Posted on 04/30/2006 2:44:57 PM PDT by alnick
WASHINGTON A blistering comedy “tribute” to President Bush by Comedy Central’s faux talk show host Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner Saturday night left George and Laura Bush unsmiling at its close.
Earlier, the president had delivered his talk to the 2700 attendees, including many celebrities and top officials, with the help of a Bush impersonator.
Colbert, who spoke in the guise of his talk show character, who ostensibly supports the president strongly, urged the Bush to ignore his low approval ratings, saying they were based on reality, “and reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
He attacked those in the press who claim that the shake-up at the White House was merely re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. “This administration is soaring, not sinking,” he said. “If anything, they are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.”
Colbert told Bush he could end the problem of protests by retired generals by refusing to let them retire. He compared Bush to Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” movies, always getting punched in the face—“and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world.”
Turning to the war, he declared, "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 noted former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in the crowd, just three tables away from Karl Rove, and that he had brought " Valerie Plame." Then, worried that he had named her, he corrected himself, as Bush aides might do, "Uh, I mean... he brought Joseph Wilson's wife." He might have "dodged the bullet," he said, as prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald wasn't there.
Colbert also made biting cracks about missing WMDs, “photo ops” on aircraft carriers and at hurricane disasters, melting glaciers and Vice President Cheney shooting people in the face. He advised the crowd, "if anybody needs anything at their tables, speak slowly and clearly on into your table numbers and somebody from the N.S.A. will be right over with a cocktail. "
Observing that Bush sticks to his principles, he said, "When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on Wednesday - no matter what happened Tuesday."
Also lampooning the press, Colbert complained that he was “surrounded by the liberal media who are destroying this country, except for Fox News. Fox believes in presenting both sides of the story — the president’s side and the vice president’s side." He also reflected on the alleged good old days, when the media was still swallowing the WMD story.
Addressing the reporters, he said, "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 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."
He claimed that the Secret Service name for Bush's new press secretary is "Snow Job."
Colbert closed his routine with a video fantasy where he gets to be White House Press Secretary, complete with a special “Gannon” button on his podium. By the end, he had to run from Helen Thomas and her questions about why the U.S. really invaded Iraq and killed all those people.
As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling. The president shook his hand and tapped his elbow, and left immediately.
Those seated near Bush told E&P's Joe Strupp, who was elsewhere in the room, that Bush had quickly turned from an amused guest to an obviously offended target as Colbert’s comments brought up his low approval ratings and problems in Iraq.
Several veterans of past dinners, who requested anonymity, said the presentation was more directed at attacking the president than in the past. Several said previous hosts, like Jay Leno, equally slammed both the White House and the press corps.
“This was anti-Bush,” said one attendee. “Usually they go back and forth between us and him.” Another noted that Bush quickly turned unhappy, and left the dais shortly after while most seated near him, including Colbert and Snow, glad-handed the crowd. “You could see he stopped smiling about halfway through Colbert,” he reported.
After the gathering, Snow, while nursing a Heineken outside the Chicago Tribune reception, declined to comment on Colbert. “I’m not doing entertainment reviews,” he said. “I thought the president was great, though.”
Strupp, in the crowd during the Colbert routine, had observed that quite a few sitting near him looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a little too biting--or too much speaking "truthiness" to power.
Asked by E&P after it was over if he thought he'd been too harsh, Colbert said, "Not at all." Was he trying to make a point politically or just get laughs? "Just for laughs," he said. He said he did not pull any material for being too strong, just for time reasons. (He later said the president told him "good job" when he walked off.)
Helen Thomas told Strupp her segment with Colbert was "just for fun."
In its report on the affair, USA Today asserted that some in the crowd cracked up over Colbert but others were "bewildered." Wolf Blitzer of CNN said he thought Colbert was funny and "a little on the edge."
Earlier, the president had addressed the crowd with a Bush impersonator alongside, with the faux-Bush speaking precisely and the real Bush deliberately mispronouncing words, such as the inevitable "nuclear." At the close, Bush called the imposter "a fine talent. In fact, he did all my debates with Senator Kerry." The routine went over well with the crowd -- better than did Colbert's, in fact.
Among attendees at the black tie event: Morgan Fairchild, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Justice Antonin Scalia, George Clooney, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers--in a kilt. E&P Staff (gmitchell@editorandpublisher.com)
exactly why socialize with these as-holes
Darlin', Colbert merely repeated the tired, thoroughly untrue leftist talking points. Only the truly deluded believe any of that drivel.
Held a mirror to the President, indeed.
wrong forum du is thata way kitty kitty
I haven't seen the skit, but Colbert has a certian comedic style like none other. If you understand the comedy, then it's funny... at the surface level it's horrific. He is absolute best at making people feel uncomfortable.
I've seen his show a few times and he'll go out and visit local district leaders. Whatever side the interviewee is on, he will do what he can to make them uncomfortable.
For example, he interviewed one politician who was extrememly anti war. He asked the question, "Iraq, a great war? or the greatest war?"
She kinda stumbled around and then he said, "I'll put you down for 'great war'..." She was extremely uncomfortable, but it was hilarious.
One of my good friends has this ability, so I guess that's why I find it funny - I'm used to it.
I've never thought Colbert was funny. I've tried watching his show a few times, always end up changing the channel within a minute or two.
I watched his pathetic performace at this dinner for a minute or so, and caught his mistake when he got the joke wrong and had to admit it and back up for another go at it. Not very quick on his feet.
I saw it, and the only person made to feel uncomfortable by his performance was himself. He bombed badly.
what did the troll say?
I thought Colbert stunk and from the C-Span cameras checking out the audience, I wasn't the only one who thought so. It went on forever, or seemed to, and the film at the end with Helen Thomas wasn't funny either IMO. Really lame and totally lacking in humor.
Why would a gym instructor be handing out anything but weights? COMPLETELY inappropriate. At any time. Fire immediately.
Oh, some nonsense about Colbert holding a mirror in front of the President.
Is there a link to it somewhere?
You know, the press hates him enough as it is. As much as I am sure he would like to quit going...it would just make his job harder.
It's tough to be president. It's tougher to be a honorable, do the right thing kind of president.
Colbert did a bit the other night when he looked into the camera and intoned: "Hannity & Colmes has the Bomb. Now I'd trust Sean Hannity the nuclear codes, he's a standup guy. But we cannot allow the Bomb to be in the cold, clammy liberal hands of Alan Colmes!"
Good stuff.
"Strupp, in the crowd during the Colbert routine, had observed that quite a few sitting near him looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a little too biting--or too much speaking "truthiness" to power."
Colbert and the MSM have tons of problems, but "truthiness" ain't among'em.
Certainly no self respect. They pursue personal popularity at the expense of others and pile on in an effort to be part of the in crowd.
The contrast between these people and the President couldn't be more striking. And for what its worth, despite low approval ratings it is not missed by average Americans.
They just all have their panties in a twist because the only thing being shown on TV is the president's skit and Colbert is getting basically no coverage at all. That's how tasteless it was....even the MSM isn't showing it much.
You really listen to this turd? I'm amazed.
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