Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Defeating Evil

On Friday night's Real Time, Craig Ferguson was not following an analogy I made, and he's an exceptionally bright guy, so maybe it was me and here's agood place to expatiate, unless that's what makes you go blind.

I was trying to make a point about something that's been bugging me lately,which is the way the Afgan war has become the good, smart war that nobody questions - sure, the Republicans were stupid to go into Iraq, THEIR war, but Obama's idea to add troops and have a surge in Afghanistan, that nobody questions. Can't we at least have a debate about this? I know in America wehave to have SOME war going, you can't say you're against war, that makes you a wimp. But on the campaign trail, Obama used to say he didn't want tojust end the Iraq war, he wanted to change the mindset that got us into such a war - that's the kind of thing that made me really like him.

But at the convention, it was "Obama wants to send two more brigades to Afghanistan! Hurrah!" Yes, Afghanistan is where Al Queada really is, but we're not going to beable to kill all of them, and new ones are being born every minute,especially every time we bomb civilians. And bin Laden is in Pakistan, and we're not going to invade Pakistan to get him, so what's the plan? And theanalogy I was making was with gangs in America. In the analogy, they're the terrorists. Of course the gangs in L.A. would like to rampage through Malibu, just as Al Quadea would like to knock down more of our buildings,but Malibu takes measures to ensure they wouldn't be successful if they tried it. No one feels the need to send the Malibu police into South Centraland arrest or kill every gang member; that would be impossible. As is the idea that we can kill or capture every "terrorist." And it is possible tobring gang members into society, and terrorists, too.

But this is a country where millions cheered when Rick Warren asked McCain what to do about evil, and he said "Defeat it."

You could wipe out evil by the end of your first term, Senator, or would it take two?

304 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 304 of 304
Mrs. MeZ said...

Bill,

The reason why Obama's not being criticized for suggesting a surge in Afghanistan is because it has already started.

clydene said...

EARTH to Rockbandsinc....

Bill Maher is not a reporter...Bill Maher is a COMEDIAN, and a political satirist.

HE MAKES JOKES...that is what he does for a living. Maybe it is that he covers the news in a more entertaining and light hearted manner than the news reporters, but he is not a reporter.

COMEDIAN:
co?me?di?an ?? (k-md-n)

A professional entertainer who tells jokes or performs various other comic acts.
An actor in comedy.
A writer of comedy.

I always laugh when I see you guys treating him like he is a reporter, he is a GREAT COMEDIAN.

THIS was the best joke he told so far about McCain's pick of Palin.

"I think this is pertinent because McCain has been running this campaign based on 'We're at war, it's a dangerous world out there. The democrats don't get that. I John McCain am the only one standing between the blood-thirsty Al Qaedas and you. But if I die, this stewardess can handle it.'" -Bill Maher

I love his humor because it hits the mark every time.

Anonymous said...

Bill Maher criticized Sarah Palin for small mindedness. more appropriately, Bill's mind might be characterized as pea brained or possibly bird brain, similar to xwoman310. Quite appropriate for the left wing loons that inhabit this blogg site.

Kevin G Blankinship said...

I would be curious as to which RAND report Bill Maher was referring to on the Aug. 29 show. This report supposedly said that military means were ineffectual in Afghanistan, and that terrorist groups ultimately disappear when they join the political process. A browse of the abstracts of the dozend of RAND reports for this year on terrorism show none that support Bill Maher's contention, but rather advocate that something needs to be done to win in Afghanistan.

Bill Maher said...

Sorry their are no transcripts available at this time. Were still a work in progress.

Thanks
Webmaster

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jeff Shum said...

Bill, I think it's a weak analogy. Gangs in LA, or any other city in the world, aren't looking to terrorize or overtake rich communities. For the most part, gang violence is something that is isolated to specific (poor) neighborhoods. It is not a class war, but a war amongst themselves.

I do get the point you are making and it's quite simple. The reason why Obama must endorse some kind of war is because we as Americans feel that we haven't exacted our revenge yet for 9/11. There is no way that he can win this election if he doesn't continue our "war against terror".

clydene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
clydene said...

Hi Jeff,

Well, Mr. Maher wasn't really talking about the dynamic nature of gangs or gang violence as an analology of what has happened with Terrorists.

The analogy was what Mr. Maher said at about 46 minutes in to the show on August 29th. “Terrorists are like Gang members, their bad. What the Democrats and Republications are saying is we have to where they are and kill them all. I say that will never happen.”

The real discussion starts about 40 minutes into the show. It is not about Gangs or Malibu, but really about how we perceive that we have to go where the Terrorists are to get rid of them, and Mr. Maher’s point is maybe we should just fortify the defenses here because we are ineffective at getting rid of the Terrorists on their own turf; which was the finding of the Rand Report looking at over 600 terrorist groups and how military intervention was not affective in getting rid of them. Unfortunately we will have to look up the title of the Rand paper to see what it said about how military intervention is ineffective to get rid of Terrorists.

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
I'm into that said...

Ground control to Major Clydene...

Things reached the point where HBO's liberal comic Bill Maher, riffing on MSNBC's coverage of Obama, said: "I mean, these guys were ready to have sex with him."

I understand Bill Maher is a comic and not a reporter. I also recognize great satire when I see it. I appreciate the fact that he even a liberal such as himself could rip Olberman and Matthews for their partisan coverage of the campaign going all the way back to the democratic primaries when Hillary got the shaft by all those far left Obama cronies at MSNBC who have been constantly kissing his ass.

Don't you have anything better to do all day but blog criticizing Palin and defending Obama?

loser: 1: a person or thing that loses especially consistently
2: a person who is incompetent or unable to succeed; also : something doomed to fail or disappoint

clydene said...

clyde

Thanks for your concern, yes I have lots to do;taking care of someone in stage 4 breast cancer today, so thanks for your concern and input regarding my commenting on this blog.

Although I don't see the point of your message, unless it is to call of us losers that support either Bill Maher or Barack Obama.

So here is to hoping you stay and learn something that you must might find educational and enlightening.

russ regal said...

Same situation, different perceptions

If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire."
If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."

Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic."
Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you "First dog."
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you "beautiful" and "courageous."

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter.
If you have an abortion you're not a Christian, you're a murderer (forget about if it happens while being date raped.)

If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic."
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're "reckless."
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."

If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an "arrogant celebrity".
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are "energizing the base".

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are "presumptuous".
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a "shoot from the hip" maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are "an elitist-out of touch" with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you strategize and manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign defeating more tenured politicians, you are an "empty suit".
If you were a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an "experienced executive".

If you go to a largely African American south side Chicago church, your beliefs are "extremist".
If you believe in creationism, don't believe global warming is affected by human activity, and see the Iraq invasion as "a mission from God", you are "strongly principled".

If you left your disfigured wife after cheating on her with a rich heiress, whom you married the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years and raised 2 beautiful daughters, you're "risky".

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African American voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 3 years in the United States Senate representing a state of almost 13 million people, sponsoring 129 bills and cosponsoring 545 bills, and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are "inexperienced".


If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, then you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, have traveled to 3 foreign countries, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard of 4,000 members, you are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

russ regal said...

Same situation, different perceptions

If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire."
If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."

Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic."
Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you "First dog."
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you "beautiful" and "courageous."

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter.
If you have an abortion you're not a Christian, you're a murderer (forget about if it happens while being date raped.)

If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic."
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're "reckless."
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."

If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an "arrogant celebrity".
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are "energizing the base".

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are "presumptuous".
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a "shoot from the hip" maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are "an elitist-out of touch" with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you strategize and manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign defeating more tenured politicians, you are an "empty suit".
If you were a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an "experienced executive".

If you go to a largely African American south side Chicago church, your beliefs are "extremist".
If you believe in creationism, don't believe global warming is affected by human activity, and see the Iraq invasion as "a mission from God", you are "strongly principled".

If you left your disfigured wife after cheating on her with a rich heiress, whom you married the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years and raised 2 beautiful daughters, you're "risky".

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African American voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 3 years in the United States Senate representing a state of almost 13 million people, sponsoring 129 bills and cosponsoring 545 bills, and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are "inexperienced".


If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, then you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, have traveled to 3 foreign countries, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard of 4,000 members, you are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dennie67 said...

You have got to be the worst talk show host that I've ever seen. You think, talk, and act like a kid. Most of what you say makes absotely no sense. People should cancel their HBO because of you.
BIG WASTE OF AIR TIME!!!

derikstilwell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
derikstilwell said...

hey dennie67 before u start talking out of ur ass..do ur research..and take ur anger and unfounded insults somewhere,anywhere else..im sure there is a rebublican site like this one where everyone just talks about oil,guns how they should change the law so bush can continue being the worst president in u.s. history..

im not saying bill needs it,but i'll defend him till bush makes the decision to pull out of iraq..

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dennie67 said...

Hey derikstilwell. I think bush will go down as the worst president in history. I just think it is a lousy talk show. I can see you have the same immature mindset that maher has. The unintelligent have to sustitute profanity for the lack of anything wise to say.
On another note, McCain is the best thing that could happen to this country. Obama is a weakling that will turn America into a nation on the run. Don't even start with me on politics because I will bury you.

clydene said...

Dennie67

Thanks for your comments, and I am sure that they are heart felt from your point of view.

For me, and others in my age group the fact that the Republicans suport someone who would take away the right for a rape victim to have an abortion. These people would force a woman to carry the child of a man who raped her. This seems very backward to me.

I have watched Bill Maher for a number of years. The coversation that he promotes on his show is insightful and interesting. While he does use some profanity at times, and almost all of them do...you should see the bit by George Carlin about the seven words you can't say on TV. Very Funny Stuff.

I am sorry you don't like REAL TIME, because it is extremely funny and well thought out. The show seems much better thought out than what is going on in the Republican Political Process.

I just don't see how you can qualify McCain as the best thing that oculd happen for this country. He has been in the Senate since the 1980s; Since when can you be part of the political machine and not be responsible for 90 percent of your voting record. It is just like being a little bit pregnant. Did he vote for us to not go into Iraq?

My friends in the medical profession who have watched the McCain interviews and witnessed the flip flops he has made in his stance on issues have actually asked me if John McCain is fit for duty because they think that all this miss statements made by McCain show that he is senile. Can you see the lack of continuity in his message and discussions of the issues.

I don't see any conversation from the right here other than saying Bill Maher is profane. Where is the meat of your conversation.

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dennie67 said...

Clydene: I don't think that I gave a stance on my positions. But since you asked. I do not support abortion, but that is a persons choice to make. I do not support gay marriage, but I believe that gays are entitled to certain rights. I have gay friends. I do not claim to be Rep. or Dem. I vote for who I believe is the best person for the job. What experience does Obama have that will carry us through the next four years. Even Hillary and Biden whom I like made that clear during the primaries. To be honest, we the people haven't had a good choice in the last 20 years. We need to be safe and John McCain will keep us safe.

MP2008 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
derikstilwell said...

bury me?
way to use the prototypical rebublican response..

I'm into that said...

Thanks clydene. It's always very moving to hear someone mentioning someone else's affliction to gain some sympathy. Glad you're feeling well enough to blog though.

I've tried to learn something educational and enlightening from the democrats in the past two presidential elections but have been disappointed both times by their candidates. They don't seem to understand that in politics its not how you play the game its whether you win or lose.

a wise man once said "you can put lipstick on a pig..."

clydene said...

clyde

You asked. it is great that you can be so dismissive of how someone chooses spends their time.

I can't vote for a woman who would make a rape victim care the child of her attacker. Plain and simple.

dennie67 said...

Clydene: I think ROE VS WADE will stand, and it probably should. The thing that bothers me is that it allows very whore in America to kill babies. Now! After 9-11 how can you vote for someone with a name like BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA BIN LADEN! OR THE FLIP FLOPPING JOE BIDEN. He has been in the senate longer than President McCain and he supported the war on terror. All he is doing now is sucking up so he can finally come close to being president. There is something missing in the thought process of you way left liberals. Some of you are so far to the left that you probably walk in circles. Maybe thats why you can't get anywhere.

I'm into that said...

I supported Hillary in the primaries. I now volunteer my time for the Barack Obama campaign but I am greatly disappointed by our candidate for president. As an American I'm still entitled to have an open mind and a dissenting opinion. Aren't I? I will still vote for him but I sure wish he would grow so balls. Hillary was right. She was electable, she was prepared for the barrage of hate and smear that the republicans were going to throw at the democratic candidate. Obama has shown in the last few weeks that he's not. Obama seems like he can't handle the pressure. Politics is a contact sport. When will democrats figure out we don't need someone who can deliver eloquent speeches of hope and change. We just need someone who can win.

clydene said...

To be very honest, my friends and I feel we have no real choice once Hillary was out of the race. It is unfortunate that Barack Obama could not have put her on the ticket before Biden, not that I have anything against Biden, but I digress.

If anything McCain made it much easier for "us" to support Obama.

Our goal is to get him elected, and we will be having our own grass roots get the vote out for Obama calling and getting people to car pool to the polls.

dennie67 said...

I liked John Edwards. What a shocker when he confessed.
He is human and we all make mistakes. Just quit being wimps and when your busted admit it. Rep. as well.
I also think Bill Clinton was a very good president and I would vote for him again if possible, but Obama! I just can't believe that the dems are backing this guy. I do want to apologize about what I said about Bill Maher. He is interesting to watch, it's just that his panel is so unbalanced. I like to hear debates and the I feel the same about O'Reilly and that cry baby Keith Oberman. Did you see the fit he through after they showed a clip of 9-11. Wake up Keith! It happened so get over it or Call 1-800-boo-hoo

Cymone said...

Hey...Maybe It's Me But,Has Any One Else Thought That Being Held Captive And Tortured In A P O W Camp could Cause severe Long Term Seriuos Mental Issues...Hmmm...Maybe its just My Thoughts..Or...Just Food For Thought...Who Me....Noooooo Noooo No No...I'm Not Questioning The Mental Stability Of The Republican Presidential Nominee At all...Nooooo...LOL

wilber said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cymone said...

And Willlberrrrrrrrrrr I Can Tell When YOU... Ooopssss.. I Mean When A Person Has A Third Grade Education....Yes People..Our Education System Really Needs To Improve....Does'nt It Wilber....LOL

clydene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
marcstj_1one said...

