I've been a minor league policy wonk for 25 years. I've seen many a one-sided political smackdown of unequal opponents. But, I've ever witnessed such a total and complete massacre! This was Foreman/Frasier, with more knockdowns.
Obviously, Cramer was on the wrong side of the debate on its merits, and he did not really deserve to have to answer for the sins of the entire financial sector. Still, he volunteered to do just that.
So, the man's total lack of argumentation skills was stunning. How could any journalist, even a "journalist," be this incapable of handling himself? Maybe he felt a little guilty--I mean, we are so used to hearing totally unapologetic right-wingers that a clearly internally conflicted one is too incongruent to notice right away.
But if he was incapable of defending his positions, then why show up? Pressure from CNBC? Or, is Digby right: the MSM Darwinianly selects for blowhard idiots?
Posted by David Wonk at March 13, 2009 12:01 AMI must say, it was a brilliant move on Stewart's part. Cramer made sure, by going on several shows and whining, that the "feud" was being followed by all the wonks. Then he foolishly agreed to go on the show, thinking he'd be interviewed by "just a comedian." He must not have ever seen TDS, because he should have known what was coming. Again, Stewart showed the "real" newspeople how it should be done. I'm curious to see how the wonks, who slavered over the food fight, will cover Cramer's (and, by extension, their own) humiliation. Present wonks excepted, of course!
Posted by Twinky P* at March 13, 2009 06:14 AMI watched the show. Jon did a great job as always.
But on Oct 6th show of Cramer, he did ask his viewers to get out of the market. If some of us has listened to that probably by now we would have saved atleast 15 to 20% of our dough.
The thing what I am trying to say is these experts are no experts and we still need to do our research irrespective of what these experts say on the TV. That is called common sense.
One thing is so predictable...men like Cramer (and his egomaniacal counterparts like Rush)are sooooooo full of themselves they think they're so much smarter and better than the rest of us it's sickening. Earth to Jim, anyone can cheat and lie their way to the top even if it's not illegal....it still doesn't make it morally correct and ethical you scum.
Jim Cramer was exposed for what he is...a freakin fraud...and his lame mea culpa was just that.... another phoney fraud...he thinks he's helping expose the shenanagins that go on at wall street, yet he knew exactly how the game is played, how to play it, and he still is playing it and trying to take advantage of it (and therefore our society)...what a dolt....what a criminal scumbag dolt...taking advantage of the system just because he needs to fill some lame ego power trip of his and his buddies is just typical of this crowd. It's the repuke elite ruling class ownershit mantra of I got mine screw the rest of you mentality that has infested the the wall street crowd.
Thank you Jon Stewart for putting that Con man in his place...and making the distinction he's just a representative of the entire financial corporate media ruling class elite's thinking. Everyone knows that Cramer (and many of his ilk) if he wanted to could put his knowledge to good use for the benefit of our country...if he wanted to...but he doesn't.
I don't feel bad that he is the poster boy (along with Madoff ) of the corruption of the corporatepolitical ruling class..not one bit. He's still trying to perpetrate a fraud.
Posted by emal at March 13, 2009 07:37 AMFinancial shyster.
Prettymuch tells you what you need to know.
Posted by snark at March 13, 2009 07:51 AMI think back to the Gloria Borger (?) interview of VP Cheney. She asked him a question about a statement that he made on video. He denied making the statment and she did not call it up to show him his own words! You always anticpate that a person will deny saying something bad. She did not have the tape and looked the fool.
Jon Stewart prepared for Cramer's denial and had the smoking gun, loaded and cocked. But more importantly, he was prepared.
I agree with whoever wrote it that the tape should be given to David Gregory and if he does not emulate that interview, fire his sorry butt!
Posted by goalkeeper at March 13, 2009 08:01 AM
"then why show up?" ...Jon's ratings were up 20%, while Cramer's were down 26%.(per MSNBC)
And yes, goalkeeper, Jon was prepared.
Pretty sad when a "fake" news show has to illustrate to the pros how it's done.
Who's next, Rush?
Posted by TIKI AL at March 13, 2009 08:14 AMOne last comment...I think it was so hypocritically remarkable that Cramer whined to Jon..."but the CEO lied to me"...there's so much to that one statement.
It's as if....
Jim himself wants us to actually believe (an alternate reality) that he didn't know the ceo was lying and Jim was just totally naive about how they play these spin games....especially since Jim also admits to doing similar crap and spin himself as hedge fund manager. Imagine that, a liar not able to spot someone using the same type of lies on him. You're only fooling yourself Jimmeh.
That little whine, just summed up the phoniness of Cramer's lame apology....
Posted by emal at March 13, 2009 08:15 AMWho's next, Rush?
In his response, Cramer wraps himself in Limbaugh's flab, then attacks Obama, who he knows will not engage him, totally ignoring Stewart's pwnage of his ass. What a whiner!
Posted by Twinky P* at March 13, 2009 10:02 AM"Limbaugh's dead right. I am a fight-not-flight guy," ...Cramer from Twinky's link.
Yea Cramer, we saw you in your super hero fight mode last night. Was Jon wearing a Kryptonite cod piece?
Posted by TIKI AL at March 13, 2009 11:37 AMCRAMER:But Obama has undeniably made things worse by creating an atmosphere of fear and panic rather than an atmosphere of calm and hope.
***
CRAMER:To be totally out of the closet, I actually embrace every part of Obama's agenda, right down to the increase on personal taxes and the mortgage deduction. I am a fierce environmentalist who has donated multiple acres to the state of New Jersey to keep forever wild. I believe in cap and trade. I favor playing hardball with drug companies that hold up the U.S. government with me-too products.
***
CRAMER:But these are issues that we have no time for now, on the verge of a second Great Depression. This is an agenda that must be held back for better times.
Shyster
Posted by snark at March 13, 2009 11:50 AMCNBC is a network of opinions. That's all. Nobody can predict the future. The idea that anyone can time the market or predict what an individual stock will do going forward is ridiculous.
Cramer is right sometimes, he's wrong sometimes. The media finaly went after him after he attacked Obama's policies.
Like Limbaugh, Cramer is an entertainer. His job is to get eyeballs on CNBC. He does it well. Whether or not you agree or disagree with his opinions is up to you.
I think he's right that Obama's policies are a disaster. Today, China agreed with Cramer.
"China's premier didn't say it in so many words, but the implied warning to Washington was blunt: Don't devalue the dollar through reckless spending."
"Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets. To be honest, I'm a little bit worried," Wen said at a news conference Friday after the closing of China's annual legislative session. "I would like to call on the United States to honor its words, stay a credible nation and ensure the safety of Chinese assets."
Wow...so China as our chief "shareholder" dictates economic policy. Booyah...that is quite a statement!
Posted by allansfca at March 14, 2009 09:19 AM