onegoodmove

I was particularly unimpressed by this clip for some reason. I suppose there are some reasons:

• Lame attempts to inject humorous pop-culture references: Check

• Repeated immature penis gags: Check

• Counterproductively insulting people's intelligence: Check

• Uninsightful commentary on real political or social problems: Check

• Lame off-color jokes: Check

I agree, Frenetic. When I first found out about Bill Maher's existence, I thought he was someone I could relate to in the media because of his outspokenness on the topic of religion, but now I know better. In many ways, he's really no different than those he criticizes.

Perfect! Maher hilariously and perceptively nailed right-wing fucks who are preparing to "Swift Boat" Obama, as well as their demogaging mouthpieces (like Hannity) who aim their Big Lies straight at the religious trailer trash who form the 19% who still love Bush. Um, what's not to like?

It's gonna get ugly. Oh, but we mustn't be so harsh on the assholes greedily fucking up our culture and country. Stay highbrow! Don't mention penises, it may offend! Don't call the dumbfucks morons! Off-color jokes? Oh pooh-pooh on that!

He's pithy and insightful, Frenetic--two things absent from your post.

He's pithy and insightful, Frenetic

I'm sorry, maybe I was distracted by the lame off-color jokes, etc, and missed the insightful part.

Or maybe you think that "Republicans are using misinformation and propaganda in an attempt to discredit the Democratic candidates!" is somehow information that only a super genius like Maher could figure out and explain to us?

Anyways, I've enjoyed Maher in the past, for what he is, but this clip in particular seemed to ring pretty hollow to me. However, that is merely my personal opinion.

I was under the impression the Clinton campaign leaked the photo of Obama in Kenya, not 'The Republicans'. Am I mistaken or does Maher think Hillary is a 'crazy right-winger'?

I feel he should have saved his best bit... the first one, for the end and expanded on that. Because seriously, I still don't understand why Congrass is having hearings about BASEBALL!

Frenetic & Firi,

What exactly is funny to you guys?

Being an arrogant ass is part of Bill's Shtick, and I can understand that that gets under the skin of those that disagree with him.

But come on, we could sit here and say nothing is funny and all humor is unsulting tripe, but what fun would that be?

RedSeven,

I find humor in things that I would not have thought of myself. Perhaps a bit of randomness or spontaneity, too. I've heard so many "Hillary has a vagina" and "Barack isn't like us" jokes that I just find them irritating now. Insulting the American masses isn't that funny, either, anymore. It's been done thousands of times and might even be a bit misplaced. Yeah, education in the U.S. isn't pretty, but should we constantly sit around laughing about it?

I guess those two jokes killed the rest for me.

What exactly is funny to you guys?

Lots of things. The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert, George Carlin, lolcats, and the impending demise of human civilization are all very funny to me, for example.

And I'm not saying I hate Bill Maher. I'm saying this particular performance just didn't do it for me.

As a consumer of ostensibly humorous political shows, I can honestly dismiss the remark that goes, "you didn't think it was funny because you don't agree". I DO agree with Bill on many fronts but he's simply not funny here. The curry cock joke, for example, was his stock penis quota and did not make me think he's channeling iconoclastic daring comics of the past, even though that's what he's so desperately trying to make us nuzzle up to. I understand already that he's vastly superior to everything Middle America. So what else y'got, Mr. Maher?

Some day, when it's all too late, I'll realize that I never deserved Bill.

And I'm not saying I hate Bill Maher. I'm saying this particular performance just didn't do it for me.

I laughed, but not his best and certainly seems bill is spending too much time at the playboy mansion with that many genital references

Not his best, but a few chuckles. Late at night for me as well, so that factors in....

I have to disagree with the little diatribe that the more ridiculous claims are aimed at swing voters AKA morons (to Bill). The more ridiculous claims are aimed at ignorant folk who run to the voting booth when their emotions are hackled due to religious or "patriotic" jabs thrown at a certain candidate.

The swing voters i know are generally moderates who ignore the mud slinging. That doesn't mean some of them weren't swayed, sadly, by the gross misinformation in 2004. Just that more emo neo-con types came out to the polls for Bush than those who could see the progress of the war came out for Kerry. (and then we can go into a Nader/3rd party thread about just how Bush got into office the last 2 times....)