NationStates Jolt Archive

Those were his actual words, people. Of course they were preceeded by "considering whether or not to announce that". Anyway, to give this thread a point, what if he actually ran? I know I would vote for him. Wouldn't it be a terrific statement to vote for a satirist for president?

Rather shallow, if you ask me.

John Stewart, on the other hand...

erm....no, I wouldn't even think about voting for either him or Stewart. Don't get me wrong, I respect them both and think they're hilarious. They're also smart and good at what they do, but what they do isn't leading a country. Though, I think every president should be required to have a satirist as an adviser. ;)

Stewart/Colbert '08! :D

Better an ivy league bullshitter than an ivy league shit.

Alas, despite your economic hegemony, we're disenfranchised.

Better an ivy league bullshitter than an ivy league shit.

Alas, despite your economic hegemony, we're disenfranchised.

Pht... that could be any country/ethnic group.
But I'll tell you what: if it happens and there's some Florida-esque shit in my state, I'll let you have my second vote.

if steven colbert ran for president backed by john stewart, i think this country would see some great improvement and the great political divide would lessen.

Those were his actual words, people. Of course they were preceeded by "considering whether or not to announce that". Anyway, to give this thread a point, what if he actually ran? I know I would vote for him. Wouldn't it be a terrific statement to vote for a satirist for president?

He has made it clear. He is absolutely not ;) running for president. And the Colbert Nation is under no circumstances to write in for him;) ;)

I already have a Stewart/Colbert '08 bumper sticker on my car. :D

I already have a Stewart/Colbert '08 bumper sticker on my car. :Dcool.

I am going to get one too. :D

Gods,
i hope Ron Paul wins to bring the USA back to the republic the Constitution & Bill of Rights USED to stand for!!!

all forbid a gov't that abides by its own laws! :eek:

Rafe
OOC

Those were his actual words, people. Of course they were preceeded by "considering whether or not to announce that". Anyway, to give this thread a point, what if he actually ran? I know I would vote for him. Wouldn't it be a terrific statement to vote for a satirist for president?

Ron Paul is the second worst candidate running, the first being Fred Thompson as his positions are the same as Ron Paul but with international manifest destiny.

You know what would be funny, in a horrible sort of way?
If the dems lost because 10% of their base wrote in for Colbert.
He'd get more votes than Nader did!

He's stealing the idea from a Robin Williams movie, about a comedian/satirist that decided to run for president.

You know what would be funny, in a horrible sort of way?
If the dems lost because 10% of their base wrote in for Colbert.
He'd get more votes than Nader did!

But the Republicans arn't the brightest players in the game. They will vote for Colbert's character because they believe he is conservative.

Why do I have the movie Man of the Year running through my head?

He's stealing the idea from a Robin Williams movie, about a comedian/satirist that decided to run for president.

I heard that wasn't that great too.

I heard that wasn't that great too.

I loved that movie. Do not insult Man of the Year!

i still neither know nor care who this steven colbert is, but i'd definately vote for wakeuplaughing.com yogi beyondanda. as precident at least.

=^^=
.../\...

sad thing is he would actually get votes. this is proof this country is going to to hell fast

I am all for the C.C. (Colbert Campaign). Show us how our forefathers would run this joint we call America, and restore the values that we once lost. Go Step...no...President Colbert!

Of course I would vote for Colbert. All presidential candidates these days end up making the White House a joke. So you might was well vote in the professional.

I'd never vote for a guy who publicly encouraged the vandalism of Wikipedia.

This is what gave Colbert his street cred. Anyone with the balls to say these things right in front of the President has the guts we need in a leader. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

I would happily allow a satirist to join the advisory staff of the President, because they would be able to keep the President from losing focus on what's important as well as ease the President's stress, both of which is extremely useful considering the stresses of the job.

But for President? Not for a second. It'd be the ultimate spit in the face of democracy...we'd be voting in someone purely on the basis of "we like him because he's funny." Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.

Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.

But I thought we'd proved that they don't need to know how to run the country to be President.

But for President? Not for a second. It'd be the ultimate spit in the face of democracy...we'd be voting in someone purely on the basis of "we like him because he's funny." Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.

Democracy managed to survive when legions of otherwise nonpolitical women voted for Clinton soley because he had the ability to make them damp via the TV camera. We liked Reagan, not because he knew how to run anything, but because he had a strong comforting presence. You think Fred Thompson would be a Presidential front runner if he wasnt on a popular TV show? Past Senator or otherwise, i have serious doubts Fred has any more ability to run a government then Colbert does. Yet none of this stops either from being a potential reality.

