Stephen Colbert Drops Presidential Bid

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert has dropped his bid for the White House.

His announcement came after the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council voted last week to keep the host of "The Colbert Report" off the state's primary ballot. The vote was 13-3.

Colbert poses as a conservative talk-show host on the Comedy Central show.

"Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history — only 10 votes — I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle," Colbert said Monday in a statement. "It is time for this nation to heal."

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hC-zUPHsxVV9_8h9b0BHk4qLcqvwD8SNMDC00

[JPZenger]

1. He Polled 28% for Young People at One time

At one point, one poll had Colbert at 28 percent among people 18 to 29. It was fun, but I'm glad he didn't stay in the race, or it might have affected the final result.

[Nevernose]

19. And maybe it SHOULD have affected the final result

While we have the best crop of candidates in a long time, there still ain't none of 'em Truman or RFK material. If Colbert could things up a little, I'm all for it.

[INDIA]

21. Which proves that young people are completely stupid.

...and this opinion is coming from a 24 year old.

[msongs]

2. maybe it's because the people who write his words are on strike? nt

[Zavulon]

About time.

I'm not one of those who thinks he'd have had any influence, I just wanted him to drop it because it was stupid. "I want to run as a Dem and a Repug so that I can lose twice?" How the fuck is that funny?

I'm not without a sense of humor, but something has to be funny for me to laugh. Colbert's "candidacy" just wasn't.

[flyingfysh]

4. obviously you never saw Pat Paulsen's presidential campaign

He was a regular "comedian" on the Smothers Brothers show, although I don't remember ever laughing at him. He ran a strange campaign for President.

[Faygo Kid]

17. Pat Paulsen: Still the best, and funnier than Nixon.

Well, most of the time. I had the pleasure of meeting him and working with him in 1988. Class act all the way. And he would have made a much better president than Tricky Dick (who wouldn't?)

[Zavulon]

24. Actually, this is the first I've heard of it or him.

I don't know if this Paulsen thing was in my lifetime or not, but I spent a large part of my youth in Canada, so I'll have to ask my parents if they know about it. I can't imagine I'd have found it funny, though. Colbert is often funny, but this stupid "I wanna lose twice" crap is simply bereft of humor. As such, Paulsen's campaign HAD to be funnier (by default), but I'm going to have to look it up.

Thanks for bringing this up.

[customerserviceguy]

29. I, too

was reminded by Pat Paulsen, and I did laugh! The 1968 Presidential campaign is the first one I was ever able to fully appreciate, as I had enough reading skills by then to follow it in the paper. I sensed the country's feeling of unease, and Pat provided a way for us to laugh in spite of the lousyness of the choices.

[SyntaxError]

25. I disagree,,,

I found it pretty damn amusing. He should have kept going.


Actually, I found the concept funny, but I can't really comment on the execution since I usually only watch a small part of him at the end of the daily show, and maybe a few minutes in his show.

[Lucinda]

3. Great spin!

"Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history — only 10 votes — I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle," Colbert said Monday in a statement. "It is time for this nation to heal."


I love Colbert. :)

[supernova]

5. LOL! It was fun while it lasted

:-)

I hope he and Jon aren't off the air for too long for the writers' strike.

[kedrys]

10. Jon is paying his and Stephen's staff out of his own pocket

Said he didn't want them to suffer undue hardship while the strike was going on.

[supernova]

20. But they aren't producing new shows right now

at least for two weeks. Jon is just covering their salaries so they don't have cash flow problems, but they are still striking.

[SyntaxError]

26. wow... That's cool of him.

[happygoluckytoyou]

6. so now he can back EDWARDS as he believes

i think it didnt have the humor he had hoped for---- usually a very funny guy with a wit and wisdom that i enjoy, he would have to stretch pretty far to keep acting as a republican (possibly get arrested for toetapping).

wonder if there would have been a conflict over his air-time as well..... sort of like that dead guy, fred something, who was running for president even when his cop shows were on.

[otherlander]

13. But Pocket Colbert supports Kucinich, remember?

:D

[shenmue]

7. Hey! Nobody likes a quitter!

:cry:

Why must you leave us, kind sir?

[Ilsa]

8. "It is time for this nation to heal." This nation has already been heeled. nt

[MetaTrope]

9. Wait, shouldn't he be running as a Republican?!

It's more in keeping with his image, and they need somebody with the slightest hint of popularity quite badly. As for the ultimate outcome, it certainly would be interesting!

[izquierdista]

14. Requirements got to him

Perhaps the thought of fun-raisers in the airport bathrooms and meetings in cheap motels with young virile supporters was asking too much of him.

[annabanana]

16. Actually it was the 35K he'd have had to pony up. . . n/t

[Vinca]

11. Good. This is a life or death election, not comedy material. nt

[CatholicEdHead]

12. Would have liked to see one more show to see how he presents it

We probably will, but not for a while.

[Up2Late]

15. Another Non-News story from the AP. Is the AP just figuring this out now?

Because just about anyone else who cared learned this LAST THURSDAY!:banghead:

He broke the News himself on his show!:wtf:

[Faygo Kid]

18. Another brilliant move: Positioning himself for the Veep slot.

Create a groundswell of support, then step aside just as the public demands his participation.

http://www.alternet.org/images/managed/Story+Image_thumb_051006_story1.jpg

[dysfunctional press]

22. kind of hard for him to "run" during a writer's strike.

nt

[rayofreason]

23. Say it ain't so!

[question everything]

27. Too bad

could have provided an on going commentary during the process.

[TruthSleuth]

28. Nice publicity stunt