:shrug:

What is with his insistence that Bill Clinton be allowed to run in '08? This is the second consecutive week, he's said that. Last week he threw in that we should change the rules so Schwarzennegger could run, because Maher thinks he's doing such a "great job."

:wtf:

He talked shit tonight about the nomination of Murtha, apparently based on his prior voting history--I don't have a problem with that. I do have a problem with him endorsing the Gov.of CA who has an equally hideous record in terms of voting for and against issues relating to women and minorities. I don't think I even have to bring up the sexist, racist statements he's made the entire time he's been in office.

Anyone...?

He calling for a whole new constitution! He's lost it!

So we can run that asshat in our governor's office as president? :wtf: I don't think so.

I know Maher likes his pot, but did he do some before the show that didn't agree with him?

Hey, buddy, throw out amend the constitution meme and see how it flies. Let's see if it will infect the Sheep... I mean people.

:)

and others like him, that feel he's "doing a good job" and voted him back in. :eyes:

annoyed very much, but I was too taken with Richard Dreyfuss' elegant and compassionate clarity. Who knew?

And how wonderful is Norman Lear. Great man.

Good point. But I don't know if I want to tune in next season.

Norman Lear, always fantastic to see and hear! I got annoyed in that moment too, as I felt Maher was asking him dumb questions. He could have made better use of his time.

sometimes he seems like he might actually give a shit, and maybe even know a thing or two..but then, his show becomes another discussion taking place within the parameters of the spectacle, where reality is side-stepped ever so gingerly. He's a comedian though...and he makes me laugh. Sometimes I think we expect to much from other humanoids.

I shouldn't expect so much from anoter human. His show was kind of a comfort the last couple of years. Seeing and hearing others that were as outraged and upset as so many of us were.

But I honestly shouldn't expect much from him, particularly as one that has such an obvious low opinion of women.

Thanks for the reality check! :hi:

Husband and I were just discussing this the other night. If I were single, I bet you I could change his mind.
He has not met a woman who embodies what he needs yet, and it hurts him inside, which is why he is so bitter.
Bill wants a woman who is sexually free, does not believe in conventional ideas of marriage and children, is not materialistic, etc. etc. For example, he said something the other night to the effect that a woman would rather have a diamond than a book. BULLSHIT. Not this woman. Diamonds have blood on them, and are boring anyway. I, for one, would MUCH rather have a book.
It's so obvious from watching and listening to him that he has a big heart, and is really ready to be with someone. However, the women he has dealt with so far have all been shallow and could not understand his mental acuity, OR could do so, and were sexually prudish.
I hope he will see that there are women out there that would be perfect for him, if he will be open to them.

:eyes: Seriously. I'm not knocking ALL pretty women, because a woman CAN be beautiful and smart. I'm not knocking women that pose nude, either. But we have yet to meet any Pulitzer Prize winners that have been in Playboy. He's obviously there looking for "hot chicks." :eyes:

He dated a playmate that seemed to be super nice. She didn't seem materialistic at all. I don't know about her intelligence, so I can't discuss that, but he dumped her in a really shitty way. :mad: His reasons: because he knew she wanted children someday and he did not, which I can understand. But damn, surely an articulate human being could say that and not kiss someone off in a fuckin' "dear alice" letter.

Good for you for setting your dh straight! Diamonds vs. books?! OMG! :hi:lildreamer! I appreciate your comments. You may be on to something about him. If nothing else, I admire that you are trying to see past some of his funkier comments about women. You're so sweet! :hug:

I run into men like him all the time at work. It's easy to see that the bitter act is just hiding the hurt inside (violin music playing...).
I do think that as he gets older, his thing about children may change, but the bottom line is, there are plenty of women out there who don't want children either. I didn't, until I found myself five months preggers. Now, I wouldn't give it up for anything.
He said the same thing on that Nightline interview the other day--that he doesn't believe it when people say that it's different when you have your own. The problem is, that old saying IS true. If he would just be a bit more open to the possibility, I think things would change for him. You're right, he does need to lay off the hard line on that. But,I'm also willing to bet that if/when he runs into the woman that has what he is looking for, and he falls for her...he will not hurt her in such a way. When people relax, it all seems to work out.

