http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jon-stewart- ... n-england/

Hitting the nail on the head again

So much hate in the comments. This has just created yet another opening for Americans (or North Americans, as I'm constantly reminded here by one Argentinian friend!) to boast about how they have more freedom than anyone!

Yes they have so many freedoms when they go through the airport or Arizona.

That DavidKramer fella.
Hilarious.

The thing is that DavidKramer from the comments seems to have completely missed the point.

The ban is an old (and stupid) law prohibiting the use of parliamentary footage in satire.

He seems to have taken that as meaning you can't tell jokes about parliament.

And (as per most people like him) he won't listen to anyone else because he "knows" heis right.

The meaning is irrelevant. In effect, it DOES mean you can't tell jokes about parliament in this case.

My point is that UK law has handed the Americans something to be happy about, when there was no need. It's also fanned the flames of anti-British sentiment for those who already had some.

As one of the other correspondents pointed out, it’s useful as it protects parliamentary privilege. MPs can say what they want in the House of Commons without fear of their comments being taken out of context, and broadcast in a potentially legally embarrassing context. Without that, the Super INjunctions may not have been opened up to such scrutiny, and the recent Murdoch debates may have been less free.

It’s a tricky balance to get right. I’d rather our MPs had the freedom to debate openly in Parliament than HIGNFY gets a soundbite to jeer at.

Agreed plus it is not as if they do not have enough other opportunities to make fools of themselves, eg Boris Johnson, David Cameron in Tuscany, Politicians on Question Time. The list is endless.

That’s kind of why I watch it. You can see the personal feelings on a subject at conflict with the official party line. Dimbleby usually plays into that one too. Usually, more sense is spoken by the non political guests.

Yes the non-politico's are so much more sensible. I do think that trying to defend an indefensible position is par for the course and makes them look fools.

I watched that episode this morning - funny as ever.

Yes the bit with the queen was funny especially the sausage.

And, in England, i just watched the clip.