Jon Stewart rips grandstanding on surveillance: If the Patriot Act doesn't work -- why keep spying?

Jon Stewart mocked lawmakers and President Barack Obama for trying to scare Americans into supporting the Patriot Act.

He played clips of several senators blasting Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who forced the expiration of some provisions of the legislation passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“I’ve run for president twice, but I would never stoop to something like this,” said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), in one video clip.

Stewart showed a photo of Sarah Palin and wondered how McCain had not yet learned not to set himself up for jokes about his former running mate.

“I imagine McCain out jogging with an out-of-shape friend, and he’s like, you’re the most useless running mate I’ve ever had – what, why are you laughing?” Stewart said.

To celebrate the break in the collection of bulk metadata by phone companies, Stewart decided to call an old friend – John Oliver.

“Penis, penis, penis,” he shouted into the phone to a bewildered Oliver.

Stewart pointed out that the surveillance provisions had not prevented terrorist attacks at Fort Hood, the Boston Marathon, and the anti-Islam comic show in Garland, Texas – even though the government was tracking each of those suspects.

“If the Patriot Act is acting so poorly, why do we have to keep it?” he said.