“Reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
Watch Stephen Colbert’s routine at the White House Correspondent Dinner.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
68 Responses to ““Reality has a well-known liberal bias.””
Register
RSSLogin
View Most Popular
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
Reports
In depth studies on select topics
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Beck
Bolton
Bush
Cheney
Clinton
Drudge
Earmarks
Economy
Environment
Ethics
Feith
Fox News
GI Bill
Global Warming
Gore
Graham
Hagee
Health Care
Housing
Immigration
Impeachment
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
McCain
Media
Military
O'Hanlon
O'Reilly
Obama
Petraeus
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Rove
Siegelman
Sports
Third Bush Term
Torture
Women's Rights
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
Please correct the spelling to ‘Stephen.’ His friends appreciate it.
April 30th, 2006 at 2:59 pm~~Robert Rubin, In An Uncertain World
This makes me think of “black and white, good vs evil Bush”, and his decision making process. Does he have a dart board in the Oval Office with only two sections?
Stewart, Colbert, and those currently on and have passed-thru the Daily Show are the Mark Twain’s of today. Dave Letterman, Craig Kilborn, Craig Ferguson are right up there.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:12 pmYou know, I watched this on line last night and was surprised to see on Editor and Publisher they said that the president snubbed Colbert.
When I watched it, it looked quite the other way around. Colbert moved quickly past the president as the president remained still, and he went on to nod at the first lady without extending his hand. He barely paused with laura before arriving at what I saw as his most valued person on the dais: Helen Thomas.
I watched it again today and was again struck by what appears to be Colbert snubbing bush.
Good on him! Colbert let him have it. I loved watching it again.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:16 pmI disagree Ken — Colbert had shaken the hands of Bush and others, but when he got to Laura, she didn’t extend her hand and instead stayed seated. Also, it seemed Bush was laughing for politeness, not because he thought it was funny. In general, I think Colbert was a let down — not particularly funny, just disgruntled barbs. The Colbert Report is 100 times funnier than the performance last night.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:23 pmI’m recording it today, assuming it’s still supposed to be rebroadcast.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:26 pmI just have to own it, I might even even make copies to distribute them at the local Wal-Mart as an educational ‘How-to” video in public speaking with balls.
OMG - Colbert was so funny - I think it was one of his BEST performances! And the fact that he did it all in front of the very people he mocks every day…
Priceless…
April 30th, 2006 at 3:27 pmwonder if Colbert will be invited back next year???
He was great!
April 30th, 2006 at 3:28 pmCOLBERT IS SIMPLY BRILLIANT AND TRUTHFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 30th, 2006 at 3:30 pmI guess the press can’t hide behind the door anymore!
To tell the truth like he does, with comedy so convincing BECAUSE it’s the truth is wonderful!
Colbert is the only one, besides Jon Stewart, who has THE BALLS to throw reality in the Repugs faces, and to do it at the WH Press Dinner is just MARVELOUS!!!!
Keep it up, Stephen! We need more in the media like you!!!!!
The WH sure got more than it bargained for and this nation is now blessed by the truth!!!
Does anybody know if it will be aired again? I watched the replay today but was too mesmerized to record it. I definitely want to have my own copy!
Help!
April 30th, 2006 at 3:49 pmColbert was awesome last night.
Oddly, no media outlet is talking about his performance. But, they are all over Bush and his twin bit. Colbert was far, far better. It makes the media outlets look as weak as Colbert stated. Not only will they not call Bush on his lies and manipulations, but when it’s all laid out in front of them as an easy opportunity to pick up Colbert’s words and really run with the gift he gave them, they instead play the Bush soundbites and pretend Colbert said nothing.
Thankfully, we’ll have Olbermann, Stewart and Colbert to run with it tomorrow.
P.S. When Bush left, he shook everyone’s hand but Colbert’s. He tapped him on the shoulder instead. Bush (and Laura) definitely snubbed Colbert. I don’t think anyone should run for President with skin as thin as Bush’s.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:51 pmColbert got a very chilly reception from Bush and Laura. Aw, too bad, they finally figured out he isn’t really a neo-con!
April 30th, 2006 at 3:52 pmOh Man, was Colbert BRUTAL! He went after everyone in the room. That guy has cojones. Loved the Helen bit!
April 30th, 2006 at 4:05 pmwho cares what kind of reception colbert got? we’ve still got 140,000 soldiers in country in Iraq, and there’s no plan to get ‘em out anytime soon.
