said. “There were other racists speaking at other venues in the state Friday night. Plus, a lot of racists now prefer to stay at home and stream racist content on the Internet. Given all the options available to racists, I think twenty thousand is a solid number.”
Harland Dorrinson, a longtime racist event planner in Alabama, disagreed, claiming that the size of the crowd was more reminiscent of non-racist events in the state. “You go around spewing hatred every chance you get, and then you only draw twenty thousand in Alabama?” he said. “The people who organized this event need to sit down and figure out what went wrong.”
 

Comments   

We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
 
+100 # Dongi 2015-08-22 15:04
Don't know what's wrong with Alabama. They just aren't hating the way they used to.
 
 
+93 # Billy Bob 2015-08-22 20:55
I blame the liberal media.
 
 
+31 # Glen 2015-08-23 06:04
It isn't just Alabama. Sure, the rally was held there, but pay attention to his rallies in other states as well. Hatred and racism is rampant around the U.S. and Trump appeals to all of it, regardless of the style in which each state exhibits it.
 
 
+7 # Billy Bob 2015-08-24 00:55
But, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi are like a racist all-star team. Your downplaying of deep-southern racism, is a bit like saying there are no red states, because Republicans live everywhere.
 
 
+3 # Glen 2015-08-24 07:06
I'm not downplaying it; I am merely stating Alabama, and those you listed, are not the only ones with rabid racists and white supremacists. Folks will travel hundreds of miles to participate in such rallies because of their anger and lack of judgement.

I know very well what goes on in the South, but I also know very well what goes on in other states. Trump is appealing to them all by targeting the lowest type of thinking, with no critical thinking or research.
 
 
+3 # Billy Bob 2015-08-24 08:08
There's racism everywhere. The south just happens to be worse.

Of course that's what Trump is doing. He's a Republican. They're proud of that kind of thinking. It's why he's their front runner. It's also why the Democratic Party no longer needs the deep red south to win the presidency.
 
 
+3 # Glen 2015-08-24 08:39
We shall see when Trump holds rallies in other states. There is support for him all over the country. As I say, The style of racism and stupidity is exhibited differently in each state, and racism is only part of it. Trump knows how little it takes to get people riled up and how to appeal to the worst in them.

Sarah Palin did, too, on a lower level.
 
 
+1 # Billy Bob 2015-08-24 09:49
Yep. I agree with all of that, but the "style of racism" comment. The racism is worse in the south. Southerners are defensive about it, but it's true. I've lived 1/3 of my life in the south.

We're all on a mission to buck certain trends in thinking. You seem on a mission to do that about the idea of southern racism being worse. I understand. I fight similar battles defending things I think differently about than most RSN commenters. We're all unique. But, it is a tough sell to try to convince us that it isn't worse there. Racism is racism. Literally 100% of ALL people are racist, to an extent (I personally believe). But, the kind of racism that's rabid and nasty and the cause of the worst our society can do, is represented by about 10-20% of all northerners, and about 30-40% of all southerners. These are my numbers. There's no real way to measure this anyway, but anecdotally by our personal experience, and the facts we see playing out in front of us over time. You may disagree with the percentages (of course you will), but if you want to make us believe the racism in the north is as prevalent and as nasty, you're going to have a tough time making that sale.
 
 
0 # Glen 2015-08-24 11:37
We've gone around about the South in the past, and I do believe you never did understand the thinking on the subject. There is no defensiveness on my part, merely reminding folks that it is a much bigger picture than simply choosing the South to beat up on.

Having lived in numerous parts of the U.S., having family in the deep South, and having traveled all over the states and Europe, etc., I guarantee you, there is racism everywhere. No matter how vocal a society is, or not, it is there. Southerners, as in other cultures, are very vocal and adamant. In other states and countries it comes in through the back door.

Not all racism is against just blacks, either. It can be anybody, and right now in the U.S. the most visible are Latinos and indians.

In parts of Asia, Americans are hated. A child threw rocks at me while I was waiting for friends touring an ancient temple. Soon a number of adults were doing the same, just as a symbol, not meaning for me to be injured. A few other adults stepped in before I could say anything or move away. One of them explained that Americans are not welcome because most of those citizens have been misguided.

There are misguided deep South type people all over the planet.
 
 
+7 # ER444 2015-08-22 15:41
Actually according to the latest polls there were 30,000 people. That is more even than Bernie Sanders has had at his until now record breaking rallies. I love Andy, but this time I find the reality very disturbing.
 
 
+21 # Archie1954 2015-08-22 22:56
20,000 is still too much for the State to endure.
 