Oh, and an oops! The diamonds vs. books thing is something Bill said on the Nightline interview,not dh. My man knows better (he bought me a used diamond ring for our engagement,because he knows my opinion about diamonds and the blood mines).

Thanks for the kind words.I just hope that Bill finds a worthy mate sometime soon. It's so obvious to me he would just thrive and be so happy with the right person, especially intellectually.

:puke: That didn't score him any points with me, but I can understand what you're saying.

They do sound the words of a jaded, bitter man that doesn't see evidence to the contrary so he lumps everyone together. At the same time, I kinda' call bullshit on him. He has to BELIEVE all women aren't evil, otherwise he will continue to live out a self-fulfilling prophecy. :banghead:

:nopity: I can only feel so sorry for him in that sense.

You're right on the kid thing could change in time--it did for Letterman. :) Remember how anti-child, anti-marriage he used to be?

You can never understand the parent thing until you are one. It's so much easier when you are the only one you have to take care of. Having children definitely changes your outlook on life, you have something to live for and something to lose.

Possible.

Otherwise, you insights seem right on, for what it's worth.

that's what I mean with the materialistic bit.
It's not like Bill wasn't smart enough to see that coming and going, but decided to be willfully blind to get what else came with.
But he obviously refuses to settle for less than what he wants, and should be admired for that.

I mean no disrespect and you guys are entitled to your opinion but I'm not buying it, personally. Bill's a big boy. You get what you put out there--we all do.

Maybe if Maher changed his motivations and expectations of women he'd get something else. :) It works both ways. Maybe if he weren't on Nightline making such insulting comments he'd have other options. Hard to feel sorry for someone that says such shitty things about an entire gender. :mad:

I recall his comments after the Debra LaFave case, those weren't cool either.

Then I saw his insulting attempt at humor with his Halloween costume this year and it lowered any respect I might have for him.

:hi:Kerrytravelers!

Not sure how I missed it. :shrug:

And I laughed.

I found it beyond tasteless.

:hi: Hi Bliss! Good to see you tonight!

:( Couldn't he have waited a few years. It still would have been tasteless, but geez--dude just died. :puke:

:hi::hug:Good to see you, too!

nt

it was a bit irritating. But than again I've never been more FOR the 22nd amendment than with Bush in office.

Doesn't he get if we, if anyone allowed such a thing--they would try to bring Raygun back from the dead to run the country again? Or bush, sr. etc....

What a dumb-ass. :eyes:

He also sometimes gives out a somewhat racist vibe whenever he interviews a black person....Then again, he's as WASPy as it gets, except for the "P".

...one of the reasons I've never been able to call myself a 100% fan. His show's been a source of comfort during the last few years--to see panelist that said what I've thought, etc. But it pisses me off that he has fuckin' Ann Coulter on... need I say more? :eyes:

Women issues don't get weirder than considering yourself a friend of Ann Coulter.

when his show figured the lifelike sex doll. He held hands with it for the whole show. Very touching. Sniff.

:rofl:

one tried to sue him for palimony, essentially.

just as he was getting to the heart of the problem and was going to name the corporate media as the reason we are so fucked up. Thankfully he was able to get it in later but Bill interrupted a very important, serious point. Richard Dreyfus was awesome tonight and he was dead on with everything he said.

kept cutting of Dreyfus, who was making some wonderful and refreshing points. Sorry that annoyed you, Mr.Slayer. :(

This is going to sound crazy but it almost seemed as if he jumped in right at that moment on purpose to keep the point from being made. I TIVO the show so I'll look back on it and see if I'm not just high or if it really happened that way. It was odd, as if Dreyfus was telling too much truth even for his show.

