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Stewart Nails Condi on ‘Hypothetical’ Hypocrisy

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Posted on Aug 9, 2006
Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart presided over a mock game show on Tuesday, during which he played highlights of Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice and Alberto Gonzales contradicting themselves and refusing to answer the simplest of questions. 

In response to Rumsfeld’s recent statement that he hadn’t ever painted a rosy picture of the war, Stewart played numerous clips of the defense secretary doing just that. 

The host then went after Gonzales, playing a clip of the attorney general struggling to respond to a torture-related question from John McCain.  After a long pause, peppered with the occasional stammer, the attorney general said he would be able to answer the senator’s question only if they could agree on the definition of “cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment,” to which Stewart added, “You call it an electrified anal prod, I say tomato.”

Finally, Condoleezza Rice appeared in a clip where she refused to address troop withdrawal in the face of Iraqi civil war, calling it a hypothetical.  Stewart, as always, had the last word: “In her defense, the last time the administration acted on a hypothetical, we invaded Iraq.”


Watch it:

Partial Transcript:

Jon Stewart:

We turn now to Iraq.  Three-and-a-half years into the conflict, there’s a growing sense of an administration that prided itself on its confidence and competence in dealing with complex issues is flying blind.  Now its policy is facing tough questions with the hot new Capitol Hill game show: ‘Win, Lose or Withdraw.’ You remember the rules, whoever successfully evades the most questions wins additional funding.  Let’s meet our contestants, the returning champs, the ‘Fighting Fighty Fighters.’ Their opponents: everybody else in the world, and…reality.

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Previous item: Top U.S. General in Iraq: Civil War 'Most Significant Threat'

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By Charles Karafotias, August 12, 2006 at 5:54 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I clicked the stop button by mistake.  I definiterly want to continue to receive the comments on Truth Dig.  You guys are doing a great job.  Thanks.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

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By Charles Karafotias, August 11, 2006 at 3:45 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Once again, a overblown and suspicious “terrorist plot” has been uncovered.  And guess what? not a single solitary Iraqui has been implicated.  This is zero for how many of these phony plots uncovered?  Since no Iraqui has been involved, let’s spend another trillion and “kill them all, let God sort em out” which is the motto of our Army in Iraq.

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By yeranalyst, August 10, 2006 at 11:39 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I would like to see these 21 suicide bombers ostensibly caught in a plot to blow up airlines in Britain. I would like to hear statements from them before they are disappeared forever. Like the hairy guy in pajamas caught in Pakistan a few years back. Haven’t heard anything about or from him since he was caught. Wasn’t he supposed to be the third or fourth in command in this illusive group(illusion?) Al Queda? Did he get smelted in India and China like the structural steel of the World Trade Center.

How convenient that Israel has caught a member of The Iranian Revolutionary Guard in southern Lebanon, even more convenient he turns out to be one of the cadre that “kidnapped” the two Israeli soldiers that provided Israel with the excuse to butcher hundreds of women an babies. What a stroke of luck. In my opinion the Israelis are really stupid, unable to concoct anything less prposterous than this story or they think the American public is very stupid and will swallow this B.S., it was after all reported for American consumption. My guess is both. This brings up a very obvious truth however. That Israel is engaging in psy ops type disinformation designed to bamboozle the American people in an attempt to further the invasion plan of Iran by the neocons in the Bush administration. This type of psy-ops is also taking place in Britain. If it can be proven then heaven help those two nations from the wrath of the American people. It is after all Americans who are dying in Iraq. At the very least it demands the complete severance of diplomatic ties. It would also mean in any rational sense of justice the perpetrators of such a hoax should be imprisoned for life or put to death.

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By Melissa, August 10, 2006 at 9:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

There are three wonderful clips he missed.  1. President Bush saying he would get Osama Bin Laden
2. President Bush saying he seldom thought about Bin Laden
3 President Bush saying he didn’t say he seldom thought about Bin Laden

also
Rumsfeld saying he knew where WMD were , around Tikrit etc
Rumsfeld saying that no one in the administration ever said there were WMD in Iraq

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By CompetenceObsolete, August 10, 2006 at 2:44 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Brilliant…

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By Jean S. Markovitz, August 10, 2006 at 8:16 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Dear Jon:  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  Your good looks, your fun facial expressions, your incredible intellect (honest!) and undeniable honesty in all matters this present administration. You are indeed the best.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 

Jean S. Markovitz
Philadelphia, PA

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By Charles Karafotias, August 10, 2006 at 7:02 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

John Stewart’s show is not only very funny, but he speaks the truth.  Blessed are the truthtellers for they shall enlighten the earth.  Keep up the good work, John and thanks.

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By OCPatriot, August 9, 2006 at 8:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

As always, under the pretense of doing a comedy show, Jon speaks truth.  Unlike the other media, he shows how so many people in the Bush Administration have lied, by simply contrasting their current answers with their past statements.  Keep up the great pretense, Jon.  May you garner even greater ratings.

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By kevin99999, August 9, 2006 at 7:11 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Just goes to show you how low the U.S. leadership has sunk...and this setting example for not only its citizens and but the international community. It is saying, it is okay to lie, cheat and commit crimes to achieve your ends. It is also saying that we will use our constitution at our convenience as a tool for political purposes.

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