It's never too late to break as a comic. Lewis Black is 59 and he's never been hotter. The Daily Show correspondent is selling out theaters and will host his own Comedy Central show, Root of All Evil, which will air in March. Black continues to make trenchant points about life and politics by raving and ranting, whether it's on The Daily Show via his Back in Black segments or on stage during his Red White and Screwed tour. He spoke in a recent phone interview. - Ed CondranYou're a late bloomer. How do you explain it?

I can't. There is something disturbing going on if I'm going mainstream.

You're a social engineer onstage. You go off about society's ills and offer solutions.

Yeah but if I don't get laughs, I'm screwed. I love talking about things that matter.

Life has changed dramatically under the Bush administration.

It is different. Here's an example of that. Everyone says this is a great country and it is a great country but things are changing. Health care is so bad that people are flying out of America for surgery. Who would have ever thought that you would fly to New Delhi for gall bladder surgery?

Who or what squares up on Root of All Evil?

There's Paris Hilton vs. Dick Cheney. Kim Jong Il vs. French Fries. I like that one.

Who decides what is the most evil?

I'm the ultimate decider. The two guys who hit the boards are Greg Giraldo and Patton Oswalt. Andy Kindler will be on the show.

You have a book coming out.

It's called Me of Little Faith. It's my book on religion. It comes out in early June. It's mostly about my coming to grips with certain experiences. I've crossed some lines.

Like what lines?

Like astrology. You read this stupid stuff. I've been divorced. I was in a horrible marriage. I'm in a pharmacy and I read a book about Virgos, which I am, and love. It says don't marry a Leo in no uncertain terms. It says don't marry a Leo born on July 21 or July 22. That's verboten. It'll be a disaster. That's when my ex-wife was born. Things like that are crazy. Anyway, one of the themes of my book is that if your faith works for you, that's great, so shut up.

What do you have faith in?

That I'll wake up tomorrow and something stupid will happen again, and I have faith in the belief that none of these candidates are worth a dime.

What about Obama?

Terrific, great. I think he has a hopeful voice. I just wish he didn't want to learn on the job. I like what he says and what three other guys say, and I wish I could combine them. If any of them were great leaders after the last six years we have had and none of them have risen from the abyss of the Democratic party and went to the top. I don't know. They're all a bunch of sissies. Go stand where the problems are. I would have stood in front of that bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed. Nice job. Great infrastructure. The infrastructure in this country sucks. Do you want to worry about being attacked by a group of people in another part of the world or worry about being attacked by the bridge you drive over every day? Idiots. In the course of my lifetime, the level of greed is ridiculous. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if God said, "That's it," and opened up the skies and fireballed people. I would get it.

So you won't vote for Hillary Clinton?

She's too polarizing. It's not her fault. Hillary, you're wonderful at what you do but I don't need polarization

What will Bush do post-presidency?

He'll run some company.

Into the ground?

Probably.

Why isn't Bush impeached on something every other day?

Because he's worn us out. I think we're too tired. I would rather take a nap. It's unbelievable that he hasn't been tried. Wait until what comes out after he leaves. That will make us wonder why we didn't try to impeach him. I don't think we've seen nothing yet. Once the rats get off the boat, they'll start eating each other.

How does it feel to arrive at 59?

I just wish success didn't come when I need a nap to enjoy it.

Lewis Black

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16

State Theatre

1501 Euclid Ave.

216.241.6000

Tickets: $45.50-$59.50