Am I the only one pissed at last night's Bill Maher show?

[sunnystarr]

I haven't seen any posts, but I was sure disappointed with Bill Maher last night. Cindy was supposed to be on but couldn't due to her mom's stroke. Instead he had his screen interview with a right wing nutcase who looked like the caricature she is. I guess she's well known, but I forgot her name (why would I waste my beautiful mind with it?).

Chris Rock was disappointing since all he did was bring up gas over and over again while outright lies were allowed to go unchallenged. The young blonde hogged the time with the same old dried up right wing lies and distortions. Asa Hutchison said little and promoted you know who's agenda.

The only bright spot of the whole show was Paul Hackett. Maher should have kept in on for the whole 60 minutes. His opening monologue was lame and his New Rules were pretty lame as well.

I don't know about you, but I'm so sick and tired of this seemingly inalienable right of presenting two sides of all issues. All stations are now leading in with 30 seconds of Cindy's mission in Crawford and then spending 3 to 5 minutes with either ex Iraq soldiers or families of Iraq soldiers who gush on about why we must support the * agenda. Seems like we can't support the troops or be patriotic unless we agree with them. The other meme seems to be that these * supporters complain that they're not getting equal time. Why doesn't someone tell them that they too can sit in ditch in the Texas heat and through the thunderstorms? Like all true Repukes they want the glory without doing the work and making the commitment to their cause ... they have Cindy and her supporters doing it for them!

I guess we'll start seeing murderers demanding equal time to present their point of view soon.

That's my rant and I'm sticking to it!

[dogday]

1. I thought it was pretty good

The blond was mouthy yes, but Chris Rock put her in her place and made her look like a fool to me. Yes he mentioned Gas, but that is the way to get people to think about the war. We should not be paying this much for gas after invading an oil rich country and yet gas prices go higher and higher and our deficit grows by leaps and bounds....

[sunnystarr]

4. It would have been nice if he said it

"We should not be paying this much for gas after invading an oil rich country and yet gas prices go higher and higher and our deficit grows by leaps and bounds...."

[dogday]

10. he did say it

At least about invading Iraq and having all that gas and still we are paying high prices...

[MichiganVote]

2. In many ways the left leaning comedian pundits are as devoid

of anything new to say as the right. It appeared to me that Chris Rock was a last minute deal and he seemed to keep bringing up the gas prices b/c THAT is the issue that will hurt repub's the most. I cracked up when he made two points: One was the way in which he took the repub's on about increasing the forces in Iraq (Do you all realize you're talking about people dying and shit?!)and when he told them there would damn sure be riots if gas was $5 a gallon.

No, not a very good show. Why would anyone want to listen to Phyllis Shafly, a.k.a. the Betty Crocker look alike?

[tulsakatz]

39. Schafly

I thought she looked very Victorian era. Like someone might have looked around the 1900s.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. We're already seeing the murderers' side.

And the sadists' perspective, the thieves' view, etc. We get that every time they put on an apologist for the administration.

[AlCzervik]

5. Kellyanne Conway is a blithering idiot

she confused Afghanistan with Iraq and I'm sure it was on purpose. "Woman in Iraq just 5 years ago were swathed in Burkas"---wrong answer dumb-ass and dont even get me started on Phyllis Schafly.

[sunnystarr]

6. At least Maher put her in place when she came out with that gem (nt)

[AlCzervik]

8. "Which ass did you pull that out of" i nearly died laughing

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

7. Show SUCKED Except For Hackett n/t

[Submariner]

9. Phyllis Schafly is or was very anti-gay

then she discovered her son was gay when he came out (in the 80s I recall). She has been an evil albatross since I first noticed her on the political scene in the Nixon era.

[AlCzervik]

12. she still is, her chapter of the "Eagle Forum" sends out the sheep

tp protest "Day of tolerance" at our local hugh schools. We tried many times to set-up a meeting with them but the woman kept ducking us.

[still_one]

i agree but for different reasons

with almost 1900 Americans dead in Iraq, and over 100000 civillians, I fail to find much humor in the cute witisicms anymore

The only good part of the show was Paul Hackett, and this should be a warning to any democrat, i.e., biden, feinstein, clinton, liberman, etc. who believes that staying in the "politically correct" mode is the way to go, THEY WON'T HAVE MY SUPPORT

[jackster]

11. Agree...

I've seen a couple of threads on this and the consensus is that it was subpar....

Those two blonde nutjobs make my skin crawl.....

