Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Things get a little testy between Bill Maher and Stephen Colbert on Late Night.

Courtesy of Salon: 

Maher began by saying Medal Of Honor recipient Col. Jack Jacobs, who appeared before him on the show, should be made a general for calling out the GOP on the realities of going to war with ISIS. “You hear a lot, especially from the Republicans — just the name gets a laugh,” Maher said, as the audience howled at the GOP. “That, you know, we need to wipe them out.” He specifically called out Ted Cruz who Maher called a “chicken hawk with a law degree.” 

“Just the idea that you can wipe them out. This is the old Vietnam model: body counts,” he said recalling Nixon’s war strategy. “You can’t wipe people off the map. That’s not gonna happen. What you have to do is wipe out the idea. 

“It would be one thing if the terrorists did not share ideas with lots of mainstream people who follow the Islamic religion. But they do. Unfortunately, if I said to you, ‘Well, if only ISIS believed that anyone who leaves the religion should be killed,’ well, then maybe we can finally kill all of ISIS. But what if that’s 20-30-40 percent of all Muslim people in the world? You’re not going to kill all of them are you?”

I actually have great respect for both of these men, but I have to say that at points during the interview that Maher was being kind of a dick.

For one thing he seemed to think that Colbert was in reality the character he played on Comedy Central, which is not true, and that he was his ideological opposite, which I also think is not really true.

On the other hand I thought Colbert did a masterful job of redirecting Maher's jabs and landing some rather nice solid hits of his own.

I am not saying that Maher did not make some very valid points, but I think he was unnecessarily combative with someone that he agrees with more than he seems to realize.

45 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:44 PM

    Nobody beats Stephen. Maher is just some character who tries to make headlines. He never did it for me. He's starting to believe his own bullshit. Gotta'love Colbert. No BS.

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  2. Anonymous4:47 PM

    I have a completely different take on the show....they are both comedians and were playing off each other. I, in no way, see it as a serious/confrontational between the two!

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    1. Anonymous5:08 PM

      Same here!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:47 PM

      Ditto. Lucy

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:16 AM

      I think they both had a blast!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:05 AM

      Love them both! And I agree that Mahr was just playing. Have faith that Colbert can take it! ;)

      Delete
  3. Anonymous4:54 PM

    Bill Maher gives dickheads a bad name.

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    1. I don't think so. I'd say Cheney gave dickheads a bad name.

      I appreciate Bill M.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:02 AM

      7:49 PM So agree with you!

      Bill Maher is the furthest thing from being a dickhead!

      Just review Dick Cheney for awhile, 4:54 PM and you'll see the worst example of someone that is a dick! Bill Maher doesn't begin to compare!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous5:04 PM

    they both played it very well, Colbert played it as the bounce man.. it was great tv

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    1. Anonymous1:12 AM

      Loved it. Comedians doing what comedians do. ;o)

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5:05 PM

    As a regular Bill Maher watcher, he does come across as his opinion is the only one that matters at times but he's a comedian and has to go that extra yard to keep his edge.

    I personally loved this exchange between the two of them and didn't find it testy at all. As a "rebel" Lutheran, I also loved Stephen's admittance of being a Catholic. Not pure by any means; lotta issues. hahaha Sure beats the "holier than thou" evangelicals, doesn't it?

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    1. Anonymous3:58 AM

      I watch Bill Maher's show regularly and always find him respectful of his guests - be they Republican, Christian or whatever!

      He's sharp, well read, curious, interested in the opinion of others plus has a terrific sense of humor which he uses often!

      I also find him interesting because he is an atheist and doesn't want, or believe in marriage for himself. It probably helps due to my feeling exactly the same way on the two issues!

      Delete
  6. Anonymous5:07 PM

    Maher is a bit too smarmy for me. His righteous indignation just oozes out from him when he thinks he made a point. He's a heartbeat away from a conservative.

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    1. Anonymous6:18 PM

      I agree. Also, too, Maher lost me years ago when I found out he is on the Board of Directors for PETA. Research them when you have the time. They oughtta know ALL ABOUT terrorism. Support the ASPCA instead!

