• Etterra@discuss.online
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    7 hours ago

    Hope is for the young. Like single digits young. I lost all hope in high school and 30 years later everything is still trending downwards.

  • Jhex@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    Actually… celebrity worship of this type is why America is in the hole it is in.

    I have no doubt Jon Stewart is a thousand times better than the Orange Pedo but that is true for 98% of the population.

    What kind of preparation would Jon Stewart have to be a good President of the USA? other than being famous?

    • RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      What kind of preparation would Jon Stewart have to be a good President of the USA? other than being famous?

      He has shown that he has the very necessary ability to say, “I don’t know.” And him being famous for what he does has put him in the unique position to follow it up with, “But I know some people who might…”

      He has also demonstrated the very essential ability to listen when the smart people (and Doris Kearns-Goodwin) are talking.

      Do I think he would be a good president? No. He’s very much a liberal capitalist that worships the status quo we had under Clinton.

      It’s just that he demonstrates the qualities of a good leader that people are searching for in these demon days.

      • Optional@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        Do I think he would be a good president? No. He’s very much a liberal capitalist that worships the status quo we had under Clinton.

        So he should be aligned in the complete opposite direction of the country and the world. Ok. You think he can turn it all around in 4 years with a divided house?

        He has also demonstrated the very essential ability to listen when the smart people (and Doris Kearns-Goodwin) are talking.

        Oh snap

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        those abilities represent an incredibly low bar to clear man… it shows you have had shit leadership for such a long time

    • Jo Miran@lemmy.mlOP
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      12 hours ago

      Oddly, you’d be correct 99% of the time but in Jon’s case he is actually highly experienced with dealings on Capitol Hill.

      After leaving The Daily Show, Stewart maintained a low profile in entertainment industry circles, but used his celebrity and voice in a sustained advocacy for 9/11 first responders and war veterans’ health benefits. In 2019, he received the New York City Bronze Medallion for his “tireless advocacy, inspiration, and leadership (helping to) pass the permanent authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act”. He continued using his platform as an advocate for veterans by being instrumental in helping pass the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which expands healthcare access and funding to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service including burn pits.

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        so that makes him a good activist… the leap from there to POTUS is like you seeing me volunteering at a soup kitchen and wanting to give me a Micheline star restaurant to run

        • Jo Miran@lemmy.mlOP
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          10 hours ago

          His involvement was hands on and significant. In person lobbying, actual help crafting the legislation, etc.

          Does that alone qualify him to be potus? Probably not, which is the point he is making in the video. Does it make him far more qualified than Trump? Absolutely. But the point of my comment was in response to yours…

          What kind of preparation would Jon Stewart have to be a good President of the USA? other than being famous?

          …and to illustrate that he does indeed have hands on knowledge and experience in the legislative negotiations and crafting, which most other celebrities do not have.

          • Jhex@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            yes but why choose a celebrity that knows politics when you could have someone with a full education and career (or at least you could wish for one)

            • rylock@piefed.zip
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              7 hours ago

              Because it’s a popularity contest where name recognition is a huge factor. I swear it’s like some people want to lose.

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                My original point is that the very American celebrity worship phenomenon, which has turned your entire government in a popularity contest, is BAD for you… so maybe don’t keep going down this route?

                I swear some people find themselves in a hole and they just want to keep digging

                • rylock@piefed.zip
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                  6 hours ago

                  Elections have always been popularity contests, what are you even talking about? It’s about finding a prominent figure that has a strong, and hopefully benign, vision for the country and to raise that person as a figurehead.

                  That they come from pop culture in the US now is just a reflection of the collapse of their civic space. You still need to find a viable path to victory, and wishing we were in a different era will only prevent adaptation to the new reality.

            • Jo Miran@lemmy.mlOP
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              6 hours ago

              I don’t understand your replies. In the video Jon addresses the impulse people have to want folk like him, Colbert, and Kimmel to run for office. He insinuates his disagreement but understands the sentiment. In other words, exactly your point.

