For the record, I am a huge fan of the Colbert Report. I thought it got off to a shaky start, but it has since hit its stride. And I think Colbert is brilliant.

I also think he stunk up the place last night. Save for a few riffs, he was just off. And he certainly came in a distant second to Bush’s act. The idea that lefty bloggers are raving about Colbert’s performance says far more about how politics have poisoned their taste, I think. After all, does anyone really believe that the press corps in attendance is ill-disposed to Bush-bashing humor? Seriously?

The audience didn’t laugh — as anyone could tell from watching C-SPAN –because Colbert clunked. Period.

Moreover, it is enduringly fascinating how deeply invested many liberals are in comedians (and to a lesser extent, movie stars). There’s of course Al Franken and Jeneane Garofalo (a recovering somewhat funny person), but even Jon Stewart is increasingly becoming a Big Thinker according to some liberals (at least from conversations I’ve had with them and bits and pieces on the web). I’m a big fan of Stewart’s, too — even though I think he’s become a bit too partisan of late. But, it would be interesting to hear a serious liberal explore the reason for why this is so. I think it’s an interesting phenomena. What does it say about the “real” spokespeople of the left — journalists, politicians, activists et al. — that the most appealing figures are ones who get to hide behind clown make-up whenever the kitchen gets too hot? I have my own theories, but an explanation from the left would be more interesting.