O'Reilly and Colbert's Mutually Beneficial Exchange

The increasing growth of the state into every nook and cranny has provided plenty of fodder for bloggers, both libertarian and otherwise. Honestly, what would we be blogging about in 1807 or 1907? Additionally, the growth of the state is starting to put to death that age old form of comedy: political satire. This is not because there is nothing left to satirize. Rather, it is because today's satire is becoming tomorrow's reality.

This development has been catalogued by many, one example is Radley Balko's Life, Satire Inch Closer series. Recent satirical attempts have been made on this site as well. Sometimes it is hard to tell, other than the lack of sources, as with this story about catnip. Sadly though, not all cat-related tyranny is satire, as in the Hemingway Home case. I even make a weak attempt to document this phenomenon each week on Strike the Root (see the bottom of this page, and past Thursdays).

And today on national television, we will be able to experience if not the climax, at least a high point in this development: Bill O'Reilly and Stephen Colbert will be trading appearances (not places nor spaces, mind you) on each other's respective shows. For extra credit: does either have an absolute advantage in journalism and comedy? Which has the comparative advantage in each?