Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 - Page 2

ScratchMonkey · 05-01-2006, 02:10 PM

**USN_Squid** · 05-01-2006, 02:40 PM

"A comedian emerges as the Edward R. Murrow of our day."

Oh brother. Really what did Colbert do that you haven't already heard a thousand times before? I like his comedy, but he wasn't at his best that night and the shock value I think is being way overhyped.

**Rincewind** · 05-01-2006, 03:02 PM

I thought it was funny.... But during this time of the day, anything is funnier that what I'm doing right now.

Eggplant999 · 05-01-2006, 03:27 PM

Just a question... cingular duality and USN squid, do you guys support bush?

Steeler · 05-01-2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USN_Squid

"A comedian emerges as the Edward R. Murrow of our day."

Oh brother. Really what did Colbert do that you haven't already heard a thousand times before? I like his comedy, but he wasn't at his best that night and the shock value I think is being way overhyped.

I think the point is that he had the minerals to do it before a very hostile and powerful crowd who, being very insular, probably have NOT heard it a thousand times before. There are a lot of conservatives who have sown up on his show because they think he is a conservative comedian. It's surprising how culturally unaware so many people in Washington are.

SmokingTarpan · 05-01-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

The clips I've seen from the Colbert Report have been pretty funny, but he sucked pretty bad at this dinner.

I thought he was pretty good. Nevermind the lack of laughter from the crowd; ugly people laugh until the ugly jokes are turned against them. I only watch the Colbert Report if I manage to watch the Daily Show first (maybe once or twice a week), and then only the first 10min or so. Everything after "The Word of the Day" part of the show just usually can't keep my attention. Overall, I thought that the bits he did for the Daily Show were more entertaining than what he does now.

The Bush double thing was pretty entertaining as well.

**Rincewind** · 05-01-2006, 04:16 PM

It would have been better if he rapped the entire thing.

munchkin · 05-01-2006, 06:02 PM

I think that if you don't watch the Colbert Report occasionally, some parts of his routine would have seemed to be nerves or just plain bizarre rather than in-character. I enjoyed most of it, but the Helen Thomas sketch was fairly underwhelming.

**CingularDuality** · 05-02-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggplant999

Just a question... cingular duality and USN squid, do you guys support bush?

I voted for him, but I would no longer say that I support him. If he were running for office right now, there's no way in hell that I'd vote for him.

Beatnik · 05-02-2006, 04:30 PM

After seeing the clip, it was like he was playing to a dead room, which I guess he was since he insulted just about everyone in the room.

But the guys got cahones the size of grapefruit to speak truth to power like he did in his jokes. Especially driving home the concept of 'truthiness' to the president so eloquently.

This thing about 'Colbert' (the character from The Colbert Report) is that the humor isn't in the 'punchline' but in the setup. The punchline's just a formality.

That being said, I was a little disappointed by the keynote. But the 60 minutes episode the next night captured the essence of Mr. Colbert spot on. Youtube linkage below.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69W70...h=colbert%2060

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCIDC...h=colbert%2060

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAoBc...h=colbert%2060

Coridon · 05-03-2006, 01:19 AM

I thought the keynote speech was brilliant and masterfully crafted. Most Bush supporters were probably thinking "this guy's not very funny" or "is he attacking the President? I think he is but I'm not for certain".

It takes great talent to take so many jabs and right hooks at the President with him (and his supporters) probably oblivious to the fact you're doing it.

The age of picketing outside the White House in protest may be coming to an end. It's the dawn of incisive, satirical truthiness told to face of the most powerful man in the world, friends...

Who says there are no heros left in the world?! I think the spandex and cape have been traded in for a three piece suit and tie...

**leejo** · 05-04-2006, 08:23 PM

I like Colbert, but this article sums up my thoughts on this puerile and self-aggrandizing stunt he pulled. IMO this had a lot more to do with Colbert generating buzz for his show than anything else.

Quoted in its entirety from http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110008331:

Quote:

No Courage in These Convictions
The Stephen Colbert kerfuffle, intrinsically uninteresting though it is, leads Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen to an excellent insight:

Why are you wasting my time with Colbert, I hear you ask. Because he is representative of what too often passes for political courage, not to mention wit, in this country. His defenders--and they are all over the blogosphere--will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences--maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or--if you're at work--take away your office.

But in this country, anyone can insult the president of the United States. Colbert just did it, and he will not suffer any consequence at all. He knew that going in.

This, it seems to us, explains several conceits of the Angry Left:

* The notion that criticism--whether of the Dixie Chicks or of Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer--amounts to censorship.

* Claims by Democratic politicians that Republicans are "questioning" their "patriotism."

* Fears of incipient fascism.

What these have in common, aside from being totally fantastical, is that they all reinforce the image of the Angry Leftist as courageous dissenter. In truth, this country is so tolerant, indeed downright indulgent, of this sort of "dissent" that it affords no opportunity to be courageous.

Speak "truth to power" in America, and power will pat you on the head and say, "What an adorable little girl." Some on the Angry Left could actually have the courage to stand up if they were faced with real consequences--but they are unlikely ever to get that chance. America's almost boundless tolerance thus reduces them to the level of petulant children. No wonder they're so angry.

