A fellow D.U.er friend was defending Bill Maher

[samplegirl]

to me tonight on the phone. It ended in a an argument.
Sorry I can't watch Bill Maher because I think he's an asshole.
As far as I'm concerned he flip flops more than Newt Gingrich.
He was blaming D.U. for not liking him.

[Dave Bowman]

1. He's a pompous ignorant dick.

[Emile]

21. He's a moderate republican libertarian, and proud of it too.

[markodochartaigh]

2. I've heard Maher say things with which I agree,

and things with which I disagree. I think that mostly he is just trying to drive engagement through provocation now.
But I rarely watch him, or other opinion pundits. I prefer Meidas, Bryan Tyler Cohen, Adam Mockler, and people like that who give mostly informational content. And I haven't had cable since '08.
But I usually prefer to discuss issues rather than people, especially when the person is a provocateur like Maher.

[samplegirl]

7. I was pointing out

that I can't watch him because I really can't stand his persona. I can remember him agreeing with some hard core republicans.
No thanks!

[CentralMass]

3. I agree with you.

[Kablooie]

4. I've got a friend that kind of defends him...

Because he’s friends with one of the show’s ushers and gets in to see the show live anytime he wants.

[jaymac]

23. good reason?

NOT!

[SocialDemocrat61]

5. This Bill Maher?

[John Coktosten]

6. Fuck Bill Maher

Pretentious, uninformed, islamophobic, asshole he is.

[samplegirl]

8. Yes pretentious and still has an ego

that makes me like him even less. I guess now he's saying we need to come together.
Now that trumps ratings are in the gutter???
Good move from a liar.

[jaymac]

24. HEAR, HEAR!!! Mr. COKTOSTEN

[BigmanPigman]

9. I finally hit my breaking point with Maher

when it was during Covid and he was pissed off that he couldn't perform his live comedy stand up acts. He is GREEDY!!!!!! Of course he is also an ass kisser and misogynist so I didn't have much respect for him to start with.

He had Bari Weiss on his show in 2022 and they both were bitching about the strict govt regulations and it was not necessary. Bari announce she was, "Over Covid" and Maher was jumping up and down with joy.

[womanofthehills]

10. I reached my end

When Van Jones made a joke about “dead Gaza babies” and Maher laughed!

[JohnnyRingo]

35. Remember when he had a show called "Politically Incorrect"?

He still has that show but he calls it "Real Time". The format got him kicked off network so he went to HBO.
I believe people are more sensitive to political correctness than they used to be, leading many to walk a razor's edge to avoid being called out by one side or the other, a point he raises often.

Everyone seems to spend half their lives being insulted and boycotting something these days.

[samplegirl]

38. He is insulting

And greedy. With all his money he should be helping a good cause! He's a hack always was and always will be.
I hate flip floppers and if there ever was one he is!

[betsuni]

46. He donated $1 million to reelect Obama, $2 million to elect Senate Democrats in 2018 and called on

other wealthy entertainers to do the same. Don't know about donations since then, he always supports electing Democrats, not third party or Republican.

[Abolishinist]

66. Of course. In addition to that,

he is a huge supporter of animal rights, having served on the board of PETA since 1997. He was also the executive producer of "The Failed Experiment", a 2024 docuseries from PETA.

My wife and I are big supporters of animal rights causes, 50% of our estate is earmarked for our local Humane Society, PETA, and a few other animal rights groups. We've met Ingrid on several occasions, and have (a vegan) lunch with a PETA representative once a year, so I applaud him for all he has done for the cause.

[JohnnyRingo]

68. You don't watch his show.

Don't quote him.

Friday he showed Karolyn Leavett making excuses for Trump calling a reporter Piggy. She said he was being open and frank. And said it was an "admirable quality".. Maher said: "well in that case shut up bitch". I laughed

[SocialDemocrat61]

47. You're referring to this

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/opinions/bari-weiss-bill-maher-done-with-covid-horton
https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=bddd426e-1815-48af-b543-5befdb4dc932

[RandiFan1290]

19. Bless your heart

Reading comprehension is important.

[SocialDemocrat61]

48. Exactly!

He doesn't know or care who we are, including all the people who keep defending him all the time. Too bad they don't realize their idol could care less if they lived or died.

