Charleston Dandy

Stephen reported on the latest poll numbers tonight. Here is the voter favorable opinion poll from 1/17/12:

Stephen Colbert 36%
Mitt Romney 35%
Rick Santorum 30%
Ron Paul 27%
Newt Gingrich 26%

Did you see that? Colbert is at the top of all of them! And he's not even on the South Carolina ballot. I don't even want to know why the numbers don't add up to 100%. All that matters is that Stephen is ahead of all of them.

But then there was a complete surprise. Stephen attended a Town Hall Meeting sponsored by cafemom recently that was moderated by friend of the show, Frank Luntz. (Disclaimer: Stephen stated that he was not actually there, but there was a TV and a 2 minute video of him was shown.) He did not get the approval he was looking for, in fact, one "Mom" called him a Charleston Dandy. Not to worry, Stephen, just remember that 36% number.

Tonight was special because we got to see one of Jon Stewart's ads for Stephen Colbert. Stephen reminded South Carolina voters to vote for Herman Cain in Saturday's primary. And then, just like frosting on a cake, Stephen announced what is surely to be the biggest event this year in South Carolina.

Rock Me Like A
Herman Cain
South Cain-olina
Primary Rally

With Special Guest Herman Cain. The rally will be this Friday at 1:00 p.m (gates open at noon). The event will be held at The Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston at George Street. There will be speeches, cheerleaders, marching band, gospel choir, and of course Stephen Colbert and Herman Cain. I won't be able to be there, so I think I will watch the webcam. What do you think are the chances that the website will get so much traffic that it will be unavailable? I'd put it at 36%.

Stephen talked a bit about SOPA and PIPA and then chatted with fellow conservative David Frum of Daily Beast and Newsweek fame. In November David Frum thought the GOP had lost touch with reality, but now, two months later, he's more hopeful and thinks Romney is the man for the job (POTUS).

Stephen expressed his curiosity on just which Mitt Romney he was talking about. Stephen also wonders how Romney could get the support of the Tea Party since, as a Mormon, Romney can neither drink tea nor party. When Stephen asked if the other candidates should drop out in the event that Romney wins the South Carolina Primary, Frum would not answer that question but instead replied, "I would like to see this over as soon a possible."

Remember to go to the Rally on Friday and remember to vote for "Herman Cain" in the South Carolina Primary on Saturday, January 21.

It's Satire

Stephen talked about the Tea Party Nation Convention and Sarah Palin on last night's show. He clarified for all of us that the original Boston Tea Party also turned a profit. Sarah Palin could possibly run for president in 2012 and Stephen showed one possible bumper sticker that speaks to the "Hope-y Change-y" stuff that Obama campaigned on in 2008.

Sara Palin 2012
Abandon All Hope
that anything will ever change

Many people have been poking fun at Sarah Palin (or noting her hypocrisy) for using what Stephen calls a Hand-o-prompter. But hey, we all have done that at some time in our life. The only thing to really fault her on is her comment about a charismatic guy with a teleprompter. Is not Stephen Colbert a charismatic guy with a teleprompter? Whoa, treading on thin ice there Sarah.

But the most enlightening comments in that segment were about satire. He explained the intricacies of satire and also provided examples, using Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Rahm Emanuel. It all may have been confusing before, but after Stephen explained it, to the delight of his audience, it makes perfect sense.

It's satire.