The End of an Error. January 17, 2009 1:53 PM Subscribe
With George W. Bush's presidency coming to a close David Letterman on last night's The Late Show bid farewell to his recurring segment "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" with a video montage [4:00] of clips. Another compilation of clips [4:49].
posted by ericb (39 comments total)
9 users marked this as a favorite
George Bush was a horrendous president, but the fucking Komedy Klondike. Is anybody besides me thinking that the Comedy Writers of America might've been involved in those two elections? posted by jonmc at 1:59 PM on January 17 [4 favorites has favorites]
Also, Obama: I love you, but develop some foibles, quicksville, or TV won't be the same. posted by jonmc at 2:00 PM on January 17
From here on out, he's going to get $150,000 a speech to do this shit. BTW, I won't miss those beady little eyes peering out at you. posted by Xurando at 2:04 PM on January 17
George Bush was a horrendous president, but the fucking Komedy Klondike. Is anybody besides me thinking that the Comedy Writers of America might've been involved in those two elections?
posted by jonmc at 1:59 PM on January 17 [+] [!]
Jon Stewart got pretty pissed off when someone seriously suggested he had a vested interest in Bush winning the 2004 election. I don't remember when he said this exactly, probably when he was on crossfire. posted by Pseudology at 2:04 PM on January 17
So far, the Daily Show has been trying to go with "hubris" as Obama's big foible. It's not really playing out too well, since Obama is so outwardly humble. I just got a 'personal message' from him (aka his website) today, and the first words were something to the effect of "this is all because of you." Aw shucks Mr. President. posted by synaesthetichaze at 2:06 PM on January 17
I would rather not be the laughing-stock of the world.
kthxbai posted by woodway at 2:08 PM on January 17
Letterman's been making smoking jokes so far. Obama seems to have a good sense of humor about himself if the 'Jor-El' bit at that charity dinner is any indication, but you gotta give them some material, Barry, baby, c'mon. Don't let the Clinton legacy down! posted by jonmc at 2:10 PM on January 17
Frankly, I don't expect anything from Obama except sane SCOTUS nominations. Anything else is gravy. posted by RavinDave at 2:12 PM on January 17 [2 favorites has favorites]
Of course, considering Obama's basketball fandom, somebody could surprise him by inviting Bill Bradley on for a surprise game of one-on-one. posted by jonmc at 2:23 PM on January 17
Too soon! Too soon!
Maybe after Tuesday I'll be able to laugh at Bush through clenched teeth. Until them, this bad joke is ultimately on all of us. posted by Doktor Zed at 2:24 PM on January 17
The interesting thing about the 'can't get fooled again' bit is that the reason he fumbles it is that he doesn't want to say "shame on me". posted by empath at 2:29 PM on January 17 [4 favorites has favorites]
Kennedy had a wonderful, intelligent and self-deprecating humor. I expect much the same from Barack with maybe a little playground Harlem Globetrotter for spice on occasion. posted by jim in austin at 2:30 PM on January 17
Kennedy had a wonderful, intelligent and self-deprecating humor.
True, but his accent, eye for the ladies, and family provided plenty of grist for the comedic mill (as did his kid brother-Go find "Wild Thing" by 'Senator Bobby.'). And Clinton had his brother Roger. Maybe Barack has an embrassing relative someplace. posted by jonmc at 2:34 PM on January 17
It’s true, I did break bread with Obama. It was amazing. He was carried into the house by cherubs, Bruce Springsteen and Oprah Winfrey spread rose petals on the carpet where he was about to walk and he very considerately asked me what vintage of wine I wanted my water turned into. posted by empath at 2:51 PM on January 17 [3 favorites has favorites]
It's like I've been living in a Kafka novel- for the last 8 years. posted by hellojed at 3:25 PM on January 17
develop some foibles, quicksville, or TV won't be the same.
Confronted with the enormity of the job ahead, Obama's decided to delegate foibles to the Vice President, God love him. posted by octobersurprise at 3:26 PM on January 17 [4 favorites has favorites]
So far, the Daily Show has been trying to go with "hubris" as Obama's big foible. It's not really playing out too well, since Obama is so outwardly humble.
The Obama Recession will adversely affect the lavish lifestyle that comedians have taken for granted over the last eight years. Look for stand-ups in an unemployment line near you. The right-wing gravy train is over! posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:46 PM on January 17
I'll be happy when Bush Jr. is in Dallas getting drunk in public, regularly "hey look, another one of those Bush falling down videos..." and we get to punch in the dick all the "conservatives" and "neo-cons" who've been shitting on our country for the last 20+ years. When these assholes are rounded up and publicly spanked, and a couple especially bad apples are in jail (I'm winking at you Tricky Dick Cheney), then I'll start to sleep better. Until then it's all bread and circuses. posted by From Bklyn at 4:03 PM on January 17
The thing that always strikes me about Obama, and one of the things I love most about the way he speaks to the electorate is how humble he is. He frequently puts Joe Biden first when he talks of his initiatives or plans, as evidenced by his latest missive from Change.gov.
How refreshing to hear that! "Joe Biden and I will (fill in the blank)."
For someone who frequently gets denigrated as "The Anointed One" in the press, how wonderful it is to hear the leader of the free world frequently defer his power to highlight the involvement of his peers in policy. posted by Lipstick Thespian at 4:05 PM on January 17
"Joe Biden and I will (fill in the blank)."
That's just proper grammar. It just sounds so nice and refreshing because it's been so long since we've heard that out of a president's mouth posted by chillmost at 4:23 PM on January 17 [6 favorites has favorites]
Ha! Ha! It's funny because we elected an idiot to be the most powerful man on earth.
And we can look back on it and laugh now because absolutely no bad consequences came of it. Oh, good times, good times. posted by Flunkie at 5:08 PM on January 17 [4 favorites has favorites]
The Olbermann video is sick making, what kind of malice, of hatred of everyone, including really, yourself leads you to behave like this? To drive a thriving, tolerated if not respected empire right into the ground? How can such hate and greed and incompetence exist in one person, one admistration? I feel like bathing in Holy Water and burning sage, and spilling a circle of salt around my bed. More than any other reason this is why I don't believe in God. A God who would allow this is worse than a God who would cause it. If I see any light it's in people who do do good, and work to leave the world better than when they got here. But seeing in stark relief what they're working against can be heartbreaking. posted by Ruby Stevens at 7:30 PM on January 17
Come on, we could record the worst parts of what anyone did in eight years and it would be just as bad.
I, for instance, jay walked on numerous occasions. Also, once I got angry at a coworker and didn't apologize. Frequently, I misspell "their" as "there." posted by Joey Michaels at 8:02 PM on January 17
(Should I have used the sarcasm tag here or was that pretty clear? Because I can never tell.) posted by Joey Michaels at 8:03 PM on January 17
Frequently, I misspell "their" as "there."
Oh, my God. You're one of THEM. posted by brundlefly at 8:36 PM on January 17
Yes! Thank you Ericb and David Letterman!
8 years on, and in the last two days I finally figure out who Dubya reminds me of:
Keith Olbermann piece was good, but he always has a 2cm gap between the bottom of his eyebrow and some sort of black liner to make them look bushier. I'm surprised that hasn't been caught by now, cause it's like that every time I see his show. posted by o0o0o at 9:40 PM on January 17
On The Media (yes, I know, NPR) skillfully summarized his relationship with The Press over the last 8 years, and solidly planted in my mind the idea of "THANK you" (spoken like W did) as a perfect euphemism for "Fuck You". posted by wendell at 9:41 PM on January 17
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posted by jonmc at 1:59 PM on January 17 [4 favorites has favorites]