Interesting bio of Steven Colbert

[kentuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/27/politics/campaign/27profile.html

<snip>

On his wall is a 1972 Nixon campaign poster that, he says, represents the awakening of his political consciousness. "That's when I became aware of the abuse of power," he says. "I became a true believer. I'm the last of 11 kids; my brothers and sisters, with just two exceptions, are all Republicans, and they always used to say to me, 'Why are you such a pinko?' ''

What he really is, behind the facade of Stephen Colbert, faux correspondent, is a liberal in conservative's clothing. He is, he says, way too square to be hip, way too well informed about politics to be anything but skeptical in private and, hopefully, nothing but funny on the air.

"I don't have to pretend to be impartial," he says. "I'm partial. I'll make fun of anybody. I wish we had an effect on the way people think about politics, but I don't think we do. I see the show as a relief from the political process, especially now, when so much of politics is built on the idea of fear. We're about falling down and going boom on camera."

He does, however, have one earnest convention agenda, provided he wangles sufficient access: "We want to find out actual information about Republicans. We want to know where the pods are, where they're grown, and we want to photograph them before they're harvested." Just kidding.
...more

[Kid_A]

1. The Daily Show is extremely hesitant to admit they have an effect

on politics in this country. Jon Stewart is always the first to say TDS is a fake news show, and it is, but that "fake" status gives them more power than I think they realize.

[LuminousX]

5. The minute they start believing they have an affect

is the minute they lose the humor.

[Terran]

12. Why do you say that?

Haven't you ever heard of political humor? Humor can be persuasive; and I have no doubt that TDS has 'persuaded' at least a few people about how they should vote this year.

[rocktivity]

15. Jon Stewart and Co. realize it, all right--and they LOVE it

They're just exhibiting fake modesty!

:headbang:
rocknation

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. I love Colbert....

Some of the stuff he says is just so out there you think, "He can't get away with that, can he?"

But it's just so damned funny! Like the various "minorities" he lifted off the floor at the Dem convention and interviewed? Borderline offensive, but I like the fact that he was letting us laugh at ourselves.

He's one of my favorites.
FSC

[redwitch]

7. I loved that bit!

Are you an Indian? Ghandi or Sitting Bull? Steven also does the eyebrow thing which absolutely kills me! My husband and sons do it and it always makes me laugh.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Or the combo guy...

"Arab-tino!"

Yep, I love the eyebrow thing. I had an ex boyfriend who was great at it!

"Lesbian! I was thinking you wanted to tell us about your first lesbian experience..."
"No, that's ok."

FSC

[JohnKleeb]

3. I like Colbert

He cracks me up, "oh and don't fuck with oil companies, I guess thats theres two lessons here." Really, the daily show and chappelle show are some of the best shows on TV these days.

[tigereye]

4. where the pods are grown!

that's great. So that's how Reps are made...

[LuminousX]

6. Obviously isn't done through sex

Republicans despise sex and feel it should only be done with your mistress or hookers at conventions.

[X_republican]

9. Oh I don't know about that.

Wasn't Susan Smith's stepfather a big wig in the Moral Majority. From what I hear, he had sex unless you want to count her in the mistress category.

[JHB]

13. He was a local bigwig in the local Christian Coalition org...

...and former local head of the "Robertson for President" (in '88) campaign.

[rocktivity]

16. The death penalty would have been too good for Smith

Her punishment fits the crime--having to live with what she did, AND in a predominately black enviornment!

:headbang:
rocknation

[blm]

14. The pods are the Left Behind books.

No doubt about it.

[MallRat]

8. That story about the gas station owner was heartbreaking and infuriating.

Amazing how a "fake" news comedy program can evoke those kind of feelings.

Samantha Bee's interview with a homophobic (actually, he said he was 'homonauseic') state house candidate from Fort Lauderdale had the same effect on me. Sad, funny, and pathetic, all at the same time.

-MR

[johnfunk]

11. Yes, they have an effect, and so does drug addict Limbaugh

The difference (aside from the Fascist Floridian's gratuitous abuse of prescription drugs) is that the Daily Show is entertainment, and Limbaugh, whose main purpose is propaganda, hides behind the facade of "entertainer."