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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
fuck'em if they can't take a joke.
Goes double for idiots from Texas.
The MSM basically establish the view of reality in our country. When they followed blindly along after the Bush administration, the nation thought war in Iraq was a dandy idea. Once the press got disillusioned by war, and Katrina, and the dizzying pace of scandal, corruption, and incompetence, it finally starting talking to the public in a way that allowed them to understand how they were being driven off a cliff.
If the MSM has decided that Colbert didn't matter, then he didn't matter. For all the astute (and correct) Salon and blogosphere commentary about Colbert's courage in calling the emperor naked, the country will not realize that has happened. The country won't get to reinterpret Bush's, and the press corps', gross failings through the faux-chumminess of Colbert's persona--because the press itself has decided to promote folksy-Bush again, instead.
Sigh. The right wing has such a great message machine, with Fox News and all Republican commentators in lockstep. If this were their satirist (oxymoronic, I know), they might all point out, "Well, *I* wasn't the one who said it," but they'd manage to embrace the message. (Think Swift Boat.) When it comes from the left, the supposedly liberal media and the Democrats themselves race to kill the messenger. That's why we'll never win.
Stephen Colbert certainly did cross the line...the very big line. There is now a moment in American history (modern history, anyway) that has become so revered that is is only mentioned in exhaulted term...whether you love George Bush or hate him. George Bush captured a moment that has stolen Dallas from JFK (even with Jackie's frantic dash across the trunk of the limo to grab back that piece of her husband). That moment was George Bush's (eventual) appearence at the wreckage of the World Trade Center with his bullhorn.
Saturday night Stephen Colbert in a casual, off the cuff way stole that moment back. He used that moment as one of the examples of Bush's cynical, calculated phoniness. And that, my friends, WAS crossing a very big line. No one has yet called Bush on that smarmy act publically yet.
The conservative shills, Republicans, media lapdogs and terrified Democrats can pile on Colbert all they want, but he crossed the line and there's no corssing back...and he crossed the line right in Bush's horrified face.
Stephen Colbert, Saturday night, became a hero to more people than these media and political insiders can ever guess.
Are Colbert's critics quoting the most egregious examples of Colbert's alleged unfunniness? From the transcript:
"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. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will."
Or how about this bomblet:
"Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out."
Personally, I loved this bit:
"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!"
And this followup made my day:
"Then you write, 'Oh, they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.' First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!"
So if Colbert was so unfunny, can the media critics please be a little more precise?
No, Stephen wasn't funny. He was brilliant, as in he illuminated the Truth. I for one don't care if anybody laughed in that room.
Stephen's performance is one that I will remember for a long time, far far longer than if it has been just another SNL skit. Like Dan Rather's famous line to Nixon, Colbert delivered a flawless and daring moment of truth. We don't need to laugh.
Stephen Colbert's brave and brilliant performance is proof positive that the major media have drunk the kook-aid, and have begged for sloppy seconds. "Thank you, sir, may I have another!?" In twenty minutes, Colbert exposed the whole sordid cowardly sham. Whore House press corp, a collective lap dog rolliing over and pissing on itself at its master's raised hand, with a rolled up copy of the WSJ. Like the previous poster said: joke 'em if they can't take a fuck. The Daily Show and the Colbert Report show more stones in one evening than the rest of the neutered lot does in a year. Goodyear. Make that Hindenburg, a Nazi gasbag going down in flames.
I thought the whole bit was hysterically funny. The problem was that everyone wanted Colbert to step out of character and *nudge, nudge, wink, win* let on that it was all a joke. For him to have to poise to keep going in character speaks to his incredible talent.
The audience was discomfited, as well they should be. There was not a person in the room who would crucify George Bush if it served his/her purpose, but only behind his back. To watch him have to squirm under the jokes about his administration was too much for the pack.
Hypocrites all. Stephen Colbert, will you marry me?
I've made the unfortunate mistake of allowing FTD to send me e-mail messages to remind me of Mother's Day. I thought I would only get a reminder in time to send roses to the mum, instead I am swamped with deals from FTD. In light of Colbert's performance and the incredibly rancorous response, I am using my secret decal, coupon and mileage to send Stephen Colbert a bouquet and a card saying "You go guy!" I suggest anyone else with the balls or brass vagina of Colbert do the same. According to FTD it will only cost you 29.95 and this is far less than a years guilt to NPR and a much bigger message. Imaging his studio filled with flowers and greetings.
Let us all send flowers to Stephen Colbert and shove reality in the face of the Bushites or let us cower and save our money for our expected uptick in taxes. Your call. Mine is going to FTD.
Chris Montgomery
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