Since I don't take anything at face value I did a little research about education: Bill Maher: Cornell Graduate Rush Limbaugh: Southeast Missouri College Bill O'Relly: Marist College and the one that blows my mind Michael Savage: University of Hawaii Masters Degree: Medical Botany, Medical Anthropology University of California Berkeley PHD: Nutritional Ethnomedicine On top of this Savage wrote books on Homeopathy and organic gardening. He also was an assistant to Timothy Leary and ran in bohemian circles before becoming a conservative commentator. It almost makes me want to believe that Savage is doing some really weird performance art. William Luther Pierce who wrote "The Turner Diaries" (Essentially the bible of the American White Supremacist movement) has a Bachelor of Science in physics worked at Los Alamos Labs, got a PHD from the University of Colorado at Boulder and taught Physics as an Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon. The point that I'm trying to make is that Education doesn't necessarily make you any more intelligent, progressive or even less ignorant. Stay Brown, Rev J
I judge people by what they say and do, not necessarily by the college degree they have. Education to me goes beyond college degrees. People are educated by living, reading, experiencing, etc.. I believe some of the right wing extremists are putting on an act, just to make money and get ratings from the old conservative geezer demographic that is the audience for the right wing media. Savage could be an example of that. He was known as being a liberal Jewish guy early in his career. Ann Coulter might be another one that is putting on an act and doesn't believe 10 percent of what she says. She once said that women shouldn't have the vote because they vote too liberal. Does she really believe that? She has also said that she supported apartheid in South Africa because the Whites there are "surrounded by savages". And her solution to MidEast problems is to bomb Middle Eastern countries, don't worry about collateral damage, and whatever Arabs are left, force them to convert to Christianity. She also said that Jews can only be "perfected" if they convert to Christianity. Does she really believe such things?
^But by responding that Maher is better educated then Limbaugh you are implying that education does make him a better person. So I figured that I would counter that arguement with another about the educations of these commentators. And including the NAZI with a PHD in Nuclear Physics was just to frost the cake. But the question I have for you is this: Have I said anything that is incorrect? Does Maher not shout down guests that disagree with him? Does he not try to inject his Islamophobia into arguements where it doesn't belong? Does he not usually get Inarticulate people with opposing viewpoints onto his show? Is he not overly insulting when someone disagrees with him? Does he not generally make Intolerant comments? Has he not toed the official line for dictators? All you really counter with is that He is "Better Educated". Stay Brown, Rev J
I am not necessarily defending Maher. But I like him better than the reactionary right wing extremists; the Limbaughs, Ann Coulters, Glen Becks, etc.. Overall Bill Maher is progressive, he has time and again supported progressive issues that many educated people support, such as quality universal health care, decent wages for workers, and alternative energy, etc.. He usually supports Democrats. But he does have his flaws. In comparison to people like Limbaugh or Glen Beck, I will take Maher. The right wing extremists are far more reactionary than Maher. And I disagree with you that he always tries to shut down those who disagree with him, or always gets inarticulate guests who oppose him, or always supports dictators. You are exaggerating there. He has had a number of fairly articulate conservatives on his shows who have made their points, which he lets them do. If you don't like Maher, that's fine, that is your opinion. I like him more than dislike him, and I like him alot better than Limbaugh or Glen Beck. Alot of Democrats and some of the Independents like him because he usually supports Democrats. Maher does know issues better than some of the right wing extremists, in that respect he is educated, and he did attend Cornell, which I believe is an Ivy League school, but as I stated that is not necessarily required to be educated. And Maher has interesting guests, at least some of them.
Never heard of this Ann lady but am digging her! Nuke the ragheads, take voting rights from women and purify the jews! Am down!
Gavin Newsom now lieutenant Governor of California while he was mayor of San Francisco supported Universal Health Care, Allowed Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to open and Performed Gay Marraiges. He also put a $250 fine on pan handling, decreased aid money to low income people, closed down homeless shelters and drop in clinics, made it illegal to sit or lie down on the sidewalk at certain times of the day and even tried shipping the homeless population of San Francisco to Humboldt County. My point being you can stand up for "Progressive" causes and that doesn't make you progressive. At the end of the day after complaining about the environment and big business he get's into his gas burning car stops at a station owned by a big business fills his tank with money that he got from a major corperation. Let's look at this clip for a minute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYBryXeGek&playnext=1&list=PLDD3BC0950C8CF4C2"]YouTube - Mona Eltahawy & Bill Maher Count the time's he mentions "Islam". The fact of the matter is that the Egyptian government issued numerous statements that it was "The Muslim Brotherhood". He is bringing up Islam where it doesn't belong. I love the fact that she is calling him on his shit. The fact that he does that continuously to makes me question any type of progressive tag that you want to put on it. Stay Brown, Rev J
Maher doesn't like religion much, Islam or otherwise, and you would know that if you watched his movie "Religiosity". And yes, he is not a fan of Islam, and is concerned about the religiosity of many of the people in the Middle East. He wants the Middle East to go secular, as do I for that matter. But if you don't like his show, don't watch it then. Nobody is making you. Enough of this, it is getting redundant. Obviously you don't like Maher, which is fine, you don't have to like him. Obviously there are other people who do like him.
