Jon Stewart and The 4th Branch of Government

Satire. The fourth branch of government.

Or so it should be.

For 16 glorious years, Jon Stewart ripped into Democrats and Republicans alike for their hypocrisy, self importance and ineptitude.

I’ve only recently been made aware of his shows being available on YouTube. I am so glad they are.

Clips exist of Stewart bashing Obama for keeping Bush 43’s national surveillance programs, promptly followed by mocking the latter’s excessive wearing of cowboy hats.

No one was safe, and that’s what it was all about. Satire holds people accountable way more effectively than any 'neutral' news outlet ever could; because Stewart reflected back to his watchers an authentic experience, the authentic reactions we all have, but don’t necessarily feel we can express.

Instead of focusing on equally apportioned coverage, the satirists focus on equally apportioned bashing. And it is so much more entertaining, informative and memorable. I recall more information about the Hyde Amendment from watching the Daily Show, than any of what I supposedly learnt on the 10 o’clock news just last night.

By being very candid about what he was; by not purporting to be just another balanced newscaster, he humanized the stories he told, and emotionally…