To get a good read on what he is all about all you had to do was watch his show last night when he even poked fun at himself. He showed people in the audience not laughing at him. Typical Stephen.

What’s Hot: Colbert

What’s Not (or starting not to be): Stewart

DEBATE THAT!

Roundly panned indeed. Those were the comments I heard in person at the dinner and after. I just threw in one link as an example — in person, though, the comments were much more vicious. My characterization is actually a toned-down paraphrase.

You don’t say? Toned down. More like tone deaf. The very people being so adroitly flayed responded by whipping themselves into a swivet of high dudgeon, thereby guaranteeing the flayings will continue. Huh, who’d have ever seen that coming? I’ve not encountered your media persona before today. Am I to understand that you are somehow engaged as an advisor-for-hire on media management? Do you see the delightfully circular logic in that? Wait, look who I’m asking? Would that my home in frigid MN had the R-value of your analysis of this event.

Don’t believe me? Try reading a transcript of it.

I say yes, and I mean that even if both shows continue to be funny and influential (well, oft-referred to by elite blue state types as ourselves) for years to come. In the first half of 2006, Stewart and Colbert were both given the keys to the mainstream entertainment car, and it apparently the powers that be (i.e. the coveted 18-49 demographic) didn’t appreciate the ride.

I also think Colbert is a little more transparent than Chris does. tephen Colbert worries too much that “Stephen Colbert” won’t be taken as parody. As Colbert told Newsweek and as he said on 60 Minutes this weekend, he won’t let his kids see much of what he does because he doesn’t want them to see him being insincere. And he doesn’t seem to trust the American people to know the difference either, which leads him to drop the right-wing facade every once in awhile. Unsurprisingly, these are the least funny parts of the show.

I don’t think he does any damage to the left, though. Nor much to the right. If ever there was a block of programming that mattered only to those who watch it (religiously), it’s Comedy Central M-T 11PM-12AM (10-11 CST).

P.S. Bill Moyers, isn’t there an industry you should be out investigating?

I’m gonna go “yes” with ‘loves family’ and ‘loves Jesus’. I honestly don’t know about the rest of it.

So hate him or love him, wingnut or moonbat, be careful about what you think you “know”.

And so, what Colbert is doing — passing — is just poor form. Passing? Yes, passing for a self-obsessed, narcissistic, short-sighted, flag-waving, heart-thumping, God-fearing, arch-conservative.

The thing is, he has yet to be “made” because the right isn’t very flexible. They’re still dazed. Still a lot confused. On their knees searching blindly around as though their glasses had been knocked off.

Here, finally, is a man you can trust: Stephen Colbert! Loves America, loves Jesus, loved Family, and love his little Eagle, Steve, Jr.

The truth is, Stephen Colbert does unknown damage to the left through his comedy and very little damage to the right. The Right is not only oblivious to the too too subtle slings because the net gain is that the Colbert Report essentially conveys the conservative message.

The conservative message is only in the pomp and circumstance and like a meniscus, it is only on the surface. But the surface is enough.

Don’t forget, these are folks who are literalists in all things: the Bible, the Constitution, the Ten Commandments.

People who have not an interpretational bone in their body are surely never going to figure out that Stephen Colbert is in fact a comedian making acerbic commentary on the ghoulish, absurd caricature that is the American Neocon Right.