Bill Maher, on Larry King Live last night: "At this point I think they need Hillary Clinton."

[highplainsdem]

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/19/lkl.01.html

MAHER: You know, I'm reading, I guess, the same thing you're reading, that it's between three boring white guys again.

KING: He doesn't need a black guy.

MAHER: Actually if he doubled down on Colin Powell, how wild would that be? I mean, this is the Democrats' problem. Is that they never do anything bold once they get the nomination. You know, I'm still for Obama, but I have to tell you, he's trying my patience.

KING: Really?

MAHER: Well, moving to the center on so many issues and just doing what I saw Kerry do, what I saw Al Gore do. I thought he was going to be different. He didn't have that "I'm going to blow it" look on his face like those two did. But he's doing sort of the same thing: moving to the center, moving to be a kind of a lighter version of the Republican candidate.

KING: So who do you -- who do you handicap? Do you think it's going to be one of these three boring white guys?

MAHER: I do, but I think that's, again, the wrong -- the wrong sort of strategy. At this point I think they need Hillary Clinton.

KING: Really?

MAHER: Yes. Look, I may change my mind tomorrow. I've been thinking this way a long time, but I swear to God. Not just because it's bold and they need to show bold, but you know what? I think they need the Clinton ruthlessness onboard. I really do.

I'm beginning to think Bill Clinton is still the only guy in that party who really knows how to do this, as far as talking to the American people, making the counter argument to the Republican arguments that, again, Obama just seems to be cozying up to their way of thinking. "Oil drilling? Yes sure. I'm for that. Wiretapping? Like that, too. Religious nut? I can get onboard there." I'm telling you, I like this guy but...

KING: Why -- why was Biden a bad choice? Here's a guy with world...

MAHER: He's not a bad choice. KING: ... foreign policy experience.

MAHER: He's not a bad choice, but is he going to excite anybody? Hillary Clinton would excite the base. I keep saying the Democrats have to move toward their base. They have to make the case that there is this other America out there.

-snip-

[David Zephyr]

1. Bill Maher sees it correctly. It's going to be Hillary.

Thanks for the posting, highplainsdem.

[truebrit71]

5. Not if we want to win in November it won't...

...

[highplainsdem]

47. Having her on the ticket would give us our best chance of beating McCain.

[truebrit71]

59. Um...no it wouldn't...nothing would motivate the right-wing base MORE than seeing that name...

...on the ballot...

[ErinBerin84]

2. the text message can't come soon enough.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Since when is Hillary a Progressive Dreamboat that excites lefties?

Assuming that by the base, he means the left of the party.

[Indydem]

8. Since Obama hasn't excited people like they thought he would.

Now its win at any cost.

[TwilightGardener]

13. Huh? Maher, in the span of a minute, goes from advocating Colin Powell

because he's a Republican, to advocating for Hillary, because she's to the left of Obama--except she's not. He's confused. And I don't think Obama's problem is "excitement". It's trust that he is up to the job, as opposed to the old white war hero. Not because he's not liberal enough.

[Muttocracy]

20. good point - like he was just looking for a reaction there, not a political choice. nt

[ZinZen]

56. Maher gets his

information by reading magazines and newspapers that are slanted to the right. I do not think I will watch Real Time because I am finding his cynicism as detiorating to being jaundiced. He is a comedian, wtf does he know what wins elections.

[IndianaJones]

10. since when is the base the smallest fraction? lmao. nt

[Terranist]

12. Well, 90% of the base supports an exit faster from Iraq than even Obama

I'd imagine their positions on other issues...

[TwilightGardener]

17. ??--I'm just trying to figure out what he means by "base".

[IndianaJones]

19. moderates are the base. nt.

[TwilightGardener]

25. I agree (as a conservative Dem myself), but Maher is implying that

the base is upset by Obama's moves to the center or right--which would imply that the base is very much left of center. And then he proposes Hillary to fix that, because she appeals to the left-of-center--which was NOT TRUE during the primaries.

[IndianaJones]

27. lefties always think they are the base....its how we keep them in line. nt.

