Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jfz9580m

(17,070 posts)
50. I don't mind Bill Maher
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 04:27 AM
Mar 8

He is a genuine supporter of animal rights (which is a true abomination ignored by many on the left. Nathan Robinson and Current Affairs have been stellar in their championship of it and given a platform to Marina Bolotnikova, John Sanbonmatsu, Seb Alex etc while remaining leery of effective altruism. Robinson has good instincts. I like to support CA, Yasha Levine and some day Chris Ketcham on that head..)

My ex who is pretty reliable and a staunch Democrat of the Warren allied faction says he is not maga.

But we were both sad that he lost his compass on an issue as serious as Gaza.

I am a curmudgeon myself, so I get why superficial lefties (who rarely make any sacrifices nor walk the walk), but form swarms online annoy him.

But it is like people who find Peta annoying and therefore dismiss horrors like factory farming and ventilation shutdown.

You have to separate an issue that serious from its more annoying supporters. I always thought “being on the right side of history”- such an image conscious framing-is grating.

But such a deep humanitarian crisis affecting our fellow humans is different. I remember reading about a girl who was living in such horrific conditions, much like tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants.
I remember being moved by Pastor Marian Budde’s words on the latter.

It is easy to harden one’s heart at times like these as outrages multiply. But that is misplaced when directed away from all manner of self serving hucksters and charlatans grifting exploiting human fallibility and folly.

Andy Nikiforuk put it well when he said that when the imagination is limited (which is an unfortunate aspect of all sides with the online mode of engagement that favors combative, pugilistic styles. It doesn’t have to be that way, but humans have to want to change that for reasons that are not as shallow and misguided as the increasing level of intrusion and surveillance we live under more, which will catch and expose more hypocrisies. But that is again a poor motivator whether driven by image or a reactionary “I do not give a shit” stance..) you cannot think of what being a child walking through the rubble in Gaza is like.

That was the one thing where Maher, whom I generally like, disappointed me. He should learn to ignore celebrity culture and not pay so much attention to those IDW whiners. I agree with him/Ricky Gervais, on how superficial a lot of the left has become.

But that never makes me blind to the cruelty of removing sexual harassment protections for trans prisoners and reality based humanity.
Which is what the left is about.

Not the approval of some strangers you will never meet with opinions they post online when bored at work etc.

I am slamming the web to be precise not those humans, though it is recommended imo that all humans think a little more deeply.

The web warps perceptions of reality and even pre-ai that had a negative effect on politics, democracy and human life.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Good for her. Maher is such an arrogant prick!! ratchiweenie Mar 7 #1
She Mahered and feathered him. BattleRow Mar 7 #11
Ooooh, GOOD one! calimary Mar 8 #49
Arrogance is Maher's middle name. joshdawg Mar 7 #41
No argument here newdeal2 Mar 7 #2
When I was a teenager, mom used to constantly complain about one of those talking heads Wonder Why Mar 7 #39
I can't stand Bill Maher. yardwork Mar 7 #3
I turned against him even before Bush was out of office. slightlv Mar 7 #42
Bill Maher is a giant prick. City Lights Mar 7 #4
Obsessed LessAspin Mar 7 #5
Lots of folks like to be talked down to displacedvermoter Mar 7 #10
More the Howard Stern of liberal politics Sympthsical Mar 7 #12
I'm glad you're as easily amused by your fellow DUers as you are by Maher. Ilikepurple Mar 7 #29
That sounds rough Sympthsical Mar 7 #32
I don't mind Bill Maher jfz9580m Mar 8 #50
Nobody likes Maher more than Maher. Is now and has always been. Eh men. twodogsbarking Mar 7 #6
We quit watching him about two years ago. His show was why we subscribed to HBO. mommymarine2003 Mar 7 #7
Maher has been irrelevant since before the first trump term. BComplex Mar 7 #16
He's been irrelevant since he gave Ann Coulter a platform. LisaM Mar 7 #40
We did same thing but my step daughter Tree Lady Mar 7 #18
More than kissing up misanthrope Mar 7 #37
He is aging very badly Tree Lady Mar 7 #43
He comes across as a bitter old man misanthrope Mar 7 #46
I gave up on Maher after his dinner with Trump kellytore Mar 7 #8
Why is Maher even relevant? Wednesdays Mar 7 #9
Many years ago, my husband and I looked forward to watching Real Time. chouchou Mar 7 #13
It is sad. I used to like him too. Not anymore. Martin68 Mar 7 #15
Same DarthDem Mar 7 #34
Maher is indeed a hypocritical whiner - and a phony liberal. Martin68 Mar 7 #14
Bradley Whitford was always my favorite actor on West Wing FakeNoose Mar 7 #17
Bradley Whitford is so good.. LessAspin Mar 7 #44
I love she and Whitfird met on The Handmaid's Tale obamanut2012 Mar 7 #19
Bill Maher...a face made for radio, and a voice made for silent film. sop Mar 7 #20
perfect! niyad Mar 7 #22
Yes!! Great! Maher is an ass. LymphocyteLover Mar 7 #21
A college prof I had once posed a question: if a comedian tells a joke but no one laughs... JHB Mar 7 #23
Ugh Bill Maher ... OldBoss Mar 7 #24
He lucked out popsdenver Mar 8 #47
Fuck Bill Maher Prairie Gates Mar 7 #25
Imagine Traildogbob Mar 7 #26
In my opinion Dave Id Mar 7 #27
Bill Maher ceased being funny or amusing a long time ago LetMyPeopleVote Mar 7 #28
I used to enjoy his show JBTaurus83 Mar 7 #30
Maher has always been a front-runner and political dilettante... appmanga Mar 7 #31
It's not surprising that she doesn't suffer fools gladly. rsdsharp Mar 7 #33
m is not a liberal! Hope22 Mar 7 #35
"The most angry stoner I've ever met in my entire life" misanthrope Mar 7 #36
Bill Maher is the new Dennis Miller. F*ck him! Buttoneer Mar 7 #38
My hero. Bradley Whitford Calls Out Sarandon Cha Mar 7 #45
WOW! That'll leave a mark. Maru Kitteh Mar 8 #48
This is what Wanda meant ejbr Mar 8 #51
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'West Wing' Star's Wife U...»Reply #50