Bill Maher

[angee_is_mad]

I've been holding my tongue for a while now, but am I the only one who thinks that Bill Maher is a POMPOUS ass? I agree with him on alot of things, but for some reason he just irritates the hell out of me.
I'm I the only one who feels this way?

[ComerPerro]

1. Yes, he is a pompous ass

at times. But I still like the guy

[JI7]

6. me too

i like him. i love hearing him speak about politics. i don't agree with him at times, but i like how he comes to certain conclusions.

[Jr_Samples]

50. You're a pompous ass too?

Good, because so am I.

:)

[Clete]

2. He is a pompous ass.

However, like you many of us agree on a lot of things he says and he does crack some funnies.

[southern democrat]

4. He may be

But it's his right to be.Gets into the rightwingers shit and fine with me.

[gmoney]

3. VERY pompous...

for a guy who was in both "D.C. Cab" and "Piranha Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death"

...but at least he's still funny once in a while, unlike Dennis Miller.

[Zhade]

24. Dennis "I'm so smart I don't know what the hell I mean" Miller?

Complete turncoat idiot.

[shamgar50]

32. He is an asshole

Never could stand Miller. He thinks way too much of himself. Maher is a pompous ass but at least he leans to the left.:evilgrin:

[Demobrat]

5. Nope. I can't stand the guy

or his more-enlightened-than-thou condescending smirk. Sure I agree with him a lot, but that just means he's got some good writers. It doesn't mean I have to like him.

[angee_is_mad]

8. thank you!!!!!

Do you think he's as smart as he think he is? Because if he is we must be pretty dumb(or so he thinks). Yeah, I like the way he goes after the right too, but don't you think he leans more to the right than the left. He is a libertarian.

[Demobrat]

34. I don't think he's smart at all.

Unless you call being good at self-promotion smart. It's not hard to hire good writers in hollywood. Of course I'm thinking of the only thing I've seen him do lately, a stand-up routine. But if I recall, his comments on his talk show were never insightful, just meanspirited.

[Jr_Samples]

47. He's very smart

That's obvious to me - not from his material (which may be written) - but from his spontaneous, LIVE responses on HBO.

If he pisses you off it might be a non-political thing. Maybe you just can't stand short little guys with giant heads and even bigger noses.

[Jr_Samples]

46. Don't confuse Liberatrianism with FReeperism

The two are not synonymous.

Maher is a Civil Libertarian.

FReepers are not.

[Creideiki]

66. Libertarian, but not freeper

At least from what I've seen. He's very left socially and seems slightly to moderately right fiscally. I can accept that. Especially since right now, everything he seems to comment about is the social stuff and the tax cuts that IIRC he's not in favor of right now as it's not a fiscally sound policy.

[angee_is_mad]

79. so he is like the ARNOLD then?

[liberalmuse]

7. No, you're not...

He can be a pompous ass. I think he is an old-fashioned conservative with a healthy dose of liberalism added. The man gets me SO angry sometimes, but then he says things that make so much sense, it blows my mind, and I forget his pompousness for awhile.

[angee_is_mad]

10. moderate conservative

Sometimes I feel that he is a milder, gentler O'Reilly, but then he will say something left of center.
You know, we need more Art Torres' on the tube to rise a little liberal hell for once.
I know I'm dreaming, but sometimes dreams do come true, at least that's what my nana told me and nana NEVER lied.

[Jr_Samples]

48. This blows my mind

Then again my mind is easily blown.

But the fact that so many of you actually think Maher is a conservative... am I in bizzaro-world or something?

- He says all religion is horseshit
- He says prositution and drugs should be legalized
- He drives a hybrid car and constantly pushes the global warming issue.
- His newest book, "When you ride alone you ride with Bin Laden," flies in the face of the current administration's claims that drugs fund terrorism
- He scoffs at the idea of marriage being "sacred" and off-limits to gays
- He was kicked off the air for characterizing the 9-11 attackers as "anything but cowardly"

Etc.

But... if this is conservative then I must be a Nazi

His web site might interest you - click here if you're curious

[madfloridian]

9. He is brilliant but intensely annoying.

I have watched portions at times, telling myself that his "get over the war" thing would not bother me. It does, though.

