the ill-tempered cavalier ([info]gillen) wrote,
@ 2006-04-30 16:09:00
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Speaking 'Truthiness' To Power
If you live on the net, you've probably heard all about it. If you live in the real world, you haven't heard a single thing. At the White House Correspondent's Dinner the other night, guest comedian Steven Colbert (I'm sorry, someone at the White House thought that was a good idea? Well, someone formerly at the White House, at any rate?) gave the administration what for in a good 30 minute beating, leaving Bush with a visibly-painful forced grin and the audience stifling embarassed laughs or simply staring in disbelief.
"I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least. And by these standards, we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."

"I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he has stood on things. Things like aircraft carriers... and rubble... and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound with the most powerfully-staged photo ops in the world."

"The greatest thing about this man is that he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday, that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened on Tuesday. Events can change, this man’s beliefs never will."

"It's like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is."
So, the headlines should be all about how some upstart comedian pantsed Bush both to his face and in public right? Of course, not! It's about how Bush "stole the show" with his lame skit with a Bush-impersonator making fun of his poor vocabulary and inability to speak in his native language.



Here's the video of the Colbert appearance [part one | part two]
[transcript available: here]


So what does the media have to say about it?

CNN - Bush Pokes Fun At Himself At Dinner

ABC News - Bush Plays Straight Man To His Lookalike

Reuters - Bush Skewers Self at Correspondents' Dinner

New York Post - Dubya Doubled

Times UK - Q: What could be worse for Democrats than President Bush in power? A: Two Bushes

BBC - 'Double-You' Bush Delights Media


I'm sorry, but if any of you work in a major media outlet or for a news agency and have the smallest shred of journalistic integrity left to you. Do yourselves, your nation and your world a favour. Before you go home from work tomorrow, take a 5-gallon can of gasoline, pour it all around your office, light a match and... no, wait, don't leave. Stay there because you're still part of the goddamn problem.

(all props to [info]theferrett for the vid links)

(29 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Exactly.
[info]fierce313
2006-04-30 11:47 pm UTC (link)
By Bog, man, I love you more each day.

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Re: Exactly.
[info]gillen
2006-05-01 12:47 am UTC (link)
Clearly you have excellent taste! ;)

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[info]snuh
2006-04-30 11:52 pm UTC (link)
Bill Kristol booked Colbert. I wonder what the blowback will be?

Stephen went after the media pretty strongly, I expected the aftermath.

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[info]gillen
2006-05-01 12:21 am UTC (link)
"Over the last five years you people were so good over tax cuts, WMD, intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew."

"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. Put them through a spellcheck and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you've 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."

"I think I would have made a fabulous Press Secretary. I have nothing but contempt for these people."

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[info]snuh
2006-05-01 12:36 am UTC (link)
Watching it live, it was quickly apparent this was going to be a tough crowd. Afterwards, Laura Bush wouldn't even look Colbert in the eye during their farewell handshake. They cut to a crowd reaction shot after his *make love to wife - write that novel* remark and there were not many happy campers in view. I can't imagine being Zinged any harder, it was spot-on.

In regard to his reception, Stephen said he would never edit or tone down his comments, that the performance comes first, which is why I love the man.

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[info]gillen
2006-05-01 12:43 am UTC (link)
Yeah, I loved the CSPAN cutaways to the uncertain politicos and mediopoly reps. Except Lawrence Fishburne, inexplicably present but clearly enjoying the show.

I've generally been kind of tepid on Colbert. Of course, I haven't watched the Daily Show in a year or two. He's clearly more pointed than he used to be... they should have his cojones bronzed.

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[info]snuh
2006-05-01 12:50 am UTC (link)
The cut-away to Alito was fun to watch.

I've been a Colbert fan since the days of Strangers With Candy and the Ambiguously Gay Duo. With the Colbert Report, he's admitted to not quite finding his pacing yet, but felt like he had a good groove going. I think this performance will help him break into the next level.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]snuh
2006-05-01 01:00 am UTC (link)
Alito whoops - Scalia.

Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner-- President Not Amused?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]gillen
2006-05-01 01:24 am UTC (link)
Alito whoops - Scalia.

Same diff.

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[info]snuh
2006-05-01 01:24 am UTC (link)
True dat.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]murasakimuse
2006-05-01 12:41 am UTC (link)
that rocks! Thank you for posting that! I love seeing assholes, as you say, pantsed!

(Reply to this)

Thank YOU!! I'm am soo happy.
[info]dj_ango
2006-05-01 02:19 am UTC (link)
Thank you, tThankyou, Thankyou.

The only thing I want in this world is to meet Stephen Colbert and his sperm. I'm going to let all the world see this!!!!

