On Friday night’s
Real Time, host Bill Maher continued his new career of
arguing against Ben Affleck in absentia when he commented on the
Berkeley commencement controversy for the first time. An online
petition has circulated demanding the rescission of UC Berkeley’s invitation for Maher to speak at the school’s commencement, and Maher predictably cast the brouhaha as an assault on free speech, while pointing out that
his Muslim friend doesn’t think he’s a bigot. The viewer can judge whether that claim is undercut by Maher’s slick reference to “1,001 nights,” which supports the conclusion that Maher is
really talking about Arabs, not the religion of Islam.
But he also allowed that the controversy could have the effect of taking away from the graduates’ big day, while apparently promising to steer clear of the subject of Islam, and offered to bow out if he gets enough feedback to that effect…READ MORE
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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
allison1050 November 2nd, 2014 at 20:46
Maher needs to just stop
cecilia November 2nd, 2014 at 22:35
Maher can “stop” when school girls like Malala aren’t threatened and shot JUST because they want an education.
or when cowards threaten people because they drew a picture of some make believe guy….
and so on
the Muslims in the middle east can’t speak out because they would be in jail or dead. So it’s up to US because we can.
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 06:12
What I mean by saying he needs to just stop was lumping a Portion of 1 sect with an entire religion that has many different sects.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 09:05
I live in a New York neighborhood that has a load of various people from various backgrounds (typical of NY) and one of those are Muslims.
They are quiet, peaceful people who just go about their day minding their own business – just like everyone else.
When I talk about the idiots with guns shooting school girls, I am not referring to my peaceful neighbors.
why do we have to state the obvious?
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 10:02
Thanks for your clarification Cecilia.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 13:11
no problem.
Most of us are regular human beings who just want to live our lives and not bother anyone else.
there’s a few “nuts” who like to cause trouble.
I don’t think we need to fight wars to deal with these idiots (I’m anti-cheney), but like other criminals we have to arrest them, bring them to court and get justice
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 18:45
I’m in total agreement with all of your points that you’ve made Cecilia and look forward to seeing more of your comments on the threads.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 20:10
thanks
I’m all about being reasonable
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 05:11
Sorry it took so long to get back to you Cecilia but I’ve been ill and just have to sleep at times. Reasonable is the only way to go for me also. ;-)
cecilia November 4th, 2014 at 10:51
oh, don’t worry about your timing and I hope you feel better.
In between cleaning up my aunt’s home (she passed away this year), spraining my knee, and generally being stressed out I come on line to Relax
LOL
what a crazy life!
but trying to be reasonable keeps me sane
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 11:04
Soft chuckles at you! Sorry to hear about you aunt but hope that you have someone to assist you with cleaning your aunt’s home. The same here for being reasonable, because of chemo treatment I have periods when I have to go to bed and sleep but sometimes I may not wake up for 5 or 6 hours and the day has gone by me! Take as much down time as needed, sometimes it’s like Murphy’s Law is working overtime for some of us. Don’t forget to prop you knee and leg up whenever possible!
cecilia November 4th, 2014 at 15:34
we are near the end…so it’s almost over.
whew!
my knee gets better every day so I’m doing ok, and thanks
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 19:18
Be sure to not over due Cecilia house cleaning will always be there.
allison1050 November 2nd, 2014 at 21:46
Maher needs to just stop
cecilia November 2nd, 2014 at 23:35
Maher can “stop” when school girls like Malala aren’t threatened and shot JUST because they want an education.
or when cowards threaten people because they drew a picture of some make believe guy….
and so on
the Muslims in the middle east can’t speak out because they would be in jail or dead. So it’s up to US because we can.
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 07:12
What I mean by saying he needs to just stop was lumping a Portion of 1 sect with an entire religion that has many different sects.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 10:05
I live in a New York neighborhood that has a load of various people from various backgrounds (typical of NY) and one of those are Muslims.
They are quiet, peaceful people who just go about their day minding their own business – just like everyone else.
When I talk about the idiots with guns shooting school girls, I am not referring to my peaceful neighbors.
why do we have to state the obvious?
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 11:02
Thanks for your clarification Cecilia.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 14:11
no problem.
Most of us are regular human beings who just want to live our lives and not bother anyone else.
there’s a few “nuts” who like to cause trouble.
I don’t think we need to fight wars to deal with these idiots (I’m anti-cheney), but like other criminals we have to arrest them, bring them to court and get justice
allison1050 November 3rd, 2014 at 19:45
I’m in total agreement with all of your points that you’ve made Cecilia and look forward to seeing more of your comments on the threads.
cecilia November 3rd, 2014 at 21:10
thanks
I’m all about being reasonable
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 06:11
Sorry it took so long to get back to you Cecilia but I’ve been ill and just have to sleep at times. Reasonable is the only way to go for me also. ;-)
cecilia November 4th, 2014 at 11:51
oh, don’t worry about your timing and I hope you feel better.
