Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) - 9/10/21

[Rhiannon12866]

Monologue: Riches for Snitches

Bill recaps the top issues of the week, including the strict new Texas abortion law and the 20th anniversary of 9/11.




Rep. Barbara Lee: The Lessons of 9/11

California Congresswoman Barbara Lee joins Bill Maher on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 to reflect on her vote against military involvement in Afghanistan.




Will the Texas Abortion Ban Backfire?

Journalist Christina Bellantoni and Washington Post columnist George Will join Bill Maher to discuss the political impact of Texas' new restrictions on abortion.




New Rule: America's Pipe Dream

Before we spread democracy around the world, America has to figure out how to spread water around America.




Here's a "bootleg" version of the show which includes the entire interview with Rep. Barbara Lee (6:05), entire panel discussion with Christina Bellantoni and George Will (12:30), Bill's "funny bit" (25:40) and includes the opening part of New Rules (44:10). It won't last long, as usual:

[Bluepinky]

1. Another good show, glad you posted this!

Some of my thoughts:
Maher again attributes obesity to “lifestyle choices” when it’s much more complex. And he complains that government needs to take a strong role in educating the public on the dangers of obesity. But this was Michelle Obama’s main focus as First Lady (to include importance of exercise), for which she was vilified by many.

George Will thinks that President Biden’s vaccine mandates are an overreach by government, which I disagree with.

I liked Bill’s ideas on pumping water from the east to the west coast. And he’s right that it will probably never happen because it’s not profitable enough. Large projects to benefit the public don’t happen in our country due to the amount of red tape and greed involved. Too many greedy people want to make money off the project, so the entire thing gets too expensive to undertake.

Barbara Lee’s comments were good. One I particularly liked was that large decisions (such as decisions to go to war) shouldn’t be made in the heat of the moment.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Oh, I know that's a consistent issue with Bill

But rather than bashing, he should be focusing on what he's really in favor of - healthy eating. That was an enormous contribution by Michelle Obama and I remember reading that the gardens she planted, with the help of school children, were destroyed by incoming TFG (not to mention Jackie Kennedy's famous Rose Garden).

And I definitely agree that George Will's opinion on the vaccine mandate needed to be shot down. And Bill should have been the one to do it since he actually experienced asymptomatic Covid - which resulted in suspension of his show so he has to realize how incredibly transmissible it is!

As for his New Rules about transporting water - I have thought of that so often myself! We're drowning here in the Northeast after a summer of violent storms and the resulting flooding. Just Wednesday I got caught in one of those storms, I was almost where I needed to be when the skies opened up with sheets of blinding rain. But I was able to see my turn and started up the hill to the municipal center when there was a truck backing up in front of me - and as soon as it moved, I saw the reason, there was a fallen tree blocking the road! And I have no wish to share the high winds, lightning and thunder, but we'd gladly share all this water with Western states who need it!

And it was no surprise that Barbara Lee was my favorite guest - if only there were a hundred more just like her!

[Auggie]

2. Thanks for posting ...

I let my HBO subscription lapse so this is especially appreciated.

I share Maher's outrage why there isn't better long-term water strategy in West. Yes, thank graft and profiteering, same reason for climate change.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. This week's New Rules was my favorite part, too. I have thought of this so many times

I'm in Northeastern New York and we have had a summer of rainstorms and flooding - and I've wished so many times that we could share all this excess water with the Western states who desperately need it!

And you know I post Bill Maher every week since I know that not everyone gets HBO - or has cable or even TV!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. p.s. Not to mention that we got hit with yet another violent rainstorm on Wednesday

And I was out in it. The skies opened up as soon as I reached the main road and it must have moved fast since I encountered a downed tree blocking the road and branches down all over my detour. And I was right near the shore of Lake George! The Western states are sure welcome to all this excess water!

[question everything]

6. Interesting point by Will

We are not a Democracy; we are a Republic.

Meaning, the crowds in the street to not determine what should be enacted or regulated. We elect our representatives to make these decisions.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. He does know his facts

And that's why we have to be very careful who we elect - and why voter suppression needs to be a major issue in this country. Those who enact these laws should not be able to choose their voters.