Posted by Mark Silva at 7:55 am CDT
The big surprise of the black tie gala of the year in Washington, the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner: The first public appearance of Tony Snow since the White House press secretary was sidelined with a recurrence of cancer. And this was a Tony Snow in full charismatic form.
"I've been away for a little more than three weeks… Once again, I have cancer,'' Snow said matter-of-factly, noting that this "really is a small town.'' He said he has learned "many times, far more than I have deserved, that every American (wants) to do good for somebody else.
"For all you who love Washington,'' he said wryly, "we'll have that entertainment again – trust me. And I can't wait to get behind a podium.''
Another big surprise: President Bush, arriving at this dinner where it is customary to make fun of oneself, took a pass. The horrifying events of the week – the shooting at Virginia Tech – simply had weighed too heavily on everyone for him to be telling jokes this evening, the president said, announcing that he would leave the comedy to others.
And so he did, starting with a videotaped performance by David Letterman, with a Top Ten list of George Bush moments – a video, Snow explained, because "they keep begging David Letterman to come here.'' But, "no… he's too big and important.'' Instead, we watched Letterman on the big screen: "I'm sorry I can't be there with you tonight,'' Letterman said, "but as you probably know, for me, Saturday night is yoga.''
I think it was moment Number Six in which the president was pictured speaking these words, voicing his wish "that there be a stable Iran, an Iran that is capable of rejecting Iranian influence.''
Number Three: Dropping Barney.
Number Two: Video footage of Bush saying that "the left hand knows what the right hand is doing,'' while illustrating his words with a motion of his hands. The wrong ones. Right and then left.
Number One: Footage of the president walking swiftly, across the South Lawn, it seemed. And spitting.
"We've got to learn to laugh in this town,'' the president said later, when he actually stood to address the audience filling the ballroom of the Washington Hilton. But, he said, "in light of this week's tragedy at Virginia Tech, I decided not to be funny… It's been a tough week for a lot of folks. I'm not going to try to be the funny guy, but I have an opportunity to introduce somebody who will be.''
Well no, not really.
That would be Rich Little, the aging impersonator, who still does a mean impersonation, but also tells jokes that fall somewhere north of the Catskills. Maybe Lake George. Or the Sacandaga Reservoir.
"I am not a political satirist... I am an impersonator basically,'' Little said. "I am a night club entertainer who tells a lot of dumb... jokes.''
And so he did, playing Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Carson and telling a joke about lawyers that I'm afraid I can't repeat in this forum. And he impersonated presidents.
Donning that wagging head of Ronald Reagan, he asked: "Who the hell are you people?''
"Somebody asked me the other day, 'Mr. President, do you think the war on poverty is over?' And I said, 'Yes, it was, and the poor lost… and they should have quit while they were ahead.''
And, of course, he impersonated Bush.
"When this warathon thing against all extremist factions is completified -- what the Hell does that mean,'' he said. "I see a country where there is no bombings and no terrorists....
"I see… I see Switzerland, actually.''
Comments
Desperate for a laugh after the week's events, I happened to catch the tail end of the acts on C-SPAN last night (I know, I know -- CSPAN on a Saturday night, this guy needs a life, but let's just credit my channel surfing skills).
Mr. Silva does a great discredit to Upstate NY when he compares Little's routine. Saying he bombed discredits nuclear weapons. Saying there was silence after most of his "jokes" is to insult the deaf. Saying he crashed and burned is to insult the FAA.
Man he was unfunny to the point of embarrassment, and any press corps who was stuck there is due for hardship pay and certainly is owed for the tux rental.
And I thought Colbert wasn't funny last year; he was hysterical by comparison. Where's Fred Armistad when a guy needs a rimshot?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | April 22, 2007 8:30 AM
I was wondering whatever happened to Little. He was the first great impersonator.
You don't think he's funny?
Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | April 22, 2007 8:38 AM
Please, the time has come to leave jerks and idiots out of the daily news. May we pretend George W. Bush has retired. NO JOKE!!!!!