Iraq is now the 51st/52nd state, depending on whether you count Afghanistan or not, another state verging on failure.
so caring whether colbert ripped the president a new one seems to me to be like laughing at someone joking about your murderous father. it may be funny, but not really.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:05 pm#9
i feel your pain…
cspan’s site often has downloads available for such things… i am guessing they may do likewise with colbert…
peace.
fcuk bush
April 30th, 2006 at 4:08 pm# 9 , you can check youtube. I think they have a copy.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:16 pmJack-
What Colbert did is called speaking truth to power. The fact that Bush and his wife and the sycophatic press corps saw little humor in what Colbert said is evidence that Colbert succeeded in holding up a mirror to these people so they could see the lies that this administration engages in and which the press so willingly goes along with without questioning the establishment for the truth. Colbert’s show goes after those in power in a somewhat chasting way while also trying to be funny; last night, he put the squeeze on those who hold the highest reins of power 100 fold and made them sweat. That could be the reason why they didn’t laugh: they [including the press] felt too uncomfortable to engage in humor. Any tears brought forth would have been, finally, tears of misery, and not of joy.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:21 pmhere is the full colbert roasting bush in 3 parts on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIRXur61II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN0INDOkFuo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJvar7BKwvQ
one of the most brilliantly subversive comedy bits ive ever seen.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:40 pmamazing stuff by colbert.
#10 DS and #16 Erroll
April 30th, 2006 at 4:43 pmI couldn’t agree with each of you more!
Colbert was smart, biting, and talked truth to power. Republicans are humorless — particularly when it comes from someone “outside,” and Bush is funny only when HE is the jokester. The media missed their opportunity to replay Colbert today and let his words speak what they are too intimidated to say.
Colbert was incredible!!!
He has balls the size of church bells!!!
It is one thing to do your act in front of an adoring audience. It is completely different to do it in front of a hostile audience that is the butt of your jokes.
At times I even cringed. I guess after 5 years of kid glove coverage by the American press core - I could not believe what I was hearing.
Not only did he say all of the things that everyone else refuses to say, but he said them to the very people that needed to hear them the most.
Stephen Colbert for President!!!
April 30th, 2006 at 4:46 pmColbert is on 60 Minutes tonight, by the way.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:55 pmReminds me of what Former First Lady Barbara Bush said of the war in Iraq: “Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? It’s not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?”
Shut your eyes, cover your ears, and be quiet. Hide your head in the sand.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:56 pmJack, I had forgotten that lovely (and telling) comment by Babs.
April 30th, 2006 at 5:10 pmWe didn’t even LEGALLY elect bush, and we sure didn’t elect Babbs or Pickles,so no one give a damn what thoes elietest women have to say about anything.
April 30th, 2006 at 5:14 pmWhat a blast of light! I am proud of Mr. Colbert! I have watched the piece 3 times and it gets better with each viewing! I loved the Helen Thomas stalking bit! I wish I could see the Colbert Report here in France! I was in the US in March and watched it every chance I could.
April 30th, 2006 at 5:27 pmToo bad the jerks he was addressing his comments to only know how to grimace and then take revenge! On the other hand, it only reaffirms the disdain and disgust that the rest of America is beginning to feel in their guts!!!!!! These jerks have got to go!
Next year, they should have Mr. Keith Olbermann host the event. That will make Stephen Colbert’s masterful performance seem like kid’s stuff. Nevertheless, excellent job, Steve, especially the skit with St. Helen Thomas.
Anyone know if the show will be replayed later tonight or this week on C-SPAN?
April 30th, 2006 at 6:29 pmI think the quietest moments were when Colbert turned his gaze from the prez to the press and applauded them for listening, copying, printing the talking points. Whenever they showed the audience, most of them were burning daggers through Colbert with their eyes.
No, he won’t be invited back for a while.
Now, on behalf of the MSM, I say we never speak of this moment again! Sssh!
April 30th, 2006 at 6:33 pmGood evening, everyone. This is Simon Cowell. Jurassicpork was feeling a bit sorry for himself after the recent unpleasantness with Crooks and Liars and he fell so far behind that he had to prevail upon me for help. So this is to inform you that the new Assclowns of the Week: Simon Cowell Edition is now up.
