I've been boycotting Bill Maher for the past twenty six years, but like Jonah Goldberg I'd be willing to make an exception to promote my book.
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A Question of Principle
10 Feb 2008 08:48 am
Comments (31)
Tongue-in-cheek?
Conservative Onanism: The Public Exposure of the Conservative Bereft, from Goldberg to the Politics of Opportunism
What a foolish fraction of a "man." "I don't see myself going back anytime soon." Ah hahaha. I'm sure Maher's booker is reaching for the medicine cabinet to dull the disappointment.
I'm assuming he's mocking Goldberg. Still, while I do enjoy Maher's show, his blatant misogyny is really fucking awful. It would be great if Matt got on the show, though...
It seems that Maher said something derogatory about Rush Limbaugh but I can't figure out what it is. I watched the show and don't recall what, if anything, was said about him. It's hilarious how they worship that douchebag.
K-Lo, because somehow she can't find any other evil in the world and Iraq is now a paradise on Earth, has her panties in a bunch because Maher said that if someone was going to die because of perscription drug interaction, why couldn't it be the Oxycontin/Viagra/Dominican Hooker addict Rush Limbaugh and not Heath Ledger?
Now I remember! Usually I'd say that's taking it too far. But in Limbaugh's case it seemed like Maher was being pretty reasonable. And I was never a Heath Ledger fan.
I don't find wishing people to die funny - even Rush - but I think the post was about making fun of Jonah Goldberg rather than Bill Maher.
I mean my jaw dropped when I read that "I have been boycotting but my book!" entry yesterday.
Interesting to ponder the denial inherent in a statement like this, in 2008: "One thing I would like to know is what it says about Matthew Dowd (a perfectly likable fellow) that he eagerly signed up to work for Bush but now thinks the man's a moron. Makes you wonder about the guy's judgment, to say the least."
He is aware that millions of people have made much the same judgment, right?
There's a time for principle, and there's a time for selling books. At some point, Goldberg will probably decide to give the former a try.
I, too, only pursue my boycotts until the instant they take on a scintilla of meaning. No use being impractical about it.
I'm boycotting him for his increasingly stupid and strident alternative medicine advocacy -- on the Goldberg show, he claimed that "all prescription medicines were poison". Also, his smarmy stand-up style is becoming unbearable. But, if I ever have a book to plug I'm sure I could make an exception.
I wanted to make the old joke about being a vegetarian in between meals, but then I remembered Hitler was a vegetarian so that would have been like admitting I'm a fascist.
Because I'm a big enough tool to buy a Kindle, I now only purchase books that are available on the Kindle. Matt, please clink on the little link that reads "Are You an Author or Publisher? Find out how to publish your own Kindle Books," and then do what the link says.
Mahar gets a lot wrong and he knows far less about politics than he thinks he does, but he does get some stuff right and the show's often worth watching or at least hustling throught Teh Tivo.
I was more than a bit put off by Goldberg's unchallenged obseravation that he's glad to see that Obama's "not running a too black campaign like Jesse Jackson". Not only was this idea unchallenged, but embraced by the non-Costas players there. And, per usual, he made this comment without citing a single example. Could someone with a bullhorn please call him on this? How about packing some select quotes from Bill Buckley and Lee Atwater. Should Obama become the nominee, does anyone believe that Goldberg et ilk will hesitate to tag Obama as some sort of "too black Jesse Jackson type" (or words to that effect)? Please.
The non-Costas people all also agreed that torture was bad except it was good that we did only three times to really bad people (even though they were never tried--not even in kangaroo court).
In addition to the simple-minded misogyny, this is where Mahar goes horribly wrong--noddng and laughing about torture (which he claims to oppose) and racist comments by other coddled white people. Costas either didn't want to jump into those waters or didn't have anything to add. Shame he (or anyone else) didn't.
Was PJ O'Rourke ever funny? All he does is mention something and start laughing at what he said (e.g., "...and Hillary Clinton, I mean, come on, hahahahahahaha").
Maher is little more than a dog, and I congratulate you on knowing it. The political convictions of comics (relative statement) and other celebrities is of littler use to anyone with a brain except Maher, HBO, and his mindless audience. But maybe you can make a few bucks pushing the book...
"Maher is little more than a dog, and I congratulate you on knowing it. The political convictions of comics (relative statement) and other celebrities is of littler use to anyone with a brain except Maher, HBO, and his mindless audience. But maybe you can make a few bucks pushing the book..."
I love America. Our venality is so charmingly high-minded.
Should Obama become the nominee, does anyone believe that Goldberg et ilk will hesitate to tag Obama as some sort of "too black Jesse Jackson type" (or words to that effect)?
Conservative pundits and thinkers have, for decades, taken the position that affirmative-action was un-American and that any person of any race could do anything as long as that person was talented and hardworking enough.
