Quote of the week comes from Bill Maher:
When did intractability become a virtue? Mitt Romney’s new book is called No Apology: The Case For American Greatness. You can find it at Borders, in the “Suck-Up” section. It’s such a perfect title, combining paranoia with arrogance: “No one has yet asked me to apologize but, if someone ever does, fuck them.
Conservatives think apologizing is a sign of weakness. It’s what liberal pussies do, when they’re not busy driving electric cars and feeling empathy. When in fact it’s the weak and the scared who are too insecure to apologize. Apologies are actually a sign of strength. That’s why six-year-olds hate them.
Making out in public – good or bad?
Obama Condoms in Union Square
New York City – water shots 3
RNC characterizes Republican base as ‘Reactionary’ and ‘Ego-Driven’
Celebrities and downtown denizens salute 25 years of Michael Musto
Is it okay to be fat? A response to Nightline
Submission, domination and pop culture
Woman tweets her abortion
Twitter: peteforsyth
says:
Heh. Every once in a while Maher really gets something right. But I wonder when was the last time he apologized for something?
Twitter: davidshankbone
says:
I’m surprised you don’t care for Bill Maher. I think he’s brilliant – one of the few people who speaks with belligerent rationality.
Twitter: peteforsyth
says:
I have mixed feelings. He is intelligent, no question — and pushes in interesting directions.
I don’t follow his career closely, but when he was doing that political roundtable show (maybe still does it), I was usually irritated because he would bring up interesting discussion points, but frequently cut off his guests as they were in the midst of responding, in order to make a joke.
I guess I am very, very picky about the show hosts I develop an affinity for. I don’t even know how to explain it. I don’t care much what a host’s politics are, so long as they can make me think and entertain me. But I get very frustrated with rude or dismissive behavior.
In a position of pretty much absolute power, I think it’s common for negative personality traits to come into full bloom. I have some appreciation for Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Rachel Maddow. I find Michael Savage fascinating, and I think people lose sight of his very real skills as a broadcaster which are obscured by pretty offensive politics. Alex Jones is intriguing. I can’t stand Thom Hartmann. I suppose he is forthcoming about his ADHD, but it really impacts his show — he can’t follow the thread of anybody else’s thought process unless he puts all his effort into it, and always hangs up on callers at the wrong times. He also is utterly unfamiliar with really important bits of history, even as he presents himself as a history buff. Bill O’Reilly’s a freak show, but like Savage, has some genuine talent. I would feel comfortable using a term like “American hero” for both John Stewart and Steven Colbert.
Honestly, I don’t know where the heck my opinions of pundits come from. They’re all over the place.
Once again, Maher gets it right.