Posted on 09/22/2015 10:45:12 PM PDT by monkapotamus
“I want to thank you, not only for being here, but for running for president, ” Stephen Colbert told Donald Trump on The Late Show tonight. “I’m not going to say this stuff writes itself, but you certainly do deliver it on time every day,” added Colbert, who has been feasting on Trump’s candidacy since debuting as host of CBS’s late night show early this month.
Colbert didn’t so much interview Trump as perform WWE Theatre with the reality TV star turned GOP front-runner. You know, pretends he’s thwapping the guy, but it’s all for fun – and ratings. Not coincidentally, about a week earlier, Trump visited NBC’s late-night rival, Tonight Show and pounded Colbert in the ratings that night.
“Donald Trump is here…Finally a place on TV to hear about Donald Trump,” Colbert said by way of opening the highly anticipated showdown. “He is the GOP front-runner. Who knows, one day I might be able to tell my kids I interviewed the last President of the United States.”
The night’s music guest, Raury, has declared himself The Future of Hip Hop, Colbert said, “which would sound egotistical on any show that did not have Donald Trump on tonight.”
Once out on stage, Trump was challenged to play a game in which he tried to determine which quote he had said, and which had been said by Colbert’s Comedy Central show faux-bloviator character. Trump was game – and got them all right. The last statement – “The real strong have no need to prove it to the phonies” – stumped him somewhat; he knew it wasn’t his, but he didn’t think it sounded Faux-Colbert-ish either. Trump was right again: The line was Charles Manson’s.
“I want to apologize to you, because I’ve said a few things about you, over the years, that, in polite company, perhaps are unforgivable,” Colbert said at another point in the interview.
“And, some nice things,” Trump insisted, adding, “apology accepted.”
You know where this is going, as did Trump.
“Is there anybody you would like to apologize to right now?” Colbert asked.
“No – maybe the audience,” Trump quipped.
The interview threatened to turn into a love fest when Colbert asked Trump if he was shocked at the enormous response he’s been getting around the country since announcing his candidacy, “because you shocked Republicans.” Colbert cited a recent Zogby poll showing Trump at 33% , adding “I’m not surprised at all.” Trump smiles at the audience and said, “I’m liking him a lot!”
“I’m liking you too,” Colbert responded, saying the GOP position has been that “money is speech and you’re a 10 billion dollar mouth.”
“You’re their worst nightmare. The really want to stop you,” the late-night host continued.
The GOP “establishment… is not that thrilled,” Trump simpered, noting he’s spending his own money.
Colbert also pretended he seriously thought he could get Trump to answer a “big fat meatball” of a question:
“Barack Obama, born in the United States?”
Because, of course, Trump’s been taking a lot of heat in the media for failing to shut down someone at one of his recent rallies who, during a Q&A period, said the country had a Muslim “problem” that included President Obama, who he also said was not a U.S. citizen.
“I don’t talk about that anymore,” Trump responded, of course.
As part of the show’s fun and games, Colbert also invited Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz as his guest; Moniz is credited with being the architect of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump, like other GOP candidates, has criticized the deal. But, unlike other GOP hopefuls, Trump has not vowed to rip up the deal if elected, rather saying, “I’ve taken over some bad contracts. I buy contracts where people screwed up…But I’m really good at looking at a contract and finding things within a contract that, even if they’re bad, I would police that contract so tough that they don’t have a chance. As bad as the contract is, I will be so tough on that contract.”
So, Colbert had Trump sign a copy of Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal”, for Moniz and suggested Trump sign: “Better luck next time.”
“I was just going to say that, but I don’t want to be a wiseguy,” Trump shot back. “I want to be a nice guy,” winning that round too.
And yet, one night earlier, Colbert had demonstrated how to do a tough interview with a presidential candidate, giving no quarter to Sen. Ted Cruz.
He gave no quarter to Cruz. However, he wasn’t rude and he told the audience that Cruz was his guest and do not boo him.
Cruz answered every question greatly and got applause by the end.
Colbert is a liberal, but not a complete idiot. He had to know Cruz would be a tough one.
Good for Trump.
Donald was very very supportive of Ted Cruz on tonight’s show and complimented Ted on his performance.
Colbert acted, and I’m not saying this just because, he truly acted like a buffoon
It was embarrassing
Embarassing that he has an audience
He was nasty snarky unintelligent and Trump can not possibly have to suffer that level of stupidity What was trump supposed to do?
Does Colbert and his circle think that Trump is an idiot?
Obama may have gone to Harvard, but he did not go to Wharton. One doesn’t get through Wharton and then, without scandal and corruption, build a business empire being a spoiled silly man
They think he just inherited his father’s money and he’s running around bragging. They have no imagination
His father was worth 200 million. That’s just not 9 billion. Can they count?
The ultimate test: If DT didn’t exist, would we ever have heard of Fred Trump? Probably not. Fred was good, but not THAT good.
Not that funny. The way things are going, who ever gains the White House in 2017 will inherit such a disaster it may be beyond saving.
Good. the man is brilliant. His IQ was way too much for colbert to handle.
Though i have a high IQ and it’s been pretty worthless :)
I would like to see more people drop out but I think half a dozen are in it to the end.
To be fair, I think any reasonably smart person being handed 200 million and a top of the line business education should be expected to do well.
I’m in favor of smart people in charge of things. Donald is abrasive, and I think he demeans himself by his bravado, but it’s who he is. I wouldn’t want to hang out with him, but that’s not really necessary to run the country right.
I mean I’d love a shot at what I could do with that kind of start. I did all right myself, but nothing like that.
I’m from New Jersey. Many years ago I dated a lawyer, BA Harvard, Law Degree Columbia. He once said, “I like Jersey girls, they have the sophistication of NY girls without the meanness.” You got to be mean to play in NY.
To be fair, 200,000,000.00 is easy to turn into 9,000,000,000.00?
You think that a guy who can do that within the law over time, not a stroke of luck but careful planning, is not worthy of more respect from public figures?
You are wasting my time
I’m so glad I read “Art of the Deal” 30 years ago. I am much more prosperous having read it than I would be if I had never seen the book.
Oh please. People think 200,000,000 is just like 9,000,000,000. They can’t do simple calculations It’s silly
I am for Cruz all the way. Trump I have to say I just don't know about. Will Trump uphold Conservative principles?
I didn’t say it was easy. I said for a studied smart person, schooled in business at the top, it’s certainly feasible. With a personality like his? Absolutely. I’ve seen many smart friends from my younger age do exceptionally well from modest beginnings. My family went from oilfield trash to oilfield executive in a few generations. There are people like the owner of Landry’s Seafood and Joe’s Crab Shack who started as Galveston semi-mafia and restaurateurs to multi-million dollar chain owners with casinos in Las Vegas. With a good running start, you can make it good in America.
I thought Fallon’s spot with Trump was a bit better than Colbert, but still funny stuff.
Stop. We are talking about whether these people are worthy of respect
Stay focused. Quit wasting my time
It was embarrassingly vapid silly disrespectful and frighteningly awkward
Fallon was hilarious It was FANTASTIC
Forbes said Trump had a negative networth in 1990 of $900 milion. That is $900 million less than zero. So he did go from 0 to $10 billion.
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