Colbert in '08

Stephen Colbert: Better than the joke we have now.

If you're reading this, Steve, feel free to use that slogan.

Seriously, maybe it's time to let a non-politician with brains, heart and balls take over. At least we know Colbert can read. His state-of-the-union addresses would be better than any previous president's, and he could roast himself at the correspondents' dinner.

I wonder who he'd choose as a running mate.

Colbert's coming home to South Carolina this weekend to "campaign." Unfortunately, his publicists are not letting any local media have access. He's in Columbia tomorrow, and if I didn't have to work, I'd be there.

I'm just hoping he shows up here in the MB for the big primary debates in January. We've got them both this time, which should be interesting for the area, both because the MB's not used to a big surge of people in January and because the Republicans' heads will probably implode when they see that there are actually more than eight Democrats here.

We (not the royal "we," but the paper) are trying to come up with interesting, innovative ways to cover the debates. Our executive editor wants us to do something so creative, so new, that we will become known for it after the debates are over.

Call me crazy, but how about we ask the candidates some really hard questions and don't let them divert our attention with answers that sound good but actually mean nothing?

Nah, that'll never work.

All suggestions welcome...