Serious question - what is your honest opinion of Bill Maher?

[Initech]

My friend and I were debating this topic last night. While we both agreed that he is a self-righteous douchebag, my friend thought that he was way too liberal, on the other hand I personally wouldn't paint him as falling into either liberal or conservative given the number of right-wing nutbars he has had on the show in recent seasons. His new rules segment definitely paints him as ultra-liberal but with some of his viewpoints I think he's more of a centrist.

What say you DU?

[Captain Hilts]

1. I think he's a sexist shit. nt

[Bluebear]

2. I don't think he is a self-righteous douchebag, for starters.

He's hard to pin down. Horribly sexist. His new rules, though, are often 100% right on!

[Initech]

14. The new rules are the main reason I watch that show

[FreeJG]

24. he's just someone who cannot fathom how evil our government can be, especially re: 911

[Warpy]

3. He's a self described libertarian

While I enjoy his comedy, he needs to stop trying to practice medicine, he's completely ignorant about that.

I do think he's more of a social libertarian than an economic or political one, and I can get along with that.

[ShortnFiery]

4. He's an intelligent Satirical Comic not a Political Leader. He Entertains - that's his function. eo

[IcyPeas]

62. agreed. he is an entertainer and I do like him.

you don't have to agree with him - as said above, he is NOT a politician. He's a comedian who has a talk show.

[Ikonoklast]

5. Prig.

Don't care for him, his lofty ego, or ignorant opinions about anything.

[seabeyond]

mix of libertarian, liberal and anything goes. and a sexist. chip on shoulder

about being the ugly dude never getting it in high school.

sometimes i enjoy what he says. he has an honesty in his creep.

sometimes right. sometimes not. and sometimes just an opinion.

[rucky]

6. A very quotable douchebag. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

7. The guy who wouldn't shut up about Bush and Gore being exactly the same, so Vote Nader?

Hmm....


What might I think of that guy?


I think maybe I should avoid the pizza delivery and just leave it at that

[last_texas_dem]

17. You definitely have a point

His constant ragging on Gore really pissed me off back in the day. I didn't really start giving him a chance again until two or three years ago... I do find his show entertaining, though, and agree with his views more often than not.

[John1956PA]

19. Exactly. His 2000 endorsement of Nader is the first thing I think of when I hear Maher's name.

He said on this show words to the effect: "Bush, you suck. And, Gore, you are just as bad. I am going with Nader."

[Motown_Johnny]

30. I don't have a problem with him endorsing Nader, but not seeing the difference between Bush and Gore

and then calling them Gush and Bore, since in his opinion they were interchangeable, I take serious issue with being that horribly horribly wrong.

[Dr Morbius]

8. Given that he's a pompous ass, who cares which way he leans? (nt)

[Forkboy]

9. I like him when he talks about anything other than women.

And then I cringe.

He's a libertarian at heart (I have no idea what he calls himself), but he's right about a lot of things. Religulous was outstanding and as spot on a film as I've seen in a long time. Easily as good as Michael Moore's movies (which I love). The monologue Maher gives at the end of the movie is stand and applaud type material.

"It's time to grow up...or die."

But when he talks about women....ewwww.

[NYC_SKP]

10. I preferred him in "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death".

Meaning I don't care for him on his show.

I love his guests, format, topics, but he himself makes my skin crawl.

I find him smarmy, snarky, and self-righteous in his manner on the show.

[malaise]

11. What exactly is

way too liberal?

[last_texas_dem]

12. He can sometimes be gratuitously crude about things, but that seems

to go along with most modern comedy. Maybe I'm just too big of a prude? Politically, he seems like a left-leaning libertarian. I agree with him on the majority of issues, but he does have a bit of that self-important douchiness that seems to go along with libertarianism. I might not explain my views in quite the same way he does, though; and obviously I'm not on the same page as him in terms of some of his more general worldview. (For example, I do tend to agree with how he feels about religion, but would never be that blunt about it, because I think approaching things that way mostly drives people away from seeing your point of view.)

[madokie]

13. I never have liked him

if you were to ask him what he thought of me it'd be a lot worse than what I'd say about him.
sometimes he's funny, sometimes he's right on

[Duer 157099]

15. I think he's funny and I support his view on religion

Sure he's got some questionable personality traits, but who doesn't? (I mean, besides Jon Stewart, who is perfect)

[movonne]

35. ditto....

[Kceres]

16. He is a misogynist and child-hater.

But no such thing, IMO, of "too liberal"

[Bert]

37. Child hater?

No, he doesent have children and isnt particularly fond of other people's children, so what. Also he thinks our society has gone overboard in worshipping youth, like maybe we should respect adults more.

[seabeyond]

42. "respect adults more" kinda like he does? nt

[Forkboy]

45. Hell, I think most kids suck.

Even if they are better behaved than I was... :P

[Codeine]

18. Like all of us

he's sometimes right, often wrong, and far more convinced of the former than the latter. He's funny, snarky, charming, and knows how to craft a good insult on the fly.

