I’ve never been as involved in politics as I have become over the past four years. I’ve watched our country erode into a nation of sheep. I say this because they are led by a person with ethics so blatantly corrupt that there is no other explanation for putting him in office again than a severe case of blindness. However, the one bit of good news to come out of his re-election (a term I use lightly as he was never elected the first time…) is that my long-held conviction that 80% of the population of the United States was made up of idiots has been lowered to reflect that only 52% are idiots. Perhaps we are improving. Because of my newfound interest in politics and the world around me, I started watching the news rather voraciously. However, this I learned was not the place to find out the truth about the world around me. Most news outlets are being so horribly censored or controlled that the only place I can find slightly more accurate reporting is from the BBC or other news outlets outside of our government’s control.

As it stands, the only other place I have been able to find accurate and objective reporting in the U.S. has been on the one network that no one takes seriously. Comedy Central is the place, “The Daily Show” is the name. That’s right… when I want to find the truth, I look to the venerable Jon Stewart to deliver it.

Now I realize there are those who might question the idea that I can find truthful news on a comedy channel, but I believe I can explain myself in simple enough terms that even the 52% I mentioned earlier would understand. (If it will help… I’ll type slowly). You see, when I watch the mainstream news channels I find myself wondering what to believe. I listen to various reports and have a hard time separating the truth from fiction. It’s all reported with the same seriousness. And most interviewers only ask the questions they are allowed, or if they are able to throw the rare curveball, that question doesn’t get answered. If you watched the debates last year, you saw constant examples of this.

With “The Daily Show” however, so much is ‘news’ is delivered with a tongue and cheek attitude, that when they actually report real news, you can tell. There is a noticeable difference between the truth and fiction. The show, and host Jon Stewart use this to their advantage. Because it is not considered a ‘real’ news show, “The Daily Show” gets away with reporting the truth and asking hard-edged questions. Its seeming lack of credibility keeps it off the radar of the political spin doctors and cover up specialists, because they don’t get it. Those of us who watch the show (the 48%), DO get it, and realize what they’re up to. We laugh at the jokes and the made up stories, then shakes our heads in disbelief when we are told what our ‘leaders’ are up to.

So when it came time to keep my eyes on the election last year, I of course turned to the one place I knew I could count on hearing the truth. The series of episodes was called “Indecision 2004”, and if that didn’t completely fit the bill in terms of titles, I don’t know what would. Throughout the course of this series, we were privy to the goings-on at the National Conventions, got the skinny on the debates, and lived through the nightmare that was Election Night. I had actually wished that I had taped these episodes just to show my grandkids how bad it was in the ‘old days’ I’m living through.

Thankfully, my mistake has been erased by Paramount Home Entertainment’s decision to release the series on DVD. A bold move considering today’s propaganda like stranglehold over the news. The 3 disc set offers up these episodes in all their politically incorrect glory. There are even a slew of terrific extra features, all of which are worth watching. And to be honest, there are too many to talk about here. But I will mention the absolute best extra feature, one which I had seen just once on Comedy Central. It is a short cartoon, drawn in the style of the old “School House Rock” cartoons, which rather truthfully teaches us about the life and death of a ‘Bill.’

I cannot recommend this set enough to those of you in the aforementioned 48% of the country. It is a reminder of dark times, but told with a wit and wisdom to make it nearly palatable. If you’re part of the 52%, I’d still urge you to pick up a copy of this set and watch it with one of your intellectual friends (if you have some) and let them explain to you just what a stupid and shameful thing you did back in November of ’04.

Starring: Jon Stewart, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms, Samantha Bee
Extras: DVD Introduction by Jon Stewart, Original Segments Featuring Jon Stewart and the Correspondents in Scenarios Too Hot for TV (May be Untrue), Stephen Colbert’s Award-Not-Winning Featurette “Requiem For a Show That Was Daily”, Voice Over Commentary by Rob Corddry, Ed Helms and Samantha Bee, Our National Anthem Sung in 4-Correspondent Harmony
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 6/28/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
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We'll give The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 an A+.