 
+34 # Cappucino 2015-08-22 23:41
As usual, Trump appears to have a bizarre, unidentifiable alien on his head. Most likely, this one plans to infiltrate several branches of government, get elected, and then throw off its disguise to reveal a giant scaly lizard with nuclear death breath. Aka: Godzilla's revenge over last year's movie. Mothra, Ghidrah, Godzooky, Them, It, The Thing, and various vampires will be on hand.

What?? It makes as much sense as anything else in the political process right now. O.o.
 
 
+11 # Skippydelic 2015-08-23 03:12
"Godzilla Vs. Trump's Hair"? ;-)
 
 
+1 # Billy Bob 2015-08-24 00:56
THE TOUP THAT ATE LAS VEGAS!
 
 
+32 # 1wolff 2015-08-23 05:27
Poor planning. Friday night = football. A sport more important than even racism.
 
 
+2 # janla 2015-08-23 16:09
Quoting 1wolff:
Poor planning. Friday night = football. A sport more important than even racism.

especially in the South
 
 
+8 # CelticNavigator 2015-08-23 07:54
Most folks are clueless that the KKK was once huge everywhere in America. From Wiki:

"The Indiana Klan rose to prominence beginning in the early 1920s after World War I, when ethnic Protestants felt threatened by social and political issues, including changes caused by decades of heavy immigration from southern and eastern Europe. By 1922 the state had the largest organization nationally, and its membership continued to increase dramatically under the leadership of D.C. Stephenson. It averaged 2,000 new members per week from July 1922 to July 1923, when he was appointed as the Grand Dragon of Indiana. He led the Indiana Klan and other chapters he supervised to break away from the national organization in late 1923.

"Indiana's Klan organization reached its peak of power in the following years, when it had 250,000 members, an estimated 30% of native-born white men. By 1925 over half the elected members of the Indiana General Assembly, the Governor of Indiana, and many other high-ranking officials in local and state government were members of the Klan. Politicians had also learned they needed Klan endorsement to win office."

Photo of KKK Women's Auxiliary in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. When I first saw this photo a few months ago, I had to wonder if my grandmother attended this huge KKK rally...

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/96/65/14/966514736a9128a4fc6e9286cde573be.jpg
 
 
+8 # MillValleyMaven 2015-08-23 08:13
"ethnic Protestants"? Yeah, let's go to that great new Protestant restaurant in the neighborhood.
 
 
+7 # Wally Jasper 2015-08-23 09:44
They serve quite a few varieties of meat and potatoes with no spices whatsoever.
 
 
0 # barbaratodish 2015-08-23 10:01
Trump's next rally in Alabama needs to be held in Tuskaloossa, then everyone can get some valuable "IVORY" because IN ALABAMA THE TUSKS R LOOSSA! lmao
 
 
+2 # Corvette-Bob 2015-08-23 18:59
They did not blow the dog whistle long enough for the racist to hear. Anyways Trump is not a true believer he is simply a demigod who will say anything to get attention.
 
 
0 # lewagner 2015-08-23 21:56
Dr. Cynthia McKinney, former (black) congressperson from Georgia, reported today on her Facebook page that white people in the South have a BETTER attitude towards race than elsewhere in the country.
Cynthia McKinney is one of my favorite people, by the way, she had the integrity to press Donald Rumsfeld on 9/11 in Congressional hearings.
https://youtu.be/Px1t1-a9uxk
She also refused to take the AIPAC pledge, by the way -- which "Bernie" should also do, but he won't. Cynthia is no longer a congressperson; "Bernie" still is, and has become a "viable" presidential candidate. I think that's telling.
 
 
+2 # Glen 2015-08-24 07:09
Great observation. She is a great person and it was a shame to lose her. It truly is not just the south, as I have said, the entire country has lost its mind.
 
 
0 # Glen 2015-08-24 15:33
Thank you for the reminder,Celtic . I have met folks in the past who were elderly, and who recounted family histories. In the Dakotas, and elsewhere, racism was vicious and violent, even to the point of killing black children - burning them alive.

Burning blacks alive was a widespread method of intimidation that worked for a time, obviously. There is no way the heritage of that hatred has been eliminated, and I would be interested in how Indiana citizens view today's situation.
 

THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community.
RSNRSN

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Jeff Bezos. (photo: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Jeff Bezos. (photo: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Amazon Chief Says Employees Lacking Empathy Will Be Instantly Purged

By Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker
17 August 15
 
The article below is satire. Andy Borowitz is an American comedian and New York Times-bestselling author who satirizes the news for his column, "The Borowitz Report."

aying that he was “horrified” by a New York Times article recounting callous behavior on the part of Amazon executives, company founder Jeff Bezos warned today that any employees found lacking in empathy would be instantly purged.
In an e-mail to all Amazon employees issued late Sunday evening, Bezos said that the company would begin grading its workers on empathy, and that the ten per cent found to be least empathic would be “immediately culled from the herd.”
To achieve this goal, Amazon said that it would introduce a new internal reporting system called EmpathyTrack, which will enable employees to secretly report on their colleagues’ lack of humanity.
The system will allow Amazon employees to grade their co-workers on a scale from a hundred (nicest) to zero (pure evil), resulting in empathy-based data that will be transmitted directly to Bezos.
Then, through a new program called Next Day Purging, any employee found lacking in empathy will be removed from the company within twenty-four hours of Bezos’s termination order.
“We can’t be the greatest retailer in the world unless we are also the kindest,” Bezos wrote in his e-mail. “So my message to all Amazonians is loud and clear: be kind or taste my wrath. Love, Jeff.”

 

Amazon Chief Says Employees Lacking Empathy Will Be Instantly Purged

Jeff Bezos. (photo: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Jeff Bezos. (photo: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
By Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker
17 August 15
 
The article below is satire. Andy Borowitz is an American comedian and New York Times-bestselling author who satirizes the news for his column, "The Borowitz Report."

aying that he was “horrified” by a New York Times article recounting callous behavior on the part of Amazon executives, company founder Jeff Bezos warned today that any employees found lacking in empathy would be instantly purged.
In an e-mail to all Amazon employees issued late Sunday evening, Bezos said that the company would begin grading its workers on empathy, and that the ten per cent found to be least empathic would be “immediately culled from the herd.”
To achieve this goal, Amazon said that it would introduce a new internal reporting system called EmpathyTrack, which will enable employees to secretly report on their colleagues’ lack of humanity.
The system will allow Amazon employees to grade their co-workers on a scale from a hundred (nicest) to zero (pure evil), resulting in empathy-based data that will be transmitted directly to Bezos.
Then, through a new program called Next Day Purging, any employee found lacking in empathy will be removed from the company within twenty-four hours of Bezos’s termination order.
“We can’t be the greatest retailer in the world unless we are also the kindest,” Bezos wrote in his e-mail. “So my message to all Amazonians is loud and clear: be kind or taste my wrath. Love, Jeff.”

 

Sunday, August 9, 2015


Jon Stewart. (photo: Brad Barket/Getty)
Jon Stewart. (photo: Brad Barket/Getty)

Stewart Rips 'Bullshitocracy' in Finale

By Lloyd Grove, The Daily Beast
08 August 15
 
His nemeses joshed him, his family was there, but Jon Stewart’s cheery signoff from The Daily Show also included a resounding condemnation of ‘Bullshitocracy.’

