Politics 101, With All Its Spitballs and Sneers

New York Times ^ | September 16, 2004 | JANET MASLIN

[OESY]

In the midst of an especially bitter political season, the troublemakers at "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" can be seen regularly on Comedy Central, shamelessly exploiting current events for their own gain. Now this crew carries its mischief even further with a mock textbook that purports to describe American democracy. It tells us, among other things, that the Oval Office has no corners in which the president can be made to sit in if he shames the nation. It also tells us that if "The Daily Show'' had its way, the world would be a vastly funnier place.

In spirit, "America (The Book)" is a direct offshoot of "The Daily Show.'' A little of it is silly. ("If the president were the longest recorded flight by a chicken, he would be 13 seconds.") A little, like a picture that claims to show the Supreme Court justices naked, is just plain unforgivable. But the rest is the devil's own comedic handiwork, a side-splitting guide to the abuses and absurdities built into our political processes and institutions. The responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration, this book maintains, is to provide the second halves of prescription drug commercials, the parts about nausea and diarrhea.

"America'' can be opened at random, the way it will be in college dormitories when it becomes much loved and indispensable. But it can also be read straight through, thanks to sustained clever writing and a smart, durable premise. This brightly illustrated guide (with a handsome design by Pentagram) follows the rise of democracy from prehistoric man through the Ten Commandments given to the Israelites in 1300 B.C. ("Nothing bad ever happens to Jews again.") It moves on to early American history and then to the conundrums of the present day.

"I did some research," writes Rob Corddry, one of the show's hilarious on-the-air correspondents, "and it turns out if Betsy Ross was alive and sewing American flags today, she'd be a 13-year-old Laotian boy." The book also has Alexander Hamilton touting the Constitution as "the must-ratify document of the summer" and John Adams describing it as "a decent jumping off point" for a president.

"A good ambassador knows the little fork is for salad," notes the section of the book devoted to diplomacy. Other chapters describe the role of Congress as the gastrointestinal tract of the American body politic and explain the work of lobbyists, "whose sole job is to insure, through persuasive argument and financial remuneration, that Congress never forgets the people's wishes.'' It adds, "Especially the people's wishes for deregulation." After a bill has been drawn up and debated, the book notes, "it's amendment-sneakin' time."

Illustrations explain the stages of democracy, from infancy to "once-great'' nation. A map of a presidential library (which appears to be made of Lego blocks) shows where the "Faustian Bargain" is displayed. A chart of the judiciary branch identifies United States Tax Court as "the place to argue that the bubble-jet printer on your kitchen counter constitutes a 'home office.' '' As with Mr. Stewart's priceless anchorman persona and his show's hawk-eyed editing for real news gaffes, there is enough truth here to make "America" almost as instructive as it is sly.

The exigencies of an election year do not go unnoticed. The good news for Democrats, for instance, is that after the Rapture occurs they will regain control of the House and Senate. In its attempt to be even-handed, the book presents a Bush-Kerry boxing match ("The Thrilla in Vanilla") and even analyzes the power of political endorsements. The backing of The New York Times, it is said, "shores up support among Lincoln Center season-ticket holders."

The tactics of "The Daily Show'' recall those of The National Lampoon in its witty heyday. The Onion, the deadpan satirical newspaper, takes a more quotidian tack. Articles from The Onion that are reprinted in periodic anthologies tend to emphasize minutiae, although some of them fuse the ordinary with events of global importance. "New Fox Reality Show to Determine Ruler of Iraq," reads one cheerfully bogus headline.

On the evidence of "Fanfare for the Area Man," The Onion has been peeled dangerously often. The paper's parodies of community newspaper nonevents ("Former Employee Disappointed by Return-Visit Reception," "Suburban Home Haunted by Really Boring Ghosts") have largely lost their novelty and snap. To be sure, a good item in The Onion remains a treat, as in a tiny bit titled "How Much Do We Love Our Mommy?" One of the answers to this question is: "Less since she started making us call Gary 'Daddy.' ''

The Onion franchise is still worthwhile, but it can't beat the red-hot competing effort of "The Daily Show.'' Both of these books specialize in smart irreverence and short attention spans; both are aimed at students, even if they delight the rest of us too. And both trade on an obvious but all-important notion: that not even our most sacrosanct institutions are beyond questioning. "If con is the opposite of pro," "America'' asks, "then isn't Congress the opposite of progress?" Be prepared to discuss this in class and explain your answer.

[OESY]

Jon Stewart

[kasparik]

Stewart used to be funny until this year when he is doing everything he can to defeat Bush.

[Baynative]

"if "The Daily Show'' had its way, the world would be a vastly funnier place. "

Ask ANYONE who has fled a socialist utopia and you'll find they are not funny places!

[DJtex]

Once again, satire is one of our most important freedoms. If Jon Stewart is the declared primary news source for 35% of teenagers, then it's just a testament to the decline of American journalism.

[tx_eggman]

I spit coffee on my keyboard when I read:

The good news for Democrats, for instance, is that after the Rapture occurs they will regain control of the House and Senate.