Democracy managed to survive when legions of otherwise nonpolitical women voted for Clinton soley because he had the ability to make them damp via the TV camera. We liked Reagan, not because he knew how to run anything, but because he had a strong comforting presence. You think Fred Thompson would be a Presidential front runner if he wasnt on a popular TV show? Past Senator or otherwise, i have serious doubts Fred has any more ability to run a government then Colbert does. Yet none of this stops either from being a potential reality.
Well, it should. It really should.

Well, it should. It really should.

But surely the real insult to democracy would be letting some people run and others not?

I'd vote for Colbert/Stewart and I bet they would do a hell of a better job running the country than the past few bottom feeders we've had in office.

Based on who and what they attack on their shows, I trust them to have a conscience and make decisions that benefit the US rather than their own pocketbooks. Though I wouldn't want them to stop doing their shows :(


Also, if Colbert was serious, I think the law states that he can't use his own show to campaign with, though I am not so sure.

Didn't he say he was running in the South Carolina primary as a 'Favorite son?'

He also said he was going to run in both the Democratic and Republican primary.

He says a lot of things, he's a satirist...but if he gets his stated goal of getting a delegate, that'd be his greatest achievement of culture jamming to date.

But surely the real insult to democracy would be letting some people run and others not?

I didn't say he couldn't run, mate. I said electing him would be a spit in the face of democracy.

...

Okay, so I actually said voting for him, but same thing.

I didn't say he couldn't run, mate. I said electing him would be a spit in the face of democracy.

...

Okay, so I actually said voting for him, but same thing.


Nothing new about that. I'm used to democracy getting spat and shat all over. This is the US, it's par for the presidential course.

Why do I have the movie Man of the Year running through my head?

Better than Running Man I guess ;)

Nothing new about that. I'm used to democracy getting spat and shat all over. This is the US, it's par for the presidential course.

And that somehow makes it acceptable?

Look, it's all well and good to recognize something is bad, but this apathy is why things STAY bad! We have to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

And that somehow makes it acceptable?

Look, it's all well and good to recognize something is bad, but this apathy is why things STAY bad! We have to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

This is what makes democratic freedom both great and terrible - everyone gets it. Even people who you think shouldn't be elected, can be.

BYW I posted that thread about trial by jury.
... Sorry, but it's a really long OP, so I want to make sure someone reads it.

This is what makes democratic freedom both great and terrible - everyone gets it. Even people who you think shouldn't be elected, can be.

BYW I posted that thread about trial by jury.
... Sorry, but it's a really long OP, so I want to make sure someone reads it.

Indeed.

And I plan on doing so.

But I thought we'd proved that they don't need to know how to run the country...into the ground. :(
How much worse can it be? At least Stewart reads AND remembers, and both of them do better than just hold their own with damned near every interview they have.

If Stephen Colbert were to actually run for President, then I would vote for him under the following circumstances:
1) Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans nominate anyone decent.
2) When he campaigns, he makes it clear when he is joking, and when he is being serious.
3) I agree with his opinions when he is serious.
4) He selects an experienced politician as either his Veep or his Chief of Staff. His cabinet is also made of qualified people who know the system.

If that were to be the case, then I would actually vote for him. My requirement for having an experienced politician on his staff is so that he will have someone who knows how the political system works. He'd probably do better than a lot of people.

My vote for Stephen Colbert is a message to the American Political class.

Colbert 08

But for President? Not for a second. It'd be the ultimate spit in the face of democracy...we'd be voting in someone purely on the basis of "we like him because he's funny." Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.

You just don't run out of righteous indignation, huh? :p Incidentally, what is the first thing about running the country?

Does this mean that he has to stop appearing on his show? I guess the same thing would affect Fred Thompson... Does the value of the show as advertisement count as a contribution to his campaign?

I didn't ask this very well, but doesn't being a political commentator on a nightly show give him an unfair advantage -- as far as the legality of the thing goes?

Does this mean that he has to stop appearing on his show? i dont think so.
and If it does, he will probably resign his seat.

I didn't ask this very well, but doesn't being a political commentator on a nightly show give him an unfair advantage -- goes?Of course it does. Also selling out to the richest sponsors give you an unfair advantage.. welcome to the underworld of special-interests-groups.
.
as far as the legality of the thing goes?I dont think its illegal.

You just don't run out of righteous indignation, huh? :p Incidentally, what is the first thing about running the country?