The other night he complimented Ashcroft on going after the muslims in such a way that it sounded complimentary.

I found that unconscionable. He said that is why we are not having terrorist acts here, because Ashcroft is investigating all of them and they know it.

I have not used the exact words, but they really stayed with me.

[Jr_Samples]

49. Citation, please

"He complimented Ashcroft"

When? I've heard him compliment Rumsfeld, and I know two episodes ago he said Bush was an effective "leader," but complimenting Ashcroft?

I think I'd remember something like that.

[madfloridian]

68. It was during a recent interview.

Was he on Larry King Live the last week or so? It has not been that long. I was surprised, and I asked my husband if I heard that right?I said did he say it was Ashcroft's going after the Muslims that was keeping us safe? He thought that, too.

He seemed to think Ashcroft was doing quite a good job. I don't have a transcript to prove it, and I can't find it on a google search. It was a one-on-one interview situation, and I do think it was Larry King.

I do remember I was really angry with him. I have not watched his show on HBO since. I don't recall his being this way before, not this bad.

[Catch22Dem]

11. Hmmmm

I agree with him more often than I disagree with him. When he hits the right, he hits HARD. That's cool in my book. Even when he pisses my off, I'm usually laughing and rolling my eyes about it. Compare this to Ann Coulter, who, when she pisses me off, she nearly sends me into a violent fucking rage! I think it's because she's so incredibly stupid and irrational, whereas Maher is intelligent and quite rational. Even when we're in disagreement, he's still being rational (mostly.)

[bookman]

12. He is.

It's a personality type.

He's very defensive about his lifestyle, and very pompous about others lifestyle.

But every once in a while he says things that need to be said.

:)

[Andromeda]

13. Bill Maher,

like so many other commedians who do political satire consider themselves above the fray and wouldn't betray their "principles" by taking anything seriously. They pretend not to be on anybody's side because it's so "silly." They love the Ann Coulters because people like her aren't afraid to be "booed," never mind she is a bulemic nutcase. She's just a drinking buddy, he says, and the more outrageous, the better.

That leaves the rest of us to wonder about his sanity---or maybe our own for listening to him.

[Jr_Samples]

51. Again, I have to ask,

Do any of you actually know who Bill Maher is?

"pretend not to be on anybody's side"

You're talking about Gallagher. If any prominent comedian today can be said to "take sides," it is certainly Bill Maher.

Try actually watching him sometimes.

[Skittles]

14. HE IS ONE CREEPY F****

I CAN'T F***ING STAND HIM.

[angee_is_mad]

15. that's what I'm talking about!!!!

[Jr_Samples]

52. You guys are budding conservatives

"I don't like him"

"I know... ewww!"

"He's, like sucky!"

etc.

I've heard better arguments from Beavis and Butthead.

Is there actually any substance to your criticism, or are you just biding the time en route to your conservative transformation? Just wondering, because these are the types of non-arguments neocons offer on a daily basis.

[Forkboy]

65. Ha

Skittles puts you to shame Junior.

[angee_is_mad]

80. I agree and disagree

I said that I agree with him on a lot of things, but his attitude irritates the hell out of me. Also if he heard you say that he was liberal or liberal-like he would knock you upside your head.lol But you would be alright because I'm sure his bark is worse than his bite.

[Terwilliger]

83. Skittles, you're finicky

and hard-pressed to keep quiet about it :D

[Clark Can WIN]

16. Got to admit I like the guy

I think I agree with about half of what he says, but when I am watching a show like that for entertainment I don't expect to agree with more than that. I like him because he will tell guests they are just plain crazy or lying their ass off when everyone knows they are. Yeah, he's pompous sometimes obnoxious, and definately smug too, but I don't think he takes himself as seriously as others in his genre and I guess that's what makes it OK I guess, for me anyway.

He has never pretended to be the keep and arbiter of all wisdom.

[WINEWOMAN7]

17. Bill Maher

I have come to the conclusion in the last few weeks that Bill is a libertarian who cares nothing about the people but only about himself: smoking pot, having liberal sex and being a great representative of a free thinker with no agenda in order to impress the media. He has no principles if he can condem the California recall and at the same time call Ann Coulter one of his best friends. You either have ethics and principles or you don't.
He's a phony who will say anything to keep his ratings up on his HBO show.

