The Blue State

Video: Colbert explains that Duke Cunningham's replacement is a lobbyist

The Congressional bribery scandal involving California Republican Duke Cunningham actually turned out to be a net-plus for the GOP.  Cunningham was removed for his relationship with lobbyists.  So it was only fitting that his replacement, Brian Bilbray, was a lobbyist himself.  So instead of being penalized for their close relationships with lobbyists, the Republican Party just got one of their own guy to fill the Congressional vacancy.

Steven Colbert explaind last night:

Click to watch video clip

COLBERT: "I am no fan of the 50th.  Last year they turned a deaf ear to Randy Duke Cunningham's cry for help.  That's what it means when a man takes millions in bribes: help.  Anyway, last week there was a special election to replace Duke, who went to jail for his corrupt relationship with a Republican lobbyist.  The winner: Brian Bilbray, a Republican lobbyist.  Well-done 50th.  You cut out the middle-man.  Forget about the Congressman, just give the lobbyist the vote.  Much more efficient."

It goes to show how few cracks, if any, have been made in the K-Street project.  The man replacing Duke Cunningham is a lobbyist.  Tom DeLay, who was driven out also because of his relationships with lobbyists, plans to actually become a lobbyist.  The Republican majority: merging the Legislative Branch with big business.

Video: Colbert interrogates RFK Jr about '04 Ohio allegations

On the Colbert Report, host Steven Colbert interviewed Robert Kennedy Jr about his recent article in Rolling Stone Magazine that explained how there was deliberate voting fraud in Ohio by the Republican Party in 2004.  Colbert annoyed the heck out of Kennedy, and for a second I thought the son of the one-time U.S. Attorney General was going to leap across the table and strangle the host.  Here is the video clip:

Click here to watch the video clip

(-------Partial transcript-------)

COLBERT: "I generally let my elections be handled by the free market.  You know, it's a capitalist society.  And if we just let everybody vote and all the votes get counted, isn't that a little bit like communism?  Everybody's equal.  Hey, the tractor belongs to everybody!  That make any sense?"

KENNEDY: "Well, it's a representative --"

COLBERT: "Does it?

KENNEDY: "No."

COLBERT: "No?  Alright, I give you every chance in the world to disagree with me."

KENNEDY: "No, in a representative democracy, you want everybody to vote.  You want the majority of voters to select the president."

COLBERT: "Okay.  Let me ask you something.  Which was easier: for Bush to steal Ohio in 2004, or for your uncle to steal Illinois in 1960?"

Ouch!  That was a low blow.

Just in case you have not read Robert Kennedy Jr's June 1st column in Rolling Stone, here it is.

Video: Colbert interviews radio host Al Franken

Back on March 15th, Steven Colbert had Al Franken on as a guest.  From their dialogue about whether Franken was "a coward" to Bill O'Reilly's irregular traditional values, I'd say they made a lot of progress.  We still do not know whether Franken will run for Senate (even though I think he would be much more effective if he continued to host a radio program with 3 million listeners).  Nonetheless, here is the clip:

In a way, Colbert was returning the favor.  Back in December of 2005, Colbert paid a visit as a guest on Al Franken's radio program.

Video: Colbert interviews Keith Olbermann about O'Reilly

The funniest man on television, Steven Colbert, had MSNBC evening host Keith Olbermann on his program a few months ago.  Here is the clip:

I dare anyone to call up Bill O'Reilly's radio show and mention the name 'Keith Olbermann'.  Of course, you will get hunted down by Fox security.  Don't get mad at Bill for it though.  To him, this is 1940s Germany.  Just saying something can get you in trouble -- and it did a few months back for Mike from Orlando, Florida, who called O'Reilly's show and uttered Olbermann's name.

Steven Colbert reaches itune milestone

Want an idea of how out of touch the mainstream media is with young Americans?  A few weeks ago at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Comedy Central personality Steven Colbert gave a stand-up comedy bit that just about every television personality said was either a let-down or just not funny at all.

But that's not what most internet-savvy people think.  Today, Editor and Publisher reports that Steven Colbert's speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner is now the number one most-downloaded audio itune:

An audio version of Stephen Colbert's much-debatedroutine at the recent White House Correspondents dinner has reached #1among all "albums" at iTunes, beating out new releases from Pearl Jam,the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Paul Simon.

It was created by Audible.com, and costs $1.95 perdownload. It was provided to Audible.com by C-SPAN, which covered thedinner live, The New York Times reported today.

Click here to watch Steven Colbert's comedy bit.

Video: Colbert annoys Nader

Last night on the Colbert Report, Ralph Nader stepped onto the hotseat and was interviewed by one of the most annoying, while still funny, talk-show hosts alive: Steven Colbert.  They discusseed everything from people flying through windows to droids:

Click to watch clip >>> (Windows Media Player)

COLBERT: "What are you upset about now?"

NADER: "I don't think people have the freedom to go through a wind-shield.  So, seat belts, airbags --"

COLBERT: "My wind-shield sir --"

NADER: "Seat belts, airbags --"

COLBERT: "My wind-shield.  I bought it, should be able to do what I want with it.  If I want to put my body through it, that's fine.  Oh, but women have the choice, all the choice they want!  But a man can't go through his own wind-shield."

NADER: "Why should a taxpayer pick up your remains?"

COLBERT: "I'm not asking him to."

Speaking of which, while airbags do help prevent fatalities, the leading cause of accidents in the first place is distracted drivers, according to a new study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.