Still Hating America.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
I'd call Maher "Accuratist." He's not doing anything Jon Stewart hasn't done for years. He's pointing out the inherent idiocy of ideology, which comes off as amoral.

Maher refuses to pick a side (though he seems to come down on the liberal side most often) and says what a lot of people really want to say but can't because our social strictures dictate the suggestion morality's a small-minded concept - no matter how Ayn Randian logical that conclusion may be - is heresy.

We need to pick sides and stand for things. We think it makes us noble or better than what we'd otherwise be. We think our "values" are the glue of society. Maybe they are. But maybe we're wrong. Or maybe our love affair with morality as a defining and important concept is little overblown, unjustified, and maybe it blinds to a wiser rational mode of thinking. Maher's a poor attempt at philosopher asking those half-a-joint-and-three-fingers-of-Scotch-in-your-head questions.

We trip over ourselves genuflecting to "morality" in this country so much we don't even understaqnd the concept except as a hammer to claim we're better than someone else.

Amoral? If you're referring to the strident "values" I see ponged around this country by the "moral" every day, yep. And quite proud of it.

I still think the best political show would be Dennis Miller on the right and Bill Maher on the left. It would be a great crossfire.

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Originally posted by Spanky
I still think the best political show would be Dennis Miller on the right and Bill Maher on the left. It would be a great crossfire.

A battle of two guys who used to be (somewhat) funny and think they are a lot smarter than they are. I'd be pulling for them to kill each other. Celebrity Deathmatch, maybe?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
A battle of two guys who used to be (somewhat) funny and think they are a lot smarter than they are. I'd be pulling for them to kill each other. Celebrity Deathmatch, maybe?

Instead of not having to watch their separate shows, I could not watch one show with both of them. I like it.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
I'd call Maher "Accuratist." He's not doing anything Jon Stewart hasn't done for years. He's pointing out the inherent idiocy of ideology, which comes off as amoral.

Maher refuses to pick a side (though he seems to come down on the liberal side most often) and says what a lot of people really want to say but can't because our social strictures dictate the suggestion morality's a small-minded concept - no matter how Ayn Randian logical that conclusion may be - is heresy.

We need to pick sides and stand for things. We think it makes us noble or better than what we'd otherwise be. We think our "values" are the glue of society. Maybe they are. But maybe we're wrong. Or maybe our love affair with morality as a defining and important concept is little overblown, unjustified, and maybe it blinds to a wiser rational mode of thinking. Maher's a poor attempt at philosopher asking those half-a-joint-and-three-fingers-of-Scotch-in-your-head questions.

We trip over ourselves genuflecting to "morality" in this country so much we don't even understaqnd the concept except as a hammer to claim we're better than someone else.

Amoral? If you're referring to the strident "values" I see ponged around this country by the "moral" every day, yep. And quite proud of it.

My issue with Maher is that he doess things like make the Cheney comment not in spite of the fact that it will offend, but because of it.

He doesn't court controversy to spark debate, but to drive ratings. The big difference between him and Jon Stewart is that while stewart can get sanctimonious at times, he doesn't go out of his way to hurt people.

That's what I meant when I called Maher amoral.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Spanky
I still think the best political show would be Dennis Miller on the right and Bill Maher on the left. It would be a great crossfire.

If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy airtime and interview all sorts of famous people in prime time and at the end of each interview say "This has been interesting. When you die, you're not going anywhere. And Jesus is fake."

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy airtime and interview all sorts of famous people in prime time and at the end of each interview say "This has been interesting. When you die, you're not going anywhere. And Jesus is fake."

I prefer Dennis Miller's sign-off line from back when he was funny. "Fuck it; who wants pie?"

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by taxwonk
My issue with Maher is that he doess things like make the Cheney comment not in spite of the fact that it will offend, but because of it.

He doesn't court controversy to spark debate, but to drive ratings. The big difference between him and Jon Stewart is that while stewart can get sanctimonious at times, he doesn't go out of his way to hurt people.

That's what I meant when I called Maher amoral.

You're right. maher does overstep and whore it up. BUT, what I think really bugs people is that he subtly pushes nihilism as the only rational response to political "morality." Laughing at all "beliefs" they way he likes to challenges the soul of a lot of people in this country who are damned certain about Right and Wrong.

He's an ugly little Camus for pop television.

[Adder]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
I'd call Maher "Accuratist." He's not doing anything Jon Stewart hasn't done for years. He's pointing out the inherent idiocy of ideology, which comes off as amoral.

Maher refuses to pick a side (though he seems to come down on the liberal side most often) and says what a lot of people really want to say but can't because our social strictures dictate the suggestion morality's a small-minded concept - no matter how Ayn Randian logical that conclusion may be - is heresy.

We need to pick sides and stand for things. We think it makes us noble or better than what we'd otherwise be. We think our "values" are the glue of society. Maybe they are. But maybe we're wrong. Or maybe our love affair with morality as a defining and important concept is little overblown, unjustified, and maybe it blinds to a wiser rational mode of thinking. Maher's a poor attempt at philosopher asking those half-a-joint-and-three-fingers-of-Scotch-in-your-head questions.

We trip over ourselves genuflecting to "morality" in this country so much we don't even understaqnd the concept except as a hammer to claim we're better than someone else.

Amoral? If you're referring to the strident "values" I see ponged around this country by the "moral" every day, yep. And quite proud of it.

i dont' think Maher is battling against morality. Instead, I think he just disagrees with most people about what is moral. When it comes to animal rights, for example, he is a bit of a moralizing ass.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Spanky
I still think the best political show would be Dennis Miller on the right and Bill Maher on the left. It would be a great crossfire.

I didn't get this when you said it before, and I don't understand it now. Miller as the right? I haven't seen his recent work, but I didn't think he was too right wing.

And Maher on the left? Dude is basically a Sebby style liberatarian, except for animal rights.

Not to say that they wouldnt' be interesting together; I just don't see the left/right divide here.

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone Slothrop
Instead of not having to watch their separate shows, I could not watch one show with both of them. I like it.

In the spirit of bipartisanship, a big rousing 2

[SlaveNoMore]

taxwonk
My issue with Maher is that he doess things like make the Cheney comment not in spite of the fact that it will offend, but because of it.

He doesn't court controversy to spark debate, but to drive ratings. The big difference between him and Jon Stewart is that while stewart can get sanctimonious at times, he doesn't go out of his way to hurt people.

That's what I meant when I called Maher amoral.

Um, you could substitute Coulter above for Maher and you'd still be spot on.

[SlaveNoMore]

sebastian_dangerfield
He's an ugly little Camus for pop television.

Dude, you give him waaaaaaaay too much credit.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy airtime and interview all sorts of famous people in prime time and at the end of each interview say "This has been interesting. When you die, you're not going anywhere. And Jesus is fake."

A very high percentage of the world would agree. second season you'd realize the statement is too restricted. You change to "Jesus and Buddha are fake." 4th season: " ...and Allah..." then you'd get Jihadied. if you had a billion why you wanna get Jihaddied? it's like JFK Jr. flying a tiny plane. Can't you realize you're in line for some bad luck?

[Adder]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
A very high percentage of the world would agree.

Actually, a rather small percentage. Sadly.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Adder
i dont' think Maher is battling against morality. Instead, I think he just disagrees with most people about what is moral. When it comes to animal rights, for example, he is a bit of a moralizing ass.

That's a damn good point. Well noted.