on Stewart ended his 16½–year reign on The Daily Show Thursday night with laughter and dancing—and, yes, a fire-and-brimstone sermon against something he called “The Bullshitocracy,” a roundup of the usual suspects and celebrity guests, a couple of dick jokes (because what would The Daily Show be without a couple of dick jokes?), and even a performance by Stewart’s idol, the New Jersey-born Bruce Springsteen.
Stewart’s generally lighthearted mood—pretty dry-eyed considering the gravity of the moment, with only a tiny threat of loss of composure when he thanked his wife, Tracey, and his kids Nate and Maggie “for teaching me what joy looks like”—gave the lie to Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes’s description of the Comedy Central star as a man who “has a bitter view of the world.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ailes—whose right-leaning cable channel has been one of Stewart’s fatter and juicier targets all these years—conceded that the retiring fake newsman is “a brilliant comedian,” “a very nice guy,” and “a good father.”
But while protesting that the political satirist and razor-sharp media critic never drew Fox blood, and that Stewart failed in his treasured quest to “get rid of Roger Ailes”—something I doubt crossed Stewart’s mind, given that Ailes has been great for business—the Fox News founder claimed that he could tell Stewart is bitter because “you see it embodied in how he’s reacting to Fox News, equating it with death.”
Yet Ailes and his cable channel went all but on unmentioned on Stewart’s valedictory program, although the top of the show featured shtick on that other momentous television event occurring Thursday night—the Fox News-orchestrated inaugural Republican presidential candidate debate.
Because Stewart’s final show aired well after the debate at 11 p.m. but was taped well before the overhyped battle between Donald Trump and nine other GOP White House wannabes—and media reporters watched a live feed of The Daily Show with an invited audience at The Nightly Show studio, a couple of blocks away on Manhattan’s West Side—Stewart and correspondents Jessica Williams, Hasan Minhaj, and Jordan Klepper had to make it up as they went along.
Just like the real pundits, presumably.
“The first Republican presidential debate wrapped up—it was incredible—and so articulate,” Stewart declared to audience laughter. “I feel something of a responsibility, nay, an obligation, to devote the entirety of our last show to our standard post-debate full-team coverage.”
“Jeb did well,” Jessica Williams pronounced, standing in front of a green screen backdrop of the Cleveland debate venue.
Scott Walker was “solid,” Minhaj enthused.
“I can’t believe Trump took out his penis so late in the debate,” Klepper analyzed—dick joke No. 1.
There followed an appearance by nearly every performer who ever was part of The Daily Show cast—literally dozens—including a prosperous-looking and full-bearded Steve Carell, Stewart’s predecessor as host Craig Kilborn (also, bearded and filled-out, and wearing what looked like an ascot and smoking jacket and adopting the creepy mien of Christopher Walken’s “The Continental”), Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and even South African comic Trevor Noah.
The 31-year-old Noah, who debuts as the 52-year-old Stewart’s successor on September 28, came onstage for a bit of business in which he interrupted the retiring host to wield a tape measure to calculate the size of various items such as the anchor desk, the flat screen behind it—and Stewart’s crotch.
Dick joke No. 2.
The Daily Show’s former senior black correspondent, Larry Wilmore—whose Nightly Show was preempted by Thursday night’s extended farewell—showed up at the desk to complain to Stewart about being bumped.
“I have nothing else to do tonight,” he kvetched. “Black shows matter, Jon,” he added.
Even former cast member Wyatt Cenac, bearded and big-haired and looking a little like Cornel West, got a cameo appearance, in which he affected boredom and chilly apathy over Stewart’s repeated invitations to the wrap party.
Apparently all is forgiven for Cenac’s very off-message interview with podcast interrogator Marc Maron, in which he revealed that he and the Comedy Central star had some unpleasant encounters over Stewart’s alleged racial insensitivity.
Indeed, when all the former cast members were shown in a group-hug onstage, Stewart made a point of throwing his arms around Cenac and giving him a heartwarming squeeze.
And, of course, there was video featuring a cavalcade of Daily Show targets ushering Stewart to the door:
*Paul Brown, the chief executive of Arby’s restaurant chain: “Jon Stewart—it’s like a TV threw up on your face.”
*Chris Christie: “I’ll never forget you, Jon. But I will be trying.”
*Charlie Rangel: “Good riddance, smartass!”
*Hillary Clinton: “And just when I’m running for president. What a bummer.”
*Mika Brzezinski: “See ya, pipsqueak!”
*Rahm Emanuel: “What has nine and a half fingers, and won’t miss you at all. This guy.”
*John Kerry: “You know, there are a lot of things happening around the world that keep me up at night—which is why I’ve relied on you to put me to sleep.”
*John McCain (manipulating a Jon Stewart hand-puppet): “I’m Jon Stewart. I’m dumb. I’m stupid. Nyah nyah nyah. So long, jackass!”
After all that insult comedy, however, it was left to former Daily Show correspondent Colbert—over the aw-shucks protests of his host—to slather Stewart with heartfelt praise.
“We owe you, and not just for what you did for our career, by employing us to come on this tremendous show you made,” Colbert insisted. “We owe you because we learned from you. We learned from you by example how to do a show with intention, how to work with clarity, how to treat people with respect. You are infuriatingly good at your job!”
And so on and so forth.
Stewart delivered an impassioned attack on “The Bullshitocracy”—that is, government and corporate obfuscation and lying that it was his mission to expose—gave a last piece of advice to his audience: “If you sniff something, say something.”
Meanwhile, he reflected on what the show has meant to him.
“I’ve been in show business a long time. I’ve worked in a lot of different atmospheres at varying levels of toxicity,” he said. “And this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. And I’ll never have that again. And I’ve had to come to terms with that before leaving.”
 

Comments   

We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
 
+66 # Phillybuster 2015-08-08 15:17
Imagine how bleak our world would have been without Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, David Letterman, Johnny Carson and all of the many others, who have brought and will hopefully continue to bring, a spark of sanity into our insane world.
 
 
+27 # Pancho 2015-08-09 05:05
And Tom and Dick Smothers, and Dick Cavett, who led the way.

"Good night and good luck."
 
