BILL MAHER

Is Bill Maher sometimes arrogant, crass, mean, unfunny, and politically and socially “incorrect”?  YES.  Nevertheless, I love his show.  Why?  Because he is one of the few TV moderators not afraid to stand up for what he thinks and believes; because he speaks the language of many of the people and yet is intelligent enough to hold his own with other intellects, politicians, news-makers, and supposedly “successful” people in the world; because he is a great antidote to the nauseating conservative “stars” out there, e.g. Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh (whose name reminds me of a very stinky cheese!)—and, at the same time, he’s mostly funny!  Hilarious, even!  

Does he have writers for his “shtick” at the beginning of his show; as with most talk shows—yes!  However, there are few people on television that can match his wit and knowledge.  (In addition, he proves the research that short men are funnier than tall men!)

I don’t agree with all his viewpoints but he is an excellent moderator, letting others express their views (as opposed to moderators like Nancy Grace who are TV fascists).  He touches on many different subjects of consequence and interest to the political public and even those who are not especially politically inclined (like me).  If he can get someone like ME interested, I say, “kudos”, Bill!

For people who will not “lower” themselves to watch his show because he uses swear words and sexual innuendo, YOU LOSE.  Maybe he makes you feel incompetent, because you find it difficult to keep up with his mostly intelligent, informed guests, and his quality conversation?

I don’t really belong to one party or another, though I shy away from Republicans, especially the Tea Party types, but like most people trained in therapy, tend toward the democratic ideal (which used to be the republican ideal at the beginning of this nation's creation).  I don’t take the whole cake, but pick and choose those policies, concepts, and politicians I like and with whom I agree.  That takes weighing and comparing issues.

The easy thing for most people would be to say, for example, “My religion usually votes Republican, and I believe in my religion, so I vote for Mitt Romney!”  I venture that, for the most part, these kinds of statements expose the ignorance and laziness, and/or lack of integrity of Republicans to seriously study what they are saying they believe when they make that all-encompassing statement:  I am a Republican!

Yes, I admit I’m not well schooled in politics, but I try, especially as I grow older and see how much politics is affecting my life directly!  It is not my among my top interests or areas of knowledge, but I see myself slowly forming ideas…

I guess I rely on the old instincts to help me decide as well.  Maybe that’s not good, because instincts can be defined as those beliefs and values which have been indoctrinated into you over time and, usually, from a young age.  However, how can we be sure (which raises the question, "What is instinct?")?  I know my stomach turns when I listen to Beck and Limbaugh!  They rattle my sense of logic, and I balk at their extremism.  (Did you see the show Beck did on Jewish people where he began to cry—I think it aired after the U.S. attacks on Libya?  Too much.)

If you think I’m way off base, perhaps this is a place to start exploring political ideas.  Scary, but I usually don’t back down from a challenge…

NEW RULE:  From now on, fearful fundamentalists and republicans need to open their minds just a crack, either to let the s__t out and/or to let new information seep in, even though it might make you want to puke at being slapped in the face with some hard reality! 

P.S. Yes, I feel in a fighting spirit tonight!  Are they going to raise the debt ceiling—of course, they will!!!  What other choices are they likely to make?!

P.P.S.  Bill had a guest on TV that was one of the researchers and authors of the book “The China Study” which is about how much better and healthier the vegan diet is for us!  I have the book and I read it, cover to cover.  Ahhhh, I feel like I've learned, but once again, feel trapped by my own dysfunction!  (I LOVE DAIRY!)


SEE POST:  BILL MAHER AND RAISING THE DEBT CEILING