Beatnik · 05-04-2006, 08:57 PM

Hmm... In an political age where you have Richard Clarke and Valerie Plame and other dissenters throughout the administration that have been discredited, intimidated, censored, or fired, I think the meaning of the phrase "truth to power" is as meaningful as ever. Especially in an administration whose entire mindset/management style will (literally) be a textbook example of the dangers of "groupthink" in the future.

Actually, "truthiness to power" would be more accurate.

**leejo** · 05-04-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beatnik

Especially in an administration whose entire mindset/management style will (literally) be a textbook example of the dangers of "groupthink" in the future.

In your opinion, you mean?

I happen to think that any administration that dares take on critics, no matter how nutty or partisan or baseless, ought to be impeached and discredited pronto. Especially if that administration is republican. But maybe I'm guilty of groupthink?

If I misunderstand your point, and that instead you're lumping Dick Clark, Valerie Plame, and Steven Colbert into the same inconsequential pile, then I apoligize, and agree that they're basically of the same ilk. Some sell books, others promote their shows. None are responsible for ensuring that your ass and head remain more or less attached.

Beatnik · 05-04-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejo

In your opinion, you mean?

No, quite factually. Not 'truthfully' but factually. From the wiki link discussing groupthink:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia entry for "groupthink"

Janis listed eight symptoms that he said were indicative of groupthink:

Illusion of invulnerability
Unquestioned belief in the inherent morality of the group
Collective rationalization of group's decisions
Shared stereotypes of outgroup, particularly opponents
Self-censorship; members withhold criticisms
Illusion of unanimity (see false consensus effect)
Direct pressure on dissenters to conform
Self-appointed "mindguards" protect the group from negative information

Finally, the seven symptoms of decision affected by groupthink are:

Incomplete survey of alternatives
Incomplete survey of objectives
Failure to examine risks of preferred choice
Failure to re-appraise initially rejected alternatives
Poor information search
Selective bias in processing information at hand (see also confirmation bias)
Failure to work out contingency plans

All of the 'seven symptoms' last apply to the runup to the unnecessary and unduly costly runup to the current war in Iraq, particularly the selective bias and failure to work out contingency planning.

But this is all off-topic, and I bet I can take a wild guess at how a thread dedicated to this topic, with you and I as principal prognosticators, would look like.

05-01-2006, 02:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 4,565	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/ __________________

05-01-2006, 02:40 PM	#17 (permalink)
USN_Squid Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Denver Age: 38 Posts: 3,173	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 "A comedian emerges as the Edward R. Murrow of our day." Oh brother. Really what did Colbert do that you haven't already heard a thousand times before? I like his comedy, but he wasn't at his best that night and the shock value I think is being way overhyped. __________________ New to TG? Start here!

05-01-2006, 03:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,997	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 I thought it was funny.... But during this time of the day, anything is funnier that what I'm doing right now. __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

05-01-2006, 03:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
Eggplant999 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 307	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 Just a question... cingular duality and USN squid, do you guys support bush?

05-01-2006, 04:16 PM	#22 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,997	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 It would have been better if he rapped the entire thing. __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

05-01-2006, 06:02 PM	#23 (permalink)
munchkin Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 17 Posts: 2,271	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 I think that if you don't watch the Colbert Report occasionally, some parts of his routine would have seemed to be nerves or just plain bizarre rather than in-character. I enjoyed most of it, but the Helen Thomas sketch was fairly underwhelming. __________________ [conduct][volun][drill][sg-c1][tpf-c1] \|TG-2nd\|munchkin Nec aspera terrent.

05-02-2006, 04:30 PM	#25 (permalink)
Beatnik Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Age: 33 Posts: 4,337	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 After seeing the clip, it was like he was playing to a dead room, which I guess he was since he insulted just about everyone in the room. But the guys got cahones the size of grapefruit to speak truth to power like he did in his jokes. Especially driving home the concept of 'truthiness' to the president so eloquently. This thing about 'Colbert' (the character from The Colbert Report) is that the humor isn't in the 'punchline' but in the setup. The punchline's just a formality. That being said, I was a little disappointed by the keynote. But the 60 minutes episode the next night captured the essence of Mr. Colbert spot on. Youtube linkage below. Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69W70...h=colbert%2060 Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCIDC...h=colbert%2060 Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAoBc...h=colbert%2060 __________________ -F- Beatnik

05-03-2006, 01:19 AM	#26 (permalink)
Coridon Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Age: 34 Posts: 2,360	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 I thought the keynote speech was brilliant and masterfully crafted. Most Bush supporters were probably thinking "this guy's not very funny" or "is he attacking the President? I think he is but I'm not for certain". It takes great talent to take so many jabs and right hooks at the President with him (and his supporters) probably oblivious to the fact you're doing it. The age of picketing outside the White House in protest may be coming to an end. It's the dawn of incisive, satirical truthiness told to face of the most powerful man in the world, friends... Who says there are no heros left in the world?! I think the spandex and cape have been traded in for a three piece suit and tie...

05-04-2006, 08:57 PM	#28 (permalink)
Beatnik Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Age: 33 Posts: 4,337	Re: Stephen Colbert at the WHC dinner 4/29/06 Hmm... In an political age where you have Richard Clarke and Valerie Plame and other dissenters throughout the administration that have been discredited, intimidated, censored, or fired, I think the meaning of the phrase "truth to power" is as meaningful as ever. Especially in an administration whose entire mindset/management style will (literally) be a textbook example of the dangers of "groupthink" in the future. Actually, "truthiness to power" would be more accurate. __________________ -F- Beatnik

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