Posted by: mike | April 22, 2007 8:56 AM
Darn, I was hoping the Commander-in-Chief would reprise his "No WMDs here!" skit once again to the raucous laughter of the Beltway Bunch.
Now THERE is an all-occasion joke if I ever heard one!
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | April 22, 2007 9:47 AM
I thought his jokes were funny, but also painfully sharp. The sad part is that the underlying thread rang all too true.
Posted by: sarah | April 22, 2007 10:34 AM
Rich Little's arthritic and outdated schtick seems like a good match for the administration's tired and failed policies.
Phil, every week I read of another formally-attired roast or hoo-haw session in D.C. Is there a ongoing season for this tripe out there?
Posted by: foolondahill | April 22, 2007 11:15 AM
Seeing a group of Republicans and supporters gather in the wake of Virginia Tech, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and try to enjoy themselves, is a sad sight. This was someone's idea of cheering up Bush, but at this point there's nothing to laugh at connected to him.
Even the photo-ops are "bombing", at this point.
Posted by: pb | April 22, 2007 1:45 PM
Too bad your headline writer didn't focus on Mark Silva's lead, that Tony Snow was back, cancer and all. There are things in Washington that provoke civility after all.
Posted by: Kasha | April 22, 2007 5:00 PM
oops,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6575717.stm
Posted by: C.Morris | April 22, 2007 5:53 PM
The deaths of thirty-two Americans render Mr. Bush unable to attempt his humor, although the deaths of thousands of Iraqis provide for him no impediment. If one didn't know better, the conclusion might be reached that American lives are more valuable than the lives of Iraqis. But then, of course, that's a given. What was I thinking.
Posted by: dr_m | April 23, 2007 12:13 AM
C.Morris -
Thanks for the article. It was yet another interesting opinion piece from the ultra pro-left, anti-Bush BBC. It's always good to get both sides of an issue, I say.
Posted by: no nam | April 23, 2007 7:59 AM
no name,
The BBC web site is just about the best source for breaking world news.
Are you claiming these events were invented by the BBC.
BTW, the BBC has for 8 decades or so provided honest reporting, and provided the truth and hope to millions of people in Nazi Germany, occupied France, and then to the enslaved nations behind the Iron Curtain.
I'm beginning to think noname = no judgement
Posted by: C.Morris | April 23, 2007 10:21 AM
ROFLMAO! So how many of ya'll didnt realize that
the biggest joke of the evening was the presence
of the Biggest Joke Of All George W Bush in
person and all that was missing from the event
was Vice Looney Toons Draft Dodger Delusional
Dick Cheney claiming once again there is connection between Saddam Hussein and Iraq with
Osama bin Laden and Al_Qeada and good old neo con
Chief Chickenhawk Senator Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran
and Amnesty John McCain making Boom Boom Noises
to simulate Bomb Explosions! How our joke of a
mainstream newsmedia can still claim they are
the Watchdog of the Treasury and Government
is also a bloody joke as well!
Posted by: Sandy | April 23, 2007 12:42 PM
Bush's Murderous WMD 'Joke'
Of course, Bush now "took a pass."
Because previousdly ...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/26/bush.wmd.jokes/index.html
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2004/03/27/democrats_chide_bush_for_joke_on_weapons_hunt/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3570845.stm
Yuk, yuk, yuk.
Bush made a 'funny.'
Joke's on him.
NO.
Kerry might have made a botched joke about Bush but it didn't result like Bush's in the death so far of over 3200 of our brightest and bravest, the maiming for life of 12,000, the wounding of 12,000 more, and the 10s and 10s of 1000s of Iraqi dead and wounded. I don't think the families of the dead and wounded find Bush's previous joke about not finding WMD the least bit funny, like Bush did. Maybe Bush thought everybody would be dying laughing over it.
Somebody tell Bush EVERYBODY IS JUST DYING.
Posted by: Tom | April 23, 2007 5:35 PM