It pisses me off when Bill Maher has a right wing shill on....

[edhopper]

like David Frum last night, who spouts lies and half truths, conservative gobbledy-gook and just plain bullshit. And he doesn't include a progressive on the panel that can counter all the crap.
Maher isn't dumb, but he just doesn't know enough or have the critical skill to challenge it.

[dem629]

1. They do have a strange way of booking guests.

Sometimes there's a panel of liberals and no conservative, other times it's as you describe.

For instance, just last week: "Mos Def" and Salman Rushdie on the panel. Boring, because they agreed on nearly everything.

And about three weeks ago: Peter Singer, Cory Booker, Erin Burnett. Boring, because they agreed on nearly everything.

And before that: Gavin Newsom, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Wright. Boring, because they agreed on nearly everything.

I'd rather see a mix each time.

[patrice]

2. I don't think BM cares. And I think Religulous was LAME.

Very disappointed; he blew a great opportunity to make at least a little SUBSTANTIAL criticism of Religion and settled for 100% light-weight fluff.

He either doesn't have the mental power for depth or he doesn't care. I'm guessing the latter.

[dem629]

3. He really isn't that bright. Check out this review of his novel.

This pretty much sums up his "wit" imo.

From Publishers Weekly

Few things are less enticing than a comedy novel that's not funny. Maher's misogynist, juvenile fiction debut about five young New York comics in search of laughs and sex (not necessarily in that order) lands with the dull thud of a drum roll after a painfully bad joke. The author, host of the cable comedy show Politically Incorrect , gets his story off to an atrocious start by naming his protagonists Dick, Shit, Fat, Chink and Buck, according to their proclivity for jokes about body parts, body functions, appearance, racial identity and so on. Unfortunately, the maturity level goes downhill from there. While Maher does offer a few good one-liners along with some revealing insights into the vagaries of a life in comedy, most of the shallow prose deals with the boys' attempts to get gigs, get laid, get over on sleazy club owners and come to grips with the fact that they lead an incredibly vacuous life based largely on surface cleverness. It's hard to determine what's most offensive: the emptiness of Maher's characters, the hostility of their material or the way both author and characters treat women. If this book were a cable comedy special, it would be zapped within seconds by remote controls across the land.

[edhopper]

4. I think he cares

but as you say, doesn't have the mental power. That's fine, he's a comedian, and I give him credit for tackling issues on his show that many shy away from. But he should understand that he doesn't have the skill to retort guys like Frum. Book a guest who can.

[patrice]

9. Or get a "straight man" who can do the heavy lifting at the appropriate moment - and still be funny.

I wonder who that would be.

[patrice]

17. P.S. I nominate some of those guys/gals around the "rainmakers" on Air America.

I don't remember their names, but the ones around Ron Kuby come to mind.

[rcrush]

5. Bill Maher is an ACTOR

He probably used to care back when he did Politically Incorrect. But he's just a damn actor now. He very rarely cares abot truth and insults and degrades anyone who disagrees with him now.

[Kansas Wyatt]

8. He's got a nice life now and he's very comfortable.

Plus, it's just more money in the bank for him. I'm sure he doesn't lose any sleep over the number of people unemployed or under-employed.

Not saying it's bad, after all, he still tries to inject some truth in America, even if it can't be perfect all the time.

[aikoaiko]

6. Shill Fairness Doctrine.

That might work.

[tammywammy]

13. How would that work? He's on cable not broadcast. n/t

[aikoaiko]

14. It was a joke....

;)

[tammywammy]

15. Sometimes it's hard to tell on here

:)

[mdmc]

7. I'm a big fan of his

I get his show on itunes.

[edhopper]

10. I like his show, too.

And usually enjoy it. It's just at times, like last night, he drops the ball.

[mdmc]

18. i hear ya, my friend

peace and low stress

[tabatha]

11. I agree that Maher should be more informed.

The reason why the European countries did not have to have simulus packages - is because they have far better social safety networks than the states. Of course, Frum would not understand or acknowledge that.

It is very easy to cherry-pick facts and distort them for your point of view.

Like that idiotic interview that Glenn Beck did with Richard Blumenthal. It was not balanced or fair, and was as far away from reasoned debate as one could get.

Reason is not part of the right's arsenal.

[ellenfl]

12. i've been watching maher since the earliest days and have always

been a fan. i disagree that he is not bright. i think he is very smart and knowledgeable of current affairs. he only missed a couple of opportunities last night but i agree that his panel could be more balanced. when sam donaldson is the liberal on the panel, we're in big trouble. :eyes:

perhaps he's having trouble getting liberal panelists now that dubya is gone. the last few years were very trying for the left (but i don't have to tell YOU that) and perhaps everyone is chilling for a little while. i DO hope he gets some better panels.

the interview with joe the plumber was . . . interesting but dumb (in the words or arte johnson). joe is apparently not an ideologue but he is definitely a lightweight. i wonder when his 15 minutes of fame are finally going to be over? probably around the time octomom's is, i guess.

ellen

[peacetalksforall]

16. I don't think you can come out with the angles and opinions that he does if you

are not smart. I think he's plenty smart. Doesn't mean you can write, if that review is correct.

What I'd like to know is what kind of behavior or argument should we get from a Libertarian host? How should they act? I don't know much about Liber's - only that they can go both ways and have no tolerance for anyone who has not become as successful as they have in their career or are not as financially secure as they are.

[L0oniX]

19. Not as bad as when he used to have Ann Coulter on before he got kicked on regular network tv.