Chris Matthews' comment about checkers and chess was brilliant. He may be a tool but he is witty.

It is a common saying with chess and checkers, but it was very appropriate for sure.

Damn, I liked Kasparov just as a chess player, but he was great here. Terrific.

What was the incident that required security to intervene?

I'm not sure that Kasparov is more "sophisticated" than half of the democrats running for office, but he is unafraid to project an air of sophistication. American politicians are inately aware that an air of sophistication loses elections in the United States. The genius or slickness (depending on your point of view) of Bill Clinton was his ability to connect with people who are anti-intellectual when the occasion called for it. Kasparov probably is more sophisticated in matters of foreign policy than most American candidates, with the possible exception of Biden or maybe (?) Richardson. It is hard to tell for sure with all the GOP candidates since the GOP is now so wedded to the idea that Ghengis Khan is a great foreign policy model that I'm not sure they actually think at all (about anything, to tell the truth).

A very impressive man. I wonder when the time will come when we in the US can have people such as former chess grandmasters as president, or even legitimate candidates.

What I wouldn't give for a glimpse a hundred or a thousand years into the future to see if things turn out any better...

It is all well and good for Chris Matthews to talk about the unsophisticated American candidates, but it is Matthews who asks questions like:

"Does Fred Thompson have sex appeal?

"Can you smell the English leather on this guy, the Aqua Velva, the sort of mature man's shaving cream, or whatever, you know, after he shaved? Do you smell that sort of -- a little bit of cigar smoke?"

And this dumb shit wonders why American politicians aren't sophisticated.

Kasparov is a crazy, paranoid nutcase -- all great grandmasters are. As much as Putin scares me, and as much as the shrub depresses me, I seriously would not have Kasparov in charge of any country...

Why the anonymous comment yawner? Are you ashamed to put your name to your personal attacks. Your comment has been deleted, you can repost it when you're ready to put your real name and a real email address to it, or are you just another anonymous coward? As to Kasparov, other than he's a brillant chessplayer I consider him an jerk on almost every other level, and with the exception of free speech find that I have little in common with his political views.

aglee asked... What was the incident that required security to intervene?

There were a number (three?) of "9/11 truthers" in the audience who kept interrupting the show. Bill actually stood up and went into the crowd when security didn't respond promptly. You can see the whole thing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08bE7L5yHrM

Enjoy...

-TH

I'm interested in comments from Dzwonka and Norm about Kasparov. I don't really know what Kasparov's political views are, I do know he doesn't expect to win the presidency in Russia - that he is running to call attention to the problems there. That seems valid to me.

As far as Putin goes, I have spoken to a handful of Russians in various situations and, since I thought Putin was this new direction for Russia, I was surprised at their reaction which was - once KGB, always KGB - with the highest level of disdain possible (close to spitting it out). Granted, these were Russians in the U.S. so it's certainly not a cross-section but they talked about their family back in Russia feeling that way, etc.

In the chess world Kasparov engineered a break from FIDE the international organization that is the chess governing body back in '93 Kasparov in response to some real problems chose not to work within the system but set up an alternative. He now acknowledges that it was a mistake so perhaps he's maturing. His appearance on Bill Maher seems to indicate that he is more thoughtful and less to set off on some ill-conceived plan. Kasparov as president would certainly be no worse than a Putin and possibly better, but that's not saying much. He like many Russians I've met tend to be quite conservative, a product of their history no doubt. More like a right-wing republican and certainly not liberal in a way we would understand the term. My view is probably colored by his chess persona. A little bit to arrogant for my taste, but my knowlegde of him as a politician is limited and my prior negative view of him is in the main what has informed my view.

Norm, like you, I always view him per his chess persona. I thought he was very arrogant and full of it. I have to say that since then I have read and view interviews with him in his new role as political alternative in Russia. My opinion has changed about him. He is doing something that many of us will not do...to put his own life on the line in trying to create a positive change for his country. I think his motives are sincere.

Dzwonka, what is your argument?

There are a couple of things that I liked in this interview. Kasparov, of course. Also, when Maher try to use Putin's popularity numbers Kasparov questioned the source of those numbers. Maher knew he made a mistake. Also, when he tried to said that the Russians love a hard liner. Again, Kasparov's response was great. Maher as an interviewer is about as good as the average newscaster which is not good at all.

