Stephen Colbert stood up in front of the Washington press corp, the President of the United States and countless high-ranking US political types at the Washington Correspondents’ Dinner and said this:

“Let’s review the rules. Here’s how it works. The president makes decisions, he’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know — fiction.”

Opportunity of a lifetime: maximised. Stephen, you may retire a honorable man.