Reply #15: It was stunning...here's my take. Thanks for your work out there.

[autorank]

Colbert came in totally in character, just like he's been with everyone for the past few weeks.

The level he reached with the Kristol interview should have tipped people off. Kristol, no
slouch and a skilled liar, looked frightened form the first moment of the interview. Colbert
happy talked him and then dropped the bomb: So hows the PNAC thing going? Kristol's face flushed
and he paused and lost even more composure.

Tonight, Colbert was in even better form. He came with his script and tape. Two opening jokes
went over with the audience to a degree but after that, the jokes, invectives really, were greeted
with mostly silence. The only willing participant was Justice Scalia, who seems to enjoy being
know for flipping the bird. He and Colbert vibed out, it seemed. Perhaps Scalia appreciated the
"fuck you" in a grand way sent by Colbert to the crowd.

Colbert did a tape about his fantasy role as Press Secretary. Introducing his special podium, the
tape showed a control panel with "Silence Thomas" and "Gannon" on it. We saw "Gannon" twice. This
sent a chill, no doubt. Then Colbert, as Press Secretary, was pursued by Helen Thomas who was wonder
ful in the Colbert tape

After that, there was no mercy by Colbert and no laughs by the assemblage, save the token liberals.

I worried that nobody seemed to laugh at all as did my wife. Then I noticed that Colbert looked
simply terrific, total control, not a drop of sweat on him. He was enjoying himself as he delivered
devastating criticisms of the assemblage (who seemed like the aristocrats in Dr. Zhivago).

It was just brutal, a great moment that only television can capture.

Colbert finished up and * was forced to shake his hand. The right wingers left in a hurry. Helen
Thomas was Colbert's first contact after he finished. They hugged and she was all smiles. They hung
around on th podium. George Clooney worked the crowd well after the event and seemed to be having a
great time. Nobody else was having much fun besides those three. I'm sure Jesse Jackson, also a
guest, was smiling inside.

See the tape, great, great moment. This guy is a warrior.