and just like michael moore he edits them to make himself look like the openminded and more "progressive." Its funny how people forgot that movies like michael moore and mahers do, they can edit them.
off topic but that chick is sexy! at least the fact that she smart and witty against this clown. She knows how to put him in place! its funny how narrow minded maher truely is all of his arguements lead to religion and all this bullshit. Has he lived or has it crossed his mind to live in another country longer then two weeks of vacation to understand that their issues might not be the same as to what we have here in the US? His the prime example of what i hate in typical American.
Alot of people obviously like Maher, his type of humour, and the sorts of guests he gets on his shows. If you guys don't like him, no one is making you watch his show. And there are Americans alot worse than Maher. jmt, what you wrote about Ann Coulter is silly. You are a wiseguy.
You are doing the same thing Maher does. Once someone comes to him with facts that contradict him he attempts to shut down communication. All of the points I made about Maher I could easily get video footage to corroberate. I did see the end of Religiosity the point where he states "Religion is a neurological disorder." Then cites a part of a study about prayer, chanting, and speaking in toungues all exciting activity in the same part of the brain. That is only part of the study. There was also a study done at UC Berkeley with a group of Buddhist monks. They took theses monks and had them chant DIFFERENT mantras while looking at their brain function. What they found is that DIFFERENT Mantras excited activity in DIFFERENT parts of the brain. They found the same phenomena when people listened to different music. I guess Music must be a neurological disorder too. The fact of the matter is that Science has told us that humans only use about 10 percent of our brains and that with technology such as the Internet and smartphones that amount is shrinking. We also only use about 25 percent of our lung function and the brain is the one part of the body that uses the most oxygen. Evolution has stated that body parts are a use it or lose it proposition. We may very evolve past 90 percent of our brain and 75 percent of our lungs. I don't like this concept. Perhaps something like chanting mantras (or listening to and opening up to music) will lead us to use more of our brain and lung function thus aiding the "Progress" of evolving humanity. But what do I know I'm only superstitious and holding onto beliefs that are outdated and keeping humanity in the dark ages. Stay Brown, Rev J
Actually the only time I see Maher's show is at work. I have a physically disabled client on the weekend who is a fan. Fortunately it is usually on at the end of the shift. But I can't really leave when it does come on. Alot of people also like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly et al. It's that weird thing about arrogance that make all 3 so popular. Their manner's are almost identical. Stay Brown, Rev J
Well Reverand JC, you and I just disagree. I like Bill Maher much better than Limbaugh or Beck, etc.. The religious people that Maher dislikes the most (and the ones I dislike the most) are the narrow minded religious bigots, the fundamentalist knuckleheads, those are the ones he really goes after the most. Buddhist monks and nuns, intelligent moderate religious people, etc. are not the sorts of religious bigots who cause religious wars, or oppress women, or hate other religions, or are anti-scientific, etc.. I am not shutting you down but you and I have both stated what we believe about Maher, so it is getting redundant. Have a lovely Saturday.