[Metric System]

4. If you keep this up, you're going to make certain people's heads explosed! On second thought...

[SuperTrouper]

43. I saw Maher last night and I agree with him

[tigereye]

6. wow! Has hell frozen over?

That's the last thing I would have expected him to say. :wow:


It's not going to happen, though. I think that ship has sailed.

[dbonds]

7. Agree with him on move to center, and that the clintons know how to play dirty.

But Clinton comes with too many negatives and not enough positives.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[Skwmom]

11. That is the meme the Clintons are putting out there. Surprised that Maher mimicked it? Hardly.

The base was excited in 2004 to get rid of Bush and we all know how that worked out.

[Terranist]

16. 90 Million registered voters sat out 2004

I think that says how excited they were about either candidate.

[ElboRuum]

14. Well, I agree with Maher in spirit...

...but...

Let's face a few facts here. Hillary Clinton may guarantee certain voters, and they, indeed might be excited, but I wonder how many of them are still on the fence. If Hillary Clinton appeals to the base, I'm not sure which base they're referring to. If Obama is tracking right, he's meeting Hillary on the way. Neither of them ever struck me as particularly inclined to the Democratic base voter. Most Democrats are so because they are a little left of center at the minimum. The base is left farther still.

I fail to see how Hillary Clinton energizes the base. If anything Biden is the one who would energize the base because he is a little more left leaning than either Obama or Clinton. Of course, I really doubt Maher is talking about the Democratic base so much as the apathetic American "base", and their incessant need to be entertained even when it comes to their politics. He's an entertainer, and will obviously take the view that an entertainer might, and he may be on the mark in that view. It may very well be that Americans vote for the person who made them laugh once, or cry once, or have another emotional reaction because they really care little for the logic, the facts, the reason, or the intention.

[Peacetrain]

15. No thank you..

[blm]

18. Were Clintons ruthless against Rove the last 8yrs? Clintons trashed WH story lasted

for how long with the Clintons refusing to take on Rove over it. That smeared the image of the Dem party.

How long before Clintons fought back on 'Clinton weak on terror' charge made in EIGHT BOOKS between 2001-2005? Sept2006. Just in time to fuel the Clintons fight back legend, yet again.

[JackORoses]

21. Bill Maher is a Comedian. He was making a joke.

And if he wasn't, he should have been cause it's hilarious.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

55. LOFL. Maher's funny half the time, wrong half the time, and an idiot the other half.

:* :radio: :web: :tv:

[FrenchieCat]

22. How many elections has Bill Maher won to date?

[CampDem]

23. K & R

[Tim4319]

24. I think Obama should pick Clinton when Maher accepts an offer from ABC!

I am Bill Maher fan. I watch Real Time, and I am looking forward to the re-airing at the end of the month. But, to say Barack should pick Hilary as a running mate does not make sense. The comment that McCain would make a better presidential candidate alone should discount her.

[Upton]

26. Maher is correct

Obama and his campaign don't seem to have it in them to get down in the mud and fight with the Pubs. Bill and Hillary do and increasingly it's looking like that's the only way we're going to win this election..beating the GOP at their own game.

[demo dutch]

34. Uh yeah I've been saying this for month, and barely want to log on to DU now adays, Noone gets it &

I'm really not looking forward to an "I told you so"!

[CakeGrrl]

28. The "Clinton Ruthlessness"

will only come out when there's a big enough prize.

Why would the Clintons go all-out against McCain for...a VP slot?

Would that "ruthlessness" just shut itself off when they're in the Naval Observatory?

I think Obama knows better than that.

[Whisp]

40. they are ruthless toward other Dems, not to Republicans

I can't think of one repug that has suffered the Clinton wrath to the extent obama has.

Please give me an example if I am wrong.

[AndyTiedye]

29. Hillary Will Excite the REPUBLICAN Base to Vote AGAINST Us

[Laurab]

60. EXACTLY! nt

[Awsi Dooger]

30. Maher is certainly right about one thing

Bill Clinton is by far the most effective advocate on our side. During the primaries I was stunned when I pulled out my old VHS tapes from 1992. Bill Clinton blew away Obama in terms of breaking down the relevant issues, and comparisons to the Republicans, in devastating easy-to-understand terms.

