'Indecision' a worthwhile look back

For the past two-and-a-half years or so, the more left-leaning among us have found solace in the weekday evening pseudo-newscasts of Jon Stewart and his Daily Show crew. Professed liberals all, Stewart and his crew are equal opportunity offenders, even though it's usually obvious which way the studio audience sways (hissing at conservative guests and applauding left-wingers). When it came to the 2004 presidential election, no one knew quite how the Daily Show would cover it. It didn't take long to realize that the shows often-brilliant, sometimes-maddeningly smarmy humor would carry over to this most critical of contests.\nAs the primaries unfolded and the debates were had, it became clear that the Daily Show writers were treating the election like the circus it could easily be perceived as. When John Edwards announced his vice-presidential candidacy in-person on the show, the crowd seemed not sure how to react, most likely because Stewart refused to budge in showing clear support to either side. Despite repeated failed attempts to get Bush cabinet members (John Kerry made multiple appearances) and other notable Republicans on the show (they felt it wasn't their core audience -- and were correct), Stewart and company kept sarcastically mum over their support for either candidate, an offense that any other time in the show's history would come off as coyly amusing, but in this instance seemed suspicious.\nNo matter, since in hindsight the Daily Show's coverage can be appreciated for what it was meant to be; a satirical take on an otherwise monumental event. Stewart's mean-spirited ribbing of both candidates was a refreshing respite from the Bush-loving Fox News Channel and Kerry-supporting CNN, which I suppose is one valid argument for keeping it on the level. Segments from correspondents Rob Corddry, Samantha Bee, Steven Colbert and Ed Helms are mostly on-point, and usually side-splitting.\nExtras on this three-disc affair include commentary by Corddry, Helms and Bee on many segments, hilarious unaired fake-527 ads including Continental Skiff Boat Oarsmen for Veracity, and Steve Carell's mostly awkward take on the rise and fall of the Howard Dean campaign. Also included are extended segments on the Presidential debates, Democratic and Republican conventions and bonus footage from their live election night coverage, "Prelude to a Recount." Also, don't miss the National Anthem sung in four-correspondent harmony.\nOnce the final tallies were counted and Bush had been declared the victor once again, the Daily Show's Election 2004 coverage took on a more somber tone. It's as if the correspondents realized what a great opportunity they had to influence their core audience, and saw that opportunity squandered. Then again, maybe they never took the election seriously at all, and maybe that was the point all along.