Dan Froomkin characterizes Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert.
Their very subversive message, at its core: That this Bush guy is basically a joke. And that the mainstream press is a joke, because it takes Bush at his word.”
I gotta disagree. They are saying that the press is a joke, but they never suggested there was anything funny about this administration. Sure, they’ve cracked endless jokes about how obvious their lies are. And it’s funny, almost a joke, to have them recount the lies of the day. But, we can never forget that this is our government we are talking about. This shit isn’t funny. And Stewart and Colbert know it isn’t funny. Froomkin is right about the rest though.
But I think that message was just too much for the self-satisfied upper crust of the media elite to handle when Colbert threw it right in their faces on Saturday night.
Colbert crammed a truckload of unspoken truth down the upper crust of the media elite’s craw…and it got stuck there.
But they still haven’t addressed the central issue Colbert was raising: Bush’s credibility…What Colbert was saying about the guy sitting a few feet away from him — and I think this is what made so many people in that room uncomfortable — was: Don’t believe a word he says.
I think that’s right. I’d go even further. I think Colbert was saying that the press should stop pretending to believe anything the Bush administration says. Because they don’t believe any of it (they aren’t stupid, just craven), and yet they feel compelled to seek out sources and give them a balanced treatment in their articles or their cable news segments.
I don’t care how unfunny Colbert was in the room, he was hysterical on my television. Of course, it helps if you get the jokes (and aren’t the butt of them). But, Colbert merely told the truth. I don’t know why people are criticizing his politeness and his lack of laughs. It wasn’t Colbert that was unfunny, it was the situation that was as serious as a heart attack. After all, if what Colbert was saying was true (and everyone knew that it was) then no matter how cleverly he delivered it, it was nothing to laugh about. Heh.
Well said and right on the mark. It’s a shame it takes a commedian to tell the truth on national TV but he struck a powerful blow and the aftershocks continue.
that Colbert has managed to BE THE NEWS for this long. He did such a great job that the Socalled MSM has been forced to defend themselves, only they have no way to do that. So, borrowing a page from Bush, they have tried to smear Colbert – unfunny, rude etc. But even that is namby pamby stuff. And Colbert is still reigning supreme in the blogs, which is where real news is for most of us these days.
I did like “L’Affair Colbert” at the Orange place with its idea that the real reason all of us were so taken with Colbert’s performance is that Bush has been so insulated that this was one of the rare times truth has been said in his presence!
Of course, it helps if you get the jokes (and aren’t the butt of them).
If you were there and you DIDN’T get the jokes – you would be sitting there slack-jawed and bewildered.
If you GOT the jokes, you were nervous, tight-lipped, looking around at the rest of the crowd, uncomfortable, etc.
Which characteristics did you see on the video shots of the crowd???
They aren’t angry that Colbert was rude to Bush. After all, Imus blistered the Clinton’s with raunchy material and never got half the opprobium that Colbert received.
No, what’s really pissing them off is that, as you say, Colbert was mocking the press. That’s an unforgiveable sin in their eyes.
I’d been thinking of that Steve. Imus blasted Clinton and I never heard shit for criticism.
The problem with the press is that they’re lazy, which is why Colbert’s beautiful line on the White House decides, the Press Sec’y tells the press what to write, and the press writes it without question or thought, has pissed them off so much. Think back to the 2000 election and the lies from the Right Wing Noise Machine that were accepted as fact by a lazy piece of shit press: e.g. that Gore claimed he invented the Internet (he didn’t), that Gore claimed he was the sbuject of the book Love Story (he didn’t). Or the lies that the press was too lazy or too stupid to unearth: cut taxes, raise revenue, the lies about Social Security, the fuzzy math bullshitter from the Billshitter in Chief, the flap about what Gore was wearing. All these things started with the Limbaughs, Coulters, and other fascist fuckwads and were accepted by the MSM. Of course they’re pissed at Colbert. He’s the only person in that room with the balls to tell the truth, except of course for Helen Thomas who has honorary ones, which means she has more than Russert, Blitzer, Greenfield, etc. etc. etc. or George Stephafuckingopolis.
Froomkin:
‘Their very subversive message, at its core: That this Bush guy is basically a joke. And that the mainstream press is a joke, because it takes Bush at his word.”
I have been saying that we can laugh this asshole out of office for several years.
Froomkin is right. More than likely for the wrong reasons, but hey, even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while.