              On the other hand, you keep arguing the point of Jon as POTUS in this comment thread when the only point being made was that, unlike most celebrities, Jon has knowledge and experience in the legislative process. You stated that he had no other qualification other than fame. I corrected that misconception. Nothing more.

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                5 hours ago

                I don’t understand your replies. In the video Jon addresses the impulse people have to want folk like him, Colbert, and Kimmel to run for office. He insinuates his disagreement but understands the sentiment. In other words, exactly your point.

                yet ITT everybody is already voting for this imaginary ticket

                On the other hand, you keep arguing the point of Jon as POTUS in this comment thread when the only point being made was that, unlike most celebrities, Jon has knowledge and experience in the legislative process. You stated that he had no other qualification other than fame. I corrected that misconception. Nothing more.

                read the comments… the celebrity worship is out of control here

                • Jo Miran@lemmy.mlOP
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                  5 hours ago

                  I get that, for the overall post. I was just noting that this specific comment thread was in response to your comment about his qualifications and experience. Nothing more. It later got filled with other trains of conversation, but my response to you was specific to that one subject, not whether or not celebrities in general should be public servants.

        • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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          10 hours ago

          I mean, I get your point, but… are you really going to pretend Stewart wouldn’t be better than every fucking Republican?

          and half the Democrats, too. Even if the off-chance they do know better than some random person who follows politics, our current ‘leaders’ are listening to lobbyists over even basic logic.

          Do not let perfect be the enemy of good.

          • Jhex@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            I mean, I get your point, but… are you really going to pretend Stewart wouldn’t be better than every fucking Republican?

            no, of course not. But the piece of dog shit I just scraped off my shoe would be a million times better than all republicans blended together so that is not really a measure of goodness

            • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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              7 hours ago

              It is a valid point of reference when saying someone is better than what we have…

              Why are you hellbent on making perfect the enemy of better?

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                who says I am?

                Why are you dealing in absolutes? if I am not with you, even partially, I seem to be interpreted as being against you

                All I am saying is that, if you take Jon Stewart celebrity status away, all you have is a man with no interesting education to speak of who does seem interested in the welfare of vets… that’s it. You can go to ANY VA facility and find people with more education and a life long career of helping Vets

                Yet you want me to think you wanting Jon Stewart for POTUS has nothing to do with celebrity worship

                • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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                  5 hours ago

                  Way to continually ignore his actual political accomplishments.

                  Nobody is calling him the next Bernie Sanders. Nobody is saying he’d be the perfect pick. Though only you seem to be hellbent on ignoring any positive qualities.

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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      9 hours ago

      Reagan and Trump have proven that actors and media personalities are extraordinarily good at pushing their agendas. The problem isn’t that they were/are celebrities. The problem is that their agendas suck.

      Stewart has consistently demonstrated his agenda, on the air and as a lobbyist. His agenda doesn’t suck. His agenda is what this country has been looking for my entire lifetime.

      Don’t cockblock my candidate.

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        Reagan and Trump have proven that actors and media personalities are extraordinarily good at pushing their agendas. The problem isn’t that they were/are celebrities. The problem is that their agendas suck.

        so maybe, just maybe, go with someone that has an actual education and career to show they have a good agenda? not just someone that seems nice… I do not think he has done bad things but he has barely been successful at ONE thing he has pushed the gov for (and not that successful because Vets keep getting defunded)

        • Optional@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          Dude you’re not winning this point. We understand what you’re saying and we disagree.

          Stewart / Sanders 28!

            • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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              1 hour ago

              Uh, my argument was the reverse: That it is celebrity worship, and that celebrities have proven substantially more effective presidents. Reagan and Trump have easily been the most influential presidents since Truman, and only because Truman used the bomb.

              My point was that the problem with celebrities in the White House has been their right-wing agendas, not their celebrity status. Their celebrity status enabled them to achieve their agendas in a way that the other, mediocre presidents couldn’t.

