Sometimes only the court jester can successfully call out the king for wearing no clothes. While Fox News, John DePetro, Bishop Tobin and Rep. Doreen Costa are hardly still royalty in post-tea party America, John Stewart can still shed some sanity on their completely fabricated and self-indulgent “war on Christmas.”
After all, I’m certain the vast majority of us agree this annual holiday assault from the right has more comedic value than cultural. Watch the very funny and insightful Daily Show segment here:
Doreen Costa, the last elected member of the tea party standing in the Rhode Island, was even featured in the Daily Show segment. Stewart pulls a clip of a Fox News personality asking Costa if they are “nuts” for thinking there is a war on Christmas.
Stewart’s response: “As a general rule, if you are trying to tell if you and one other person are nuts, ask a third person. Preferably someone from outside the asylum.”
Stewart’s talent is offering up social truisms in the form of jokes. Such as:
Yes you are fucking nuts. Because for whatever annoying, local ticky-tack Christmas-abolishing story you and your merry band of persecution-seeking researches can scour the wires to turn up the rest of can’t swing a dead elf without knocking over a inflatable snow globe or a giant blinking candy cane.For God’s sakes, Fox News itself is located in midtown Manhattan, the epicenter of all that is godless, secular, gay, jewy and hell-bound and, yet, even here, all around your studio, it looks like Santa’s balls exploded.
He goes on to enumerate just a few of the ways in which Christmas completely dominates the month of December in our society.
Even at the Rhode Island State House there are no fewer than 12 manger scenes on display, I was told yesterday by someone who works there (I’ll try to get some pictures of them all later today). But one tree doesn’t contain the word Christmas and the religious right declares war.
That is a joke.
The issue at hand Mr. Plain is not the mangers around the State House. It is not the Tea Party. It is not the militant ‘right’, as you put it. It is in regards to the Christmas Tree, not being called what it is. It doesn’t speak well for you to mock Mrs. Costa either. I am a Christian and have respect for other religions. I demand the Menorah be called as such, I demand people acknowledge other religious celebrations such as Kwanza. What really makes me very angry is the continual attempts to squash anything Christian in this state. It seems the ACLU, and followers like yourself think Christians are nothing but superior in their thinking when you couldn’t be more wrong. I even asked the Gov. if he plans on calling the Menorah the Holiday Candle Holder next. When does it end? If you feel that it is no big deal to call a tree a Holiday Tree instead of a Christmas Tree, then I ask you, what is the big deal about using the proper terminology and calling it a Christmas Tree? Why was the Gov. such a sneaky snake about having that youth band pre-scheduled to play music, when the parents of the students didn’t even have any idea why they would be there, but yet the Gov. did and He waited until 28 mins prior to lighting the tree, during the morning mind you, not at night when others could attend, why I ask you is that ok? Why must you act in such a juvenile manner in regards to Mrs. Costa and those that care so deeply about their religion? Because Dear Sir Plain, what the Gov. did was ten times more juvenile. Christmas isn’t about gifts or spending money, Christmas is about showing our fellow human beings love and respect, and thanks for sharing the planet with us, and praying for positive things for those in need, and helping out your fellow man. So, this entire debate and the desire for my fellow Christians to have one small thing such as a Christmas Tree be recognized as such, could that really be such a hard thing to do? Don’t we have much more dire issues to address? Why not step back, and admit there was a mistake made, genuinely apologize, and acknowledge a Christmas Tree, be tolerant and accepting and possibly lift up a child’s heart and let them enjoy the lighting at night with others, and call the tree a Christmas Tree. I know the Gov’s dad must be crying in heaven.
Ask Rep Costa how to calculate a compounded COLA. She cant. Ask her what she studied at URI (GED program). Ask her to explain those Tea Party principles she ran on then milked the unemployment system her entire first term in the General Assembly.
District 31 has re-elected a fake, phony opportunist whose main focus is her own self-promotion. And like sheep to the slaughter, the mindless flock to her protests of a lack of “Christmas” references at the State House – while they stand beside decorations clearly displaying the words “Merry Christmas”! Ha!
