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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWorst Bill Maher ever
With a attempted insurrection taking place and the disgraceful ending of the Trump administration, Bill Maher's new season, he opens with Kellyanne Conway and give her 5 plus minutes for her to get her robot accomplishment talking point out. Then during the panel is against Trump losing his platforms, throws in Tiabbi, repeatedly makes Trump a 800 lb gorilla. Then ends with bashing California. Talk about missing the moment in history.
NoMoreRepugs
(9,435 posts)Thekaspervote
(32,778 posts)Blue Owl
(50,427 posts)onecaliberal
(32,864 posts)jcgoldie
(11,631 posts)That KellyAnne would be conciliatory or that Bill wouldn't kiss her ass???
Katie Couric made it bearable.
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)That Claudia had some effect on her mother's monstrosity.
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,587 posts)Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)I really enjoyed the book Pack Your Shit and Go!
TheDemsshouldhireme
(172 posts)your favorite sports star having a really bad night. It was brick city or a QB throwing 4 picks.
still_one
(92,219 posts)the legal jeopardy trump faces when discussing how trump will be back in full force
Very unenjoyable program, and I thought making somewhat light of the insurrection
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)What an insufferable bore.
PlanetBev
(4,104 posts)I was just going to post the same thing. Lousy monologue, Kelly Ann Conway, guest planting the idea that Nikki Haley will be our next President. And, yes, bashing my state.
Fuck you, Bill, go back to New Jersey.
Cha
(297,322 posts)missed HISTORY.
KAC & Tabbi?!!! 2 Ends of the Spectrum who Hate DEMS!
When the Dems Are the WINNERS & the Magats are the fucking Terrorists.
I hate that shit..
occupant
(166 posts)I wasn't gonna do it. I was not going to turn the channel to HBO. Hell I was going to cancel HBO cos its boring and I'm paying for shit TV. Yet there I was watching the stupid monologue of this egotistical asshole again.Then I heard Kellyass Condick was going to be on and I gagged a little and sat there. I think I need a psych. Why would I continue to abuse my brain this way? Sure I've been watching Bill for 20+years and its habit...OMG now I understand what a cult is !
ramapo
(4,588 posts)We had watched him for years. He got more and more annoying over the past year. We realized we didnt enjoy watching the show. So we stopped. Feels good.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)... if the guests are compelling. But that's the ONLY time he'll stream the show. (Previously we'd watch "religiously" regardless of who was on.)
We used to fast-forward to the "new rules" segment so that it wouldn't be a total-washout. I figured that there might be some good jokes in there, or a decent rant at the end. But even THAT segment has gotten to be so preachy and sanctimonious.
He's gotten to be worse than some of the politicians that I despise. Ugh.
He's well beyond his peak. This is the downhill-run of his HBO show.
I knew it was "over" for him (in my mind) when he gave that Milo Something-Greek guy a platform for his anti-gay and anti-transgender viewpoints... and in the end, Maher ended up agreeing with him: "well you've got a point there" he said in response to some idiotic statement. (Probably trotting out the disproved claim that sexual deviant men were dressing as women and hanging out in women's public restrooms to get their thrills.)
In ANY case. I'm sick of him too.
Johnny2X2X
(19,066 posts)Hes been saying for years that Trump wont leave if he loses. I expected the show to most mostly about how Trump wasnt going to leave but had to be forced.
quickesst
(6,280 posts)....the segments mentioned in the OP tomorrow sometime, and if it turns out to be like my previous endeavors into the vilification of Bill Maher, what I will find is nothing that has been mentioned is anywhere near what was actually presented, and is usually taken out of context.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)And, yes, the descriptions offered here never match what is truly delivered. Probably 75% of the posts are "I don't like him and refuse to watch him", which is a useless opinion anyway.
I haven't seen this episode but will probably watch tonight. He's been a persistent, vocal, and enthusiastic critic of Donald Trump and the right-wing from day one, and anyone who says differently is just not oriented to reality.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)but he is also a persistent, vocal, and enthusiastic critic of the Democratic Party and the left, and anyone who says differently is just not oriented to reality.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)So please dont dishonestly put words in my mouth.
But some seem to think that a rich white male TV celebrity should never be criticized and we all know where that leads.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)as illiberal hostility and extremism have grown on the left. It's not just happening on the right. Its something some on the left have in common with some on the right.
Something to think about is that those vulnerable to the social media algorithms that channel people along increasingly strong counterculture-to-extremist paths come from both right and left.
Preferences for naturopathic treatments, for instance, are seen among people of all degrees of mental balance on both sides. But for some vulnerable to negative, fear-based influences, triggering algorithms by googling these topics lead them to links and groups breeding increased suspicion of the FDA, GMOs, surveillance, Democrats, and from there farther and farther down the extremist rabbit hole of great, irrational certainty.
Psychiatrists have found it's extremely difficult to restore rational, reality-based thinking to people who've gone too far. Professional counseling can take months, and even years. And who gets professional counseling?
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Some may be unjustified but some is and there shouldnt be a ban on pointing that out. This isnt Bill Maher underground, its democratic underground and when a rich white TV celebrity, who has a history of encouraging people to vote against democrats, attacks democrats he should be called out.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the disaffection-to-extremism skids. Not all viewers are, of course. Probably not even most. Just some.
But zero tolerance for politicians and entertainers who'd regard destruction of any who trust them as merely collateral damage. This is evil-doing.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)is not evil-doing. Saying that one should be immune from all criticism is.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Ambitious politicians who deliberately inculcate lies and destroy belief in truth and trust in what should be trusted are doing evil. We're learning a lot more about the damage systemic lies do to peoples' psyches.
WE really need to leave the days of tolerance of political liars far behind. Acceptance of massive lies is a huge part of where we the people went so wrong. It's NOT okay.
Four and five years later, those who became true believers in the lies told in 2015-2016 about elections Democrats stolen from their candidate, Democratic corruption, etc, are still lost in the ugly false reality that literally altered their minds and their patterns of thinking. Every event since has to be interpreted to fit their delusions, and is. They're not coming back, any more than many of Trump's victims are.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)two or three or so run in the presidential primary on the Democratic ticket. It's not normal in the Democratic Party, though, and they're extremely easy to spot by those who care.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)We can take pride in that, and ourselves, but we need to worry about the support they did get.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)except for Biden are liars?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)on lies, usually big lies, of course expose themselves extremely early on. You don't have to worry about missing any of them, Dem4, if you just factcheck candidate statements and backgrounds in the beginning. And cross liars and slanderers off your list, even if they promise you more than others will, which is typical.
Of course, knowing what they are makes watching them be puffed up as serious candidates by anti-Democratic agents hard to take, but at least those who do don't end up angry and even frightened that most voters turned out to be blind to the "truth" they've swallowed.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Which, for me, is not a problem. You can't improve unless you know what you're doing wrong.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)And sometimes he parrots right wing talking points or takes gratuitous shots.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Some people frame any criticism they don't like as a right-wing talking point, no matter how valid the criticism may be.
I'm not saying you're doing that. But other people definitely do.
It has to do with the bubble and when and how it's punctured. Anything not in the bubble, that doesn't align with the accepted narrative, is a right-wing talking point with too many people. There's no conversation or debate to be had. It's like religion. You can't talk someone out of something they were never talked into.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)In the case of Maher, repeatedly referring to Hunter Biden as Joe Bidens neer-do-well son is a right wing talking point.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)It's a bit verboten to talk about here (this board is a bubble by design, which is fine).
I don't have great thoughts about him either. I just don't talk about it here. I'd get alert brigaded into the earth for it.
And I don't hold any of it against Joe. Biden is one of those politicians that you can sense is just a thoroughly decent person. And right now, we need a thoroughly decent President. More than ever. His son has some shit going on. And I get it. He suffered an early in life trauma that I think messed with him. It's all very understandable. I'm empathetic to it. It is what it is.
Doesn't mean Maher's opinion isn't fairly valid given the evidence.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)But he has been demonized unfairly but the right which has been given legitimacy by Maher repeatedly attacking him.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Truly. This just isn't the place for that conversation. It'll earn hides. But, I'll just say there are a lot of problems on his end that aren't fabrications of the Right, if we're being truly honest.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)And thats not the only RW talking point Maher has parroted including saying that unions should be broken.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)I'm in a union. I have some criticisms from the Left on how mine and others I'm familiar with operate. But I'm not sure I'm familiar with what Maher has said about them.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)so I dont remember it exactly but it was in regard to demands made by the UFT and other unions during the Bush administration. He said these unions deserve to be broken. He has also criticized his own union because he thinks his dues are too high.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,587 posts)Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Silent3
(15,231 posts)I think Maher is a great way for Democrats to get out of their own bubbles, without having to bathe in the sewers of Fox and OAN and NewsMax, etc., to do so.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)For me, that's a big one. People who disappear into their narratives often lack it. The past few years, his anti-woke commentary has kept me as a viewer. He goes to town on the woke stuff, and, as a gay man, I'm living for every moment of it. I'm super liberal. I identify with the AOC wing of the party. But man, I hate the woke movement. It's so over the top ridiculous and against all common sense. Every single day, it's like, "What insanity is getting promoted on Twitter now?"
