The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Jon Stewart's 'Indecision' and Election Night Results

Episode Date: February 8, 2024

A look back at Jon Stewart's historic coverage of multiple presidential elections, from Bush to Obama.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad, but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast, future hindsight, we take big ideas about civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me. Every Thursday Thursday we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. You're listening to Comedy Central. And historic night.

I'm historic night. Are you a hologram? CNN has hologram technology and I fear that you are in fact a hologram. Oh, oh, oh, I may not be here, John, but I am scratch and sniff. I never should have brought that up. I do have one result that. I do have one result that. John, but I am scratch and sniff. I never should have brought that up. I do have one result that I want to bring up that I think is I went to school at the College of William and Mary go tribe and it's a Commonwealth of Virginia and it's a very good.

Proud state. Proud state. Obviously I've got the red card here. Right. proud state conservative state obviously i've got the red card here right uh... the commonwealth that virginia virginia is for lovers of barack obama he has won virginia Virginia has not gone democratic, I think since Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho. But it's in historic night, if you will. If Barack Obama does take this election, it will.

If Barack Obama does take this election, it will be a historic night. And I think at this point in the program, it's probably a chance to take a breath, to take a moment, and to think about, you know, oftentimes this country, there are very few countries in the world that live up to their creed, that live up to the documents of their founding that all men are created equal. And tonight, America America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, America, thi America, tho, thi America, thi, thi, tho, tho, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, thi, thi, th. And th. And th. And th. And, thi, thi. And thi. And thi. And thi. And thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. to to to to to to toa. toa. toa. toa. to to to to to, thi. thi. thi, thight, America has proven itself on a world stage as a show country, not a tele country. They have shown that we have led up to our greed. We are, we are, we are what we say we are. And there's not a lot of countries, Belgium obviously accepted, that can say that because they obviously have said look at us we're depressed and eat cheese but uh... america tonight lives up to its promise and there's any thought he might he

might actually win this thing and and uh... If he does I don't have any thoughts but I do have a lot of feelings okay now I'm no supporter of Obama, but if he does win, anyone would have to admit this is a night long overdue. We have a nation have reached that mountaintop because at long last the United States have fulfilled the greatest part of freedom. We have a president who is Hawaiian.

For decades these proud people have been segregated. We have a president who is Hawaiian. For decades, these proud people have been segregated from the rest of America. Literally on an island. Hawaiian kids, growing up in grasshots, thought their only choice in life was selling poigue on street corners, or carving ticky idols just to put Mahimahi on the table. Now they will know there are other options than trying to make it big as a ukulele player. They could be president of the United States, as Queen Lili Lulikiani said so long ago.

Mele, Kaleikimaka. I have a dream. I actually think that means Merry Christmas. But the point is... You have changed, John. Yes. I would just like to say, if I may, and that's a beautiful sentiment that you're making at 11 o'clock at night,

Eastern Standard Time. The President of the United States is Barack Obama. Maybe. Maybe'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, if I may. Let me, let me, let me take that back. I'm sorry, I jumped the gun on that one. CNN projects that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States of America. It is now official. He has passed the 270 electoral vote.

Belgium, California, Oregon. The electoral vote is now... It is now 297 for Barack Obama 139. John McCain. McCain, McCain can still pull this thing out. John, we're looking fused here. What, uh, who's supposed to cover now? Nothing, Jason, the election's over.

What? Why, why, what? What? What? No, itthe election's over. It's over. What? What? No, it can't be over. Hey, guys, who wants in on a swing state exit pole bus tour? Look, guys, it's over. The campaign is over. No, we don't know how to do anything else, John. We have been on the trail for two years, John.

I miss the birth of our baby. Oh, wea, we we had a baby. Yes a beautiful baby I want to say boy. John John I came over from England for this election I haven't been home in two years. God I hope somebody fed my cat. I hate to think of meowgrot Thatcher going hungry. Everybody just calm down. We please... Who's crying? Rob Riggle? I'm scared.

No polls, no debates, no prolong discussions about whether or not a topic is appropriate to discuss. I can't breathe without this election running over my gills. First of all, it'll be fine. Second of all, why aren't you wearing pants? I can't breathe without this election running over my gills. First of all, it'll be fine. Second of all, why aren't you wearing pants? Oh, don't criticize my grieving process, Stuart! John, please don't let it end anything but that! Asif, you're in Pakistan!

I am too upset to be confined by your logic right now, John. I've been here for like four months, and this has been nuts, right? A-five! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! We're all going to die. We're all going to die.

Look, guys! I know you're all scared, but there was a world out there before this election. And there's still a world out there now. You're crazy! I'm not! You're not! He's not! He's not mad! He's crazy!

My thin's crazy! Oh, okay. I can prove it. Follow me to freedom! There's got to be a morning after. Come on, that's it. You can do it. Come with me. This way. Wow. It's beautiful. Smell that fresh air. Isn't that night time?

Not anymore. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. It's the night to be okay, Billy. It's going to be okay. Who are you guys? So this is what the world looks like after President Bush. Actually, Bush is still president for another two and a half months. That's our show. Congratulations to Barack Obama.

