One would think viewers must be exhausted by the never-ending parade of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates on the late night circuit. However, Stephen Colbert's liberal audience apparently does not feel the way, considering Tuesday’s Late Show featured Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
As per usual, the interview had the ambience of a casual chat with a friend rather than a hard hitting news piece with a presidential candidate. The introductory question was lathered with compliments. Colbert inquired: “The last couple of debates have been very good for you. You've done a lot of fundraising afterwards. Your poll numbers have gone up. Who do you have yourself locked and loaded for next time? Because you took it to Warren last time. Who do you have your sights on this time?”
Klobuchar jokingly replied; “First I took it to her on policy... And I'm not going to reveal what's gonna happen next time. Maybe I'll go after the moderators.”
In what is typical of a leftist late night host, Colbert then gave Klobuchar a suggestion for how to hit back during the debates; “Maybe-so that's always -- everybody hates the press, that's a good thing to do. I have a suggestion for you -- use it, don't use it. When you get a good zinger in, have this graphic come on. Once you hit somebody just go, You've been Klobu-Charred.”
The only semblance of actual substance from the night came in the form of a few softball policy questions, in which Colbert urged her to move left: “You've called Medicare-for-all a pipe dream and said, 'I am not for free four-year college.' Where are you swinging for the fences? Because those are big progressive ideas. And I'm sure you want people to have health insurance. But what are your big progressive ideas? What's going to excite people with your ambition?”
Apparently only extremist liberals are free from criticism on the Colbert show.
No Colbert interview would be complete without an impeachment question and some Trump bashing to go alongside of it:
It looks like there is -- it's likely that the House will vote to impeach, based upon what certain -- the number of Congressmen who said they are in favor of it at this point…You have to stay there the whole time. You can't talk to each other. Can y'all do that?
Klobuchar provided the standard Democratic Party line (uncontested of course): “We have a Constitutional duty to do that, and I cannot think of anything more important right now that we have to do. And whether we're supposed to be campaigning or not, none of that matters. The founding fathers set this up...”
The topic of conversation then turned to disgraced former Senator Al Franken. In his lead up to the main question, Colbert conveniently left out the reasoning behind Franken’s abrupt exit from politics: “Now, you actually said recently that you thought -- or last year you said you think that Al Franken, your friend, former Senator from Minnesota, has a third act…Do you think it's time for Al to come back?”
Klobuchar slyly evaded the question: “I think he can come back in other ways besides running for office. And he's never talked to me about running for office, and he made his own decision to step down from the Senate.”
All leftist talking points. Zero real questions. Sounds like a typical late night segment with a Democratic politician.
Transcript below:
CBS's The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
11/06/19
12:18:19 AM
STEPHEN COLBERT: You know; I've been watching these debates.
AMY KLOBUCHAR: Really?
COLBERT: It's part of the job. And we talk about them here on the show. I'm looking forward to two weeks from tomorrow is the next debate.
KLOBUCHAR: In Atlanta.
COLBERT: In Atlanta. Ok-hotlanta. The last couple of debates have been very good for you. You've done a lot of fundraising afterwards. Your poll numbers have gone up. Who do you have yourself locked and loaded for next time. Because you took it to Warren last time. Who do you have your sights on this time?
KLOBUCHAR: First I took it to her on policy. I have a lot of respect for her. I think it's important that we make clear there's no monopoly on good ideas. I have bold ideas, too, we just have different ideas. And I'm not going to reveal what's gonna happen next time. Maybe I'll go after the moderators.
COLBERT: Maybe-so that's always- everybody hates the press that's a good thing to do. I have a suggestion for you-- use it, don't use it.
KLOBUCHAR: Ok.
COLBERT: When you get a good zinger in, have this graphic come on. Once you hit somebody just go, You've been Klobu-Charred.
(....)
COLBERT: Now, you are a Senator. It looks like there is-- it's likely that the House will vote to impeach, based upon what certain-- the number of Congressmen who said they are in favor of it at this point. So you're going to have to sit as a jury. 100 Senators, you're one of them, have to sit as a jury. We should Sherrod brown on last night. We talked about this. You're not allowed a phone. You're not allowed to talk. You have to stay there the whole time. You can't talk to each other. Can y'all do that? You can--
KLOBUCHAR: Yes! I mean we have-
COLBERT: Pay attention in this internet age, you young whippersnapper Senators?
KLOBUCHAR: We have a Constitutional duty to do that, and I cannot think of anything more important right now that we have to do. And whether we're supposed to be campaigning or not, none of that matters. The founding fathers set this up...
COLBERT: It set up an instrument in case that thing happened. But since you can't have your phone, you know the President's going to be watching the impeachment trial. You won't know what he's tweeting.
(....)
KLOBUCHAR: While we found out that farm bankruptcies went up 25%, that farmer prices are going through the roof. I think maybe he should be doing a little less tweeting and a little more governing.
COLBERT: It's not his strong suit.
(....)
COLBERT: You've called Medicare for All a pipe dream and said, "I am not for free four-year college." Where are you swinging for the fences? Because those are big Progressive ideas. And I'm sure you want people to have health insurance. But what are your big Progressive ideas? What's going to excite people with your ambition?
KLOBUCHAR: Okay, well, let's start with this, and that is reversing the devastating effects of climate change right now. And being-- taking this on in a big way.
COLBERT: In what way? Specifically, what would do you?
KLOBUCHAR: I would get us back into the international climate change agreement on day one. On day two, bring back the clean power rules. On day three, the gas mileage standards, and on day four, sweeping legislation to reverse greenhouse gases. We can do this. Immigration reform. Getting immigration reform done in one year. Gun safety. We've already seen a change in the House of Representatives. We've seen those bills. They're sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk, and he needs to go. Then we can get this done.
(....)
COLBERT: Now, you actually said recently that you thought-- or last year you said you think that Al Franken, your friend, former Senator from Minnesota, has a third act.
KLOBUCHAR: Mm-hm
COLBERT: In him.
KLOBUCHAR: Yes.
COLBERT: He recently appeared at Politi-Con. Big political convention of all sort of political stripes- what do you think he has to offer still? Do you think it's time for Al to come back?
KLOBUCHAR: I think he can come back in other ways besides running for office. And he's never talked to me about running for office, and he made his own decision to step down from the Senate.