      -Pro Dog Trainer/Handler

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:38 AM

      I never liked him because he uses foul language and then puts on that "I so cool" face. ick!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:47 PM

      I used to make a point to never miss Bill Naher's show. Then I read that he has a long going affair with Ann Coulter. I think she is the evil east person ever. Changed how I feel about him. Haven't watched him since.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous1:29 PM

      Love, love, love the guy and try to never miss his show!

      Many, many Americans use the 'f' word (to include me!) and you, 12:47 PM, are going on a rumor you heard with regard to Ann Coulter and stopped watching him because of it? Give me a friggin' break!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous1:53 PM

      I haven't heard the Ann Coulter story, but that is disgusting. She is worse that Dick Cheney or Dubya and it is bad enough that she's a frequent guest on his shows going wayyy back.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:30 PM

    I thought it was hilarious when I watched it last night. I only just caught the rest of last night's show and I was amazed at the interview with the new MOH winner. Watch it. You won't believe that Dakota Meyer could get one on such flimsy grounds, it's so Palin-worthy.

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  8. Anonymous5:37 PM

    I love Colbert, but I have to say that I initially thought that he was the one being a bit dickish. I mean, it's not as though Maher's position on religion isn't well-established and the whole "invitation" back to the church seemed preachy/creepy. Also, since Maher was the guest, I thought Colbert could have been more hospitable. But, after that, it just seemed like they were playing off one another.

    The interwebs seems to be saying that these guys go way back and this was just comedians being comedians. I'm inclined to believe that.

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    1. Anonymous7:19 PM

      That's called "needling"; it was disguised as an "invitation". Har!!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:49 PM

      I didn't considering it needling at all. They were just having fun bantering, as in, we may have different beliefs but we still respect each other. Friends, nothing more.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous5:42 PM

    According to newly released data that the Pew Research Center collected in 11 countries with significant Muslim populations, people from Nigeria to Jordan to Indonesia overwhelmingly expressed negative views of ISIS.

    http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/17/in-nations-with-significant-muslim-populations-much-disdain-for-isis/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous5:57 PM

    My Plans for America as Republican President in 2016

    http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/16/1450734/-My-Plans-for-America-as-Republican-President-in-2016

    If Democrats don't get their asses out to vote this time around, this is exactly what will happen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:23 PM

      Get to work on getting the voters out, 5:57 PM. I know I plan to!

      Delete
  11. Anonymous6:05 PM

    A Texas state representative has thought very hard about things, put two and two together, and concluded that Texas cannot possibly accommodate people fleeing ISIS violence in Syria because Texas law makes it far too easy for any unhinged maniacs among them to purchase a gun. The answer, of course, is not to restrict the gun rights of unhinged maniacs but to turn away the war refugees—

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/17/1451133/-Texas-representatives-notices-war-refugees-could-buy-guns-in-Texas-duly-freaks-out

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/17/1451153/-A-couple-of-thousand-suspected-terrorists-on-the-FBI-watch-list-had-no-trouble-buying-firearms

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  12. Anonymous6:43 PM

    For an atheist, Bill Maher can be quite condescendingly holier than thou.

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    1. Anonymous1:22 PM

      I don't see that at all 6:43 PM! He's a self-declared atheist that was raised in the Catholic religion!

      I find him to be honest in his thoughts, knowledge and opinions. Plus, he is always respectful and careful with his responses to his Christian guests and friends when they are not in total agreement.

      He's very careful with them - he has to be! Think about it! He is running his own show and wants some of the guests to return to the show.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous6:53 PM

    Sometimes Maher makes me uncomfortable but I actually thought this was a very funny interview and I don't think he went over the line with Colbert. Colbert kind of tried to recruit him back to an organization that has a history of protecting child rapists, torturing and killing people who disagree with them, and insisting that women lead miserable lives of drudgery by popping out as many children as possible. He was actually a lot nicer about it than my own normally respectful husband was to his very sweet mother when she tried the same thing. All Maher did was encourage a little critical thinking. Plus, they both got their own little digs in and made me laugh! I didn't get the feeling that there were any hard feelings.

