Are the late-night show hosts fool jesters or political Trump Haters?
I read a Trump hater’s blog who stated he loves watching Stephen Colbert and even tapes his shows. Frankly, I used to watch a late-night show monologue every night but stopped because all the hosts seemed to do is bash Trump rather than joke or jest about him.
I believe there are also many more like me who have stopped watching late night shows. Yet, the shows continue. Why, is the subject of this post?
Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from a novel titled, Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World.
“But this Will Summers was of an easie nature, and tractable disposition, who . . . gained not only grace and favour from his Majesty, but a general love of the Nobility; for he was no carry-tale, nor whisperer, nor flattering insinuater, to breed discord and dissension, but an honest plain down-right, that would speak home without halting, and tell the truth of purpose to shame the Devil; so that his plainness mixt with a kind of facetiousness, and tartness with pleasantness made him very acceptable into the companies of all men.”
A Pleasant History of the Life and Death of Will Summers (1676)
King Solomon
12:8 A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.
12:16 A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.
13:2 From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the faithless desire the fruit of violence.
What’s My Point?
When I compare Stephen Colbert to Johnny Carson, I don’t recall being annoyed with Johnny Carson or frankly, being drawn to despise his monologue. The difference, in my opinion, is because the Johnny Carson’s humor was more like Will Summers, “so that his plainness mixt with a kind of facetiousness, and tartness with pleasantness made him very acceptable into the companies of all men.”
When I read the blogs of Trump haters, news pundit commentaries, and supposedly late-night comedians, I seem to feel that their monologues may have a distinctive desire to produce the fruit of hatred and possibly even violence, discord, or divisiveness in our nation, which are a similar description in the above proverb.
In My Opinion
According to the novel, fools and court jesters in history were appointed to entertain Kings and use mirth to relax tensions. I wish our fools and jesters would follow the advice of the author’s following opinion.
“I think they got away with speaking truth to power by not threatening power. Rarely were jesters likely (or much inclined) to try stealing power for their own benefit (though they weren’t averse to winning gifts and goodies here and there). This lack of threat to incumbent power could also be reflected in their sometimes having a quirky appearance or a mental abnormality. They also worked within the status quo; they risk their life to tell the ruler a thing or two, but they weren’t revolutionary in the sense of trying to destroy the existing power structure, preferring to change behavior as the outsider operating within the system.”
I seem to recall when President Obama was elected in his first term ha made a number of appointments which the press tagged their titles as “Czar….. of this or that.”
Perhaps President Trump should do the same and appoint a Czar Fool Jester to challenge the Hollywood’s fool jesters?
As for Stephen Colbert, I think he would be more entertaining as a juggler at a much later time slot on his network. He certainly is no Johnny Carson. If he was a court jester in the middle ages to a King, both his act, and life would not last very long in my opinion. That is because if a jester fell out of favor of a ruler, he might be condemned to death, the original origin of the word meaning of a “dying act.”
You Decide
If interested, read the excerpt and discern. Has something gone awry in the humor of late-night shows. Or, is there some kind of planned political, or propaganda agenda being “performed” on the late-night shows?
Why did Stephen Colbert’s ratings improve when he began bashing Trump? Is there a correlation with hatred for Trump equates to liking late-night fool jesters?
If so, what does it reveal when two variables, (fools, haters) are correlated in viewing Stephen Colbert late-night shows?
Regards and good will blogging
Source Links
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/640914in.html
https://bible.org/seriespage/35-proverbs-12-%E2%80%93-24-solomon-shares-wisdom-part-2-2
Perhaps you are confusing truth telling about Trump with hatred of Trump. I don’t hate the man, but I hate what he is doing to the country. There is a difference between fools and jesters- fools support Trump while jesters joke about him.
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Not too certain which definition of a fool you are referring to by stating fools support Trump.
In my opinion, the truth is Trump is being “victimized” by fool jesters according to this definition link.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool
The reason I say this is because it appears to me that the entertainer’s audiences differ from the Trump rallies audiences. That’s why I stated Trump needs to appoint a Czar to even out the disparity of fool jesters on late night shows.
Perhaps then I can listen to a late night monologue from someone who does not have an agenda to hate Trump to obtain Trump hating audiences and jests to appeal to an “all political party nation” audience, instead of one political party
Regards and good will blogging.
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Very good! “Perhaps President Trump should do the same and appoint a Czar Fool Jester to challenge the Hollywood’s fool jesters?”
Be blessed.
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I think Michael is making a point… given the humor on late night TV is all Trump bashing, where are there any comedians on the Conservative side anywhere? Perhaps that’s the ENTIRE point, Conservatives have all lost the capacity to find some release from all this… preferring to relish and wallow in the fact that somehow Trump is alive to save them from the scourge of a vanishing white America… and lets not forget, the Second Amendment is under siege , gun worshipers! We know this to be fact because our dear President said so! Jeez.. talk about inciting a crowd into violence…
There is a large portion of this country.. the majority actually… that simply has a moral and practical objection to Trump as a person. This would normally get reflected in humor, and the late night comics… primarily Seth, and Colbert.. reflect with their large viewing audiences a social need for a measure of release from the day’s events.. which are constant and persistent down to the minute of breaking news. Conservatives are very accepting of all Trump’s personal behavioral issues… and his lies… more lies than you can assign to the Clintons and Obamas combined… because of Trump appearing to be changing their world. He also encourages his base to hate our institutions and to stand with him to snub the rule of law.
