Whitehouse correspondents suck up/ Bush lapdogs. Colbert rocked the house.

[Jara sang]

If there was ever any question of the relationship of the "free press" with the current Bush administration then last nights Whitehouse correspondence dinner blew the doors right open. Gage the reactions to when Bush/Bush impersonator was on to when Colbert was on. Bush was unfunny with his little quips about himself being an idiot. Colbert hit it out of the ballpark. Check it out when they scan the audience. The attendees are hiding nervous laughs when Colbert is on, even General Pace is laughing when Colbert comes out with the, paraphrasing "all religious paths led to accepting Jesus Christ as your savior" bit. I think it can be broken down into one third of the audience really "got" Colbert, thought he was funny. One third was Bush cronies who knew that Colbert was skewering the pResident and either held in their laughter or refrained out of partisanship and the last third just didn't get it at all. Come on, the Washington establishment is a bunch of cowards just like Colbert said, they don't like to look at themselves in the mirror. When Bush was on(Colbert said some of the same things Bush said in his self-deprecating humor), when Bush was on the audience was "allowed" to laugh. Just goes to show these people are afraid of Bush. I think the ones that were laughing were from "outside the Beltway" and represent America's true feelings for Bush.

[jeanarrett]

1. Colbert has the largest set of balls I've ever seen. . .

rock on!

[OregonBlue]

2. Woo Hoo!! You are right. Just watched it and I was blown away!

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. I was thinking the same thing, watching it

Because I KNEW Colbert was speaking truths and making sense, and I could also feel the audience's nervousness -- it was at least a third, possibly more, who didn't know how to react -- mostly because they knew they couldn't be seen laughing. Colbert was brave, smart, funny and right on.

[Jara sang]

5. Took bravery holding a mirror up the most powerful "leader" on the planet

And laughing right in his face.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Colbert had the nerve to say the Emperor was naked! Out loud and clear!

The ass-kissers and lackeys in the audience were stunned and just did not know what to do. It was a magnificent revelation to anyone who know what to look for. The ones who were really laughing were obviously the ones who already knew that Emperor Dimson has been naked for years.

[TahitiNut]

13. An audience of barely-clothed imperial courtiers felt the chill of irony.

Let's make no mistake. Irony as a comedic device requires a consciousness of shared assumptions (or, more aptly, sense of the obvious). The cultural and institutional hypocrisy pervading our nation was nowhere more evident that that ballroom. Naked Narcissists clustered at the trough last night.


It was an iconic evening. We were treated to witnessing (some witlessly) the perversions of a pathological narcissist wallowing in the Hog Heaven of 'twinning' himself and feeding on the adoescent narcissistic supply of a prototypical class clown. Junior was more evidently pathological in his choice of presentation last night than almost any other time in the last five years. My jaw dropped to my ankles in amazement as he cluelessly embarked upon the most noxious display of narcissistic hubris it has ever been my displeasure to witness.

What I find even more amazing is how such an obvious display of his pathology has gone almost unnoticed, even as we laughed at (not with) a mentally-ill psychopath.

:wow:

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Exceedingly insightful...and very well said!

It could not have been more obvious if he had used a sock puppet!!
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[TahitiNut]

15. (Thank you.) It was truly breath-taking in it's pathology.

Bridges became a live, 3-dimensional mirror - a living reflection to affirm C-czar's very existence. Junior's Narcissistic Personality Disorder was in full and complete view for all to see - and they missed it.

Colbert, on the other hand, exposed the fictions and hypocrisies with acumen and adroitness unparalleled - using the rapier of irony to flick the death of a thousand cuts into the bare, exposed skins of a roomful of unclothed junior narcissists who use the pulpit of the media to aggrandize themselves.

The ballroom was awash in pathologies - and Colbert was the Katrina of irony to their New Orleans of Narcissism.

[Gabi Hayes]

18. you should expand on this, and make an essay out of it.

deserves its own thread, at least.

pathological narcissm, indeed

NPD was a common diagnosis in 1999, when he first announced

Salon Table Talk had thousands and thousands of posts discussing his illness, all before the election

[TahitiNut]

23. (Thank you.) There've been 'outbreaks' of realization of his NPD on DU

... over the years. We even had Mark Crispin Miller on here discussing it way back when. That he's a truly pathological narcissist (a DSM-IV poster-boy) is, imho, inarguable. 'Narcissism' is, unfortunately, one of those terms that many think they understand but which few really do. Few realize how dangerous they can be, both to themselves and others. Few realize how untreatable it is, and why. And few understand what a "narcissistic supply" is and how it works. (Laura and the twins clearly show the characteristics of enablers - and Jenna is on the path to her own intractable NPD.) On DU, however, that understanding is a bit more common than in the general public - mostly by women who've had the misfortune of marrying or dating one.

I expanded on my subject line thought at http://journals.democraticunderground.com/TahitiNut/253

I've not been as inclined to invest the time and effort in composing longer, more thoughtful posts on DU as I've been in the past - since the DU audience seems far more inclined to enjoy the 'hit-and-run' short posts. We're filling the forums (especially GD) with so many duplicated topics that some of the more interesting posts get lost in the repetitious.

[Cha]

6. I'm betting Jon Stewart loved

it and will play it on his Daily Show!

"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.”


Much more...
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425363

[kaygore]

7. I agree

However, I do not think that many people in this country are accustomed any more to such honesty as Colbert presented regarding Bush, his policies, the press, etc. It was almost shocking. I saw the rerun on C-SPAN after being alerted by the dead pools for Colbert on DU.