Hey Bill, I'm a big fan of your show and, while I don't always agree with you 100%, I really appreciate that you get people from all stripes on the program to talk frankly about real issues. I'm looking forward to the release of "Religulous" !
I've been following the lively discussion on HuffPost regarding Gov. Palin. Probably the only good thing about her nomination (if the Republicans win) is that it will be a good steady work for Tina Fey if 30 Rock gets cancelled ;)
Anyway, I made this observation on HuffPost, when trying to convey Palin's non-existent international experience. I thought you might be interested in reading it, and using as you see fit :)

"John McCain has crashed more planes than Sarah Palin has boarded during her "international travels" !"

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for your film Bill!!!

If it'll be anything like COMING SOON (http://www.comingsoon.cz) we'll all the better for it!

Love ya!

Lugnutz said...

Hey Bill!

YOU ARE A DICK! And the rest of you left-wing cocksuckers are just as bad if not worse. I hope there is a whole bunch of you America hating pricks standing underneath the next building that Al Queda bombs.

Oh no, that probably won't happen because of there are truely brave men and women out there protecting your pathetic ASSES! You sniveling bunch of whiney pricks can't do anything without the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT handing it too you on a silver platter. FUCK YOU!! You make me sick. Go take your perverted "progressive" shit to another planet where you all belong.

Lugnutz said...

Hey Bill!

Your analogy of LA street gangs to Al Queda is total bullshit!! LA street gangs are involved in crime, ie selling drugs, robbery, etc. Al Queda is a religious based cult whose soul purpose is the destruction and murder of Jews and other innocent people of other faiths. These ARE NOT the same thing! Or is your head too far up your ass to be able to see that??

The Nazis killed MILLIONS of people and probably would have killed MILLIONS more if the type of "evil" they embraced had not been confronted and DEFEATED. Everyone agrees that war is ugly and wasteful and disgusting etc. But terrorists who embrace violence and death must be confronted and eliminated by whatever means are necessary. Your empty-headed logic doesn't work. Read a history book, it might help you out a little bit.

Cymone said...

FOR SOME REASON.. THIS PIECE OF NEWS DID'NT LEAVE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN..THIS CLIP IS FROM THE DETROIT FREE PRESS NEWS....PLEASE COPY AND PASS IT ON... BRIAN DICKERSON:
Sarah Palin goes to Lansing
BY BRIAN DICKERSON • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • September 17, 2008


Jennifer Granholm's staff was at a loss for words when the woman in the upswept hairdo strode into the governor's office and plopped herself into the boss' leather seat.


"I guess you all know who I am," Sarah Palin said, "and since your fearless leader is busy impersonating me at that little debate school they set up for Senator Biden, I figured I'd play her for a few days and see if I couldn't bring a little Alaska sunshine to your mopey little state."

"Well," Granholm's chief operating officer, Dan Krichbaum, said, "we were just discussing our state's budget deficit. It looks like it's going to come in at about $300 million."

"So let's get cuttin'!" Palin whooped. "You got an airplane we can lose? I got rid of mine two years ago, and the national press is still talkin' about it."

"Actually, Michigan has sold five state airplanes since Gov. Granholm took office," Krichbaum said. "These days, we're looking at cutting things like school aid and revenue sharing for police protection."

Lean and mean
"Police protection?" Palin repeated, scowling over her Japanese titanium eyeglasses. "Isn't that a local budget item?"

"When Michigan cut property taxes a few years ago, it promised cities a share of sales tax receipts for expenses like law enforcement," Budget Director Bob Emerson explained. "Plus we have our state troopers to pay for."

"Well, Alaska cut property taxes and eliminated its income tax, and we have one of the most efficient state police forces in the country," Palin said proudly.

"But your state police director told me he has 80 trooper vacancies he can't fill because Alaska pays its troopers so little," Michigan State Police Director Peter Munoz said. "He says some Alaskan women who report being raped don't see a police officer for two days."

"Just because you live out in the country doesn't mean you shouldn't lock your doors," Palin snapped.

"How about education? Any pork there? Are you guys really wasting money on kids who aren't even old enough to be in kindergarten?"

"Every state funds pre-K education nowadays," state Superintendent Mike Flanagan sputtered.

"Not mine," Palin replied smugly. "And we've cut Alaska's high school dropout rate to 35%."

The earmark solution
"But if you're so hot for pre-K ed," she continued, "why don't you just get the federal government to pay for it? Those guys are swimming in dough. My state got more than $500 per person this year in federal earmarks alone."

"Well, Michigan's a little bit more, um, populous," Krichbaum said. "Our share was only $23 a person."

"Holy cow!" Palin cried. "You guys need some better lobbyists!"

"Our auto companies have pretty good lobbyists," Emerson said defensively. "It's the price of gas that's killing them."

"Really?" Palin asked. "In Alaska, when gas prices go up, we just get a bigger royalty check from the oil companies."

"We know we're too dependent on one industry," Krichbaum said.

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with that," Palin said. "You guys just picked the wrong industry."

Contact BRIAN DICKERSON at 248-351-3697 or bdickerson@freepress.com.

Alan and Sarah said...

Bill,
How about coming out to one of the reservations in the IE soon so we can come see you again?
My wife came up with the best comment about John McCain:
"McCain is G.I. John and Palin is Backwoods Barbie with a 22 pistol in her sock."

How about sending us a couple of tickets to your TV taping session. We promise to behave.

The Bushies have advised McCain to paint Obama as uppity. McCain has 13 vehicles, including a Caddie, an f150. a VW convertible, and a set of electric cars. Obama has one Ford.

If McCain starts to come out with more racial stuff, it's a landslide for Obama.

Mail tickets to:
Alan and Sarah VanTassel
1457 Kevin Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373

We look forward to seeing you soon.

We thought you almost got yourself in the athiest corner the other night on your program. We are believers, but we enjoy your humor and love to see you squirm when someone gets you in the corner. Why not just give it up?

Alan and Sarah VanTassel

AustinTexasAdvertising said...

If God is what they say it is, what is God's favorite color? Favorite denomination, favorite version of the Bible?
If someone insists that they know the answer, they are persuading rather than informing. . .

Define evil - Define good:
both are perspectives.

I thought that there was supposed to be religious freedom here in the US of A, oh dang, I forgot this is Dick Cheney's America and we are supposed to wait for Federal help to determine what to think. If you want to defeat evil, get over your own ego, stop listening to Dicks and think for your selves people. If you are so right, you won't have to persuade others into thinking like you do.

Mr. Maher, thank you for being honest, straight forward and some what open minded. If you were any more open minded you would not have a TV show and would be cast out of Holywood. (misspelled on purpose) Thank you for keeping it dumb enough to watch, yet compelling enough to question. You had the trailer vote way before Sarah Palin.

Let's defeat ignorance on ticket at a time: go see Religulous

Anonymous said...

where can you buy the "Free Levi" tshirt

Paul Corvinus said...

Do not be in suspense about the election: The Republicans will win again.

Senator Lieberman has endorsed McCain/Palin.

The European Community and UN have just condemned Iran for moving forward with its nuclear program.

