Greg Mitchell, E&P's editor, slams Milbank & other critics of Colbert

[highplainsdem]

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002426015

When the President Joked About Not Finding WMD

By Greg Mitchell

(May 01, 2006) -- For two days the battle has raged on the Web: Did Stephen Colbert go too far in lampooning President Bush, to his face, at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night? Is that why his barbs did not generate more laughter around the room of 2700 journalists, celebrities and other guests? Or was it because he suggested the press was spineless in failing to confront the president on Iraq? Or was Colbert just not that funny?

-snip-

You’d think from all the criiticism that the guy had based his routine on joking about launching a war and not finding the WMDs that inspired it. Oh, right, that was President Bush, two years ago.

Nevertheless, Dana Milbank of The Washington Post, appearing on Keith Olbermann’s MSNBC program Monday night, joined the ranks of those who attended the dinner who felt Colbert “was not funny.” On the other hand, he said the president’s routine that night with a Bush impersonator was a howl.

-snip-

Still, with the knocks on Colbert increasing, I have to ask: Where was the outrage when President Bush made fun of not finding those pesky WMDs at a very similar media dinner—in the same ballroom--two years ago? It represents a shameful episode for the American media, and presidency, yet is rarely mentioned today.

-snip-

[fooj]

1. Bravo.

Truth to power.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Kudos to Greg Mitchell. K & R.

[Garbo 2004]

3. Yup, Mitchell nails it. Kudos to E & P. n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

4. love the Greg Mitchell.....read some of his past stuff...excellent

then there's this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1061353

[Hardrada]

5. Hear! Hear!

[babylonsister]

6. Thank you! Colbert was chastised; what about the blivet, i.e.

teflon man? This is another truthiness article!

[suffragette]

7. Thank you, Greg Mitchell, for saying that.

It's astonishing that Bush got away with that nasty bit.

[Hissyspit]

8. Thank you, Greg Mitchell!

[NanceGreggs]

9. I'm sure the family members of soldiers killed in Iraq ...

... thought Bush's little joke about not being able to find WMDs was a laugh riot. They probably even downloaded the clip and saved it on their computers, so they could just roll on the floor again and again.

[nicknameless]

10. Don't forget Milbank's outrageous screed on Conyers' hearing

regarding the Downing Street Minutes.

Wing-nut "journalism"

[Sydnie]

12. And don't forget that it was Milbank that showed up on Keith's show

in an orange hunting jacket after Cheney's little accident ... then apologized for having done it the next day. Spineless little stubby toothed bastard.

[nicknameless]

14. I missed that one.

He's obviously just a worthless tool.

[Sydnie]

11. Obviously, they all aren't asleep

It must have snowed where dear Greg is ... the poppys aren't working anymore!

Good for you Greg. Keep it up!

[incapsulated]

13. Excellent.

Thanks.

[Plaid Adder]

15. *I* remember that horrendous "no WMDs here!" routine.

I was completely appalled by it, as I have been by many of Bush's other forays into 'comedy':

http://www.democraticunderground.com/plaidder/04/17.html

It's worth going back down memory lane to take a closer look at _that_ night in Bush's career. Truly a pathological moment.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[MessiahRp]

19. It's right up there with the Trifecta joke...

Bush could care less about dead Americans... he's gorging himself with money and power and the world be damned if he's going to stop to care about some lowly citizens or soldiers.

Rp

[highplainsdem]

23. So do I -- it clearly showed what a sociopath Bush is.

I agree with Mitchell's comment that Kerry should have aired a tape of that grotesque episode every day of the campaign.

[Old and In the Way]

16. Dana is part of the problem, not the solution.

I'd be pissed, too, if I knew Colbert was exposing my suckupedness in front of the pols and the American people. It was supposed to be fun and a mutual stroking session.

[SeattleGirl]

17. I'm so glad to see these articles on E&P

One of my favorite sites to read.

[grasswire]

18. Dana Milbank, Yale Skull & Bones

Yep. He's a Yalie and a Bonesman. Remember that oath they take.

[symbolman]

20. I know that scene of Bush looking of WMDs like the back of my hand

I watched that disgusting display over and over as I edited my "Rove's War" film - I edited in parts of the Downing Street Minutes hearing I filmed in DC where McGovern (ex CIA on the job for 27 years) was talking about that BIG JOKE (He Laughs HAR HAR HAR, and it scared people in the room) where Bush was looking for the WMD during the Show..

I interspersed one of those pics that I found on the web, a Large one that showed a LOT of dead soldiers, but as you pull back, which I did with the editing program, slowly, inbetween with Bush looking under chairs, everyone laughing, as the picture pulled out, you could see that it's the FACE of BUSH composed from the dead troops.. then I switched to the Press Standing up and Cheering, shouting..

Then McGovern said, "I'll tell you who's not laughing.." And me mentioned Cindy Sheehan (who was sitting right next to him at the hearing, between Joe Wilson and McGovern) son, and few other sons of folks in that room in the capitol bldg where I was filming..

It's a devastating piece of film, the editing really catches folks when they see that face made up of the dead and realise the PRESS is HOWLING over his BIG JOKE..

I should take that section of the film and make it available, not just to back up Colbert, but for folks to see what kind of Monsters we're dealing with..

OF course the next year, his "classy" wife, who wouldn't even shake Colbert's hand (and she's not fit to), was talking about her husband masturbating HORSES.. Oh yeah, that's hilarious.

[Justice]

21. This is terrific. Almost better that it came out today, and not yesterday

[fearthem]

22. The president has lowered the bar DANGEROUSLY LOW.