;) Since you were kind enough to post an interesting and insightful response on my thread. I would be interested to hear if he does in fact do what you suspect. It wouldn't surprise me. He lost one show due to not playing the game. ;)

I'm normally a fan of Maher but sometimes he does stupid shit to distract from the real issues. Like when he could have really went for the kill on Bush's true impeachable offenses on Larry King's show and instead he ranted about the 7 minutes on 9/11 for most of the segment. Disappointing.

Sometimes he could be high. :shrug: He openly admits to liking his weed. ;)

But you'll never catch me spouting off gibberish instead of indisputable fact (pertaining to the Chimp and his impeachable offenses at least) or cutting off the declaration of truth to focus on the very same meaningless subjects he decries. Of course you'll most likely never see me with my own national show on HBO or appearing on Larry King Live, as much as I deserve it. Everyone serves their master except the master.

He's much closer to the GOP on economic issues but he can't stand the sanctimonious saps they're using to get elected.

Libertarians don't claim him because he's FOR gun control.

That's interesting. I thought they were the "flexible and free" party (so to speak). They get pissy over gun control?

If you're for the drug war or gun control, they'll freeze you out in a second.

:hi: I seriously had no idea. :blush: Thanks for sharing this!

I watched Penn and Teller's show, Bullshit from time to time. I got the sense they were Libertarian.

Can't stand them, but that's because I pretty much think the big one's a loudmouth jerk.

And I don't like that they made their bones and gained fame by telling secrets that weren't those to tell. Stage magic has a long and illustrious history and they had no right to be passing its secrets to everyone else.

In my opinion.

It was done I believe shortly before 9-11.

I somehow have the MP3 if you want.

Just not both at once, please!

you might shoot your buddy in the face.

:)

Ooops, shit!

Damn, sorry Harry. I thought you were that talking foosa that lives in my toilet tank and bites my ass when I take a dump. Here, take a hit of this shit. It's make you see triple and the walls melt into giant bumblebees with wicked sunglasses and iPods.

everyone would have given him a pass.

"Today, after consuming some drugs earlier in the day, Vice President Cheney accidentally shot his hunting companion in the face, then waited several hours before reporting it to local police in order to be certain the drugs were no longer in his system."

Oh, wait. That would be the truth and we can't have that, can we?

Even rabid gun nuts with arsenals in the basement and a confusion over which is a part of their anatomy and which relies on bullets and a trigger want guns kept out of the hands of criminals, crazies and children. That's what gun control IS, not abolition of the right to bear arms for ordinary citizens.

Maher's position on it is consistent with libertarianism, even if the stupider members of that party don't quite get it.

He's said he's a libertarian and I'll take him at his word.

;)

One point in his favor, anyway.

:)

Maher doesn't always speak my language, he doesn't have to, he has a neat format, entertaining and fun guest most the time. Sorry he won't be back for months. And yes, I'd vote for Bill again. Tired of hearing about Murtha, too much is made of it. He got the Dems off square one when it came to the war, and, how many weaklings didn't back him when he first recommended phasing out of Iraq a year ago?

I've found his show fun and entertaining too over the years. :)

So because he occasionally says something you don't agree with, in this case advocating a great Democratic president be allowed to come back to office, it's under the bus with him?

:wtf: indeed.

and I enjoy him wholeheartely when he's ripping on the war, and bush's horrible ability to be a leader, but other than that, he's very weird about women, he's anti-faith to the point of mocking it, and there's the other issues people said above that make sense too, oh, and dressing as Irwin isn't remotely funny, it's gross and disrespectful to his fans and family, and I'm not either even.

:hi:themartyred! Thank you for sharing your opinion on this thread. I certainly appreciate reading it!

I believe he could make points about the relgious right, without being disrespectful of people of faith. All believers aren't like them. He lumps everyone together as if everyone that is of faith is a raving loon. Good point.