              Why should we select yet another boring, ignoreable, mainstream, career politician instead?

    • VeganBtw@piefed.social
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      12 hours ago

      Kind of agree, but he has shown he’s willing to fight for great causes despite his notoriety, he tends to speak truth to power, and he already knows what it means to be famous, so I guess it’s better than a lot of alternatives.

      • DaMummy@hilariouschaos.com
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        7 hours ago

        Plus, he put a medal on a nazi so he doesn’t speak ill of Big Pharma again. He knows how to fall in line and do what he’s told.

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        Again, not to take away from that… but it’s easy to “speak truth to power” when you are not in power

        • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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          9 hours ago

          It’s not about the ease of it. It’s the reflection of his character. He has enough money to fuck off and never peep again and live a life of luxury. He doesn’t.

          • Jhex@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            and he is getting handsomely paid to continue his show… if you’d tell me he retired from TV to just become and activist you’d have a solid point

            • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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              7 hours ago

              He was willing to go against Apple while being paid by Apple. I still have a valid point, and you have nothing but negativity. Sad.

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                Sure a millionaire who could retire tomorrow and live in luxury for 3 lifetimes is not afraid of stop working… wow, what courage

                Sadly, you seem to be too deep in the problem to understand you are just adding fuel to the dumpster fire

            • Optional@lemmy.world
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              6 hours ago

              He did retire and did become an activist. He came back because of popular demand. Which is not something most politicians could or would do.

    • Soulg@ani.social
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      11 hours ago

      In this specific case it’s not just blind celebrity worship, he has solid experience pressuring legislators into doing the right things like with helping 9/11 firefighters, he’s generally on the correct side of most issues that affect the working class, and is a very good rhetorician (acknowledging that his show has other writers as well) to give speeches and communicate to the populace.

      • Protoknuckles@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        But the great thing about being President is that your allowed staff. Bring the daily show writing crew as your staff writers!

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        so that makes him a good activist… the leap from there to POTUS is like you seeing me volunteering at a soup kitchen and wanting to give me a Micheline star restaurant to run

        • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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          9 hours ago

          I don’t understand how you fail to realize that if Trump can do it, a fucking potato could do it…

          and manage to be better for the working class at the same time.

          • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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            9 hours ago

            Exactly. The role of the president is defined by the president. They have a cabinet for a reason; they don’t need to be experts in everything.

            Presidents entering office with celebrity status have proven extraordinarily capable of pushing their agendas. The problem isn’t “celebrity”. The problem is that their agendas have sucked. Stewart’s agenda doesn’t suck.

          • Jhex@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            but if a fucking potato can do it… imagine what an educated person with a good track record and a career of helping could do… why do you still want a potato?

            • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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              7 hours ago

              All I said was a potato would be better than Trump, not an ideal choice. Stewart is far from a potato, too, so I don’t know what kind of weird point you’re trying to make.

              Sure, I’d much rather have a seasoned politician like Bernie or someone even further left, but I wouldn’t scoff at John Stewart.

              • Jhex@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                All I said was a potato would be better than Trump, not an ideal choice. Stewart is far from a potato, too, so I don’t know what kind of weird point you’re trying to make.

                As clear as possible: the USA could have a MUCH better POTUS than Stewart (actually he said so himself in this very vid)… perhaps, step 1 is to stop looking at celebrities

                Sure, I’d much rather have a seasoned politician like Bernie or someone even further left, but I wouldn’t scoff at John Stewart.

                Then go a support Bernie and stop wasting time with Stewart who is not running

                • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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                  5 hours ago

                  Neither is Bernie, you absolute numpty.

                  Again for the fifth time, I’m NOT supporting him as a perfect candidate. At all. Why are you stuck on such a fucking BASIC point?? You are such a clapping seal it’s just pathetic.

