Bill Maher: The GOP is divorced from reality.

[Guest mz.]

The GOP: divorced from reality

The Republican base is behaving like a guy who just got dumped by his wife.

By Bill Maher

April 24, 2009

 

If conservatives don't want to be seen as bitter people who cling to their guns and religion and anti-immigrant sentiments, they should stop being bitter and clinging to their guns, religion and anti-immigrant sentiments.

 

It's been a week now, and I still don't know what those "tea bag" protests were about. I saw signs protesting abortion, illegal immigrants, the bank bailout and that gay guy who's going to win "American Idol." But it wasn't tax day that made them crazy; it was election day. Because that's when Republicans became what they fear most: a minority.

 

The conservative base is absolutely apoplectic because, because ... well, nobody knows. They're mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore. Even though they're not quite sure what "it" is. But they know they're fed up with "it," and that "it" has got to stop.

 

Here are the big issues for normal people: the war, the economy, the environment, mending fences with our enemies and allies, and the rule of law.

 

And here's the list of Republican obsessions since President Obama took office: that his birth certificate is supposedly fake, he uses a teleprompter too much, he bowed to a Saudi guy, Europeans like him, he gives inappropriate gifts, his wife shamelessly flaunts her upper arms, and he shook hands with Hugo Chavez and slipped him the nuclear launch codes.

 

Do these sound like the concerns of a healthy, vibrant political party?

 

It's sad what's happened to the Republicans. They used to be the party of the big tent; now they're the party of the sideshow attraction, a socially awkward group of mostly white people who speak a language only they understand. Like Trekkies, but paranoid.

 

The GOP base is convinced that Obama is going to raise their taxes, which he just lowered. But, you say, "Bill, that's just the fringe of the Republican Party." No, it's not. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, is not afraid to say publicly that thinking out loud about Texas seceding from the Union is appropriate considering that ... Obama wants to raise taxes 3% on 5% of the people? I'm not sure exactly what Perry's independent nation would look like, but I'm pretty sure it would be free of taxes and Planned Parenthood. And I would have to totally rethink my position on a border fence.

 

I know. It's not about what Obama's done. It's what he's planning. But you can't be sick and tired of something someone might do.

 

 

 

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota recently said she fears that Obama will build "reeducation" camps to indoctrinate young people. But Obama hasn't made any moves toward taking anyone's guns, and with money as tight as it is, the last thing the president wants to do is run a camp where he has to shelter and feed a bunch of fat, angry white people.

 

Look, I get it, "real America." After an eight-year run of controlling the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court, this latest election has you feeling like a rejected husband. You've come home to find your things out on the front lawn -- or at least more things than you usually keep out on the front lawn. You're not ready to let go, but the country you love is moving on. And now you want to call it a whore and key its car.

 

That's what you are, the bitter divorced guy whose country has left him -- obsessing over it, haranguing it, blubbering one minute about how much you love it and vowing the next that if you cannot have it, nobody will.

 

But it's been almost 100 days, and your country is not coming back to you. She's found somebody new. And it's a black guy.

 

The healthy thing to do is to just get past it and learn to cherish the memories. You'll always have New Orleans and Abu Ghraib.

 

And if today's conservatives are insulted by this, because they feel they're better than the people who have the microphone in their party, then I say to them what I would say to moderate Muslims: Denounce your radicals. To paraphrase George W. Bush, either you're with them or you're embarrassed by them.

 

The thing that you people out of power have to remember is that the people in power are not secretly plotting against you. They don't need to. They already beat you in public.

 

Bill Maher is the host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

 

via The LA Times

[Mr. T]

This is all the Liberals have in response to all of the Democratic blunders in the first 100 days.

 

They are like little school children, we (Obama Dems) spent 14 Trillion dollars and you complained get over being bitter is their response? This may work for the Jerry Springer folks who voted for the Socialist.

 

Nice Try Bozos.

 

I think Maher is running out of material since "W" is no longer around.

[Chicopee John]

Who the hell is Bill Maher, mz the pussy?

 

Is he a credible, objective reporter or is he part of the "Hollywood Liberal Corps" with an asphole, I mean opinion.

 

Reading this board, you'd think Stewart, Maher, and Colbert are the new Cronkite, Brinkley, and Huntley.

 

You can doa lot better than this, mz the pussy. I am disappointed.

[Westside Steve]

I'll paraphrase Dan.

Maher???

LOL.

 

Regardless of the fact that Maher's shtick pays the bills the attacks on the Bush admin over the last 8 years have been just as silly.

The attacks on Sarah Palins family keep the left riled up even today.

 

But face it, much of it's true.

He will raise your taxes no matter what you earn.

You'll pay substantially more for anything you need or want if he isn't stopped by his own power mad party.

Fed marginal rates are a small part of it.

