Did You Hear the One About the Satirist and the President?...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

by Heather Mallick

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0509-27.htm

<snip>

The finest moment was when Colbert told the media 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!"

The former senior news analyst on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, America's No. 1 fake news channel, has his own show now, The Colbert Report, an elaborate parody of Bill O'Reilly's No-Spin Zone.

He calls his show a "no-fact zone" and he plays a blowhard anchor, what he calls a "high status idiot," an unread, grotesque bully who lives on "truthiness," a Colbert word for faith in what you believe to be true rather than what is true. He promises not to tell you the truth "but to feel the truth at you." It runs here on the Comedy Network; the two shows have more viewers in Canada than they do in the States, but Stewart and Colbert are U.S. cult hits...

[tavalon]

1. I always feel weird recommending something and then not commenting

It's like stealth recommending.

Another damn fine article about another damn fine American. I'm so glad they're finally poking out their heads and I'm a little weirded out that their vanguard is a couple of (granted, superb) comedians, but what the hell,eh?

[Canuckistanian]

2. Yay, Heather Mallick!

I've been reading her for years. She's always been a good progressive wtiter.

[lostnfound]

3. At a loss for words in telling someone about it? This is one to pass on.

Trying to tell someone about this, someone who doesn't know Colbert, I came across as a raving lunatic I think.

This column covers it well.

[young_at_heart]

4. Maybe Colbert has rattled "The Decider" with his stunning performance

I'm starting to see a few media folks not just repeating verbatim what our "Decider" says they should tell us. When Chris Matthews ever changes his ridiculous pitch then we'll know the press is finally waking up!

[spooky3]

5. great article, great images in your post! Thanks.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Ditto & Recommended.

[Ashy Larry]

7. In case anyone is interested,

In case anyone is interested, the New York Observer posted the letter I wrote to Chris Lehmann in response to http://www.observer.com/20060508/20060508_Chris_Lehmann_pageone_coverstory1.asp "> his piece on the WH correspondent's dinner. It's the one at the top of the page.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

8. Great letter...great they published it...congrats. nt.

[Mnemosyne]

9. Great letter Ashy!

:toast:

And welcome to DU! :hi:

I see a bonehead had a letter in below yours. :puke:

[annabanana]

10. very nice, TRUE letter!

And welcome to DU!
:toast:

[Hissyspit]

11. Colbert just repeated the joke tonight in his interview with

thesmokinggun.com guy.

[TrogL]

12. have more viewers in Canada

the two shows have more viewers in Canada than they do in the States

That demands the question "is that because of something about Canadian viewers, US broadcasters or US viewers?"