Bush just delivered a large shipment of bunker-busting bombs to Israel.

Israel is reorganizing its government to clear the political decks for action.

So, before the election, count on Israel to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

Count on the American people to react by electing a "military hero-type" (who never led forces, just served) because, according to the myth, the Republicans are "better on military issues."

Bill should have Gwynne Dyer on the show -- he has three great books on Iraq and predicted much of what has come to pass. (http://www.gwynnedyer.com/)

Dan said...

Dear Congress and the senate,
You all have been letting down the American people whom you work for as public servants. You need to take a good look at yourself,family and your neigbors about what you are about to do. At least read section 8 of this 3 page nonsense from Paulson who worked for Goldman Sachs. He is like a car salesman who is using these low ball tactics into buying right away. All this money will go into the people he worked for and the lobbyists. Our schools are crumbling, our democracy is eroding and we are turning into the very thing we fear, a dictatorship. The reason we have elected officials is for our voices to be heard and you have muted us for so long. If this was a company you would be closed. Pump this money into energy dependence with substainable fuels, job creation and rebuilding mainstreet. That’s being patriotic and the right thing to do.
Sincerely
Daniel Diaz

mark said...

Bill, I love the show!

The US now owes around a trillion $ to China. George has made sure that our children will be the highest taxed people in the history of the world. China will want that money back at some point? Now he is started out loaning money to and industry that has a history of losing money? Some people estimate the amount will top 900 billion?
What happens when china wants the money back? We will be 2 trillion in the hole!
If I were in China's place I would tell Washington that I want my money back now. Two reasons, we have shown such poor financial insight and greed and we can't be trusted with a buck. Next just to fuck the US over and really sink the the US government. You want to see evil. Look no further that Washington DC.

Just some thought for you and any economist you run across.

We're fucked!

Thanks
Mark

mark said...

To address lugnutz for bill
You asshole you follow Bush into hell.
The bush the asshole could have solve the entire problem in Iraq with two or three bullets. A sniper team well placed could have been better for the world. They could have Sadam and left the structure of Iraq unharmed. Instead they had to blow up enough shit and people to feel really good about the US military. Now you and I are going to have our children paying 2 and a half trillion $ back to China. So keep thinking the way you do or rather don't think! You are the type of person that needs to keep walking along the train tracks and walking into the light. American lives lost are a fraction to what the iraq's have lost. So US lives are more valuable! You backward ass freak, think! The war is not about whatever Bush is claiming this week. It is about oil and power.

Words are really lost on people like you. What would Jesus have done. He would have been the first to die, he wouldn't have take a life. Go back to church and plan more senseless death in the name of GOD.

M said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tami Sanders said...

I'm A M A Z E D as I sit here listening to CNN (one ear on the rhetoric while I work...I find myself almost screaming at the TV.)
Frankly, your show is the ONLY one I can watch to feel some relief - first to laugh...you gotta do that or you're gonna cry - second to witness honest discussion on ALL THIS BULLSHIT!

#1) John McCain? Can we say "finger happy militant"...POW - OK...too bad - you can't tell me he doesn't suffer residual psychosis...now fermented in his aging brain!
#2) Palin? OMG - As a former Miss America Contestant...(before cellulite was actually a word in the dictionary) - her interview with Katie Couric - EMBARRASING!!!
#3) Obama? Has maintained as much dignity throughout all this bullshit...aside from Lipstick on a Pig (which I thought was damn funny)...and has stayed relatively focused with all the "reactionary strategy" bouncing all over the McCain Camp.
I hope...I MEAN I REALLY HOPE... America isn't stupid and vote for a Man with one foot in the grave, and a potential VP who needs to stay in her SUV driving her kids to soccer practice!

Tami Sanders said...

I'm A M A Z E D as I sit here listening to CNN (one ear on the rhetoric while I work...I find myself almost screaming at the TV.)
Frankly, your show is the ONLY one I can watch to feel some relief - first to laugh...you gotta do that or you're gonna cry - second to witness honest discussion on ALL THIS BULLSHIT!

#1) John McCain? Can we say "finger happy militant"...POW - OK...too bad - you can't tell me he doesn't suffer residual psychosis...now fermented in his aging brain!
#2) Palin? OMG - As a former Miss America Contestant...(before cellulite was actually a word in the dictionary) - her interview with Katie Couric - EMBARRASING!!!
#3) Obama? Has maintained as much dignity throughout all this bullshit...aside from Lipstick on a Pig (which I thought was damn funny)...and has stayed relatively focused with all the "reactionary strategy" bouncing all over the McCain Camp.
I hope...I MEAN I REALLY HOPE... America isn't stupid and vote for a Man with one foot in the grave, and a potential VP who needs to stay in her SUV driving her kids to soccer practice!

Annie said...

Okay I'm a little late on this, but this cable news junkie has been consumed...you nailed it last night...Obama nailed it last night...it boggles my mind that there are none so blind as those who will not see (that's my mom talkin')...would love to discuss the debate with you and the FIRST showing of your movie...Annie

Mike said...

Speaking of defeating evil, I'd like to see a debate between Bill Maher and Hughe Ross (http://reasons.org). That seems to be an angle that wasn't covered in Bill's documentary about religion.

Phil said...

Just to clarify on the subject of Theodicy
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy ), also known as the problem of good and evil.

Most serious christian scholars believe that it is covered by the book of JOB, a good one to read, especially for people like Bill.

The solution god offers in this book is basically that good and evil are factors that matter to humans, and that god is beyond that kind of thing. Thus, His thoughts and purposes are beyond our human understanding.

Some have added that the reason for the existence of evil is to provide humankind with the choice, in other words, to give us "free will".

I find both of these arguments consistent within the context of Christian thought, and even philosophically satisfactory from a secular perspective, since they allow for moral relativism, and at least give a consistent account.

However, for myself, a human secularist, I would define evil specifically as "The knowing destruction of a sentient being". This definition incorporates things like killing dolphin, or abusing children, and leaves out natural disasters and wanton ignorant destruction, and seems to work in most cases.

My definition has a serious problem, because people who are psychologically ill, such as addicts or people in denial, or the religiously insane, can commit acts of destruction, under my definition, yet lacking understanding they are not technically committing EVIL, they just fail to truly understand the error they are making.

This leaves us open to ethical conundrums such as what to do if an insane person is elected to a position of power that could potentially destroy life on the planet? Do you survive by eliminating the threat using whatever means necessary, or do you limit yourself to only good means, and try to educate and enlighten the person to understand the facts and consequences of their actions, and risk everything?

I would appreciate your thoughts.

said...

DNA orders the universe so it will be unequal;
Entropy disorders the universe so it will be equal –
this is what humans call, respectively, ‘good & evil’
and yammering about good & evil is just a way, as is most of CULTure, to take your mind(s) off the inevitable doom of oblivion that is coming.

& now.....
to the tune of “Incy Wincy Spider”

Incy wincy DNA
Grows feathers, fur and snouts
Some has emotions
Like fight, flight or pout
Whether is squirms
or has a great big brain
It’s just incy wincy DNA
Going on and on again
.

Stay on groovin’ (Going/shinning on) safari,
Tor

said...

