I still do not understand how a corporation can have person-hood if it has no soul and never dies.
Liberal and conservative have lost their meaning in America. I represent the distracted center.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the diminishing significance of traditional political labels in America, suggesting a shift towards a moderate perspective.
Jon Stewartβs quote reflects on the changing landscape of political identities in America, where terms like 'liberal' and 'conservative' no longer convey their original meanings. He identifies himself with the 'distracted center,' implying that many people feel detached from extreme political ideologies and seek a more centrist approach to governance and public discourse.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech discussing political polarization, you might say, 'Liberal and conservative have lost their meaning in America. I represent the distracted center.'
More from Jon Stewart
All quotes βPresident Bush announced his new economic plan. The centerpiece was a proposed repeal of the dividend tax on stocks, a boon that could be worth millions of dollars to average Americans. Well, average stock-owning Americans. Technically, Americans who own a significant amount of shares in dividend-dealing companies. Well, rich people, that's what I'm trying to say. They're going to do really well with this.
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I figured this out. I know what's wrong with what we've done in Iraq. We've been following time as it goes forward. What a classic mistake. Linear time is so pre-9-11.
You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back on my career and be proud of the work, and be proud that I tried everything. Yes, I want to look back and know that I was terrible at a variety of things.
If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values: they're hobbies.
Thomas Jefferson once said: 'Of course the people don't want war. But the people can be brought to the bidding of their leader. All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked and denounce the pacifists for somehow a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.' I think that was Jefferson. Oh wait. That was Hermann Goering. Shoot." [Hosting the Peabody Awards for broadcasting excellence at the New York Waldorf-Astoria, June 6, 2006]
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See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.
People constantly speak of 'the government' doing this or that, as they might speak of God doing it. But the government is really nothing but a group of men, and usually they are very inferior men. They may have some better man working for them, but they themselves are seldom worthy of any respect.
It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for.