The man has no patience for it, and I am there for it.
Silent3
(15,231 posts)...but then brought back up in a different form when COVID came along), is he overplays his fixation of "real" food.
He used to talk in a very conspiratorial way about this, as if the AMA and McDonald's were in cahoots to make people sick, and then cash out on the medical bills.
He hasn't said much of that lately, but, without any evidence, he made a lot of claims that if only we ate "real" food and exercised more, we'd hardly have to worry about COVID at all.
He's not wrong that diet and exercise can play a role in immunity, but he seems to subscribe to the totally unscientific, practically magical idea that, if you treat your body just right, you'll have nearly complete resistance to all disease.
It doesn't work that way! We don't even know how much diet and exercise (and which particular diet) would tip the scales when it comes to COVID yet.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)I do think he's correct that we have basically engineered an entire industry to treat problems another industry inflicted. We have a health care industry charging us money what the food industry has managed.
But at the end of the day, it's also a choice. Do I want swiss cake rolls or should I eat a grilled chicken spinach salad. And if I go for the cake rolls, because they're only $2 a box, is Little Debbie really to blame there?
But we do have a health and pharmaceutical industry geared towards treating a host of self-inflicted problems.
However. He goes too far. He goes into the fever swamps about vaccines and medicine. I'm sure you know those people, living their "pure" life. "I only eat the most organic of meats and cheeses," or whatever, and you're fighting to keep your eyes rolling out of your head. And if we get sick, well, we must not be taking care of ourselves properly. Like all disease is a personal choice. "Well, you ate a twinkie that one time, and that's why you have cancer."
Uh, no, Bill.
I think you and I are in agreement on this part of his schtick.
Silent3
(15,231 posts)...was that Maher refused to even think of numbers and the time scales. Even if he were right about the effectiveness of good diet and exercise against COVID, we needed to be safe from the virus RIGHT AWAY. In no way, shape, or form were enough people going to change their health habits fast enough to make any significant difference.
If half the population adopted the Bill Maher diet plan overnight (which couldn't really happen, because the supply chain for food would never switch over fast enough), it would still be at best many, many months until it could make much of a difference.
SlogginThroughIt
(1,977 posts)That is how he tries to draw ratings. He tries to puss everyone off. Where Howard Stern tried to offend and shock everyone so they would listen, Maher tried to piss both sides off to get them to tune in. He is gross and not what we need. Just a puke playing on everyones emotions.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Kind of like I don't always agree with Maher, but I still think his show is valuable in its presentation of different viewpoints.
SlogginThroughIt
(1,977 posts)quickesst
(6,280 posts)He is not perfect, but on the other hand he is not the villain many people make him out to be.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Which I'm totally fine with. Sometimes the party deserves criticism. I don't always agree with him. His perilously close to anti-vaxx stuff really bothers me. But, he says what I'm thinking a lot of the time.
If you want to live in a bubble and never have your beliefs challenged or criticized, the guy isn't for you. You can tell he reads conservative news, blogs, opinion, etc. So do I. I think that's a good thing. It's important to know how the other side is viewing the world. It's important to be in that part of the conversation. Some people seal off into their world of I'm Always Right and can't abide anyone saying boo to it.
That's not me. That's not Maher. And even if I don't agree with him all the time, I'm glad people like him are out there. Liberal Democrats who aren't blind to their own side's faults.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Instead of people who would call the insurrection for what it is he chose to platform Kellyanne Conway when Trump administration officials caused this with their "alternative facts".
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
I step outside my bubble all the time and I know what the right wing coalition is like. Just because Maher criticizes Democrats doesn't mean I'm required to agree with him. Also why is he showing sympathy for someone shot that was in front of a mob that wanted to assassinate congressmen? I'm glad no elected officials were killed including Mike Pence. That is the big difference with the right, some on the right will kill over political beliefs.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Remember what happened to Congressman Scalise? And that shooter wanted a lot more than one congressman. He wanted a bunch of Republicans. Capitol police officers got into a gunfight with the assailant and took him down before he could effect his little mass assassination.