We are shin on
like the socks and the hose and the WTF else you done gotz on your lower leg.

ProudtobeLiberal said...

Hey, Bill! Saw you on CNN talking about your ‘Religulous’ documentary. Sarah Palin is one of the evangelical extremists and represents a clear and present danger to our Constitutional way of life. I don’t say that lightly and I can back it up with facts and real life moves by the Evangelicals to subvert our American way of life.

It’s about time someone spoke to the truth of the politics of religion and the organized effort by some religions to reinstate Church-State Theocracies in the West, and particularly in America. Bush has done a lot of it by litmus-testing his appointees and hires for their evangelical backgrounds and ideologies. We’ve seen how the FCC changed the rules because of the extremely limited temporary exposure of Janet Jackson’s pectorals during the Super Bowl. We see more skin at football games and the beach than we saw there, but the evangelicals organized to deluge the FCC with complaints because of their agenda to control free speech and art and expression in this country and replace it with their extreme religious dogma. It is a small part of their broader agenda to subvert out Constitution and defacto impose a church-state theocracy through the bureaucracies of government. It’s why we need ‘change’ and a cleaning out of all the anti-Constitutional ideologues that George Bush has anointed into his feral Christian government.

They have a very clearly stated agenda and they aren't even hiding it. Here’s their marching orders as proscribed by the late Dr. James Kennedy. Their cultural war against our Constitution and our individual liberties marches on:

“Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.”

- Dr. D. James Kennedy, Pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, ‘Reclaiming America for Christ’ conference, February, 2005


In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Sheriff Chuck Wright stated at a big Republican Party state fundraiser that his political and religious opinions “…are what God intended and no other.” It was reported in the press, but not one press person challenged this locally elected politician on such an extremist and self-absorbed statement of absolutism and anti-Constitutional mindset.

He thereby, conversely, castigated every religion other than his extreme fundamentalist evangelism as not being “…what God intended…”

In other words, if you don’t have the same religious opinion that he does and the evangelical fundamentalists do (such as Sarah Palin), you are part of the anti-Christ. This sends a clear message of exclusion to all potential police applicants in South Carolina…and it carries with it the ability for that extreme fundamentalist evangelical politician Sheriff to ‘stack’ his force with those who think just exactly as he expects them to, in his religious opinion.

At the same time, the State is preparing to sell “I Believe” license plates that have a big yellow cross on them. Think maybe those who buy the plates will get special treatment by the Sheriff’s department while those with a rainbow sticker or a Darwin ensignia will be treated the opposite?

These are just a couple of ways that a defacto church-state theocracy is being implemented throughout the United States, and if you don’t think like the extreme fundamentalist evangelicals, you aren’t a ‘true Christian’…and therefore are not worthy of ‘God’s chosen ones and must be made to pay the price in the end because they believe that if you don’t think to the right of Rush Limbaugh, you are evil and part of Satan.

This isn't anything new.

Here’s what Pat Robertson said during his presidential campaign back in 1991:

"There will be Satanic forces...
We are not... up just against human beings, to beat them in elections. We're going to be coming up against spiritual warfare."

Pat Robertson, Road to Victory, 1991

The Evangelicals have an extreme anti-American and anti-Constitutional agenda, and I thank you, Bill Maher for bringing this vital issue out into the public eye.


ProudtobeLiberal
South Carolina

I am a Reagan Democrat and I approved this message.

SueMcG said...

The problem is changing the mindsets of the people of afghanistan and yes some areas girls are at least allowed to go to school now, but have we really changed their mindset? Aren't they still ready to blindly believe in the other guy as being evil just as we are so ready to blindly believe in evil as something that exists outside of our humanity but controls our humanity. I think instead of a troop surge into Afghanistan we need an educational surge into there to help education and not just the women who weren't allowed it before, but educate the men, so they can think more rationally and be free thinkers. I think instead of bombing people into the stone age, we need to educate them OUT OF THE STONE AGE!

Joe Wolf said...

http://josephrwolf.blogspot.com GOD HAS GOT TO GO

informedone said...

You have crossed the line. Your days are numbered on this earth.

Unknown said...

This is about RELIGULOUS, I didn't know where else to put this comment...

In the clip for Religulous, Jesus asks Bill, "What if you're wrong", to which Bill replies, "What if YOU'RE wrong"... if they are they are talking about life after death, which I can't imagine anything else provoking such an answer, it really wouldn't make that much difference if Jesus was wrong, believers would simply melt into oblivion... however, if Bill is wrong- he may be destined for some eternal suffering apart from God. Therefore, I cannot understand why Bill is so smug in his retort.

Anonymous said...

WoW! So many issues Bill... "Defeating Evil" first, "The Art of War" says you have to be more evil than your opponent in order to defeat them. Further, you can see two themes that rise out of the writing, first, not being defeated yourself and then secondly, defeating your opponent. It seems the only commanders that have read this ancient philosophy was Bin Laden and his cronies. It seems to me that the surge in violence in Afghanistan is very unusually following this ancient line of thought. Ok, I am in the military, I take no delight in killing anyone. I joined the military with an understanding that America was a nation of great humanitarians. A bit deluded maybe, but I have a heart for people. So, what is the answer? Read "The Art of War", improve the military strategy being used and get the heck out of there. Not that simple? No, not when you might have so many conspiracy theories with which to delight. If everything is on the level so to speak then I say we owe it to the other human beings we made a promise to, to keep that promise. After spending ten years abroad I can tell you that other people see our nation in such a light as this. In fact, at one time we supported Bin Ladin when he was fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. With changes in leadership we often see policy changes in the State Department that affect the lives of many around our globe. We should be more intentional about our actions and decide what we as a society consider a good definition of evil. Is it evil to have our folks starving, lying in the streets in the months to come, should we deny that promises we make to others and feed the fuel of hate against our country, or should we choose so middle ground that at least helps the greater of humanity? Like almost anything we do as humans, no pain no gain. As it is with education, running, and with one's character. I hope that we maintain ours through difficult times to do the best for us all.
Respectfully...

jbee said...

Bill Maher is a ignorant liberal pussy! He talks big on TV (although he's a 5'2" hide behind the camera puss). Take on Bill O'Reilly on a national TV debate and you'll be crawling home to your fudge packin' boyfriend. What a freakin' little pussy! He throws lies around and hopes it sticks to the liberal ignorant trailer trash to get Osama Obama votes. Take on a right wing heavy-weight and we'll see the little pussy sticking his boy-bud with tears in his eyes.

Give me a break.....anyone who listens to this neo-puss is a pussy himself.

B Rad said...

