see

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/

and

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/

and

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/view/

why does those he have to use such a obscene language ??

Brilliant. Why is it that only America has critical voices as powerful as this?

maher is right that in a perfect world people shouldn't care mainly about the foley scandal but about the others - but they do. so you can't blame democrats to use it. if it's not enough to bring these guys down that they unnecessarily killed thousands of kids, any mean justifies the end. al capone was imprisoned for tax fraud.

Bill Maher -- calling like it is. Amazing.

As always, Bill's wake-up calls are good to hear, but it was even more refreshing to hear his horizons expand beyond big oil.

I would just love to see someone try to use this against Maher, claiming his single ways to be the product of amorality. It would be like the time where Geraldo tried to smear Stewart and Colbert.

That was not really very funny because it was true. A very powerful effort from Maher - nicely and strongly worded.

God love him, he makes a valid point with that rant.

Bloody brilliant. The man is a genius.

Well, him and his stable of writers.

Not to bag on Bill but just to be sure we don't make him more than he is. We don't want that 'Man of the Year' scenario.

And speaking of Robin Williams, wasn't he just a cringeworthy embarassment on this show?

I like the image of psychoactive drug users as junkies. He should have used the word pushers to describe the drug companies. but maybe that would open him up to slander suits.

why does those he have to use such a obscene language ??

If you want to make a strong, bold statement, nothing gets the message across better than profanity.

By the way, it isn't bad words that make the world bad, it's bad actions that make the world bad.

why does those he have to use such a obscene language ??

I agree. How dare he say the word 'McDonald's' on television.

Wow. Norm, can you YouTube this so that we can post it on websites and MySpace?

@ "So and So": we are in a war that has seen massive casualities, are military is stretched thin, our public health is declining, and are economy is going down the tubes. and your concerned about a little coarse language?

Somebody nominate this man for a political office!!! Maher for President!

seeing people talk about how brilliant bill maher is makes me kind of uncomfortable. as independant pointed out, he has a stable of writers, and yes, THEY are often brilliant. or one could say the show is brilliant. but bill maher is essentially just a talking head with very little range. id be very surprised if more than 5% of the material on the show is his own. this is not a jon stewart, or even a stephen colbert. i just hope that the generally intelligent readers of this blog realize this. having said this, some excellent points were made here. its just a shame that it took so long for these notions of perspective to make it into any media, mainstream or otherwise. which is not to condone pedophilic faggotry. :)

Jonathan,

Is Jon Stewart's and Stephen Colbert's stable of writers smaller than Bill Maher's?

Deliver means a lot. I could never say the same things that these three do and be anywhere near as amusing.

Hi Jo, I think you can.

The reason why these 3 does it so well is that they dare to make fun of the morbid absurdities in everyday life and journalism in a meaningful manner.

To be honest, their brand of hunour can be grating or offensive to some, their targets withstanding.

jo anne, i see your point about the writers. as far as delivery goes, i guess thats what i don't like about maher. he just seems one-dimensional compared to the other guys. one thing i'm pretty sure of-writers or not, i think on stewart and colberts' shows you're getting a lot more of the presenters and less of the writers as opposed to maher, who just seems to read his teleprompter in this generic snide voice. the fact that he often says funny/important things makes it worthwhile. in fact it occurs to me he may have an advantage in this:stewart and colbert can be funny and relevant just talking about the weather. maher, with his comprimised delivery, needs to stay sharp with his content in order to keep up.

jonathan, there is no doubt Bill Maher is more than just a talking head. His true intellectual capacity and wit is brought out most often during his interviews. He is usually on point in every interview he does and is well composed. Sure the writers might beef him up a little, but he is still brilliant and the intellectually, amoral voice America needs to hear.

jo ann, you're probably right about the stable of writers. i guess i just (overwhelmingly)prefer stewart and colberts' deliveries. i'm distracted by mahers more obvious reliance on his teleprompters, and s. and c.'s dazzling abilities to think on their feet. mahers show may have an advantage, however, in that he has to keep his material super sharp to make up for his inability to make lesser stuff sound brilliant like the other two can. anyway, i thought he said some very important things in this clip, funny or not.

"It's like Rush Limbaugh had puppies"

BEST LINE EVER