Maher Audience a Real Pain

[derby378]

Source: FilmStew.com

There was Bill Maher, chatting with his Friday, October 19th panel – L.A. Times and Time Magazine columnist Joel Stein, TV host Chris Mattews and Texas Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee – when the perils of doing one of television’s few live programs reared its ugly head. From the audience, a male individual started shouting incomprehensibly about the idea that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were in fact controlled government explosions. (Maher has vocally opposed that view.)

Sure enough, Maher then bounded from the stage and headed up the stage left aisle, as the man tried to unfurl a banner and CBS security finally showed up to haul him away. But it wasn’t over quite yet. As Maher returned to his chair and observed, "Is it that hard to throw someone out of a building?", a woman’s shouting voice could then be heard, accusing the comedian of 'cowardice.' "I’ll kick your ass out of here too," Maher promised in a very assured, non-gender specific way.

Read more: http://www.filmstew.com/showArticle.aspx?ContentID=16547

[gateley]

1. He had a person yapping a week or two ago, too. That's so irritating. nt

[donsu]

36. protesting is yapping?

nt

[gateley]

69. They weren't protesting. They were hollering up "funny jokes" like the drunk

in the audience at every comic's stand-up show.

[Honeycombe8]

71. Yes, it is. Flunkies trying to hijack a show with a built-in audience so they can yell..

their supposed "messages" at us, the viewers. Glad they were booted out and sent packing like all drunks and misbehaving kids should be. They can go home and yell at their TV screens, like they usually do, instead.

Or, they can get busy, work their butts off for 20 years, and get their own show, so they have their own forum to yell their "messages" at people. I'm gonna guess that not many people would watch that kind of show, though, and that THEY would do their utmost NOT to let wacko hecklers interrupt THEIR show by yelling messages at the viewers.

[Daphne]

96. Like Maher said..."THIS IS AN AUDIENCE .. which comes from the latin

to listen... The debate is up here."

I like to watch Maher and don't agree with many things he says but I sure do on this point.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

129. Your post is a little hard to follow.

:shrug: MKJ

[EVDebs]

144. Right. That's why Bush has controlled audiences at his comedy venues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0TnqUlB4Gg

Those WMDs have gotta be somewhere...

[LeighAnn]

160. We don't have 20 years :(

>>>Or, they can get busy, work their butts off for 20 years, and get their own show, so they have their own forum to yell their "messages" at people.<<<

Who's got that kind of time? Don't you remember how angry you were when you found out they either LIHOP or MIHOP?

I like Maher's show and the forum he's given to voices on the left, but he's a douchebag about 9-11 just like he was a d-bag about the stolen election. Probably too busy being a big-shot to do any actual real research beyond scanning the headlines.

[Trillo]

2. Many more incidents like that,

and he won't have much audience left. Too bad, he's kinda funny and serious at the same time.

[question everything]

17. He certainly will

This is his show and his panel. This is not a free for all for any kooks to come and to start yelling.

I hope that at least their names and fingerprints and addresses were now added to whatever data bases exist. Let them experience the encounter with police.

I - and others - turn to the show to listen to Maher and to his guests, not to some nut cases.

[annabanana]

25. "added to whatever data bases exist"

Really?
And just what punisment is just and reasonable for interrupting your entertainment? A lifetime on the "no-fly" list? Incarceration without access to counsel?

get a grip

[tulsakatz]

26. I agree 100%!!

because of these hecklers, it distracted from the real debate on the stage!!

I was glad Bill did what he did!! If he had let it go on, that would make it easier for the next group of hecklers or protestors to get some attention!!

And I watch the show because of Bill and his guests, not because someone doesn't agree with him about something!
If everyone who disagreed with him did something like this, he wouldn't have much of a show left.........

[donsu]

37. protesters are kooks? you want them to have a police record?

and you are a progressive, liberal?

[question everything]

88. And they are progressive because?

Not everyone who hates Bush is a good guy and not everyone who loves Bush is a bad guy.

This is how we used to describe the "dittoheads" who cannot see the world in shades of gray. Everything is black or white, no nuances.