April 30th, 2006 at 7:05 pmjust watched the colbert interview on 60 minutes - WOW
stephen just jumped from #2 to #1 on my unattainable crush list, sorry jon…patrick stays at #3 (not sure of HIS sense of humor, a must, but his sense of justice makes up for that)
if any of those people from last night’s audience watched this, they are sure now that they were a justified butt of the whole joke … wouldn’t it be great if they decided they’d best get back to the job they thought once upon an idealogical time they wanted to do for the good of the people? …i won’t be holding MY breath…
April 30th, 2006 at 7:53 pmThe 60 Minutes Interview with the real Stephen Colbert was awesome. What a humble, down-to-earth kind of guy. So opposite to his alter ego talking head. Makes him all that much more funny. Knowing that he’s REALLY putting on an act.
April 30th, 2006 at 8:07 pmGreat job, Stephen!
April 30th, 2006 at 8:23 pmtp never find anything i send them interesting enought to post, so, i’ll just post it here…
Joe Klein’s Newsweek piece credits left-wing bloggers for his mea culpa column on nukes…
i think that is link-worthy!
peace.
April 30th, 2006 at 8:26 pmfcuk bush real hard
Damn! Colbert ripped him to shreds! I couldn’t believe it when he was talking about his approval ratings being so low, it was like he was slapping him in the face.
Colbert really is a genius. He spoke truth to power and he made them all look like fools, which is exactly what they are. My favorite is the joke about glaciers. WOW he was good!
April 30th, 2006 at 8:37 pmI saw Colbert on MSNBC hosting the the dinnher live. He was absolutely awesome. I really don’t think everyone in the room got it though, but that is a sure sign of genius. An MSNBC reporter,obviousely a pug, commented after that he thought the performance was unfunny and a too one-sided attack on the Republicans. What did they think he was going to do?
Shrub was in his usual slanted/slouching sitting position, and when shown after a jab at Rove by Colbert, looked like he wanted to slide off the seat and right under the table.
I enjoyed the joke about Washington being a chocolate city too(Nagins’ NO remark), with a large marshmallow inside,topped with a graham cracker of corruption, a mallowmar.I will never forget that performance.Right up there with the best anti-establishment satire of Monty Python.
April 30th, 2006 at 9:18 pmAt least it was better than George W. Bush’s masterpiece from a few years back. When he was pretending to look for WMD’s under his desk.
Still haven’t found them have you George?
He-he, he-he, he-he.
April 30th, 2006 at 9:36 pmNick even though George the brain dead stated publically thet he thought the weapons werer in Iraq, he is recorded his actions of looking for them with in the white house, that would either make him delusional(unfit for office) or increadably stupid. although i would prefer the first, I feel that the second is really true and there is no place in the constitution where the president couldn’t couldn’t be dumb as a sack full of sh*t. So we are stuck with out sack in chief….
April 30th, 2006 at 10:05 pmKen, I’m sure not a lot got Mr. Colbert’s humor. They just haven’t spent more time keeping up with the real world. They just prefer to live in Dubya’s world. Colbert
left a lot of the mainstream press scratching their empty heads. Ann Compton looks like she needs to lose 20 pounds or more. She looks like a joke as much as those who didn’t laugh with Mr. Colbert’s sardonic brand of humor.
By the way? When will Cspan be showing the dinner again?
April 30th, 2006 at 10:26 pm#36.
Ann Compton actually was beefing up for a role she is shooting called “The Divine Story”.
A documentary by John Waters.
OK. I am joking, but I had you going for a second didn’t I?
-GSD
April 30th, 2006 at 10:41 pmI read the transcript of that lame little speech Colbert gave. How every typical of the PseudoLeft to think that was some sort of revelation.
Colbert’s little speech was just a lot of PseudoLeft nonsense. Regular working class Americans in general don’t care all that much about the kind of stuff Colbert was talking about. And not to put too fine a point on it, but regular working class Americans don’t care much for the ideas that the American PseudoLeft and the Democratic party and the online “netroots” spend a lot of time talking about, either.
Now, if Colbert had talked about Progressive taxation, and how the Democrats and GOP and the mass media try to focus the political debate on other things than progressive taxation, THEN maybe I might have thought COlbert had something worth reading and thinking about.
Or if Colbert had talked about how the GOP and the Dems and mass media don’t spend too much time talking about universal healthcare, then THAT would have been worthwhile.
Or if he had talked about how the Dems and GOP and mass media don’t like talking about longterm extended unemployment benefits, then THAT might have been worthwhile.
Or if Colbert had talked about why Europe has progressive taxation, universal healthcare, longterm unemployment benefits and America does not, then maybe I would have been cheering him on, too.
Or if he had talked about how the Dems and GOP and mass media collaborate to manufacture consent for mass immigrationof illega scab labor from the 3rd world so as to depress wages, then THAT might have been worthwhile.