If we could get the Democrats…the ones who really want to win…to simply refuse to give this man ANY RESPECT WHATSOEVER…not to call him “President” Bush (I use the term “semi-President” most often), not even to use his NAME.
NOT “President George W. Bush.”
“Semi-President George Butch.”
Got a better one?
Feel free.
And DO IT TO HIS FACE!!!
Just like Colbert.
Had Small K kerry done this…we would be in MUCH less trouble.
You can see by the reaction how deeply Colbert’s truth cut these people.
It will work with ANY of them.
Cheney?
He’d have a fucking aneurysm and cack on the spot if anyone fronted HIM in public.
BET on it.
Rice?
She hasn’t laughed in 40 years.
Not the laugh that means “ha ha”, for sure!!!
And not that weak, Maher/Stewart/Leno/Letterman snark.
Sock it TO the motherfuckers!!!
YES, Mr. Colbert.
Next…let’s get Margaret Cho some press credentials.
Send HER to some press conferences.
OOOOooooo!!!!
Let George Carlin interview…oh, say the FEMA fuckup, little whatisname. Michael Brown.
Laugh ’em out of town on a rail.
REAL humor is an IQ test.
And they fail.
AG
Had Colbert been funny it would not have been nearly so effective.
His ability to build one riff atop another in that stone cold room of powdered ass elites was GENIUS. COURAGE.
Lets not stop just with Bush. There are several million (maybe 100 million)effeminate ass kissing Republican democrat ELITES just like him (Ken Lay) who need, at the very least, the verbal guillotine, day in and day out. I do it all day long.
ABBIE HOFFMAN LIVES! YIPPIE!
would have been proud!
from another comment I made on Colbert. Your comparison to Lenny Bruce is right on.
Re: White House Correspondent’s Dinner (4.00 / 2)
Isn’t it amazing that thirty some years after Woodward and Bernstein made investigative reporters into heroes, the only ones left brave enough to speak the truth to power are comedians? Of course, that’s kinda the way it’s always been: e.g. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and now Stephen Colbert.
To do those jokes in that place is HUGE. If I were a woman I’d be stalking Colbert right now saying “Please, I’ll have your baby.” Hell, I’m not a woman, and somehow, wait a minute, I’ve just found myself lurking outside his house. Could I have been laughing so hard I lost track of a whole day?
Richard Cohn doesn’t get it now does he. “They” hired Colbert to be funny. He didn’t agree to that. Colbert took the opportunity that we all would give an arm and a leg for to blister not only Bush but the Press Corpse. It was a thing of beauty. As Booman says, it wasn’t funny(to them) because they didn’t know what hit them.
I never was much for Shakespeare but I do remember well the Fool in King Lear. He was the only one who could speak the plain truth to the King and get away with it. Even the King’s daughter was banished for truth telling.
Colbert was the perfect Fool. I cant tell you how much Donkeytale enjoyed his subversiveness. Too bad he wasnt invited to the dinner. You would be hearing the loud braying over the quiet in that room of dopes each time you download.
Ironically, Scalito was about the only one besides Mr and Mrs Plame who seemed to be having a gay old time.
Lawrence Fishbourne was laughing his ass off.
Right on Boo!
This a response I sent to WaPo’s Richard Cohen on his recent article decrying Colbert’s unfunniness…
Dear Mr. Cohen,
It was obvious to many of us Americans that Mr. Colbert did what we had hoped you and your colleagues would have done long ago. It is hard to make that funny. It is sad and somber. Mr. Colbert, in his way challenged King George. The entire room should have stood up in support but yet you remained cowered. You, Mr. Milbank and others seem not to get this at all. I’m trying to say this without being harsh, sir – however its becoming even more apparent who the Tory/Loyalists are. And who the patriots are. It’s quite apparent our Washington press corps is not cut from the same cloth as our courageous retired generals who asked for Rumsfeld’s retirement, or our retired intelligence professionals who knew they would receive retaliation in speaking up against this administration’s false rationale for war. They are true Americans. It is a tremendous disservice to our brave men and women in uniform who are in Harm’s Way. However, I was puzzled by the laughter that was emitted in the past regarding the now famous and tasteless skit of the president looking for weapons of mass destruction under his desk. Truly a shameful and disgusting moment in our nation’s history. To many of our press corps, I say shame – shame on you to disgrace a noble profession which at one point in time could be counted upon as a voice for the truth. It’s not too late. I say God bless Stephen Colbert, my respect for him has grown considerably. Please find your souls again. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my views on this matter.