[Cosmocat]

27. That seem to be a new trend ...

Blonde bimbet attack dogs ... MSNBC, Fox ... All have some blonde pitbulls going ... That Megan Morgan lady ...

[blondeatlast]

52. It's not new--they have a mold at the Heritage Foundation and they

churn them out periodically and dress and make them up differently.

I didn't think any of them could be uglier than Anne the Man, but they've managed to outdo themselves.

Welcome to DU! :toast:

Edit: David Brock alludes to this in "The Right Wing Noise Machine," I'm not making it up. It's a great read if you are interested.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Shell Shock...

That's the first words that come to mind when I see most "left wing" comedians these days (which is most of them). They know that anything they say stirs up the O'Reillys and Rushbos and Hannitys and other circus clowns, it means a lot of grief. Many just don't think it's worth it.

Look at the trashing Rock got for hosting the Academy Awards...he's still smarting from the right wing attacks. Mahrer also shows some of this as he seems to have to go out of his way to find a right wing talking point he can agree with now and then or to load up his show with Rovian point-talkers and think their zombie-speak somehow innoculates him from right wing trashing (and to a certain degree it does).

It takes a very secure comedian or celeb to speak out these days...knowing they have a solid gig. That's the rare few...Stewart & Letterman. The rest know a trashing by the right wing hate machine means lost gigs and exile into "Michael Moore" hell.

[lastknowngood]

14. Bill Maher is just another shill he's not on our side or the side of

freedom he's fast headed to the trash bin just like the last "comedian" who thought being a repug shill was the way to money.

[Career Prole]

15. I agree except for the statement

"The young blonde hogged the time with the same old dried up right wing lies and distortions"

She was as old and dried up as her lies.

[safi0]

16. DU

As fickle as ever

[Career Prole]

20. Actually DU is thousands of individuals.

We'll never agree on absolutely everything.
No, I don't find every single show praiseworthy and was disappointed last night...and if 'fickle' is the opposite of 'lockstep' in your book, I'll take it.

I prefer 'discerning', though. :)

[safi0]

24. When I say fickle

That they start bashing people for every single little thing. If Jon Stewart of Maher do even the slightest thing that doesn't march in lockstep with the people on this board they start bashing them and saying they've crossed over to the darkside

[Pepperbelly]

31. I have never like Maher ...

He's shallow, ill informed, and not at all funny. He may well be stupid although the jury is still out on tht one. I didn't like PIC and I am certainly not going to get HBO to watch his dumb ass.

[Career Prole]

37. And when I say thousands I mean

a thread with less than 40 replies (at last count) about a comedian's TV show isn't indicative of the unity (or disunity, as you apparently see it) of DU, Democrats, or liberals as a whole.

Get it now?

[blondeatlast]

53. Maher is strictly independent. That opens him up to criticism

from both sides.

You really don't seem to like DU from what I've read from you. You are welcome to stick around, of course, but I wonder why you do?

[ladjf]

17. I think that Maher is not sufficiently informed on the political

topics he discusses. He comes off as a well meaning light weight. He's not doing us much good.

[NYCGirl]

18. You are aware that he's a comedian, aren't you?

So's Jon Stewart. They are not political pundits. They are not working to "do us much good". They are working make people laugh.

[ladjf]

23. I understand that. However, my post was in answer to a DU

poster who was disappointed with his show. Others have also felt that he was an political advocate who might be anti-administration.
Al Frankin is another comedian who is unqualified as a political spokesperson.

[NYCGirl]

25. Maher has never set himself up as a political advocate. Nor a Democrat.

Al Franken (God, I wish Franken's critics would learn to spell his name right) is still a comedian, but VERY INFORMED as a political spokesperson. Just because he holds some different views than some DUers, does not mean he is ill-informed.

[Pepperbelly]

45. No shit? Maher is a comedian?

But I thought making me laugh was part of that.

[NYCGirl]

46. Maybe you'd prefer Rob Schneider or Pauly Shore? NT

[Pepperbelly]

51. probably not ...

but at least Pauly Shore might occasionally come up with something bright rather than self-promoting.

[Mr Rabble]

19. Im with you on this.

[otohara]

21. Pretty Pathetic - even New Rules

sorta sucked. :thumbsdown:

[MrSlayer]

22. I thought it was good.

I expected more from Chris Rock but overall it was good. The blonde hag came off like an absolute nut, Hackett was awesome and Bill was quite funny as usual. I didn't have a problem with it.