Thank you very much for... Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. All our correspondence. That's our show. Thanks to all our correspondence. Thanks to you all at home. We've been following this election so closely, and we really appreciate... Thanks to all our correspondence. Thanks to you all at home.

We've been following this election so closely, and we really appreciate all the support that you've given us, and we hope you've enjoyed this as well, and we'll see you guys tomorrow. Good night. Good night. The future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad,

but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos, and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast, future hindsight, we take big ideas about civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me. Every Thursday, we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power, and your power to change the status, the to the to change the the to change the to change the the to change the the to change to change their their to change their to change their to change their to change their to change to change their their to to to to to to to their their to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their, but their their their their their their their their to their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their tha, thi, thi, thia, thiauuiauiauiauiauiaqaqaqaqaqaqaqa.aqa.a.a, tha, tha, but tha, thi me. Every Thursday, we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen told to do that. Welcome to a very special live edition of the Daily Show.

It is now official, we can call it at 855 hours and two minutes of this election night. The state of Florida, and its 25 electoral votes, with 100% of its precincts reporting will go to George W. Bush. And the crowd loves it. The final margin in the state of Florida, five votes to four votes. Now what's interesting about that is it's an 11% victory margin for George W. Bush, a lot greater than most pundits anticipated in what was considered a very tight race. Now we're still here crunching some numbers, we'll be here all night.

But it looks like one of the most surprising things about this Florida vote is that George W. Bush got 100% of the African-American vote. Shocking. Very surprising. Very surprising because George W. Bush got 100% of the African-American vote. Shocking. Very surprising because traditionally, as you know, that's a Democratic voting block. Now, with Florida, George Bush now has 271 electoral votes to Al Gore's 267, meaning that George Walker Bush will take office as this nation's 43rd president of the United States. Actually, if I can, interesting fun fact about the election, Al Gore got 350,000 more votes nationally,

so that's kind of funny. And, uh, kind of funny, I bet Al Gore get a big kick out of that. Kind of amusing. Now as is customary immediately following an election, the losing candidate gives a concession speech and Al Gore wasted no time this evening in giving his. He was clearly caught off guard by the loss and my guess is in the rush probably just jotted down some notes on the bag of a napkin here's a speech. Good evening. Oh my God bag of a napkin. Here's the speech. Good evening. Oh my God, what a sore loser!

Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt. While I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. Gore added, Before you get too wild, that was pre-cracked. I'm not a strong man. Before you get too wild, that was pre-cracked. I'm not a strong man. Gore did express a conciliatory tone in his speech and talked of the spirit of unification.

Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-Elect Bush, that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside. Whoa, I'm sorry, I was going to say something here, and I sort of, I kind of blacked out when he said, President-Elect Bush. I'm sorry, there was a tunnel and I saw my childhood dog, Mr. Whisker's. Then of course Gore thanked the people who helped him lose. Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude. Wow. Can I tell you what's weird?

That is the same picture Gore used for his have a shit Christmas card. And finally, the money shot. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession. Did he concede? What do we do now? Did OJ or Monica do anything today?

All right. Yes, it's been an eventful 24 hours. We're all just trying to process it and get things going. Let's take a quick look back. Today's concession came after a long night, during which news channels focused on swing states. Voter turnout, in the case of CNN, a massive TV clearance sale at Circuit City. Apparently it's one of those famous buy 150 LCDs, get one free. Ohio emerged as the pivotal state too close to call due to thousands of uncounted provisional

ballots. Cable news viewers were on the edge of their seats, wondering would this be another Florida? Fox News is now projecting that President Bush will win the state of Ohio. Oh, I guess it won't. Unfortunately, for the next 12 hours, no one else had the balls to second the call. So we waited. Meanwhile, Republicans were picking up seats right and right. They widened their majorities by four in the Senate, at least two in the House of Representatives,

and even somehow gained control of the Israeli Knesset. No one knows how. They don't know how they did it. They're very good at this. How do they? One of the GOP Senate gains came at the expense of South Dakota's Tom Daschle, who had served as the Democratic minority leader. No word yet on what Daschle will do in private life, though insiders agree whatever it is, it's safe to assume he'll be ineffective.

As... It's not pretty, folks. It's not a pretty day, but it's there. As for the big winner, he spoke at what appeared to be the W. Hotel, and appealed for unity. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. Sorry, baby. I didn't mean to do all those to deserve your trust. Sorry, baby.

I didn't mean to do all those things I did these first four years. I can change, baby. You know I can change. Give me one more. You know I love you. That's why I hit you. You know that. It's because I love you.

Oh, and then it was time for the president to let the healing begin. Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans. So today I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. You can run but you can't hide. Ha ha ha ha ha. I'm gonna get you. Gotta rely. Explore more shows from the Daily Show podcast universe

by searching The Daily Show, wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Fairmount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast. The future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad, but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos, and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast, Future Hindsight, we take big ideas about civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me.

Every Thursday we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.