MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
The Correspondents' Dinner always roasts the President this way. Usually they take it with good humor, e.g. Clinton did that cute "White House closing down" video, and Bush looked under his desk for WMDs (charming).
We've got two and a half more years left before Bush leaves, assuming he doesn't declare martial law and rewrite the Constitution. That gives him plenty of time to do a lot more damage to the country. Just sayin'
Alex, the Elephants are trying to be move a bit middle and the asses are moving WAY right so HE is effectively out the door (despite the fact that the Canadian PM is bending over and grabbing his ankles to make the shrub look good). Yes HE can still do damage (and I bet he will) but Colbert's attack is not really brave.
I thought the speech was very good. The video on the other hand just seemed like a poor joke dragged out too long (I guess they were trying to do a Tex Avery/Droopy thing but the pacing was all wrong).
Hey, I'm not saying he shouldn't be doing it, and he didn't have a show or this stardom before the election, so fuck the hell off on that (what's he supposed to do? time machine?).
It's just that I get tired of year after year hearing "Wow, this comedian really gave it to the President!" when it happens every year.
Most of the "roasting" is generally pretty good natured, though, stilicho. There's a lot of avoiding genuine sore points. Colbert didn't avoid anything. He poked the sore points with a pointy, pointy stick. Hard.
I genuinely disdain our president. I probably even hate him. But I don't know if I'd be able to insult him to his face relentlessly in front of a crowd of journalists.
(I take that back. I totally could. But it would be mostly cursewords and very little wit.)
Some of the funniest stuff Colbert does is just when he acts his goofiest. The Thursday night episode where he used a fire extinguisher on his TV fireplace was just so absurd it had me laughing for minutes after the show ended.
Apparently, Dubya was pissed, so it's good if only because it wiped the smirk off the Presidential face for a minute. I sure am tired of being angry about the mess we're in. I wish the Dems would get a clue.
I waited another day to see if this would appear in any of the popular press, and it seems pretty shocking that it hasn't... though pokermonk's comment here makes sense. Still, I would expect certain journals like The Guardian and other international press to comment on it. How bizarre that it seems to have been entirely swallowed by the memory hole, even in the case of non-US publications that shouldn't have any <scare quotes>ethical</scare quotes> or <scare quotes>professional</scare quotes> problem reporting it.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