In between cleaning up my aunt’s home (she passed away this year), spraining my knee, and generally being stressed out I come on line to Relax
LOL
what a crazy life!
but trying to be reasonable keeps me sane
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 12:04
Soft chuckles at you! Sorry to hear about you aunt but hope that you have someone to assist you with cleaning your aunt’s home. The same here for being reasonable, because of chemo treatment I have periods when I have to go to bed and sleep but sometimes I may not wake up for 5 or 6 hours and the day has gone by me! Take as much down time as needed, sometimes it’s like Murphy’s Law is working overtime for some of us. Don’t forget to prop you knee and leg up whenever possible!
cecilia November 4th, 2014 at 16:34
we are near the end…so it’s almost over.
whew!
my knee gets better every day so I’m doing ok, and thanks
allison1050 November 4th, 2014 at 20:18
Be sure to not over due Cecilia house cleaning will always be there.
tiredoftea November 2nd, 2014 at 21:03
I don’t pay too much attention to him, but he gets credit for having intelligent people on his show who oppose his opinions with more cogent arguments of their own.
Ray RedSpider November 3rd, 2014 at 19:36
Except, again, hers wasn’t more cogent. At all. He shut her up quite hard on a couple of excellent points in fact, and she demonstrated zero evidence of actual bigotry
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 15:07
I felt that she just wash’t ever going to stop…I thought Bill was very good to her
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker November 2nd, 2014 at 21:03
We are a Democracy, not a Theocracy.
In the name of Zeus, Thor, Yahweh, Athena, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, God, Jupiter, Mars and Venus…we should all give superstition a time out.
You can believe whatever superstition you choose, but you better keep it out of our democracy and self governance.
tiredoftea November 2nd, 2014 at 21:04
But, it’s HBO!
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 15:06
good for you
tiredoftea November 2nd, 2014 at 22:03
I don’t pay too much attention to him, but he gets credit for having intelligent people on his show who oppose his opinions with more cogent arguments of their own.
Ray RedSpider November 3rd, 2014 at 20:36
Except, again, hers wasn’t more cogent. At all. He shut her up quite hard on a couple of excellent points in fact, and she demonstrated zero evidence of actual bigotry
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 16:07
I felt that she just wash’t ever going to stop…I thought Bill was very good to her
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker November 2nd, 2014 at 22:03
We are a Democracy, not a Theocracy.
In the name of Zeus, Thor, Yahweh, Athena, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, God, Jupiter, Mars and Venus…we should all give superstition a time out.
You can believe whatever superstition you choose, but you better keep it out of our democracy and self governance.
tiredoftea November 2nd, 2014 at 22:04
But, it’s HBO!
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 16:06
good for you
ShueArie November 2nd, 2014 at 21:46
As an Ex-Muslim, I support Maher, he’s no bigot.
ShueArie November 2nd, 2014 at 22:46
As an Ex-Muslim, I support Maher, he’s no bigot.
mcalleyboy November 3rd, 2014 at 02:58
Deport him, we wouldn’t get away with any smart talk in any Muslim country, this is America and freedom of speech rules I won’t let any foreigner trash me in my own country, would have thrown this clown to the curb.
Larry Schmitt November 3rd, 2014 at 07:18
Would you like to buy a period or two for that runon sentence?
mcalleyboy November 3rd, 2014 at 07:34
Freeeeeeeedom…..Guns……, send these newly arriving immigrants back to their battle ground, you can join them.
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 07:41
That’s why you perhaps would be more comfortable in Saudi Arabia.
Deport whom?
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 07:43
Freeeeeeeedom…..Guns……, send these newly arriving
______
??????
So can YOU join them.
YOU seem to have more in common with them.
mcalleyboy November 3rd, 2014 at 19:27
No where in the world does a country allow citizens from another country to enter their homeland and tell us what to do and in their homeland point out that we need to respect their customs and religion and many of our citizens feel sorry for them, it’s unbelievable.
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 20:59
Do you have any idea what you are talking about??
mcalleyboy November 3rd, 2014 at 21:17
No you win.
Larry Schmitt November 3rd, 2014 at 07:48
How do you know he’s a foreigner? There are a few million American citizens who are Muslims. The word Muslim doesn’t mean Arab (or Ay-rab, as you would pronounce it). And even if he is a foreigner, they also have the right to freedom of speech. I know you Amurrica firsters hate that, but it’s the truth.
mcalleyboy November 3rd, 2014 at 19:22
I don’t like the double standards leveled on me in foreign country and I’m tired of foreigners kicking us around within our own homeland, it’s time we toughen up and shovel a little back. These immigrants, refugee’s and illegal aliens could care less about your feelings and rights within their homelands, stop giving them so much attention and respect they need to earn it and we also need to stop giving out that coveted US citizenship so easily, should be a 10 year waiting period and the individual has to be gamefully employed, married and no police record.
