on Hardball (when Tweety asked "Why was Colbert so bad?") that "you've got to know the room" and that the rule in the past has been to "scorch, not burn" and that "the person with the softer touch usually wins."

I say FUCK HIM. What does he know about entertaining an audience of any size? "You've got to know the room?" When did you become an entertainment reporter, Mike? Better yet, tell me how many times have you performed comedy?

Colbert knew his "audience" very well. It was not just "the room." It was us. The 68% (or more) who are fed up with GWB and the press. I suspect that we tuned into C-Span in record numbers on Saturday night precisely because of Colbert's presence. I would be surprised if it wasn't the most-viewed White House Correspondent's Dinner ever.

We were very entertained, Mike.

Tweety made the final pronuncement, suggesting that Colbert's speech was inappropriate because Bush is the President of the United States, "not just a politician."

So, is it inappropriate to satirize the POTUS, Chris, or is it just inappropriate to do it in his presence? Or does Matthews think Colbert should have been kinder & gentler, sticking to "softer" jokes about how Bush mangles words and ignoring the fact that he is mangling the country?