Daily Show shocked: Is Bush getting more tolerable with no election to run? 
Jon Stewart turned away from the Daily Show's obsessive coverage of the presidential primaries on Thursday, apologizing that "perhaps we've given our current president short shrift." He then offered a few clips from Bush's press conference earlier that day.
"Am I wrong about this, or is President Bush getting a lot more entertaining to watch?" Stewart asked. "It's like without an election to run, he's just letting loose. ... Even his normally infuriating statements totally lacking in self-awareness don't really bother me anymore."
"The incursion must be limited and must be temporary in nature," Bush said of Turkey's recent campaign against the Kurds.
"He's talking about somebody invading Iraq right there," Stewart helpfully pointed out.
"The Turks need to move, move quickly, achieve their objective, and get out," Bush continued.
"From your lips to your ears," Stewart prayed.
Stewart then turned to Bush's account of his recent trip to Africa.
"I congratulated him on his effort to fight malaria," Bush said of his meeting with one African leader, "which apparently includes a national awareness day called George W. Bush Day."
"Wow! Having malaria day named after you!" commented Stewart.
Stewart was then joined by John Oliver, who reported, "There was genuine heartfelt affection for the president. ... President Bush has actually done a lot of good for Africa." Oliver appeared to be amazed that he had actually used the words "Bush" and "good" in the same sentence.
"It's hard for you to accept that the president has done something admirable?" Stewart asked.
"What's his angle?" Oliver complained. "He's not running for re-election. There's no ulterior military objective. He's got no chance of becoming king of Africa. What the hell is going on?"
"Over the past seven excruciating years, I've come to terms with the president being incompetent," Oliver continued.. "The fact that we now know he's been capable of doing good all along and has simply chosen not to -- that really burns."
"I'd vote for that man," Oliver said in anguish. "What's happening to me?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I do have some footage from his trip of him awkwardly dancing to tribal rhythms," Stewart offered.
"Does he look stupid?" asked Oliver hopefully.
After a few seconds of Bush's gyrations, Oliver exclaimed gratefully, "Oh, yeah. That is the stuff. He's like a drunken bridesmaid at a bad wedding reception."
"You're back baby," Stewart concluded.
The following video is from Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, broadcast on February 28, 2008.
 
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