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 15:05
how about, speaks and reads English, American English. why is that too much to ask for..?
mcalleyboy November 4th, 2014 at 18:49
I’m finding it hard to learn the local language in the country I now reside in for sure but most of the immigrants are skilled and dirt poor and having finished their studies. Trouble is that skills are in high demand so these illegal’s make more money then some college graduates.
M.C.A. November 3rd, 2014 at 03:58
Deport him, we wouldn’t get away with any smart talk in any Muslim country, this is America and freedom of speech rules I won’t let any foreigner trash me in my own country, would have thrown this clown to the curb.
Larry Schmitt November 3rd, 2014 at 08:18
Would you like to buy a period or two for that runon sentence?
M.C.A. November 3rd, 2014 at 08:34
Freeeeeeeedom…..Guns……, send these newly arriving immigrants back to their battle ground, you can join them.
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 08:41
That’s why you perhaps would be more comfortable in Saudi Arabia.
Deport whom?
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 08:43
Freeeeeeeedom…..Guns……, send these newly arriving
______
??????
So can YOU join them.
YOU seem to have more in common with them.
M.C.A. November 3rd, 2014 at 20:27
No where in the world does a country allow citizens from another country to enter their homeland and tell us what to do and in their homeland point out that we need to respect their customs and religion and many of our citizens feel sorry for them, it’s unbelievable.
OldLefty November 3rd, 2014 at 21:59
Do you have any idea what you are talking about??
M.C.A. November 3rd, 2014 at 22:17
No you win.
Larry Schmitt November 3rd, 2014 at 08:48
How do you know he’s a foreigner? There are a few million American citizens who are Muslims. The word Muslim doesn’t mean Arab (or Ay-rab, as you would pronounce it). And even if he is a foreigner, they also have the right to freedom of speech. I know you Amurrica firsters hate that, but it’s the truth.
M.C.A. November 3rd, 2014 at 20:22
I don’t like the double standards leveled on me in foreign country and I’m tired of foreigners kicking us around within our own homeland, it’s time we toughen up and shovel a little back. These immigrants, refugee’s and illegal aliens could care less about your feelings and rights within their homelands, stop giving them so much attention and respect they need to earn it and we also need to stop giving out that coveted US citizenship so easily, should be a 10 year waiting period and the individual has to be gamefully employed, married and no police record.
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 16:05
how about, speaks and reads English, American English. why is that too much to ask for..?
M.C.A. November 4th, 2014 at 19:49
I’m finding it hard to learn the local language in the country I now reside in for sure but most of the immigrants are skilled and dirt poor and having finished their studies. Trouble is that skills are in high demand so these illegal’s make more money then some college graduates.
margaret adam November 3rd, 2014 at 07:51
We feel that Ruela Jabreal went on the show with an agenda. She was waiting to pounce. We feel, that she was very wrong. Not the discussion going on at the time. If you don’t like Bill’s views than change the channel..
Anomaly 100 November 3rd, 2014 at 19:58
Who is ‘we’?
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 15:03
me, myself and my husband..
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 20:48
>>We feel that Ruela Jabreal went on the show with an agenda.
Someone on a talk show with an agenda? Are you sure?
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 15:03
yes, and she was not nice about it.
margaret adam November 3rd, 2014 at 08:51
We feel that Ruela Jabreal went on the show with an agenda. She was waiting to pounce. We feel, that she was very wrong. Not the discussion going on at the time. If you don’t like Bill’s views than change the channel..
Anomaly 100 November 3rd, 2014 at 20:58
Who is ‘we’?
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 16:03
me, myself and my husband..
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 21:48
>>We feel that Ruela Jabreal went on the show with an agenda.
Someone on a talk show with an agenda? Are you sure?
margaret adam November 4th, 2014 at 16:03
yes, and she was not nice about it.
Budda November 3rd, 2014 at 08:30
Maher makes good points…argue them and don’t just yell bigot. He dislikes ALL religions not just Islam.
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 20:47
If a person dislikes all people who are different from themselves — isn’t that basically the definition of a bigot?
Budda November 4th, 2014 at 07:05
So by your logic if you dislike pedophiles you’re a bigot? I don’t think that is what Maher is doing. He is arguing that this particular religion and others, incite hate, murder and intolerance in their very tenets and that that is not acceptable in a civilized society.
Budda November 3rd, 2014 at 09:30
Maher makes good points…argue them and don’t just yell bigot. He dislikes ALL religions not just Islam.
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 21:47
If a person dislikes all people who are different from themselves — isn’t that basically the definition of a bigot?
Budda November 4th, 2014 at 08:05
So by your logic if you dislike pedophiles you’re a bigot? I don’t think that is what Maher is doing. He is arguing that this particular religion and others, incite hate, murder and intolerance in their very tenets and that that is not acceptable in a civilized society.
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 20:50
Maher strikes me as an atheist supremacist. And, like all supremacism — it’s a kind of chosen stupidity.
AAASuperPatriot November 3rd, 2014 at 21:50
Maher strikes me as an atheist supremacist. And, like all supremacism — it’s a kind of chosen stupidity.