I was just reading this:

"When I told my father that the school told us that Britain is an empire on which the sun does not set, he replied that the reason is because God does not trust Britain in the dark."

Quite witty, I thought, even if I don't normally agree with the speaker. I wonder how long it took him to think of it?

That's an old one Pa.

I think it may originally have been Irish Fenian and about not trusting an Englishman in the dark.

It's called a mosh pit, George.

Geez, he's getting old. I love the way these guys think if they wear a pony tail and make a few dope jokes it means they're still hip, even when they're pushing 70.

Ah, yes. So it is. Thanks, NickM.
Colvin R de Silva is apparently credited with the phrase. A prominent Trotskyist, apparently - trust George (another George) to be quoting old Trotskyists.

VR: I don't know. How old do you think his audience are?

Personally, I have always found the guy a bit overrated, but not because of his age or his hipness/lack of it.

Alisa,

Alzheimers' audiences are easy---every joke is new every time. I imagine Carlin's followers are just as "hippie" and out of date as he is.

The "hippie-dippie weather man" was a long, long time ago. My kids don't even know who he is.

Hey, maybe Alzheimer's is not all that bad after all:-)

...but Carlin's right about standing ovations. The gesture is now largely meaningless.