Being that Maher is 54 and white, he’s probably right on this if he’s pointing the finger at himself:




  1. sargasso says:

    “Gerontocracy”, a state run by the elderly. “Calceiocracy”, a state run by people with the biggest shoe size.

  2. brian t says:

    I listen to the audio podcast version of Real Time: great, but it’s a good thing I listen to other, more serious shows too. I don’t find myself agreeing with everything Maher say, not by a long shot. The way he delivers the lines, I don’t think that’s what he wants, anyway. Half of the commenters here don’t seem to know that he started out in stand-up comedy, and still does stand-up – so why do you imagine he’s going to turn in to a Frost or a Cronkite?

  3. Animby says:

    # 4 Godfish said,”This guy is Jewish?”

    In his vision of uber liberalism, there is no need for ethnic labels and, since he’s a militant atheist, I don’t really think you can call him jewish, anymore.

    Not condemning, just saying.

  4. Walter Bishop says:

    So how does MediaIte quote 1/4 of the show without violating HBO’s copyright?

  5. GregAllen says:

    This aging babyboomers are the same self-centered bunch who believed that greed was good as they dismantled the social contract of the Greatest Generation.

  6. RLF says:

    People still listen to this person?

  7. bobbo, once again missing the whole point says:

    #31–ECA–three guests on the panel:

    Alan Grayson–lib dem Congressman
    Susan Eisenhower–conservative think tank
    Matthew Continetti–Weekly Standard

    Gee==one lib, two conservatives.

    You sure hit that one on the head (/sarcasm)

    #32–Metal==see above.

    #37–Rolf==got nothing.

    Well Done Conservasheep. Not a single specific issue raised except one by ECA which is wrong. Well Done Indeed.

    I think Bill was wrong on his first item==Arizona policy of confirming immigration status. I’ve heard its only after an arrest/stop for some other issue in which case there should be no complaints here. I’ve also heard as Bill seems to say that the policy can be used to stop people initially==thats not so good. As usual–you gotta make sure all conversants are playing with the same facts.

    I thought Repug/Conservatives were for strong (anti) illegal immigration reform and for conserving our civil liberties.

    Seems like all you LIEberTARDS should support bill on the first item of his shows. I guess the TARD part was just throbbing too hard?

    Then his discussion about Ellen Degeneres seemed totally on point and correct which is where the quote above came from. Stupid ideologues confusing Ellen with Rosie and thinking shes a commie.

    Silly people.

    I’ll check this thread to see if any anti-Bill folks can hold a meeting and figure out what to say. Its a pity the talking points don’t back these plays over the weekend.

  8. RLF says:

    Bobbo,
    I’m not sure why I was piled in with the rest, all I was stating was that nobody listens to this guy.
    It would be like getting your facts from Fox or Huffington–While they use some facts they’re strewn with so many lies as to make them useless.

  9. Mr Ed says:

    Older white males do tend to be very racist in my experience. I think the root of the problem is greed and selfishness.
    Since I fall into the category of “older white male” I am pleasantly surprised that I have kept my ideals and integrity this long. However, there is always the fear that senility may eventually overcome rational thought.

  10. bobbo, once again missing the whole point says:

    RLF==and I disagree. If there are “so many lies” that you are surprised anyone listens to one of the stand out funny and insightful social comedians/commenters of our time then it should be exceedingly easy for you to give an example or two.

    I won’t hold my breath waiting for anything specific from you, but I would be interested in what you might come up with.

    You are correctly lumped in===all conclusion, no facts. I’ve already met you more than half way with my own two examples. Show me wrong, that you actually have something substantive to say. Just bad gas otherwise.

    Mr Ed==you are describing both of us. But you have bought into an invalid premise==or atleast one that is just alleged without facts. IN CONTEXT what Bill is talking about is who is most likely to be in favor of racial profiling and against Ellen Degeneres (I didn’t note the last half of the segment for his other issues) and in those two cases, the people that are against illegal immigration and who are against Ellen Degeneres and who go out an demonstrate or make the news==may indeed be mostly old white guys. but thats a lot of conditions to whittle the total population of the USA down to.

