Any lurking media here? Better hear this.

[grasswire]

Jon Stewart revelation for the press on Bill Moyers Friday night.

The exchange involved the malfeasance of the American press. Jon riffed about the last WH formal press conference, where the order of questions was assigned and the press groveled. Jon said the press always says it will lose access to the White House if reporting is critical.

Then he said the kicker: "They don't HAVE access."

So, press lurkers, stop giving us that excuse!!

You don't HAVE access to lose! Two questions a week that are sidestepped is not access. Following Bush around and reporting on his golf swing and his brush chopping is NOT ACCESS. Sitting in a briefing room listening to a spinmeister deflect a few questions is NOT ACCESS!

The press has the power here. Not the White House. The press has the power to destroy a president and an administration. The WH does not have the power to destroy the press.

The press -- representing the people's interest -- has the upper hand. The relatively young and inexperienced WH correspondents have been hornswoggled by Karl Rove through classic intimidation.

Campbell Brown! You have the upper hand.

David Gregory! You represent the American people.

Terry Moran! Ask questions as if our lives depend on your work!

Suzanne Malveaux! Stand tall! Be a professional!

John King! Stop licking boots! Do your duty!

Etc. etc. etc.

What are they going to do to members of the press? Take away a birthday??

This is your destiny. Your shining moment. BE JOURNALISTS.

[w4rma]

1. Bingo: "They don't have access." (n/t)

[Trajan]

2. Great Post Grassie ...

Yea Verily ... !!!

[West Coast Democrat]

3. I'm So Glad I Caught Bill Moyers Last Night

Jon Stewart was excellent, as usual.

[Papa]

4. HELL YES

The press are supposed to represent the people, I don't know what the hell they are afraid of either...especially now since they/we have Bush dead to rights on the Iraqi issues/ Niger document(s). His lies have finally caught up to him and they better not let him out of the noose.

They have the all the transcripts and video clips of him and his cohorts lying. There is nothing to be afraid of. The administration are the ones attempting to rewrite history, and the media damn well know it, and have the proof to CHECKMATE this corrupt adminstration.

[quilp]

5. Every WH reporter should be forced to watch that NOW show

Jon Stewart took them apart. I had never heard of him before. Here is a "comedian" who's material is simply doing what any competant journalist should be routinely doing.

[NormanConquest]

6. Consider Shakespeare

and how the jesters and madmen were ironically the only sane people: they were the members of the royal court whose judgment and honesty the kings trusted most.

At this time in history when the American public has become a deluded King Lear who stubbornly will not see the truth, we desperately need "fools" like Stewart to pry the scales from our eyes and help us witness the treachery and deceit of our leaders.

[Cocoa]

7. bad timing for Stewart

the press corps has been right on top of it lately. I don't get to see NOW until tomorrow; did Stewart mention the recent episodes of the Ari Show? Series finale I guess, the new guy is taking over now isn't he...

[grasswire]

8. the press is still intimidated

The WH press corps is largely made up of relative youngsters who look good on television. The big media outlets have hired good-looking but inexperienced reporters who DO NOT UNDERSTAND their power and who have fallen in love with the aura of the WH.

It is a very big deal in Washington to be accepted into the inner establishment society. It's very seductive.

[librechik]

9. Here's the Bill Moyers/Jon Stewart transcript

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_stewart.html

[DrBB]

10. Oh hell, maybe I better plug damn TV back in again

We moved back into our place after a big renovation back in mid-March and never bothered to hook the TV back into the cable. Just using the cable modem.

But the one thing I really really do miss is the Daily Show. Could let the rest of it go hang, what with the internet for news, DVDs on my laptop for entertainment, and books. But I do miss Mr Stewart. Oh, and the Simpsons I guess. But mostly Stewart.