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Culture

And the Emmy for Most Surreal Performance by a Head of State Goes To…

Jesse Walker | 2.21.2011 7:55 PM

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Col. Qaddafi wraps up a disgusting day of mass murder with the one of the most bizarre TV moments I've ever seen.

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NEXT: Wisconsin Protests: Myths vs. Facts

Jesse Walker is books editor at Reason and the author of Rebels on the Air and The United States of Paranoia.

CultureWorldTelevisionAfricaLibya
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  1. Id   14 years ago

    It's Walter Bishop!

  2. Ron Paul 2012   14 years ago

    I guess freedom really is popular!

  3. Doctor   14 years ago

    Libya really does the State of the Union right!

  4. CoyoteBlue   14 years ago

    That must have really boosted the morale of his supporters.

    But what of the symbolism of the umbrella?
    "A Hard Rain is going to Fall"

  5. toxic@gmail.com   14 years ago

    Yeah... whoever turned on the camera for that is obviously a revolutionary. If I were a protester I would take a great deal of encouragement from that little clip.

    Dude looked like a zombie with parkinsons on quaaludes.

    1. Rock Action   14 years ago

      That's what I thought. Oof, he is now the King of ... Opium World.

  6. Tman   14 years ago

    Tell me this doesn't sound like the Colonel, if not in language than in spirit:

    Pontius Pilate: [Pilate is going to release a prisoner to the crowd] People of Jewusalum,
    [Evrybody laughs at his speech impairment]
    Pontius Pilate: Wome... is your fwiend!
    [They laugh more]
    Pontius Pilate: To pwove our fwiendship, we will welease one of our wong-doers! Who shall I welease?
    Man in crowd: Welease Woger!
    [Everybody laughs, and begin to chant, "Welease Woger"]
    Pontius Pilate: Vewy well, I shall... Welease... Woger!
    [Everybody laughs]
    Centurion: Uh, we haven't got a "Woger", sir.
    Pontius Pilate: Oh, okay. We have no "Woger'!
    [They all laugh]
    Man in crowd: Well what about "Wodewick" then?
    [They laugh and chant "Welease Wodewick!"]
    Pontius Pilate: Vewy well! I shall welease... Wodewick!
    [the crowd laughs some more]
    Centurion: Sir, there's no "Wodewick".
    Pontius Pilate: Who is this "Wodewick" you speak of?
    Man in crowd: He's a wobber!
    [they laugh]
    Man in crowd: And a wapist!
    [more laughter]
    Girl In Crowd: And a pick-pocket!
    [Everybody shakes their heads at her and say no]
    Pontius Pilate: He sounds a notowious cwiminal.

  7. rather   14 years ago

    who's next?

    1. DNS   14 years ago

      Either Pete Townsend or Roger Daltrey.

      1. rather   14 years ago

        I think they are already dead-or they may as well be

  8. Ken Shultz   14 years ago

    It's like Baghdad Bob meets Gary the Retard.

    1. Ken Shultz   14 years ago

      It's more like Baghdad Bob meets Mary Poppins.

  9. Christ opher   14 years ago

    No wonder he never made general.

    1. Binky   14 years ago

      Full bird, though.

  10. Lyle   14 years ago

    It rains often in Libya?

    1. rather   14 years ago

      Sniper cover

    2. Christ opher   14 years ago

      Kevlar

    3. sevo   14 years ago

      "It rains often in Libya?"
      Winter in No Africa is wet and cold.

      1. Lyle   14 years ago

        Makes sense. Didn't know that off hand though. Thanks.

  11. Achtung Baby   14 years ago

    Man, do I wish the news was covering the Libyan protests more instead of the Wisconsin shit.

    1. The Wizard of Chicago   14 years ago

      Pay no attention to the man beneath the umbrella.

    2. affenkopf   14 years ago

      Watch al Jazeera.

    3. -   14 years ago

      In Wisconsin, the protesters shout you down.
      In Libya, the government shoots you down.