[ZinZen]

57. Bill Clinton was an astute politician

but I wonder what would have happened if Perot was not in the race and siphoned off 10% of the vote?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

31. Oh well that settles it then. n/t

[SIMPLYB1980]

32. k&r!

[Lilith Velkor]

33. Who knew one of the most sexist personalities on TV would say such a thing?

My head is spinning now. :crazy:

[butterfly77]

35. Why should Obama listen to Maher...

he voted for McCain...

[musicblind]

36. I've always been a big fan of Maher because he usually gets it right

and once again he has gotten it right!

Though I don't think that Obama is doing as bad a job at campaigning as he implies. I think Obama has been as good a candidate as he can be so far.

[musicblind]

37. Off to the greatest page you go! n/t

[highplainsdem]

49. Thanks!

:)

[Phoonzang]

38. I'll point this out....nothing we say here will change the VP choice.

It's probably been made, whether it's Biden, Bayh, Clinton, or Jesus H. Christ. No amount of virtual lip flapping will make a bit of difference.

[nsd]

39. Enough with the Clinton stuff already. n/t

[Whisp]

41. OT: did you notice that Maher looked under the weather or ill?

actually he looked awful, in the unhealthy way.
or maybe it's our new TV and he's always been this way.

[IEatRepublicans]

42. Doubling Down on Colin Powell

would be the smartest thing Obama ever did.... election is over with this ticket... powell brings foreign policy and military cred to the table, NO ONE can attack his patriotism and he immediately comforts those that worry about Obama's experience.

and all of you would get over it by November... fuck his republican history, this is the art of war folks, this would be a winning ticket...

[azmouse]

44. The country does NOT need Hillary.

Enough already.

[Beacool]

53. Speak for yourself,.

Do not presume to speak for the country.

[Forkboy]

45. Do Clinton fans like the sexist Mahar now?

Any port in a storm, I guess.

[mod mom]

46. The last thing the Dems need is a corporate Dem who voted for the war, that's a DC insider.

[goletian]

48. its not gonna be hillary, people should stop getting their hopes up.

[Major Hogwash]

50. Bill Maher is a fucking asshole.

In 2000, he made fun of Gore by referring to the race as Bore/Gush or Gush/Bore and said they were the same.

So much for what that asshole knows!!

[Motown_Johnny]

51. Bill Maher also told us there was no difference between Bush and Gore.. called them Gush and Bore

Constantly supported Nader and gave him as much free air time as he possibly could

I like Bill Maher, as a comedian, but fuck him as a political wonk

[Blarch]

52. Bill is a idiot.

His dream president is Powell, he said so himself a few seasons ago.

[Yukari Yakumo]

54. Bill Maher had a hard-on for HRC the entire primary season. {nt}

uguu

[inthebrain]

58. I dont like Biden and I don't like Hillary. I'd sy Hillary is the smart choice here.

If I had to choose the lesser evil along with the smart strategy, I'd go for Hillary.

Sorry, but it's mainly political jumkoes that have a strong opinion on Hillary. Those that don't follow so much?

They don't just like her, they respect her.

Again, I don't like either but I think I'm with Bill on this one.

[MarjorieG]

61. Maher has a fondness for the Clintons and his pants problem.

He, like many, have not paid attention to what Obama says on the stump-only the media's interpreation. Obama hasn't gone differently from where he started, except 'amplifying' on the wedge issues which are always troublesome.

Maher doesn't always know, listens too much to Arianna, gets his news from MSM, or so he claimed. CNN, to make a point.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. Maybe you can help me understand how Hillary is MORE progressive than Obama...

I'm not understanding Bill because if he's upset that Obama "is moving to the Center," then why pick Hillary Clinton? She is a member of the DLC which is a Centrist organization. In fact, I would argue that it's another neocon organization. Bill is not making any sense at all on this. I know Hill is your girl and all, but I'm still trying to figure out why liberals/progressives embrace her when she is neither...