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Colbert Salutes Troops from ASV, Quinn Wants Parade
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 9, 2010
Modified Sep 9, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 9, 2010
Modified Sep 9, 2010
Share
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Last night Stephen Colbert kicked off a two-part tribute to the troops who have served (and continue to serve) in Iraq. The show started with Colbert riding in a tank Armored Security Vehicle [ASV] outside the Comedy Central studios near the West Side Highway, and ended with an interview with Vice President Joe Biden, who served hot dogs to a studio audience packed with recently returned troops. Biden quipped that breaking tie votes in the Senate is only one of the vice president's constitutional duties, "the other one is giving hot dogs to returning warriors." Here's an excerpt:
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cBeen There Won That - Joe Biden & Yogi Berrawww.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes2010 ElectionFox News
Meanwhile, politicians are talking about holding a ticker tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes, but there's some disagreement over the timing, because some 48,000 troops are still in Iraq. (They'll supposedly be withdrawn by the end of next year.) City Council Speaker Christine Quinn tells MSNBC, "It's something we need to do. The troops without a doubt deserve it more than the Yankees and the Giants. If there is a grander gesture, I would want the city to make it." The Giants parade cost the city and private donors about $331,000.
Quinn would like the parade to happen "sooner rather than later," and Republican Congressman Peter King agrees, telling MSNBC, "No matter how somebody feels about the war... we are thanking them for their service. Yes, there are 50,000 troops still there, I'm not minimizing that, [but] a ticker-tape parade is New York's way." But a spokesperson for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America says, "We are hearing from our members whose sons, mothers, sisters and husbands are still deployed in Iraq, and for them the war is far from over. We hope NYC gives our troops the heroes welcome they deserve when all of our men and women are home safely."
Tagged
canyon of heroes
iraq
joe biden
stephen colbert
tank
ticker tape parade
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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