If the left stops watching Maher, who will his audience be?

[saracat]

He still is too left to be a Repig, as well as anti-religion. I don't think the repigs will watch, even with his invitation to conservatives. Isn't he killing off his audience with his new found Bush worship?

[benburch]

1. Yes, he is committing professional suicide. Fuck him. nt

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I think so too

Until I hear him stop praising Bush's little "democracy" war I won't watch him. Sorry Maher. Lost a viewer and I'm sure lots of us here. Maybe we can send him a message or something by not watching?

[benburch]

8. Hell, I'll not watch him again even if he does change his tune.

Never support a Quisling.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. Same here! I don't support turncoats!

Bill Mahar is a parasite on society!

[Just Me]

29. Good grief!!! You consider him a "parasite" compared to Bush?!?!?

You compare him to the parasitic neocons and fascists that are IN CHARGE?

All I can say is WOW!!!!

,...and, "watch out" for who is really driving your machine,...

geez

[PROGRESSIVE1]

30. Hey....Bill Maher is supporting the Neo-Con agenda now.

A Neo-Con supporter is just as bad as a Neo-Con!

[Just Me]

33. BAH!!! Where do you derive such an asinine accusation from?

I mean,...damn, man,...how could you possibly "create" the accusation that Bill Maher supports the neocon agenda?

Where the hell is that coming from?

geez :silly:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

35. geez, he's overlooking the lies that led us to war and blindly...

buying this "democracy is working" mythology!

:eyes:

[UdoKier]

79. Maher is not a turncoat. He's not even a democrat.

Apparently some people got the idea that he was, but he has no allegiance to the democrats to break.


Lieberman and Miller are turncoats. Maher is just a typical libertarian, doing what libertarians do - annoying everybody.

[Joey Liberal]

19. I agree.

Fuck him and the conservative audience he wants.

[BikeWriter]

24. dennis miller did much the same thing.

[Career Prole]

38. Maher can pick up the "Miller Moderates"

if such an animal walks the earth.

[BikeWriter]

41. ROFL! He may have lost me for sure.

[autorank]

46. My sentiments. Somebody put "the arm" on him.

What a "moran." He won't survive. We're done with him and the libertarians will have no use either for his pro-war stand. Who is left?

[trillian]

65. Nahhh! He's just stupid!

And he's not alone. I even saw Jon Stewart talking about how Bush was maybe right.

As things continue to fall apart in Iraq....they will finally come to their senses. They are too smart not to.

Read Arianna take on it all.

http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=763

[quiet.american]

2. Maybe the misogynists will tune in. n/t

[DenverDem]

3. The same 50 morans that watch miller.

The willfully ignorant loser demographic.

[saracat]

5. Nah! They wouldn't get Maher. Even now,

he is too intelligent. I think this leaves zero audience. He <chuckle"blew off his base" !

[vpigrad]

6. My wife said that when he...

toned down his make-up, he was planning on selling-out. It looks like she was right.

[BlueEyedSon]

7. I thought his show was fine. Lighten up.

[saracat]

11. Are you kidding? He reversed himself on Bush. And nothing has changed!

It isn't as though we found WMD's , or that Iraq is a success! Lighten up? This is just weird. And we on the left don't have so many voices that we can afford to lose one!

[Just Me]

21. Hmmmm,...doncha' wonder,...WHAT "we" are becoming?

The venomous, decisive vitriolic spew is a bit too familiar.

I don't like it,...I don't want to become a part of it.

I am becoming more and more concerned about the "venom".

[LostInAnomie]

9. He never claimed to be a Democrat.

He's a self professed libertarian. I respect his opinions even though I do wish he would give up the talk about Bush being the savior of the Arab world.

I think I would probably quit watching his show if it was nothing more than Democratic talking points. The stuff I don't like keeps it interesting.

[benburch]

10. He's no Libertarian.

He's a whore.

[LostInAnomie]

16. Jeez, lighten up.

Read his book "When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden" and you'll see where he really stands. I didn't think we were that big of purists in here that others can't have different opinions.

[benburch]

23. On the subject of Bush, I can't lighten up.

Any more that I could have on the subject of Mussolini had I been an Italian in 1936.

[MrSlayer]

12. I don't see him worshiping Bush nor will I stop watching.

Man, just because he doesn't trash the Chimp every second and gives him a backhanded compliment or two all of a sudden he's a Bush worshiper and a Kool Aid drinker. Maher is an Independent and doesn't follow any strict ideology be it liberal or conservative. Some people are so hard to please. Real Time still has the best mix of real political talk and quite frankly the liberals on the show have not acquitted themselves very well so far this season.