Not that I'm a Putin supporter, but Kasparov just smells wrong in many instances. Basically saying that he must be careful about critizising Putin, because Putin could have him killed is laughable, because it's coming from a man who is under the wings of Boris Berezowski - just check some online sources on that gentleman to see how HIS free speeching critics are doing in their graves (eg. the Russian Forbes editor). Kasparov forms alliances with quasi-criminal oligarchs, has hardly ever lived in Russia throughout his youth- and adulthood up until lately and yet wants to be president. if he doesnt trust the polls about putins popularity, which im sure must have been at least sample-checked by international organizations, he should at least check his ratings. He has also questionable techniques of getting world media attention, eg. organizing unscheduled demononstrations, which by law have to be preapproved in any civilized country, and then, when its broken up just as required, shouting in perfect english into the cameras how he and his people are not free to demonstrate. just one instance.

kasparovs ambitions basically come down to one thing alone, and its what has kicked Russia ever since it was down post-USSR: business. hell, ever since it was down during world war I - no ever since rasputin came along... no russia vs japan in 1905... damn it, when were we up? ;)

andrej.

What an amazing difference can be noticed when you listen to someone that is able to quickly make jokes (and sense) in English, knowing that it's their second (or maybe 3rd / 4th / who knows) language, and then moments later you can hear "W" blather along, speaking only in partial sentences in yet another empty sound bite on the news.

http://boskolives.wordpress.com/

Norm, have you ever seen the movie "Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine" (2003)? Very entertaining, and after seeing it, it offers a possible source for his paranoia.

"Just because you're paranoid, doen't mean they're not after you" -Kurt Cobain

Peace!

I just read this, from today's New York Times:

The skirmishes at the debate, which was held in Orlando and sponsored by the Fox News Channel and the Florida Republican Party, was the culmination of weeks of steadily escalating attacks. The candidates even took a few jabs at President Bush, with Senator McCain remarking that he had looked into Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s eyes and saw only three, letters: “K.G.B.”

The McCain campaign is not only stealing lines from Kasparov, they're watchin Bill Maher!

peace

I just read this, from today's New York Times:

The skirmishes at the debate, which was held in Orlando and sponsored by the Fox News Channel and the Florida Republican Party, was the culmination of weeks of steadily escalating attacks. The candidates even took a few jabs at President Bush, with Senator McCain remarking that he had looked into Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s eyes and saw only three, letters: “K.G.B.”

The McCain campaign is not only stealing lines from Kasparov, they're watchin Bill Maher!

peace

You've got to be kidding, andrej. Do you think that Putin's "civilized" regime would approve any demonstra tions by any activists? Of course they're unscheduled, they have no choice. Kasparov put's his life on the line for what he believes in while you and the other jealous Kasparov haters cowardly sit back behind you monitors and attack his character. Talk about laughable...

so there are no scheduled demonstrations by activists in russia? are you effin kidding me? so theyre all a little underground club led by kasparov, the only brave one? the only one standing up? (id rather have him not stand up at all than with the help of berezowski on that note)

take a trip to russia, because the narrowminded kasparov propaganda of yours is simply stunning.(you seem to make him out to be some sort of george washington figure)

mr kasparov has you just where he wanted. you have no idea about russian reality or politics, but you seem to think it. if you really did, you would see what he is all about, sadly.

i bet youd love another yelzin... great democracy, right? when even gorbachov chooses putins side instead of kasparovs, it means something. i didnt even mention kasparovs character, just that he seems fishy - but thats more about his motives.

andrej. (moscow)

I don't like Kasparov. He is not a good human being, rather a monster of sort. As a chess player, well ok, no problems there.

I'm wondering if this audience truly understands where Kasparov is coming from. Hey people, he supports the Iraq War. He's always supported it. He'd like us to go into Iran as well. His problem? Bush isn't treating other nation's similarly!

Aglee asked:

What was the incident that required security to intervene?

Bill's show was disrupted by some protesters who protested in favor of their belief that the Twin Towers and building 7 were brought down by explosives, that in particular building 7 coming down had no relation to the two planes striking the towers. Bill has come down firmly on the side that believes there was no conspiracy to destroy the towers and building 7.

The entire incident is caught on YouTube and other video sites, just look up Bill Maher. (onegoodmove notes: or scroll down the page a bit or click on [this link] (http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2007/10/protest_3.html)

I am a chess master, and as such have some familiarity with Kasparov's history. He founded several organizations of chess grandmasters, then quit when he wasn't allowed to run things by himself. He likes to talk about democracy, but in practice likes to be the one dictating everything. I would be very nervous about making him president of anything, though clearly he would be better than the likes of Putin or Bush. But he's a phenomenal chess genius and obviously an extremely intelligent man.

Frederick