 
+4 # Douglas Jack 2015-08-09 09:02
Bloodthirsty war & resource-destru ction vampires (Clinton, Kerry, McCain, Emmanuel, Christie, Brzezinski etc.) showing their all-too-human cynicism (humour?) as part of Hollywood's war 'entertainment' (?), showing the world that; 'we're just normal people', while millions are dying in: USA, Canada, NATO, Israel & Saudi monger devastation. For balance, the people who should have been featured are the now starving of once abundant Iraq, Libya & a hundred countries worldwide which we have destabilized for 'fun' & profit.

What we have learned is that; the Finance-Media-E ducation-Milita ry-Industrial-L egislative-Comp lex lie to us continually so that; we will steal, rape, murder & lie against those who have anything we want. The Entertainment-C omplex should be added to this list. They will laugh all the way to their cottages, gymnasiums, Guantanamo psychologists & resort centres. "I have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly.

This isn't funny in the sense of dissing everything of human love & value, as trolls are want to do, but entirely tragic. Such humour, should inspire each of us to living-simply so others-can-simp ly-live & using all our faculties for making sure all present & future generations can contribute their talents & receive on this plentiful earth. https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/home/2-mutual-aid
 
 
+70 # Jayceecool 2015-08-08 22:03
Thank you, Jon Stewart, for peeling back the layers of bullshit that cover so much of this country now. We will miss you desperately...
 
 
+51 # jazzman633 2015-08-08 22:33
Years ago, George Carlin noted that "America, from sea to shining sea, is full of SHIT." The BS level has only gotten higher.

As previous generations could not imagine life without Johnny Carson, I cannot imagine news without Stewert. I'd watch him in rerun, even if all the material weren't current.

My hope and prediction: with this election shaping up as the craziest in a long time, Stewart will temporarily return to the air three months before and help us laugh all the way home.

(On the plus side, I really don't need him in order to find Trump laughable.)
 
 
+38 # EmilyCragg 2015-08-08 23:05
We are the ones who have to bring sanity to our world.

We are the ones who have to confront the FACTS, that we have been lied to about everything, ever since were were kids.

We are the ones who have to confront our leaders, take them out of power and start over because they failed to hold to the truth.

We can't put it on John Stuart anymore. Now, it's our job, collectively.

ENOUGH BULLSHIT!
 
 
+31 # DaveM 2015-08-08 23:31
If the political and social scene of the 21st Century were to be related by an average person one generation ago, that person would be heavily medicated and institutionaliz ed as hopelessly paranoid and delusional.
 
 
+22 # elkingo 2015-08-09 02:04
Bullshitocracy indeed. The entire commercial sphere is based on "salesmanship" = bullshit.
Political discourse is bullshit by definition, utterances geared to getting elected/realizi ng money. Works this way: I say what I presume will make the second and or third party act or believe this way or that, not what I think the truth is. E.g. Q. "Senator do you think Country A will invade Country B?" A. "Well I certainly hope not." Not an answer to the question, but a rhetorical statement for ulterior effect, or Bullshit Capitalism depends on bullshit. It infects our brains and very language.
 
 
+16 # Pancho 2015-08-09 05:10
Too bad that the last Jon Stewart show was taped before the "debate."

It wasn't a debate at all. It was Fox playing the Grand Inquisitor for the Trump "campaign." I'm not aware that anyone noticed except Thom Hartman, a day later.
 
 
+13 # kalpal 2015-08-09 06:01
Have not seen that many entire shows but the bits I saw made me happy that somebody in this nation is able and willing to be the court jester who tells as many truths as possible and calls out as many of the millions of lies we are inundated with a on an almost daily basis. Hope that the new host can do a good job.
 
 
+9 # Trish42 2015-08-09 06:48
I know life will continue without Jon on four nights a week, but it will never be the same. Some people are irreplaceable --- and Stewart is one. No one, no one could capture the insanity and absurdity of current politics the way he could; no one could make me ROTFLOL like he could. We can only hope that he won't be entirely gone from TV.
 
 
+3 # Capn Canard 2015-08-09 09:11
Jon Stewart is gone, but on Sept 8 Stephen Colbert will return...

However, I fear that his new show will not be as political as the old Colbert Report
 
 
0 # reiverpacific 2015-08-09 11:25
Stewart really is irreplaceable.
I hardly watch any TV but have enjoyed many YouTube bits on his hilarious, beautifully timed and hard-hitting take downs of so many poltico-thugs. His facial expressions and hand gestures are those of an accomplished stand-up comedian.
I watched a live performance by his South African replacement Trevor Noah yesterday and wasn't very impressed -but these are hard, if not impossible- shoes to fill.