Entertaining enough for me.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. His ego grates on me, but Religulous was brilliant and spot on.

[Initech]

51. Yeah Religulous was great, he made a lot of great points in it.

I love when he shot down that "ex gay" crusader... that was the best scene in the whole movie.

[Jennicut]

21. Sexist pig with a huge ego. And more of a libertarian then a liberal.

[Ishoutandscream2]

22. He reminds me of a spoiled rich kid who always had his way

He was "the prince" in his family when he was a little boy. He still has that little rich boy smirk (kind of like Dubya) when he thinks he's cute or he's getting on to someone. I find his new rules entertaining, and I find myself agreeing with him on a lot of things. But he does seem to be a rich boy, pompous ass.

[Cleita]

23. He makes me laugh most of the time and

that's his job. I don't always agree with his opinions and I doubt if I would want to be his girl friend, but that's not even an issue. I think if you compare him to any right wing entertainer/political commentator, he's more on the left side than the right and that's okay with me.

[timtom]

25. I agree pretty much with you all the way.

[mucifer]

26. douchbag. Years ago Studs Terkel was on his show and he made fun of him for

being old and hard of hearing. I don't remember her name, but there was a black republican woman on the panel who called maher out for his shitty behavior.

He's the total stereotype of the spoiled Hollywood liberal. I also agree that he should not be practicing medicine.

Sometimes his political points are right on the mark. But, a lot of the time, he's just an ass.

Studs Terkel was a man who talked a thief who broke into his house into giving him back 20 dollars. He had a strong connection with people and got them to open up and tell their story no matter their race or class.

maher makes me sick.

[MrSlayer]

27. I find him to be hilarious and smart.

Caught his standup a couple weeks ago and it was brilliant. And I fail to see how having conservatives on his show changes his personal ideology in any way. If you want debate you have people from both sides represented. He's definitely a liberal.

[grantcart]

28. Sometimes funny but always a pathetic snob

His problem isn't with women its with intimacy.

Its obvious that this is a guy who will go through his life without ever really loving people.

He doesn't communicate with people he lectures and is patronizing.

People are objects to him.

He needs a big dose of Martin Buber.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

29. Immature boor who occassionally makes a good point

[tabasco]

31. Gutless poser.

[Forkboy]

46. Speaking up on DU is easy...do it on front of millions.

Poser? Sure, depending on one's take of what constitutes a poser. Gutless? No, don't think so.

I look forward to your show and movie telling us in no unclear terms what YOU think. ;)

[tabasco]

76. That's your opinion.

Just like assholes, everybody's got one.

[SusanaMontana41]

79. Guess that makes you an asshole, too, yes?

Mighty thin-skinned on DU this morning, aren't we ...

[southernyankeebelle]

32. He is a little of both. He is self-righteous at times.

[Catshrink]

33. I thought this was brilliant::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if88PgI-vfU

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. I love him and have been a fan for years

Saw him live once. He was brilliant.

[datasuspect]

36. he's a highly compensated entertainer

[dems_rightnow]

38. Narcissistic windbag

Pompous, arrogant. Pretty smart.

[zazen]

39. grovels for male rappers' approval while insulting brilliant women of both races

I think he gets a hard on when Snoop Dog is on his show. Have you ever heard him contradict a black male star/entertainer/academic/activist on _anything_? His subtle racism is attributing to black males the stereotype of hypermasculinity, a version of masculinity that Maher worships and secretly wishes he had.

[Green_Lantern]

40. says things to get a rise, purposely offensive, thinks he is smarter

than he really is.

[Lyric]

41. Sexist, chauvinistic, anti-science douche.

Love some of his new rules, but man...that guy has some serious effing issues.

[cntrfthrs]

43. Bill Maher...

.speaks Truth to power....but don't forget he's only a man like all of us...and therefore prey to the many shortcomings we all are....but...he speaks Truth to Power...

[4 t 4]

75. just wondering what

does truth to power mean? I've never understood that phrase

[dawgman]

44. he's more libertarian than anything.

neither "all the way" conservative nor "all the way" liberal.

[Strelnikov_]

47. "Way too liberal"? My opinion of your friend . . . you need a new one. n/t

[Initech]

50. Yeah I have a lot of Fux Noise loving friends for some reason.

[Strelnikov_]

53. I was just kidding, of course. Life is taking the good with the bad. n/t

[Initech]

54. That is certainly true.

[Recovered Repug]

48. Comedy wise?

If he was half as funny as he thinks he is, he'd be twice as funny as he really is.

[Upton]

49. I think he's great..

[kentuck]

52. Bill Maher is brilliant.

He is also arrogant and insensitive.

He has a unique perspective on politics, neither Democratic or Republican, although he leans toward the libertarian/liberal side.

He is very controversial and was kicked off of ABC. (I believe that was the network?) He has a good assortment of guests, right-wing and left-wing, and the discussions can be rather enlightening.

Personally, I like Bill Maher, but I can see how he turns a lot of people off.

