Fallout From Stephen Colbert's Comedy Coup

Comedian Stephen Colbert's brazen satirical takedown of President Bush at the White House Correspondents' dinner may have galled the Washington establishment, but it has captured the attention of the rest of America -- and set the blogosphere on fire.

Despite the mainstream media's best efforts to ignore Colbert's blistering remarks, millions of people have been turning to the Web to watch the video, read the transcript, and debate whether Colbert's routine was a comic triumph or a seriously unfunny flop.

Meanwhile, there is official word on Bush's reaction to Colbert's drive-by mockfest. According to U.S. News, Bush was "visibly angered" by Colbert's barbs. One top Bush aide said, "Colbert crossed the line," while a former aide added, "I've been there before, and I can see that he is [angry]. He's got that look that he's ready to blow." We're not sure what look he's talking about, but here's a guess.

For more of Bush's reaction, you can check out this video clip, which shows Bush's contemptuous headshaking, jaw twitches, lip purses and eye squinches as Colbert screened his spoof audition tape for White House press secretary.

On The Colbert Report Monday, Colbert poked fun at the audience's cool reception to his routine. "The crowd practically carried me out on their shoulders. Although I wasn't actually ready to leave," he quipped. (Watch the video clip or read Colbert's full remarks)

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart called his former colleague's performance "ballsalicious," adding "He was something to behold. Apparently he was under the impression they had hired him to do the thing he does on television every night. (Watch the video clip or read Stewart's full remarks)

The fallout continues over at the Huffington Post, where you can literally drop a Stephen Colbert brick of your own on Bush, with the help of an amusing interactive game. And you can also enjoy a Stephen Colbert Musical Extravaganza.

Rate Colbert's Performance
1) It was a courageous act of comic brilliance
2) It was totally inappropriate and seriously unfunny
3) It was somewhat funny but kind of crossed the line
4) Don't know. I couldn't bear to watch

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Stephen Colbert, on his performance at the White House Correspondents' dinner: "I may have had one of the greatest weekends of my entire life. Saturday I had the honor of speaking at the White House Correspondents Dinner. It was just great. I met a lot of my fellow power players. Roughly 2,600 of the most powerful people in the world gathered in one room. I fit right in...

"Best of all, I got to meet my main man, George W. Bush. Shook the man's hand -- very soft hands by the way. It was a very pleasant surprise. I guess he wears gloves when he's clearing that brush. Gloves and lotion... I delivered the closing speech. Needless to say, the audience could not contain its excitement. [showed footage of the audience looking bored]. ... Very respectful silence. The crowd practically carried me out on their shoulders. Although I wasn't actually ready to leave."

Read more Stephen Colbert quotes...

Jon Stewart, on Colbert: "I'm spending Saturday night flipping through the C-SPANs. ... I come across this horribly frightening image [shows Bush and his double] -- the president of the United States of America, who is now apparently reproducing asexually. He is somehow clonining himself via spores in an effort to create a mammoth, 10,000-strong Busharmy..

"I was scared to death. Turns out it's a bit at what's called the White House Correspondents dinner. It's the dinner where the White House Press Corps and the government consummate their loveless marriage. So anyway, it's the saddest thing I've seen in my life: the two Bushes dueling and making the jokes like 'I'm stupid, no you're stupid.'...

"But then I see this young fellow on the screen [shows Stephen Colbert] who captivated me. He did this 20-minute keynote address that I can only describe as ballsalicious. He was something to behold. Apparently he was under the impression they had hired him to do the thing he does on television every night. ... Boy, we've never been prouder of our Mr. Colbert. And...holy sh*t!"

Read more Jon Stewart quotes...

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