I never thought much of Russell Brand before, but I'm starting to wonder if he mightn't be cleverer than he appears. For example, the NME awards ceremony where he introduces St Bob Geldof as Bobby Gandalf (it's on Youtube). It's a very weak, childish joke, but Geldof's reaction is extraordinary. With the MTV gig, I doubt if Brand gives a stuff who wins the election, he just picked the side that was easier to wind up. It's massive publicity he wouldn't get by telling clever jokes.
US comedians on British TV tend to make fun of US politics, but then if they had a go at ours, we'd all just say, "yes we know, it's awful, have you seen Rory Bremner?"