Sincerely,
Robert Murray
Detroit, MI
It might begin the crack in veneer that is the press these days.
when it comes to just about anything political. I am so sorry to learn about Buster and have nothing to offer that would be of any real benefit to you right now except to say thanks for the use of your time and abilities today putting this together and sharing it with me.
Instead of continuing to ask Bush “Why did you really invade Iraq?”—Maybe we should start asking the media “Why don’t you start telling the truth to the American people?”
Thank You, Stephen Colbert
Commie Girl Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:38 am
Brilliant! Sweet! Satire (truth) at its beat! Thank you Mr. Colbert for doing your country proud!
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Ben Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:38 am
Bravo, Colbert. The destroyers of America have been hoisted on their own petard.
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pygor Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:38 am
BALLS OF STEEL! Bravo!!!
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JAS Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:38 am
What courage. My hat goes off to Colbert for telling it like it is when the heat was on.
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Rappo Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:37 am
Thank you, indeed.
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Ferro Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:37 am
From a Portuguese in London, the world thanks u.
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Mooey the Magnificent Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:37 am
Dear Stephen, Sometime soon, I need to stand up to my boss…I wish I could borrow those Muchos Huevos Grandes for a few minutes…THANK YOU for giving me the courage….and HOPE for a better future…
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erin Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:36 am
you rock my world. Thank you for speaking the truth. Why no one else can do it blows my mind. you had my laughs and I tip my hat to you!!
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Ken Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Mr. Colbert, I applaud your patriotism. That was truly one of the bravest things I have ever seen on television.
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Adam Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Way to go Colbert. It might have been this inane administration saying nothing in every press conference or it might have been the press corps being complete boobs. Odds are it’s some combination of the two. Tell em what everybody else is thinking but can’t say to their faces.
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Rog Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:35 am
What a shame when it takes humor to move a media that has failed its country and the world…..thank God for Colbert’s satire and Shakespeare. Both had balls, and that was more that any of our media had/has!
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Anne Lyons Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Thank you
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Joe Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Stephen Colbert, thank you for sticking it to the man. You had him cornered. He could not brush aside and ignore the criticisms that millions of Americans wish to express. You did it so eloquently and humorously, and he was forced to sit and listen through it all. Bravo!
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Mitch Poulin Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:34 am
I am only disappointed that more people are not willing to attack the administration with such a vigorous spirit as you, Stephen. Although the media will do it’s best to leave your speech behind in obscurity, your wit and pithy satire are just what this damned country needed several years ago. Hopefully, someone in the political game will find your words worth pondering. You were the wolf in sheeps clothing amidst the rabble. For that I thank you.
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Elaine Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:33 am
William Shakespeare could have written a play around you, sir. With a sputtering lunatic king, his corrupt and bloody-handed lords, his groveling courtiers and finally, in the third act, a court jester who speaks the awful truth. What will be the final act, I wonder.
Bravo! Bravo!
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Liz Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Colbert recites this wonderful rhetoric that makes your stomach turn until you find that absolute humor in the stupidity of it, it has taught me how to deal with listening to the real news, now i can laugh to keep myself from vomiting every time I turn on the tv and hear the media groveling to bush.
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Nick Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Attaway, Colbert. The text was brilliant and delivering it took balls. Your dad would be proud.
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Cathy Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Stephen, On behalf of all Americans who have watched King Bush’s snideness, stupidity and callousness these past years with horror — and ranted against him and his cronies privately — your performance TO HIS FACE was a few minutes of sweet revenge. You are a truly courageous American. I salute you sir!! You were brave, truthful and funny as hell!!!
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sumeet Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:31 am
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Preet Says:
May 5th, 2006 at 8:30 am
I live in Australia, and after watching this video, it made me feel EXTREMELY proud to be liberal and left wing. Unfortunately here, no comedian or station has the courage to do what you did – and you must be given 100000000000000000 thanx for your great performance. Stephen, you are amongst one of the greats – to stick it to the president and say what alot of people (especially the media) dont want to. The footage was nailbiting, and still makes me feel queasy inside that HE WAS THERE AS YOU SAID IT!! but thank you, hopefully you’ve woken America up, you make the left and us liberals burst with pride, and hopefully made the right feel adequately ashamed.
Thanx again,
Preet
as the ignorant wingers think. Political satire has to be razor sharp, cut like a knife. If they want funny, they should watch late night comedians with their one-liners.