Video at mediamatters.org and transcript on CNN. (Via Scott and Randy)

I don’t watch this show (I don’t get any of my news from TV), so I don’t really know who these guys are, but this clip demonstrates that they are clueless about what Stewart’s trying to say. What American citizens need is not a “debate show” that reduces everything to a fight to be won (paging Deborah Tannen), but rather journalists who question and challenge the information provided by politicians, candidates, pundits, and lobbyists. To put all of these people on a show and allow them to “debate,” assuming that the truth will emerge from such an environment…to do so is to abdicate one’s responsibility as a journalist.

Tucker Carlson sees their Stewart’s appearance on the show not as an opportunity to have a real exchange of ideas among many different positions, but instead (everyone say it with me now) as a fight to be won by one of only two sides.

Carlson thinks the way to counter Stewart’s accusations of Crossfire‘s complicity in the political game is to point out how Stewart’s questions for John Kerry were softball questions. Stewart’s response is right on: “You’re on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls. What is wrong with you?… you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.”

He refers to a painting of a house on the eastern side of a mountain: “The side to see the day that is coming, not the day that is gone. I like the sentiment in that statement.”

Translation: Look, you know as well as I do that I’ve been a crappy president. I’ll try not to do such a bad job if you re-elect me, but I can’t make any promises.

Schieffer says that all three of them have something in common: they’re all surrounded by powerful women. He asks “What have you learned from them?”

Bush is at his loosest and most appealling when he discusses his wife and daughters. The best thing we can do is “listen to them,” he says. Big laugh from the audience on tv and here. “I’ve learned to stand up straight and not to scowl.” Well, I suppose 1 out of 2 is not bad.

Kerry says that all three of them “married up.” Modest laugh. “Me more than others.” Big laugh.

Telling difference: Kerry smiles and laughs at Bush’s jokes. Bush keeps the same sour smirk on his face while Kerry jokes.

Seriously, Mr. President. That thump, thump, thump is not a good thing.

Complaints about partisanship in Washington are like complaints about dog poop in Paris. Both make me want to ask, “Are you new in town?”