No, I don't. Be glad, because it's far better than apathy.

As for the first thing? Damned if I know. That's why I'm not running for President. Yet.

I'm still sad that Doug Stanhope became so fed up with the bureaucratic mess that he gave up on running... that would've made for some incredibly interesting debates. I'm sure Colbert would make things entertaining though.

I'm still sad that Doug Stanhope became so fed up with the bureaucratic mess that he gave up on running... that would've made for some incredibly interesting debates. I'm sure Colbert would make things entertaining though.

He's only on the ballots of the primaries in South Carolina people. Really, he's not going to win the nomination. He's making a statement, just like he has with all of his other stunts.

Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.
Presidents Run the country? I was so used to the Vice President running the country I forgot.

Presidents Run the country? I was so used to the Vice President running the country I forgot.

This is probably only true in Bush's case because Cheney couldn't take the full stresses of the Presidential position. As things stand now he has all of the power and only a small portion of the stress.

If he could've taken the stress, I'm reasonably certain he'd have run for President himself.

I would happily allow a satirist to join the advisory staff of the President, because they would be able to keep the President from losing focus on what's important as well as ease the President's stress, both of which is extremely useful considering the stresses of the job.

But for President? Not for a second. It'd be the ultimate spit in the face of democracy...we'd be voting in someone purely on the basis of "we like him because he's funny." Stephen Colbert--whether we speak of the character OR the person--wouldn't know the first thing about running the country, and neither would Jon Stewart.
And what does anyone else know about running the country? Governors? No, they don't have any experience with federal matters or international diplomacy. Congressmen would have the most experience with it. I demand every governor running for president be defamed for lack of experience. So it is said, so it shall be!

And what does anyone else know about running the country? Governors? No, they don't have any experience with federal matters or international diplomacy. Congressmen would have the most experience with it. I demand every governor running for president be defamed for lack of experience. So it is said, so it shall be!
I would say a governor knows more than you think. A governor still has to deal with a Congress--at a state level--and with politics at a state level, which can get pretty hectic. Indeed, given the way the United States is set up, I'd almost claim foreign policy experience when it comes to relations with other states!

But my main point really was that he has absolutely no experience in any sort of political or other type of office(such as being a General or an Admiral) that would even come close to preparing him for the sort of things he'd have to do as President. That's my main beef with Stephen Colbert running.

Of course, I agree with you in that there needs to be more experience in Presidential candidates, but I'm talking about a satirist, not other candidates.

But my main point really was that he has absolutely no experience in any sort of political or other type of office(such as being a General or an Admiral) that would even come close to preparing him for the sort of things he'd have to do as President. That's my main beef with Stephen Colbert running.

It's seeming like no one actually knows how to be president unless they're already in power. I think it's a conspiracy, they just make this stuff up to stop people like you, me, or Colbert from even trying.

He's stealing the idea from a Robin Williams movie, about a comedian/satirist that decided to run for president.

of which he basis for the movie was Stewart and Colbert. Read the director's notes on the film as well as the critical commentray and you'll find that the movie was based on them and not vie versa.

Why do I have the movie Man of the Year running through my head?

because it was based on stewart and colbert, at least the concept was. It says so right in the synopsis on the box cover of the film.

Colbert: A human being.

Every other nominee: A brainless puppet who dances to the whim of their party/campaign sponsor. As far as being professional? These are politicians we're talking about. The Kennedy Family, The Bush Family, republicans preaching family values and then flirting with a state trooper in a men's room, or sending teenage boys text messages wanting to hook up, or figures of such demanding eloquence like John Kerry and Al Gore. People with such knowledge of their responsibilities that the Commissioner of Internet Regulations believes it's made up of a series of fucking tubes that get jammed with poker chips and dump trucks.

This may have already been mentioned, but I hear he's actually on the ballot in South Carolina (?)

This may have already been mentioned, but I hear he's actually on the ballot in South Carolina (?)
Not yet, he's not, but he claims he's trying to get on both the Democrat and Republican primary ballots.

For the Democrat ballot he just needs 3,000 signatures from South Carolina Democrats. For the Republican ballot he needs $35,000 (hence his corporate sponsorship from Frito-Lay).

Not yet, he's not, but he claims he's trying to get on both the Democrat and Republican primary ballots.

