I began noticing it in 2007 when the Bush Administration made some very unpopular announcements right after Jon Stewart went on vacation. I think there were wiretap stories and maybe some torture things. But the one that really caught my attention was the timing of the announcement that Bush would commute Scooter Libby’s sentence.
I remember well that it was July 2, 2007 when Bush commuted Scooter Libby’s sentence. It was a Monday and right at the beginning of Jon Stewart’s long 4th of July vacation.
The Larry Craig story broke on August 27, 2007 which was a Monday and right at the beginning of Jon Stewart’s two week vacation around Labor Day.
Sarah Palin makes her somewhat enigmatic (to be generous) announcement on July 3, 2009 which was less than 24 hours after Stewart went on a two week vacation.
Jon Stewart is the most effective political satirist in the US. In fact, I don’t remember anyone who has been close. So it is entirely reasonable for political figures who have something worthy of satire and have some control over the timing of the public announcement to wait for The Daily Show to go on vacation.
I believe this is exactly what is happening.
My proposal is that The Daily Show stop it’s vacations and instead brings in some guest hosts. People can still take vacations—just keep the show going so that political figures know that there are no satirical shadows to hide in.