EPISODE NUMBER: 6123 (September 28, 2010)
GUESTS: Ross Douthat
SEGMENTS: Left Behind – Paul Begala, Terror a New One
VIDEOS: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Democratic apathy that Stephen talked about in the first segment of the show today really scares me. It doesn’t surprise me, but it scares me. Stephen’s depiction of burying the Democrats was a very interesting way to make that point. I hadn’t heard of the outsourcing bill that was passed, and while I’m sure that Begala’s mention of the bill was given with extreme bias, it would still be something I would like to hear about.
So Stephen wants us to dress up for the rally now, huh? I don’t know if a baby carrot costume will make it through security. But I can’t wait to see what costumes everyone comes up with! I’m sure there’s an entire HuffPo picture spread waiting to happen on those snapshots!
I always find it fascinating to hear from what could be considered a moderate Republican like Ross Douthat. When hearing from both sides, and I’m including Begala here in this, there’s always so much rhetoric and attacks and sound bites (the “smack John Boehner upside his orange head” comment that Begala made comes to mind). And yet very few people, especially when interviewed on a stage such as the ‘Colbert Report’, actually discuss the issues, and the possible ways to solve them. Even Stephen tried to bait Douthat on a few lines, but Douthat stayed level headed during the entire interview and did his best to address a few key issues such as taxes on the rich and the problems inherent in Medicare and Social Security. Now, I’ve never been exposed to Douthat’s thoughts outside of this interview, but as far as the interview itself went, I think that Douthat did a very good job.
What did all of you think about tonight’s show? And what Pundit Cosplay costumes are you dreaming up for the rally?
- Whoo! More school! Listen, Barry, you may be Command-nerd in Chief, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to suffer.
- This has got to be Obama’s worst legislative initiative since the “You Forgot To Give Us Homework” Act of 2009.
- Jimmy, pop me a Boehner.
- In fact, Democratic self-loathing has gotten so bad they’ve changed their symbol from a silhouette of a donkey to Eeyore eating a whole chocolate cheesecake.
- Wouldn’t it be easier just to lay down and let a wave of conservative enthusiasm bury you alive? After all, it’s comfortable down there. And if you get up and vote, you could just be disappointed again. So don’t you think getting worked up is just not worth it? I mean, it’s just the control of Congress. I mean, sometimes being out of power is really a breath of fresh air.
- Now, it’s a rally about fear, and I’m sure a lot of you are probably terrified that you don’t know what to be scared of. Is it the immigrants who came here after our grandparents? Is it Katy Perry’s breasts? Or is it the fact that your only son loves “Glee” so much and doesn’t seem interested in Katy Perry’s breasts?
- Oh, oh, sanity, I know, let’s all go to Little Caesar’s and get regular bread.
- After all, how dare those Muslims build a grave so close to ground.
- Which can only lead to one logical yet terrifying conclusion — Muslim vampires.
- Protect yourself from Muslim vampires by making your neck non-Halal. Rub it with pork sausage, or better yet, wear a bacon turtleneck.
- Otherwise the next poke you receive on Facebook will be from the grim reaper himself. Who, by the way, is listed as single.
- You’re like a guy with a peanut allergy walking into the peanut factory. I’d keep an epi pen handy.
- Ross Douthat: I’m trying to seduce the Jon Stewarts of the world with my reasonability.
Stephen Colbert: Hence the beard. - What do we cut first, do we kill social security or Medicaid? Or do we just kill old people?
- Stephen Colbert: By the way, how do you come down on Christine O’Donnell’s anti-masturbation stance?
Ross Douthat: Well, I don’t think it makes good public policy …
“…muslim vampires.”
I saw this punchline coming, but I was honestly hoping for “muslim zombies.” I think there are another few minutes worth of puns in there somewhere…
Difference makers:
+6
I really enjoyed the interview. It’s good to hear from sensible people no matter which side of the fence they’re on, and Douthat strikes me as pretty reasonable.