[Silent Type]

58. Exactly. I watched too. And you know what, like Maher, I also don't give a damn about the East Wing. There's a whole

lot more trump chit that deserves criticism before the East Wing.

[Samael13]

12. I liked him for bit.

But I stopped taking him serious as any type of political commentator when I noticed how often he'd contradict himself from show to show.

[Silent Type]

13. Still watch his show, cringes and all. Of course, I watch while playing an Irish Bouzouki so I can drone through BS.

Most of the time, he’s on trump’s ass, including the time trump sued him for $5 million because Maher said trump’s parents were orangutans.

[SocialDemocrat61]

37. That lawsuit was over 10 years ago, this is more recent

[Silent Type]

59. I'll take what Maher actually says to your AI generated photo probably designed by Russkie incel for American audiences.

[SocialDemocrat61]

62. OK. Here's what he said a few months ago

not several years ago.

[haele]

14. He is what he is. A clever, rather facile edge lord type.

Sometimes, when he kicked up, his material could be pretty good. I used to watch his earlier show more for the guests back in the 1990's, 2000's or so, but he started taking over more of the air and got boring.

I get the feeling he started out trying to be an interview type college comedian, but never got past the Harvard Lampoon stage

His "look at me, I'm so clever" and cynicism has pretty much defined most of his career, though.
He's never going to be a Dick Cavett, though, and I think that's what keeps him defensively smarmy.

[Abolishinist]

15. Please provide a few examples of him "flip-flopping".

Thanks in advance!

And by the way, did you let your fellow D.U.er friend know about this post? I'd love to hear their response!

[samplegirl]

39. I don't care it's nothing

I haven't already said. He torched Zelensky one night and that was enough for me considering what Trump has put the guy through!

[Sneederbunk]

16. What do you mean DU does not like him?

Everything he says is repeated here.

[Halicarnassus]

17. And that's fine!

It sounds like you had a healthy, perfectly reasonable discussion. There’s nothing more American.

My vigilant defense of Bill Maher is mostly a reaction to the extra vitriol he seems to receive here. It’s the same hate that’s also reserved for Senator John Fetterman. It’s silly. The moderate wing of the party is as large (if not larger - it fluctuates), as the progressive wing. I can only shake my head with a smile at the bull$h!t hurled weekly at Bill, that would never, NEVER be tolerated if said about sacred cows like Maddow, Colbert, AOC, Sanders, Mamdani, et al.

I know this is a progressive-leaning site, but Dean or Kucinich weren’t nominated in 2004; Sanders wasn’t nominated in 2016; he along with Warren didn’t come close in 2020; and again in 2024, though… that doesn’t really count as it was weird. But that should tell you where the party is.

So you don’t like Bill Maher, great. Don’t watch him. And then don’t comment on him. And I’ll do the same with Rachel Maddow and her interesting… “theories.” Or Oliver and Colbert’s brand of humor. And we’ll all get along better looking ahead to next year!

[Emile]

18. You call AOC, Mamdani, and Bernie cows. Then you defend

Bill maher a moderate republican-libertarian.

🤮

[KLK1972]

51. They said "sacred cow" which isn't the same pejorative....

I don;t think they were saying those figures are "fat" or any of the typical things people use "cow" as a slur or insult over. They're saying that they are treated as though they are untouchable- above reproach, etc.

[Emile]

53. Welcome to du.

The term "sacred cow" is offensive.

[RandiFan1290]

20. Welcome back to DU

What were your previous screen names?

[obamanut2012]

22. Your profile says you aren't a "wokester"

What do you mean?

[samnsara]

27. WHO are you??? and WHY are you telling us what to do?

[GoneOffShore]

29. Well bless your heart.

“I have always found it quaint and rather touching that there is a movement [Libertarians] in the US that thinks Americans are not yet selfish enough.”
- Christopher Hitchens

[mucifer]

30. He treated Studs Terkel like crap

on his show many years ago. Terkel was hard of hearing and Maher made fun of him on the air another guest a black republican woman called him out for it.

Ever since then I have known Maher is an immature narcissist.