[NEDem]

26. You're right

I don't get it either. 3 weeks ago his face was all over the front page of every liberal blog on the internet because of his Gannon attack. Now, just 3 weeks later people want to hang him.

So what, he complimented the shrub, big deal. The man is entitled to his own opinion. And you are entitled to disagree. Just like you are entitled to disgree with me, but a lot of people have gone over the top in the last week.

I'll gladly keep watching, because it is the ONLY political talk show I can stomach. His guests have totally sucked over the last couple weeks. But so what, IMHO its still better than any other political talk show on TV.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

31. Jon Stewart is better!

Mahar is a shill, end of story!

[FreedomAngel82]

34. But yet

he says Iraq is becoming a success. LOL. We've been there almost three years and yet still things are in total chaos. I hardly call that a success or a democracy when people have to fear for their lives and are FORCED to vote.

[JI7]

13. i never watched his show to begin with

i'm sure those who like him are right wing libertarian types like Drew Carey. they don't care for all the morals and values stuff.

but they are all about wanting war and tax cuts. like Dennis Miller.

[illflem]

14. Even at his own message board people are mostly saying

the same as here. Bill must know he's losing his supporters.
Two of the most posted on threads are entitled
'Garbage Time' with Bill Maher and
Has Bill become a repub shill?
http://boards.billmaher.com/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

20. I notice that there's a section where Maher responds to questions

I found several questions to him on why he's chosen to back Bush on his Iraq policy. I didn't see any responses from Maher to those questions.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Interesting

I wonder why he won't answer. Maybe someone promised him or paid him or something?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

37. Maybe Bill Mahar is the next Jeff Gannon?!?

[moddemny]

50. Has to be a plot right?

Can't be a genuine difference of opinion. Everybody is just so well paid and bought off.

[BikeWriter]

28. Thanks for the links. :-)

[femme.democratique]

44. I'm sure KKKarl threatened him with some dirty nasty sex/abuse secret....

...and Bill is just bending over for his new masters. I hope he enjoys Repuke spooge up his ass...notice the lawsuit that was filed against him in November, just after sElection 2004? Think the timing was odd? I don't....

[moddemny]

51. You give Karl Rove way too much credit.

.......

[Catchawave]

15. Sorry, Bill fan here, though lost HBO in a greedy Cox cable fight....

can't comment, but saw him on Broadway last year, so I can tell ya's, the negative Maher comments here are :scared: trolls ?

Please keep that in mind. Most of us know he's a Libertarian, not quite the Demo-dawg, hey? Carry on...:)

[jdots]

17. I know Maher doesn't hang with the left

which is no big deal,you never know with someone you don't know if you are being betrayed.

[Joey Liberal]

18. I'm very disappointed in Bill Maher

If Bill wants a conservative audience, he can have it. I will not watch him as he turns into another Dennis Miller. It's VERY disappointing. I've watched him faithfully, even when he was on ABC.

[moddemny]

52. ........

Maybe he believes enough in some things to not worry about whether he can survive a conservative audience. After all the good ideas win out in the end (almost on their own). Don't they?

[Just Me]

22. I think,...if we allow ourselves to become as "venomous" as the fascists

,...we become fascists.

It's absolutely absurd to suggest,...to SUGGEST that Maher has "found Bush worship" based on his last show.

I find it REPUGNANT that anyone would be so freakin' peculiar as to make that shit up,...from that last Maher show? GET OFF!!!

WTF???:grr:

WACKED OFF SCALE!!!!:silly:

On edit: get the best meds possible!!!

[NEDem]

27. I wish everyone would stop and look at themselves

You're right, its getting out of control.

[saracat]

47. Wow!, the one that seems to be overreacting here is you!

Why are you having such a reaction to people criticizing Bill Maher? Why do you care this much? Maher has changed his mind and DOES think Bush has done a good thing in the ME. Some of us find that offensive, but that is no reason to be bent out of shape!
It isn't absurd to suggest Maher now supports IWAR. I saw the last show , and I find it weird that you would accuse anyone of making the Maher support for Bush up!Someone should get meds and it isn't the former Real Time audience!

[zulchzulu]

32. It's called "marketing"

If Maher is in the headlines, or even the bloggerlines, he's golden.

I

[Generator]

39. Honestly I think the difference between Maher and Stewart

is pretty simple. Maher's not that smart. He's not that funny either-in the monologue-but he does say stuff and have people on his show that no one else does. However, he's off his rocker on this. ]

It will pass as the ME continues to be as screwed up as ever. It's really a laugh that anyone thinks it's going to be solved like THAT! I give it a hundred and forty years-then check in with Maher-oh wait we'll all be dead.

