Balls
Stephen Colbert is now a made man. If he survives the next couple of years (stay off of small planes, Stephen), his place in history is assured.
Remember “The Emporor’s New Clothes”? Not the ultimate message of the tale, but the tale itself. What characters do you remember? Obviously the Emporor - anyone else? Yup. The little boy who cried out from the crowd - the one who told the Emporor to his face. Well Colbert’s place in history (at least my history) is now assured.
I’ve enjoyed his show from the beginning - J said it was a little “too close to the truth” to be funny, or that the topics were a “too real” for comedy - “it’s just not funny”. But that’s exactly why I like it - it’s too real, too biting. But Colbert’s performance with Bush within spitting distance? Not funny - too close to the truth. Not comfortable - too real. But oh so satisfying - like finding out your bitch ex-wife was sold into slavery. Colbert stood in front of an audience he so obviously despises and told them, to their faces, that they have no clothes.
Yup - Colbert is a made man. A new national hero - but most Americans will never know it. Do you think he’s getting ANY exposure in the national press? None. Zip. It’s as if it didn’t happen. The hate radio guys will turn their bile cannons on him - if a caller can get through to mention it. I’m betting that in the national media (all forms), Stephen Colbert simply no longer exists.
Update
Peter Daou’s take on it.
This is the power of the media to choose the news, to decide when and how to shield Bush from negative publicity. Sins of omission can be just as bad as sins of commission. And speaking of a sycophantic media establishment bending over backwards to accommodate this White House and to regurgitate pro-GOP and anti-Dem spin, I urge readers to pick up a copy of Eric Boehlert’s new book, Lapdogs. It’s a powerful indictment of the media’s timidity during the Bush presidency. Boehlert rips away the facade of a “liberal media” and exposes the invertebrates masquerading as journalists who have allowed and enabled the Bush administration’s many transgressions to go unchecked, under-reported, or unquestioned.
A final thought: Bush’s clownish banter with reporters - which is on constant display during press conferences - stands in such stark contrast to his administration’s destructive policies and to the gravity of the bloodbath in Iraq that it is deeply unsettling to watch. This may be impolitic, but wouldn’t refraining from frat-style horseplay be appropriate for this man? Or at the least, can’t reporters suppress their raucous laughter every time he blurts out another jibe… the way they did when Colbert put them in their place?
Transcript over at Kos,
Update
I just saw it again: “The last 32% is backwash.” HUGE Cajones! He’s my hero.
Updated
Best analysis so far:
Colbert looked a murdering despot in the eye and spoke the truth, and he did it before a hostile audience full of simpering sycophants.
–brynn [letter on salon.com]
- Somewhere in America, Robin Williams is having orgasms.
– anon