She has identified her target audience all right – 4th grade educations and below. Sadly.
Same ole stuff from fox.
Doesn’t say much for those that get their news from a comedy channel, is that what you mean samantha360? The intelligence supplied from a comedy channel is vastly superior?
Funny you should bring that up… “Study Finds Fox News Viewers Least Informed Of All Viewers”.
*** quote ***
The largest effect is that of Fox News: all else being equal, someone who watched only Fox News would be expected to answer just 1.04 domestic questions correctly — a figure which is significantly worse than if they had reported watching no media at all. On the other hand, if they listened only to NPR, they would be expected to answer 1.51 questions correctly; viewers of Sunday morning talk shows fare similarly well. And people watching only “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” could answer about 1.42 questions correctly.
*** end quote ***
I notice you didn’t say where or whom the study was done on.
Fairleigh Dickinson University conducted a national survey, replicating the results of an earlier study they had done on NJ residents.
Ah chuckles, what university? Where? Really? Alright then ………….. by all means continue to get your information from the comedy channel, still doesn’t mean it’s correct or informative.
If you’re from Jersey you can make fun of Fairleigh Ridiculous. If not, keep it to yourself.
Chuckles, it seems I struck a hot spot in the dealings of reality? And dishing out orders, tsk tsk! Is that how one acts when they realize it’s over?
Not sure your point, although I’m sure it’s much easier to ignore academic studies than to consider their implications. btw, I’m originally from Morris County. Scoff at FDU all you like. I know you’re mistaken.
Says the young under informed new grad? (pats her head) it’s ok young one, someday your lightbulb will turn on too…..
Hehe, is that supposed to be me? Would be easier to tell if you used the “Reply” link.
@funnyperson – clearly you aren’t as you profess such vitriol and ignorance from your fingers – you are despicable !
Brutal Honesty, thank you for providing the proof of my point. “@funnyperson – clearly you aren’t as you profess such vitriol and ignorance from your fingers – you are despicable !”. 4th gten grammar grammar. Big words can be dangerous if you don’t know how to use them. Happy holidays!
Who are you to assume I do not know the meaning of a word? Clearly you feel the need to continue to be negative, rude, and attack something of which you have no respect for. Seriously not showing any Christmas spirit!
The war on Christmas is a joke and like all bad jokes is best ignored. And the bad comedians, Costa, DePetro, Tobin and all of Murdock’s deranged “news” outlets are laughable but not funny or factual.
The biggest joke is the Governor who continues to perpetuate this debacle. He could easily shut-up the right by calling it a Christmas Tree and move on. It’s not like he hasn’t flip flopped on more important issues, e.g. public pension reforms.
I could not agree more Dog! Too bad more can’t realize such a simple solution!
That is not a Christmas Tree at the State House. These are what “real” “Christmas Trees” look like:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bethlehem-Manger-Square.jpg
What a waste of time. Please stop harassing Chafee over this. In spite of his mild manner he has demonstrated more backbone than any other politician I’ve witnessed around here in a long time.
Mild manner as in zero backbone?
If Chafee would just call it a Christmas tree we’d NEVER hear from Rep Costa again. EVERYONE WINS! Rumors of a gubernatorial run are cosmic. She couldn’t spell “executive order” or calculate a compounded COLA if a Fox News appearance depended on it. She’s perfect for RI politics! Selfish, self-absorbed, clueless and good at tricking people into believing the exact opposite. LOL.
Ya know, I’ve had it with your ignorant Napoleon syndrome. Your comments do nothing but scream of a disgruntled little man that got his hand spanked for being a naughty little boy and someone who couldn’t get what he wanted in a house of ill repute with a brinx truck at your back. Grow up already!
Brinks, Doreen. It’s spelled Brinks.
This isn’t Doreen you brown sphincter. No one is perfect, so I misspelled a word, the world is going to end! You are truly a southbound end of a northbound facing warthog!
Brutal Honesty – can you tone down the vitriol in your comments? At the very least the name calling… Funnyperson12 – please don’t attempt to identify commenters by what you think might be their real names.
thanks!
I was wrong. It’s probably the campaign manager (a no-name anyway).