I stopped caring what is covered by "the press." The only thing left to do is laugh, find the broken pieces and laugh. This is one of those moments in history where the comedian told the king he was naked... Avast! Matey! I'm going to tell my world!

Thanks so much for the links!
Cheers until they take teh internets away!
Shannon

(Reply to this)


[info]celestyna
2006-05-01 02:59 am UTC (link)
OH MY GOD!
That is the most punkrock video i've ever seen.
Holy shit.
hollllly shit.
how did he get out of there un-shot?

(Reply to this)


[info]lol911omgwtc
2006-05-01 03:25 am UTC (link)
Journalists very rarely make editorial decisions. Blame the editorial staff.

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[info]gillen
2006-05-01 04:00 am UTC (link)
Oh, are the editorial staff the ones softballing questions to the Pres in the press room? Funny, those sure look like the rogues gallery of White House Press Corps reporters.

Now, sure, the media also exerts editorial control, but we're not talking about a brave group of bulldog investigative reporters who will stop at nothing to get to their story being blocked at all sides by the shadowy editorial staff. We're talking about a small pool of corporate-picked yes men given their jobs not because of ther dedication to wringing out answers to the tough questions, but because they value their job and the cushy junkets that they get invited on more than journalistic integrity.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]lol911omgwtc
2006-05-01 04:20 am UTC (link)
Oh come on. You said it yourself: the White House has ultimate control over who gets in. It's not like they're inviting, you know, a brave group of bulldog investigative reporters in. Bush knows the journalists who question him on a first name basis, I sincerely doubt any of them are anything less than friendly.

At any rate, if you're able to comment on the matter from outside, I'm sure a ton of reporters were too. That they didn't get published isn't their fault.

They're around. Probably not very effective, but around nonetheless. I'm just saying, it's not their fault if they don't get published.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]gillen
2006-05-01 08:31 am UTC (link)
I don't think anyone was addressing reporters who don't get published, though this notion of a silent majority of reporters stifled by the evil machinations of their editors... well, where are the whistleblowers? If these folks are such pure and honest Janes and Johns why are they still cashing their paychecks? Why aren't they submitting their stories to the independent media? Could it be that they really don't exist, this cadre of innocent and scrupulous reporters?

But it's nice to see you are now agreeing with me that the actual White House Press Corps are a bunch of pro-Administration hacks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]snale
2006-05-01 03:55 am UTC (link)
I just watched the video over on YouTube and I'm seriously in love with Mr. Colbert, heretofore to be known as: "the ballsiest man in America".

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[info]monaa
2006-05-01 04:43 am UTC (link)
colbert is funny, but jon stewart is still funnier. and hotter.

but really i just want to use this icon.

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[info]dj_ango
2006-05-01 06:22 pm UTC (link)
Nicely done (your userpic there). May I have a slice?

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[info]monaa
2006-05-01 06:27 pm UTC (link)
Yep, go ahead. I took it from ladypolitik myself, so I can't take credit for it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]kfringe
2006-05-01 05:05 am UTC (link)
Magnificent. He stayed in character the whole time. He behaved as the perfect court jester.

That son of a bitch has balls.

(Reply to this)

Verily, I did LOL
[info]neev
2006-05-01 05:23 am UTC (link)
Ah, see, this is why I have you friended. You keep me informed like the media never could. (Which is sad, because it's completely true)

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Re: Verily, I did LOL
[info]maramala
2006-05-02 02:05 am UTC (link)
Ditto.

...Well, I do now.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]flyme2_themoon
2006-05-01 08:30 am UTC (link)
I second the opinion of fierce313!! The reaction by the media is purely a portrayal of the most'democratic' nation in the world.

From what you quoted, I loved this the best "Enjoy that metaphor, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is."

(Reply to this)


[info]ironkite
2006-05-01 02:55 pm UTC (link)
Steve Colbert at the White House Correspondent's Dinner is like letting Cheney loose with a machine gun in an American Bar Association convention.

He got a manical glint in his eye when he announced on his show he was going to be a guest there.

(Reply to this)

Dan Froomkin's alright
[info]dj_ango
2006-05-01 08:08 pm UTC (link)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

"Colbert was merciless, reserving his most potent zingers for the people in spitting distance: The president who took the nation to war on false pretenses and the press corps that let him do it.

The boozy bonhomie of the annual event is intended to serve as a balm for the often tense relationship between the White House and the reporters who cover it.

Bush largely delivered on his side of the bargain. Colbert delivered something else entirely."

That's nice that someone noticed and wrote about it.

(Reply to this)

Lieutenant Day-um
[info]sonico138
2006-05-02 05:26 am UTC (link)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)


[info]carlmarks
2006-05-02 04:23 pm UTC (link)
thankyoustephencolbert.org

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