No one is saying we can destroy evil they are simply saying that men are born evil and that the only thing you can do is restrain them. You do this by having the most powerful military so they know there are negative consequences for threating us and so we can defend ourselves if required. Kenneday stopped Russia from setting up missles in cuba not just because it threatened us at that moment but that it would make us vulnerable in the future and give power to Russia to manipulate us. We set up laws in this country which have punishments so that some men are restrained from doing wrong because of there fear of the consequences. You also have to send a message to foreign countries that you will be held accountable for doing nothing about terrorists training within your borders. You do this because otherwise they will do nothing and your enemies will organize and grow without disruption. Some People seem to think that ignoring a problem will make it go away. The evidence says that it usually just gets bigger and more destructive. The truth is there is no perfect solution and you have to make policy based on facts and by assessing the future implications of not acting now. Republicans believe that evil nations in the past have been restrained from attacking us because they knew their chances for victory were slim. Our enemies will continue to grow there military's in size and in technological advancements. They will also continue to use our so called peace agreements to manipulate us for money and technology. Would you put a world famous con man in charge of your bank account. No because you know what he is about and that doing so would eventually cause you and others to suffer loss. Neither should you allow our nation to be in a position of vulnerability by chosing to do nothing about terrorism or about our enemies abroad. We should not expect evil leaders to suddenly change there nature from one of selfish ambition to loving kindness because all the evidence is to the contrary. I know Iraq is difficult and it looks ugly but consider this. Knowing as you say that this task of totally destroying terrorism is impossible. What if freedom does eventually succeed in Iraq and what if this freedom eventually undermines the dictatorships in neighboring countries such as Iran and Syria. Could this eventualy lead to a middle East where terrorists aren't sponsored by middle eastern governments, where terrorists aren't free to mobilize and train at will, and where information is isn't controlled by tyranical governments to shape the minds of there people with lies that influence them to join these groups. Is it a possibility. If it does work how much future blood shed would be prevented. We know that our enemies continue to advance in weapons technology which means future terrorist attacks will be even more destructive. Can we risk inaction. What is our future if we do not consider all options. If you are looking for peace your on the wrong planet. Where there is envy and selfish ambition there you will find disorder and every evil practice. Have a good day.

Unknown said...

Bill is an appeaser who vehemently hates his own country. He is also ashamed and hates his mother. What a sick loser.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bill, I would like just minutes of your time to pose this question and get your answer.

How is it that 40 authors, wrote 66 books, over 2000 years ago, in three languages, coming from four continents, in the original manuscripts, collected and transcribed into the King James Bible. With the accuracy and predictions, it (King James) has proven trust worthy and true. Do you really want to step into this as an ignorant theologian that you now seem to be. "I DON'T KNOW"

Drop me a "line" or with a clearer thinking point to be made, I'd rather an email to me. I think we should talk. You are a good sport aren't you?

Don

Anonymous said...

***BILL MAHER IS A COWARD. HE HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT RELIGION AND CONSERVATIVES, BUT WHEN DO WE ACTUALLY SEE MAHER GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH ANYONE?? BOD DUTKO, A CHRISTIAN RADIO SHOW HOST AND APOLOGIST OUT OF DETROIT INVITED BILL MAHER SEVERAL TIMES TO COME ON HIS SHOW AND DEBATE ANY ISSUE MAHER WANTED TO DEBATE. WHAT DOES MAHER DO? IGNORE ALL OF THE INVITATIONS! HAS MAHER EVER INTELLECTUALLY ENGAGED A CHRISTIAN? OF COURSE NOT. HE WILL INVITE 1 CONSERVATIVE ON HIS SHOW AND HAVE 3 PEOPLE GANG UP ON HIM OR HER. AREN'T YOU EMBARASSED BILL?? WHY DONT YOU ENGAGE IN AN INTELLECTUAL AND EXISTENTIAL DIALOGUE? OR IS IT EASIER TO JUST MAKE A MOVIE AND TALK YOUR TRASH AND NEVER HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL DEBATE? OF COURSE. BILL MAHER IS A COWARD

Anonymous said...

I WONDER IF MAHER WOULD HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MUHAMMED. CHRISTIANITY IS FREE GAME IN THIS SUPPOSED CHRISTIAN NATION. ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECTS OF POKING FUN AT CHRISTIANITY IS THAT PEOPLE NORMALLY DON'T HAVE THE AUDACITY TO POKE FUN AT CHRIST'S TEACHINGS! THEY'LL POKE FUN AT CHRISTIANS, WHO ARE BUT FALLIBLE MEN, BUT THEY HARDLY CALL INTO QUESTION THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. SO LOONEY TUNES LIKE MAHER HAVE TO EITHER DENY JESUS' EXISTENCE OR JOIN THE INTELLECTUALLY BANKRUPT JESUS SEMINAR CAMP. LETS SEE BILL POKE FUN AT MUHAMMED AND NOT ISSUE AN APOLOGY ON THE VERY NEXT SHOW. ALSO, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MAHER AND BILL O' REILY DEBATE. MAHER WOULD GET ANNIHILATED. BILL YOU REMAIN A COWARD

Unknown said...

Dear Kestoelvis83,
Bill would not dare to say something against Mohammed not because he is scared of the internal public reaction. Its because he's not fucking stupid. He'll get killed by some fucking wacked out, fundamental fanatic. Homey I'm a muslim my self and can back up my home boy Bill Maher on this one. He takes a few shots at the Islamic faith every once and a while, but shows dislike for all religions. He's not a pussy, he's just a person whom values his life. I respect that shit, holla

Unknown said...

Now a comment with more substance...
In regards to Palin and the debate, Did it change anybody's mind? Yes, the presented position that Palin took sounded scripted in my opinion and it had fallen short of authenticity; in terms of legitimate subject comprehension. It seemed as though she prepared for the debate in a monologue-like manner. The debate had solidified my standpoint, previously having been independently undecided, and I’m now in favor of the Democratic ticket. As a child we were mandated to learn the Preamble to the constitution, verbatim, the ability to do so resulted in a good grade. Does that grade however demonstrate intellectual understanding of the subject material...? I personally don’t believe so.
P.S, Fuck you all whom have the audacity to talk shit about Bill Fucking Maher. Bill...Play on Playa
(And side note: Dear Palin,
"Mrs. Palin, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Mrs. Palin: Okay, a simple "wrong" would've done just fine.
Billy Madison quotes")
-Ramsey

jaded_heart said...

I gave up voting FOR anybody years ago and accepted the only choice is usually to just vote against whomever we hate most. The celebreties seem to judge the two candidates by different standards (i.e., Palin's crazy for belonging to some less than mainstream church while it's fine for Obama to belong to a fringe congregation he needed to separate himself from ... what's that all about?) They all seem less than desirable to me and for very similar reasons. I don't think either of them can deliver on half the things they're saying and think people like Mr. Maher should be less trusting of all things and people political ... especially at his age (isn't he sophisticated enough to know better by now?). I have been an Independant for years and remain suspicious (for reasons obvious to most of the rest of the world) of the intellectual abilities of anybody that feels obliged to tow the party line ... and that's any party line. Mr. Maher, wake up and stop making such a fool of yourself. You're still not completely over the hill so there's a chance you could develop a solid career if you were more open minded. You're sort of coming off like the TV version of that Rush Limbaugh person on the radio. Open your mind while a few people care to see how things come out for you and maybe your popularity would improve along with your reasoning. Hint: don't take such obvious sides and you'd be able to present your side of the argument to a much bigger audience.

Unknown said...

Bill,

I know I live in redneck country(Jacksonville, Florida)...
There isn't a single movie theater showiing "Religilous" around here in 60+ miles radius. Not surprising, given the number of churches in town...

Do you have any plans to help us see "Religilous"? Thanks.

odessatexasusa said...

