Colbert New Comic-in-Chief 939
scottzak writes "Hail to the Chief! Stephen Colbert addressed the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday (attended by the President, the elite of Washington politics, and the White House Press Corps) and told the truth. Jaws dropped. Eyes popped. The live audience gasped. Scalia laughed his ass off. You want to see a brilliant comic display some real courage? Look no further. Enjoy the reaction shots, and Colbert's audition for Press Secretary job." The BBC covers the act just prior to Mr. Colbert's, where the President and a look-alike took turns making fun of his speaking skills.
Wasnt that funny (Score:1, Interesting)
Stephen Colbert's Other Achievement (Score:4, Interesting)
Torrent link (Score:4, Interesting)
Be forewarned however... the torrent contains the entire C-Span broadcast of the event. Colbert's speech starts around the 54 minute mark. Some of the other bits are pretty funny, including bush playing along with an impersonator, although absolutely nothing can beat Colbert's speech. Watch it. It's funny on so many levels. I've never seen such a huge disconnect between a comedian and his audience -- it took some major guts to do what he did.
I think this one's going to go down in the history books, and is by far the funniest thing ever broadcated on C-Span's airspace.
Re:John Amato's C&L blog? (Score:3, Interesting)
Since I don't often read the non-video posts, I use Crooks and Liars mainly as a source for keeping up on the news, because they cherry pick the most telling videos of the day.
Or, are you trying to say that they are a "far left smear website"? Well, in the words of the great Stephen Colbert, "Reality has a well known liberal bias."
Andrew
What I find most interesting... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Watch it, enjoy it, believe it (Score:1, Interesting)
On another note, it's sad to see that digg is censoring that article:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=137823232
Quotation from Will Rogers (Score:5, Interesting)
How bad has it been in the past? (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm all for a skewering of authority, whoever happens to be at the helm. But, after viewing the whole video, while some of it has got to make some of the audience decidedly uncomfortable (note the camera cutting to Joe Wilson and his wife Valerie Plame!) I got the feeling that this is de rigeur for this kind of event, simply that we're paying more attentino because it's featured on Slashdot, BoingBoing, and wherever the hell else.
So, how accurate is that perception?
Has anyone seen one of these from years past? Even last year, with the war in full swing, there would have been sufficiently biting grist for a ballsy comic. Is older video of these annual press club dinners on C-Span or somewhere else? How biting is that commentary? How was it during Clinton's run? Or Nixon's?
That's what the 'net is so great for... putting something like this into a very broad context, not just believing that Steven Colbert doing a bang up job here is the first and last time it's ever happened.
Re:Wasnt that funny (Score:3, Interesting)
I want Bush gone as much as the next guy, but after reading the transcript it comes off disrespectful more than humourous, especially in front of that audience. I don't like Bush, but I still respect the power he holds...
Re:It's really quite fascinating (Score:5, Interesting)
I think this is Stephen Colbert's Crossfire appearance. Jon Stewart played Crossfire the same way: pointing out all the faults of the people he was with. Stephen Colbert's audience was even more prestigious than Jon Stewart's. I didn't know about this appearance until after it happened (so I download the video last night) and I was amazed that he had the opportunity to chew out the president... right to the presidents face!
Unfortunately, I think some of the humor was lost on people who didn't realize the character Colbert plays. However, I also think he has made a lot of new fans this weekend.
Re:Never wavering? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Isn't it funny? (Score:5, Interesting)
1. The press is, generally, in Bush's pocket. Part of it is 9/11. Part of it is that war makes news organizations (and their parent companies) money. Its well known the Jack Welch pressured NBC news while he was CEO of GE. I would wager this has continued and expanded. (aside - It really says something about a president who can have such backing in the press and still manage to go down to the thirties in approval rating.)
2. Colbert skewered the press as much as the president. He called them on not raising a fuss, not making waves. Why would they want to bring attention to their own short-comings?
"But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!"
A real journalist would probably recognize Colbert's performance as the only news-worthy thing to happen during the event. Here Colbert is providing the best politically satirical speech in years (a generation?) right in front of the bubble boy president. Of course, a real journalist would probably not attend these sort of "buddy up to the administration" events. The fourth estate (ideally) should provide a check on those in power.
P.S. I love Colbert, but whats this doing on slashdot? I guess it is "news that matters" but not in any tech sense AFAICT.
Re:The best part about this (Score:3, Interesting)
We're down to the religious nutbags now. It's interesting, really, to see what percentage they make up, and I'm glad it's only 32... at one point I was worried it was in the 40s. Bush will have a really hard time losing these people, because they're the ones who believe that he was sent by God (as opposed to, say, reelected in a questionable and impossible-to-verify manner).
Re:Liberal Bunk (Score:2, Interesting)
Yes, you read that correctly. Only 21 votes against.
Freedom stay the course terror terror. God bless America.
Not his best form (Score:3, Interesting)
This seems to happen a lot. You get somebody who has to be funny every night and does a good job, and then you give a big job, like this dinner or the Oscars with lots of time to prepare, and it doesn't seem like they do as well. Happened to Jon Stewart, to David Letterman and many others. Is it because of expectations? Or pressure?
Anyway, watch the show for the real Colbert. The main thing that's interesting about this routine is that Bush is there taking it in, not entirely happy. But as I said, the time I got to go there were icy stares from Hilary at Franken's Whitewater jokes.
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:5, Interesting)
CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you're accusing us of partisan hackery?
STEWART: You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls. What is wrong with you?
and
STEWART: If you want to compare your show to a comedy show, you're more than welcome to
It's a classic dilemma (Score:5, Interesting)
It seems like a standard dilemma to me. Comedians such as Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart have nothing to lose. They're certainly not going to lose popularity with their audience, and if anything will gain more followers. They'll probably never have another chance to do what they've done, but they probably wouldn't have anyway.
For journalists and news networks on the other hand, the nature of how the competition works means they have everything to lose. If a journalist steps too far outside the bounds of what the government considers "acceptable" for a journalist, they probably won't be allowed in again... unless everyone does the same thing at once making it impossible for the press secretaries to ignore, which seems unlikely. Access to high government officials is everything to many news networks, especially the larger ones, so getting the network rejected could spell a big demotion if not the end of a journalist's career.
Re:The best part about this (Score:3, Interesting)
Who else votes for the republicans? Mostly idiots who believe the republicans when they say they are for fiscal responsiblity and smaller govt despite the fact that the only presients who ever shrank the govt in my lifetime were democrats and even Carter ran the economy better then Bush.
So there you have it, religious nutbags and idiots. Alas there are too many of them in the country.
Old science fiction story (Score:5, Interesting)
Physical science papers and textbooks were only in the 90-95% range. If you said the age of the Eath was 4,388,765,309 years, for example, that might be 100% true but you'd never get published. In other fields, the socially tolerable level of truth was far lower.
The story's punch line was that only two groups of people were socially permitted to make 100% truthful statements: research mathematicians, and comedians.
(Also look up the history of "court fools").
Bzzzzzt history says you are wrong (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:4, Interesting)
There's historic precedent: in Imperial Rome, often the only public criticism of the Emperor came from comedians and satiric poets.
Additional comparisons to Rome after the fall of the Republic are left to brave commentors. (But hint: never-ending Proconsulships in the Middle East, a rubber stamp Senate ignored by the Emperor [boston.com].)
Stephen Colbert Thank You Site (Score:4, Interesting)
For serving as an example, telling it like it is, I've thrown together a site to collect thank yous for Mr. Colbert.
Hopefully this site will help boost awareness of this story, which is already being distorted in the mainstream press.
Go over and say thanks.
Colber and Stewart should not be needed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Those are some incredible special effects! (Score:5, Interesting)
There are none so blind as those who will not see. When you get done patting yourself on the back for your cleverness, perhaps you'll scan the commentary that accompanies the video from this source. And then ask yourself, why select such a slanted site to present it? I mean, as someone else pointed out, it's not even the complete video - the complete video is available elsewhere. But then you wouldn't have the commentary. So, let's all stop and ponder whether the video is really the thing you're supposed to be interested in.
Take off the blinders for a moment and pretend it's President John Kerry, with video selections and commentary provided by Little Green Footballs or Free Republic. Is that still cool, or do you want to award some more Oscars?
Re:Wasnt that funny (Score:3, Interesting)
The nightmare scenario for colbert is that a few freepers will take the fatwah declared against him seriously and put a bullet in his head. All it takes is one freeper with a gun and the dogs of war know how to push their buttons.
No media coverage on Colbert EXCEPT (Score:5, Interesting)
Yeah, Fox News.
Re:Wasnt that funny (Score:2, Interesting)
Watch the whole routine -- he basically bombed.
Terrible job that Prez is doing. (Score:1, Interesting)
Granted, the world is not perfect. We are at war in two countries with a third looming. Gas prices suck and it is an election year. But it's not 66% bad.
Poll numbers are not a reflection of a president's job. Those numbers are a reflection of the press's portrayal of the president and the president's effectiveness at countering that negative portrayal. Clinton and Reagan were masters at bypassing the press. The Bush's suck at it.
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:4, Interesting)
WTF?! Bombed? Maybe with the crowd, but he was bloody brilliant. Fucking balls of steel to say what he did with the president a few feet away. Most other comediens would turn on the fake chuminess, "oh schucks, you know I'm just kidding" after every bland joke, and then kiss and make up with old Georgy boy.
WTF is with the NY Daily! Really, every other blogger is praising Colbert like nobody's business.
Re:In the case of the Oscars (Score:4, Interesting)
It cracks me up how many people are still completely ignorant of shows like "The Daily Show," "The Colbert Report," "Real Time with Bill Maher," et. al. and what they're all about. It boggles the mind that so many people can still come on these shows and be completely caught off guard when the host starts asking them irreverent questions.