        • Soulg@ani.social
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          9 hours ago

          You don’t have to agree with our opinions on why we think he would be good, just don’t accuse us of things we’re not doing

    • Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 hours ago

      He literally figuratively just told you in this video that he isn’t :D you should believe people when they tell you that

    • in_my_honest_opinion@piefed.social
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      10 hours ago

      He says and I’m paraphrasing here, that the person who asks him that question is threatening him with a twilight zone like curse. He is trying to say it politely but he doesn’t want the job and that the question comes from a place of frustration.

    • NarrativeBear@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      He does, he essentially says don’t put your faith in me as doing so signals you have already given up.

      Its not a single one-worded answer of course, and that’s because it’s understood a question like that requires some explanation of why you would come to the end conclusion.

    • Bonesince1997@lemmy.world
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      12 hours ago

      True. Instead he spoke to why a person would ask him or someone like Colbert or Kimmel to be president. Though, in his answer, you can hear he doesn’t want the role.

      • Tim_Bisley@piefed.social
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        9 hours ago

        People are asking because the people are thirsty af for any sort of competence and leadership from the democrats.

    • Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 hours ago

      You can quite obviously hear him say that he’s a terrible person for the job.

      He’s an entertainer, he needs to be popular with his audience, and thus he needs to disguise negative feedback with humor.

      If he spoke plainly, he would have said to the guy wanting him to run for president “you barely know me, you just heard like 5 sentences you like and you’re already wanting me for president. That’s totally stupid, but it’s understandable because these 5 sentences are already better than anything you heard from Trump. I’m not even a good candidate and you’d still take me just so you don’t have to have Trump. So no, please actually try to elect someone that’d be good at the job, don’t force me to do it who would suck. Look at what I’m doing now, I can’t even plainly tell you what I think, my desire for approval is so high. Be happy that I only use my charm for random humoric nonsense, if I’d use my charm for personal gain I’d basically be Trump, he also was mainly an entertainer.”

      So yeah, while he doesn’t answer it directly, he does his best of trying to answer it based on the constraints that his person is being placed under.

        • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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          9 hours ago

          Touch a news article about how he took Saudi money.

          Dude already proved he cares more about his own bottom line than his moral positions.

          • IronBird@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            how is taking $ from them bad (assuming you don’t give them anything real in return)? the sauds are bunch of dumb rich fucks, overcharging them for a comedy show is about the best way to take liquidity out of their system.

            • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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              8 hours ago

              Again. morals < bag. that’s what it does. You aren’t hurting them AT ALL to take a few million…

              In fact, them going over there is a campaign to help them appear like they’re not monstrous fucking evil people. It HELPS them to make them appear more friendly to the west’s values.

              So… yea, it DOES help them more than hurt them.

              • IronBird@lemmy.world
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                8 hours ago

                the million or 2 you take from em for a couple shitty jokes is a million or 2 they can’t use to bribe officials to host actual event that could bring $ in, or invest into whatever other shitty diversification scheme they can come up with

                this is the same reason comedians take those expensive investor event/rich retirement home gigs. the crowds suck but they have loads of $ you’ll otherwise never take from their greedy fucking claws

                nobody with half a brain is being tricked by their white washing PR stunts

                • MotoAsh@piefed.social
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                  8 hours ago

                  lol no.

                  It’s the equivalent of taking 5c from me. If I give you a nickel, let me tell you buddy, I’m still FULLY capable of bribing those other people.

                  If Trump hasn’t directly demonstrated that far too many people actually DON’T have “half a brain”, then… I’m sad to say, but you might be in that group…

  • neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    11 hours ago

    Jon has spent his entire career being exceptional at being a clown and communicating.

    It’s not unreasonable for people to presume that a smart person who is good at communicating might make a great leader. But I think the role calls for more different skills that others have spent a lifetime specifically crafting (as opposed to performing stand-up and doing for television for decades).

    He’s doing what he wants to do within the constraints offered to him. Do you think he wants to be working for Paramount? He had that show on Apple for a few years before butting heads on iPhone manufacturing practices, then he got pulled back into David & Larry Ellison’s world.