[Catch22Dem]

18. Shame on you

You talk about smoking pot and liberal sex as though they are bad things.

[WINEWOMAN7]

21. Shame on you

No I don't think smoking pot and liberal sex are bad things, I just think Bill is a hypocrite. He doesn't care about the average person. He only cares about his own personal desires. (by the way, I love to smoke pot)

[Catch22Dem]

25. LOL

I was just givin' you a little shit. I agree with you, yet I still kinda like the guy. Like I said above, when he comes down on 'em, he comes down hard. I don't recall hearing him ever lie about anything either. Above all else, he's an entertainer and his job is to entertain his viewers.

I will say this, when the recall was officially declared, he had Gray Davis on. Davis was able to make his case, and Bill was very supportive and was a real gentleman to Davis. That was good.

[Rooktoven]

74. Maybe he's banging Ann

That would explain a lot.

[angee_is_mad]

81. lol, you think?

[maggrwaggr]

19. He's a nihilist. He believes in nothing.

that's my problem with him.

His soul is empty.

[Bushknew]

20. I liked him in the movie body double

He he, just kidding.

HeÕs an equal offender.

[Piperay]

22. I love Bill Maher

but yes sometimes I find him to be a pompous ass. :shrug:

[Jr_Samples]

53. The neocons' biggest celebrity - Rush Limbaugh - is pompous...

Maybe liberalism needs a pompous spokeman, too.

As indicated by my desperate dozen or so posts defending him, I think Maher is brilliant.

It's surreal to witness so many minds - minds I'd have thought would be much more incisive - swiftly mischaracterize Bill Maher.

It's as if half a dozen FReepers decided to "PUNK" the Democratic Underground.

[Zhade]

23. Not entirely, no.

I'm in the same boat: I like some of what he says, but there a few issues.

1. He's friends with Annthrax.

2. "Get over the 2000 election."

3. He lays on the self-assured, has-all-the-answers attitude a little too much at times.

Still, at least he's had Ted Rall on. And that's a good thing.

[Jr_Samples]

54. Uh... that "self-assured, has-all-the-answers attitude" is called BALLS

And the Democrats had better grow some... QUICK.

Or maybe you'd prefer Joe Leiberman in 2004.

[latebloomer]

26. Pompous and smug, yes

But I still really like the guy and greatly look forward to his show every week. He is extremely funny, many of his observations are brilliantly scathing, and he usually has a great combination of guests. Where else can you see Ted Rall, Aaron McGruder, Janeane Garafalo, Arianna Huffington, Tim Robbins and the like TRASHING the likes of Ms. Coulter on issues that really matter???

[11 Bravo]

27. Anyone who looks Ann Coulter in the eye

and says, "You just make shit up, don't you?" is all right in my book.

[Jr_Samples]

55. LOL!

Talk about a "daddy-didn't-give-her-enough-attention" case!

[magnolia]

28. This attitude toward Bill Maher....

...is symbolic of what's wrong with the Democratic Party. Each of us seems to believe that we are 100% right about everything...so if someone else doesn't agree with us on every topic, all the time...we have issue with him/her. No candidate that we nominate will agree with each of us on every issue...all the time. So those who don't feel in complete sync with this candidate, will see him as the "lesser of two evils, will give him only watered down support, hold their nose when they vote, or not vote at all. (All these things took place with Gore.) And...we get four more years of President Doofus!!!! So please...put that huge, monstrosity of an ego aside. Consider just for a second, that maybe, just maybe you don't know it all. We are the party that is suppose to be open to new ideas...diversified and flexible...yet we cast our opinions in stone. Allow others, whether celebrities, candidates, fellow citizens to have differing opinions without judging them wrong. The person we nominate will not be everyone's first choice, but he will be the best that we have. So give him your 100% support. And give Bill Maher a break!

[madfloridian]

31. Whoa there!

Bill Maher is supposed to be entertainment. I don't watch any shows that I find annoying as hell. So why should I support Bill Maher's show if I don't care for him?

His humor annoys both me and my husband. Why should I watch if I don't like his humor.

