An Open Letter to Bill Maher
By Ani on April 26, 2009 at 8:15 PM in Hillary Clinton, MSNBC, Obama, Obama Administration, President Barack Obama
Your op-ed in the LA Times on Friday, The GOP: divorced from reality, was really something to behold – a compendium of all the worst smears you could find, carelessly banding all those who oppose President Obama’s reckless actions on the economy into one group. I have never been a member of the GOP and probably never will be. A lifelong Democrat, I became disillusioned with the disgusting and dishonest behavior of the DNC party leadership during 2008 and I now consider myself to be independent. So, by this criteria, I shouldn’t even take offense at your article classifying any Republicans unhappy with our current state of affairs as “behaving like a guy who just got dumped by his wife.” But I am offended. I am offended by you and the level of willful ignorance you exhibit in these statements:
It’s been a week now, and I still don’t know what those “tea bag” protests were about. I saw signs protesting abortion, illegal immigrants, the bank bailout and that gay guy who’s going to win “American Idol.” But it wasn’t tax day that made them crazy; it was election day. Because that’s when Republicans became what they fear most: a minority.
Well, as Marshall McCluhan said, “the medium is the message,” so, nothing like coloring your message by only using the tiny fringe minority as an illustration of what the great majority of protesters were shouting about. This is nonsense, but by pushing your false premise, you have repeatedly and unfortunately shown that this is your level. You say that:
…“the conservative base is absolutely apoplectic because, because … well, nobody knows. They’re mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore. Even though they’re not quite sure what “it” is.”
…[H]ere’s the list of Republican obsessions since President Obama took office: that his birth certificate is supposedly fake, he uses a teleprompter too much, he bowed to a Saudi guy, Europeans like him, he gives inappropriate gifts, his wife shamelessly flaunts her upper arms, and he shook hands with Hugo Chavez and slipped him the nuclear launch codes.
Well, no dear, that’s really not the sum total of what Republicans are worried about, nor is it the sum total of what the 3 million plus Democrats who did not vote for Barack Obama are worried about. While I do think that a man with a less than sophisticated grasp of the issues who is absolutely painful to listen to without his “prompter” is worrisome in the capable leadership department, I could give a rosy red damn about Michelle’s biceps or whether Europeans want to swap spit with him in the moonlight. That stated, let me try to clue your arrogant, self-righteous, insulting arse in:
First, Bill, to assume it was only Republicans protesting at last week’s tea parties shows the level of your denial. There were Democrats, too, and Libertarians and Independents as well as Conservatives. People are protesting endless bailouts. They were protesting a Stimulus package crafted by Nancy Pelosi et al behind closed doors that got passed without many in Congress even bothering to read it first; they are pissed that Wall St. is getting bailed out before Main St., with Timmy “Turbo Tax” Geithner and Larry “I like to fall asleep when my President is talking” Summers leading the parade, even though they helped these foxes who guard the henhouse get those outrageous bonuses in the first place.
They may be a little concerned that the President is telling which CEO’s to step down and that he is refusing to take back TARP money although some big banks are more than ready to repay it. They may be a little concerned about the slippery slope that entails. Go figure…
And I actually know some folks who voted for President Obama who were out there protesting. They have voiced to me their own desire to figuratively “storm the Bastille.” Most people have no objection to paying taxes. They have an objection to the Administration and the press assuming they are fools who will be terrorized like Chicken Little into believing the sky is falling so that this “crisis” can be used to pass all manner of reckless nonsense before anybody takes a second look. With his most interesting cadre of advisors, there is a little too much quid pro quo going on for my liking. Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric comes to mind. So much for a new era of transparency. Bill? Any comment?
Further you state the “big issues for normal people [are] the war, the economy, the environment, mending fences with our enemies and allies, and the rule of law.” Let’s discuss that, shall we. If not for the crack foreign policy team headed by Clinton et al, we would be in a disaster there too. And with Mr. President’s continuing gaffes, and his penchant for advisory “redundancy,” who knows if those efforts are being undermined.
You will also have to pardon me if I do not appreciate our President standing before a foreign people and saying that America is an arrogant country. We certainly have – and have had arrogant leadership. But how do you think Americans who feel gut punched, watching their savings go up in smoke, out of a job, struggling to feed their families, enjoy hearing such a horrid sound bite while their President is traveling with his staff of 500? How do you think our troops feel? If I had my druthers, we would not be in Iraq, but that is not the fault of our military or their families, who have for six years been bearing the brunt of the burden and sacrifice for the last Administration’s decisions and folly – a folly which then-Senator Obama voted several times to fund.
Surprise, Bill, nobody’s hands are clean. Where was the great consensus builder, Barack Obama, back in 2005-8 on the Senate floor, using his oratory prowess to urge a change in direction? What? *crickets* Oh, yes, he was voting to keep Terry Schaivo alive. That’s a good use of his time.
The rule of law, you say? Torture is wrong. Period. But it’s easy for me to make blanket statements from the anonymity of my keyboard. The fact is there is plenty of blame to go around there, too, as evidenced by the tap dance that Speaker Pelosi is now doing. As to the economy, even Paul Krugman, nobel laureate Keynesian doesn’t think Mr. Obama has the prescription anywhere near right, to the point that Rahm “Rahm-bo” Emanuel is getting all over him. You can hardly call Mr. Krugman a “dumped husband,” or a Republican for that matter.
You remember Mr. Krugman, don’t you, Bill? He’s the one who, over a year ago said that Hillary Clinton had the best plans for our economy and for health care. You remember Hillary, don’t you Bill? She’s the former First Lady, and two-term sitting Senator from New York who you saw fit to call a “cunt” on your show and then got on Huffington Post to defend your statement as rational. So you will, once again, have to pardon me if I call you out on the carpet as a misogynist fraud.
I have an excellent memory Mr. Maher, and as someone who used to watch your show until the Hillary bashing and your own hypocritical flip flops got too much for me to bear, I remember many of your past sound bites. You have a lot of nerve saying that “normal people” are worried about the rule of law. I assume you are referring to the release of the “torture memos.” Let me hasten to remind you of your worry that your home near the port of Long Beach would be hit so you were happy to have our government do whatever it took to protect you.
Let me also remind you that on April 15, 2005 you suddenly changed your tune and after roundly and consistently insulting President Bush, you said you have to “give your boy Georgie props on Iraq”. “Props on Iraq”? Iraq was headed for civil war in 2005. Your guest on the show that night, General Wesley Clark, all but told you as much and repeated the same on “Meet the Press.” It was a long two years after that until the “surge” took place. Your tune changes with the prevailing wind. One thing that doesn’t change, however, is your short memory and willingness to abandon the truth for a sound bite and an easy laugh.
Mr. Maher, I think perhaps you get too much of the news from your own echo chamber of HuffPo, DailyKos, MSNBC and Janeane Garafolo. If you could find the courage and decency to get off your own soapbox long enough to pay real attention and not listen to the likes of this biased cadre, you might find there were Republican politicians who tried to take the stump at the protests you so readily deride, only to be loudly booed by the participants.
Those of us, of all stripes, who are worried and angry are not just “hatin’ on a black man” to quote the offensive Ms. Garafolo. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are angry with Congress altogether – and that means Democrats and Republicans. We feel too many are living in a rarified air, clueless as to the concerns of, or their responsibility to, their constituency.
Your spreading this kind of propaganda, playing the race card to boot, which you also do in your article, is as reckless and cruel as it is false. As I discerned from many of the 699 comments which followed your piece in the LATimes, the shame is too many who don’t bother to do their own homework actually believe you.
In order to solve the serious problems we face, we need a President who does not pretend ignorance at the very existence of these protests. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the country were willing to take time off from work in the middle of the day, draw a sign and stand outside for hours to express a grievance. It would do well for the President, Congress and the likes of you to acknowledge that the amount of citizens angry here can most likely be measured in multiples of the actual number of protesters who showed up. And they know exactly what they are angry about. This is more than a fringe. This is more than right wing. And it certainly has nothing to do with racism.
I thought that the election of Obama as President was to usher in a new era of bipartisanship and respect. Well, the left is not the only group that is allowed to protest something – the moderates and the right get to pipe up, too. During the Iraq war, those of us who protested were roundly ignored or vilified. How is this administration behaving any differently? Mr. Maher, you and they are guilty of contempt prior to examination. And that, sir, is business as usual, from both sides.
Citizens from all ends of the spectrum need to find a way to reach out and find common ground, and keep communicating so that we figure out how to get out of the mess we are in. I have less and less confidence than anyone in power is really listening.
I know I am beating my head against a brick wall here, Mr. Maher, but you only show yourself to be as bad as the very stereotypes you demonize by putting forth this type of tunnel-vision drivel. Shame on you for deciding you are in any position to make pronouncements as to the motives of so many citizens just because they do not see fit to be part of your adoring flock.
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Why is Bill Maher opining in a newspaper owned by a company filed chapter 11? Well, I guess I know why.
because he doesn’t matter and is desperately trying to be noticed?
And, lets all remember and give Bill his credit due for him helping give us GW Bush!
We remember his wisdom when he actually declared that Al Gore was just as bad as W. Oh yes, please, share with us, Bill, your wisdom. rofl.
HAHAHAHHA… you losers just got served.
Deal with it.
oh yeah, uh sure. WE got SERVED? you poor thing. lol
ah, the usual intelligent response from a Worshipper.
heartland, does being an idiot embarrass you?
An Open Letter to Bill Maher:
Kindly STFU.
Sincerely,
Ferd
I previously expressed my disdain for the work of this entertainer by canceling my subscription to his cable show.
Out of curiosity, how did you cancel a subscription to his “cable show”? The only show he has that I’m aware of is on HBO, and there’s not a cable company that will allow you to “cancel a subscription” to a SINGLE show on an offered network.
Now, if you cancelled your HBO service, I can understand that, but you’ve done nothing to affect Bill Maher in doing so. There’s an old saying that applies to what you’ve done: “cutting your nose off to spite your face”.
(Now, Howard Stern, on the other hand, is a different matter. He is more susceptible to having people cancel their subscriptions–provided their cable companies offer his programs on a separate channel that is offered as a premium channel. My cable company does, but I’ve never really found Howard to be entertaining enough to merit my ordering his channel.)
actually jozefal i have cancelled hbo with my cable company. so yes it can be done. i suppose it depends on the cable company.
Great response, Ani. I too once watched Bill Maher’s show until he decided sexist jokes were his stock and trade.
He can follow the slobbering MSM to hell. Let them all file for Chapter 11. I’m sure he’ll find that halarious.
Except now Congress is talking about bailing out the newspapers. Next it will be CNN & MSNBC. Can you imagine the coverage if they literally own these outlets? Then again, probably can’t get much more biased.
We may as well burn whatever money we might give to newspapers.
Oh yes…and brought on Taibi to sit by his side.
What did you expect? Taibbi’s father has worked for NBC for decades.
Bill is an ass.
Bill Maher is a little troll with a short man’s mentality who can’t help showing off his inadequacies.
Didn’t Bill Maher get fired from ABC after 9-11 for some anti -American remark? We must realize at this point that the situation with the fraudulent BO is getting worse by the day and these entertainers writing opinions on editorial pages is comical. I was also a lifelong Dem until May 31st,2008 when the whole process was destroyed by taking delegates away from one candidate and giving them to another in the name of “fairness.” I attended a tea party with over 4000 people, young and old, Dems and Repubs it was truly the will of the people at work and that it’s the government and the system run by both parties that has led to this mess and this fake being president.
well said and I concur….the Tea Parties were simply a bunch of American loving people peacefully protesting. No labels or groups to be put in required or needed. Simply, patriotic people who are truly concerned about the direction this country is headed.
All I can say about Maher is “he is a boil on the butt of humanity”…Shirley McClaine from Steel Magnolias
Dimwits are just burying themselves with these stupid remarks. SIMPLY STUPID.
well said, just a bunch of American loving people with concern for our country at those tea parties.
The Dimwits are showing their true colors indeed and are a laughingstock.
As for Maher, as Shirley McClaine said in Steel Magnolias, Maher is “a boil on the butt of humanity”….
he needs firing he’s simply a little prick..with no use nor ornament!
Ani,
hearthfelt and spot on. well said.
Thanks, Larry.
I know my rant is probably wasted on someone like him, but I truly find it heartbreaking that he and people like him are so busy making cool sound bites, it doesn’t occur to them their false spew is actually hurting real people and adding another nail in the coffin to divide one side from the other.
Until we stop making blanket assumptions about what “this side” or “those people” want, we are never going to make any real progress, political or otherwise.
You are a minority and clearly you think you know more than everyone else. You are an economic and political genius. We will leave you behind. See yaahh!
Silly Ani. She thought she lived in America and had the right to free speech.
It’s a shame that you are sexist and threatened by intelligent women.
It was probably someone waking up and thinking they were talking to themselves.
Ani — wonderful post! I wish Bill could take the opportunity to read your brilliant response.
On second thought, he’d probably just make some dismissive remark that might get a laugh, but would have no basis in reality. He’s just another failed comedian who’s reduced to being a hack.
Thanks. He does the same thing on his shows when one of his panel makes a good point — he must steal focus and trump them by getting a cheap laugh. I guess having a real discussion of the issues isn’t as important as he pretends.
And how is that different from Rush Limbaugh or Bill O’Reilly? Both of those asshats have been MORE than willing to exercise misogyny and sexism in their “performances” yet, because both of them have been so supportive of those asinine tea parties, it seems that many have COMPLETELY excused THEIR misogynistic, sexist, homophobic and even racist comments.
As the Church Lady would smugly opine: “Isn’t that conVEEENient?”
Sorry, Ani, but you cannot have it both ways. If you’re going to condemn one man for his misogyny and sexism because you don’t like how he feels about the Republicans, you’d bloody well better not be willing to excuse other men for their misogyny and sexism because you DO agree with how they feel about the Republicans.
Actually, if you notice, I am NOT trying to have it both ways. This is a letter to Bill Maher — I do not excuse O’Reilly or Limbaugh in the slightest and if you have read any other comments I have made about these two, you would find ample evidence of that.
In fact, I do not like the demonization either side tries to do with the other. I find it highly destructive. O’reilly started drinking the Obama koolaid last fall himself and Limbaugh with his tactics of telling people who to vote for in the primary and mucking with the Dems was a disgrace as well.
Please believe me, I have not forgotten any of this. Nor have I forgotten their sexist or misogynist rants. The only time O’Reilly ever stuck up for Hillary was because it furthered his own goals of being able to rant againbst MSNBC. Hypocrites all. But this post was for Maher, responding specifically to his op-ed.
I’d be happy to do a separate diatribe for each of O’Reilly and Limbaugh. Lord knows they each deserve one. I am not enamored of either side by the way and fell like a Dem without a home.
Please provide links to articles specifying what sexist, racist, homophobic comments were made by O’Reilly and Limbaugh. I’d like to read them.
Bill’s brain probably leaked out with his thinning hair. He was never funny. He is mean.
Maher’s brain has been short circuited by the kool-aid.
This is a total knock-out, Ani!
Great post Ani…. you always put into words what many would like to say.!!
That stated, let me try to clue your arrogant, self-righteous, insulting arse in:
LOL. Love it Ani. I am always excited to see one of your posts, because I invariably cheer my way through it. When I saw the link for Maher’s article at Real Clear Politics, I refused to read it. I knew exactly what it would say, and of course it was in the L.A. Times. He is in La La Land, like Garafalo, preaching to the smug, elitist choir. Watching the extreme condescension and reverse bigotry of the Left confirms my disillusionment with the Dems/Left last year, and my strong identification as an Independent. These people, who are so proud of their “enlightened” vilification of Bush, Cheney & Rove, sound just like the flip side of the coin to me. Ugly and ignorant.
Thank you Ani – Excellent letter!
What fif said. I cheered my way through it.
Ani, this is an excellent post – thank you for laying your positions (and many of ours) out in terms so clear that even someone like Maher could (possibly) understand it.
It never ceases to amaze me how people like him continue to have a job, much less a following. Truly shocking (and discouraging).
Great piece, Ani – good on you!
No coincidence that he used to date Ann Coulter–peas in a pod.
No kidding?! Ugh….
Holy Mother of the Gold Standard–can you imagine what their children would have been like?!?! E-GADS!!
well, they both hate women.
LOL Andy too funny….
Here, Here!
I have not watched Bill since early 2008 and I will never watch that so-called man again. What a p**sy! He’d rather get a laugh than report what is really going on in this country, just like the rest of the MSM. They are the only ones who give a damn about what poor excuse for a woman, Michelle wears.
Those hundreds of thousands of people who attended the tea parties are truly a minority compared to those who didnt have the funds to attend the closest tea party, those who couldn’t take off work, etc.
I am proud to have them represent me and the millions of others who could not attend.
It is true, we are a much larger number than they even realize, and we will band together and march on Washington, if that is what it takes to get those rat bastards to listen to us!
I think we should throw their asses out, every one of them on Capitol Hill, start over, fresh with people who are just like us, working families, people who love our country and our Constitution. People who know what its like to suffer, to worry about our families, real Americans, who love our country.
Those who have fought for this country are heroes, not potential terrorists!
We must name a third party so we can recognize those who are like-minded when we go to the polls.
NAME A THIRD PARTY! Any suggestions? How will we go about this?
P.S. I am so damn happy to see Pelosi doing the tap dance of her life! She has no way out, she has been a proven liar for years now. They have all the memos of the meetings, at least 30 meetings in which the torture and types of torture being used were discussed, including water-boarding.
Oh poor Nancy, it’s a long fall from the top. Next: Obama!
Has the rule of law what we’ve had going on here in this country the last two years ? Maher’s crowd think they are the ones to tell the rest of us what principles we should have. He is a vulgar individual personally and though unfunny quite a joke.
Your comments seem ironic coming from a website where both official posters and unofficial posters on here spew nothing but hate against the democratic party and Obama daily.
Your tiny little tea parties represent a tiny minority of Americans and the clear vast majority of the people who attended these tea parties were the hard core Republican right wing nuts.
They were there because they lost the election and hate Obama, just like you.
To be so obsessively against the democratic party and the new direction they are taking this country suggests to me that you never really were a democrat. To be so angry that your Hillary lost that you complete are against everything this government is doing seems to suggest you really never shared anything with democrats. Your and this site continually spewing right-wing talking points and everything Fox says suggests that you are clearly much more in tune with the ideology of the Republican party.
Thanks for leaving the party. Get the F out. We do not need anyone with the loyalty that you have and the willing to change side because your candidate lost.
This country is going in a new direction and if you do not like it too bad.
Latest poll out today says 69% of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing with the economy. I guess you would say that you are smart than all of use and you know better. Well FU. I have read many of your posts and you clearly do not have a clue what you are talking about 90% of the time. And the 69% number is a hell of a lot more than the 53% of the people who voted for him suggesting that a ton of people that did not vote for Obama like the job he is doing. How does that compare to your little tea party nuts.
http://themoderatevoice.com/30044/washington-post-abc-news-poll-obama-approval-at-69-percent-but-partisan-divide-sharp-over-interrogation-memos/
And keep beating your head against that wall….
Since you seem to like simplistic answers, here’s one for you: You must hate Hillary because you are sexist.
The end.
Oh… you must be brilliant because you can read from a teleprompter.
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I wish you the very best and I do wish Obama the guidance he requires to stop the flip flopping.
I have never cursed at anyone on this site or anywhere, so I find your conduct rude and odd, indicating you are somewhat threatened by a voice of concern. It is sad you think spewing Bill Maher’s rantings is the way to go. I did vote a straight Dem party ticket for 30 years and, as a poster above noted, your hero Bill Maher also thought Gore would be no better than George Bush. Your hero of the moment just says whatever nonsense suits him at the moment. Hardly responsible behavior.
But I guess rather than presenting a cogent counter argument, you just feel the need to curse at and insult others.
Both parties are mired in corruption. Deal with it.
Well, here’s an example of possible corruption…
As some of you may know, WA state had a caucus and primary in 2008. In the June 2008 WA dems state convention, they passed a resolution, “Creation of a Task Force to Review the Caucus and Primary Process” in response to the fact that “…more people submitted resolutions and suggestions about abolishing the precinct caucuses than on any other topic.”
http://www.wa-democrats.org/pdf/Sub1/080614%20-%20SCRES%20-%20A%20-%20097%20-%2001%20-%20PASS%20-%20Caucus%20Resolution.pdf
Today, I actually went to the first meeting of this task force and it has apparently morphed, under the direction of the national DNC, into a “Caucus Review Task Force.”
http://www.4shared.com/dir/14897843/377129bf/sharing.html
So, they will be reviewing ways to improve the caucus process. In opening remarks, the chair of the task force, Sharon Mast, specifically said it was not going to be a caucus vs primary discussion. After a mid-morning break, she tried to leave a little wiggle room, that oh, if people thought the only resolution was a primary, then they could say that. The rest of the meeting was focussed on reviewing and improving the caucus process…with no discussion of abandoning the caucuses for primaries.
The national DNC has the so-called Change Commission to recommend changes to the presidential nominating process and it is co-chaired by Senator Claire McCaskill and Congressman James Clyburn.
http://www.democrats.org/page/content/changecommission
I notice how the press release linked just above says, “Governor Kaine went on to say that he hopes to work with the Republican National Committee on a common approach that puts voters first.”
Well, I am curious as to why the dems want to work with the RNC on a common approach. Do they want to make sure the republicans keep caucuses too…so they can each game the system without looking bad compared to the other?
I think Dwight Pelz is going to extremes to get a job in the Obama administration, being a slave to Obama’s whims, rather than concerning himself with what Democrats in Washington State want, which is substantial reform, in my mind. Thanks for the links. I think I might send a letter to Sharon Mast. Washington State Democrats cling to the notion that they will get more involvement (and more donations) with caucuses. I believe there should be a primary only, with a precinct caucus after the fact strictly for those who are interested in becoming delegates. If they don’t want to represent honest democracy and go by the results of a primary, then maybe a new party name is in order. You would not believe the things that happened at my precinct during the caucus!!
great story, Ani. And great response to UUU as well. I always love reading your articles!
UUU frothing at the mouth. hahahahaha
Wingnuts like you can’t even see the truth. In denial, I guess.
is that the best you can come up with as a response?? You’re pathetic. Get off the Kool Aid before you do permanent brain damange freak.
comment was not for you benny, for UUU
yeah, i believe anything coming out of the washington post, as much as i believe what i read in the nyt.
rasmussen has different numbers, with the ’strongly agree’ being just 2 percentage points ahead of ’strongly disagree.’ but not to worry…these numbers are sure to change as americans get a look at what’s in store for them as cap and trade, healthcare, and social security comes under the pelosi-dean-obama troika.
oh, and let’s not forget the further bailouts down the road. there’ll be 10 times the number of people protesting at the next demonstrations.
LMAO….how much Kool Aid have you had? Get some help before you do permanent brain damage.
Talk about hate, get the fuck out? I’ll tell ya what, since 98% of us on this website are Americans who love our country and wants what is best for it, and know trillions can’t be spent and then tax the shit out of those who work, why don’t YOU GET THE FUCK OFF OF THIS SITE, EH??
Mr. UUU, I believe in the Constitution, not some public servant who has already broken his oath to protect and defend it for 4 years. And if you believe in some mystery man with many alias and citizenship in many countries, then you are not a believer in our country, our ideology or our Constitution.
As a citizen of the United States, your loyalty is to that Constitution rather than loyalty to Soertoro/Obama because if you prefer a monarch you are an Obama Tory. No political party has Constitutional standing to nominate a candidate for president so it doesn’t matter which political party you are a member of; if you put that party before your Constitution you are not loyal to your country.
And if the public servant you have chosen to support genuflects before foreign potentates and that is fine with you, then you are decidedly not on the side of the United States of America.
It’s all about UUU, isn’t it?
You truly are a laughable individual who knows little more than what your handlers feed you. I’m at a loss to understand why you feel the need to come to this site and spout your hate, but I can confidently state that there are people here who’ve been Democrats longer than you’ve been drawing breath. For you to insult them by accusing them of not being “real Democrats” only proves you don’t even know the party to which you claim membership. I suggest you do some remedial study on what democracy means and then get back to us.
Ani, this is a really impressive letter – and you had really good examples to back up your statements. Excellent job.
I used to look forward to every Friday to watch his show. I tolerated his obvious objectification of women, but I stopped watching when he started trashing Hillary. I can’t stand even seeing his commercials on HBO now.
An excellent and heartening letter, although Mr. Maher will, no doubt, never read or reply to it.
Ani, as usually, you are the bomb. I love your letter. Bill Maher is a big fraud like Obama.
Thank you for writing this open letter. Everytime I see Bill Mahr, I flip the channel immediately!! He sickens me, and I do feel he is doing damage to this country with his rhetoric.
I voted Democrat for 27 years, but after what they pulled with HRC in 2008, I was done!! I am now an Independent, and I will NEVER go back to the Democratic party.
As a Matter of fact, I do not even recognize it these days. It makes me VERY SAD. However, I do believe God is watching, and I do think that justice will prevail.
I was a registered democrat from 1962 until May 31, 2008. Will never again be a member of a political party but will support individual candidates I deem worthy of my vote.
Like I read somewhere else, I never thought I would see a president more clueless than GW; how wrong I was and to imagine that the one even more clueless came immediately after GW. I was sure GW would go down in history as our worst president ever, but now I think we see the one who will be listed below him.
Let’s not forget that Maher was origninally for Edwards. That worked out so well didn’t it? Elizabeth so deserved better than him. As for Maher, I was a devoted fan until he got ugly and mean. Don’t know if he’s been doing too many drugs and fried his brain, but he has nothing to contribute anymore. Who cares what he thinks and says? He is irrelevant! P.S. Great article!!!!
Dutch, I so agree with you. I too was a devoted fan during the Bush era, but I agree that it is a possbility that drugs have fried his brain. He no longer speaks reality and addressing the real state of events that the average American is facing. I guess if you are not one of the elites (wealthy or not)you are not relevent and have no credibility. God helps us all
Dutch, I so agree with you. I too was a devoted fan of Bill during the Bush era, but I agree that it is a possibility that drugs have fried his brain. He no longer speaks reality and addressing the real state of events that the average American is facing. I guess if you are not one of the elites (wealthy or not)you are not relevent and have no credibility. God helps us all
Fabulous post Ani! Thank you.
Me too, Ani…me too.
I stop watching him, we all should do.
Ani, great post and spot on. Bill Maher is pathetic and shamefully intellectally dishonest. Since when actors and pop culture entertainers like Garofalo or Maher really know sh*#; let alone enough to be writing op ed pieces on national papers? Could politics and its
pundits become any more superficial and dishonest?
Nice… terrific Ani, are you sending it to the editors of LA Times?
Yes, and like anything else I have sent to them or the NYT, WaPo, etc., it is dubious they will print it. As I said above in re Marshall McCluhan’s “the medium is the message” — by the simple act of the LATimes choosing to print an editorial like Maher’s over any of the myriad ones that get submitted, they are showing which way they lean — and by their refusal to print a credible rebuttal, they do more of the same.
I have certainly sent short and sweet rebuttal letters to the public editor of the NYT in the past, but when you read what actually makes it in there, 99 times out of 100, it’s more soft pedaling pabulum.
I find it so unfortunate because whichever side happens to look bad in re a certain incident, stating the truth of it would be putting the American people first. The media at large evidences consistently they don’t really care about that.
Hey, thanks for asking.
Poor Bill. He’s done quit Entertainin’ and Gone to Meddlin’.
I remember when he was funny. I even paid to see him once.
Never again.
Ani,
Thank you! Well said! Bravo! Thank you!
Excellent writing, Ani. Fantastic content. Thanks
I used to watch Bill until he started bashing women.
O Obama
B BIG
A American
M Mistake
A Again
I stopped watching Maher at the start of the last campaign; I’ve never seen a bigger misogynist. He’s mean, spiteful and not funny.
Well said Ani!
I hear all these Obamaphiles and have to wonder…WHAT the F are they looking at?!? Has he honestly done one single thing he promised he would before the election? I remember being promised health care would be made affordable for all..well I still don’t have it, and can’t afford it. He promised to help out the poor with another stimulus package as soon as he got into office…Seems to me I remember that being taken from the poor and handed out to the richest and most corrupt scumbags in the country! You have to wonder how some of those Obama supporters who were convinced he was going to pay all their bills, are now feeling as they see him adding on to their bills to give hand outs to millionaires.
Absolutely spot on and very well stated.
It is amazing that the Bill Maher’s of this world appeal so readily to the people like UUU who aren’t capable of writing a discerning response or even a civil one.
Always speak to the lowest common denominator and you will honor P.T. Barnum’s belief.
Maher has long traded in wind whiffing. It’s why his opinions and reality change so often. His problem is that his nose is a little too low to the ground and most of what he gets is his own gas.
But not to worry. His opinion about this administration will change just as soon as it’s necessary for his ratings.
Well put yes. If this guy was ever funny, he is quickly losing it. He can make all the fun he wants out of Americans who feel that their government no longer represents them. To me, the movie in which be berates religion in general makes just about anything he might say irrelevant. He is reaching out for attention. Next thing we know he is going to have a Superbowl style wardrobe malfunction, or shave his head, or whatever it takes to keep focus on himself. He is just a cynical pathetic entertainer near the end of his time and lacking the self respect to fade away with some dignity.
All these guys seem to have a common link; that is, a general fear of women, an insecurity in themselves that is represented by a facade of fals ego pretending to actually KNOW something!
Great post, Ani. I’m part of the contingent who USED to watch Maher until he became insufferable during the campaign.
The so-called Left is as intolerant as the right. Hard to believe after 8 yrs of Bush we get this guy and journalists are just AWOL amid all the Obama-worship.
Great letter!!
He is the classic douchebag.
I used to watch Maher until I realized that he is not really smart or “open-minded.” He is a really messed up person who is on the Board for PETA, but who hates women–unless they are on their knees in front of him. He also was one of the first ones to put out the notion that anyone who opposed BO was a racist. (He accused people of New Hampshire of being racists when they voted for HRC over BO in the primaries.) Over the years I have come to realize that he and those like him who call themselves liberal Democrats are every bit as off their rockers as those on the far Right. They actually have a lot more in common than they don’t….I, too, stopped watching him a long time ago.
Ani, you are amazing.
Always great to read you and know the truth is still available for those who are interested.
I sure hope Maher reads your post.
Maher is proof that the left is worse than the right. I am ashamed of having been a democrat. I am more than a woman without a party,I am a woman without hope.
IMO, Maher a professional Left in service to the Upper Crust, which has no Left or Right. What he actually thinks of things is any one’s guess.
WoooHOOO!!!
That statement and everything else in here is spot on from me too!
Me thinks Mr. Hypocrite got some heat, along with others for freaking out over Barry’s backtracking and STATING so. You know, the continuing and expanding Bush policies that he campaigned beiig aganst.
But, Bill really took issue with Weary Barry’s laughing about legalizing Marijuana, his passion and beginning to see he can’t think straight without it.
Then he says “he really lost me on this” And, “why did he have to mock”.
so, Bill is just losing it. He made a bed with extremists on the left (him being a supposed independent) while pissing off hard core Dems and demonizing the folks on the right. AND then he pissed off those extremists on the left.
Poor Bill, it’s hard work when you are so judgmental and swear to be the voice of the people? lol sorry, that was hard saying with a straight face.
And, when his frequent guest rapper Def was saying to him, “he has to do that”, Bill Maher replied “see this is what I’m talking about, you’re LOYAL TO THE PERSON NOT THE PRINCIPLE”.
And now he “mocks” , “marginilizes” and “is loyal to the person, not the principle” to others who voiced their right to protest against their government.
NICE BILL, WAY TO GO. ARE YOU EMBARRASSED YET?
And now Maher is showing that he is loyal to neither the person or the principle. Ratings, just ratings. I fear this is a man desperate to keep himself relevant.
Thanks so much for the other examples. Maher flip flops as much as some others I could name.
Definitely….and apparently even FASTER
If memory serves, the very reason why I tuned him out during the primaries was his disgusting attacks against Sarah Palin in “comically” suggesting that perhaps Todd Palin was the father of Bristol’s unborn child. That went so far over the line it was breathtaking. Yet the audience laughed and applauded while I reached for the “off button” on my remote and never went back.
Disagree with her politics, hell disagree with her on everything, but cheap shots like these are perverted. In his world he calls himself a “liberatarian”. In mine he is known as a “pig”.
You mean Mr. Sexist? Disparaging to women, still not married, loves his drugs and strippers?
The same Bill who disparaged Hillary but who could not issue enough praise for Ann Coulter even after her hateful attacks against the 9/11 widows. I should have probably parted ways with him then but his attacks against Bush and the administration were such a sigh of relief that I stayed with him.
I was a Hillary supporter but his verbal assaults on Palin made it easier to ignore him. A little man in a shiny suit, much in need of a daily shampoo, who treats women shamefully. Just like Olbermann, these two men have some very serious issues with females and I don’t need to view their damaged psyches if I choose not to.
Whoever invented the remote control has a special place in my heart.
Bill Maher is no Libertarian if he supports Obama. No self-respecting Libertarian would agree with Obamas foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, or his domestic economic policy.
If Maher thinks he’s a Libertarian, he’s either a liar or a moron.
I think he’s both.
Thanks Ani, great letter. Sadly, Maher will get applause from the usual well-propagandized tools who get their “news” from Jon Stewart and their high from drinking the Obama “I have a gift” kool-aid.
I too quit watching Maher a year or two ago. His schtick just wasn’t new or funny anymore. Contempt for ordinary Americans just isn’t “must see tv.”
Bill Maher? Bill has been irrevelant for quite a while now and knows it.
This is OT. But this morning, thousands of people evacuated from their buildings in lower Manhattan and Jersey city because of some Air Force One photo op. They don’t even have the decency to notify the local authorities. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates bridges, tunnels and airports in the area, said they had no knowledge of the low-flying plane.
They did notify local authorities. The New York Police Department and the New Jersey State Police have confirmed they received advanced notice. The Mayor’s office was fully aware of the fly-over. 911 and 311 operations centers all had advance notice. Maybe it should have occurred to local authorities to pass the information on to the public? It’s reasonable to assume that a passenger jet making low passes over New York City with a fighter escort might punch a few buttons.
So why do it then? Or can we not even question why anymore?
Asking Zippy anything is like asking a Kiosk. He is not programmed to respond but merely to download his tripe.
Zealots are never funny. Bill Maher crossed that line a long time ago. He’s a bore now.
Larry you make excellent points.
However, the tea party really lost a bit of credibility by protesting taxes on tax day (making this the headline) when tax cuts represent 42% of the stimulus and the taxes being complained about are in the future (expiration of Bush cuts for 6% and probably less than 1% of actual protestors) or capntrade which no one knows if it will pass (already removed from budget) or what form it will take. This when the real damage Obama is doing is not nearly in the area of taxes but in unregulated bailouts and spend first resort to problem solving.
The reason why of course is clear to me: Republicans’s cant help yelling taxes no matter what the problem is. And they may have reduced the impact of what would have been a significant first public protest of Bush-Obama, Paulson-Geithner bailouts.
Also, this does seem contradictory:
I have never been a member of the GOP and probably never will be.
…
Well, no dear, that’s really not the sum total of what Republicans are worried about
Why bother speaking for republicans then. Leaving that part out would not affect your theme in anyway and would have made the article tough to second guess by anyone from any side of the aisle and easier to mail to those blinded to faulty portions of the administration’s policies. Check your leanings again though. There are serious and good republicans out there.
It is also about the money being wasted on baling out one irresponsible corporation after another and not merely the issue of taxes.
I guess you missed that part where I said that it was not only Republicans protesting and that they were not just protesting taxes — this is experiential from actually talking to, and listening to, various members of various parties who were out there. There is a comprehensive list of greivances above if you would like to re-read it.
And yes, it is possible to find someone’s vitriol against a group offensive even though one is not a member of the group being criticized.
Nice try, though.
Just for UUU,Unstable,Unsuitable,Usurper, I suppose this is the meaning of UUU. BTW, Bill Maher is a vulgar O…..st.
bill maher is just one more extremely funny looking old guy, who sadly has not been an intelligent humorist for a great long time now. he’s not unlike the insecure little boy who just can’t ever get enough attention. so he acts out in the hope that he can fool someone somewhere into giving him the candy.
poor old bill maher. on his way out to pasture soon.
Thank you, Thank you so much Ani for this.
I just have a few points I would like to point out which have really nothing to do with Maher’s article, and also you have done such an excellent job on pointing out everything in that article.
The first point is this to quote, you stated you used to watch his show until the Hillary bashing. Well this is the problem, Bill Maher as far as I am concerned was showing his misogyny since early 2003, remember his take on feminism in his stand up victory begins at home. The question is why didn’t we women just stop watching him then and there, why did it took the blatant and extremely vile misogyny to begin during the elections for us to finally say enough. Had Bill said what he said about feminism about the civil rights movement or Jewish groups, we all know he would be shunned and won’t even have this job at HBO. In fact I stopped watching after his vile breastfeeding rant, hi refusal to apologise, Garafolo (or house bitch as I like to call her) giving him a free pass and almost everyone thinking what he said was no big deal. I am not surprised he justified calling Hillary a cunt. Slurs against women including the word Bitch is not seen as terrible as calling AAs the N word or calling Jews Hymme.
So isn’t sad the very first time he uttered something misogynistic he was not held accountable for it, not even after his vile breastfeeding rant.
So we should have boycotted this moron, right form the very first time he uttered something misogynist, we should have shunned him the way Mel Gibson is being shunned and when I say we I mean both men and women.
If Bill Maher was making anti-Semitic jokes or racist jokes the way he makes misogynistic jokes, he would be seen as another crazy just like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. If he was making anti-Semitic or racist jokes, we would ask why does he do that, why does someone who is politically astute (I no longer think of him this way), who is so progressive (no longer think of him this way as well) making racist or anti-Semitic jokes. Would he even have a career if he were making racist or anti-Semitic jokes?
If he was making racist and anti-Semitic jokes, do you think people like Paul Krugman, Helen Thomas or Christianne Amanpour would want to come on his show, but they all they did. I know this does not mean they support his misogyny, but if misogyny was seen as terrible as racism or anti-Semitism, would all these brilliant people come on his show. NOPE.
This was the disappointment I felt. You see I am the type of person someone would describe as a staunch democrat, not anymore. Bill Maher’s jokes on republicans were always something to look forward to, everything he said about the Bush administration was funny, but I could tell from the way he talks about women, the hatred he feels for women. Whenever I bring that up, people would just accuse me of being PC or tell me he is an equal opportunity offender (YEAH RIGHT!), if he was he would be fired right now.
In fact imagine the impact it would make, if everyone who read NQ and feminist blogs cancelled their subscription to HBO to protest misogyny. Until we react the way Jews, AAs and other minorities react at bigotry, Bill Maher, Chris Matthews and the other misogynist will keep getting away with it.
Which brings me to the next point Ani, you see when you mention that the only reason you stopped watching Bill Maher was because of Hillary bashing, the obamabots would say you are just a sore loser, even though I know you are also referring to the misogyny. You see it wasn’t just the double standard that Hillary and women politicians face, how her Bosnia misspoke was worse than Obama’s Nafta flip flop, his community organiser experience means he is ready for the job of POTUS, her similar experience as the First Lady, her work before that and after that a Senator still did not make her more experienced than him for the job of POTUS. This is in itself is already the discrimination that women face but on top of that there is the bigotry that women face, the bigotry that is never acknowledged, Misogyny. We are told misogyny is not as bad as racism or anti-Semitism because women have never suffered, we were never hanged from trees or lynched. The fact that women are still being raped does not count as violence.
So Ani, your rant is not wasted on him, I urge NQ readers to boycott HBO, MSNBC and even Fox news. I know lately there has been talk here on NQ about how Fox News is the fair and balanced news but I cannot forget Bill Oreily’s misogynistic rant about Helen Thomas which I noticed NQ did not focus on the way you focused on Chris Matthews referring to Palin as a mail order bride. I am not saying MSNBC or CNN are better, but I am not ready to forgive the misogyny from Fox News either (remember Trucker Carlson laughing at the Hillary Nutcracker). I come to NQ and Hillaryis44 for the real news now, so I am hoping NQ would criticise the republicans when they deserve it the way you would criticise the dems and of course they most definitely deserve it.
Thanks again Ani, for all your remarkable articles, always a pleasure reading articles from intelligent women. Sorry for my long rant.
Thank you, Thank you so much Ani for this.
I just have a few points I would like to point out which have really nothing to do with Maher’s article, and also you have done such an excellent job on pointing out everything in that article. (breaking up into two post)
The first point is this to quote, you stated you used to watch his show until the Hillary bashing. Well this is the problem, Bill Maher as far as I am concerned was showing his misogyny since early 2003, remember his take on feminism in his stand up victory begins at home. The question is why didn’t we women just stop watching him then and there, why did it took the blatant and extremely vile misogyny to begin during the elections for us to finally say enough. Had Bill said what he said about feminism about the civil rights movement or Jewish groups, we all know he would be shunned and won’t even have this job at HBO. In fact I stopped watching after his vile breastfeeding rant, hi refusal to apologise, Garafolo (or house bitch as I like to call her) giving him a free pass and almost everyone thinking what he said was no big deal. I am not surprised he justified calling Hillary a cunt. Slurs against women including the word Bitch is not seen as terrible as calling AAs the N word or calling Jews Hymme.
So isn’t sad the very first time he uttered something misogynistic he was not held accountable for it, not even after his vile breastfeeding rant.
So we should have boycotted this moron, right form the very first time he uttered something misogynist, we should have shunned him the way Mel Gibson is being shunned and when I say we I mean both men and women.
Sabina,
Thank you so much for your contribution.
I was not watching Bill Maher back when the incident you cite happened and so I had never heard of it. Had I known, I would have tuned him out a long time ago. I started watching in summer/fall of 2004. While I always found his sexist attitude inexcusable and tiresome, he was no different than so many other comics, so I put up with his other self serving flirty and disparaging remarks so I could listen to the interesting panel that he had on.
To be honest, looking back, I wish I had never given him the time of day. We have not watched his show for over a year now and feel well rid of it. I became so much more attuned to the sexism and insults out there as a result of the offensive election coverage. I can only speak for myself, but it just illustrates how in the past when I heard a sexist comic’s diatribe, I wouldn’t laugh, and would dismiss disparaging comments against women but still watch to some degree — instead of boycotting altogether. Now I just turn my back on these fools. Perhaps when their audience goes down enough, they will think better of it. I’m not holding my breath.
continued from above.
If Bill Maher was making anti-Semitic jokes or racist jokes the way he makes misogynistic jokes, he would be seen as another crazy just like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. If he was making anti-Semitic or racist jokes, we would ask why does he do that, why does someone who is politically astute (I no longer think of him this way), who is so progressive (no longer think of him this way as well) making racist or anti-Semitic jokes. Would he even have a career if he were making racist or anti-Semitic jokes?
If he was making racist and anti-Semitic jokes, do you think people like Paul Krugman, Helen Thomas or Christianne Amanpour would want to come on his show, but they all they did. I know this does not mean they support his misogyny, but if misogyny was seen as terrible as racism or anti-Semitism, would all these brilliant people come on his show. NOPE.
If Bill Maher was making anti-Semitic jokes or racist jokes the way he makes misogynistic jokes, he would be seen as another crazy just like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. If he was making anti-Semitic or racist jokes, we would ask why does he do that, why does someone who is politically astute (I no longer think of him this way), who is so progressive (no longer think of him this way as well) making racist or anti-Semitic jokes. Would he even have a career if he were making racist or anti-Semitic jokes?
If he was making racist and anti-Semitic jokes, do you think people like Paul Krugman, Helen Thomas or Christianne Amanpour would want to come on his show, but they all they did. I know this does not mean they support his misogyny, but if misogyny was seen as terrible as racism or anti-Semitism, would all these brilliant people come on his show. NOPE.