[AtomicKitten]

26. Can't always have liberals

Phyllis Schaffley (sp?) is head wrong rightwing nutcase, and it was really quite enlightening to see her in all her glory, trashing judicial decisions she doesn't agree with - calling it activism - and making it really clear she wants jeebus in government. I think it is really dangerous to have such a vocal critic of the meant-to-be-independent judicial system, and her particular brand of political pressure is waaaaaaaay over-the-top. Sometimes giving them enough rope to hang themselves is fun to watch!

Asa Hutchinson is benign. Kellyanne Conway is a pain in the butt. Her big mouth ALWAYS reveals her for being the fanatic she is. Loved it when she started in on JK not voting for the body armor. Bill Maher rolled his eyes and cut her off.

Yes, Chris Rock was pointless. Too bad, really, but I don't really know if he's particularly political.

Keep in mind Maher is a Libertarian, and although I applaud his evisceration of BushCo - and he seems particularly po'd this season! - I don't always agree with some of his schtick.

You can't please all the people all the time; maybe next show will be better.

Check out his HBO special - "I'm Swiss - I guarantee you will LOVE that!!!

[carrowsboy]

28. The Phyllis portion was brilliant!

When he called her out on having a gay son and she was at a loss of words. Then he mentioned Cheney, Keyes, etc having gay children...

I thought Maher did a great job of exposing their hyopcrisy.

Rock was also great. Yes, he kept repeating GAS GAS GAS, but that is the way you get it through to people. REPEAT REPEAT REAPEAT! Drill into people's heads! The RW does this all the time and now we have the opportunity, so let's do it.

Conway showed her stupidity by mentioning Clinton in the oval office. Typical Clinton penis envy.

[tulsakatz]

43. gays

that was great when he pointed to Republican's children being gay. It was almost like saying 'you guys are always making legislation against gays but you, yourselves have gay children!' So by being so against gays, they may actually be promoting a gay lifestyle!

People always seem to want to do whatever is forbidden in society.....

[Blue_In_AK]

47. God, can you imagine being gay and having Phyllis Schafly

for a mother? A fate worse than hell, for sure.

[tulsakatz]

42. Maher

I don't always agree with Maher either although I frequently do.

He does seem to be a little more angry about Iraq now......I see that as a good thing! I was getting tired of his optimistic Iraq position.

Last night's show wasn't the best I've seen but it also wasn't the worst either. It would have been a much better show if Cindy had been on.......but of course, I understand why she couldn't.

[AtomicKitten]

48. Hope Cindy is on next week.

Photographers are following her around LA, so it's time to strike while the striking is good. I hope she gets back to Crawford soon to head the movement that she started. Things are going great without her, but she brings the cameras. It will be brilliant if she is on Bill Maher this coming week. People are criticizing some of the stuff she says, but it's her message, not Moveon's and not Michael Moore's as the Rs are alleging, and she paid the price when her son died to say whatever the hell she wants. The beauty is that we can agree or not with what she says and still support her.

[tabasco]

50. Maher will blow with the wind.

He caved to the reich-wing pressure after 9-11 and doesn't have a strong backbone. I'm not surprised that he is "angry" about Iraq - now that poll numbers show most people feel that way.

[blondeatlast]

54. "I'm Swiss" had me rolling on the floor even when he pissed me off royally

Personally, I appreciate an intelligent challenge to my political beliefs.

Maher was off last night; I suspect he'll be brilliant again shortly.

[AtomicKitten]

55. You must check out comedian Eddie Izzard

His HBO special "Dress to Kill" was hysterical.
He's smart and probably the funniest comedian out there.

[Cosmocat]

29. Maher ...

I am not fan ...He seems to be kind of weak in some way that doesn't set well with me ... Realtime is a complete rehash of the Dennis Miller show, and as many have noted, the comic thing is running it's course ...

[NYCGirl]

30. Big difference

between Bill Maher and Dennis Miller. Bill Maher is funny.

The comic thing is not "running its course". Humor is STILL (as it has been since Aristophanes) the perfect way to make a political point.

[goddess40]

41. I'll second that

Maher at least sticks to the truth, Dennis Miller was and is a right wing hack touting the party line.

[liberaliraqvet26]

32. She looked the the blubbering fool she is...

but Maher should have challenged her more. I know Chris Rock is more in tune with liberal causes and should have called them out.

[tsuki]

33. Her name is Phyllis Shafly, and she's an evil old bitch now. Thirty

years ago, she was an evil middle aged bitch. She is the reason I stopped drinking Florida OJ, and I live in Florida.

About Chris Rock. I am mixed now. CNN has started covering (today) the price of gas according to another poster. Chris hammered the gas prices until everyone thought he was nuts. Was he? Someone has to start talking about it.