Or if Colbert had talked about how the mass media, the PseudoPopulist Right and the PseudoLeft seem to collaborate to focus the political debate on issues like GOP vs Dem political gossip, then that would have gotten me excited.
Ya see, most Americans would rather the political debate focus on bread and butter populist economic issues like progressive taxation, universal healthcare, unemployment benefits, and mass immigration, rather the SAME OLD TIRED POLITICAL GOSSIP centered on the same of faux-issues, like which political elite said what, or which law was violated, or whatever.
Why is it that Europe has all this populist economic reforms and we do not? Maybe because our Left is a PseudoLeft? Look at what issues make the front pages on TPM, DU, Mother Jones, The Nation, DKOS, Salon, etc. Same tired old overclass-friendly issues.
No thank you.
My documentary/book in progress is at http://www.leftwingmediamachine.blogspot.com
April 30th, 2006 at 11:53 pmthis is off-topic *again* but i just read this in the new yorker and went to the wh website. here is the great decider fielding a question at Johns Hopkin:
April 30th, 2006 at 11:53 pmCryofan said:
lame little speech Colbert gave
I don’t know if you have ever watched his show, but Colbet is not a politician or a talk show host. He’s a comedian who parodies the over the top narcissistic bs talk shows we seem to be deluged with. Perhaps you could starts another blog - call it rightwingmediamachine this time.
May 1st, 2006 at 1:30 amI thought he was brilliant. And I have to disagree with those who said some people didn’t “get it.” I think it was clear by the looks on their faces that they most definitely “got it.” They were practically skirming, as they should be.
May 1st, 2006 at 2:23 am38 - Yeah I’m sure all those topics would been just hilarious.
Did you not realize he’s a comedian or did you lose your sense of humor in the “PseudoLeft”?
May 1st, 2006 at 2:36 amI read the transcript of that lame little speech Colbert gave. How every typical of the PseudoLeft to think that was some sort of revelation.
Comment by cryofan — April 30, 2006 @ 11:53 pm
Colbert is a comedian. His was not a speech but a spoof/parody/sarcastic take on the right-wing pseudojournalists.
Your long list of the subjects he should have touched but didn’t, only show you need to get out more and pick up a little sense of humor.
It is very interesting that, in your opinion, the “real” left does not -or ought not- care for the laws that are “violated, or whatever”. Those pesky little things, and such a quaint notion that anyone would care about them.
Yeah, the “real” left cares not for the petty little details like democracy, or the rule of law. Right.
May 1st, 2006 at 2:39 amthey’ve started a website to thank Stephen Colbert
http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/
3872 Thank you’s and counting…
May 1st, 2006 at 5:49 amhttp://thankyoustephencolbert.org/
3872 Thank you’s and counting….
May 1st, 2006 at 5:50 amI can’t wait to hear Mo Do’s take on this tomorrow. I wonder if she was there?
I love double trouble days. First, Paul Krugman gives us a very good article that contains a very good question: “Why doesn’t everyone go on Medicare? According to his figures, it would actually be cheaper. And Bob Herbert offers up a rare TV review of HBO’s Baghdad ER, which he calls “reality TV with a vengeance.â€
All this plus a new Assclowns of the Week: Simon Cowell Edition and pants pressed while you wait.
May 1st, 2006 at 6:51 amHead over to the Corner and read what they have to say about Mr. C’s performance. Pretty telling. The insulation that the President demands from criticism seems shamefull. I think they are setting new standards for shamelessness just by always playing King of the Hill game regarding approach. Mr. C’s biting jabs of reality according to J. Goldberg show how politics have poisoned the Left’s taste. Hmmm, and being sold a bunch of bait and switch principles keeps the right happy? I love sarcasm and irony, they always have the esential amount of truth to make the humor work. Maybe the President and the right just are in denial of the Truth. Nothing the President ever promised as a candidate has been accomplished. His years in office have been Chaos in action and the lock step party he controlls have just taken home the bacon and exhausted the Treasury and the Military and NOW the don’t want any criticism. Poor babys.
May 1st, 2006 at 7:07 amThis performance was earth-shattering, brilliant, a real guerilla assault on Bush.
May 1st, 2006 at 7:26 amCNN’s American Morning just played a 5 minute clip of Chimpy and Steve Bridges from the correspondents’ dinner. Mo mention of Colbert whatsoever.
May 1st, 2006 at 7:47 amPresident bush = OWNED!