    Does Maher think all old white men are racists, homophobic, or anti-immigrant???—as is suggested by the non-responsive loud mouth got nothing LIEberTARDS on this thread???

    Who knows. Everything gets blown out of proportion and out of context when you are a comedian or a blow hard.

  11. Greg Allen says:

    >> Mr Ed said, on April 24th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
    >> I am pleasantly surprised that I have kept my ideals and integrity this long.

    Good for you!

    I am less bigoted now than when I was in my teens and twenties.

    As a liberal, I don’t value racism and try to catch and correct myself.

    My form of Christianity believes that God views all humans with equal compassion and worth — so I try to model that.

  12. woody says:

    #38 Let me fix this for you booboo

    Alan Grayson–lib dem Congressman
    Jew

    Susan Eisenhower–conservative think tank
    grand daughter of the terrible swedish jew

    Matthew Continetti–Weekly Standard
    How neo conservative can you get? Fat lipped jew

    #40 If waycism is such a pwoblem, mebe you should move to the south. We have more diversity than that Northwestern liberal enclave you inhabit. Experience is the best education.

    Fuck Bill Maher

    woody

  13. RLF says:

    Bobbo
    Sorry, I was holding my breath.
    great social comedy/commentators of our time—WOW
    I can think of some commentators that use some comedy and vise-a-versa who are worthy of being heard. I would not cite them exclusively.

  14. Rick Cain says:

    The problem with this country and in the UK as well is a man named Rupert Murdoch. He is running America into the ground via Fox News, and he’s doing the same in the UK because he owns 40% of the newspapers there.

    I won’t shed a tear when he finally shuffles off this mortal coil.

  15. Animby says:

    # 40 Mr Ed said,”Older white males do tend to be very racist in my experience.”

    Ed, I can’t speak as to your personal experience, of course, but if your intent is to generalize across the US population, I think you may have gone a step too far. But, let’s say you’re right. My generation (I am just a few years older than Mr Maher) grew up at a time when we were told we had to pay for the racial sins of the past. My best friend Paul lived across the street from me when I was in primary school. I had to get up at 5am every morning to catch a bus ride to a school that was predominantly black and hispanic where I, as a white kid, was persecuted. Paul got up at 7 and walked the three blocks to school. Fortunately for me, they changed the boundary lines very quickly and this experience didn’t screw me over too much. But, in the same era, blacks were being chosen over whites with superior qualifications for jobs and opportunities to meet quotas.(cut two lengthy anecdotes) So it’s quite conceivable the government programs of quota would have fostered racism.

    Would you guess I am frequently accused of racism? Some uber liberals have told me that my work in third world countries is my subconscious paying off a debt. Me? I thought I got into it for the travel and adventure. And who doesn’t like a taste of malaria from time to time? Don’t even get me started on guinea worms.

    As for Mr Maher – Some months ago I watched his “documentary” about religion. His sole object seemed to be to belittle those with belief systems he didn’t share. Now, I’m a bit of an atheist, too. (Bit? I still believe in Thor. And Minerva often shares my pillow.) But he managed to offend me! I find his “comedy” now goes beyond satire (at which he used to be brilliant) into snide, sarcasm that attacks people with the intent to humiliate them. The world does not need people like Bill Maher.

  16. bobbo, writing original comedic material is hard says:

    #43–Woody==I can’t really tell from your post. Are you agreeing or disagreeing that Bill Maher selects Yes Men who only agree with him to be on his panel?

    Fuck Bill Maher? Ok, Why?

    #44–Rolf==you are of course free to do as you wish===like criticize someone with a general conclusion and then not provide any facts at all to back it up==or not.

    “You Know” I enjoy holding all of my opinions. Like children they are to me, stuff of my own creation. And for each one of my kiddies, I am proud to have 3-4 facts to back them up, kinda like my kiddies names so to speak. Who are you people with strong opinions but no ideas????? Must be part of that highly diversified Southland we got going here.

    #46–Animby==you give the general nature of your dissatisfaction but can you favor us with how exactly Maher went too far with his humiliation? I saw the movie and remember it as “ok” but nothing great or insightful but quite unusual in our religiously oriented culture? I tend to recall and Bill said himself he did not go out of his way to embarass his targets==he just put them on camera and let them embarass themselves.

