Last night's Late Show with Stephen Colbert took full advantage of the chaos in the G.O.P. House of Representatives after Kevin McCarthy stunned Congress by turning down the job of Speaker of the House. McCarthy, was infamously known for his curious way of speaking, to be kind. Stephen was devastated at the news, saying,
DON'T LEAVE! I was just getting to know you. I was just learning your beautiful bird-like language!
Colbert took note of the happy expression on the faces of those who have renounced the position, noting McCarthy's happy face as well as John Boehner's 'zippy-a-dee-doo-dah' announcement of his resignation. McCarthy's response to the question, 'is the House even governable?' was the dramatic, 'sometimes you have to hit rock bottom,' much like how you would advise an addict. Colbert asks, 'what are they smoking?'
He made several jokes about the whiteness of the unruly Freedom Caucus, which is comprised of roughly 40 White, mostly male, Republicans which was formed in January, 2015. The group votes as a block and without their compliance, the 218 majority is unattainable. John Avlon, editor of the Daily Beast said,
'There are people interested in governing and there are people interested in grandstanding and they're happy to watch them burn it all down.'
Colbert thought it was eerily familiar to the scene in The Dark Knight where Heath Ledger's Joker burns down a hospital, likening the scene with the Caucus' intentions for Obamacare.
After showing Trey Gowdy ardently declining to run for the Speaker, Stephen plays a clip of a quote from a friend of ex-VP Candidate, Paul Ryan, who said he doesn't want the job, 'because he's not a ****** moron!' Ryan would, of course, be nuts to take a job that is laden with chaos and a total lack of cooperation, bordering on sabotage by the Freedom Caucus. It is widely believed that he still has his own presidential aspirations.
Taking a page out of House Of Cards, in his best Kevin Spacey/Frank Underwood voice, Colbert explains why it would be political suicide to be Speaker at this time. 'Underwood' would rather throw himself in front of a train than take the job.
Finally, the absurdity of the whole situation was punctuated by listing the names that have been floated for the job, none being a current member of the House. Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and 92 year old Bob Dole were some of the choices that members of the Republican Party have suggested for the job. The details of the G.O.P. House quandary are so hilarious, there's no need to embellish the facts to create brilliant comedy, which Stephen does so well.