For the Democrat ballot he just needs 3,000 signatures from South Carolina Democrats. For the Republican ballot he needs $35,000 (hence his corporate sponsorship from Frito-Lay).
Yeah, it's pretty obvious bullshit.
Republican ballot price: $35k
Democrat ballot price: $2.5k or 3000 signatures from Democrats.

political positions in an egalitarian democracy should be random and compulsory, just like jury duty. This notion that someone's intellect in one are would not transfer to running a country is bullshit. Further, this would ensure much better education because people would be afraid of a dumbshit getting elected president. also would strengthen the political system itself because there would definitely need to be knowledgable and reliable people hired into government agencies so that the individual characteristics of the "candidates" would not hinder the running of the country. finally, this would rid the immense amounts of money that go into funding our current systems candidates in which they become beholded to those money givers. A great system!

Governors? No, they don't have any experience with federal matters or international diplomacy.

Nope, not a single governor has experience in international diplomacy. Of course, we'll ignore the obvious example of Bill Richardson.

http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-45547_45548-174551--,00.html

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/08/california_and_.html

And as for dealing with Federal matters, most of them work closely with their Congressional delegations to look out for their state's interests.

edit: And yes, I did get the point of what you were saying, but I just felt that needed to be said.

political positions in an egalitarian democracy should be random and compulsory, just like jury duty.
That's why egalitarianism is made of fail.

Nope, not a single governor has experience in international diplomacy.
I like that your examples of governors who deal with international matters are both governors from other countries (Granholm is Canadian).

That's why egalitarianism is made of fail.

I don't follow. Egal is a political notion...not sure if you are applying it to other society structures. Seperating the economic market from the political structure is of utmost importance in a democracy and unfortunatetly they are intimately and irreversibly braided in the capitalist system. The nature of unregulated Capitalism is contrary to political equity of populations, groups, and individuals.

I like that your examples of governors who deal with international matters are both governors from other countries (Granholm is Canadian).

I'm fully aware that Granholm is Canadian. Much of Posthumous's campaign against her in 2002 revolved around her being "not from 'round here", although I think more people had issue with her being raised in California than being born in Canada.

I'm not American, but I'm voting Cthulhu in 08. Why vote for a lesser evil?

I don't follow. Egal is a political notion...not sure if you are applying it to other society structures. Seperating the economic market from the political structure is of utmost importance in a democracy and unfortunatetly they are intimately and irreversibly braided in the capitalist system. The nature of unregulated Capitalism is contrary to political equity of populations, groups, and individuals.
Specialisation of labour has tremendous value, and your egalitarian solution breaks that.

He's stealing the idea from a Robin Williams movie, about a comedian/satirist that decided to run for president.

You know of course people'd been recommending it for a few years now.

I'm not American, but I'm voting Cthulhu in 08. Why vote for a lesser evil?

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/violent/sterb108.gif

Can he legally run?

But for President? Not for a second. It'd be the ultimate spit in the face of democracy...

All the better. It's about time for the corrupt institution to be brought down anyway.

Why does Colbert, a conservative, draw in so much liberal fanaticism?

Can he legally run?

Why not? Doritos will pay the way ... that and his Formula 400 series.
http://images.wikia.com/wikiality/images/Formula401.jpg
http://images3.wikia.com/wikiality/images/thumb/320px-Colbert20060619Formula402.jpg

I was hoping his Alpha Squad 7 would pull up, but he's been kinda lax with that of late.
http://popsci.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/03/tekjansenposter1.jpg

Why does Colbert, a conservative, draw in so much liberal fanaticism?

Perhaps it's a joke some people will never, NEVER get.
http://bushspeaks.com/img/bush-kisses-lieberman.jpg
Could be the adaptability of their mindset/political views, could be something deeper and more gene-oriented.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-politics10sep10,1,5376455.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Why not? Doritos will pay the way ... that and his Formula 400 series.
http://images.wikia.com/wikiality/images/Formula401.jpg
http://images3.wikia.com/wikiality/images/thumb/320px-Colbert20060619Formula402.jpg

I was hoping his Alpha Squad 7 would pull up, but he's been kinda lax with that of late.
http://popsci.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/03/tekjansenposter1.jpg

But aren't there specific qualification? I thought you had to be a politician for like 5 years before you could even think of running.

*confused*

But aren't there specific qualification? I thought you had to be a politician for like 5 years before you could even think of running.

*confused*

Nope. There are petition requirements that can be bypassed by fees. That's about it. All hail participatory government. Except that participation doesn't happen unless a governor is recalled or a satirist has some big culture jams to trump.

There are petition requirements that can be bypassed by fees. And here we are, with the true nature of U.S.-ian politics. :(

http://www.caribooskies.com/solarsystem/plutohades.jpg