Anyone who has ever watched “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” already knows that you see more accurate questioning from Comedy Central’s “crack news teams” than any MSM channel. Humor has ALWAYS served an important role in society. Remember that the court jester was the only one who could make a king look foolish with impunity. Both shows actually have a lot to say if you know how to listen.

Ed Harges,

We actually agree, Marshall is being Marshall, which is usually being clueless, in his case it may be disbelief via disappointment.

re: By Leefeller, March 18 at 10:22:

Lee, you are misunderstanding the exchange to which you are responding. We all agree that the main matter is CNBC and the ideology it sells.

But Marshall earlier wrote that:

“he [Cramer] did claim that that clip was him giving an example of the thinking of an unscrupulous trader, which Stewart did not dispute.”

Marshall is claiming a complete exculpation for Cramer personally. That is not supported by the interview; in fact it is contradicted. As I replied, in part:

“...it is quite clear from the clips themselves [that is, the clips which Stewart shows to Cramer and to the audience] that Cramer is talking about what he himself does and has done.”

The main issue is much bigger than Cramer, I agree. But Cramer is also personally condemned by the evidence, in terms of his reputation and even possibly in concrete, legal, criminal terms.

Confusion, is in the focus on Cramer, looking at the bigger picture, the problem is the whole tainted pie, not just the buzzing fly who happens to be noticed. This includes the Mass Media as a whole. Results will be in the pudding, which may be like the pie.

Marshall writes:

“I’m confused as to why Stewart stressed that this wasn’t about Cramer, but about CNBC.”

I think Stewart was just trying to soften the blows a bit. After all, this was his guest; he didn’t want the guy to cut the interview short and walk out. It’s better to have Cramer keep talking, and keep sitting there watching the clips. This is not a court of law. The guy doesn’t have to say anything, and he doesn’t have to keep sitting there taking it. Stewart masterfully applied just the right touch of gentleness here and there, to get the maximum out of the interview.

By Ed Harges, March 17 at 4:05 pm #

“it is quite clear from the clips themselves that Cramer is talking about what he himself does and has done.”

If you’re right then Cramer should be investigated, but them I’m confused as to why Stewart stressed that this wasn’t about Cramer, but about CNBC.

Seeing is believing, except for some people. So much for hearing. Crammer got his assets handed to him in a bag, if someone could not see it, their must be a reason?

All CNBC has to do is hire those guys over at FuxNews; we can see they know exactly what they’re doing over there.

Or——Maybe Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan can help out after “Sweeps Weeks” is through, then they can go over and help the GE Bank convert itself into a bank just like American Express did, only funnier. Maybe.

re: By Marshall, March 17 at 3:17 am #

Marshall writes: “he [Cramer] did claim that that clip was him giving an example of the thinking of an unscrupulous trader, which Stewart did not dispute.

No, Marshall, you’re wrong. Cramer did not claim that, and Stewart accepted no such claim, because it wasn’t made. Furthermore, it is quite clear from the clips themselves that Cramer is talking about what he himself does and has done.

Go get ‘em, Jon!

By Ed Harges, March 15 at 9:38 am #

In fairness to the guy who wasn’t allowed to show clips on the show (Cramer), he did claim that that clip was him giving an example of the thinking of an unscrupulous trader, which Stewart did not dispute.  Out of context as those clips were, it’s a little difficult to divine the true meaning. 

So we’re really just left with the issue of cramer’s bad stock picks.

That was the best 30 minutes of television in a long long time. Stewart was talking for all of us in dressing down Cramer and CNBC or their cheerleading of the events leading up to the greatest economic meltdown since the “great depression”.  CNBC now has two strikes against them - they also rode the dot.com “profits aren’t important” fiasco right up to the bitter end. Their only real value is breaking news events and the stock ticker at the top and bottom of screen. Their analysts are mainly Freidman disciples, who drink the trickle down Koolaid, and want to continually drive down taxes on corporations and the wealthy. They are also rabid anti-union haters, and neo-cons on foreign policy. They act as if a liberal investor does not exist. Their guests for the most part are fellow believers and lapel pin patriots. Their pure financial analysis and advice is very minimal and for the most part not of much value to lay investors whose money is tied up in 401k’s and IRA’s, and not in individual stocks and bonds. I only watch them now for the opening bell and the closing bell. In between those two daily events CNBC is worthless.

More power to Jon Stewart for calling a quacking duck a quacking duck!  Maybe the “pundits” will catch on to the fact that we are not as stupid as they try to make us appear, and start giving us real news with facts instead two grownups bickering like ten year olds with the pundit never questioning the ignorance that comes out of their mouth!

Opps! I called them “pundits” so wrong!  A pundit is a person of great learning.  Hannity, Matthews and the others are definitely not learned.  They are just hecklers in a sideshow.

Ibett

Be afraid, Wall Street; be very afraid. It looks like America no longer believes CNBC’s crap. And that means that America no longer believes your crap.

Looks like you might have to spend your bonus on some extra bodyguards, eh? Or maybe let’s just say that Wall Street traders might at least want to avoid looking like Wall Street traders when they go out in public these days, hmm?

Check out these two articles.

(1) The first, from thenewamerican.com, notes ominous signs that Stewart may have dealt a death blow to CNBC, and it reminds us that Stewart’s 2004 appearance on “Crossfire” apparently killed what at the time was a must-watch political talk show. Now, Stewart may have done in an entire network, not just one show:

Will the Stewart/Cramer Battle Be the Death of CNBC?

