Last Thursday, Jon Stewart looked at just some of California's multitude of ballot propositions.
Presidential elections are never just about voting on who gets to run naked through the White House in the middle of the night. I'm lookin' at you, Eisenhower.
Mm. Somebody's been working out.
It's also about ballot referendums... referenda... ballots referendum. And if you're talking about ballot initiatives, you gotta talk California, a state that loves referendums even more than it loves putting avocado on things that really avocados don't belong on.
Seriously. What is wrong with you people? That's a cheesesteak. Why would you put avocado in a cheesesteak?
So what did they vote on? Whether to grant tax-exempt status to weirdos on the boardwalks with snakes on their shoulder, or cupcakes now must have at least 3% kale?
MIKE TAIBBI (11/7/2012): In California, voters agreed to pay more in sales tax, and more in income tax for high earners, to help close what Governor Jerry Brown calls a $34 billion dollar state budget gap.
Oh. California actually deciding to start trying to pay for some of the shit they want to do. My baby's growing up! Any other referendum?
LISA SYLVESTER (11/7/2012): 53% of California voters rejected a referendum that would have abolished the death penalty.
What's up, California? Paying your bills, thinning the herd? You're turning into your dad! Next thing you know, everyone's going to have to wear a condom in California!
FOX10 (11/7/2012): In Los Angeles, voters decided that male porn stars must wear condoms during filming.
(confused audience laughter)
Voters get to decide that? So in Los Angeles, do you guys focus group everything? Are all porn decisions community-based?
More or less than five? Or course — it... it is less than five.
Of course, for the most nuanced take on this issue, you really need to tune into that new show, A Cross-Section of Adult Women Giggle About Sex.
I'm sorry, that's my TiVo's program description, I meant The View.
11/7/2012:
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: I thought this one would interest you. Required use of condoms in porn movies. Los Angeles....
BARBARA WALTERS: Wait a minute.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Yes.
BARBARA WALTERS: You mean if they're going to do it in a movie theater, make sure...?
JOY BEHAR: No, no, in the film.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: No, it's a film.
BARBARA WALTERS: Oh!
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: No, no, not in the movie theater, Barbara!
(audience laughing)
JOY BEHAR: Barbara!!
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Are you having sex in the movie theater??
(audience howling uncontrollably)
BARBARA WALTERS: Whoopi, I was up very late. I don't know what I'm talking about today.
Oh, I think you know exactly what you were talking about. You minx. And let me reassure you, Ms. Walters, you can still continue to have your unprotected movie theater sex. Just make sure no one's filming it, if you don't want to break the law.
Video below the fold.
He then looked at the
marijuana legalization referendums in Washington and Colorado, and talked with talked with
Al Madrigal about Colorado legalizing it.
He then talked with
John Oliver about how both Obama and Romney actually wanted to lose the election so they wouldn't have to deal with the huge mess our country continues to be in.
Stephen then looked at the
Nor'easter that hit the East coast.
He then
profiled an exotic dance club owner who tried to claim the stripping was "art" to get a tax exemption, and looked at a new
study about platonic relationships aren't really as platonic as you'd think. And by you, I mean the guy in the situation.
Jon interviewed Katie Dellamaggiore and Pobo Efekoro about their new documentary on the school in Brooklyn where they're chess champions, and how budget cuts have affected them. Stephen talked with Rachel Maddow.