Colbert editing Newsweek

by Smitty (h/t Rhetorican)

  I can nearly get into the idea of Stephen Colbert editing Newsweak. As much as I enjoyed his wonderfully titled I Am America (And So Can You!), I look forward to not reading this with added pleasure.
While I don't advocate wanton cruelty to people, saying "Newsweak, I hope you die in a fire" types quite comfortably.

Video: Barr on Colbert

David Weigel assesses Barr's performance. In an earlier thread at "Hit & Run," many libertarians were critical.

I don't know what the critics expected. The way for a politician to be good on Colbert is, let him do his jokes. You laugh at his jokes, and if he tosses you a good set-up line, joke along with him. But don't go on that show thinking you're going to out-funny the funny guy; that's not how it works. Barr did well, made some good points, and showed he has a sense of humor.

Aaron Gould Sheinin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution transcribes some of the best banter:

"What's the difference between you and Ralph Nader other than you apparently own a comb?" Colbert asked, referencing the perennial third-party candidate who is running again as an independent.
"And the mustache," the whiskered Barr offered right back.
"Were you afraid the government might make you register that thing?" Colbert asked. "'Cause it's a lady-killer."

Sheinin is a great reporter. Too bad he's forced to work for that awful newspaper whose stupid editors thought that Rheta Grimsley-Johnson was a suitable replacement for Lewis Grizzard, a journalistic sin for which they can never be forgiven.

New York, New York

Today, I'm heading to New York City, to cover Bob Barr's appearance on The Colbert Report. I'll have green room access, but I'm told that what happens backstage at the show is strictly off the record. So if you're expecting lurid tales of Stephen Colbert snorting coke with naked Guatemalan hookers, tough luck. I'm saving that for the book.

Blogging will be light.

UPDATE THURSDAY: I'm back from New York, and very tired. The article's at The American Spectator:

NEW YORK -- When Stephen Colbert introduced the Libertarian Party presidential candidate last night, the audience for "The Colbert Report" cracked up when the studio monitors showed a picture of Babar, the elephant protagonist of children's storybooks.
The host of the popular Comedy Central mock-news program told his audience, "Full disclosure, folks: I myself am a Libertarian. I don't want big government to infringe on my right to tell other people how to think."
Jokes aside, Colbert's interview with the Libertarian nominee, former Rep. Bob Barr (not Babar), was surprisingly respectful. He gave Barr plenty of softball questions and allowed the candidate to answer at length.
Libertarians "are a big swing vote this time because Americans are finally realizing, at long last, that the current two-party system, the Democrats and the Republicans, have failed and failed miserably, and will simply give them more of the same," Barr
said. . . .

By all means, read the whole thing. Also, David Weigel has a feature on Barr's LP running mate, Wayne Allyn Root.