My Darling Delusional Mr. Maher

[NanceGreggs]

Having just viewed Real Time (November 4, 2022), I have a few words to say. Actually, I have more than a few words, but I will restrict myself to addressing your remarks about the overturning of Roe v Wade having "fizzled out" as being an election issue.

That's been a RW talking point since Roe was overturned - the insane idea that women "will have forgotten" being relegated to second-class citizens without autonomy over their own bodies if just given a few months to get over their to-be-expected-but-temporary hysteria.

Let me put this in terms even you can understand. If the males of this country had their penises cut off in the spring, do you think they'd have forgotten it by the midterms? Do you think they'd show up at the polls and think, "Yeah, well, I was upset about being dickless for months - but I've gotten over it."

If you honestly believe that the issue of women's rights has "fizzled", you are even more out of touch with on-the-ground reality than I previously thought - and that's saying something.

The entirety of tonight's show was a shining display of your unfettered joy at the idea of democracy being crushed - because you might be cited as having "called it first".

There are tens of thousands of women who are registering as first-time voters. If you think they're doing so in order to support the GOP's War on Women, you're an idiot.

But I repeat myself ...

[CTyankee]

1. Methinks Maher is so in love with himself he won't care (or bother to see). However, that is no

reason to not send it anyway. Somebody on his staff might and that would be just lovely in itself...

[Initech]

91. I've been a Maher fan for a long time.

But ever since COVID came, he's basically just been Jordan Peterson but with a nicer haircut. Most of his monogues have been treading into "old man yells at cloud" territory for a while now.

[CTyankee]

101. good description...ever since he devoted so much air time to the fact that he has to wear glasses...

it makes me giggle...

[Hekate]

2. Dear Nance: I hope you mail this to him. Seriously.

[Skittles]

3. it has fizzled out for him

misognynist

[YoshidaYui]

4. I saw that on Youtube and thought

WTF??

[claudette]

5. Absolutely right!

As if all women suddenly don't need to have medical care during a pregnancy that might need it to be terminated! We remember - and we will be out in droves to vote to make sure the magats lose.

I really don't quite understand the fascination some people have with Bill Maher. I never could stand to listen to him.

[BlueMTexpat]

6. Good for you, Nance!

You bit the bullet for me!

I cannot stand this fraud and never watch him.

[secondwind]

7. THIS !!!

Thank you!

[Marcus IM]

8. Bill who?

I had to stop watching his misogynistic show several years ago. Really helped with my temper and blood pressure.

Great response to his bullshite.

[royable]

10. I also gave up on him several years ago when it dawned on me how consistently despicable he was.

I'd thought he was supposed to be entertaining, which is why I'd watch him from time to time. Then I realized I'd been woefully misinformed.

[JohnSJ]

17. +++

[msfiddlestix]

75. ✔️

[bluboid]

9. brilliant reply!

[betsuni]

11. Why are you blaming Maher for saying what a lot of people are saying?

That white suburban women are shifting to Republicans? What is your point? But sure, hate hate hate hate for a supporter of Democrats.

[NanceGreggs]

12. A LOT of people are saying ...

... that the 2020 election was 'stolen' and Trump actually won by a landslide.

Should we all just defer to what a lot of people are saying on the basis that they're saying it?

[betsuni]

13. Nope. Not the point at all, this a real thing.

But people love to hate! Blah blah blah bad man says something bad, doesn't matter if he supports Democrats. Really? You can't tell who is on your side?

[NanceGreggs]

19. Anyone who is promoting the idea ...

... that the over-turning of Roe has "fizzled out" as an issue among women voters is NOT on my side.

He "supports Democrats"? Apparently you didn't watch tonight's show.

[betsuni]

22. Yes I did. Maher supports Democrats.

[NanceGreggs]

26. Of course he does.

That's why he devoted an entire show to explaining why Democrats will lose the midterms.

[betsuni]

32. I think Democrats will lose the midterms. So what?

[Tomconroy]

47. It kind of is what it is.

Maher was making an observation not advocating a position.
I thought it was one of his best shows, particularly the closing monologue.

[beaglelover]

67. Agree. His guests tonight were good too. I wish Maggie was allowed to speak more.

And that new rules segment........ouch!