That one kind of went down the memory hole.
This is a bit what I mean. This idea that no one on the Left is violent. Er, did we all miss last summer? We have plenty of violence on our side. Maybe the fact I live in the Bay Area makes me more aware of it. Do you know how many times I've seen shit go down in Berkeley, Oakland, and SF? When UCB had a riot and fires because they didn't like the choice of speaker?
Maher's not a journalist. It's not his job. He's a political commentator with an edge of disdainful sarcasm. "Oh, he let KellyAnne up there and didn't ask the questions I wanted asked!" Yeah, he probably thought it'd be interesting to see what she had to say. Sometimes it's best to let people hang themselves. He had Milo Yn-something on that one time - which was hilarious, because he imploded less than a week later.
I'm cool with that. I'll agree or disagree. We don't even hold actual journalists to these standards. So why does Maher come under special scrutiny. He is what he is. Always has been. Won't change. People are acting all disappointed, as if he hasn't been doing his thing for decades.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)The right wing tried to overturn the election. The state of Arizona was being objected to while the riot reached inside the Capitol. I voted for Joe Biden in Arizona. I would like my vote to count instead of it being thrown out in favor of a Trump dictatorship.
There are a lot of conspiracy theories regarding BLM & Antifa, often by the same group that stormed the Capitol.
Far-right Boogaloo boy killed officer after using Black Lives Matter protest as cover: prosecutors
https://www.salon.com/2020/06/17/far-right-boogaloo-boy-killed-officer-after-using-black-lives-matter-protest-as-cover-prosecutors/
Remember when Trump hid in a bunker because of BLM protests? The left made fun of him so he brutalized a peaceful protest, by all accounts, for a bible photo OP. Compare that to the insurrection. Also Proud Boys were causing violence & detruction leading up to Jan 6th including lighting a BLM sign on fire.
Proud Boys Hotel Hangout Shutting Down On Jan. 6 Wild Protest Day
The Washington, D.C., hotel and bar where the white nationalist Proud Boys hang out when theyre in town for protests has announced it will be closed Jan. 6, the day Congress is scheduled to certify the Electoral College vote for President-elect Joe Biden.
Its also the day of a planned Wild Protest in Washington to rail against Donald Trumps reelection loss. The president is urging his followers to turn out that day in his desperate, last-ditch effort to stay in the White House.
A number of people were stabbed, four critically, near the Hotel Harrington in clashes Dec. 12 between the Proud Boys and counterprotesters at the last demonstration in support of Trump. The Proud Boys are known to stay at the hotel and congregate in Harrys, the hotel bar.
The 106-year-old hotel, the citys oldest, issued a statement Sunday saying it will be closed Jan. 4, 5 and 6 for the safety of visitors and employees.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5feaac94c5b66809cb33a510
Cops were also part of the rally so if some police officers are willing to overthrow the United States government for a Trump dictatorship how often do they abuse their powers?
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)I'm not beginning to debate that.
The Insurrection was unprecedented in our history. The law needs to come down and hard on all of it.
But the idea the Left doesn't have a penchant for violence and destruction is laughable. We keep telling that lie, and it's been very, very noticed.
I love Kamala Harris. I've met her. She's as awesome in person as she is on TV. Lovely person. But at the height of BLM riots, she managed: "This is a movement. Im telling you. Theyre not going to stop, and everyone, beware. Because theyre not going to stop. Theyre not going to stop before election day in November, and they are not going to stop after election day. And everyone should take note of that on both levels. That theyre not going to let up. And they should not, and we should not.
People saw her say that, as they watched small businesses burn down.
If that was a Republican, you'd have things to say, I think.
When the media bend over backwards to justify left-wing violence, but freak out if a conservative sneezes, conservatives notice.
And then it's all, "Why is the Right so pissed off? I mean, they have radio!" *facepalm* You seriously don't see why they are how they are?
Paladin
(28,264 posts)Paladin
(28,264 posts)He started talking shit about liberals years ago. His guest lineup has become more and more dependent on right-wing douchebags. He appears to regard Dennis Miller's career path as something positive. Enough already.
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,587 posts)never have my beliefs challenged or criticized"?