I have seen him be very funny at times. However, his odd-duck view of things just overwhelms what humor we find.

But, hey, you go right ahead and watch....just don't jump on those of us who don't. AND don't say we are not open to new ideas....come on.

[Jr_Samples]

58. Criticizing a President is one thing...

...because the President has an effect on all of our lives.

But criticizing an entertainer -- who has absolutely no effect on your personal life whatsoever -- says a lot about your bitterness levels.

For some reason, an entertainer has got your panties in a wad. Are you such a sourpuss that you feel compelled to dwell on entertainers whose humor isn't exactly up your alley?

Come on!

[madfloridian]

71. Sourpuss...Panties in a wad?? Because I don't care for Maher?

Since when do I not have a right to choose which entertainers to watch or not watch?

Bitterness levels? Where are you coming from here.

That was not a very nice post.

[madfloridian]

72. What do you mean by not criticizing entertainers? I don't understand.

You jumped my post, where I was responding to another one.

The other seemed to be comparing Democrats in general to people who do not care for Maher. I disagreed, and I think you were very rude to me.

Am I required to like Maher to be something more than a sourpuss with panties in a wad?

What is happening to this board. I don't care if you like to watch him, I sometimes do. I don't think being Democrats and having varying views, as the previous poster said, has anything to do with whether I like Maher!!

Are you usually that rude to people who don't like your entertainers??

[angee_is_mad]

84. but he is trying to sell himself as a social commentator

I guess stand up doesn't pay what it use too, or does he just suck?

[Jr_Samples]

57. Congratulations

You've said in one concise post what I've been desperately screaming over the course of ten or fifteen posts so far.

[Walt Starr]

29. I really liked him, but I think he's getting ready to Miller himself

:shrug:

That's my take on him anyway.

[MiltonLeBerle]

30. He's always been more libertarian than liberal

And it seems to me that he's actually been sliding more to the left than the right lately. Bush presidencies seem to have that effect on some people.

[Clark Can WIN]

39. Ohh, I was hoping that was just me

I've been afraid of him turning into Dennis Miller too. I've always liked Bill Mahr, pompous ass and all but he seems to be teetering at some precipice lately. I bet it's a woman. Bill's in love:loveya: that's what it is.

[UTUSN]

33. Finally a Consensus I Can Consensus With

1- Love it when he's bashing Shrub and all things Shrubbite.

2- Am numb when he sticks it to us, et tu...

3- Am annoyed when he's sitting in interviews and the gears rolling in his head are readily visible, as he is deciding if-I-ruled-the-world answers. Other than "pompous ass" he's more like dudes in college drinking bull sessions, making up the answers to age old questions, full of themselves, like the world's been waiting for them to come along and bless us.

4- Have always heard "Libertarian" about him, "nihilist" is a first.

[stanwyck]

35. He's screwed up about women

doesn't believe women can be friends. Thinks we're always competitive with each other. Claims women don't like other women. No, we don't like Ann Coulter. That doesn't make us women who hate women. That makes us rational and intelligent.
He has hit the Bushies harder recently. Really took Bush's fake "no child left behind" initiative in Texas to the shredder. What a con game that was...the numbers were as cooked as Enron's.
I agree with him about religion, drugs, and the rife sexual hypocrisy of our elected officials. He's smarter than the other political comics. Except Jon Stewart who is smarter and classier.
Maher is, however, more intelligent than Colin Quinn and Dennis Miller. Now, that damning with faint praise!
Just wish he had a better understanding of women.

[angee_is_mad]

36. Jon Stewart is alot funnier and smarter than Bill.

[Raenelle]

37. Unfair. Stewart is alot funnier and smarter than just about everybody.

Maher angers me a lot, but there is such slim pickins on TV that I enjoy the tiny shreds of real debate and thought that he randomly tosses out.

[Rooktoven]

76. Except for may be _him_

Al Franken.

[Jr_Samples]

61. I doubt it

Don't get me wrong, I love Jon Stewart. He's a lot more personable, is better at delivering his lines (Maher's delivery sucks), I suppose a whole lot more attractive to the opposite sex, and a hundred other things that make him a whole lot cooler than Maher. . .