Since Obama is a vindication of that argument, the pundits won't use his race against him (besides, they already watched it backfire when Hillary did it).
I think Cheeto Goldberg is um, "boycotting" because he was completely overrode and derided by PJ O'rourke and Matthew Dowd. Dowd especially spoke to and looked at Jonah as if he was an admin on the message board of some small college's young republicans club.
Maher is a 5'6" half-wit with the face of an old ugly yenta. He dresses like some garment guy circa 1973. It was quite a coup to see Malted Milk (Jonah) He looked like a Sheboygan Marxist wannabe.
Trevor:
What's the point you're trying to make about Maher's height? I imagine it's a pretty stupid one, but enlighten us.
Conservative pundits and thinkers have, for decades, taken the position that affirmative-action was un-American and that any person of any race could do anything as long as that person was talented and hardworking enough.
Since Obama is a vindication of that argument, the pundits won't use his race against him (besides, they already watched it backfire when Hillary did it).
Conservative pundits and thinkers in political circles have also, for decades, sought to win political office through such shitty methods as The Southern Strategy, swiftboating, and media bullying. Gee, I wonder what will happen this time?
Like mtraven, I can't stand his alternative medicine and anti-vaccination advocacy. Maher's a fucking idiot.
Trevor:
What's the point you're trying to make about Maher's height? I imagine it's a pretty stupid one, but enlighten us.
Posted by Jamey
Just that he's a shrimp. Small man's complex. Look, the motherfucker's an idiot- he "discovered" politics in his 40's around the same time he became one of a hundred horny, over-the-hill hasbeens hanging out at the Playboy Mansion. There are entertainers here (L.A.) who do know a thing or two. Cusack, Kristofferson, Stanley Tucci, Angelina Jolie, even Whoopi's no dope. But, this yutz is from hunger.
"besides, they already watched it backfire when Hillary did it)."
When did Hillary do it? Please be specific.
When did Hillary do it? Please be specific.
I was referring to Hillary the Campaign, not Hillary the person. Specifically, Bill's Jesse Jackson remark, Mark Penn's cocaine-mongering and comments of several subordinates with indirect links: such as Sen. Kerrey's attempt to link Obama to Islam or a campaign figure's accusation that Obama sold drugs.
"Specifically, Bill's Jesse Jackson remark, Mark Penn's cocaine-mongering and comments of several subordinates with indirect links: such as Sen. Kerrey's attempt to link Obama to Islam or a campaign figure's accusation that Obama sold drugs."
I guess hoping for something original was too much to ask. "Using his race against him" indeed. One thing I'm learning lately is that racebaiting is as big a weapon for some on the left as it is for those on the right.
"Mahar gets a lot wrong and he knows far less about politics than he thinks he does"
I think most people on television know less than they think they do. That's why I take most of what I see with a grain of salt.
I think his comments about prescription drugs are a little out there. As much as I think too much medication is something too avoid, the idea that we are poisoning ourselves by taking any medication seems a little far fetched.
Let's just say that I think Maher is interesting, even when I don't agree with him, and he's not afraid to step on someone's toes. Please, tell me what cable show on CNN or MSNBC will have its host ask someone like Mike Huckabee why he should be taken seriously as a candidate for president of a thinking, rational country when he doesn't believe in evolution.
One thing I'm learning lately is that racebaiting is as big a weapon for some on the left as it is for those on the right.
1. I'm not on the left.
2. I won't be voting for Obama. Every specific policy idea of his I'm aware of is foolish, wasteful, or pointless (excepting some of what he's said on foreign policy and his occasional flirtation with drug decriminalization--which is also foolish, but better than the status quo).
In short, I have no reason to accuse the Clinton campaign of attempting to turn Obama into the token black candidate unless I believe it has tried to do so.
If I just wanted to criticize the Clinton campaign for anything at all, I probably would be talking about its candidate's record of censorship, warmongering or affinity for penning nightmarish, dystopian fantasies.
Don't even get me started on her husband's pardoning of a terrorist group to assist her with the Puerto Rican demographic in her nascent Senate campaign.
There's a lot wrong with the Clintons. I don't need to make up more if I want to criticize them.
" I probably would be talking about its candidate's record of [snip] warmongering"
You cite three quotes saying she supported/supports or would have supported interventions to prevent genocide and/or ethnic cleansing in Rwanda, Kosovo, and Darfur? And this is a bad thing in your mind?
Would you prefer quotes where she mis-characterizes the Iran situation based on her reputation as an Israeli-loving hawk?
Clinton IS a hawk on the Middle East, make no mistake about that.
Obama is less so, but he still doesn't get it on Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Comments closed February 24, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
What don't you like about Maher and his show?
Posted by Brian | February 10, 2008 9:39 AM