Colbert Super PAC runs anti-Romney ad in South Carolina

Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow a.k.a The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC released an anti-Romney ad overnight. It is part of a heavy ad buy that the Super PAC got in South Carolina.

“Mitt Romney claims to be pro-corporations,” said Jon Stewart, President of The Definitely Not Coordinated With Stephen Colbert Super PAC. “But would you let him date your daughter’s corporation? Americans have been clamoring for a comprehensive study of this crucial issue, so we splurged for the full sixty-second commercial. We think South Carolinians will agree – they deserve a leader who shares their state’s values, and perhaps even their state’s initials.”

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Colbert appeared on "This week with George Stephanopoulos" this morning.



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Stephen Colbert is running for President.....sort of.

If you watched The Colbert Report last night you saw Stephen Colbert hint at a possible "run for President". Well, tonight he will announce the formation of an exploratory committee.

On his show tonight he will hand over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart (who will make an appearance!). He most likely won't be able to run though. Turns out that South Carolina doesn't allow write-in ballots in primaries.

A recent poll in South Carolina shows Colbert polling ahead of Jon Huntsman.

Have you seen any of the commercials the PAC has made?

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Daily Show Tapings - Monday August 3rd 2009

Finally got a chance to go to a Daily Show taping yesterday. I had tickets at one point last year but that is when the writers went on strike and the show was cancelled.

Daily Show tells you to get in line by 3:30 PM. If you ever go, be in line a lot earlier then that. They didn't even have a celebrity guest yesterday and by 3:30 all the spots were already taken. I can only imagine what happens when more famous people show up. Get there early! Even though you have an e-mail confirmation it is not enough to get you in. They overbook every show. Once you get in line with your e-mail it is first come first served. There are about 75-80 "VIP Tickets" too. I don't know how you get a hand on those. They didn't have better seats or go in a lot earlier then we did. I don't know if there are any other perks to it aside from jumping to the head of line. You can get in line and hold spots for the rest of your party of 4. The rest of your party is allowed to cut into the line if they show up by 4:30 PM. I got there at 2:30 PM and ended up being #16 in the general admission. You don't get actual tickets that you can keep as souvenirs. It is pretty much like a hall pass that you used to get in middle school to go to the bathroom. Even if you don't have tickets try getting there around 2 PM and try to be near the front of the standby line. That should give you a good enough chance at getting in. There are roughly 230 seats inside. The entire wait process is outdoors but it is a shaded area. It was kind of hot yesterday so the Daily Show staff was walking up and down the lines with cold water. There is parking lot just a block away that they direct you to in the e-mails they send. Definitely park your car there. It is only $10 if you get the Daily Show staff to stamp it for you. Well worth it. You won't find cheaper parking anywhere in Manhattan.

My one gripe with the Daily Show is when the open the gates at 5:15 PM. You go through airport style security which is understandable but they make you shut off all cameras and cell phones before you enter the studios. This was my first time attending a TV taping so I don't know if this standard practice everywhere. I understand not allowing photography while the show is going on but what is the harm in letting people take pictures before the show, during breaks or afterward? They repeatedly warned that anyone caught taking pictures would have their cameras confiscated until the end of the show and any pictures they took would be deleted. Yikes! I mean this is the Daily Show. You would think they would have caught up to the 21st century...no? I had every intention of tweeting along during the taping but as an older lady from the staff said at the entrance to the studio, and this is an exact quote "there is no tweetering allowed inside the studio." They were going as far as to have people spit out gum as they entered the studio. Really? You can come up with semi legitimate excuses for cell phones and cameras but....chewing gum? I mean this is the Daily Show. They take their cameras EVERYWHERE. Really dissapointing.