Bill had a question that he just cant seem to grasp.He asked, "why cant God just get rid of Evil and the Devil if he is so powerful, instead of just playing this game"? He should ask himself a simple question. Would it not be a bigger game if God did or had done in the begining as he suggests and there was no evil? Therefore, no free will?

james1974 said...

Bill you're the greatest.You've saved all of our lives.Man,if I listened to my old church friends.I would have had 4 kids and a wife that I would kiss up to and waste my money and spent my whole life being a kiss-ass waiting to go to heaven,where I'll be rewarded.Thanks for telling us the truth.Now I can have fun.Who cares if I'm selfish.Why shouldn't we be selfish I have no kids.Thanks Bill.

Anonymous said...

The trick is in turning the fight against terrorism back into a criminal campaign, not a military one.

One of the main reasons for this is to delegitimize them. They aren't warriors, they are thugs and need to be hunted down as such.

I'd like to see B.O. turn his great mind to that task and sell it to us.

Peace

g said...

b rad,
by what you call "restaining evil" you only create more evil. I know there is an understanding that US is fighting evil terrorists in Iraq.I see the act of starting the war an ultimate evil act! Bush is not any less terrorist than Bin Laden.
It's all our personal interpretation of evil.
The only way to "defeat evil" in my opinion to be responsible for one's own actions and be humble about it.

g said...

b rad, you americans are so funny.... you think you'll go to iraq to get their oil, while destroying and not rebuilding their schools and hospitals telling the world you are fighting to spread democracy. This propaganda will work easily with some americans, but you can't fool the rest of the world.
You can spread democracy and peace by making friends with the rest of the world and treating the other countries with respect, not as second class citizens of the world. You can't impose it with weapons!

PaulZurav said...

Our Other Trillion $ Problem


According to the U.S. General Accounting Offices’ March 2002 Report (GAO-02-363) “Identity Theft” fraud base losses for MasterCard and VISA for 2000 was over a billion dollars, check related fraud was estimated at over $2.2 billion in 1999 and there were over 65,000 allegations of SSN misuse in 2001. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
The National Research Council estimates the cost of illegal immigration at $346 billion dollars annually! In 2005 the Department of Homeland Security approved the construction for a portion of boarder fence between Mexico and the US at cost of $10 million per mile! If you factor in cost to individuals, cost to prosecute, the cost to agencies: FBI, CIA, and Police; cost to police our borders, identity theft/fraud is costing us well over a trillion dollars a year!
There is a simple and cost effect way to secure our identities, our borders and greatly reduce the threat that any terrorist or criminal can pose. The main cause of identity theft/fraud is that we are not sure if someone is actually who they say they are. The processes we use today to verify who someone is have been around since to days of parchment. If you travel abroad you identify yourself with you passport – parchment. At traffic stop your license – parchment encased in plastic. Our trillion dollar cost is a testament to how effect those forms of identification have been.
We have entered a new age, the Information Age and with that entry comes a benefit and a price. One of the benefits is instant information that can be shared real time with anyone on the planet. The cost - anything we do, internet activity, credit card purchases, checks we write, hotels we stay at, cars we rent countries we travel to; all of those activities can be accessed and monitored if someone was motivated to do so.
All modern countries are moving from cash based societies to cashless societies. Before the Internet and credit cards, people mainly used cash. In ten years we will probably phase out cash altogether. The places where cash is still the primary currency is in illegal and terrorist circles.
What I purpose is to update the methods we use to identify ourselves. This is current proven technology and would not be anymore invasive than the methods we are using today. Try boarding a plane to another country or renting a car without properly identifying yourself – it won’t happen. If you are detained during traffic stop and don’t have “your papers” in most states, you could be arrested.
Most of us have watched some kind of movie that has used biometric scanning as a method of identification. It is currently used by governments and industries to secure sensitive areas and restrict access. We have all seen someone in a movie walk up to door and either look into a device or place their hand on it and the door magically opens. The current global conditions, mainly dealing with terrorist activities, demands that we act to modernize they way we verify who we are.
In the United States, if you are a citizen and you want to participate you must have a Social Security Number. That number stays with you all of your life. Our SSN is accessed and we have to prove that we belong to that number in many of our daily interactions. Apply for a job, credit card, driver’s license, passport – you have to prove who you and disclose your SSN.
We could eliminate many of factors that enable criminals and terrorists to rob us of the security we all want by implementing a modern day method of identification and combining it with current information technologies. If instead of presenting your passport at the airport, you placed your hand on a scanner. You still have to identify yourself. A scan would not only be secure, it most likely would be faster. When you rent a card, instead a giving a credit card you “present” you hand (they can literally talk to the hand) not only is this secure but all of the paperwork could be filled in automatically.
The foundation for this system is already in place. When you present your passport your information is checked against a watch list, credit and debit cards are always verified online with a central database, at a traffic stop your driver’s license information is also checked with an online database and watch list. We know the problems with these methods are that they can all be forged.
What needs to be done is everyone’s own unique information (fingerprints and/or iris) is linked to their Social Security Number, which is already on file. (There are a number of ways to do this as far as security, access and distributing information is concerned, those are system design topics and not the focus of this writing.) When go to board a plane, rent a car, apply for a driver’s license or indentify ourselves at a traffic stop we will always have our “papers” that can’t be forged.
If we implemented an updated identity system we would eliminate both the need and cost of building a border fence, which would never work, to keep illegal aliens out. Anyone applying for work, driver’s license, and medical benefits would have to identify themselves just as they have to today, the difference would be – they wouldn’t be able to fake who they are. Criminals, escaped convicts, sex offenders, would lose their ability to steal someone identity and freely move about our streets.
If others countries implemented similar ID systems and shared information, it could have a crippling effect on terrorism and criminal activities world wide.

Adrian Paul Zurav

SaveOurselves said...

Sorry, Will Burr. You guys are wrapped way too tight. Betcha wear those speedo underwear...but depends? Well, gotta go get some non-perishable foods and lots of bottled water. The world will end as soon as Obama gets elected, according to you guys. Will I need to build a bomb shelter too? I'm so worried. Please keep me posted on the progress of Armageddon?

SaveOurselves said...

Genie, you're in the wrong business, or your full of shit, I'm not sure which, but if you're so up on current events, why aren't you employed by one of the papers. You know, we can read the papers too, so why don't you write some poetry for us? Show your humanity if you have any.

SaveOurselves said...

Genie: To quote Curly, Ï shit bigger than you," so I'm hardly going to shed a tear over anything you say. You're on the wrong blog.

wilber said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mark said...

Evil is something the men made, Evil like "Youth Pastor". We all know that Youth Pastor really means child molester. Love ya, Youth pastor and keep your hands out to all the little boys pants. Church it seems has a very big black eye and if Bill points it out on national TV more power. Church has become a haven for evil. So if you aren't the problem you may have been protecting the problem. You sick twisted POS. I really don't trust the political process and anybody in politics. But I trust less are people of faith. They are evil!

MARK

Unknown said...