He ALSO voted the republican governor back in office in California.

He's advocating running that same governor as a president elect in '08--or did you miss that?

He was a great President, but he served his term. You start changing the rules for someone (who hasn't expressed interest in re-running), you have to change it for gw and family. Get it? It's a scary prospect.

It's annoying to hear people that can't MOVE FORWARD and look at the here and now.

Why is he speaking to nominating people that have served their terms and haven't expressed interest in returning? To me, that says he has a limited sense of progressive potential, and is more interested in reliving prior glory than looking around for what we need now.

Forgive me for being annoyed and disappointed in that. If you'd bothered to read the ENTIRE thread, you'd see I have OTHER issues as well.

Thanks for your response.

Only 70 percent.....60 Percent.....

I just think it's silly to not watch a program that for the most part is one of the few out there speaking openly and honestly about issues with no bullshit because you don't agree with the host 100% of the time. Gore Vidal, Norman Lear, Kurt Vonneget and others like Dreyfuss don't usually get play from the other MSM shows.

The guy is a fan of Bill Clinton. I doubt he's thinking too much beyond the idea that he wants to see him back in office to wrap his mind around the concept of Dumbya getting another term under the repeal of the 22nd Amendment. I mean, if the elections weren't rigged, we KNOW Bush wouldn't even come close to winning again.

He likes Ah-nold. I personally hate the guy, so Bill is soft on this one. Mainly because everyone in Hollywood has become soft on the guy. Bill isn't the only one.

And by the way....his problem with Murtha was in regards to the fact the guy socially is not a liberal. I think you mentioned that somewhere else.......but how can you be annoyed with Bill's "limited sense of progressive potential" when he's pointing out something that is a truth, as much as we don't like to hear it about a Democratic candidate.

Sorry, it's not just you....but it just irritates the hell out of me when someone finds out the dirty little secret that a person they previously enjoyed doesn't agree with them on a few issues, and that suddenly makes them unwatchable or unlikable or in some cases (not you, others here) immediately label them a far right operative for the Bush administration. It's silly, and that type of logic is what we usually mock freepers for (such as how they now suddenly hate people like Andrew Sullivan or Thomas Friedman because they didn't support the GOP or Bush agenda as of late.)

it's NOT suddenly.

Percentages--why does that matter?

There were issues and views he had PRIOR to last week's show, and to this one that I did not agree with. I still watched regularly.

Your insistence that I'm some person that can just turn feelings about people, issues or whatever off and on like hot and cold water is rather presumptive and insulting. I don't think I've encountered you before this thread--but you are reading what you want to into my words. Fine. Whatever.

I'm entitled to be annoyed. You're entitled to not agree. So don't.

You seem to just want to be annoyed with me, and to rant and be angry about the fact that I'm annoyed--so be it. Have fun. :eyes:

I just don't think you should stop watching him, okay?

:hug:

For some reason that didn't strike me offensive at all. I didn't laugh either. It was just a Halloween costume.

Frankly, I don't subscribe to the "too soon" doctrine. I don't think it's ever too soon to make a joke out of something.

is classless. It's not the too soon doctrine, but the "some things just aren't funny" doctrine for me!

I just don't have a problem with classless activities. I find etiquette and all that thoroughly pretentious and unnecessary.

I think we should all do what we say and say what we mean...all the time.

I hardly have a stick up my ass or anything. (Not that you implied that, just saying)

And for me, I don't go overboard on etiquette, just the basic manners and politeness is all. For example, I find farting at the table really inconsiderate. Maher's costume I just find unfunny and tacky.

I didn't think it was funny either. Just, didn't hate it is all.