Ok, that ends the negative portion of this entry. We got great seats. It is stadium seating and we were about 3 rows up, dead center of the studio. Before the start of the taping the big globe above Jon's head instead of listing real cities lists fictional ones like "mouthear, earnose, moutheyes, etc." The warm up act was good. Got the crowd fired up and did his job. He interacted well with the audience. He had to stall for a bit as Jon Stewart took a while to come out. When he did finally come out he got one HUGE ovation. There were people in the audience not only from different parts of the country but the world as well. Illinois and Indiana had representation there. The international flavor was even more. There were people there from Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Kuwait and Oman. He does a little Q&A session before the show to get a feel for the crowd. He was even funnier off camera then he is during the show. He asked if everyone had waited outside for hours and then added "I'm sorry but it definitely isn't worth it." He answered the questions well even though some of them were really awkward and bizarre. Someone asked him if Stephen Colbert and him were having an affair since they always take vacations at the same time. Oh boy. Jon did handle the question with class saying "calling it an affair cheapens it." He was asked whether he planned on taking his show to Iraq or Afghanistan like Colbert did. At first he replied he wouldn't because he was scared but on a serious note went on to add that he would do USO tours but that taking the show there for a week is a really difficult task. He mentioned that he does show in Washington for military families all the time. He was asked about the recent internet poll that showed him to be the most trusted man in America. This question was approved by the audience by another huge ovation. He laughed it off saying he considered himself a "joke answer" on the poll. He said it was the internet. He said he was surprised he didn't get 98% of the vote on that poll saying a lot of drunks on the internet voted for him. He was asked to name his favorite guest and said he enjoys it with comedians like Dennis Leary and others he's toured with come on because he gets to have more fun with them. He was asked which celebrity/guest was a total "dick". He jokingly said Desmond Tutuu. He didn't name anyone in particular but said some actresses he has interviewed were just awkward interviews.

There are a ton of microphones in the audience right above the seats. I have heard a few people mention the lady with the funny laugh on twitter in reference to last nights shows. Anyone who really laughs out loud would be heard on the show because there are that many microphones. I have to mention that Jon Stewart's desk is definitely a lot smaller then it looks on TV. They play a lot of music while you wait before the show and during the commercial breaks. Jon played along during the breaks using his pens as drumsticks. At the end of the show on TV they showed Jon going to the back but he did come right back out to thank the audience and invited everyone back to the show saying "it is fun." Slight dissapointment since none of correspondents were actually there and they didn't check in with Stephen Colbert at the end either since by all accounts this Daily Show taping was running a few minutes behind schedule I would say that the taping started around 6:15-6:25 PM ET. We were out of the studios by 7:10 PM eastern giving them a little less then 4 hours to have the finished product ready to air for the east coast viewers. I have to say there wasn't much editing. What you saw air was pretty much what they taped last night. Even the graphics which I assumed were added later were visible to us on the many big screen TVs that hung around the studios.

So in a matter of 2.5 weeks I've attended a Barack Obama rally and a Daily Show taping? Not bat at all. Wouldn't you agree? Again, only complaint is that they need to catch up to the 21st century but overall a great experience. Go and book your tickets at the Daily Show's website. I am looking forward to going back again soon. Looking to do Colbert's show too.

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Watch the show:
Master Rebators

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Master Rebators
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Master Rebators - The Crank Cycle

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Master Rebators - The Crank Cycle
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Thank You, South Carolina!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Thank You, South Carolina!
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Ronald Kessler

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Ronald Kessler
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Moment of Zen - A Squirrel Gets Stuck

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Moment of Zen - A Squirrel Gets Stuck
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

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Mark Sanford saga continues

Goodbye Mark Sanford. Any aspirations he had for 2012 are now long gone. He's going to be term limited out of his current job next year and just destroyed his political life. It really is amazing watching these guys one after the other just commit career suicide.

By now I'm sure you are all aware of how this saga began. First he was missing. Then he was hiking the Appalachian Trail (on National nude hiking day by the way....can't make this stuff up). His phone got tracked down by a cellphone tower near Atlanta. The SUV he took was found at an airport in Columbia, SC. Then we find out he's in Argentina. To top it all off while all this is going on his wife and staff weren't worried at all. If that didn't ring alarm bells for you then God help anyone that is ever around you in case of an emergency.

So yet another politician who had an affair and will get brought down because of it. Only if we started to bring down politicians who sucked at their jobs in other fashion too. An affair shouldn't be the only way to take down an elected official. That's another post for later this week.

If you haven't seen his announcement from earlier today...here is is.

I get a little extra enjoyment out of this every time someone from the right gets tangled up in something like this. All the Republican party does is preach about morality and the sanctity of marriage. Don't get me wrong...there are enough Democratic politicians that have been tangled up in something like this too, but their party is going around on being the morality police.

I want to send out some Kudos to Media Matters. See anything wrong with this picture?


Yes, Fox "News" is playing some mind games with its audience again. Somehow Mark Sanford is now a member of the Democratic Party? As Media Matters points out, this isn't the first time they've done something like this either.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart had some fun with this Sanford story last night. I can only imagine what tonight's episode will be like.