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    1. Anonymous7:51 PM

      No hard feelings at all.
      No drama needs to be created from it!
      Loved it.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:48 AM

      Both these guys are outstanding and I faithfully watch each of their shows on TV.

      Have to say that Bill Maher is my favorite though!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous6:59 PM

    The Selfie Queen is at it again!

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  15. I just saw a fun sparring between 2 guys with sharp minds and whose differences don't affect assessments of policy, though their personal beliefs about God differ. I'd side with Maher, if I had to choose.

    I tried on religion for a couple o weeks when I was in 4th or 5th grade school, but it didn't work.

    Later my 8 or 9yo little sister came home shamefaced and told Mama she'd been saved at some event where she'd been. Mama said Uh OH! The way she did when any of us did anything she royally disapproved of.

    Later my grandmother and mother observed little sis trying trying to make sense out of reading the Bible. They watched her, and decided she wasn't getting any comfort from it, so it was probably OK,

    Gryph, I'll be fine if you want to make that message public or not.

    Alabama atheists aren't exactly what your blog is meant for.

    Maybe you ought not to publish this?

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  16. I was uncomfortable watching it. I wonder if Bill was angered that he came on following Jack Jacobs?? I would have thought Bill would have been the first guest. But I definitely saw issues there. I like both of them a lot. And I thought Stephen was hysterical with the hands of Ben Carson.

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  17. Anonymous12:35 AM

    Maher gets a little crazy when Islam is the subject. He is anti-Islamist, he and his boyfriend Ann Coulter.

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  18. Colbert was better in the shorter format playing his 'character.' Here he is burdened with twice that amount of time and needing to be funny. As a result, he often interrupts when he should be listening. Since his show premiered, he's had more than a few interviews that just seem a little off. The problem with the Maher interview was Maher wanted to talk seriously, Colbert needed to be funny. The result was an often out of sync interview.

    Obviously there was a lot of pressure to reinvent the late night format. That hasn't happened. After a couple of months, there's a predictability to the show and not much edge. Unless his guest is someone I want to see, I tend not to tune in anymore. He has his moments, to be sure, but inevitably the show has settled into a routine.

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    1. Anonymous12:24 AM

      I've spoken to Maher. He's a jerk. Stephen Colbert is known as one of the nicest guys in TV.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous5:18 AM

    That's what I dislike about Bill Maher - his excessive combativeness. He likes to be center stage and doesn't share well with others. Nor does he understand subtlety.
    Beaglemom

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    1. Anonymous7:58 AM

      What I dislike about Mayer is how cool he thinks he is because he smokes pot. Smoking pot isn't anything to be ashamed of but it also is nothing to be proud of either.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:18 PM

      What I LIKE about Bill Maher as that he states the truth about himself. He smokes pot, he is anti marriage (for himself), he likes women, he is respectful to the Republicans that he hosts on his show, he is smart, well read and politically savy. And, he's an outstanding comedian.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:06 PM

      Anonymous 1:18, Bill Maher LOVES women, but only if they're thin, blonde, twentysomething Playboy types. That guy has a major chip on his shoulder due largely to his Short Man Syndrome.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous9:05 AM

    It's interesting to see the many different reactions to this interview. I often find Maher's arrogance off-putting but I thought this interview was great fun. Colbert's invitation to Bill to rejoin the Catholic church was masterful, seemingly promoting religion while simultaneously mocking it.

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  21. Anonymous1:48 PM

    I thought it was a great interview, and they were both being comedians playing off each other deftly.

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  22. First time I've ever seen Maher thrown off! I suspect it had something to do with not knowing Colbert very well.

    I'm not a big Colbert fan, but every time I see him interview someone, he manages to completely hold the upper hand, without being a dick about it.

    I think if anyone came off dick-like in this interview, it was Maher, surprisingly.

    ReplyDelete

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