But in turn Maher present's his view like a fucking narrow minded religious bigot just like the people he is criticizing. Hey a bigot is a bigot is a bigot. Proselytizing is proselytizing whether it comes from The Church of Latter Day Saints or the Self-Appointed spokesperson for Athiesm that want's to save us all from God. You called Maher one of the greatest "Progressives" around and I managed to poke holes in that arguement. He doesn't do much to help progress but get up and blow his gums. Here are 2 guys with one decisive move have done more to bring issues to the forefront and even did some harm to the "Bad Guys" that Maher only calls names: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiWlvBro9eI"]YouTube - Bhopal Disaster - BBC - The Yes Men Now that one guy in a Goodwill Suit by bullshitting 300 million viewers cost Dow Chemical 2 billion dollars in 2 hours with that little stunt. On top of that he made Dow Chemical publicly admit they were doing nothing to clean up one of the worst man made disasters of the 20th century. Which is more than Maher has done in the past 20 years on tv. Maher is more of a liability to the progressive movement than an asset. By being smug, pompus, arrogant, intolerant, closed minded, insulting, egotistical, and above all self promoting enough that he is the most visible person that the progressive movement has put forth which makes non-progressives think that all progressives are like that. All Maher has done is been a blowhard that preaches to the choir. He is a corprerate tool who speaks big game but really does nothing. There is an old saying "Money Talks and Bullshit walks." Stay Brown, Rev J
I disagree, the progressives need some feisty, arrogant types. They have let the Republicans push them around for too long. The Democrats and progressives are wimps. A little fight in them, a little tough, old fashioned blue collar nastiness, is long overdue for the timid wimpy progressives. The fat, ugly Republicans like Limbaugh and some of the Republican creeps in congress have bullied liberals and progressives for too long. Maher has a popular show and he uses it to attack reactionaries, especially Republican creeps. And he does it with humour, and he has interesting guests. All of that popularizes progressive ideas. More than some dry academic person that few people know of. Maher refers to people like Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, and Michelle Bachman as idiots and reactionary creeps, which they are. Reactionary old Muslim guys who oppress women are also creeps, and keep their people backwards in many ways. If you were a female you would know that. I am a lady who will never allow herself to be oppressed by religious reactionaries of any sort. Maher doesn't like Islamic or Christian fundamentalists. Nor should he. Being bigoted against such backwards, idiotic bigots such as religious reactionaries is positive. So Maher tells it like it is with some of those sorts of people. So what. Good for him. If you study the history of this country, the Democrats helped the common classes by being tough, feisty, blue collar class warriors, and that, (along with the hard work of the American people ), is why America developed it's large middle class society. In recent times the American workers have taken a huge hit, the Republicans are outsourcing everything that isn't nailed down, busting unions, cutting wages, polluting streams and lakes, starting stupid unnecessary wars they aren't even fighting to win, etc.. They have dreadful policies. The Republicans are the most ridiculous conservative party anywhere in the developed world. For example, the Republicans are the only major political party anywhere in the first world, that doesn't believe in universal health care. The mainstream conservative parties, as well as the liberal parties of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, West Europe, Japan,etc. all believe in universal health care in those nations. And most of those nations have better health care stats than the U.S. and do it in a cost-effective way. And yes Maher is bigoted against bigots, like Republican racists, Islamic extremists, Christian fundamentalists, and other sorts of reactionary pieces of crap. Good for him, it is long overdue that the progressives get some fight back in them and call the robber barons, polluters, and reactionary bigots what they are, a-holes. The Democrats had the majority in most of the statehouses and in the U.S. congress from the 1930s until the 1980s, and during that time every race and class saw gains; the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement and the environmental movement made great gains. The quality of life improved for many Americans. And it was because the progressives fought hard, and sometimes even nasty, they called a pig a pig, and it worked, they got the common classes with them, they won elections for fifty years, and we built a great country. Since Reagan and the 1980s, the Democrats and progressives have become wimps. But that is changing, the younger generation is fighting back, and union people are fighting back. Look at Madison, Wisconsin the last few days. The tea-baggers and Republicans are an old demographic, the progressives have the young of all races and are gaining with the growing Hispanic group in America. Liberals, progressives, Democrats, etc. are the future. Limbaugh, Beck, Sarah Palin,etc. are the past. Maybe not this year or next, but soon, the progressives will start winning again, but only if we show some guts. And we need to vote. We voted in large numbers in 2008, but many progressives, especially young people, Blacks and Hispanics, didn't vote in 2010. And look what happened, the old reactionary demographic voted, and the goofball tea-bagging Republicans made gains. I am in my 30s. And I know the history of progressives, populists, and the Democrats. I studied it and learned it from my parents. And I married a progressive, great guy, he is an Irish guy who is an immigrant from Liverpool, England. And I am raising my daughters to be progressive, and pro-worker, pro women's rights and civil rights, and pro-environment. My dad is a White guy, a truck driver and a union man. My mom is an African-American and a social worker. They both were fighters for good wages for workers, for women's rights. civil rights, the environment, etc.. I was raised with excellent ideals. The Democrats and progressives need to be strong again. That is how you win elections. Being sweet and nice doesn't always do it in the rough and tumble of American politics. Everyday working people want to see some guts. It worked before for the Democrats, it will work again. You can't be rough too much, but sometimes you need to be. Limbaugh, Beck, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, and some of the Republicans in congress need to be called out on occasion. That is how you win. Sometimes nice, sometimes not so nice. But play to win, and don't let reactionaries push you around. Maher, and others like Keith Olbermann, Ed Schultz, sometimes Rachel Maddow, sometimes mock or slam reactionaries. So what. That is what the Democrats and progressives need sometimes. You have to show some guts every once in awhile. It works. People like seeing that. That is how you win elections.