    Highly refined sensibilities you have there Animby. “Tough Crowd” as Bill might say.

    If anyone cares to pull and idea or a fact out of their butts, extra credit if you share with us whether you would rather watch a Bill Maher show OR — any of the various preacher shows on the tube? In other words, do you favor wit and criticism you disagree with over mind rotting stupidity, or just the opposite?

  17. The_Tick says:

    Can’t move south, because we all know.

    “The white people of the South are the greatest minority in this nation. They deserve consideration and understanding instead of the persecution of twisted propaganda. “

  18. RLF says:

    Bobbo
    I’m reminded of a story I heard about him.
    An employee left his coat in the control room. It was about two hours after the show and everyone had left–well, sort of.
    To his horror Bill was out on the stage, totally nude, having hot passionate sex. He was stroking, moaning, and screaming out obscenities.

    Then with a thunderous crash the tumultuous scene abruptly ended–Bill’s mirror had fallen and shattered.

    It was the only funny thing I have ever associated with him.
    Just my two cents

  19. bobbo, writing original comedic material is hard says:

    Rolf–up late on a Saturday Night? I feel your pain.

    I noticed once on a red carpet type tv show Bill was in the background with a gorgeous young thing. I assume she was a paid escort and by that I mean very much just an escort==or not.

    How would I know?

  20. brm says:

    #30:

    “So here is the challenge: rather than restate your conconclusions, for our education, what exactly did/has Bill Maher said that you disagree with and why?”

    He’s a smug asshole, is often offensive (in my opinion), and has his own TV show. I don’t need to write a research paper explaining why I don’t like the guy.

  21. TheCommodore says:

    I believe Maher has been reading from the playbook of Lyndon LaRouche. There are just enough truths packed into the rhetoric to make the package seem plausible – until you do the homework. I’m so glad I changed my cable package around this year to dump HBO and go only with standard HD channels. I’d forgotten about this guy until you brought him up here. GAH.

  22. Bobbo offers no facts yet remains tedious says says:

    I claim others offer no facts while I do pretty much the same. I like to type my missives with the occasional all caps EMPHASIS to prove how passionate I am. Occasionally I’ll throw in the word “context” to show how erudite I am.

    I’ll continue to bloviate again and again until you prove that Bill Maher is a comedic genius that I KNOW him to be.

  23. bobbo, writing original comedic material is hard says:

    #52–brm==too general. Again nothing specific. You see, “anyone” with an opinion could be described as you do. Where’s the beef?

    #53–C’monadoor==Homework? If you’ve done it, why not share from your crib sheets?

    #54–Bobbo==incorrect, wrong, on EACH point you make and GENERALLY off point, but still funny. Thanks.

    #55–Pedo==god bless ya Pedo. You will always be my favority. Hang in there.

    Actually since Bobbo took the least amount of effort possible, and its obvious no one posting on this thread understands or is up to the task of actually responding to a question, let me demonstrate by matching an idea with an opposing idea and support.

    I claim others offer no facts /// go thru the thread and quote the “facts” you by implication claim I gloss over.

    while I do pretty much the same. /// Facts are not required to ask a question. Questions are used to receive facts. Nonetheless, I did give two examples of what a more specific complaint might look like.

    I like to type my missives with the occasional all caps EMPHASIS to prove how passionate I am. /// Rarely passion. More FOR EMPHASIS to help my sort attention span opponents along.

    Occasionally I’ll throw in the word “context” to show how erudite I am. /// No, trying to limit the wild rides off on a tangent. In CONTEXT, don’t you think a statement made by a comedian is different than the same statement made by a candidate running for office, or found as a chapter heading in a BOOK on the subject and so forth? How can the same words, the same “idea” be different? Context.

    I’ll continue to bloviate /// I’ll cop to that although “if” you agree with me, or seek to weigh the pro’s and con’s of the opposing factors I include when present and recognized, or rise to a strech goal===could be music.

    again and again until you prove that Bill Maher is a comedic genius that I KNOW him to be. /// I called him a “stand out” comedian of our time ((anyone with his own show is)) and one I often disagreed with. He’s no George Carlin, short of Genius.

