Colbert of Comedy Central goes after Fed!

[Chieftain1776]

Unfortunately they continue the Ron Paul blackout on *his* issue giving most of the limelight to socialist Bernie Sanders. Colbert actually has a pretty good and relatively educational presentation of the Fed's workings. Enjoy!

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258142/december-08-2009/fed-s-dead

And here's his socialist rant and totally ingoring the issue of the Fed. Such B.S. I might drop an email to Mr. Colbert over this. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/258143/december-08-2009/fed-s-dead---bernie-sanders

[SWATH]

Uh yeah the Bernanke is the king of capitalism.

[youngbuck]

The entire segment is a half-truth which pretty much just confuses the audience on what's really crackin with the Fed: referring to Chris Dodd's bill (oh yea, that really scares the Fed, make sure you don't mention HR1207 or RP), Bernia Sanders as an anti-Bernanke crusader, it's all hogwash.

[Reason]

not exactly specific but it's definitely anti fed which is good

[paulpwns]

Carefully controlled and monitored "criticism" of the fed.

[Brian4Liberty]

I saw that, and thought it was a defense of the Fed. Done in the subtle, sarcastic, reverse psychology way that Colbert does. He basically called those that oppose the Fed "conspiracy theorists", and defended the lack of transparency.

[Brian4Liberty]

not exactly specific but it's definitely anti fed which is good

Which part was "anti-Fed"? The quotes from politicians? Colbert went on to dismiss those.

[BenIsForRon]

I saw that, and thought it was a defense of the Fed. Done in the subtle, sarcastic, reverse psychology way that Colbert does. He basically called those that oppose the Fed "conspiracy theorists", and defended the lack of transparency.

You need your sarcasm detector calibrated.

[haaaylee]

Colbert did good, not entirely, but suprised he brought it up. He says everything sarcastically so when he defends the Fed he is really not defending it. Do you guys still not get that this guy is a comedian?

[Chieftain1776]

Yeah I thought he did an excellent job showing how the Fed just pulls its decisions out of nowhere with no rational basis. It was pretty anti-conspiracy but pretty much a Ron Paul/Austrian economic criticism of the Fed's vaunted authority/ability to determine rates and bailouts without transparency.

[zade]

Carefully controlled and monitored "criticism" of the fed.

How do you know? Will you ever be satisfied? The Colbert Report blasts the Fed and all because the host doesn't bring up your favorite politician, it's a conspiracy

[Brian4Liberty]

He says everything sarcastically so when he defends the Fed he is really not defending it. Do you guys still not get that this guy is a comedian?

Uh, I saw his "attack" on the Feb being sarcastic, thus he would really be defending the Fed. Obviously it's open to interpretation. I doubt any average viewer walked away from that segment chanting "audit the Fed"...

[NYgs23]

I don't exactly know what more anyone expects from a comedy show but political ambiguity.

[jclay2]

Yeah, I agree that colbert was a little ambiguous and might have done more bad then good for some people. However, I must say the comment about how the Fed comes up with interest rates was priceless.

[Brian4Liberty]

Yeah, I agree that colbert was a little ambiguous and might have done more bad then good for some people. However, I must say the comment about how the Fed comes up with interest rates was priceless.

Yeah, it was funny. But wasn't it poking fun at "conspiracy" theorists and critics of the Fed?

[BenIsForRon]

Yeah, it was funny. But wasn't it poking fun at "conspiracy" theorists and critics of the Fed?

Was his character poking fun at conspiracy theorists? Yes. In reality though, the show was making fun of the fed, and basically making the statement that the critics' claims are justified.

I take it you don't watch Colbert very often. He bases his character on Bill O'reilly, so just think of him as a Bill O-reilly parody.

[Brian4Liberty]

Was his character poking fun at conspiracy theorists? Yes. In reality though, the show was making fun of the fed, and basically making the statement that the critics' claims are justified.

I take it you don't watch Colbert very often. He bases his character on Bill O'reilly, so just think of him as a Bill O-reilly parody.

Actually I watch that (and The Daily Show) regularly. I don't think he's 100% consistent with the O'Reilly/right wing positions (is he doing single or double level sarcasm, or sometimes none?). If he says "the Fed simply sets interest rates", is he using any sarcasm at all? Sometimes he completely drops the character, and makes statements that seem to be intended as "btw, here's the real story".

[Epic]

He calls the Fed a capitalist institution.... incorrect. I mean, he's parodying a capitalist, but the Fed isn't capitalist.

[haaaylee]

He calls the Fed a capitalist institution.... incorrect. I mean, he's parodying a capitalist, but the Fed isn't capitalist.

Yeah, that is the joke. He is making fun of "Capitalists" for thinking the Fed is good and Capitalistic . . .

[BenIsForRon]

I think Colbert (the real guy, not the character) and Jon Stewart and many other left leaning people see the Fed, WTO, IMF, and others as the ultimate product of capitalism.

They're totally wrong, but it doesn't make them bad people.

All of this seems obvious to me... but I recently saw a survey where people of all political persuasions found Colbert funny, because they read into his jokes what they wanted to.

[RonPaulwillWin]

Carefully controlled and monitored "criticism" of the fed.

no.

[Brian4Liberty]

No ambiguity tonight. Colbert isn't making any excuses for Goldman Sachs. :D