Lewis Black: Two-party system ‘a bowl of sh*t looking in the mirror’

By David Edwards
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 -- 9:49 am
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lewisblack100709 Lewis Black: Two party system a bowl of sh*t looking in the mirrorComedian Lewis Black's first concert film, set to open this week, is unsparing in its criticism of both political parties.

In a clip played by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, Black says, "Our two-party system is a bowl of shit looking in the mirror at itself. ... Basically, the last eight years, I feel, the Republicans stood around farting and the Democrats went, 'Ooh, let me smell it.'"

"It's a pungent truth," Olbermann commented to Black. "I think it probably has never been more obvious than currently during this health care debate."

"It's just unbelievable," Black agreed. "How did we end up in a position with people defending health insurance companies?"

"What I've always wanted to do with these protesters," Olbermann suggested, "is go, 'What's your personal medical history?' and I would bet you that you'd get 75% of them going, 'Never been sick a day in my life!' That's the only way you could be satisfied."

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Black added with astonishment, however, that "I've become a mainstream comic. ... I'm hosting the USO benefit tomorrow night. ... It seems strange that in our lifetime, we went from Bob Hope to me."

This video is from MSNBC's Countdown, broadcast Oct. 6, 2009.



Download video via RawReplay.com

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Story comments are below...

  • Jason
    A political party is just a way to profile the candidates. No candidate is all republican or all democrat... Those two parties just happen to make the most money and therefore win the elections. There's a deeper problem than the "two-party" system.
  • Phil E. Drifter
    We DEFINITELY need to bring 3rd parties into this, the problem is, the big 2 have already cemented their claws on the population, meaning that D/R tickets are automatically accepted in every election, where other 3rd party candidates need to collect an ungodly amount of signatures *just to get on the ballot*.

    I learned after registering as a Libertarian in '06 that (in PA) during primaries you can only vote within your party; and since there were no Libertarian candidates in Philadelphia, I got to vote on 2 yes/no questions about budget funding for something or other, and that was it.

    So I registered as a Republican because I'll never register as a Dem because they're cowards, but really, they're just playing their role. The Republicans are always the warmongering chickenhawk aggressors, the Dems are always the appeasers.
  • Phil E. Drifter
    Oops, forgot: I work against the Republicans. During primaries, I vote against the most popular candidate.

    In general elections I vote 3rd party.
  • OldAtlantic
    Every generation an American has come along to lead us to the way of a 3rd party. Strom Thurmond, Pat Buchanan, George Wallace and others. We need to hear their call and rally to them.
  • Jhoffa_
    You're wrong on Buchanan..

    Like Joe Farrah, he writes angry populist screeds for three and a half years.. Then pivots on a dime and helps to draw the disaffecteds back into the fold.

    When GHWB lost, he was dispatched to destroy Perot's party.. Which he did with ruthless efficiency.

    Pat is a good writer, and I agree with nearly everything he says unless an election is approaching. Regardless of this, he's no particular friend.
  • bob
    A short grocery list for a dying democracy:

    1) Reclaim the voting system so they can't steal anymore elections by narrow margins. Who is "they"? Why, the Great American Corporate Republicrat Machine of course.
    2) Push hard for publicly financed campaigns and elections.
    3) Push again for run-off voting.
    4) Vote for a third party candidate even if it makes you feel like a dirty hacky sacker.
    5) Repeat if necessary.
  • dennycrane
    He is totally the man. I just hope his act is so good, that he actually fakes the "high blood pressure" that consumes him.
  • Jhoffa_
    He's right.. The democrats are criminally insane. The Republicans are sane, but criminal.

    We deserve better than either of them....
  • Elim
    Whenever I try to say something like this at the Daily Kos--that is, express dislike of both parties--they say, "eeww, you're not really a Democrat then, you should leave". Fucking pathetic. No, I'm not a Dem, I'm an Independent.
  • Jhoffa_
    "" No, I'm not a Dem, I'm an Independent.""

    Here I am often told that I am not an independent.. That I am a Conservative.

    These labels are becoming increasingly inaccurate, however.

    Which has to be a good thing. I like it when people think for themselves, as opposed to just blindly accepting a flawed party platform, and the associated flawed thinking, wholesale.
  • Phil E. Drifter
    Republicans aren't criminal? Were you just born after 1/20/09 and don't know WTF happened between 1/20/00 and 1/20/09?
  • Disenfranchised
    Ad Lewis Black to my favorite comedian list......CHECK.
  • Elim
    Lewis Black is the greatest ranter ever.
  • dougobug
    This film is going to be amazing! To get tickets and to see if its playing in a city near you, go to: www.starkravingblack.com Also check out the trailer on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2396swdtmEM
  • dougobug
    This film is going to be amazing! Get tickets and see if its playing in a city near you, go to: www.starkravingblack.com also check out the trailer on you tube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuZeU-SjgJQ
  • asiliveandbreathe
    "It's just unbelievable," Black agreed. "How did we end up in a position with people defending health insurance companies?"

    Obama's cutting deals with big insurance AND big pharma. Whose gonna be the government fat cat corporations when the contracts are signed?
  • robertlockwoodmills
    Black is right. This country has never in its history been more in need of a third party.
  • Jason
    There are more than two parties. You can always make up your own or just vote for Mickey Mouse.
  • Jerry
    or in need of no party at all.
  • OldAtlantic
    Vote 3rd party. Support the Constitution Party. Stop legal immigration.
  • DownTheTubes
    Unless you are native American then your ancestors were immigrants too.
  • greg789
    They immigrated about 12000 years ago. They made a mistake in not stopping us just as the Mexicans made a mistake in inviting Americans into Texas to form a buffer between the Mexican settlements and the Comanche. Some of their citizens warned that the Americans would eventually take over. But that is not the point. Labor follows supply and demand just like everything else. A billion people looking for work in this country will drive wages down to the level of Bangladesh. And I don't trust any knee jerk pro immigration person to decide when enough is enough. No more H1 visas, or immigration for 10 years and just see how good the job market looks. Of course the slave labor Corporations won't like it.
  • Savantster
    .
    gotta love Lewis!
    .
  • AlanSmithee
    Naderite! There are only two parties and anything else is childish and unrealistic!
  • Elim
    Nader is done. Even though he was and is right, he's done.
  • tomhoser
    you have a point but if just once we could break out of it we could open a floodgate!
  • Savantster
    .
    No, he doesn't have a point.. and I suspect he was being fecitious.

    No other advanced nation has only 2 parties. No other advanced nation has the corruption and abuses to the public we do, either. We've been duped into thinking the two parties represent different things, when their differences are mostly cosmetic these days.

    Without valid choice, you can't have a valid Democracy.
    .
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