Ask yourself… the networks, as everyone constantly reminds everyone else.. is out to make money. Why are there no Conservative comedians on late night? Could it be the networks see no audience to pay the bills?
Similarly, the mainstream TV media, where Conservatives love FOX and despise the rest of the media world.. where money and profits rule.. why are there not more “FOX Conservative” news sources?
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Ever listen to your California news station OAN
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Nope.
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@Rudy
I do believe you got under the skin of a few people.
@Doug
Actually Rush Limbaugh can be quite funny, and so can Donald Trump. Unlike Rudy I don’t think Trump needs a jester. He jokes around enough.
I suspect that by the time American Civil War was ready to start the humorists around the nation were telling jokes that seemed bitter either to one side or the other.
What does all humor have in common? I learned that from a book written be Robert Heinlein when I was a boy. Every joke has a butt, someone who is made fun of.
When is a joke funny? When we make fun of ourselves. When we share a foible we all have and we invite everyone to laugh at themselves.
When is a joke ridicule? When we invite our audience to laugh at someone else. No one likes to be ridiculed.
You don’t like Trump? We get that. You think Trump tells lots of lies? Don’t agree, and I have looked into the matter just as much as you. More probably since I am skeptical enough to check multiple sources from news organizations with both Liberal and Conservative agendas.
Why is the mass media so solidly Liberal Democrat? That is not about Trump. That predates his presidency. Our government (all levels combined) spend about 35 percent of the GDP. So it is that certain sectors of our economy, like education, are heavily dominated by government. Because government spending, tax laws, and regulations are so important to big corporations, CEOs desire to have their cronies in government. One of the ways they do that is by supporting those cronies using the mass media.
Is the electorate wising up? Not sure. We will see what happens in the next election. Don’t know the future, but current trends look good for Trump.
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Well, Tom, let’s assume for arguments sake we accept the idea that we are both reasonably smart guys.. and by that I mean we can both type a coherent sentence not littered with expletives (although… a day nary goes by that I am not sorely tempted), and we are still chatting with each other. We both do our homework before spouting off, and we sometimes do sneak in a rant.
What I find interesting that if all that is so, why do we reach far different conclusions? I’m an optimist, you a skeptic. Gotta be more to it than that. I’ll not be losing sleep over it… but it just amazes how we can read the same “book” and reach two different conclusions. Now.. multiply that times millions.. no wonder things are a mess.
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@Doug
We are not reading the same books, and we are not considering those books from the same perspective.
I read the Bible, and I have learned to trust it. The Bible helps us see the world from a different perspective.
I read a variety of news media sources. I don’t trust any of them. So I cross check what they say. The most dangerous thing the news media does is to leave things out or gloss over things we need to know about.
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My observation about “us” reading the same books was a metaphor. As for my optimism in spite of my crusade against Trump as president (note, I said “as president”.. I did not say the man himself) I am optimistic he will serve no more than one term. But the greater question is reflecting how a minority set of popular voters managed to get someone of this failed qualification elected in the first place. The message is not Trump himself.. but the Americans who actually felt so lost and frustrated with American life that they chose this guy to ride with.
But forget that. I would LOVE to hear how you feel Trump does not, and has not, lied.
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You want me to prove a negative? You constantly make an unsupported accusations against Trump. Yet from my perspective I am looking a man who has made a serious effort to keep his campaign promises. That’s why I am happy he is the president. I was happy with his promises, and I am thrilled he has tried to keep them.
The most outstanding accusation against Trump is that he somehow colluded with the Russians to steal the election. Yet all the evidence says H. Clinton is the only one who stole an election, the presidential primaries from B. Sanders, and all the evidence says H. Clinton that colluded with the Russians by paying for that Steele Dossier.
At the same time, the record shows that the Justice Department and the FBI never had any intention of prosecuting H. Clinton and her staff. If D. Trump and his staff had been treated same way, the news media would be up in arms.
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Your First Paragraph –
I’m glad Trump makes you happy (albeit you will likely be disappointed).. but what about the violations of Christian morality? This the trade-off for your happiness… looking the other way?
Your Second Paragraph –
What evidence on anything you said…
The Steele dossier was originally started by disgruntled Republicans. The DNC was hacked by the Russians. Where’s DNC/Hillary collusion?
Your Third Paragraph –
Always with the Hillary thing. This is the only point.. she is NOT the President and we tend to hold presidents to a higher standard.
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@Doug
First Paragraph. The choice was H. Clinton or D. Trump. I did the best I could.
