# The President of the United States vs. Steve Colbert? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915 "2006-05-01T04:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/41 "2006-05-01T23:33:10Z")
Wow. The obvious discomfort of those in the audience, politicians and press, made it all the more delicious. That was pretty powerful. And Colbert has huge balls. ---
**Author:** ![Snag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Snag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snag)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/42 "2006-05-01T23:39:49Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] I thought the performance was flat too, but maybe it was I had insomnia and was watching it on C-SPAN at 5 AM or thereabouts. Actually, I think it was flat because the audience was different. Rather than the studio audience which is in on the phoniness of the character, much of the audience at the dinner wasn’t. Colbert was way too hip for the room, much like Letterman was when he hosted the Oscars. People in power at such affairs are there to be gently mocked, not lampooned full bore. [/QUOTE] I have a feeling that he really wasn’t playing it for laughs. BTW, I had not seen the introduction the first time I watched it and was unaware that AP decided on the guest; my mistake on an earlier post. But then, had it been someone in the White House that invited him to speak it’s unlikely their job would be in danger. Unless they might write a book about it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/43 "2006-05-01T23:44:39Z")
The depressing thing is that Colbert didn’t have to exaggerate his points for comic effect. “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.” “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. Just put 'em 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!_” YOWCH! :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/44 "2006-05-01T23:51:56Z")
Stephen Colbert is the only person who makes me laugh every time I watch him, these days. The Correspondent’s Dinner confirmed that, thank god, satire is not dead, and maybe it’s the only way to get across any truthiness anymore. I thought it was interesting to see which audience members were shown laughing. Scalia was laughing his ass off, for instance, Helen Thomas was obviously a great sport, but they never showed McCain (who took it hard too), nor much of the Bushes, nor most of the generals. I bet those folks were not as openly amused. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/45 "2006-05-02T00:12:50Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Stephen Colbert is the only person who makes me laugh every time I watch him, these days. The Correspondent’s Dinner confirmed that, thank god, satire is not dead, and maybe it’s the only way to get across any truthiness anymore. I thought it was interesting to see which audience members were shown laughing. Scalia was laughing his ass off, for instance, Helen Thomas was obviously a great sport, but they never showed McCain (who took it hard too), nor much of the Bushes, nor most of the generals. I bet those folks were not as openly amused. [/QUOTE] Hm, the video clip I saw showed a reaction shot or two of McCain. And, no, he definitely did not look amused. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/46 "2006-05-02T02:09:50Z")
This one line best captured the disaster that is George W. Bush. > [@](#): > > The greatest thing about this man is he’s steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/47 "2006-05-02T02:25:18Z")
Wow, what huge brass cajones. I didn’t think someone could outdo Jon Stewart’s famous [Crossfire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShL8TjaLvzI&search=jon%20stewart%20crossfire) appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/48 "2006-05-02T03:38:41Z")
Has Jon Stewart (or Colbert himself) reported on this yet? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/49 "2006-05-02T03:48:41Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] Has Jon Stewart (or Colbert himself) reported on this yet? [/QUOTE] They both did, yeah. It was the opening bit on each show - Jon detailed the story and said they were very proud of Stephen, and Stephen opened the Report by talking about what an honor it was and making a joke about people not laughing. They also discussed it during the toss, that was the best part. Jon said something about Stephen having to run all the way from Washington to New York, which Stephen called “an ultra-marathon.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/50 "2006-05-02T04:08:53Z")
Stewart called the performace “balls-a-licious.” ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/51 "2006-05-02T07:11:09Z")
My god, that was incredible. I hope my future kids watch that someday in history class, and again in journalism class. ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/52 "2006-05-02T11:48:08Z")
Sounds like Colbert did a great job. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/53 "2006-05-02T13:55:37Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight] Wow, what huge brass cajones. I didn’t think someone could outdo Jon Stewart’s famous [Crossfire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShL8TjaLvzI&search=jon%20stewart%20crossfire) appearance. [/QUOTE] I thought that kind of sucked too. I’m not a Bush fan or a fan of the guys on Crossfire or anything, but I think these Daily Show folks are starting to get a little full of themselves. As Stewart himself says, his show follows a show about puppets making crack calls. While I agree with most of the statements these guys make, I’m not sure what is the point of these performances. Are they trying to be funny? Are they trying to make some kind of political statement? Are they trying to get attention and appear “edgy” by “sticking it to the man”? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/54 "2006-05-02T14:02:10Z")
What is the point of _any_ political satire? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/55 "2006-05-02T14:23:01Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] I thought that kind of sucked too. I’m not a Bush fan or a fan of the guys on Crossfire or anything, but I think these Daily Show folks are starting to get a little full of themselves. As Stewart himself says, his show follows a show about puppets making crack calls. While I agree with most of the statements these guys make, I’m not sure what is the point of these performances. Are they trying to be funny? Are they trying to make some kind of political statement? Are they trying to get attention and appear “edgy” by “sticking it to the man”? [/QUOTE] From Merriam-Webster Satire: 1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly synonym see WIT From me Also see Volataire, Swift, Twain, and [this entry in the Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire). I especially liked this quote “Satire is a mode of challenging accepted notions by making them seem ridiculous. It usually occurs only in an age of crisis, when there exists no absolute uniformity but rather two sets of beliefs. Of the two sets of beliefs, one holds sufficient power to suppress open attacks on the established order, but not enough to suppress a veiled attack. Further, satire is intimately connected with urbanity and cosmopolitanism, and assumes a civilized opponent who is sufficiently sensitive to feel the barbs of wit leveled at him. To hold something up to ridicule presupposes a certain respect for reason, on both sides, to which one can appeal. An Age of Reason, in which everyone accepts the notion that conduct must be reasonable, is, therefore, a general prerequisite for satire.” –Jacob Bronowski & Bruce Mazlish, The Western Intellectual Tradition From Leonardo to Hegel, p. 252 (1960; as repub. in 1993 Barnes & Noble ed.). Satire has been around as long as there has been “The Man”. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/56 "2006-05-02T16:03:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What is the point of _any_ political satire? [/QUOTE] Well, the point is to entertain and amuse your audience. It seemed to me that his audience wasn’t all that amused. I should also point out that John Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire was not satire. It was him getting on a soapbox. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/57 "2006-05-02T16:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Well, the point is to entertain and amuse your audience. It seemed to me that his audience wasn’t all that amused. I should also point out that John Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire was not satire. It was him getting on a soapbox. [/QUOTE] You think he was trying to make Bush laugh? Really? The people on this board and the viewers of his show were at least as much the intended audience as the people in the room at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/58 "2006-05-02T16:15:23Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Well, the point is to entertain and amuse your audience. It seemed to me that his audience wasn’t all that amused. [/QUOTE] The audience was expecting something innocuous (if the past hiring of Jay Leno was any indication) and didn’t get it. That doesn’t make him unfunny or a dick. He did the exact same thing he’s been doing on his show since it started. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/59 "2006-05-02T16:20:58Z")
I thought his timing was off, but if anything that made the performace more admirable. He was obviously packing death, but did the job. The taped segment was long and dull, though. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915/60 "2006-05-02T16:44:16Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Well, the point is to entertain and amuse your audience. [/quote] I disagree that the point of satire is merely to “entertain,” but Colbert accomplished that in any case. > [@](#): > > It seemed to me that his audience wasn’t all that amused. If you’re talking about Bush and all his bobos at the dinner, I would call those people his _targets_, not his audience. They weren’t _supposed_ to laugh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-the-united-states-vs-steve-colbert/354915.md?page=4)