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Jon Stewart mocks Canada's 'Indecision Oh-Eh'
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Date: Tue. Dec. 9 2008 8:36 AM ET
It was only a matter of time before Canada's parliamentary problems became the butt of jokes down south.
Comedian Jon Stewart tackled our crisis in Ottawa head-on Monday in a segment entitled "Provinces In Peril: Indecision Oh-Eh?" The host of the "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" appeared incredulous that ordinarily-low-key Canadians had stumbled upon what he called the greatest challenge to the country since our "controversial decision to re-shape bacon."
Stewart, known for cutting to the heart of political issues through biting satire, couldn't believe a coalition of opposition politicians tried to topple Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"Force him from office? You can do that?," he asked, in an obvious reference to U.S. President George Bush.
"Because we've had no confidence in our guy for quite some time now. And he's taking forever to leave."
Stewart seemed bewildered by the crisis, considering some of Harper's poll numbers.
"I mean, this guy -- his approval rating is 46 per cent and they're trying to kick him out. You know what we call a 46 per cent approval rating down here? President Clinton," he exclaimed.
Stewart went on to explain Canada's parliamentary system to his American audience by bringing in his faux "foreign" correspondents from Britain and India. They mocked Harper for "running to mommy" by asking Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, the Queen's representative, to prorogue parliament.
But it wasn't just the parliamentary process that fascinated Stewart. He was also intrigued by Harper's sturdy haircut.
"What kind of magical creature's hair doesn't get messed up in a hailstorm?" he asked, referring to Harper's outdoor press conference at Rideau Hall following his meeting with Jean last week.
Stewart didn't save all of his jokes for the politicians, though. Canadian voters weren't let off the hook, either.
Stewart noted how Canadians took to our "incredibly tidy streets" to protest, at one point showing a demonstrator asking Harper, "What are your afraid of, sir?"
"Sir?" asked Stewart, not missing the quaint politeness of the demonstrators.
"You're heckling him! It's not a job interview! Do you Canadians save all your obnoxiousness for hockey games?"
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.



Comments are now closed for this story
James in Ottawa
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Wimpy
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Mark - Vegreville, AB
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Chris in Orangeville
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Samantha from Halifax
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Mark- Fort Erie , ON
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Joe C
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Cambob
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Interesting to note that mixed in with the jokes is a lot of truthieness.
liz ottawa
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EJ Kay
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Chris
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Keep lurking writers of the Daily show. It wont take long for you to find more humor in the present situation.
Slumberjack
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James in New Brunswick
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I did a number of searches of sites like CNN and Reuters and found very, very little about the whole thing. We are just too boring to be interesting.
Snowglobe, Canada
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Larry NL
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What the buffoons and the PM put Canada through in the last couple of weeks made us the laughing stock of the entire world.
Jack Layton is the one that is pulling us down and now Bob Rae wants to get on the stage and make funny.
Oh, the comedians will have enough material to last a comics career.
Glynn in NB
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Prof. Pye Chartt
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The Daily Show seldom misses the mark.
Casz
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Scene
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"Because we've had no confidence in our guy for quite some time now. And he's taking forever to leave." Too bad he didn't know much about Dion, he could of done an entire segment on him! That Harper hair quote was pretty good too, and true, the guys hair never messes up! Does he wake up in the morning with that style, or does he get bed head like the rest of us?
Ln(e)
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DGRose
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vince in trenton
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Nancy
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Julia
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Actually, we also save it for throwing pies in our leaders' faces... Can you imagine someone doing that to Bush? Brilliant.
ADP Barrie
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I love Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert! Their insight on Canadians always has me laughing.
Jo in Gtown
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Ed from Nova Scotia
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Laureen
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Anyone who listens to this drivel or chooses to report it needs to get involved in something more beneficial to society.
Mike in Morris, MB
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Harper = Clinton?!?! hmmm... I knew Harper was popular, but THAT comparison I didn't see coming!
Mario - Rockland
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Garth - Lethbridge
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Jane Vachon
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James
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Elizabeth S. Hutton
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Maybe Steven's image consultant should lighten up on the hair gel and spray.
Sorry Steven I do support you politically but your hair sucks.
Beancounter
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Gregg in Edmonton
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B. Kelley, Ontario.
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Lost Cause
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The news graphic they used during the report showed a piece of Monopoly money. Stewart's writers found it incredibly funny that the paltry sum of 5 million was enough to outrage Canadians to the point that they'd take the government down.
Harper got into office that way, and in January he's going to get thrown out in a "scandal" that, once again, Americans are aghast to even believe is being considered as such.
No matter what side of the political fence you're on, this satire is ultimately a huge a compliment to our system. You might be against the coalition, just as I personally am against Harper, but we should all be glad that we have enough sway to keep our politicians actions in check to this degree... it could be a lot worse. Imagine how much it would suck to have as little control as the Americans do.
Richard L. Provencher
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He likes Mr. Harper's sturdy hair, and Jon, the Conservatives will get a majority the next time. Yes...Eh?
Dustin
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JP in Ontario
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Thank you for taking the time to point out that our politicians are as, or more, ridiculous than those south of the Border Jon.
M. Cameron
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Alex
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MiseryLovesCompany
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I can totally see how our neighbours to the south might find this funny.
It's the leader who everyone wants gone more than the party he leads (you decide which country I am talking about).
Don't Tase Me, Bro!
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Greg
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Real Canadian
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Glynn in NB
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"Raise your intellectual status....Turn off your TV
Anyone who listens to this drivel or chooses to report it needs to get involved in something more beneficial to society."
something more beneficial to society like ... commenting on a satirical television program you seemingly do not lower yourself to watch? Well, society sure feels benefited from that!
Chuck
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Glynn in NB
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"Harper = Clinton?!?! hmmm... I knew Harper was popular, but THAT comparison I didn't see coming!"
Well Mike, Harper was kinda saying 'blow me' last week, so yeah, I can see it. HA!
Lost Cause
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Broadcast "Canadian Air Farce" 24-7 in all countries where terrorism is a problem. They'll be unconscious from boredom in no time and we can send the army in to collect the bad guys without firing a single shot!