Colbert Roasts Bush - 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner (ANYONE REMEMBER?)

[KoKo]

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/

In one of the ballsiest comic stunts ever pulled in Washington, comedian Stephen Colbert delivered a blistering “tribute” to President Bush at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. It was so edgy and uncomfortable that it was almost too hard to watch, as a cold-faced and stunned Bush sat just a few feet away with the look of someone who had just been ambushed.

Acting the part of the faux conservative talk show host that he plays on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, Colbert spoke truthiness to power as he leveled an all-out assault on Bush under the guise of mock praise. He lampooned Bush over everything from his low approval ratings to his handling of Iraq to his vaunted stubbornness — and got in a few shots at the Washington press corps as well.

[underpants]

1. A classic. He also ripped the media in attendance apart

Very nicely but right in their face.

[Gothmog]

2. I love that Roast

Colbert really destroyed Bush

[Blue Owl]

3. Damn that was already 8 years ago?

I remember it like it was yesterday!

Fondly, I might add.

[LibGranny]

4. I've rewatched this several times over the years because it was so great!

You could just see Bushie's jaws getting tight as Colbert went on! LOVED IT!

[AnneD]

5. Colbert....

at his finest. Humor so sharp he can slit your throat and replace his dagger before your head drops off your shoulders.

[zeemike]

6. The way I understand it

It was Steve Sculley of C-Span that recommended him for the part, and he did not understand that Colbert was not a spoof on Conservative reporters...
Conservatives do not get satire.
But Love this, and the laughter in the audience was nervous...because they knew it was truth.

[ProfessorPlum]

7. My favorite, and the ballsiest, performance ever before the court at Versailles

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2014, 07:10 PM - Edit history (1)

He knew he was going to get one chance, and he devastated the King and all the little courtiers.

[hootinholler]

8. Best Press Club Dinner Ever!

I certainly do remember it!

I also remember the poll CNN did after it, one of the poll questions turned out prophetic:




He totally nailed it.

[bettydavis]

9. I will NEVER forget this as long as I live

It was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen! anyone can remember how awful everyone was to those of us who were fervently anti-war. People were effing hostile after 911 if you weren't all in to let the bombs drop. and Bush would not speak to any journalists candidly and wouldn't have any damn press conferences. He was this little protected a-hole in a bubble and Stephen popped the $hit out of it. Colbert is a national treasure and I hope he doesn't go to Letterman. he's much more valuable than a talk show host

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

10. He seemed so nervous then compared to now.

That roast launched him to the top.

[sybster1000]

13. OMG Nervous ? I bet! Baby Bush was right there!

I don't think that Baby Bush was the man behind his administration and it's decisions, it was Cheney of course, but still , he was only a few feet away from the POTUS!

[BelgianMadCow]

11. Hell Yes

like yesterday - then again, I've seen it too often

[sybster1000]

12. Are you Kidding??? I would have left my finace for him when I watched it!

Well, except that Colbert was happily married with children and I was (then) engaged... I thought to myself "That is the bravest damned man in the country". Smart, brave men are my weakness.

[deutsey]

14. This is one of the few truly great moments of the Bush years for me

A ray of light that warmed my soul in an otherwise cold, dark time.

[Out of Time Man]

15. There's no way I could forget.

I remember watching this for the first time back in '06. I make it a point to show it to any of my friends who have not seen it.

I think it's one of his finest moments.

They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

[rhett o rick]

16. Very cool. Thanks for posting. nm

[Hissyspit]

17. Of course. I think of that event often.

[joanbarnes]

18. Thanks for re-visiting the stunning memories of when tide was turning..

Kudos and RIP to Helen Thomas, the TRUE heroine of the Press Corps.

[greiner3]

19. At one point it looks as though W wants to have him killed.

[Junkdrawer]

20. Ballsalicious...

to quote Jon Stewart