Colbert 2008!

[RebelFencer]

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post
Article Launched: 10/17/2007 01:33:10 AM PDT



WASHINGTON - It has become something of a cliche: politicians launching their electoral campaigns on late-night talk shows, in a calculated attempt at hipness.

But a late-night comic announcing his presidential candidacy on a late-night talk show - now that is a hall-of-mirrors maneuver worthy of Stephen Colbert. The man known to viewers for his portrayal of a fulminating right-wing blowhard said on Comedy Central on Tuesday night that he will be a candidate in his native South Carolina.

Asked if he plans to give up his show, Colbert said: "Do you think I'm a fool? Now that I'm a candidate, you people are going to be gunning for me, like you do for everybody." Not only will the program enable him to bite back at the press, he pointed out, but "you know what it pays to be a presidential candidate? Not well."

As for the inconvenient truth that he hasn't lived in the Palmetto State for years, the host of "The Colbert Report" went negative, daring the other candidates to match his appeal back home: "John Edwards left South Carolina when he was 1 year old. He had his chance. Saying his parents moved him - that's the easy answer."

Colbert told Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" that he planned to announce soon on a more prestigious program - and minutes later, on his own show, said he was taking the plunge, triggering a big balloon drop.

Colbert, who in real life is a Democrat, said he would file papers to run in both parties' primaries.

He seems to have an unorthodox fundraising strategy: "I'd really like to get some corporate sponsorship. Some sort of salty snack."

Great candidate... or greatest candidate?

[academe]

Reminds me of Pat Paulsen. He ran way back when. His web site (maintained even though he died in 1997) has a list of the amendments he proposed to the constitution that, interestingly enough, sound like some have been appropriated by the current president.

http://www.paulsen.com/amend.html

Colbert follows in the shoes of several comedians...

[Neinteen]

Steven colbert is a super hero.

[mrbiggs]

Reminds me of Pat Paulsen. He ran way back when. His web site (maintained even though he died in 1997) has a list of the amendments he proposed to the constitution that, interestingly enough, sound like some have been appropriated by the current president.

http://www.paulsen.com/amend.html

Colbert follows in the shoes of several comedians...

The difference here is that he already has a large following, he has a history that could be construed as political, and a large number of supporters who don't usually vote (young voters).

He said on his show that to get a delegate he needs 2.5% of the vote. We'll see what happens. If nothing else, he will hopefully make some interesting points about some of the silly parts of our electoral process.

[Neinteen]

Colbert For Life. Instate a dictatorship!

[Sabresque]

Wait, I thought... Is he for real? I mean in as real as Colbert gets? Like, is he actually filing papers, whether or not it is as a joke or to prove a point?

[RPI Epeeist]

I think he likes to see how far he can push things. You'll probably see that 3000 South Carolinians will in fact sign the petition that will allow him to register as a democratic candidate without a fee. Its kind of a push-push back situation with him and the audience. He puts out a seemingly bluff-like move to see if his audience will do it. Then his audience will do it to see if he'll actually go through with it. Take the bridge in (i believe) Hungary as an example.

[Lemonaide]

I see Colbert and Gore running together, it has a nice sound. Though we joke about commedians running for election, most of them are smart but not only that, we already elected an actor - Regan - for President in the past. [we may have actually voted for Bonzo but who can say] I am sort of tired of being tired of politicians - isn't that the case for most of us? What makes us tired of them is that they are all so uncoordinated.

[Neinteen]

Steven Colbert is the incarnation of [Insert your favorite dead person here]

[Westley]

If he does become a candidate, doesn't that mean that they can't air his show anymore- Like the way that they no longer can show Law & Order Reruns?

[Neinteen]

If he does become a candidate, doesn't that mean that they can't air his show anymore- Like the way that they no longer can show Law & Order Reruns?

Oh noes.

[mrbiggs]

If he does become a candidate, doesn't that mean that they can't air his show anymore- Like the way that they no longer can show Law & Order Reruns?

I believe they're allowed to, but they chose not to.

[Neinteen]

I believe blah blah blah That Steven Colbert is the Best Presidential candidate and would make the Greatest President.

Mee too! MistahBiggz and I compartimos muchos favoritos... (lol @ my spanish)

[Qbranch]

Greatest... yes. But the dream may only turn out like this*:

http://www.walken2008.com


* if in doubt, check the legal link.