Colbert's crime? He ruined the party

[Tuesday_Morning]

Great essay on the silly pudding press with a nice slapdown of funnyman Richard Cohen

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/3/223156/2810

Why the press threw Colbert down the memory hole (updated)

<snip>

He committed the sin of making people feel uncomfortable -- disrupting the cozy, chummy bonhomie of an event where, as Josh Orton puts it, "some of the most dangerous men in recent US history" swill cocktails and share chuckles with the press corps -- the same press corps that we Washington outsiders naively think are there to scrutinize, interrogate, and hold accountable those very officials.

Violating decorum -- killing the party buzz -- harshing everyone's mellow -- being uncool -- is a far, far greater crime in D.C., it seems, than lying the country into a war that has made us less safe, leaking classified information and destroying the careers of intelligence officials for political gain, and all the other outrages of the Bush regime that Colbert mocked.

No doubt the speech is uncomfortable to watch, even on video. In Chris Durang's words, "It's like Hamlet forcing King Claudius to watch the play that accuses him of murder. Or it's like a man asked to be Court Jester who shows up and tells the king exactly what's wrong with him, and gets out of the building before they can behead him."

Much more at link

<snip>

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. I love that Colbert still has the headlines,

but how come all the "outrage" that has the assholes in the regular media seething wasn't there when Don Imus put on the most disgusting character assassination of President Clinton?

That was funny?

That was acceptable, but telling the truth about Fuckface isn't?

Has Don Imus had anything to say about Colbert's brilliant and courageous performance, I wonder?

[smomfr]

17. Could it be that people , all people not just the press corps, are

instinctively fearfull in the presence of a true monster? They sense somthing horrible just out of sight and no way do they want to draw it´s attention.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

18. Well.............

I must say, your response is about the most interesting and provocative I might have received. And certainly none that I ever contemplated.

Thank you. In fact, I think you're probably right, but I think the tentacles of this monster go in so many directions, coming from so many directions, that those people really are paralyzed in a weird kind of sci-fi movie way.

I once asked one of my Jesuit law professors if he honestly believed that Evil walked the earth in human form, and his immediate answer - this was a very sophisticated, savvy priest/lawyer - was "Yes."

I didn't agree with him then - I was very young - but I do now.

Thank you for that thoughtful and compelling response, and, by the way, welcome to DU!

[shain from kane]

2. He peed in the pool. On the pool reporters. On the lifeguard(?) n/t

[Tuesday_Morning]

5. I love that!

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

3. Good "crime", reality above manners

being rude by calling someone on their bs is considered more rude than the person doing the original bs? pshaw.

[Karenina]

15. But we ALL know "reality" has a liberal bias.

:rofl::wow::rofl::wow::rofl::wow::rofl:

It's the same dynamic as calling someone out for blatant RACISM is considered more rude than the racist offense itself.

[Tummler]

4. He dropped a Baby Ruth candy bar in the punchbowl

It's funny unless you're drinking the Kool-aid from said punchbowl.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

7. Good one! Really good one! Ha

[Tuesday_Morning]

6. A little description of the party

from Josh Orton:

There they were: Negroponte, John Bolton, Henry Kissinger. One sauntering around after the other, drink in hand. And mixed among them were the various stenographers and apologists: David Brooks, John Tierney, Tony Snow. All schmoozing, and most of them off-puttingly charming. Here were some of the most dangerous men in recent US history, and everyone seemed content to glad-hand them, complement their tux, and ask for a snapshot. “Oh hey, haven’t seen you in forever, you look great!” says CNN blow-dry. “Thanks, thanks, I’m quite well. How are your kids?” responds war criminal.

more at link
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-orton/loving-the-softer-side-of_b_20162.html

[Arugula Latte]

9. Yes -- Sickening. At a party of real-life mass murderers

(Kissinger, Negroponte, Bush -- seriously, these people and others there are responsible for the deaths of Tens of Thousands of humans) the one who was "rude" was the one who called a spade a spade, not the ones who slaughtered masses of innocents.

:grr:

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

8. This link shows Google video of Colbert's effect on searches

http://www.current.tv/google/GC01324

Click on the picture of Stephen's face for a very interesting TV report (called Google current)on the effect of Stephen's clip.

The clip is called "Cantaloupe" because of the size of Stephen's BALLS (highly recommended)

[Tuesday_Morning]

10. That was interesting...

and funny.

And come to think of it, when I thanked Stephen Colbert I mentioned the size of his balls, too.

[spooky3]

11. Thanks!

[annabanana]

13. thanks..

that was encouraging.

It gauges the genuine interest in his appearance, something a scan of corpomedia does not do.

[Gabi Hayes]

12. check this email to Elisabeth Bumiller from the Kos comments section:

Dear Ms. Bumiller,

Re "A New Set of Bush Twins Appear at Annual Correspondents' Dinner" (May 1):

I'm really disappointed that nowhere in your otherwise glowing article of President Bush at the Correspondents' Dinner was there any mention of Stephen Colbert's satirical speech in which he took jabs at the president.

Ever since 9/11 and the Iraq War, freedom of speech is under attack in America. Anyone who dares criticize President Bush on anything is likely to be crucified. Just look at what happened to the Dixie Chicks. Mr. Colbert took the President to task for so many things he has done wrong as commander-in-chief and you make no mention of it at all in your article.

I also remember in the CBS debate on the eve of the 2004 New York presidential primary, you grilled and needled Sen. John Kerry numerous times. You always interrupted Sen. Kerry and never let him finish answering any of your questions. This is in contrast to your friendly articles about President Bush.

You and your fellow partisan hack Judith Miller deserve each other. Your brand of journalism would be more appropriate for the Washington Times, Fox News or any media outlet run by Clear Channel or the Sinclair Group.

You are a disgrace to all responsible journalists worldwide.

[grasswire]

20. Mr. Bumiller, Yalie

Mr. Bumiller is a classmate of George W. FYI.

[leftofthedial]

14. that's pretty much it

the narcissists in charge of our national political discourse don't like mirrors.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. KICK KICK KICK!!!!

[stopbush]

19. IF the press was vigorously questioning bush 364 days a year,

then I could see calling a "truce" for one night of the year, rolling out the humble pie carpet
and playing the "we're all human" angle of the press/WH relationship.

But the sorry FACT is that the press has given bush a "truce" since the day he took office. That's
6 years, 365 days a year of acting like the WHCD make-nice-with-the-idiot protocols were
in force ALL THE FUCKIN TIME!

So bravo Colbert, for calling them on their spineless pandering
...and FUCK YOU, you fucking worthless a-holes of the press corps.

Did I mention a big fuck you to the press corps?

[KAT119]

21. Since Butch's coup the press/ msm have enabled him to deceive the American

people--they in return get any bill passed, total access and many are outrageously paid huge taxpayer sums for their partisan propaganda and 24/7 prostitution....