Bill Maher: Mocking Bush is My Patriotic Duty (great rant!)

[NYCGirl]

Entire article at:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/09/08/maher/

New rule: Bad presidents happen to good people. Amid all the 9/11 anniversary talk about what will keep us safe, let me suggest that in a world turned hostile to America, the smartest message we can send to those beyond our shores is, "We're not with stupid." Therefore, I contend -- with all seriousness -- that ridiculing this president is now the most patriotic thing you can do. Let our allies and our enemies alike know that there's a whole swath of Americans desperate to distance themselves from Bush's foreign policies. And that's just Republicans running for reelection.

Now, of course, you're gonna say, "But Bill, ridiculing Bush is like shooting fish in a barrel," or, as Dick Cheney calls it, "hunting." Maybe, but right now it's important, because America is an easily misunderstood country these days -- a lot of the time it's hard to make out what we're saying over the bombs we're dropping.

But we are not all people who think putting a boot in your ass is the way to solve problems, because even allowing that my foot lodged in your ass would feel good, which I don't -- what then? OK, my boot is in your ass, but I can't get it out, so I'm not happy, and it's in you, so you're not happy -- there's no exit strategy.

Anyone who opposes the indefinite occupation of Iraq shouldn't be labeled an al-Qaida supporter. That's like saying that if I tell my exterminator that there are more efficient ways to rid the house of vermin than hitting them with a hammer, I'm "for the rats."

[BootinUp]

1. Good material.

I still have a problem with his waffling on the Iraq war in the not too distant past though.

[AZBlue]

2. That is a great rant!

Thanks for the post!!

[NYCGirl]

3. I LOVE this part:

Questioning whether it still makes sense to keep troops under fire is supporting the troops. Asking for a plan supports the troops; asking when they'll be leaving supports the troops. Sitting around parsing the definition of "civil war" doesn't support the troops, it supports the president, and he's not a soldier, he just plays one on TV.

[Lisa]

4. "or, as Dick Cheney calls it, "hunting.""

Good one!

[catbert836]

5. He certainly does have a way with words...

but I tend to resent his open misogyny (he's said that hate crime and sexual harrassment laws are bullshit to "make women and gays nod"). He also supports the death penalty, racial profiling, and has a rather blind, unquestioning support of Israel.

[Evoman]

6. In his defense

1)He is not against sexual harrasment laws, per se. In fact, I've heard him make claims that you need laws to protect women from guys/bosses that won't take no for an answer. Basically, you can ask once for a date (or whatever), and if he doesn't get it and keeps insisting, THEN persue legal actions He doesn't think that women/men at an office should be stopped from persuing a relationship, however.

2)He has specified that he only believe in the death penalty if you know 100 percent if someone is guilty. He thinks there should be a moratorium? on it until we get forensics right. While I don't agree with him, he's not for the death penalty in its current form.

3)Racial profiling. He is for that, I agree. He has mentioned that he doesn't believe in low wage airport security doing the profiling, but rather, highly trained CIA-type guys. Somebody who see's clues in behaviour...I doubt he thinks people of certain races need to be searched completely, or inconvenienced...althouth I'm just speculating. Bill Maher doesn't seem to me to be even a bit of a racist.

4)I agree about his blind-spot about Israel, but there are a lot of DUers who make the same argument.

His pseudo-misogyny does make me a bit uncomfortable, but I think people over-rate it. I don't think he is a misogynst--he doesn't hate women...he just has stupid opinions about relationships, marriage and children. Sometimes I agree with his assertions..for example, when he talks about all the shows on TV, where all the men/dads are fucking morons, but the women are smart and always right. Thats bullshit..but its acceptable in our society. I don't think having women act like dumb bimbos is fair either, btw.

I don't agree with a lot of what he says. But he has his good points and bad points just like everyone else. I think a lot of what he says is true...and, just like the right-wing, we on the left have some myths that we are uncomfortable being confronted with. We aren't ALWAYS right...we just think we are.