But I'd kill for the history book. Emperor Bush brought democracy to the middle east. It's a classic.

Here's a tip, BILL: something Jon Stewart figured out. CNN is not the friend to those that like truth and critical thought. Why is he spending time on CNN? Puke oh puke. And why oh why wasn't he on CNN when he was at his most vitrolic about Bush (Larry King does NOT count)mmmmm..put 2 and 2 together Bill...

And to answer your question, no the liberal and the real libertarians are his auidence but the rest wouldn't like his pro-animal rights, pro-drugs, pro-titty, anti-God, Bible is a pack of lies message would they?

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bagnana]

42. He is pissing me off

I can't stand the "the end justifies the means" b.s. Bush doesn't give a CRAP about democracy. NOT ONE TINY LITTLE CRAP. He cares about establishing a military stronghold in the middle east in order to preserve our interests in the oil reserves held there, and is trying to justify it by donning a mantle of militarily imposed democracy. It is disgusting to see Maher lap up this crap. What next?

[Geek_Girl]

43. Randi Rhodes today

said she thought Maher and Coulter were knocking boots.
:puke:

[femme.democratique]

45. I bet they are, and what a disgusting visual that is!

[slor]

56. That is nasty...

particularly if you saw that show, where they more or less stalk celebrities. maher was leaving a restaurant with the most beautiful Latino woman I have ever seen. mann coulter looks like a freeze dried flea turd compared to that woman!

[missouri dem 2]

83. who's pitching ?

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.
Harry S Truman, August 8, 1950

[Goldmund]

48. Nah,

the reich wing will embrace him with the warm embrace one only gives a repentant saved soul.

[moddemny]

49. Another thread where people come out and start vigorously....

......undermining a person who is obviously on the Democratic side,and has been for a long time. This has gone insane.

(For another thread on a similiar discussion, the topic in this one is specificly foreign policy: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3283679
I can point to many more, but I can already see the barrage of labels coming. This one isn't even that bad compared to others, like the ones knocking moveon.org, I think I have even seen Jon Stewart knocked for diverging on something somewhere.)


People here really seem to be intolerant of anyone who even diverts even a little from what it seems like the majority of the people here believe, which seems to be (without going into another lengthy drawn out explanation) for lack a better term, way, way, left of center.


Bill Maher has done a lot more for Democracy and Free Speech then many of the posters here.

He is going to bring more people to the Democratic side, the rest of you seem very intent on doing a good job of alienating and undermining the middle, and center-left.

Seems like many people here still haven't learned one of the lessons from 2000 (granted, election fraud may have been the main/major issue, the minor one with a still significant impact was all the extreme lefties who saw no difference between Gore and Bush. Thats' how far left you are)

[Bridget Burke]

62. Yes, we're alienating the middle with our "far left" ideals....

Yawn.

Personally, I've never cared much for Maher; don't have HBO. I remember a show where Gene Simmons complained that he couldn't go to Vietnam because he was stuck in college. Drat! (I was around then & know what male friends were dealing with.) But Bill, Gene & some chubby conservative suit waxed sentimental over Those Who Serve.

And he's got some major hangups about women.

[moddemny]

68. Ideals.......

Turning on people who are with you 95% of the time when they disagree with you once or twice.


Good luck finding the perfect ally.

[saracat]

66. Bring people to the Dem side by praising the war and Bush?

I don't want people who promote the Bush agenda, even on war , on my side. This war was NOT a good thing, and Bush lied to us! What part of that don't some understand?
Now we are leftist if we don't support Bush? WOW!
I guess you think we should reconsider FOX news , and watch O'Rielly as well.
And to say that many haven't ""learned the Lessons of 2000" implies that we did something wrong! Election 2000 was STOLEN! And I hate to break it to you, but it was the centrists who saw "no difference between Bush and Gore". The people I talked to every day in the supermarket line and my own family couldn't see the difference. Republicans couldn't see the difference. Most people said they were holding their noses and voting their party line. I saw the difference, but for whatever reason, most didn't. Part of the reason was no one "likes" either candidate. But to imply this was limited to the "left" is revisionist history!

[moddemny]

69. Who is praising the war??

and defending Bush?

I am trying to understand your convoluted reponse....

[saracat]

73. Bill Maher is! He isn't bringing people to the Dem side!

He thinks this is a good thing. "We are bringing Democracy to the ME." "Bush was right all along ". Bleh! I don't see how those positions help us at all! He doesn't support our positions anymore.I don't understand why you would think he is helping to bring people to the "Dems side"!