    I had a work colleague who invited me to go to a George Carlin Concert with his wife and him. It was very good. Lot’s of “f*ck the government” and a few anti-religious comments thrown in. My friend and his wife did not like it at all and said they did not realize how foul and disrespectful his live act was. I said–yea pretty much. Their displeasure was real and easily supported. They weren’t the type to go onto a blog and whine like little LIEberTARDS about the issue though. They were honest thoughtful people.

    Gosh, its rather sad. Full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

  24. bobbo, using tv as a lens on society says:

    Next comedian for the right wing to hate on:

    http://lockergnome.com/theoracle/2010/04/24/jon-stewart-proves-why-he-should-own-late-night/

  25. bobbo, using tv as a lens on society says:

    Pedo–“verilogue?” Ha, ha. Yes, verily.

    So Pedo–can you give us an example of what Maher said that you find so very objectionable? Otherwise, I’ll just have to keep veriloging on my own.

    Is veriloging a word?

  26. Animby says:

    # 47 bobbo, said, “Animby==you give the general nature of your dissatisfaction but can you favor us with how exactly Maher went too far with his humiliation?”

    Nope. Sorry, Bobbo. I watched it. I know how it made me feel. And I’ve no great desire to watch it again to document my disgust. However, if you’d like to host a little koffee klatch and video review with several of our friends here, I’d make an exception and offer my opinions as we go. I take my coffee strong and black but I do like dainty little finger sandwiches.

  27. bobbo, better living thru chemistry says:

    Animby–so knowing yourself isn’t that high on your list? Giving names to your kiddies is too much work?

    The whole point in getting specific is that it reveals more about the speaker than the subject addressed.

    Animby has been caught too many times having an opinion based on nothing and has learned to sidestep that trap. Heelllooooo?

    Coffee? Na. I thought you were into espresso? I’m busy roasting my own beans and trying to find a consistent grinder. Brewing the perfect cup has come down to grind and tamp with the variation appearing to come in the grind but my machine lacks confirming instrumentality to check on temp and pressure. Just too many variables for this home barista to master.

    Oh for the simple days when anything black and bitter would do.

    MORE–just rememebered our last related exchange==I asked the tech/repair department at DeLonghi why espresso machines were so expensive given they all performed essentially the same exact task. He fumbled a bit but finally relied on “features” which he could not elaborate on. Kinda like having an opinion on Bill Maher.

  28. bobbo, Looking for definitions in all the wrong places says:

    Hey Pedo==got a link to that definition page?

  29. bobbo, course, language is meant to grow says:

    Speaking of truth and the definitions of words lets go with

    “Pedospeak”: (1) made up words that when challenged will also have made up definitions. Often revealed by having Latin prefixes attached to Greek base words. (2) Ain’t no thing. (3) Don’t step in that verilogue!

    Pedo, so cute, you gotta smile when he drools.

  30. Animby says:

    #65 – Bobbo – Pedro may not be making it up COMPLETELY. Just the spelling and defintion. I had to look it up to make sure I wasn’t misremembering but there is a word “veriloquent” which means speaking truthfully. And there is a word “verilog” which has something to do with electronics – something about gate level stimulation. You know, magic. Isn’t it cute how children get their words mixed up? Pedro, want some pisghetti?

    #61 Bobbo : “so knowing yourself isn’t that high on your list? Giving names to your kiddies is too much work?” You’re absolutely right. I do not need to retaste the Ipecac to remember the effect. I could if I wanted to but it simply is not worth that much to me. However, accusing me of having opinions based on nothing? That is not veriloquent! (See, Pedro?) My opinions are always based on something, I simply do not always explain myself to your satisfaction. This may be by choice, omission or inability. My apologies.

    Your coffee troubles make me sigh. Sigh. I have lived so much of my life where a good cup is coffee is spelled Nescafe. Quite cruel in places where they actually have good coffee. I was in northern Laos a few weeks ago where they grow some wonderful Arabica beans. The best coffee I could find was a cup of Nescafe with condensed milk! I drank tea. On the other hand, when I lived in Cairo, there was a custom roaster not two blocks from my house and I don’t think Egypt has grown a coffee bean since the last ice age. Go figure.


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