�I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound�with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world."

Stephen Colbert, just a few feet away from George W. Bush, on Saturday, April 29, 2006, at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Of the scarce public rebukes of George W. Bush, none -- not one -- was as skillful, droll, bold, and brilliant as Stephen Colbert's "keynote" remarks at a White House Correspondent's Dinner. Colbert fileted not only Bush, but the entire D.C. press corps. This took enormous courage, given that he cut so close to the bone of his audience that the next year they invited Rich Little to be the "keynote" entertainer so that there would be no "danger" of anyone saying anything relevant or critical of the stenographers' club in D.C.

Colbert's remarks and poised delivery was masterful. He was in and out before everyone realized that they had just been disemboweled.

In honor of his singular courage in dressing down both Bush and the D.C. knee pad corps, we are delighted to offer advance purchase of Colbert's new tome.