海角大神

Yes, he鈥檚 had nine months to prepare. But Stephen Colbert did a pretty good job with his political stuff in his initial 鈥淟ate Show鈥� episode Tuesday night. It鈥檚 clear that he envisions his new gig as something semi-serious 鈥� comedy with flecks of Sunday morning news show mixed in.

And that means he could be a strong journalistic player as the presidential campaign progresses.

鈥淪omething tells us Colbert鈥檚 interviews will be fodder in the 2016 campaign,鈥� noted Amber Philips of The Washington Post鈥檚 Fix political blog this morning.

Donald Trump provided much of the聽comedy. Colbert聽did an extended bit which began with Mr. Trump鈥檚 refusal to eat Oreos, since they鈥檙e made in Mexico now, and continued as Colbert tempted himself with Oreos, which became a sort of metaphor for the media's聽obsession with replaying Trump video clips, since it鈥檚 so tempting but not good for you. It ended with Colbert stuffed and covered with crumbs.

Extra points to Colbert for use of baked goods as media symbolism. We await a flood of Twitter-borne hot takes on this performance.

The serious came with Colbert鈥檚 chat with Jeb Bush, particularly the long-form version posted on YouTube. The former Florida governor was clearly a bit nervous about the whole thing, which was understandable given that he had no idea what to expect from a brand-new show. Appearing as Colbert鈥檚 political kickoff was a risk for Bush. But given his current standing in the race, he needs to take risks.

What did we learn? That Bush鈥檚 strategy is still to run as if he were a general election candidate, for one thing. Colbert asked a strong, general question about the nature of politics itself, whether opponents must always be demonized. Tellingly, Bush talked about President Obama in his answer, not his primary opponents. And he said something GOP primary voters might not like.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Barack Obama has bad motives,鈥� said Bush. 鈥淚 just think he鈥檚 wrong on a lot of issues.鈥�

On a particular issue 鈥� gun control 鈥� Colbert pressed Bush in a manner more journalists should duplicate. The first question came from a viewer raffle, and it asked, in general, what new measures Bush might take to control US firearms. Bush brought up possible mental health checks for gun purchasers. And Colbert took it up a notch 鈥� what would Bush do if the NRA opposed such checks?

Bush side-stepped, saying gun control should be a state-by-state issue. Colbert kept at it, saying that gun ownership is protected by a national document 鈥� the Constitution 鈥� so perhaps it needs to be controlled on a similarly national level.

Bush said states rights are in the Constitution too, in the 10^th Amendment. Is that a circular argument? Maybe 鈥� but in any case viewers got a decent sense of Bush鈥檚 views.

Then, for fun, Colbert did a little 鈥渄ebate prep鈥� with Bush, and had Bush read answers that had been 鈥淭rumpified."

鈥淚 promise to put Meatloaf on the $10 bill,鈥� said Bush.