HT to the really smart guys at Powerline.

Conan O’Brien was the commencement speaker at Dartmouth this year.

Dartmouth also saw fit to honor George HW Bush with an honorary degree.

Let me note that I have generally no use whatsoever for commencement speeches. They are typically long, nobody remembers a word of them and they do absolutely nothing but enhance the checking account of the ego driven speaker who loves to hear him/herself talk. That said, Mr. O’Brien is at the top of a very, very short list of really important and memorable things said to a graduating class:

Before I begin, I must point out that behind me sits a highly admired President of the United States and decorated war hero while I, a cable television talk show host, have been chosen to stand here and impart wisdom. I pray I never witness a more damning example of what is wrong with America today.

Thank you for your honesty Mr. O’Brien. You’ve jumped way up in my estimation of you (not that it matters), and that deserves to be the quote of the century to this point.