[dem4decades]

31. You like Maher but not Oliver? That says it all.

[Henry203]

32. I knew from the beginning

That Fetterman was a phony. His supposed hoodie and shorts was a dead giveaway. Get a professional job then dress appropriately. It was all for show.
Maher on the other hand misrepresents his knowledge. He was describing the Vietnamese am antiwar movement and he was around 9 years old and didn’t’ know anything about it. If you don’t know it don’t pontificate like you do.

[SocialDemocrat61]

36. OK

[DiverDave]

64. Ill comment

On who I please.
He's a dick.
Sickening that you seem to love him.

[Abolishinist]

65. Welcome to DU!

You've already bumped into one of the more divisive 'topics' on this site, at least that I'm aware of.

That being said, what I and others have found is that very few of the 'FBM' crowd are able/willing to engage in a reasonable conversation. Typically they start out with nothing more than exaggeration and name calling and move on.

[Emile]

69. Your profile says you aren't a "wokester"

Care to explain?

[RandiFan1290]

70. buh bye

Better luck next time

[Paladin]

25. You're right. Your friend is wrong.

Maher is untalented hack who has been regularly trashing Democrats for years. Once he did that overnight jaunt to trump's White House and emerged with tales of what a nice guy trump is, all Democrats should have been through with him. I walked away from his shows and his insults years ago; never have regretted it.

[samplegirl]

40. That's my point I've seen

him trash democrats. If my friend wants to watch him and listen to his shit~~~ so be it!
I'm a leftist and since maga swooped this country your either with us or against us.
Maher is wishywashy!
He can take his spin on comedy and shove it!

Oh and hes not even funny!

My friend use to be a leftist but I question that these days.

[Paladin]

56. DU threads like this are the only way I've kept up with Maher's shows, for years.

Very gratifying, not contributing to his ratings.

[samnsara]

26. remember him in Strange Bedfellows during Clintons (?) election

with Arianna Huffington? That was actually watchable but he then became insufferable and arrogant......

[SocialDemocrat61]

49. It was Al Franken in Strange Bedfellows

So Maher didn't become insufferable and arrogant after that. He was always insufferable and arrogant.

[demmiblue]

28. A) You should keep the drama between yourselves (GD is not the place to call out a fellow DUer), and

B) Maher is a bigoted, misogynistic asshole.

[JohnnyRingo]

33. What's wrong with that guy?

I hope you and him are still friends. Sometimes you just have to let it go.
Besides, I'm sure he loves you very much.

[samplegirl]

42. He's got nothing good to say

And neither does the pizza hole you choose to buy food from that voted for you to have less healthcare and fair drug prices! While they vote for every Rebulicans across the board!
This stuff use to matter to you.

[Prairie Gates]

34. Fuck Bill Maher

[Patton French]

41. Maher was blaming DU?

[samplegirl]

43. No

[samplegirl]

44. No my friend seems

to think D.U. Is to far left to like Maher.
I don't think so. But my point was Maher is not far enough to the left for me.
He changes his stance constantly the Joe Scarborough of night time.
I don't like him or half the shit he's has said and I'm not gonna change my opinion of him.
He's not going to convince me he's got anything I wanna hear. Because next week he will be defending someone in trumps circle!
No thanks!

[Patton French]

50. I see. I got the "he" confused.

Maher is out for Maher. Sometimes that aligns, oftentimes it doesn’t.

[SheltieLover]

45. He has always been revolting, imo.

Never could stand the asshole.

[UpInArms]

52. Never got past this

[Clouds Passing]

54. Maher's toxic arrogance is stunning!

[walkingman]

55. Everyone has a right to their opinion. The easiest way to reject Maher is to stop watching him. I did.

[Scrivener7]

57. "You must like who and what I like!!1!" That's just obnoxious. And I find Maher a pompous ass.

[ProfessorGAC]

60. Seems Like A Waste Of Energy

Don't like Maher, quit paying attention to him.
Not sure why it's so important than a friend feel exactly the same way about him as you do.
I don't agree with you about Maher, but I'm not going to wear either of us out trying to convince you to share my opinion.

[OnionPatch]

61. I've been a fan since the "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" days.

And I stuck up for him until recently. I can no longer deny that he is a huge dick. He's the perfect example of what my daughter's generation means when they say, "Ok, Boomer" with an eye roll.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

67. Bill Maher ceased to be funny a long time ago