Alright, I'm tired of contributing to this conversation that I think has clearly ended. Thanks for the fun. :)

some things are just in poor taste, as opposed to being in good fun. :)

When I first heard of that, it was like, :wtf:

"wimpy"
Bill is looking for an assertive woman who is not afraid to say what she thinks and say it loud (he flirts hard with Arianna when she's on too). Ann strikes me as a woman who does not simper and want to shop for diamonds and clothes and shoes. That is what he is looking for in a woman-someone who is more interested in the issues than a five thousand dollar purse. It seems he has not run across very many of them that are attractive to him--which is why he likes strippers. We (strippers) tend to be straight, to the point (about certain things) and easy to deal with (he knows what they want, no games) and attractive (he obviously likes that blonde thing--playboy look). His "friendship" with her is based on the fact that he found several of the qualities in her that he wants so badly in a woman, and because he is (I believe) so ready to have a real realationship, he let that cloud his judgement (he is a man, after all). I do think that eventually he had to back away from it, when it became clear her odiousness was just too much to overlook.

....just a thought.

I for one like seeing the Coultergeist on the show. Unlike every other program in America, you know she's going to be openly mocked and called out on every stupid thing she babbles.

I particularly enjoyed watching her being sliced to ribbons on our CBC show "The Fifth Estate", about Mann claiming that "Canadians fought in Vietnam along with us Americans".

She's the one you love to hate. And pay for the privilege.

he's made a couple of other interesting comments about her in a few of his standup apperances, so I think there's something to that whole thing, or there was at one point.

He hasn't had her on this season, and I seem to think he didn't have her on much or at all last one either. I'm pretty sure he's done with her.

Why didn't he ever notice that before? It's not exactly like she's had an epiphany or something - she's always been scum.

And there are plenty of women who are loud, opinionated and aggressive - without having a total lack of morals. Coulter is reviled by most, even by some conservatives after her Jersey Girls statement.

And despite what you may think about men, in the end, it will always be the mind, the compassion and the basic decentness (in a moral sense) that holds men.

"the mind, the compassion and the basic decentness (in a moral sense) that holds men"
I was really saying what I said because that's the excuse that he would use. I myself believe what you say here. However, some men actually like to hide behind the "I'm just a man" excuse so they can behave in certain ways, or to excuse a decision they made they now consider bad.
Men are actually just as complicated as women sometimes. Most women don't understand that.

:blush:

:rofl:

Who are we to judge?
:rofl:

:hi:

and thanks for sharing on my thread--I do appreciate your input! :hi:

I don't have premium cable.:cry:

:hug:

:( Especially when he's not consistently liberal.

Double ugh. :puke:

:scared: But he did admit to voting for Arnie, AND that he'd LOVE to see him run for President in '08--if we didn't have such STUPID rules (his words). :eyes:

I had not heard this. I know he likes to date strippers and such. I read it in a Rolling Stone article.

Was he the catcher or pitcher?

:shrug:

I'm going to banish all you liberals!

I asked her if I could touch her Adam's apple.

When a reference to "my friend Ann Coulter" -- the leggy conservative has been a frequent guest on Maher's program -- elicited a round of boos from the audience, Maher shot back, "I know, I know. But she's different when she's coming." Rolling Stone

Sounds like it to me!

Edited to add: He seems to like more shapely women.

of chemistry going on between them.

to me!

At least now he's back to admitting what a king-hell clusterfuck its become. But I haven't seen this week's episode, yet.

I'm with you on the Schwarzenegger thing, too. :wtf: He, like many other Californians (I keep going- who the fuck ARE these Democrats who voted for the guy?) has apparently bought into the Arnold as "moderate", "independent" meme.

I guess Maher must have been high during that week in Oct. '04 when Der Gropenator was stumping for Captain Chimperous in Ohio. :hippie: :hippie: :hippie:

But, I will say this- I agree with him more often than not, and despite the Ann Coulter thing (again, :wtf:?) he's generally merciless with the religious right and other assorted control-freak busybody puritans.

