What is it with conservatives' inability to engage with the culture around them? It gets them into such snafus. Reagan famously cited Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." as a stirring, patriotic anthem, thus revealing that the Gipper had obviously never, ever listened to the song. Similarly, in what might be termed the "Ali G Effect," the good folks on Tom Delay's defense team do not appear to understand that Stephen Colbert is not on their side, instead posting an interview he did as support for The Exterminator's innocence and rectitude of character.

Crazy! Madness! Rioting in the streets! But seriously, where do these guys live? Under a moon rock? Who on earth can reasonably remain unaware of the fact that Stephen Colbert is making fun of conservatives? No one. In fact, that's what's so scary about it -- Colbert's over-the-top, unctuous O'Reilly-clone persona obviously strikes them as perfectly reasonable. They don't get the joke because, for them, there's no joke to get.