Mark Twain in today’s news!

Is Jon Stewart today's Twain?

When I wrote my proposal, one of my ideas to implement Twain in the classroom was to compare what Jon Stewart does every night to Twain’s quips about the government and political leaders. On Sunday, Stewart was invited to be a guest on “Fox News Sunday” and the conversation turned to whether Stewart’s higher goal was to be like Edward R. Murrow or Mark Twain - a journalist or comedian. He answered Mark Twain. Chris Wallace’s response was that Mark Twain did wield political influence. I do not know enough details on Twain and politics to say that Twain’s words did or did not influence government on a local or national level but I have not read anything to suggest he aspired to be in government or even play a major role in politics. I do know he had a lot of opinions on the government, politics and political leaders!

On government:

The government of my country snubs honest simplicity, but fondles artistic villainy, and I think I might have developed into a very capable pickpocket if I had remained in the public service a year or two.

On politics:

An honest man in politics shines more there than he would elsewhere.

The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet.

On Roosevelt:

We are insane, each in our own way, and with insanity goes irresponsibility. Theodore the man is sane; in fairness we ought to keep in mind that Theodore, as statesman and politician, is insane and irresponsible.