http://www.editorandpublisher.com/ea...e_display.jsp?
vnu_content_id=1002425363


WASHINGTON A blistering comedy "tribute" to President Bush by Comedy Central's
faux talk show host Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner
Saturday night left George and Laura Bush unsmiling at its close.

Earlier, the president had delivered his talk to the 2700 attendees,
including many celebrities and top officials, with the help of a Bush
impersonator.

Colbert, who spoke in the guise of his talk show character, who ostensibly
supports the president strongly, urged the Bush to ignore his low approval
ratings, saying they were based on reality, "and reality has a well-known
liberal bias."

He attacked those in the press who claim that the shake-up at the White
House was merely re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. "This
administration is soaring, not sinking," he said. "They are re-arranging the
deck chairs--on the Hindenburg."

Colbert told Bush he could end the problem of protests by retired generals
by refusing to let them retire. He compared Bush to Rocky Balboa in the
"Rocky" movies, always getting punched in the face-"and Apollo Creed is
everything else in the world."

Turning to the war, he declared, "I believe that the government that governs
best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set
up a fabulous government in Iraq."

He noted former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in the crowd, as well as " Valerie
Plame." Then, pretending to be worried that he had named her, he corrected
himself, as Bush aides might do, "Uh, I mean... Joseph Wilson's wife." He
asserted that it might be okay, as prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was
probably not there.

Colbert also made biting cracks about missing WMDs, "photo ops" on aircraft
carriers and at hurricane disasters, and Vice President Cheney shooting
people in the face. Observing that Bush sticks to his principles, he said,
"When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on
Wednesday - no matter what happened Tuesday."

Also lampooning the press, Colbert complained that he was "surrounded by the
liberal media who are destroying this country, except for Fox News. Fox
believes in presenting both sides-the president's side and the vice
president's side." He also reflected on the good old days, when the media
was still swallowing the WMD story.

Addressing the reporters, he said, "You should spend more time with your
families, write that novel you've always wanted to write. You know, the one
about the fearless reporter who stands up to the administration. You know--
fiction."

He claimed that the Secret Service name for Bush's new press secretary is
"Snow Job." Colbert closed his routine with a video fantasy where he gets to
be White House Press Secretary, complete with a special "Gannon" button on
his podium. By the end, he had to run from Helen Thomas and her questions
about why the U.S. really invaded Iraq and killed all those people.

As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First
Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling, and left immediately.

E&P's Joe Strupp, in the crowd, observed that quite a few sitting near him
looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a
little too biting--or too much speaking "truthiness" to power.

Asked by E&P after it was over if he thought he'd been too harsh, Colbert
said, "Not at all." Was he trying to make a point politically or just get
laughs? "Just for laughs," he said. He said he did not pull any material for
being too strong, just for time reasons.

Helen Thomas told Strupp her segment with Colbert was "just for fun."

The president had talked to the crowd with a Bush impersonator alongside,
with the faux-Bush speaking precisely and the real Bush deliberately
mispronouncing words, such as the inevitable "nuclear." At the close, Bush
called the imposter "a fine talent. In fact, he did all my debates with
Senator Kerry."

Among attendees at the black tie event: Morgan Fairchild, quarterback Ben
Roethlisberger, Justice Antonin Scalia, George Clooney, and Jeff "Skunk"
Baxter of the Doobie Brothers--in a kilt.