  12. Colin   14 years ago

    I've heard reports that Qaddafi's flying to Madison to become that magical 20th vote.

  13. Episiarch   14 years ago

    Qaddafi needs his own show. Really. They should offer him Letterman's slot if he'll step down peacefully.

    I'd watch.

    1. sage   14 years ago

      I wouldn't, but I don't watch Letterman now, unlike you. You sicken me.

      1. Episiarch   14 years ago

        You libelous scumbag...you know I haven't watched Letterman since 1989!

        1. Paul Shaffer   14 years ago

          I must confess ....

          1. Episiarch   14 years ago

            You guys missed the fairly obvious "who steps down peacefully, Qaddafi or Letterman?" joke that I set up for you.

            It's OK. I know I expect too much from you. It's just that I have such high hopes for you guys, you know?

            1. Conan O'Brien   14 years ago

              "You talkin' to me?"

            2. RyanXXX   14 years ago

              David Letterman: "I have not been fired...I will slaughter these dogs. Thank you. Goodbye"

    2. gao xia en   14 years ago

      An unreality show.

  14. sage   14 years ago

    I half expected him to exit the vehicle on the backs of his slaves like Xerxes in 300.

    1. Christ opher   14 years ago

      Didn't Lady Gaga do this last week at the Grammy's?

    2. Pro Libertate   14 years ago

      I think he thinks he is Xerxes from 300.

      1. Really?   14 years ago

        Will he scissor with Ms. Garrison next?

  15. The Ghost of Salvador Dal   14 years ago

    Dilettante.

    1. Rock Action   14 years ago

      That link led me to this, which I found...well, amusing and charming.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

  16. Jeff P   14 years ago

    That skit was funnier when SCTV did it originally...

  17. DNS   14 years ago

    I seem to remember this bit from the days when the WWE was known as the WWF. Needs more cowbell.

    1. Binky   14 years ago

      Sure you're not thinking of TW3?

    2. Pro Libertate   14 years ago

      The World Wildlife Federation?

  18. DNS   14 years ago

    And speaking of valets, what will become of those Slovakian or Whateverthefuckistan? nurses of which The Plastic Potentate is so fond?

  19. air max   14 years ago

    Pontius Pilate: Oh, okay. We have no "Woger'!
    [They all laugh]
    Man in crowd: Well what about "Wodewick" then?
    [They laugh and chant "Welease Wodewick!"]
    Pontius Pilate: Vewy well! I shall welease... Wodewick!
    [the crowd laughs some more]
    Centurion: Sir, there's no "Wodewick".
    Pontius Pilate: Who is this "Wodewick" you speak of?
    Man in crowd: He's a wobber!
    [they laugh]
    Man in crowd: And a wapist!
    [more laughter]
    Girl In Crowd: And a pick-pocket!
    [Everybody shakes their heads at her and say no]
    Pontius Pilate: He sounds a notowious cwiminal.

  20. air max   14 years ago

    I seem to remember this bit from the days when the WWE was known as the WWF.

  21. air max   14 years ago

    surreat performance.

  22. converse pas cher   14 years ago

    converse pas cher en linge et fr

    1. do not converse expensive   14 years ago

      do not converse expensive in linen and fr

  23. converse soldes   14 years ago

    converse soldes et france.

    1. converse balances   14 years ago

      converse balances and france.

  24. solde timberland   14 years ago

    solde timberland online shop.

  25. Mister DNA   14 years ago

    That clips looks like an outtake from Dr. Gene Scott's show.

    1. sevo   14 years ago

      Gadaffi can make Obama look good. But that's not saying much.

  26. Hugh Akston   14 years ago

    Somewhere Edward James Olmos is watching that clip over and over and over, just waiting for the phone to ring.

    1. Frak   14 years ago

      SO SAY WE ALL

  27. solde timberland   14 years ago

    timberland bottes 4 solde

  28. Kolohe   14 years ago

    How's it sit? Pretty cunning, don'tchya think?

  29. Colonel Qaddafi   14 years ago

    My Umbrella

    When the sun shines, we'll shine together
    Told you I'll be here forever
    Said I'll always be a friend
    Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
    Now that it's raining more than ever
    Know that we'll still have each other
    You can stand under my umbrella
    You can stand under my umbrella

    Lata, dogs.

  30. Kernel Kartoonafi   14 years ago

    Who gives me asylum?

    Barry O, My Pal Chavez or Fidel?
    Iran or Spain or France would sure be swell.

  31. Franklin Harris   14 years ago

    That was the most bizarre TV appearance since Max Headroom interrupted an episode of Doctor Who.

  32. danwgre   14 years ago

    France, of course. He wouldn't get a fair trial so it would be a travesty of human rights.

  33. All Star Converse   14 years ago

    The Converse All-Star running shoe became associated with punk rock and counter culture after being worn by bands The Ramones and Blondie, who communicated with both strong music and fashion statements.

  34. chaussures puma   14 years ago

    Oh,my god,This is insane

  35. Chaussures Converse   14 years ago

    The Converse All-Star running shoe became associated with punk rock

  36. 1? Basket Puma Pas cher   14 years ago

    123456 thank you

  37. Basket Puma Pas cher   14 years ago

    123

  38. chaussures Puma   14 years ago

    123

  39. BoscoH   14 years ago

    Weak imitation of Elton John, Moamar!

  40. PantsFan   14 years ago

    65 dead in New Zealand earthquake (so far).

    1. rather   14 years ago

      It is hardly mentioned on Fox

  41. Timberland split rock   14 years ago

    [url=http://www.chaussurestimberlandmagasin.com/timberland-chaussures-homme-timberland-split-rock-c-23_25_29.html/] Timberland split rock [/url]

  42. Timberland roll top   14 years ago

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  43. SIV   14 years ago

    Dear Editor:

    I hope you lazy Reason editors plan on showing up to work tomorrow.
    I'd hate to cancel my subscription.

    I suggest you start paying by the word. It seems to motivate Cav when the house note is due.

    Get on the fucking stick slackers!

    Your loyal (for now) reader,

    SIV

    1. Nipplemancer   14 years ago

      seriously. For a magazine called Reason they sure do take too many days off.

      1. Sy   14 years ago

        drink? or whatever.. fuck it..

        1. rather   14 years ago

          There's is always my blog;-)

          1. Nipplemancer   14 years ago

            Cuntpickle.

            1. rather   14 years ago

              asshole

              1. !   14 years ago

                Get a room.

  44. BREAKING   14 years ago

    While the Tea Parties and the leftists were busy arguing about how many union teachers can dance on the head of a pin, some blogger sniffed out the really filthy crony capitalism that's hidden in the bill.

    Yes, Walker's bill contains authorization for no-bid sales of state-owned power plants.

    No-bid sales. To cronies.

  45. air max   14 years ago

    sure you are nothing thinking of tw3...

  46. air max   14 years ago

    thanks.go

  47. Jim Walsh   14 years ago

    I'm waiting for the Fox gang to tell us what a bad thing this is (well, it did happen on Obama's watch)...

  48. Eric F.   14 years ago

    He looks just like William Shatner! Oh wait, that's just a commercial.

  49. Jack Purcell Converse   14 years ago

    maybe

  50. gao xia en   14 years ago

    Hey, that's not Khadafy, it's Ringo!

  51. Jerry   14 years ago

    Great clip, now everyone is talking about the umbrella, and not about the 200 people killed on the streets of Libya.

  52. puma pas cher   14 years ago

    that's just a commercial.

  53. puma pas cher   14 years ago

    yeah

  54. puma pas cher   14 years ago

    i see

  55. yet another dave   14 years ago

    He got a very stern phone call from ban - ki - moon down ye olde u.n. so everything is better now...

    http://www.mercurynews.com/new.....ck_check=1

  56. basket puma pas cher   14 years ago

    must be.

  57. Timberland 6inch   14 years ago

    Timberland 6inch PREMIUM
    Timberland 6inch

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