[Dookus]

53. his potential audience will still be

the 99.8% of Americans who don't consider ideological purity a requirement in their entertainers.

[moddemny]

70. Ideological purity???

be careful, you might be accused of defending Bush.

[VOX]

54. On-air, he's been soliciting right-wingers to get tickets to his show...

Maher's going to do a conservative-themed show very soon -- within the next month, I believe.

I take this as a clear sign that Maher is trying to cater to what he thinks is a broader audience.

Translation = Goodbye, Bill Maher.

[Joey Liberal]

67. Boycott Maher

Maher's going to do a conservative-themed show very soon -- within the next month.
-------------
Liberals have given him the ratings, and he wants a conservative audience! I say that if he wants conservatives so much, they can have him. He's Dennis Miller junior.

[moddemny]

71. I remember him saying

Conseratives do not want to be on his show because of the audience.

Maybe he is using the conservative audience to lure a few high profile conservatives, so he can make fun of them and shoot down their ideas?

Or is that to much of a leap or to hard to grasp?

[Skittles]

55. I never could stand that smarmy f***

and his popularity with ANYONE has always mystified me

[fujiyama]

57. Smarmy indeed

and very egotistical.

I used to watch his show when I had HBO...I found his rants on religion kind of amusing...a bit over the top at times, but amusing nevertheless.

But he's not very witty and he seems really full of himself.

[fujiyama]

58. Smarmy indeed

and very egotistical.

I used to watch his show when I had HBO...I found his rants on religion kind of amusing...a bit over the top at times, but amusing nevertheless. I see that's I'm not missing much by not watching his show.

But he's not very witty and he seems really full of himself.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[noonwitch]

60. I'll watch him tonight.

I don't expect an entertainer to agree with my politics 100%. I'll still laugh at him, even if I disagree with him about some things.

Dennis Miller, on the other hand, I have no use for. He's an entertainer disguising himself as a serious journalist.

[Clark2008]

61. Ann Coulter?

:shrug:

[grumpy old fart]

63. Maher never was funny...just a smug wannabe intellectual...IMHO

[leftynyc]

64. I can't help being suspicious of anyone

who calls Ann Coulter a friend. I have plenty of republican friends but none of them is a fascist asshole who considers anyone who disagrees with the chimp a traitor. The fact he can even be in the same room with her astounds me.

[Generator]

82. Do you feel the same about James Carville?

Just asking. I used to like him, and I KNEW about Mary Matalin-but ever since she's been Cheney's right hand gal well.. how can he?? Really.

[LSdemocrat]

72. People still watch him?

I haven't for years.

[okieinpain]

74. what freakin bush worship, will someone please give me an

example.

[NVMojo]

75. the only thing I can think of is that we must not lose our ability to

laugh at ourselves and find humor at the insanity around us.

[UdoKier]

76. Maher never professed to be a lefty. He's a libertarian type.

He usually disagrees with the right, but this is not the first time he has annoyed the left. I disagree that Bush has done ANYTHING right in the ME, but I don't hate Maher for this one thing. He has always slightly annoyed me, and I suspect that will remain the case. Trey Parker and Matt Stone annoy me a lot more with their relentless bashing of hippies, gays, and just about any other PC sacred cow, not for any reason, but just because they think they're cute for doing it.

At least Maher has a worldview and tries to be real about it.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

77. Can't lefties also be libertarians?

Not a challenge but more of a question. It was my understanding that the extreme left could itself have two extremes: extreme left libertarianism (like the Greens, who promote decentralized authority) or extreme left authoritarianism (like the centralized Soviet State).

[UdoKier]

78. Sure, but he's center- or maybe even a right- libertarian...

not especially left on economic issues, etc. Center-libertarian and right-libertarian seem to be pretty trendy positions for the last 10 years or so. Right-libertarians annoy me, because they're all for trashing the poor, dismantling the government, etc, as long as they can smoke their pot and watch smut on TV. They can go either way on these war-related issues.

[otohara]

80. If He Continues "Bush was right" Garbage

I won't be able to watch - fuck him.

[kohodog]

81. Is Dennis Miller still around?

Seems like the same thing. Look for him on Nascar or Monday night football.

[dzika]

84. Videos - Selected clips from HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher on 3/18

March 18, 2005

Video - HBO: Maher's liberal phone sex joke has "Gannon" punchline - 3/18

Bill Maher now has a "bi-partisan" audience on HBO's Real Time. He still manages to squeeze in a Gannon punchline.



Video in Real Media format (4 minutes)

---

Video - HBO: Maher on Global Warming, New Rules, Homeland Security rant - 3/18

Video in Real Media format (7 minutes)