 

Two if you care he most likey will be making gun ownership harder and harder.

Three as above through court appointments abortion will be easier.

 

But the question is should one accept these (and other) conditions to be successful if they are against your moral code?

If you do and you win what have you won?

 

WSS

 

 

 

[Guest mz.]

Why are you disapponted in me, Chic John? I didn't write the article or even comment upon it.

[Chicopee John]

Why are you disapponted in me, Chic John? I didn't write the article or even comment upon it.

 

EXACTLY

 

[osusev]

Ok I can understand not liking or attacking the source of this op piece.

 

What about the substance of the message?

 

Religulous is funny by the way as it is meant to be. Its not a expose or some sort of documentary piece.

 

The substance of what the republican party has slowly leaned toward has a ring of truth. Obviously you cant pigeonhole all republicans however those topics he listed seem to be the "hot" button topics they like to use.

 

Come on those of you that are republicans you have to admit that you see your party being relegated toward a minority status if it currently continues on the path it is on.

 

Honestly John Mccains daughter is a progressive moderate republican and something the dems need to be watching. IF the party moves toward the direction she currently resides in I think they will become quite a powerful force in politics.

 

That party following Boehner and his ilk are never going to break the mold that led them to this point. They need to get away from leaders who are too close to some fundamentalist type christianity to some more progressive positions.

 

You guys can shoot the messenger but the message has some merits.

 

Honestly Mitt Romney/Sarah Palin are possible candidates for the next POTUS election? Really a MORMON and well Sarah Palin?

[Guest mz.]

EXACTLY

 

I thought Maher did a pretty decent job explaining on his own.

 

[Legacy Fan]

My problem with Maher is basically an extension of what Inspecta was saying. He's a twerp.

 

His shows, movies and whatever else are merely manifestations of his ability to "pick on the fat kid."

 

Congrats Bill, you can out-debate a half-wit. Particularly when you surround yourself with people who share your opinion. Then, it's dogpile time.

[Guest mz.]

Particularly when you surround yourself with people who share your opinion. Then, it's dogpile time.

 

If you watch the HBO show, Leg, his panel usually consists of extremely intelligent people from all sides who don't often share his opinion.

 

[ClevelandFanForLife]

i often wonder how this moron ever got a job anywhere, let alone second and third chances

[calfoxwc]

We should let our 2nd Amendment rights be taken away, and accept illegal immigration?

 

Libs want the illegals here to become dependents - dependent upon the gov. for survival.

 

that might by the libs "reality", but forget it.

[Legacy Fan]

If you watch the HBO show, Leg, his panel usually consists of extremely intelligent people from all sides who don't often share his opinion.

 

I'd like to check it out then, but I don't have HBO. My cousin forwarded me some youtube of "Eastbound & Down" and I might just be subscribing for that show and would then catch Maher when time permitted.

[Guest mz.]

I'd like to check it out then, but I don't have HBO. My cousin forwarded me some youtube of "Eastbound & Down" and I might just be subscribing for that show and would then catch Maher when time permitted.

 

Excellent move. There are parts of Eastbound & Down that I can only describe as 'transcendent.'

 

[osusev]

Maher has hosted top economist, ex Cia, current republican congressman/senators,top novel authors,actors,other countries presidents,top news anchors,internationally known experts in foreign affairs,diplomats... etc obviously the dim bulbs that he can outwit easily.... His usual format for his panelist is one pro republican,pro democrat and someone famous... The republican strategists and others on his show must also be dimwitted.

 

 

[Mr. T]

Maher is an Idiot! He is the king Jesters.

 

I have watched his shows inthe past, he is nothing more than a intelligent punk. Maybe he would make a good Jester I might add.

 

And you can tell he is a left wing freak just by all of the hate he excruciates towards religion and conservatives.

 

[osusev]

Maher is an Idiot! He is the king Jesters.

 

I have watched his shows inthe past, he is nothing more than a intelligent punk. Maybe he would make a good Jester I might add.

 

And you can tell he is a left wing freak just by all of the hate he excruciates towards religion and conservatives.

 

 

 

T just because he does not like religous types or christians does not make him a left wing liberal. The last show I watched he stated he was not a democrat either and did not understand their hypocrisy on gun control when they talk about torture and that was one of the reasons he is not a Dem.

 

He is a comic who likes to poke fun at politicians and just happens to also be a outspoken athiest. Quite a few of the founding fathers were outspoken athiest..... that did not mean they were leftist liberals.

[Westside Steve]

T just because he does not like religous types or christians does not make him a left wing liberal. The last show I watched he stated he was not a democrat either and did not understand their hypocrisy on gun control when they talk about torture and that was one of the reasons he is not a Dem.

