“I feel like George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ God bless you, you old Federal Election Commission!”

Looks like somebody’s taking Stephen Colbert seriously again:

The Federal Election Commission ruled Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert could form his eponymous political action committee and use his show to promote it.

“60 days ago today, on this very spot, a young man petitioned the FEC for permission to form a super PAC to raise unlimited monies and use those monies to determine the winners of the 2012 election,” Colbert declared to supporters outside the FEC building after the commissioners issued their advisory. “I am sorry to say, we won.”

The story, apparently, is: Colbert talked up starting his own PAC on his news-parody TV show, but then actually filed with the FCC to do it. The FCC today told him yes.

Let’s play “what the hell is going on out there?” Stephen Colbert’s main goal is to:

• Cast light on the corrupting influence of big money on American politics;

• Actually rake in some big money so he can influence American politics;

• Get a lot of free publicity for his TV show.

I’m guessing #3.

Memeorandum.