So I guess intolerance is AOK in your book. As long as the person is intolerant of the right people. OK I'm White but there is enough Hungarian Gypsy, Spanish Moor, and American Indian rearing their ugly heads in my family over the last 4 generations to make me look "other". That means usually I get mistaken for Hispanic or Middle Eastern. It sure is fun getting followed by security through stores and taking an extra half an hour or so at the airport. And yes this does happen when I cut my hair and shave too. My great grandfather "Blackie" so nicknamed because he had dark hair and skin when the rest of the family was blond haired and blue eyed (I wonder what the mailman looked like), was a Union Organizer when such activities got you and your family killed. My father runs a school for sustainable living and farms with horses in the shadow of a Naval Air Station. Great place to develop "Hippie Values" especially during the cold war. Since Moving to I attempted to help the bike messengers unionize. There was a group of us at one company that were in negotiations for a new contract. Out of seven four of us were let go. I also got an earful when one of the others who was organizing made derogatory comments about "Tattooed White Boys." Also Unionizing doesn't automatically make you progressive either during Vietnam a number of "Volunteers" from the ILWU took baseball bats to war protesters. I currently work 7 days a week with disabled people one of whom is also an advocate for disabled rights and of caregiver rights. I am a member of the UCLW/SEIU. I have quite a background in knowing about workers struggle. I realized I was being lied to when I was in highschool when I had this conversation with my social studies teacher: Teacher: In a presidential election you vote for an elector who then votes for president. Me (Knowing full well that the electors name isn't on the ballot): So my vote doesn't count. Teacher: No your vote count's you vote for an elector who then votes for President. Me: So my vote doesn't count. The conversation kind of went in a circle after that. Bush winning the electoral vote and losing the popular vote in 2000 wasn't the first time in the last 100 years that that had happened. Kennedy lost the popular vote to Nixon. Nixon though to me had a really good idea (I admit he was a schmuck but even a broken clock is right twice a day) disband the electoral college and allow the voice of the people to be heard and allow them to pick their leader without the middle man. That to me is "Progressive" thinking. You also talk about US jobs going to other countries. Who's Idea was NAFTA again? Bill Clinton. What was his party affiliation again? Oh yeah he was a Democrat. On to his wife who's big goal was Universal Health care. Very Progressive. The problem was that her campaign was largely funded by Health Insurance companies. She really showed some guts. On the other hand the Republican party has gotten really good at marching out halfwits who can't stick to script to save their lives. As shitty a President Reagan was he was at least smart enough to stick to the fucking script. I have friends that are both liberals and conservatives and it never ceases to blow my mind how my conservative friends can go from talking about how great Reagan was one moment and bitching about having to step over "Crazy Homeless People" the next. American Politics has always been the people who scream the loudest get the apperance of being the majority and getting their way. Think about it. It wasn't until the people screamed loud enough that the Vietnam War (which Kennedy the progressive Democrat got us into) finally ended. Then during the Eighties it was a little group with unmitigated balls who called themselves "The Moral Majority" Screamed loud enough and got their way. Then it was the people who wanted among other things Universal Health care that screamed loud enough and convinced a group of rich white guys (the electoral college) to elect a fairly progressive president. Then there was another group although not the majority showing up at town hall meetings and shouting down the speakers that wanted to help others. They then evolved into the tea party. Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss. As for Maher he does a good job of shooting off his mouth but has little to no follow through. He doesn't even do that good a job of inspiring people to do anything. He is good at self aggrandizing. He is good at being an intolerant prick and convincing others that it is OK to do so too. That is not progress. That is simply the same shit different day. Stay Brown, Rev J
I disagree. Maher obviously doesn't inspire you, but there are at least some people he inspires, because I know of people who like him and find something inspirational about his show, because they enjoy watching it, or at least at times find it interesting. Who are you God? How would you know if he does or does not inspire people unless you know personally the millions of people who know of him? Obviously neither you, or anyone else, could know what millions of people believe. Talk about a silly arrogant statement. We get it by now, you don't like Bill Maher. You have made your point. It is getting very redundant. Are you really that obsessed with Bill Maher? I am not, to me he is just a guy. An interesting guy in his own way, but no better or worse many human beings that I know, or know of. Obviously many people watch his show, they must get something from it. If you don't like his show, then don't watch it. And yes, it is true, not all Democrats are always progressive. Duh, people know that. Of course both parties are flawed. It is a matter of voting for the one you prefer the most overall. That is all people can do. It is difficult to find the ideal candidate. And why do you refer to yourself as Rev. JC ? Are you some sort of minister? If so, with what sort of church or religion?
