what’s the deal with this colbert at the white house correspondent’s dinner thing. i mean, was he really speaking truth to power as all the liberals say like it’s the greatest thing since david and goliath? or did he really just bomb with nothing more than a poor standup routine and bad timing.
–Cat

I’m sure you’ve done a lot of the reading. Everyone seemd to have an opinion about what Colbert was doing: whether it was actually speaking honestly to the president or pissing people off. I think Jon Stewart put it best when he said “It’s Ballsalicious.” Because that’s pretty much all it was. He had the opportunity to take a shot and the Prez and he did it. In the aftermath, what has it accomplished? Increased Colbert’s notoriety/popularity, satirized an already satirized President, and secured a non-invitation to any serious event thrown by a Republican for a while. It wasn’t the classiest move. He was hired to “make people uncomfortable,” not to enrage. Is there a difference? Who knows. Was it good comedy? You tell me.

My biggest beef with the whole situation was the lack of respect. On anyone’s part, really. I know we live in a country with free speech, and I think that’s great. I’m just sad that I live in a place in which someone like Stephen Colbert has little to no respect for the office of the Presidency. The fact that we can take cheap shots, get away with them, and have no one come out hurt scares me: what happend to the glamour and prestige of being a world leader? So maybe my question to you, Cat, is: why has the White House been silent? Why doesn’t anyone respect the President anymore? Can anyone ever respect the office of President again?

I would like to start a discussion with anyone willing here.