Jeb Bush earned some pointed criticism for his "stuff happens" response to last week's mass shooting in Oregon, Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show, and he largely deserved it. To give context, Colbert played the rest of the quote, where Bush said that after crises like the Oregon shooting, "the impulse is always to do something and it's not necessarily the right thing to do." "That's leadership: Not necessarily doing anything," Colbert said, illustrating his point with an imagined dialogue: "'Follow me, everyone!' 'Where are we going?' 'Right where we are.'"
Bush should be doing much better than 8 percent in the GOP polls, Colbert said, but "when he says stuff like that, after 142 school shootings since Sandy Hook, it sounds like he's got — how can I put this delicately? — stuff for brains." But Bush isn't the only Republican vying for a position of power who has a hard time expressing himself, he added, turning to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the probable next House speaker. "McCarthy's got plenty of support in Congress, so he's got the House part down," Colbert said, "but apparently, he's still working on the 'speaker'." After playing one garbled speech excerpt, he gravely lauded McCarthy's "strong, English-like words." After showcasing the future House speaker's verbal inabilities, Colbert showed all tongue-tied politicians how it's done. The music and waving flag help lend gravity to Colbert's incoherent speech, so maybe McCarthy should take note — well, that or hire a speaking coach. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 24, 2024Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - taped bananas, flying monkeys, and more
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaineIn the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt GaetzCartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