Thank you so much for judging me without knowing anything about me or my beliefs or my motives.
quickesst
(6,280 posts)moonscape
(4,673 posts)Tivo him and watch when there is an interesting panel but zero in there I want to watch.
Plus, as a Californian, just no right now.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)but varied, opinions.
Maher is right, damn good thing trump is gone, but government needs to work and its often not at this point.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)like a republican.
WyattKansas
(1,648 posts)He makes a fortune venting Democratic anger at what Republicans do, making fun of Republicans, and ridiculing Republicans, while exploiting and enjoying all the wealth breaks the Republicans provide for him and his luxury lifestyle. Like a good Libertarian, he is only for some cherry picked liberal issues he enjoys. Hell, I bet he really even votes down ticket Republican for economic reasons.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)JonLP24
(29,322 posts)You don't have an unlimited right to incite real life violence. It could have been a lot worse.
betsuni
(25,538 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Does Dennis Miller get too because hes a comedian? Does Ted Nugent get a pass because hes a singer? I remember when Trump was pushing birtherism 10 years ago and some were so what, hes just a reality TV Star. How did that work out?
betsuni
(25,538 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)betsuni
(25,538 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Others disagree.
betsuni
(25,538 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)So please dont dishonestly put words in my mouth.
betsuni
(25,538 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Why not? This is democratic underground, not Bill Maher underground where a rich white TV celebrity is not allowed to be criticized.
BannonsLiver
(16,396 posts)tavernier
(12,392 posts)Cold and tasteless today when there are better things on the menu.
edhopper
(33,587 posts)on his house. I don't know if it's the local government in his posh neighborhood, or he just isn't doing it right. But California leads the nation by far in solar energy, 4x the next State. So maybe regulation isn't the problem.
Yeehah
(4,588 posts)and stop giving the fool free publicity.
Response to TheDemsshouldhireme (Original post)
mokawanis This message was self-deleted by its author.
mokawanis
(4,442 posts)and then I stopped doing that and watched segments of the show on youtube, and now I ignore Maher altogether. He hasn't been funny or relevant for quite a while.
SoFlaBro
(1,926 posts)n/t
mokawanis
(4,442 posts)he's not funny, and not relevant to any discussion.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)jalan48
(13,870 posts)RussBLib
(9,020 posts)Which is why the show is ending. He loses me, he loses his audience.
Still like to get high with him in Hawaii, however.
gulliver
(13,186 posts)The YouTube is very heavily edited. For example, it excludes Maher's groveling thanks to Conway for appearing on his show.
It leaves out the following:
Conway: "...I'm always gonna defend the fact that there were a lot of people in this country who felt that the system didn't work for them and they wanted somebody out of...out of politics to be a true disruptor, to turn the tables upside down...
Maher: "disruptor..."
Conway: " to break some glass, and guess what?...
Maher: "Break some glass?"
Conway: "Well, yeah. And improve the economy..."
It's about 14 minutes in on the HBO Max version of the interview. I'm surprised I'm not seeing it trending somewhere.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)No point to it.
Initech
(100,081 posts)pwb
(11,276 posts)He is better being funny than political. He should change.
Bigredhunk
(1,351 posts)He's obsessed with "cancel culture" and stuff like that (claiming liberals take it too far). He treats it like that's the equivalent of the disgusting shit conservatives do. Yeah, "cancel culture" is on par with denying people health care.
He's islamaphobic
He's transphobic
He's fatphobic
He's misogynistic
He can be really good calling out the right. But he's focused way too much on these other issues (about which he's wrong) over the past 5 years or so.
William769
(55,147 posts)Redleg
(5,814 posts)After reading some of the commentary here, I watched Friday's episode and found it to be much less annoying that I was led to believe it would be.
Yes, he allowed Kellyanne to get away with a few lies but he also nailed her on a few things and generally kept up the pressure while allowing her to speak. The panel was fine with Katie Couric and Matt Jones. The tiny point about something Matt Taibbi said was not a big deal, hell, it might have even had some merit, which is unusual these days coming from Taibbi.
I expected that Maher would return to his favorite hobby horse, cancel culture, and whip that one around but he pretty much avoided going into the weeds on that one other than saying that he is concerned when Twitter bans speech.
I commend him for getting solar panels and suggest that maybe he hires a reputable contractor to get them properly installed.
Bill did seem a bit lower energy than usual, maybe a bit down, but I ask "who among us doesn't feel the same way right now?"