[Tomconroy]

68. 100%

[JohnSJ]

25. We will know if it is a "real thing" on Tuesday. You may be right, the polls may have this nailed,

but the poll that counts will tell us on Tuesday.

As far as Maher supporting Democrats, sometimes. He was a big fan boy of Ron Paul, until Ron Paul came on his program and started spouting how the Civil War actually wasn't necessary, and slavery would have gone away eventually on its own. If he had done any research on Ron Paul, he would seen Ron Pauls' racist newletter from the 90's.

In my view Maher isn't particularly smart either. He pushes misinformation about vaccines and qwack cures such as this:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/virginiahughes/goat-milk-cure

along with other topics and guests too.

While he may support Democrats at times, the fact is that he is a Libertarian at heart.

You ask why Maher triggers such visceral reactions among some here, for the same reason Elon Musk, Howard Stern, etc. does. Because he is controversial:

Link to tweet

and that is his thing. He wants controversy. That is how he makes his living.

He would be very unhappy if no one paid attention to him.

[betsuni]

28. No.

[JohnSJ]

34. He is an entertainer, who built his career on controversy. Remember Politically Incorrect? His

show was cancelled when he said the 9/11 hijackers were "brave" on his over the air broadcast. That was the final nail why his sponsors, who were already slowing down advertising on his show, and he had to go to a pay format.

He obviously has enough of a fan base, that HBO they put him in their lineup.

I have grown out of his routine, and don't find him particularly entertaining. I also never found Don Rickles very funny either.

[betsuni]

35. So?

[JohnSJ]

36. That is why you see the visceral reaction some have towards him, and you appear upset because some

are expressing that.

He is just an entertainer.

If Susan Sarandon is brought up, there would be an equal visceral reaction to her

Any celebrity who makes controversial statements, is going to similar reactions

[betsuni]

40. No. "Yer upset!"

[JohnSJ]

42. LOL. No. As for things to be concerned about, it doesn't even rate. It just makes for interesting

discussion.

[Martin Eden]

46. I had the same thought about the 9/11 hijackers

The pundits and politicians were calling them "cowards" but it takes a lot of courage to go into a foreign country, hijack a jetliner, and crash it into a building.

Pointing this out does not condone the terrorist act of murdering thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Nor does it lend any legitimacy to the warped poisonous ideology that misled these men into sacrificing their lives for a cause in which they obviously passionately believed.

The intelligent way to counter that poisonous ideology is not with simple minded mischaraterizations but with a deep dive into the history and current circumstances which drive human beings to commit such atrocities.

To understand them is not to justify their actions. On the contrary, the key to defeating an enemy is to understand his motivations and the context which gave rise to the poisonous ideoligy which has such profound influence not just on an organized terrorist group but on a significant swath of the population.

In our effort to better understand the situation which brought mass murder to our shores, we must not avert our eyes from our own actions overseas. An intelligent foreign policy that serves our best interests and national security requires regular reassessment of our past mistakes, current associations, and future geostrategic considerations -- while keeping in mind our highest ideals and how the United States of America can strive towards being that shining city on the hill that inspires others around the world to follow our lead.

I joined DU in 2002 while GW Bush and the PNAC neocons were manipulating the American people through a systematic campaign of misinformation into supporting an invasion of Iraq which was part of their written agenda before the 9/11 attacks.

We have seen the consequences of their misguided attempt to remake that troubled region by military force. The long occupation of Afhanistan and the brutal war in Iraq demonstrated the limits of American power, badly tarnished our image in the eyes of the world, cost us dearly in blood and treasure while inflicting untold suffering and death on the people who live there, and metastasized the cancerous ideology that gave rise to ISIS.

In our names the administration of GW Bush committed war crimes in a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. He, his vice president, and others belong in prison instead of leading lives of wealth and privilege.

I find it ironic that the daughter of Dick Cheney is now making a stand now to save our own democracy, but that is another matter and I've rambled on long enough this morning.

[Joinfortmill]

29. He misguidedly thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

[Martin Eden]

39. What REALLY turned me off to Bill Maher...

...was not that I sometimes disagree with him or that he's always a smug narcissist, but that he's often woefully unprepared to counter the BS spewed by some of the vile rightwingers he invites on his show.