Rockets
May 1st, 2006 at 8:25 amIt must be quite difficult for journalists to hear a truth about their ineptitude and complicity with this administration from a comedian, but it serves them right. The news media has forgotten why it was granted so much freedom in the first place.
Thank you, Stephen. It may not have been funny to them, but then again, the truth hurts.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:08 amStephen is America’s Court Jester, speaking truth to power.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:15 amColbert was great, but did anyone hear the replay of Clintons 1993 speech. He talked about the importance of a free press as even a person with the greatest intentions may abuse power. Oh course Clinton’s speech was more eloquest than this, but worth listening to.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:34 amMSM is dutifully ignoring Colbert’s brilliant and biting comedy of Sturday night, continuing their mission to support W.
May 1st, 2006 at 9:46 am60 MInutes interview with Colbert showed us that SC is just a nice guy with a sharp sense of irony and comedic timing.
Colbert was on 60 minutes last night comparing himself to O’Rielly. He admits he does Fake news. Colbert is hilarious in his attempt to mock Fox News.
Good Bush bash Stephen!
May 1st, 2006 at 10:14 amCertainly there can be no doubt that this country’s most fearless television /political/anchor, Chris Matthews, the person who presents the political stories that no one dares cover, will devote a segment to the way that Colbert eviscerated his less-than-thrilled audience. That may be about as likely as Matthews realizing that Bush no longer rates having his likeness portrayed on Mount Rushmore and instead recommends that Bush and Cheney be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity.
May 1st, 2006 at 11:50 amColbert smoked ‘um!
Much better than watching Preznit Numbnuts “playfully” looking for WMD.
May 1st, 2006 at 12:41 pm[…] Here’s a link to Stephen Colbert’s performance at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. He tears the administration apart while standing just a few feet from the president, his wife and several cabinet members. The “liberal media” is also a target of his satirical rant. Not very funny, but brave and brilliant. Let’s hope that he inspires some members of the press to take the gloves off. (via Think Progress). […]
May 1st, 2006 at 4:48 pmColbert was on target; anyone not understanding his subtle yet not subtle way of searing bush, his policies, and the media must not be capable of grasping much.
It was a much needed commentary on the current state of things, and perfectly crystallized the near decade under bush’s reign. If you were expecting 3 Stooges comedy, then maybe you were disappointed, and you shouldn’t be spending time on politically oriented blogs anyways. As one writer put it, the stakes are hight…there is no doubt about it, and Mr. Colbert is a new personal hero.
May 1st, 2006 at 10:27 pmStephen Colbert is our country’s “tank man”.
He stood up…
May 5th, 2006 at 3:02 pm[…] Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Snow is apparently complaining about the “well known liberal bias” associated with reality. He is upset that journalists insist on reporting reasonable inferences based on objective facts. Snow has fired off several emails to reporters. One rapped the Times for continuing to “ignore America’s economic progress,†while another hit USA Today for a “misleading Medicare story.†He also knocked CBS News on Wednesday for Jim Axelrod’s piece on seniors having problems with the Bush drug plan… […]
May 11th, 2006 at 3:47 pm[…] Several lessons can be drawn from the “Mission Accomplished” viral video incident. Distortion of the truth (deliberate or otherwise) is not only a tactic of the extreme right, and as power shifts in the US Congress, those with an interest in preserving the truth will need to be more sceptical of the claims from the left — reality may be starting to lose it’s “well known liberal bias”. If the fruits of the marketplace of ideas are to be realised, one must be willing to look for and to seriously consider the dissenting views. The advent of the blogosphere, social networking sites, and powerful search engines is the best opportunity thus far to achieve this goal, but only if we acknowledge our inherent biases and actively seek to overcome them. […]
November 13th, 2006 at 6:30 amLearn How Hypnosis Helps People Stop Smoking
Hypnosis helps people stop smoking in a different way than prescription drugs or nicotine replacement therapy. Although people who stop smoking through hypnosis could use one of those aids to help with their physical addiction, study groups have been s…
March 16th, 2008 at 11:26 amJessie
Great post. I have added you to my digg bookmark
March 20th, 2008 at 11:57 pmGhislaine
I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door - or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:24 pmSam
I love your site. They really look very nice. The articles provided are long enough to provide great content but not so long as to be totally engrossing, if you know what I mean.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:06 amwwe action figures
Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !
April 6th, 2008 at 7:24 amJack
There are varying schools of thought on your subject. I happen to agree with you - most of the time. Keep it up.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:29 am