 

He is a comic who likes to poke fun at politicians and just happens to also be a outspoken athiest. Quite a few of the founding fathers were outspoken athiest..... that did not mean they were leftist liberals.

 

 

Just because someone is not a mamber of the Democrat party doesn't mean he isn't a left wing idealogue.

I think Maher is one of the best politicomics there is.

He just also happens to be everything T said he is.

WSS

 

[Guest mz.]

First of all, I'm not from the right, and second of all I said "I'm not sure" which means I don't know.

 

'spec, give the show a shot...I think you'll be surprised. You may not like Maher, but you will like his guests, and will love the intelligent discussion, I assure you.

 

[Guest mz.]

Just because someone is not a mamber of the Democrat party doesn't mean he isn't a left wing idealogue.

 

Exactly. This is what guys like cal cannot grasp about guys like me. I'm about as Liberal as you can get, but do not care for the Democratic party...

 

[calfoxwc]

You mean you haven't always voted for Democrats for president?

 

Really?

 

"doi"

[Guest mz.]

You mean you haven't always voted for Democrats for president?

 

Not that it's any of your business, but I haven't voted in every election I was eligible to vote in.

 

SHOCKING that you don't have me pegged...

 

[osusev]

Steve I do agree that in ideology Maher is pretty liberal on most topics, however I was refuting the logic that Athiest (which I am) are by nature Liberals.

 

I admit I have a bit of vitriol about christianity and most religions, however I do find myself pulled toward more moderate economic stances and some social positions (I hate permanent welfare and Unions!)

 

Honestly after watching Megan Mccain on a few shows espousing her "republican" positions I have to say I closely mirror a lot of her positions. I am hoping the Republican party turns into a more modern party.

[Westside Steve]

Steve I do agree that in ideology Maher is pretty liberal on most topics, however I was refuting the logic that Athiest (which I am) are by nature Liberals.

 

 

I 'm just commenting that Maher is as big a nasty idealogue loon as exists.

But he's funny.

 

He makes Ann Coulter seem like Mary Poppins.

 

As to religion I just don't get the left wing hate.

 

Not you in particular Sev.

 

WSS

[osusev]

Obviously this is projection about left wing venom on the religous subject...

 

I think one of the big topics for them is the seperation of church and state, they see the right as being too influenced on specific topics on say scientific topics.

 

With Maher and others like him they also might see the religous types as well stupid. They look at a specific cross sample of that community and apply it too broadly. I dont know but I think Legacy is a republican Christian and he is clearly not stupid. There are tons of intelligent christians so that is just a flawed concept anyways.

 

The extremist ( I do count Mormons as extremists) make most moderate christians look bad and the extremists on the left side seem to forget that most moderate christians are not like the oddball types that picket military funerals of known homosexuals.

 

with some closet athiest I know they also honestly think too highly on their own intelligence when in reality IMHO NO one really has definitive proof of anything so all of us could be wrong anyways.

 

Its just one side being judgemental on the other, most of the time with our government system of checks and balances it all works out to some more moderate answer anyways.

[DTBH]

The article is irrelevant, this guy is so filled with hate over religion that he's completely blind to anything.

 

He doesn't hate religion.

 

He just knows he's a better, more evolved human than most of the Retards walking around praising some invisible being like god damn neanderthals.

 

Maher is one of the smartest guys in the political journalism world, and he's WAY more bi-partisan than anyone who doesn't watch his show would ever believe.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

He doesn't hate religion.

 

He just knows he's a better, more evolved human than most of the Retards walking around praising some invisible being like god damn neanderthals.

 

Maher is one of the smartest guys in the political journalism world, and he's WAY more bi-partisan than anyone who doesn't watch his show would ever believe.

 

Oh, here is Doggie the dickhead come over here to get bitch slapped? Riffer scare you away from the Browns Board? ROFLMAO!

[Mr. T]

He doesn't hate religion.

 

He just knows he's a better, more evolved human than most of the Retards walking around praising some invisible being like god damn neanderthals.

 

Maher is one of the smartest guys in the political journalism world, and he's WAY more bi-partisan than anyone who doesn't watch his show would ever believe.

 

 

Sounds as if youu have an axe to grind, or your just blind.

[Guest mz.]

Sounds as if youu have an axe to grind, or your just blind.

 

 

Have you ever seen his show, T? I think you'd be surprised...

[Legacy Fan]

He doesn't hate religion.

 

He just knows he's a better, more evolved human than most of the Retards walking around praising some invisible being like god damn neanderthals.

 

Maher is one of the smartest guys in the political journalism world, and he's WAY more bi-partisan than anyone who doesn't watch his show would ever believe.

 

Please go take a biology class, or genetics, or maybe google for a minute on m-RNA & DNA transcription and specie differentiation before you continue to ignorantly roam the planet with the belief that you magically "evolved" a brain.