Stephen Colbert's Tribute to President Bush

[sadora]

Stephen Colbert may have just become the most dangerous man in America. No, it's not because he's part of a terrorist organization trying to blow up the states. He's not even the president of a country with a lot of oil. He's just an average man with boring hair and rimless glasses who had the guts to speak the truth in front of president Bush at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

With witty humor Colbert paid tribute to Bush's presidency and it's sinking public support by comparing Bush to Rocky Balboa, always getting punched in the face "and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world." He also urged Bush not to pay attention to the low approval ratings that his government is getting by saying that they were simply based on reality, "and reality has a well-known liberal bias."

Colbert also turned his attention on the war by saying, "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq." He also paid tribute to the way Bush sticks to his principles, "When the President decides something on Monday, he still believes in it on Wednesday--no matter what happened on Tuesday."

But perhaps one of Colbert's strongest attacks was on the media. Addressing the Washington reporters he said, "Let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The President makes the 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 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."

Not without surprise, a lot of the funniest moments in Colbert's speech, specially the one's against Bush, went without much response from the audience that included celebrities, top officials and members of the Washington press corps. Many in the crowd appeared uncomfortable but that is to be expected anytime that someone speaks out against the current administration.

Personally I applaud Colbert for doing what has become unaccepted. Even though his speech was satirical, his comments and criticism were both biting and correct, I just wish there were more courageous people out there.

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"I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands 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."

Google: The Actual Speech.

[octothorp]

I still can't believe that they got Colbert to be the keynote speaker at that event. Don't they have to get these sorts of things approved by the whitehouse? Of course, you could probably splice together some footage of Colbert and pass him off as a right-wing pundit. Anyway, thanks for posting this; I've heard a lot about it, but haven't seen it yet. I'll definitely watch this when I have some time.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I still can't believe that they got Colbert to be the keynote speaker at that event. Don't they have to get these sorts of things approved by the whitehouse? Of course, you could probably splice together some footage of Colbert and pass him off as a right-wing pundit. Anyway, thanks for posting this; I've heard a lot about it, but haven't seen it yet. I'll definitely watch this when I have some time.

Colbert in his TV show always comes off as the "blind republican" an act which he has worked to perfection. If you saw 10 minutes of his show, you might think he is a republican, watch another 10 and you just realise he is making fun of them.

I liked the part in one of his episodes a while back, going through his bookshelf: Here is Darwin... Oh what is that doing in the Non-Fiction catigory, then he moves it.

[Claeren]

I have read interviews and i guess he is not overly left-wing by nature either.

He is pretty centrist but with a republican president who does something wrong/illegal virtually every week, making fun of him and his supporters (by blindly agreeing with everything he says) just makes him seem like a typical leftwing comic. But like i said, he says the reason the schtick comes so easily to him is that he at least partially agrees with much of what he says in principle just not the extent or with the blind ignorance of Bush and his supporters.

Another way to look at it is that Bush has not really done much 'right-wing', in the academic sense, in his Presidency. So to be relentlessly making fun of Bush the Republican does not mean you are left wing, although you could be.

He is frikkin funny though. Other then hockey, the Daily Show and his show are the only ones on TV that i try to catch on a semi-regualr basis.

The true irony though is that between them they are the best real news shows on TV. I think that is the funniest part at the heart of it...



Claeren.

[Weiser Wonder]

First of all, no one thought Colbert was a right-wing pundit. Stewart and Colbert are two voices in the media that are going hard against the President and you better believe the White House knows it. I think they wanted to seem up to a little criticism and witty barbs by letting him speak, unfortunately Colbert was a lot more harsh than anyone was expecting.

[Looger]

bush is nearing the end of his usefulness to the establishment, and his handlers are beginning to let the media take shots at him.

everyone will sigh in relief when the evil man steps aside, the machine will roll on.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Looger

bush is nearing the end of his usefulness to the establishment, and his handlers are beginning to let the media take shots at him.

everyone will sigh in relief when the evil man steps aside, the machine will roll on.

Evil? Na, more oblvious and arrogant in my opinion. I don't think he's some genius trying to screw America.

[White Doors]

Is the one where he looks like Bush? That's called a 'roast' - they are supposed to make fun of the person. Took Balls to let him speak I say. Humour goes along way.

[Weiser Wonder]

Na, first Colbert made him look really bad. Secondly, Colbert's character is characterized after Bill O'Reilly, not Bush.

[theJuice]

Yea, that was pretty funny.

Was never really a fan of either show, but a friend basically forced me to sit down and watch a whole episode, and now I'm a big fan.

[sadora]

Originally Posted by Claeren

..He is frikkin funny though. Other then hockey, the Daily Show and his show are the only ones on TV that i try to catch on a semi-regualr basis.

The true irony though is that between them they are the best real news shows on TV. I think that is the funniest part at the heart of it...

On American TV perhaps. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching both shows, The Daily Show is one of my favorites, but the BBC is pretty good at providing a lot of international coverage on important issues, they may even be the best. The CBC's the National isn't too bad either.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Colbert strikes again. This time he took Bill Kristol, a member of the Project for the New American Century to task.

For those of you who don't know who the PNAC is... you should. Look it up. I suggest a search using the words: PNAC and "New Pearl Harbour"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgYZ11pIGU4

[Hack&Lube]

They should have gotten Jon Stewart, it would have been less viscious because Jon is gentler and stays within his character.

Colbert's entire show and persona (since leaving the Daily Show) is supposed to be a parody of extremely right-winged television talk shows and pundits.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Brilliant job by Colbert all around. It was awesome to see the White House Press Corps squirm like they (the bunch of jelly fish) and it was even better to see Kristol **** his pants on the air. Stephen Colbert is one of the few people who could pull this off!

[Clarkey]

I'm not a big fan of Colbert. He comes off looking like he thinks he's so cute and witty. He's not very good in my opinion and definately no Jon Stewart.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

They should have gotten Jon Stewart, it would have been less viscious because Jon is gentler and stays within his character.

Colbert's entire show and persona (since leaving the Daily Show) is supposed to be a parody of extremely right-winged television talk shows and pundits.

I disagree that Jon Stewart would have been gentler. In the press coverage of Stephen Colbert leading up to the White House Correspondents Dinner there were several Republicans and even Bill O'Reilly (not that his opinion is worth anything) saying very positive things about Colbert and suggesting that he wasn't "mean spirited" like Stewart and the Daily Show.

Colbert's speech at that dinner was one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. He was absolutely scathing but managed to be critical without being over-the-top. He didn't lie (didn't have to), his jokes weren't cheap or childish (with the "shoot me in the face" joke a possible exception), and he managed to provide a voice for millions of people that feel they have no representation in the White House or among the press.

Even if you disagree with what he said or feel he crossed a line, you must respect the courage it would take to stick to his speech in spite of the incredibly cool response he was recieving from the crowd and the death stare of the most powerful man on earth.

Hopefully Colbert's indictment of the media will have an impact of some of its members and motivate them to take the administration to task over its actions throughout the past... six years.

Anyways I thought the speech was perfect and Stephen Colbert has earned my respect.