America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction.The writers of the Daily Show and Jon Stewart Not to be confused with John Stewart or John Stuart. Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz on November 28,1962) is an American comedian, satirist, actor, writer, and producer. . America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Warner, 2004. This book, which mimics the form of a high school civics civics, branch of learning that treats of the relationship between citizens and their society and state, originally called civil government. With the large immigration into the United States in the latter half of the 19th cent. text, offers a satiric send-up of American democracy and governmental practices. Its authors, the host and writers of The Daily Show--a TV program that features "fake news" on the Comedy channel, skewer Democrats, Republicans, the media, and America's political institutions with joyful abandon. For example: * The president's cabinet is described as "Yes-men of freedom." During diplomatic crises, the secretary of defense is required to chant "Fight! Fight! Fight!" He is also in charge of kicking sand in the face of the Secretary of State. * Using felt and yarn, students are instructed to make a hand puppet of Clarence Thomas. Ta da! You're Antonin Scalia. * From Discussion Questions: "If 'con' is the opposite of 'pro,' then isn't Congress the opposite of progress?" * Though they may grimace grimace Neurology A humorless facial 'mask' typically seen in Pts with catatonia. See Amimia. and roll their eyes, each of the Supreme Court justices secretly likes it when you shout "Here come da judge!" * The two main political parties function like giant down comforters, allowing the candidates to disappear into the enveloping en·vel·op tr.v. en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing, en·vel·ops 1. To enclose or encase completely with or as if with a covering: "Accompanying the darkness, a stillness envelops the city" softness, protecting them from exposure to the harsh weather of independent thought. * 1980: Ted Turner launches CNN CNN or Cable News Network Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world. , a 24-hour news network. People doubt there will be enough news to fill 24 hours. People are right. * A president is said to have a "mandate" if he wins office with more than 55 percent of the vote. If he wins with less than 51 percent, he is said "to not care about having a mandate." I thoroughly enjoyed America (The Book) and was not put off by the occasional use of lewd language and a full-page display of nine naked Supreme Court justices. REVIEW BY MARTIN H. LEVINSON, PH.D. |
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