Year: 2007

I don’t know why; I just thought it was hysterical.

When “Daily Show” correspondents do their presentations, they typically adopt a sort of faux arch attitude, leaving Jon Stewart looking bewildered (and I have to say, it is amazing to watch Stewart go from being joke-deliverer to straight man with such facility.) It is that archness that makes much of the material work, because what they’re saying is incredibly sarcastic, but it’s presented as if they’re unaware that what they’re saying is sarcastic at all.

Not so with Rob Riggle last night in discussing the Bush build-up.

Typically the DS comes up with nonsensical areas of expertise for their commentators: When Bush nearly strangled on pretzel sticks, it would be discussed by their “Senior Junk Food Hazard Analyst.” But Riggle is an ex-marine, so he really *is* something of an expert on military affairs, especially in discussing boots-on-the-ground tactics.

And boy, did he look pìššëd.

I think the audience sensed it. The laughter from what he said was more uncomfortable than it typically is. He came across to me like a guy who was absolutely incensed, doing his best to try and make it comically appealing, and not quite managing. I can’t blame him: This is a guy who, unlike the commander-in-chief and the VP, has genuine on-the-ground experience. He does not take life as cheaply or consider it as disposable as America’s leaders apparently do. And, to me at any rate, it showed.

PAD

The classic definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

We’ve been sending troops into Iraq. The result? Civil War, fighting, and young people dying.

Bush’s solution? Send troops into Iraq.

Different result?

No reason to believe so.

Someone should do a dictionary entry for “Insanity” with Bush’s picture next to it.

PAD

We are watching the NBC feed.

No Sound….Ah there he is. Very furrowed brow.

Wow, he is admitting that his plan didn’t work. (9:02)

Background information but still not calling it a Civil War (9:03)

He’s taking responcibility but then he is the determiner

Sound problems(9:04)…and we are back.

Invoking September 11th again. Panic and Fear runs the streets yet again.

So if I am understanding this he thinks that if we secure Bagdad then we secure the Iraq? (9:06)

So this is what the Iraq military will do but what will our commitment be?

20,000 more troops from where? Where are we finding these troops? A question not answered(9:08)

Sounds like a scorched earth policy with Iraq help. Didn’t work in ‘Nam too well did it?(9:08)

So more death will help the progress in the country? Sounds like he is covering his kister for many more American troops that will be killed(9:09)

Build up the Iraq troops and give money to the reconstruction getting the money from where? (9:11)

Brings up the ghost of Bin Lauden again along with Al Quida to again raise the fear level.

Notice that he keeps bringing it back to what might happen here if we don’t do something there. Let’s leave the mess there (9:13)

And we are now onto Iran again and the threat that is Iran (9:14)

At least he said “nuclear” correctly.

Condi is going to Iraq again. Hope she packs her flak jacket. (9:15)

Are we going to cut and run or stay and mire? (9:16)

Dehumanizing the enemy yet again (9:17)

Changing what Victory is. I think this is a good example of factiness. (9:18)

He still can’t say the words “Civil War” can he?

So by sending more people in, we can get the troops out faster? I am flashing on the last days in ‘Nam. (9:19)

Yet another bi-partisan working group being formed to join all the other groups that have gone before them.

Kath is not happy with the troops are great part of the speech. She has friends who have lost brothers, sons, daughters and even grandchildren as recently as yesterday. She feels he really doesn’t get it.

And we are back to the commentary…..

You know, when a massive noxious stink enveloped Manhattan, the first thing that occurred to me was that something was wafting in from New Jersey. But then I thought, “Nah. It’ll seem like I’m just making a cheap joke at the expense of the Garden State. So I won’t say anything.”

And now it turns out that, yeah, apparently it WAS New Jersey, something that should come as no shock to anyone who’s ever had to roll up their windows traversing the Jersey Turnpike lest the stench cause them to lose control of the wheel.

What the hëll goes on in that state, anyway?

PAD

This is about a hundred times funnier than the ad for “X-Men III: The Last Standing Ovation.”