The Rumble: Stewart vs. O’Reilly… Stewart Won

This wasn’t the most anticipated pay-per-view event of the year, but it was big enough to crash the livestream servers.

Sure it was only $5 a pop, but half the money went to charity, and at the end of the night, only one winner would emerge; Jon Stewart.

I’m writing this not to stay on the cutting edge of satire, but as a public service. I paid my $4.95 to watch it on-demand, and for these 90-minutes of equal partisan banter, it was well worth it.

RIGHT: The two men at perhaps their least comfortable moment. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

For me, the biggest laugh of the night was delivered by Bill O’Reilly, and it was a comment about CNN… I won’t spoil it for you, but for as funny as Jon Stewart is, Bill O’Reilly held his own and then some.

And by the flip side of the same token, for as serious and news-driven as O’Reilly was, Stewart held his own and then some too. It was honestly an even fight. Both came prepared with facts, figures and a command of the issues that were discussed.

Just like at the presidential debate, the moderator (E.D. Hill) stood aside quite a bit to allow the two men to jab at each other and get their points across. At one point Bill O’Reilly even asked “are you still here?”

Topics covered torture, drone strikes, dead presidents and Obama’s track record. Conspicuously absent was Mitt Romney and his record, due largely to the fact that we aren’t allowed to talk about his track record or even his present incarnation.

Download or view the whole debate now at TheRumble2012.com. A portion of the proceeds go to charity, while the rest will just line the pockets of Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart.

But the bottom line is that both men made some very salient points, and ones you’re unlikely to hear on the campaign trail. These men are not politicians, they’re newstainment guys, and that frees them to say a lot of the things politicians wish they could.

I disagreed with many of the points raised, but not with the spirit in which they raised them. Both men were earnest and honest, and while I clearly have a favorite in the race, I think both performed very well.

And perhaps most importantly, this debate showed the way in which parties who strongly, fundamentally disagree can still come together for the betterment of America, and to even reach a common ground.

These men are not enemies, even as much as they disagree. They understand that they both have important views to share, and that only by sharing them can they reach their audience.

This is a definite “must watch” in my opinion… but then again, if anybody listened to me… well, who knows what would happen.