Oh, and to the spelling gurus, I don't know if I spelled Shafly correctly, and I don't care. Evil old bitch.

[tulsakatz]

44. gas

that's true........I was hoping Chris would've added more to the conversation but really, that's what I've been thinking about lately!!

And when Kellyanne asked him if that was the only shtick he had, I felt like.........is there anything else? I mean, it doesn't really matter what's going on Iraq if I can't even afford to drive to work every day!!

[Blue_In_AK]

34. Lighten up on Bill...

He puts the conservatives on and lets them hang themselves with their own stupidity. I enjoyed last night's show. And frankly, I thought Paul Hackett could have been a little less smarmy. While I agreed with the things he said, he seemed entirely too "well-oiled" for my tastes. But that's just me.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

35. And Bill even seemed a little uncomfortable with Hackett

and kept stepping on Hackett's answers to his questions.

I agree. The show was not memorable. I stopped watching it before the last season ended because Bill was on a rant every week over the stupidity of religion and the sensibility of using drugs. I'm not his therapist so I could care less about his personal demons. And based on last night's show, I probably won't run to the tv to tune in weekly.

[toddaa]

36. Chris Rock and the Gas jokes

At the time, they were really annoying, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that he was the only one on that show who recognized the elephant in the room. The scrawny dyejob (where the hell did Maher dig her up) was getting totally flumoxed by the end of the show with Rock's one tricky pony. Chris Rock knows what's going to happen when gas hits $5 a gallon and all these psuedo give and take political debate shows are going to be pointless. Rioting, food shortages, massive unemployment, and a build up in the police state are creating the same conditions that led to Watts, only on a much, much larger scale.

The American empire is going to come crashing down and it's going to fall on top of the lower and working classes the hardest. When it does, I don't think they'll be too discerning about who's a Democrat and who's a Republican.

[devinsgram]

38. To set the mood for watching Bill,

I first watched Whoopi Goldberg in concert at 9PM. Her opening skit really bashed Bush, especially the part about satelites being able to see a flea piss on a piece of cotton in New York, but yet they can't seem to find a 7ft Arab dragging a dialysis machine behind him in Afghanistan.

Anyway, his opening monologue left a lot to be desired, but his interview with Hackett was outstanding, or Hackett I should say was outstanding. Hackett took the spotlight from Maher and I am sure he was not too happy about that. He even left Maher kinda of speechless. You could tell the audience loved Hackett. As for the blonde bimbo, my husband thinks and I agree, the right seems to be mass producing them. The problem is they used to at least have some looks, now they don't have brains or looks. What a pity. She certainly was dumber than a loaf of bread.

Schaffly looked like her usual bitchy self, and I almost split a gut when she said that everybody now wants to be a "conservative," because it is the in thing to be. And, yes she was not too pleased when Bill mentioned the fact about her son being gay. I think it shocked her that he said it. No matter, though she just kept going on about the Constitution. Makes me wonder if she was there when it was written, cause she sure looks like it.

I was a little disappointed by Chris Rock, although he did get some zingers in there and yes, he commented often about the price of gas. The interesting thing is though, no one else wanted to touch the subject. I did think it was funny when the blond bimbo tried to correct him by saying it's the price of oil, not gasoline and Chris commented back, "oil or gas, what the hell is the difference."

All in all, I enjoyed the show.

[bread_and_roses]

40. I applaud Chris Rock

If you're poor - including working poor- right now the cost of gas and electricity is a HUGE problem. Most of the people I work with are poor. Right now the Utility is sending out shut-offs by the bagload, the agencies who ordinarly assist are tapped out, and because it is summer the Utility can shut off households even with babies, sick people, old people without the safeguards that stave off freezing to death in the winter.

[mmonk]

49. I'm mostly sad

that my country has to come to this (that which was represented, the 3 pigs with only Chris Rock to keep me sane).

[union_maid]

56. I thought it was bad

I did like seeing Paul Hackett. It's really the first interview I've seen with him on TV. He lived up to his billing.

The rest of it seemed not quite ready for Prime Time. Like they came back from hiatus to put this together still a little hung over from partying. Or, like they lost their best writer. (I have no idea if the writing staff changed at all.) The two conservative spokesbots vs. one comedian who wasn't in the mood wasn't a great mix. Chris Rock seemed too disgusted with the other guests to engage much. New Rules was weak. I don't always like his New Rules but they're usually funny. This time, not so much, except I did enjoy the closing rant on ID.