Second Paragraph. “The Washington Free Beacon” says it had something to do with Fusion GPS, but it had nothing to do with the Steele Dossier. “The Washington Free Beacon” a news organization funded by billionaire investor, not part of the Republican Party.
Third Paragraph. That’s BS and you know it. Obama was up to his big ears in illegal activity. Just look up all the scandals. If H. Clinton had been elected, all the crap we are hearing about now would have stayed covered up.
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First Paragraph – You ended up selecting the worst lying president in the last 100 years… for greater than all the Clintons and Obamas combined. But.. how were you to know.
Second Paragraph – The “Beacon” is a conservative entity, disgruntled Repulicans started the ball rolling; I didn’t say they were affiliated with the GOP. Not sure I understand the DNC Russia collusion.
Third Paragraph – Again, hearsay regarding Obama unless charged and proven in court. The same rules being applied to Trump until collusion is determined or not.. and until any crime has been assigned… or not. Conservatives are assigning guilt to Obama.. and Hillary, for that matter. It’s the old “It’s so obvious!” lament.. and I will believe it when guilt has been proven.. again… the same rules as Trump.
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@Doug
First Paragraph. Look at what you wrote for the third paragraph. You are trying to have it both ways. The news media is blatantly hostile to Republicans. You are calling Trump a liar, but based upon what? A news media that constantly publishes garbage from unnamed sources.
Second Paragraph. The “Beacon” is a definitely not a Conservative entity. Look up Paul Singer. If you don’t understand that the Democrats paid for the Steele Dossier and that the Steele Dossier was the evidence used to get Mueller his job, then do some research.
Third Paragraph.
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@Doug
Hit the space bar and the darn thing published.
Third paragraph. I have no problem with Obama and Clinton being investigated. Want another special counsel?
😀
Frankly, I just wish Sessions had not recused himself, cleaned house, told Congress to do its own investigation and made certain they got what they asked for.
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@Doug
BTW. Your anti-Trump rant and your claims of optimism contradict each other. What kind of optimist spends so much time in condemnation of another person?
Am I a skeptic? I suppose so? Am I optimistic? Yes. I trust my Creator will take care of me and those He loves. I am tempted to say He will take care of those I love, but my love pales in comparison to His.
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I would suggest you listen to it because there is no commentary, only news so you will have to decide for yourself on an opinion, not be influenced by propaganda.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
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Tom, Doug
Good debate. Doug, I have to admire Tom’s patience with you/ You two could qualify as a jesters according to this paragraph from the source link in this post.
“the intimacy enjoyed by jesters could manifest itself in different ways—the freedom to offer advice, to comment on or to criticize politics and policies; the trust that allowed confidences to be shared; or a certain readiness to let the jester have access to or address the king-pin without the formality that other members of his entourage might observe. It’s this recognized license to speak freely which really distinguishes jesters from their colleagues, although of course that isn’t to say nobody else could or did speak freely.
Doug, I have come to the conclusion that you do not always have an “open mindset” with your obsession with Trump.
The man is not a politician, and he is actually trying to fulfill his campaign promises that got him elected.
In my opinion, Trump haters do not seem interested with the fact that he won the election based on the issues voters were disgusted with because of their political agendas, and none seem to offer any advice what they would do instead on issues.
For example, what are the Democrats plan to control illegal immigration?
Frankly, I am sick and tired of critics more interested in what he did in his personal sex life ten years before he was elected. Especially when past Presidents had similar issues..
Like the old lady used to yell out in the Wendy commercial.
My question to you and all the Trump hates is this.
“Wheres the beef” in what you will do to solve the issues?
Regards and good ill blogging.
.
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You made a deal with the devil, Rudy.
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Doug
Interesting comment that I make a “deal, or
choice with the devil?”
Isn’t life all about making choices between the devil you know and the devil you don’t know?
Is Trump a Devil or an Angel in disguise?
He is no Angel I agree. He is just another human born into sin and has been tempted by the Devil same as it has been the case since Adam and Eve.
We voters are in a constant state of choosing who to trust politician, and hope he or she will not lead us into an abusive relationship when we vote them into power to make choices for us.
If you believe he is a Devil, who or what do you believe is your angel who is going to lead all of us out of the mess we have created in the USA?
Did Obama and Clinton abuse their powers when they were in power? I believe so and that is why the Democrats lost the last election, in my opinion.
I keep asking you what you would do if you were Trump on illegal immigration, and never obtain an answer.????????????
In other words, what is your good angel guiding you to choose to say or do on this issue?
Regards and good will blogging.
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What I could discuss on immigration would fill up your blog, Rudy. But I tell you what… it’s been a while since I’ve posted on immigration. I’ll do a post so that I can make the entire case in one sitting. But don’t wait up late… this will take a few days.
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GOOD. You may turn out to be a man of substance instead of an empty suit Trump hater blog jester.
Proverb 25:14
Regards and good will blogging.
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