Governor Mark Sanford Is Missing(04:04)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Governor Mark Sanford Is Missing
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Fled Sanford(02:28)

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Fled Sanford
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Not to be outdone...Stephen Colbert crowned a new Governor of South Carolina
Governor Alert - The Search for Mark Sanford

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Governor Alert - The Search for Mark Sanford
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What is going on with Governor Sanford?

10:29 PM EDIT: CNN Producer Peter Hamby and ABC News White House Correspondent Jake Tapper both tweeted a little while ago reporting that the Governor's staff is now saying that he is hiking the Appalachian Trail. I'm not buying it. Something is up. We'll find out soon enough. As South Carolina resident @teresakopec said via twitter a little while ago:

As wife of an App Trail hiker myself, you notice when your husband is packing tent & gear to hike for four days. Just sayin'

I'm with her. In the meantime people are having a lot of fun at the Governor's expense already. Genius work from @capecodgirl:



This one is good too:






Original Post:
If you follow politics at all you have heard the name Mark Sanford. He is a 2nd term Republican Governor from South Carolina and a vocal critic of the current administration. He's also been long mentioned as a possible 2012 GOP nominee for President. He led an unsuccessful fight against the bailout. Well, his story took a little strange turn Thursday.

Governor Sanford is "missing." He was last seen this past Thursday when the South Carolina stage legislature overturned 10 of his vetoes. Ouch. Talk about a rough day at the office.

His staff claims that he notified them before leaving. His spokesman Joel Sawyer released a statement saying:

"Gov. Sanford is taking some time away from the office this week to recharge after the stimulus battle and the legislative session and to work on a couple of projects that have fallen by the wayside."

Do you know what that means? Yeah, me neither.

The spokesman went on to say in another release:

"governor let his staff know where he was going before he left last week and said he would check in"

I'm still puzzled. His wife, who is on vacation with her kids said the following:

"He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids,"

The AP quotes her saying:

She said she didn't know where he was, but wasn't concerned.

The Same AP article says:

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he's been told the governor's staff is in contact with the second-term Republican, but Sanford's wife said she hasn't heard from him in several days, including Father's Day.

So let me get this straight? The Governor of a state wants to get away from his work after a tough fight and just disappears? Why didn't he just go vacation with his family? This was Father's Day weekend right?

The Governor's spokesman in a statement to CNN added:

“Obviously, that's going to be somewhat out of the question this time given the attention this particular absence has gotten. Before leaving last week, he let staff know his whereabouts and that he'd be difficult to reach. Should any emergencies arise between the times in which he checks in, our staff would obviously be in contact with other state officials as the situation warrants before making any decisions.”

Is it just me or is every statement and quote making this story even stranger?

Found this passage in that same CNN article:

State Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican and opponent of Sanford, told CNN that South Carolina law enforcement officials informed him Saturday that the governor had taken a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division vehicle on Thursday and had not yet returned.

"I found out that he was taking frequent trips at odd times of the night in a SLED car with no security," Knotts said. "He would be driving. I got wind that he had taken another one of these types of capers last Thursday, and that nobody knew who he was with.

Knotts added: "On Saturday, I still was getting wind that he had not shown back up and nobody knew where he was."

Knotts said a SLED official told him on Monday that Sanford still had not returned.

"He needs to transfer the power and let the lieutenant governor, which the constitution requires, let him be the person that makes the decisions." Knotts said. "My concern was 'Who would be in charge should an emergency arrive for the safety of the people and citizens of the state?'"

Ok..let's recap. The senator is missing, supposedly in touch with his Chief of Staff. Didn't notify his wife, the Lt. Governor or other senior state officials including close friends where he was going? Plus he took off in a police car?

Authorities are ruling out foul play because it turns out Sanford does this often....just not for this long.

MSNBC reported earlier today that a cellphone tower near Atlanta picked up a signal from his phone.

Someone has been tweeting from his account.

Wherever he is (let the guesses begin) and whatever he's doing (again...throw out a few guesses) it is safe to assume his 2012 hopes are done. I mean if this guy can't handle the pressures of being Governor of South Carolina, being President might be a few rungs out his reach. Just look at these headlines:

S.C. Relocates Its Governor
Where in the World is the Governor of South Carolina?
HAVE YOU SEE THIS MAN? SC GOV, MIA
South Carolina governor goes missing
South Carolina Governor Disappears, No One Fazed


Stay Tuned...


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