It's like Jon Stewart himself once said after a particularly funny interview segment with a befuddled Senator, "Why do people still talk to us?"
-Eric
Re:Stephen Colbert's Other Achievement (Score:1, Interesting)
During the Daily Show indecision 2000* election coverage:
STEWART to COLBERT at "the election center": What do you have for us? What's the word?
COLBERT: Well, Jon, of course, this year is the closest race since 1960, when a young John Fitzgerald Kennedy battled it out with Richard Milhous Nixon, winning by the slightest of margins and ushering in an era of untold promise, hope, and enthusiasm. Of course, an assassin's bullet ended all that. John?
STEWART: Stephen, are you seeing parallels with tonight's election, a country flush with prosperity, two young, energetic candidates, perhaps ready to lead us back to Camelot?
COLBERT: No, I'm getting more of a 'Nam vibe: you know, unwinnable wars, inescapable downward spiral, chaos in the streets. That sort of thing. But you know the night's still early. Be here till 11.
And lets not forget Steward on the recount thing: "People, when we came up with the name InDecision 2000, we thought it would be cute. Funny. We didn't expect you to run with it!"
Also, on the whole speaking truth to power thing, there was the Jon Steward on crossfire [mininova.org] thing. (We thought wou were gonna be funny, "No, I will not be your monkey!")
The funny thing is that during the Daily show interview with Colin Powell Steward predicted that Powell that was the closest "they" would ever come to the Bush administration, I guess he was wrong there
But the best "comedy" political analyis was Jon Steward on Dave Miller live (from memory):
I guarantee that no matter who wins this [2000 presidential] election, we will be showing up on Bill Clintons doorstep butt naked with a sigar saying, "put it anywere you want, but please, come back"....
Downright scary...
Re:John Amato's C&L blog? (Score:3, Interesting)
I didn't. I never said Colbert wasn't biased, clearly he has a bias in that he'll make more fans if he embarasses the President with the truth. The difference is that he is a reliable source of information about what's happening in the world, and Fox News is not giving anything but the "conservative perspective" which may or may not be how things are.
Re:Worth a watch (Score:1, Interesting)
This is why communism doesn't work. If you are going to try to debate that point, don't. Just walk away. Lack of competition equals stagnation. Here comes a shocking theory. Could we, as a species, survive without war? Would we stagnate and just waste away? I don't necessarilly believe this, but I also am not going to discount it off hand.
Re:Worth a watch (Score:2, Interesting)
Don't take what I said to mean I like war, I dont. I like competition. I am in love with it. We, as a species will progress towards a point where one of 3 things will happen. We will destroy ourselves, we will lose our competitive nature, or we will learn how to use our competitive nature in a constructive rather than destructive manner. The first and second scenarios are both equally horrible in my mind, they both spell our destruction. The last one, in my opinion of course, will be our success.
Keep in mind, I am not some kind of social scientist or anything. I am just an ignorant American. High school dropout, GED, no college degree. So, take everything I say with a grain of salt, because, I r dum.
Re:Isn't it funny? (Score:3, Interesting)
Hmm. In the past, when celebs (even d-list) make public asses of themselves, the news covers it, because it's entertaining to watch someone fall flat on their face.
So why not cover Colbert's "flop"? Could it be that the media folks recognize that it is they, not Colbert, who looks like they've fallen on their faces?
Re:Funny? (Score:3, Interesting)
This is a troll, right? Please... please, let this be a troll. I mean, I've heard of people using the word "unpatriotic" when describing criticisms of the President, someone who is, to put it mildly, the most important person in the entirety of the United States to criticize. But I kinda hoped it didn't actually happen. But here you are, doing exactly that.
So I have a question. What the fuck is wrong with you? Your president isn't a superhero. He isn't infallible. He most certainly isn't above criticism. And he's the last person you should be trying to protect, because it's part of his *job* to be criticized, and it's the job of the electorate to criticize him, to ensure that he's doing the job he was elected to do. It is *not* the job of the electorate to wrap themselves in the flag, plug their ears, and sing the national anthem to themselves while simply trusting their elected representatives to do their jobs properly.
"Unpatriotic"... it makes me sick to see people using that word in order to shut down others. "Incorrect", "misinformed", those are good reasons, and very well maybe be a valid criticism of the GP. But "unpatriotic"? That's simply a fallback position... kinda like "communist".
Re:Worth a watch (Score:2, Interesting)
Those numbers really dont tell the whole truth. How many of the employed, now have better higher paying jobs, or jobs with healthcare? And there never is a stat for UNDERemployment. The middle class isnt getting stronger. Those numbers dont really mean much, just like the GDP goes up whenever a tree is cut down or someone gets cancer.
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I don't get it. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Poor Colbert? (Score:2, Interesting)