...The Daily Show is now enjoying record ratings, while Crossfire was cancelled at the end of that same season.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/885

(2) This second item tracks the (so far) devastating effect which Stewart has had on CNBC’s “fool-most-of-the-people-most-of-the-time” business model:

In the first three days of this week, CNBC’s Business Day programming block was down 10 percent in the key demographic of adults 25-to-54 versus the same period the week before, and down 11 percent among total viewers.

http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/mixed-media/2009/03/13/the-stewart-dip-ratings-down-for-cnbc-cramer

Jon Stewart the real news guy? Calling people on their BS, is so refreshing, but I suggest we do not get used to it, for this may only be a once in a life time event.

Truth and reality are so well hidden behind the smoke screen, from politicians to Corporate elite, accountability are not on the agenda, usually pointing fingers is about as far as thing go.

It’s definitely a network issue. At the very least CNBC and the rest attenuates the distress calls made regarding impending threats to the system.  They present those most concerned only to chastise and undercut them as buffoons and alarmist.

This isn’t about Jim Cramer, but CNBC left him out to dry because they erred in prohibiting Santelli, and by extension themselves only to allow this to carry on.  Cramer is used to facilitate buzz and ratings, the other 93% of NBC’s “news” jewel merely amplifies the corrupt and misleading taking point of Wall Fleece.

So the HELL with them; they were outsmarted by ViaCom (MTV, CBS) can you believe it?

These market ‘analysts’ are nothing mor than the frontmen for the Snake oil producers. Thye knew exactly what they were peddling. and if they didn’t then they were not qualified for the title of ‘Analyst’ to begin with. Either way they are culpable for misleading the public.The insiders Don’t watch these schmoo’s, only those foolish enough to have thought it safe to swim among the sharks through their co conspirator companies like E- Trade.
Merely take Oil for an example of how these propagandaist have jsut as much blood on their hands as the Bush Admin. They not only speculated and created a false sense of security or created panic depending on which way they thought the market would’react’. Well Who is instilling these Reactions in the investors- the Soothsayers!These insiders have bets on either side of th econtinum- when the stocks go up and When they go down- a Win/Win position- something average investor ddi not.It’s not only the Oil prodcuers who manipuate the pricing by upping or shorting production- but also those who can move the market through coercsion.These market ‘analysts’ can Cause sell offs, or buying binges- sending actual prices to consumers to sway at will. When oil reached $4.00 a gallon, it destroyed small business, had adverse effects of the cost of food, effecting peoples ability to afford food, not just here, but those countries who buy our food products or depend on US for charitable donations of food staples….People Starved because of the price of Oil. How many children in poor nations died as a direct result of market ‘gurus’ Speculation and manipulation of Oil stocks?to end these Crimes Against Humantiy all essential resource which support human life and welfare should be removed from the stock market- energy, food, healthcare.No for profit company dealing in the welfare of humanity should be open to public trading. That also includes, financing for primary residences, Military, education nor corrections. Far to many For Profits cut corners and provide deceptive information to keep their stock prices high- this is not only Unethical, but Immoral. Let them gamble on Revelon vs Max Factor,Jim Beam vs Jack Daniels,shit that has no really bearing on peoples lives or suvival.
Our country was Created basically from Socialistic ideals, reason the words ‘We the people’ and “For the people and By the people” are at the top of our founding Documents.These did not Just refer to the form of Government, but also our Free market economy. Corporations have successfully barred the average citizen from accessing the free market (Predatory Business models) and Now own and control our essential and basic resources. There is no difference between a Family Crest and a Logo when the masses are dependent onthem for their livlihood, their needs and are indebted to them.
Cable Channels like CNBC have not only been the propaganda Dept for the Economic Treason committed by Wall Street, but also the Hostile Takeover of Our FreeMarket Democracy by the Corps.Perhaps we should all send them some RED COATS, indictive of their allegience and matches the blood on their hands.

Heh-heh-heh:

STORY: Jim Cramer, CNBC Ratings Down Since Stewart Attacks Began

In the first three days of this week, CNBC’s Business Day programming block was down 10 percent in the key demographic of adults 25-to-54 versus the same period the week before, and down 11 percent among total viewers….

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/13/jim-cramer-cnbc-ratings-d_n_174873.html

Marshall writes:

cramer got “smacked down”?  for making bad stock picks?

Um, no, Marshall. There are much more serious things revealed here, but you are too willfully thick in the skull to comprehend. To take only one of the most obviously damning items: on one video clip that Stewart presents, Cramer explicitly admits to doing something that is illegal, and he says that he does it anyway, because “the SEC doesn’t understand it”.

Wait - i thought stewart’s point was about the network, not about cramer.  but cramer got “smacked down”?  for making bad stock picks?  but wait - stewart said it’s not about bad stock picks.  i’m confused.

If you’re stupid enough to invest your life savings on cramer’s mooing-cows advice then i really question your judgement, not cramer’s.  but stewart gets his mooing scapegoat to boost his own ratings and his college-hip populist appeal.  “See! Those adults aren’t smarter than us kids after all!!  Let’s have a sit in!”

Cramer is an admitted law breaker not only should he be off the air he should be on his way to jail as well as sued by those he admittedly defrauded The fact that he felt safe enough to brag about his deeds on video just goes to highlight how corrupt the government, financial and law enforcement systems really are.

Be afraid, CNBC, be very afraid.