Bill always finds a funny way to put into words those questions going through my head! I wish that as a country we could just let terrorists exist as they WILL, as long as they are being fueled by our "terror". If we could see moments (like 9/11) as wake up calls to the truth that we are not invincible and we have a responsibility to behave that way when dealing with international relationships... then we might prove that America has finally seen her way through adolescence. Sa it stands though, Obama couldn't rock the vote with peace, love and understanding...he needed to get elected...so we get another bad idea to pacify the fear. I'm hopeful that tactics change when he actually takes the office. Here's hoping! And- hey the end is in sight for this sightless admin. See you in Jersey, Bill- NOV 8th!

wilber said...

BILL MAHER!

I am posting this on all your blogs with the hope you will see it.


PLEASE DO A SHOW ON HOW OUR CONGRESS AND SENATE ARE SET FOR LIFE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND RETIREMENT.

They receive almost 100% of their salary.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE, THE PEOPLE DEMAND DIFFERENTLY!

At least we are working hard for it.


Congress and the Senate are our EVIL!

shure46 said...

Your analogy is accurate , and easy to see ..... and we have a domestic terrorist threat way bigger than Al Queada , it's called "gangs and drug dealers" ....I am sure 3,000 American lives PER DAY are ruined because of gangs and drugs .....Now THERE'S a war I can dig

shure46 said...

Re: TERRORISTS - I wonder what Americans would do if China landed troops in California ??? Would we fight ???? China of course would say they are simply "Liberating" us , and the resistance is from "Terrorists" ..... and let's just say our military was very weak ..... and could not defend us .... I think we would all load our cars with guns and dynamite , and blow up the invaders every chance we had ........ The Middle East is a "catch-22" .... The "terrorists" want us to leave , but we cannot leave because we need that oil ...... mark my words ... we will NEVER leave Iraq or the Middle East , no matter who is in the White House ....Having said all that , YES , there are gangs and thugs in the Muslim world , just as there are gangs and thugs in the Christian world ...... People are the same basically the world over , and we need to quit thinking along the lines of propaganda " ALL Americans are good , and ALL Muslims are bad " ..... That's a load of bull...... Muslims have moms and dads and brothers and sisters just like we do , and they get pissed off when we kill their families too !!!! Tit for Tat

shure46 said...

PS - Craig Ferguson is a dope anyway

KPG said...

This might brighten UP your day Bill.
I've never met you, nor have I put research under your name in Google.com , but we'll see each other one day. One day soon.

www.koreanpartygirl.blogspot.com

E J Gone Wild - Yee haw~~ ~

tom cavanaugh said...

American needs to have some war going? Maybe that's why the economy is going down the toilet.I usually agree with Bill 95% but his views on killing and war are out of line. His giddy reporting last night of the beheading of a Muslim woman by her husband was disgusting as was the whacko he was interviewing. I'll go with the ideas of Jesus, Gandhi, Einstein and King-War and killing- including capital punishment- are evil and people who do it are not heroes.
Killing under the cloak of war is murder. Albert Einstein

myjosiejones said...

Is there any such thing as evil? Water is good and water is bad. Fire is good and fire is bad. People are good and people are bad. Yes I think there are degrees and some percentage of hopeless cases, but mostly I think it is perspective.

chelagarto said...

I cant believe it!Maher,u DOLT!U actually did the most predictably moronic thing lefties CONSTANTLY do:U fucking spelled AlQaeda & Afghanistan wrong.U asses on the left dont know shit about terrorism or intl affairs,despite your constantly arrogant posturing & obnoxiously ignorant opinions about the war on terror.U idiots actually expect people to respect your minds & politics when u r all so fucking dumb!I asked several liberals once to spell Saddam Hussein &,would u fucking believe it;only half could spell it.U fuckers are all ass-hamsters!Your collective brain mass could fill the ear canal of an ass-worm.THis asshole Bill Maher once stated that he believed Republicans were actually stupider than Obama.Impossible.Maybe Bill Mahers stupider than Obama.I KNOW hes fucking stupider than me & Im a Republican.

myjosiejones said...

chelegarto,

You might check your fly.
Your intellegence is showing.
= )

Cat Brown said...

chelagarto,

Al-Qaeda is spelled in two words, with a dash in between. If you're going to hiss, at least check the correct appellation.

From Wikipedia:
Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida and sometimes al-Qa'ida.

joelle said...

Hey MYJOSIEJONES: Im certain that both my intelligence AND my fly are bigger than yours.And,as for YOU LOVETOAMUSE: Maher didnt do THAT,either.U are NOT amusing to me.Neither is that fucking idiot Obama or his pet ass-clown Maher.

Mesha Amnon Yisrael said...

Bill, please excuse me for contacting you like this but, I know no other way. I saw you show religulous and agree wholeheartedly, mass religion is the blind leading the blind. The Creator of the heavens and the earth only works with small flocks and I know they all claim to know the TRUTH, but if you would allow me a few minutes of your valuable time, I am willing to open the door of TRUTH for you. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and really research, or have your team to research what I reveal to you and if you can find just one lie in what I reveal to you, I will strip naked, put on a donkey's ass tail and walk down any street you say, if there is no lie found then I would like an interview for my group on your show. If you are correct and all religion is just a way to control the masses, and what I propose is not to your liking then you make the deal and I will accept. Of course if you are not really seeking the TRUTH as to why The Bible exist and it's true purpose then please do not waste your or my time. There is so little time left, I thought you could become the modern day Paul and as I have watched your show often, I have been impressed by your logical mind. One way or the other I hope you get to read this quick note. Have a blessed day!!

Mesha Amnon Yisrael said...

There is really only one way to defeat evil and that is for the whole world repent from evil ways, evil thoughts and evil actions by coming into the knowledge of TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS available to all willing to give GOODNESS a chance. The world is only evil because our children are never taught ETHICS and MORALITY. Give our children a chance to make a difference by teaching them differently. Get them out from the greatest source of evil brainwashing in the world today (The Television) and guide them into activities of TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS. We as parents have to be willing to give up our evil ways(trying to hold on to a lot of stuff) that is not important and losing what is important (OUR FUTURE: OUR CHILDREN).Stop cursing and complaining and start being grateful for life and whatever else you have, especially, those of you who have been blessed with children, the future leaders of this planet. Stop teaching our new leaders to maim and kill and start teaching them to LOVE and HEAL.

Dean Jackson said...

In 1997 NORAD said they insure, "Aircraft flying over our air space are monitored seven days a week, 24 hours a day."

In 2004 the Air Force contradictorily said, "Before 2001, 1st Air Force was charged with keeping an eye on the nation’s borders, usually looking for threats in the form of Russian aircraft skirting too close for comfort to the mainland. In those few hours, the command’s mission went from looking outward to looking inward."

See the 5 articles on NORAD at www.DNotice.org

Dean Jackson said...

In 1997 NORAD said they insure, "Aircraft flying over our air space are monitored seven days a week, 24 hours a day."

In 2004 the Air Force contradictorily said, "Before 2001, 1st Air Force was charged with keeping an eye on the nation’s borders, usually looking for threats in the form of Russian aircraft skirting too close for comfort to the mainland. In those few hours, the command’s mission went from looking outward to looking inward."

See the 5 articles on NORAD at www.DNotice.org

hardiansyah said...

Thanks for your post about Sarah Palin, I am sure that it was not easy to put your name to that, so I applaud your courage to speak out.

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