P.S. There is no freakin’ way I’m putting on a Halloween costume for this rally, though I might break out the “Librarian Avengers” t-shirt for the occasion. Or I could not put on a costume and go as “Democratic apathy.” Heh.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+2
You could dress as a certain item of fruit with “Dis-Pear” written across it.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+4
Well, that would work, since I’m already pear-shaped. :D
But nah, I think I’ll stick with “no costume.”
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
The Democratic apathy scares the heck out of me too. And makes me really angry, as any of my friends who have listened to one of my recent rants can tell you. And I’m so sick of the opponent-smearing! Stop smearing the other guy and tell me what *you’re* going to do to change things for the better! Full disclosure, I would like to smack Boehner upside his orange head. Thankfully, “muslim vampires” made me giggle enough to feel a bit better.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
“…Stroked with cautious skepticism.”
I want that as my epitaph. :D
I think I loved best Stephen’s attack on the weirdos in Sidney,NY who want dig up the dead Muslims. “Now, usually when you die your threat level decreases significantly.” That was great!
I also liked Stephen’s “Nobody wants that! Nobody wants that!” remark after the Little Caesar’s “regular bread” joke. :)
Good show!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
That should read: “…stoked with cautious skepticism. ” *Headdesk*
Of course w/ my luck, “STROKED” would end up on my tombstone. What an idiot! LOL!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+3
I know the Intros to each episode aren’t normally that memorable but I really loved the Intro last night! I was laughing just as hard at the jokes in the Intro as I was during the other segments. I really liked the analogy of burying the Democrats, that was brilliant. And I do think Douthat was able to stand his ground against Stephen and got some points across, but I can’t help but giggle at the fact that their conversation ended with a discussion on, ahem, a specific form of gratification. That was just funny. :P
Finally, while I truly love all the talk of the upcoming rallies from Jon and Stephen, every time they talk about it I’m reminded of the fact that I’m not going. *sigh*
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
I totally forgot to mention the Toss! There’s never a Toss that I don’t love. Stephen was really animated throughout the whole thing which was adorable. “It’s not supposed to make sense!” :)
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Absolutely agree with you about the awesomeness that was The Intro!!! I loved it! Hilarious :D
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Oh, I always LOVE the intro! The fun starts the minute I hear “Tonnnnight….”
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
“Finally, while I truly love all the talk of the upcoming rallies from Jon and Stephen, every time they talk about it I’m reminded of the fact that I’m not going. *sigh*”
God, I know what you mean. I am becoming increasingly gutted. I keep buying lottery tickets and am seriously considering selling my waist-length hair to get the money to go.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“note to self, buy pumpkin” was so hilarious.
I loved the toss, of course.
and the threatdown was SO good. Really thought it was amazing. and yeah, I Could see a few more jokes that they missed.
I can only stomach so much political bs in one day. I almost want to stop watching the news, but what would the point be? It’s all still happening…
All I can do is vote and hope that it does change something.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Muslim vampires? Muslim vampires?! I never heard nuffin’ about……..oh, have my Islamic overlords been snipping away with the censoring scissors again? Come to think of it, there was a big cut at some point….mwhahaha, well, they can’t stop me checking that bit out online later. Or. Can. They?
[Maybe I'll go and stick a M2KFA poster on the door of my local and therefore very-far-away-from-Ground-Zero mosques in the morning. Surely some of these people must have a sense of humour??]
Shout Out (Hey!):
+2
I’m so glad we got another Toss so soon! That was unexpected – and quite amazing! I gotta agree with some of the above posters, I found the intro quite hilarious as well. It was an all around enjoyable episode!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“my guest tonight is Ross Douthat” I doubt that he’s that conthervatve.”
I got an unreasonable kick out of that line.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+4
What does Stephen spray at the camera at the very end of the show? I can’t tell what it is!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
It’s a can of compressed air. He’s cleaning the dirt off the camera.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0