Within the last year or so he had Steve Bannon on for his opening guest. Maher's questions were intended as "gotcha" traps, but Bannon's responses were rapid fire narratives that cleverly dodged the original question with the kind of seemingly valid points which all too often fool the uninformed.

Maher was overwhelmed and unprepared to counter the barrage of lies so he'd make an offhand remark, say OK, and move on to the next question only to get owned again by an evil propagandist who is clearly much smarter than him.

If I was Elvis Presley I would have shot the television.

I still see almost every show because my wife finds it interesting and entertaining compared to other such fare and we have some good conversations of our own about the content, but if it was up to me I'd flip the channel or read a book.

I've had enough of Bill Maher and pretty much can't stand him anymore, even if he is occasionally spot on or funny with his New Rules.

[JohnSJ]

41. A very good observation +++

[Tomconroy]

48. Isn't he right in the tweet?

[JohnSJ]

50. It is not a valid comparison. It is like saying "what do blacks have to complain about, there is no

slavery anymore”

Isn’t that special, look how far we have come

[Tomconroy]

52. I think it's just observing that the country is much fairer

than it used to be. Which is obviously correct.
You're reading something into it that isn't there. As is the OP.
If I say the Republicans are likely to win the house and Senate that doesn't make me a republican. I'm just saying something you don't want to hear.

[Sympthsical]

54. Maher made one of the strongest arguments for voting Democratic I've seen this cycle

But people who reflexively hate him (and don't even watch) don't care.

He could not have put the election in stronger terms for why voting Democratic is vital.

But, oh no, he said something about white women voters that has now shown up in multiple polls.

That scoundrel.

[Shermann]

59. He cited Biden's observation about TV ads as support

He can be controversial and correct at the same time.

[Hope22]

79. He's an ass and a half!

I wouldn’t give him the sweat off my balls if I had any! 😂 Women will set him straight at the polls. Can’t wait!

[JohnSJ]

83. Haven't heard that expression for decades.

[Hope22]

89. It was a favorite of my friend's father!

He was a gem!

[JohnSJ]

99. and the ending I am familiar with, "if he was dying of thirst in the desert"

[Hope22]

100. I will definitely pass this along!😂 n/t

[Cosmocat]

43. I said it at the time

Rs are nothing if not evil, calculating rat Fukers.

They knew it would be a hit in November, but timed it well enough that it would fade enough to still win at least the house, and that was a trade off they were willing to make to get it done and over with this cycle.

[Ligyron]

14. Mr. Maher needs to take a sabbatical from weed.

His show can be amusing and he gets good guests from the right and left whose interactions have been entertaining and even enlightening at times but, speaking of time ... Sometimes I think he's smoked one bowl too many.

[mnhtnbb]

18. I noticed he changed during the COVID lockdown

I've watched him for years and noticed the difference in his turn to the right while he was doing his shows from home. And I've stopped watching him. He's less funny. Much less funny.

[Xavier Breath]

73. I wish I had a dollar for ever second

of his show he spent pissing and moaning about his damn solar project.

[LittleGirl]

15. I had to stop watching the show

I think I just got tired of his right wing views considering he’s supposed to be a liberal lefty.
What he is “clueless” as you say. Out of touch.
Thanks!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

85. Why do you think disagreement with views of fellow

democrats automatically equal right wing views?

[NJCher]

16. This might get through

, "Yeah, well, I was upset about being dickless for months - but I've gotten over it."

😊

[mnhtnbb]

20. I have to agree with you Nance.

I sincerely hope the pundits are out right astonished on Election night that they've been so wrong. I hope they are speechless. I have to believe women will not accept being told they do not have the right to make their own health care decisions.

[Steven Maurer]

21. The question isn't whether Democrats are against the overturn of Roe...

The question is whether Republican and Independent women care about it.

...enough to change their votes.

I'd love to be convinced that they do on election day. But we don't even seem to be having have serious increases in turnout over it. And the polling is embarrassingly, scarily, close.

[NanceGreggs]

30. "We don't even seem to be having have serious increases in turnout over it."

Exactly what planet are you currently living on?