Back when the media wasn't doing their job in 2003.

toward the end of last season and the beginning of this one. :shrug: I recall him saying this, but it's vague. I think I blocked it out. :scared:

To be fair, as soon as it became pretty apparent that, blue fingers aside, things were sliding into even worse muck-- he admitted he was wrong about it.

I just don't know where he's getting this Arnie stuff. :shrug: Not as many celebs as some think supported Arnie. :shrug:

:puke: That used to REALLY get on my nerves! I think he was off pot then and sniffing glue. How else could anyone explain such stupid comments.

Thanks for your response--good points! :)

...so I'll watch with greater scrutiny. Dreyfuss is sure to be a treat.

I've watched Bill Maher for a long time now, and just about the time he's really on his game, making sense, he comes out with some absurdity, and I always wonder if he's less secure in his current HBO venue that it might seem. Is he throwing a bone here and there to the fanatics to keep his show on the air (not admirable in itself), or is he trying to tread a middle way?

He had this fantastic show two weeks ago. Then we, (the Dems) have a great week and Maher kinda' sucked to me at least. I did like the biggest douchebags part of the show. But the rest was pretty weak. I also wondered what was up and if he has 'bosses to appease' or whatever.

Let us know what you think after you see this week's show. :hi: Enjoy! Warning, he asked Norman Lear dumb questions. :eyes:

Ultimately, nothing wrong with Maher sharing his opinion that he wishes Clinton could be President again. It's probably just a testament to what a great President he felt he was.

It just struck me as "odd" that he brought it up two consecutive weeks. :shrug: Oh well...I could have made too much of it.

Thanks so much for responding to my thread, William769! :hi:

some of the guests . . . never for Maher himself . . . unless you want to become ill . . .

I WAS made ill by his comments on the Debra LaFave situation. :eyes: But I watched because usually there was at least one progressive, (sometimes more) on the show. Hearing their outrage, anger, sadness, etc. has helped during this heinous administration.

I don't understand how someone that supports the environment and animal rights can say such hideous things about women. :mad: I'm sick of it, and him and his misogynistic bullshit.

Most of the time he's on the liberal side though. I thought Richard Dreyfus was on target and brilliant. There seems to be a streak of misogynism in Maher as well, which could explain his praise of our Governor Schwollenpecker.

Schwollenpecker... :spray:

He was duped by Iraq is working, he constantly stands up for Arnold, he repeats RW talking points (like this week's memes that the Democrats didn't win, that they aren't any different than Republicans) and he isn't knowledgable enough to not get whipped on certain issues.

He's exactly what we don't need on TV representing us. Not to mention his joke bits are stupid and pathetic. He had to scrap the Sara Evans bit a few weeks back because it was bombing so bad.

We need someone funny and witty but also someone who knows their shit and doesn't blame the Democrats for shit they have no control over (ie the rest of THIS congressional session and anything they can't get past Bush).

I'm pretty tired of Bill Maher telling us to get a spine when he threatens to out gay Republicans and backs down like a whipped dog.

Rp

Thank you for making them, MessiahRP! :hi:

For me, this week it became so obvious he doesn't have much in the way of original thought. Given the fact that he repeated his plea to run Clinton again this week.:eyes: Nothing against Clinton, but as you said he clearly isn't knowledgable enough to see beyond him.

he is not "everyman".. He's not on "our" side,... he's on HIS side.. he gets paid a lot of money, and probably doesn;t care all that much WHO wins.. he'll make jokes about ALL of them and live quite well , no matter..

It seems he hit some chords with many of us, particularly when things seemed the darkest. But in the grand scheme of things, he is NOT a liberal, a Democrat, a progressive, an "every man" in any sense of the word.

Interesting that the week that the Dems won, his show was probably the weakest most boring one I've seen. He in his job--as a comic, thrives when things are the worst for us. When they are going better, he has little to talk about.

No matter which faction is "in charge" he's still going to earn his living and have his show--poking fun at both sides. :hi: Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, and expressing what I now realize I lost sight of, over time while viewing his show. :blush: