COMIC Stephen Colbert drew an icy response from the press corps at the White House Correspondents' Association gala in April, but it could have been worse, reports The Post's Mandy Stadtmiller. At an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences panel the other night, Colbert told moderator Stone Phillips he cut out one of his George Bush-bashing jokes at the last minute. "The president is always giving out medals to other people," Colbert explained. So he planned to joke at the D.C. event, " 'Nobody ever gives him awards, and that is wrong. So tonight,' and we had this printed up, 'I am here to present to the president the highest award that Stephen Colbert can present to the president . . . It's called a Certificate of Presidency.' It was a little sheet of paper that said, 'I, Stephen Colbert, hereby recognize George W. Bush is president of the United States.' " Reflected Colbert, "At that point in the speech, 'cause it was right about the middle, I looked over and I went, I'm not going to do that." Where is the "certificate" now? Colbert keeps it framed on his wall as a personal "woulda, shoulda, coulda" memento.

...If you've never seen it, revel in personal shame for a while, and then watch: