Bill Maher vs. Rush Limbaugh

[Gem]

I love Stewart...but I love him because he is constantly playing with the very notion that you guys seem to be saying he ISN'T playing with.

I find the notion that he is "just a comedian" very naive after an election where some statistics showed that the majority of people in my age group were getting their political information from his show.

Is it his fault that we are a nation of short-attention spanned children that can't handle a serious issue unless its spoon-fed to us in cute, amusing bits? No, of course not. He does what he does and he does it damn well.

However, when it suits him...he turns serious...and he demands to be taken seriously. His commentary (on his show and elsewhere) IS making a point. He WANTS to change the way political discourse occurs in this society and he is using his show as a platform by which to have a safe "base" from which to change that discourse.

Am I taking it too seriously? Perhaps. But you might want to question why Stewart is so popular...and why he continues to show up at important political events...saying serious things and speaking seriously with serious people...if he is simply a comedian concerned about having a popular show.

Does this mean we can't like him and laugh at his jokes? Nope. It simply means, in my opinion, that we should watch him with open eyes...being aware not only of the amusing skits and one-liners but the messages he is sending in his "don't take me seriously...unless you want to take me seriously...." way.

 

[insein]

Bill Maher delivers a better, classier product than Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh is a slob and is addicted to pills. Maher is smart and funny. There is no comparison.

Jon Stewart is a comedy genius and he has a personality that is made up of more than just piss and vinegar unlike O'Reilly. Also, O'Reilly is supposed to be akin to real news and is on a real news network and presents his show as the "no spin zone" and that's total garbage because everything he says is his opinion. Stewart has a "fake" news show on comedy central. Also, Stewart doesn't sexually harass women.

Plus O'Reilly is a big dickhead who tells people to "shutup." Who wants to listen to that crap?

Carlin's standup can't be beat.

Oh well that clears it up for me.

Actually hagbard celine dion did sum up the hypocracy the left has towards anything not left of Joe Stalin.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Oh well that clears it up for me.

Actually hagbard celine dion did sum up the hypocracy the left has towards anything not left of Joe Stalin.

OMG, that made me spit out my lemonade on the keyboard.

 

[insein]

OMG, that made me spit out my lemonade on the keyboard.

Everytime i see his name its what i think for some reason. So that just makes me that much angrier at what he types with that damn titanic song in my head.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

Congratulations on being low enough to skip debate altogether so that you could make fun of my name. Real cool.

 

[insein]

Congratulations on being low enough to skip debate altogether so that you could make fun of my name. Real cool.

I learn from the best. Notice that nice dodge you just pulled here and in every other thread? And complaining about people dodging the issue is dodging the issue when you havent shown anything thats worthwhile to argue about, celine.

 

[Avatar4321]

You're a perfect example of liberal non-thinking. You call Rush an addicted but Carlin has some kind of excuse?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6759327/

Let's not forget that libs elected Clinton twice despite his confession to smoking pot.

 

[no1tovote4]

Bill Maher is such a lying ass. I get sick and tired of people on the left saying they're Libertarian so that people will believe that they are "unbiased" and "objective" and the idiots that fall for such crap have got to be the same people that still believe that pro "wrestling" is real.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

I learn from the best. Notice that nice dodge you just pulled here and in every other thread? And complaining about people dodging the issue is dodging the issue when you havent shown anything thats worthwhile to argue about, celine.

You call THIS debate?:

Everytime i see his name its what i think for some reason. So that just makes me that much angrier at what he types with that damn titanic song in my head.

Let's not forget that libs elected Clinton twice despite his confession to smoking pot.

What's there to remember? Most Americans try pot when they're young. Let's not forget Bush is a former alcoholic who crashed his car into a lightpole and had his driving priveledges revoked in Maine. Nobody's a saint. Except maybe you I guess. You'll have to take it easy on us mortals.

 

[Bonnie]

Maher is an admitted and very proud frequent pot smoker. So they are both drug addicts. As far as Limbaugh being a slob....well, many would describe a bachelor who mistreats women and calls them dogs and laughs as others call them douch-bags a slob as well...so you really have no case there.

You may not like Limbaugh, I know I don't. That isn't the point. You obviously like Maher...I frequently find him very funny and have his show on HBO Tivo'd at home. That isn't the point.

O'Reilly never claims to deliver the real news. However Stewart will go on real news programs and demand to be taken seriously as a newsman...except when he doesn't like the questions asked...then he only wants to be a comedian. While you may not like O'Reilly millions do...just as many if not more than like the Daily show...so you really have no case there.

You have illustrated my point perfectly, rather than address the question in any real matter you jumped right in to discuss why you liked the liberals and disliked the conservatives, adding nothing of value to the conversation...thank you.

Im with you on all your points, I will go one further to say that Rush uses people's own words to prove his points as does O'Reilly, they take actual undoctored quotes from papers or from the pundits actually speaking in public, contrast what Stewart, Carlin, and Maher take things out of context as well as photos superimposed to make their points. Rush is classier than those three will ever be, and more successful. I laugh now when I revisit that famous Stewart show a few days after 9/11 when he was on the air crying like a baby at the horror, and now he has the balls to do his nightly charade against those that have protected his liberal ass from further attack. What constructive thing does he do???

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Im with you on all your points, I will go one further to say that Rush uses people's own words to prove his points as does O'Reilly, they take actual undoctored quotes from papers or from the pundits actually speaking in public, contrast what Stewart, Carlin, and Maher take things out of context as well as photos superimposed to make their points. Rush is classier than those three will ever be, and more successful. I laugh now when I revisit that famous Stewart show a few days after 9/11 when he was on the air crying like a baby at the horror, and now he has the balls to do his nightly charade against those that have protected his liberal ass from further attack. What constructive thing does he do???

He makes me laugh... which I find to be constructive...

 

[Bonnie]

He makes me laugh... which I find to be constructive...

Which is a good thing, however there are many that watch him that are influenced by his "comedy" that is based on non fact but because it is couched in humor see it as fact. Many comedians do this including Carlin, and many are very liberal using the podium to influence politics rather than simply entertain. I used to love George Carlin, "Toledo Windowbox" because he was funny, now he's just an angry old liberal, who uses incorrect stereotypes to make his babblings seem plausable.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Which is a good thing, however there are many that watch him that are influenced by his "comedy" that is based on non fact but because it is couched in humor see it as fact. Many comedians do this including Carlin, and many are very liberal using the podium to influence politics rather than simply entertain. I used to love George Carlin, "Toledo Windowbox" because he was funny, now he's just an angry old liberal, who uses incorrect stereotypes to make his babblings seem plausable.

He's not a liberal, he's a socialist. Apologies to those who view both as one and the same.

So why can't the focus be on educating people on how to educate themselves regarding political issues instead of trying to discredit people. Is it fair that Rush and Bill take all the heat that they do? Why would you then want to resort to doing the same thing? I mean, I suppose if you think Rush is a stand up guy and Jon Stewart is a commie, fine, but if you say they are both being taken the wrong way by people, wouldn't our time be better spent explaining to people that very fact?

 

[GotZoom]

How about getting to a point where the citizens of the United States use their brain power to come up with their political views and who they want to vote for in an election?

Too many people listen to ENTERTAINERS - that is what they are - ENTERTAINERS - they aren't policiticians, they aren't people who anybody who gives a damn about this country should listen to for their own political beliefs.

Too many times, Jon Stewart, Moby, Jennifer Anniston, George Carlin, etc...the list goes on and on, give their policitcal views and many of the idiots in this country use this a politlcal gospel.

Yes, I would say the same thing about Rush and O'Reilly. The only thing about their "entertainment" shows, is that they talk about political issues - regardless of the side they take. Putting Maher, Stewart and Carlin in the same "entertainment category" as Rush and O'Reilly is incorrect.

And let's not forget Mahers anti-American statement that got his show pulled off the air.

They are comedians who have become all wrapped up in their own ego and think that someone cares about who they like for president.

And, unfortunately, many people in American listen to them instead of reading and forming their own opinions.

 

[Bonnie]

Laura Bush and Hitler's Dog
Steve Malzberg
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005

Three Fridays ago I did what I had considered to be my professional responsibility. I watched and rolled tape on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." I believe that someone in my capacity as conservative talk show host, pundit and talking head should keep an eye on folks who are generally obnoxious yet tame in their remarks when confined to over-the-air TV appearances, to document how they oftentimes cannot resist the urge to reveal their true selves while experiencing the freedoms presented by cable TV.



After all, how many people with my job description could be watching this pathetic hate-fest on HBO in the middle of the night, I wondered.

This past Friday I did the same thing for the third consecutive week. But by now I have come to view this as less of a responsibility and more of a choice as to how I wish to spend my leisure time.


You see, during the first week the thought occurred to me that I might have to make use of the facilities in a way that I haven't had to do since high school. But in the ensuing weeks that thought has not entered my mind. Nor have I had to take any medication for a reflexive rise in blood pressure.



For I have now come to view the hateful, obscene rantings and ravings of Maher and his leftist guests as words of desperation from those who are destroying themselves and their political goals through their own anger and hatred, and I'm actually finding it fascinating.

On Friday's show, Bill Maher compared Laura Bush to Hitler's dog and the president to Hitler. Of course, this occurred only after Maher showed his viewers phony pictures which he said indicate that President Bush is drinking again.



One picture showed Mr. Bush's face with the words "pussy" and "pussy lightweight" written over it with a marker. A second picture showed model Kate Moss, who was recently snapped while snorting cocaine, doing just that off of what appears to be the naked buttocks of George Bush.

Yet another "photo" designed to show that the president may be drinking again showed first lady Laura Bush with a black eye and a bandage above her eyebrow. (A week earlier on the same show, the lovely and talented Joy Behar of "The View" said that George Bush is like a guy who beats the sh** out of his wife and then shows up with a flower to say he's sorry.)



The final photo had the president's face superimposed onto the well-known mug shot of actor Nick Nolte.

After the photo display, the host was taken to task by guest Christopher Hitchens, who decided he was going to make an attempt to defend the president: "It must be to his credit he got Laura Bush to marry him. She's an absolutely extraordinary woman."


But Hitchens was interrupted by Maher who blurted out: "Oh, come on. That's like Hitler's dog loved him. That is the silliest reason. ..."

At that point Hitchens jumped in: "I think tomorrow you might be sorry you said that. Laura Bush is very gentle and talented." (Folks, don't count on the mainstream media telling anyone about this. Maher will have no reason to be sorry he said it.)

Maher then said, "That's not what I'm saying, of course she is, but the idea that we somehow humanize any person because somebody else loves them is ridiculous."

Hitchens then said of Laura: "She got him to give up the booze, and he owes her for that. I think it's nasty to be mean to Laura Bush."



Of course Maher denied that he was. Instead he claimed that he was directing his meanness in the direction of the president. But Hitchens wasn't amused: "You're being ungallant about Laura Bush, you've compared her to Hitler's dog. I'm not going to sit here and listen to that."

Then Hitchens added this closing shot on the issue: "Hitler was everything you want. Hitler was a teetotaler, a vegetarian and a non-smoker." Go get him, Chris!

What I have found is that Maher's show has become THE place to show just how far off the left end you have fallen. Three Fridays ago, George Carlin, who used to be a comic, was one of the guests. This was his gratuitous shot at our president:

"Governor Bush, and I call him that because it's really the last thing he was elected to ... when he reaches his Christian heaven I think he will have a lot to answer for." As for the president's mother, Carlin told Maher, "The silver douche bag I call her."


Needless to say, that was enough to elicit a hearty roar from the audience, a broad grin and chuckle from fellow guest Cynthia Tucker, columnist from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and a good laugh from the host himself.

In bringing up the subject of Barbara Bush and some controversial comments she made about the Katrina refugees who had made their way to Texas, Maher, referring to the president, announced, "The moron doesn't fall too far from the tree."

Where does it end? It doesn't, not on this show. So why not bring on author Kurt Vonnegut to put in his two loony cents? Sure, let's.



Maher starts off the Bush-bashing with "As a writer, when you see President Bush, is there something tragic there, is that a story that appeals to a writer because here's a guy like most tragic figures who's trying very hard to avoid the fate of his father and then he's undone by a war in Iraq and a hurricane?"

"It's a tragedy for me that he's the president of my country," Vonnegut said. "When I show my passport in Spain or Italy or Germany or France or even communist China, what it would say about me is that I'm not only from the richest country in the world but the dumbest country in the world.


"Our president is a tragic figure, perhaps, but he doesn't know diddlysquat about economics, history or science, even how to speak well."

And Kurt did his best to make Al Gore proud. "We are killing the planet as a life support system. We may have gone so far already that there's no recovery from it. The game may be over. ... I think the earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us. And it's high time they did. We are a disease on the face of this planet ... it's time we got out of here. We are a disease on the planet, and I think we ought to become syphilis with a conscience and stop reproducing."

Do I need to go any further here? I think not. Have I made the point that the left is crumbling right before our eyes? I think so. Oh, one bit of good news to leave you with. Maher told Vonnegut that he will do his part and not reproduce.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/26/140138.shtml


Funny, warranted or thought provoking???? Really??

 

[theim]

I thought Kurt Vonnegut was dead. Honestly.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

After all, how many people with my job description could be watching this pathetic hate-fest on HBO in the middle of the night, I wondered.

By making a fuss out of this, you are drawing more attention to him then he ever would have had blabbing like an idiot late nights on HBO in relative solitude.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

And let's also not forget that Bill O'Reilly himself, when he had Maher on his show, said "You know, you've had some celebrities on your HBO show, 'Real Time,' which begins again on Friday, talking about policy and war on terror and stuff like that. I get the feeling they don't know very much, but you do."

 

[The ClayTaurus]

I thought Kurt Vonnegut was dead. Honestly.

He practically is, it won't be long.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

You conservative posters are all just belittling liberal spokesmen and comedians because you don't agree with their messages, while you prop up the conservative ones because you do believe in their messages.

You're doing the same thing you're accusing us of doing! If you're going to pass judgment on us, why not pay attention to your own behavior every once in a while?

To quote myself:

All these guys are either pundits or comedians. We're not voting on any of them, but we're all going to gravitate towards what most appeals to us. Like I said before, this is an opinion thread, so there is no right or wrong answer.