I even think Colbert was a bit nervous (the pauses to read his cards, the messing up of the "glass half empty" joke, the slightly off timing a few times) at his being so candid.

I also loved the try out tape for Scottie's/Snow's job where Colbert is stalked by Helen Thomas.

When I heard that Colbert would be the guest entertainer, my first reaction was "Are they crazy!" I knew that Colbert would be fearlessly in their faces and that there would be numerous OMG moments.

I am not sure that even Jon Stewart would have bitch slapped that crowd as much as Colbert did.

He not only pointed out all the elephants in the living room but rubbed many in the audience's faces in the dung...over and over and over again.

Good going!

[NightOwwl]

16. I love Jon Stewart, but....

he's always very polite, even with people he disagrees with (Bowtie Boy is the exception.)

Colbert, on the other hand, showed no mercy!

[kaygore]

17. I agree! The "humor"/observations were right on and BITING

If I had been the president, the press corps, and the others he skewered, I would have been embarrassed to be called out on a national TV, albeit C-SPAN, telecast and in front of so many people. I had SO many OMG moments, I thought I was going to hyperventilate.

[Gabi Hayes]

19. you get it...amazing how many here don't appear to understand just

how UNfunny that display of double dipshits was, not to mention embarrassing to our nation.

the most powerful man who's EVER LIVED reducing himself to the butt of jokes about how STUPID he is

sweet

how could one possibly diminish the office more than that, aside from destroying the constitution, two foreign countries, our economy, the environment, the health care system, the army, the VA....well, you get the drift

[leftchick]

8. Colbert Has ADAMANTIUM Balls!!!

and the washinton press corps are neutered! This is one of the best reviews I have read so far...

<snip>

He also presented an audition tape for the position of Press Secretary. I was really surprised/happy to see Helen Thomas putting on a great show in a special appearance and I laughed numerous times (some favorite parts: "NOOOOOOO! NOOOO!"; key-fumbling; Karl & Stephen). It looked like something pulled right out of The Colbert Report. This was a lot more light-hearted than the preceding speech, so I expected the audience to be hooting with laughter once it ended. How wrong I was. Helen Thomas was in tears, but everyone else was just clapping politely. No cheers, no standing ovation. Poor Stephen... I wanted to crawl into the TV and give him a hug.

But y'know what? Stephen Colbert -- not character-Colbert, but the real guy -- has BALLS. Seriously. That took massive brass steel ADAMANTIUM balls to do. Part of me wished that he didn't stay in character to save himself the pain, but another part of me is really glad he did that. He took his truthiness to the belly of the beast and he should be commended for that.

To Mr. Colbert: I, and the rest of the Colbert Nation, love you.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/04/30/stephen-colbert-at-the-white-house

[Gabi Hayes]

11. thanks for that...putting it in media response thread

you go!

[Herman47]

22. Yes, Colbert had courage

I agree with just about everything you say, except (just a minor quibble) I thought that while the key-fumbling was a good idea, it went on perhaps too long.

But the main point is that the pitbull Colbert boldly went into the lion's den and turned them all into pussycats, frightened of the dog.

[chookie]

9. They were cowering

It was pathetic. You'd think that an assemblage of professionals like that would at least have a veneer of urbanity, but they gaped at Colbert like a bunch of provincials.

The expressions reminded me of those I would see when I was a child in Catholic school, when a student would dare to stand up to one of the nuns -- the shock and the gleeful anticipation of chastisement.

The expression when they were watching Bush and the impersonator were remarkable -- guffaws, admiration, adulation. Personally, I thought the routine was lame -- but it was "safe" and Patriotically Correct -- it marked the boundary at which the lines of criticism and ridicule are drawn. The reaction of the press was a ritualistic display that they have interiorized the boundaries which this administration has set.

Remember how the press raved for days about what a brilliant comedian Pickles was -- that she had a promising future in stanndup comedy? All for reading some lame jokes about masturbating a horse and visiting Chippendales with Condi and that Jurassic monster Lynn Cheney.

Colbert proved himself as a master satirist and comedian. It was THE performance piece of this troubled age. It was a magnificent achievement that is recognized by everyone who doesn't have their head stuck up their ass.

[Gabi Hayes]

21. great!!!! "Patriotically Correct"

excellent...is that yours?

right out of Newspeak.

perfectly captures the disgusting atmosphere of those asskissers

hope to see that phrase in common use

[sce56]

10. The Sad Truth is That We only get REAL NEWS from Comedy Central!

[sandnsea]

12. They were both funny

I don't get the need to take away from Bridges' humor in order to pump up Colbert's. So Bush was able to poke a little fun at himself, so what. People laughed, omg, the horror!! It isn't like the fate of the world hangs on whether people laughed at Colbert or not. And while I thought 90% of his performance was funny, some of it just wasn't. Not in a gone too far sense, but in a gone too goofy sense. The skit with Helen had the potential of being fall on the floor funny, but he went on too long in parts and it lost some of its punch. Again, so what. Overall, very funny stuff last night and some of it had to hit home. So good.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

20. Craig Crawford dug him.

From www.crawfordslist.com

Well I broke my damn arm after the White House Correspondent's Dinner last night, but will file a full report on the festivities once the Percocet wears off . For starters, Stephen Colbert was a riot!