US politics may never be the same.
He has been a mainstay of the political reality through much of the Bush era. Indeed, for many, he epitomizes this reality. His support base has exploded with the emergence of Web 2.0 politics. I guess it’s always been on the cards, but with the recent release of his book and his hitting of the US talk-show circuit it seemed more and more likely that he may run in 2008. Finally, on his own TV show, he ended months of speculation, by announcing his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States.
That’s right people, Stephen Colbert is running for President.
Earlier in the week Colbert officially announced that he was considering running on the Daily show:
Then, later (15 minutes later), came the official announcement on his own show (fast forward about 2 minutes into the clip):
Yes, he is running both as a Democrat and as a Republican.
Why doesn’t Gunston run for the senate here?
COLBERT 08
Life imitating art …
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0483726/
There’s little room for satire in Australian politics while Kevin Andrews defends his seat.
Satire no, David, but slapstick yes. The man throws pies in his own face. I hope he keeps away from rakes.
Mick:
Once House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sacked for being a damp squib and failing to impeach Bush and Cheney, there is a fighting chance that democracy would eventually return to the United States and Stephen Colbert might then be allowed to run on his merits.
Wonder why he didn’t have a crack at a federal Senate seat in his home state?
b.t.w., One of the most serious flaws in the American system is the winner-take-all for the presidental candidate and his/her running mate that launched such luminaries as Lyndon Johnson, Spiro Agnew, Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney. Just imagine how quickly the United States could recover from its near-annihilation at the hands of Caligula’s Horse if Barack Obama, Hilary R-Clinton, John Edwards ….and even stephen Colbert too, were all part of the same winning team.
It’ll be interesting to see how he skirts US campaign laws.
Graham Bell,
Congratulations!
Caligula’s Horse is the best description I’ve ever heard of GWB. I’m circulating it widely by e-nail as soon as I get off the blog.
Will Stephanie Colbertle the Turtle be running for vice-president?
For those who love American politics ( and who doesn’t) I bring you the Right Wing Facebook.
News Feed
Fred Thompson added “Convincing everyone my presidential run isn’t really Method-style research for a movie role” to his Interests.
Mike Huckabee joined the group Young Earth Creationism.
John McCain is appealing to Ron Paul for fundraising tips.
Rudy Giuliani is wondering how he can fit 9/11 into a speech about agriculture policy.
Mitt Romney is shredding some old speeches.
Mitt Romney joined the group “Pro-Lifers.”
Mitt Romney left the group “Pro-Choicers.”
Mike Huckabee added “Entrusting the female body to the care of loving, paternal legislators” to his Interests.
Fred Thompson is loving playing the low-expectations game. Just be marginally awake, and you win!
How’s he going to manage in debates? The only time he can ever convince anyone he’s funny is when he does that goofy American pause-for-effect, so we all know to laugh at the latest “gag”. You don’t get those stage-managed pauses once you leave the studio.
At least Bush is genuine comedy, even if he doesn’t intend it.
Yup. Good point.
I’d vote for Jon Stewart. Still funnier than Colbert mainly because Stewart doesn’t do that “we’re all in on this joke right?” schtick. Instead he does the intelligent layperson “Can you believe this shit?” thang with perfect comedic timing and the most charismatic eyebrows in TVbiz.
It’s the difference between someone’s who learnt a comedy routine by heart in order to impress and someone who just has funny bones, whatever the subject matter.
Colbert is a bit of a one-trick-pony. Bill O’Reilly sucks. We get it already.
Nabakov
A major failing of Australian TV is that we don’t have a regular slot for Jon Stewart’s weekly show. It seems to pop up for a while then disappear again. Please don’t tell me that it’s currently showing at 3am, and I haven’t noticed and have missed out on recording it.
I’m with you Nabs. Did you catch the Lyn Cheny interview the other week? That was truly hilarious.
I’m with Yobbo re Colbert. His schtick is occasionally amusing but it is just the one gag. I don’t bother recording it.
Stewart on the other hand can really do a good interview. His interview with lyn Cheney was good - and Stewart go Cheney to reveal a bit of herself that wasn’t folksy and a little more disturbing in her political views. I also liked his interview with Tony Snow last week. While the tone was friendly, Stewart did ask some pointed questions.