Wow. I finally got to sit down and watch the White House Press Correspondents' Dinner, and was I ever stunned by Colbert's courage. Not only am I fairly certain more than half the audience was completely incapable of comprehending his satire, but I am pretty sure the other half was just aghast that he had the balls to be so sharp and so funny.

At first, it seemed the press ignored his speech, and then, when forced to ack it, they (mostly) insisted he wasn't funny. Except that he WAS. He is so bright and so deadpan and so excellent at staying in character that it was just a fantastic performance. Underrated because easily 2/3 of it was over the heads of the audience. And also perhaps because he roasted the press about as much as he roasted BushCo.

Some snippets:

I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least. And by these standards, we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.

I believe in pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. I believe it is possible -- I saw this guy do it once in Cirque du Soleil. It was magical. And though I am a committed Christian, I believe that everyone has the right to their own religion, be you Hindu, Jewish or Muslim. I believe there are infinite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man is doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven't.

I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message: that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound -- with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

And now, on to roasting the press...
But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!

Because really, what incentive do these people have to answer your questions, after all? I mean, nothing satisfies you. Everybody asks for personnel changes. So the White House has personnel changes. Then you write, "Oh, they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!

Anyway, it's well worth watching.

And I just want to say THANK YOU!. And that link is where YOU can go say "thank you" too. Or just read the other thousands of "thank you" messages left by others.

[Transcript source: http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/30/1441/59811]