But if you're talking about pure cognizant abilities here, very few can compete with Maher.

[Rooktoven]

77. Interesting

Stewart won't let the chance for a laugh pass, and though he does have interesting guests who elicit interesting things, he won't drop into philosophy like Maher-- consequently, hes got a higher batting average for funny than Maher, who will give you moments of insight, and outright debunking of Bullshit.

And, if I may, Franken is obviously the most scripted and "on message", and delivers the anecdotes as part of a political mantra. This is why (despite the occasional repetition, and missed ad-lib opportunities) Franken is the most important comic to the left.

[spooky3]

44. well said

Why would one expect women to like or dislike "women" as a group? Do men like or dislike "men" as a group? Does Maher like some men and dislike other men (for good or bad reasons)? Then why would one expect women to be any different from that?

[Cheswick2.0]

38. NO YOU ARE NOT!!!! = )

I think he is an ass too. I think he is one of those people who thinks because a thought is in his head it must be the truth. On top of that he is a sexist and racist jerk.

[Jr_Samples]

63. The logic you used in formulating this stunning post has vanished.

After all, I'm sure it was here to begin with.

;)

You DO realize we're not talking about Rush Limbaugh...?

[David Zephyr]

40. In Appreciation of Bill

I guess I have a different view of Bill. I like him and am glad he's around.

[ShaneGR]

41. If Ann Coulter is his "friend" then something is wrong

Just a short thought.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

62. You think...

I think they'd make a cute couple.

[Hippo_Tron]

42. Personally I love him

He's smart, he has common sense, I agree with him on almost all issues, and he tells the catholic church to go fuck themselves.

[Breezy du Nord]

43. I concur

Funny as hell, that guy.

[TruthIsAll]

45. He is a pompous, hypocritical ass who is a friend of Ann Coulter...

and calls himself a Libertarian so that no one can accuse him of being a Repuke or a Dem, regardless of what he says.

[Jr_Samples]

59. Yes, yes, yes... how DARE a liberal actually NOT hate Ann Coulter?

I mean, it isn't as if liberals are big on LOVE or anything.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

64. Yes,

hating things is bad. I'm sorry, I guess we liberals lost our focus for a moment. We apologize. Its not as if Ms. Coulter wrote a scathing critique on Liberal politics and called it "Treason," or anything. So sorry.
Treason? Whats not to love?

[Rooktoven]

78. AHEM.... <cough> Carville and Matalin

Opposites attract-- you can't begrudge love (or a good boff, or whatever it is)

[osaMABUSh]

56. He is a pompous ass and sometimes I like that

from a non-repuke. Sure, he's not always right and sometimes disses Dems and some of our beliefs.

But often times he is right-on and basically says FU to the RW and comes off as a pompous ass. The RW crowd (Pigboy, etal) do not have a monopoly on that attitude.

But his affection for Ann Coulter is very creepy.

[bleedingheart]

60. yep he is a pompous ass

[Forkboy]

67. He's ok

He's almost as pompous as ole Junior here is :eyes:

[mitchum]

69. His schtick is very formulaic. I can guess what "the Bill Maher...

joke" will be on any topic of the day (I have about a 80% accuracy rate with his material)

[retyred]

70. Yes he is

but he's our pompous ass and I like him.



Retyred IN FLA.
“Good Night Paul, Wherever You Are”

[WINEWOMAN7]

73. Bill Maher

catch22dem, thank you for your response validating that we both think the same thing. Bill Maher needs to start standing up for progressive ideas, even libertarians have these, instead of worrying about his ratings. He sometimes sounds like he cares about what happens to our world and other times it's only his ego and how he looks on television. I care about our world, anyone who doesn't is living in a dream world because they won't have a world to come home to. Dian

[madfloridian]

75. I was called bitter and sourpuss for not liking Maher. Weird.

I think that is without a doubt one of the most outrageous things I have seen here.

I thought I had a right, if someone started a thread, to agree with them. I thought my post was ok, but I was stunned at this.

Bitter, sourpuss, panties in a wad for being upset by some of his views? Wow!

[Terwilliger]

82. I really like Bill Maher, but then I can hate his little twisted jerk face

I guess that's his charm ;-)