[JohnSJ]

37. Yes, and many people are doing their vote by mail and early voting this past week, and those numbers

haven't already been factored into what appears to be a record voting turnout for a midterm, in addition, to those voting on election day

[JohnSJ]

31. How do you know there isn't "increases in turnout" over it?

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2022-11-04/early-vote-totals-point-toward-record-breaking-turnout-for-midterm-elections

The base of the republican party support the trump ideology. Why would anyone, man or women, who still identifies as a republican be expected to change their votes with that mindset?

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/10/06/two-thirds-of-republicans-want-trump-to-retain-major-political-role-44-want-him-to-run-again-in-2024/

We will find out Tuesday if the polling is truly a reflection of what women care about:

" A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that half or more of respondents are more motivated to vote in this year’s midterms because of abortion concerns, especially among women. And according to an Economist/YouGov poll conducted October 29 through November 1, 60% of women said that views on abortion mattered a lot in their voting, compared to 40% of men."

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2022/11/04/motivated-by-abortion-women-could-determine-the-outcome-in-tuesdays-midterm-elections/

I wonder how people who won't answer phone calls from numbers they don't recognize are factored into the polls.

Because of redistricting, and trump insuring that a full census during the pandemic was perhaps inadequate, the House will be more challenging to overcome.

That being said, I do not believe anyone can predict the outcome on Tuesday, because there are so many cross currents going on.

[malaise]

23. Great post

Bill Maher is a detstable woman hating creep.
Rec

[Duppers]

95. Indeed....your great thread...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217309389

[malaise]

98. LOL

[jcgoldie]

24. Fuck Bill Maher

Sucks more with each passing year. Folks need to understand that hes a libertarian type jackoff and he will make more sense.

[Joinfortmill]

27. Amen, sister.

[ItsjustMe]

33. The usual suspects.

[FalloutShelter]

44. THIS X 1Million

Well said,Sister.

[gab13by13]

45. I stopped watching Maher

way back when he got on the Democrats are snowflakes kick, when in fact the opposite is true. Maybe Maher is the snowflake, appeasing the Magats so he can do shows in their cities?

[GoCubsGo]

49. Pushing GOP disinformation again.

That's one of the narratives they are pushing, along with "young people are not voting." Neither of which are true. Randi Rhodes discussed this in her show yesterday. It should be up on YouTube by now, for those who want to hear what she has to say. She does her homework...

[Emile]

60. +1

[d_b]

51. Rovey Wade? Never heard of her.

Voters only store memory for issues that benefit Republicans.

[Shermann]

53. Has it fizzled with independent swing voters as a priority? Perhaps that is more to his point. nt

[Sympthsical]

55. He was citing polls that showed a swing in women voters

Of course, that context is missing from the OP - and intentionally so.

Context is always a troublesome thing when the object is demagoguery.

[Shermann]

62. Maher's love for the Democrats is of the tough variety

His brand of political news as entertainment is very different from that of the Alex Joneses of the world. He generally supports his claims. And some of those claims are truth bombs aimed at the left as well as the right (but mostly he aims right). It's the opposite of confirmation bias in a way.

[NanceGreggs]

74. His opening remark on the topic ...

"I see the big story demographically is that somehow the Democrats have lost white women."

He never mentioned where this info was coming from, never cited which poll or survey he was quoting and/or relying on.

That's a glaring "lack of context" right there.

[spooky3]

80. PollS? I have read about only one such poll that claims to

Have found a huge turnaround in voting preferences among “white suburban women.” It was a WSJ poll conducted by a Republican pollster. It has been re-reported in several right wing outlets.

IIRC, this subset was only 150 respondents and I didn’t see the exact wording of the questions. I have zero confidence in such a poll.

[gulliver]

56. Let's hope he's wrong. We'll know more next Wednesday

I still hold out hope, and I'll definitely vote straight ticket Democrat

[Boomerproud]

58. Yes, let's see what DU is feeling next Wednesday.

I'm hoping to exhale and have some hope left.