[devilgrrl]

55. Bill Maher is pretty liberal leaning, has rw nuts on to bury themselves, has issues with women

eom

[fishwax]

68. that about sums it up n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

56. Who?

[damntexdem]

57. Funny, and sometimes on target. But an arrogant asshole, nevertheless.

Watching him is like obsessively eating something one knows isn't good for one's health.

Whether he's left, liberal, centrist, whatever, is irrelevant to all that.

[NC_Nurse]

58. I think he's good to have out there because the Right has tons of arrogant jerks

and we need a few who aren't afraid to say exactly what they think.

Anybody who does that, however, is bound to show they're faults at some point. I still like him, tho.

[applegrove]

71. I agree. We need him. Like Michael Moore. He's also spot on most of the time.

And funny.

[Hamlette]

59. I like him and think he's a leftie liberal

most entertainers are self-righteous. Hell, I'm self-righteous (because I'm right as in correct). But you'd have to have a very strong ego to go into entertainment. He's not as good at self censoring as some other, safer, comics.

He has a bug up his butt about a few things. I just don't get some of his positions. But, I do think he has evolved and come to some more moderate positions over the years. Like, I don't think he's say Gore and Bush were the same. I don't think he'd advocate voting for Nader this again. And as for his sexism, his most righteous rant last week on things we will not negotiate identified 3 things: Separation of church and state, freedom of speech and women's rights. If you're only going to identify 3, those are pretty good ones.

I get so pissed at him sometimes but I always come back. If you are going to be one of those ppl who are not afraid to say anything, sometimes you're going to say stupid shit and you should be forgiven.

Today. Hell, by tomorrow he might say something so disgusting I'll be advocating lynching him.

[LibDemAlways]

60. Mixed feelings. I think he can be

insightful and funny, but I don't appreciate his low opinion of women.

[wildbilln864]

61. I like him...

I also like his show. Don't always agree with him but...

[Union Yes]

63. Brilliance. knr nt

[Withywindle]

64. When he's funny, he's really funny - when he's not, he's REALLY not.

When he's right, he's REALLY right and when he's not, he's really not.

I wouldn't base a life philosophy on him or anything, but he's witty and entertaining and sometimes enraging and sometimes important. Sometimes he's so far off base he's been airlocked, and other times he says exactly what others are thinking but don't have the guts.

[Touchdown]

65. I am not allowed to agree with him on DU. I have been educated.

Feminism is superior to equality.
Children are more important than people.
Feelings are more insightful than truth.
Women are better than men.

I just nod in a blank agreement and am allowed to stay here.:)

[Initech]

67. That's the whole point of this topic.

I know he's made some really offending comments and had some lunatic guests on (like that PETA woman a couple weeks ago) but for the most part he's right on so many things and his stand-up routines are often spot-on. His recent special "But I'm Not Wrong" was great. Worth watching if you can find it.

[WeDidIt]

66. Horribly undereducated with regards to the issues

He just doesn't know a fucking thing about the shit he spouts off on.

[Writer]

69. He's a narcissist who hits the bong too often and loves to stir the dirt for ratings.

And he has no respect for women.

[Robeson]

70. I like him more than I loathe him.

[Initech]

72. I don't hate him either.

He says a lot of things that need to be said and does so in a way that he gets his point across easily. The only thing that I think is a major turn off for people is that he's such an arrogant jackass about it.

[ismnotwasm]

73. I avoid him usually

Always have. He's got this certain cruelty about his humor--minus the talent to carry it off--I never did like. My personal theory is when that disgusting asshole bush was in office, ANYONE who stood up and criticized him looked good. Maher was one of them. Liberal? I doubt it. Just anther media opportunist looking for a big slice of pie.

[flvegan]

74. Serves on the board of PETA. So he's obviously a terrorist.

*loving that I found a way to work PETA into this*

He did support Obama and did openly mock Palin, so points there. He also supports GLBT rights, so points there.

I guess like almost everyone else, he has his good qualities and his flaws.

[RadicalTexan]

77. I like him, but

...I think he's a smug sexist asshole.

He's right most of the time on religion and politics. He's totally woo woo on medical opinion (see: his anti-vaccine rants). I get the sense that, while he's an ally of feminism legally speaking (pro-choice, anti-discriminatory-laws, anti-religious misogyny, etc.), he's personally a misogynist, but at least he doesn't hide it. He idolized George Carlin, but he's no George Carlin.

However, in the American context, he's a breath of fresh air, I think.

[chillspike]

78. You know...

I don't understand how some people can't understand fellow liberals like Bill Maher and Keith Olberman. I really don't. There will be some liberals who wear their liberalism a little more proudly and with strength and toughness than others and thank God for them!

Bill Maher and other outspoken liberals are not self righteous douchbags. They are RESPONDING to the conservatives douchbaggery that has gone on FAR TOO LONG in the country.

The whole freaken point of Bill Maher is that he is not a douchbag or a snob.

I like strong, outspoken liberals that tell asshole republicans to go fuck themselves. You bet your ass Republicans aren't pulling any punches for us.