Jon Stewart ridicules fear mongering politicians
Jon Stewart had some fun with our current crop of politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike for playing games with the American people relative to national security. “Last night the dedicated men and women in the Senate gave up precious fund raising time with their lobbyist so that they could do what they do best, disagree and …” said Jon Stewart. He then played news clips showing that they failed at the job as key provisions of The Patriot Act expired for their inability to agree.
Will the expired provisions, bulk phone data collection, roving wiretaps, “Lone Wolf” provision make us unsafe? Jon Stewart then showed clips of the fear mongering by the President, Senators, and ‘expired’ politicians. He then used news clips to show that this deadline did not just sneak up on the Senators. They had known about the sun-setting of these provisions for years. They procrastinated as only Senators can.
It was pointed out that not one single case of bulk data collection had stopped any terrorist attack. Jon Stewart then pointed out all the terrorist attacks that have occurred since the inception of the draconian Patriot Act provision. “If the Patriot Act is working that poorly,” Jon Stewart asked. “Why are these guys so adamant to keep it.”
Stewart then went on to point out that the President, Republican, and Democratic Senators alike, all blamed Senator Rand Paul for the failure to reach consensus. It was supposedly an irresponsible act. John McCain said he would not stoop to something as low as what Rand Paul did. Stewart could not let that one slip by. He reminded us all that John McCain almost gave us Sarah Palin for Vice President. What could be more irresponsible?
All in all, the piece was just an illustration of politicians continuing to manipulate Americans with fear to attain a goal not in the interest of Americans. Of course one can be assured it is in the interest of the companies that would otherwise lose business from the expired provisions.