[Emile]

57. Another great post Nance, K&R. eom

[Goonch]

61. Bill Maher: 5'8"

[milestogo]

63. Bill Maher is a misogynist, and that's why I don't watch him any more.

[forthemiddle]

64. We will see Tuesday!

Either the MSM will be correct, or they won’t be.
Same thing with the polls, and so called trends.
I suggest we either tune out, or put all our efforts into GOTV for the next few days, or we will make ourselves crazy!
Only 4 more days, hang in there!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

65. I stopped watching Maher a long time ago

Last edited Sat Nov 5, 2022, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

I agree with the OP that Maher is out of touch

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[beaglelover]

66. His new rules segment was awesome and so depressing last night. I posted an OP about it.

[Paladin]

69. Well said as usual, Nance. (nt)

[Emile]

70. I quit paying for HBO 4 years ago. I can honestly say

I really don't miss it.

[Polybius]

71. I'll reserve my criticism for Maher until Tuesday night

I have no idea if he's right or wrong.

[NanceGreggs]

88. It's not a matter of being right or wrong.

It's a matter of promoting the RW talking point that women have decided that their rights don't really matter after all - based on a "poll/polls" he never identified.

[senseandsensibility]

72. What, you don't like mansplaining?

Great rant!

[msfiddlestix]

76. Maher, isn't the same as Fox news, but I have boycotted his shows pretty much for the same reason.

It's been so many years ago, I think it was when Obama was elected, although he disgusted me before then,

He would serve up the occasional red meat for liberals, but then like the viper he is, he'd have his liberal audiences for lunch in a fairly swift whiplash manner.

He's just another dickless narcissistic mysogenist jerking off on tv and laughing all the way to the bank with a bonus dollar to match each woman outraged by his remarks.

wonder what would happen if every woman and progressive male would just stop clicking on his youtube, or subscribing to HBO just for his show?

*there are quite a number of people who subscribe to HBO just watch Real Time*

I'd love to see a mass exodus of viewers.

[Mr.Mystery]

77. He calls his show "Politically Incorrect" and thinks that's clever.

Well he got one thing right.

He is incorrect. A lot.

[Peacetrain]

78. Right to the heart Nancy!!!

thank you

[USALiberal]

81. So you're sure we're gonna win all those votes?

[NanceGreggs]

86. Not the point.

I'm calling out Maher on presenting "poll results" as some kind of valid indicator that the issue of choice for women has "fizzled out".

I note that he never cited the "poll/polls" he was referring to - so why leave that crucial piece of information out of the discussion?

[BigmanPigman]

82. There was a good thread on Tues...we all can't stand him

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17309389

He is a Libertarian, old fart, misogynist and if you are on his show and do not kiss his ass he acts like a big baby.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

84. It's true. Not enough people care. All you have to do

Is look at a poll. People overwhelmingly care about the economy first.

We are not living in an era where people care about other people and their plight. Hopefully the pendulum swings back.

[amb123]

87. Bill Maher has become another RW Tucker-Carlson-Wanna-Be Blowhard.

And to think, I used to like him . . .

[argyl]

90. I can't stand that smarmy SOB. Haven't watched Real Time in years

If he's on another show the channel is changed really quickly. He just makes me gag.

[ancianita]

92. Thank you. I'm glad you took the time to put his tired politics in sharp relief with reality.

I switched him off within the first minute of his opener, at his first cheap shot at Democrats, and am finally letting him go. He showed up on Ari Melber's show on Monday or Tuesday, had nothing, so I figured he was trying to shore up dwindling audience numbers more than understand who and why he lost them to begin with.

[NanceGreggs]

93. I sometimes wonder ...

... what "reality" he's living in - like where everyone's kids are entitled little brats.

Not my experience at all with my own kids, or those of my friends.

So where is his 'info' coming from - other than his own ass?

[ancianita]

96. I've wondered the same things.

When I think of the signal-to-noise environment we've suffered, how he's added to that by going for cheap shot laughs over laughs of recognition, add to that his kids/women/Democrats noise, well, I can't even... we have writers of sharper humor on this site than he's got on payroll. And you're one of them.

He should retire, get back in touch, and just do an occasional special.

[William769]

94. Kick & highly recommended.

[betsuni]

97. I was accused of using a right-wing talking point yesterday for giving my opinion.

Whatever!

[Emile]

102. Looks like Maher's right-wing talking points were wrong Nance!