Jon Stewart: Let’s Just Go Over the Fiscal Cliff
Policy + Politics

Jon Stewart: Let’s Just Go Over the Fiscal Cliff

Comedy Central

We’ve still got 26 days before we reach the fiscal cliff, but the rocky early negotiations are clearly getting to Jon Stewart, the self appointed Greek chorus of the fiscal cliff. The Daily Show host, frustrated by the GOP’s budget counter proposal, told his viewers on Tuesday that the country’s best option now is to go over the cliff, “because at least for a few seconds it will feel like we’re flying.”

In another segment on the "Cliffpocalypsemageddonacaust - Totally Solvable Budget Problem," Stewart mocked the proposal that House Speaker John Boehner offered to the White House on Monday claiming it was no better than the fiscal cliff itself. “Basically, they’re trying to entice the Democrats by saying, ‘I don’t want you to fall off this cliff, so why don’t you voluntarily jump off this steeper cliff? But don’t worry, your fall will be cushioned by lava.”

The comedian took a crack at the math that even policy wonks can’t agree on. Without action from Congress, the fiscal cliff would reduce the national deficit by $1.2 trillion over the coming decade by automatically slashing spending from domestic and defense programs beginning on Jan 2. The GOP’s budget proposal would also cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade, but with more cuts to domestic spending than defense.

“So they’re just saying, “Why don’t we just make the whole thing cuts to entitlements and domestic spending and not cut defense at all?” Stewart said.

Stewart went on to blast both sides of the political aisle for stalling negotiations, but took an extra jab at the GOP. “It’s pretty clear the Republicans aren’t going to come to the table with anything remotely reasonable. So I’ll be the one to say it. I know it will be disastrous. I know it will doom our economy for years to come…But let’s just go off the f--king cliff!”

Watch:

The Daily Show with Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Cliffpocalypsemageddonacaust - Totally Solvable Budget Problem - Numbers on Paper
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