Not everyone who say that the "government" is behind every single disaster is "progressive." All those conspiracy theorists are kooks. And if they believe that ours is a fascist state, or a police state then let show them how a real police state looks like.

Oh, and I am not "progressive." I think that this term is really a cope out against using the term "liberal" - which I use, proudly.

[roseBudd]

128. I agree, his show is either re4ally good or really bad, depending on his very unpredictable guests

Too much audience applause, hissing or whatever just distracts from the discussion on stage.

[Honeycombe8]

72. As long as the guards keep the wackos out, he'll continue to have a great...

political satire show. Maher is a gifted political satirist. He's been around a long time and has outlasted some horrid things that have happened on his shows. A few silly hecklers won't seriously harm the show.

[Trillo]

77. Could be.

I was merely responding to the text in the OP, my point was that at some point people stop paying for a voluntary entertainment activity when it becomes too much hassle (I presume the audience pays for admission). What next? Bomb detectors? Strip searches? (I'm thinking airport style security)

I find it ironic that, according to you, Maher's audiences may need screening just like Bush needs his audiences well screened. What I mainly perceive is that people in general are increasing at the boiling point.

There's also the possibility that all of this is staged to create "buzz".

[Scairp]

140. Huh?!

I have no clue what you mean by that. I cannot seem to get tickets to his show and have been trying for about two months now. I highly doubt filling his audience is any kind of problem.

[EVDebs]

3. Here's Maher's screed with the 9-11 truther's response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJJIYWMZlY

Bill's losing this dustup. Bigtime.

[MADem]

7. No, the nitwits in the audience made fucking asses of themselves.

If you think the jerk in the audience was a "truther" you've got issues with perception. They were, quite simply, assholes.

Winner: Maher. Hands down.

[barb162]

70. Agree, he was just a loud-mouthed jerk, disrupting the guests. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

73. Agreed. People who have something serious to say don't do it that way. n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. Maher's definitely losing

Among the population of kooks and nutbags known as the 9/11 "Truthers," a bigger pack of imbeciles than any seen in this country in 40 years.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tom_paine]

51. Yeah, as kooky as those who believed in The Tuskeegee Experiments!

I mean, my God, who could believe such clearly made-up hoooooeeey as doctors (I mean DOCTORS who swear an Oath to protect life and do no harm, for gosh sakes!) deliberately infectiong Negroes with deadly diseases.

Why, that's preposterous and every one of these kooks and nutbags screaming about it knows it. If they were going to make up lies, why wouldn't they at least make up something that is more believable?

Because they are kooks and nutbags, that's why.

FULL DISCOLSURE: While skeptical of the background of the events of 9/11 (any reasonable person would be, after hearing that Bush and Cheney refused to tesitfy under oath and even were allowed to testify togther, and after Rice's and Clarke's conflicting testimonies), I also am skeptical too, of many claims made by the 9/11 Truthers.

Bt there is NOTHING I love more that someone who dismisses potential criminal conspiracies before they have been investigated. Because EVERY criminal conspiracy, from Enron to Watergate to Teapot Dome and everything in between, is unfounded rubbish UNTIL SOMEONE BEGINS INVESTIGATING IT as a potential criminal conspiracy.

[alcibiades_mystery]

60. Oh, of course

The fact that there was even one conspiracy that was denied and turned out to be true demands that we give full credit to every wacky ass theory ever concocted. Right.

I'm not really going to get into it with you, primarily because I have other things to do, but also because I simply have no energy to wade through your Capitalized Imperial KKKontrivances, your Pseudo-Historical Analogies to All Totalitarianisms Past, your Prokkklamations that We Are All Already Doomed, your meticulously-formatted designs, or the fact that you have nothing else to do today but reply reply reply with INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE posts.

I've spoken my peace on these clowns, and I'm done with it.

But by all means, fire away. You won't be saying anything that I haven't heard from you 10,000 times before.

[tom_paine]

66. More Smear and Sneer nonsense. But don't take my word for it,

take Naomi Wolf's. If you don't know her, she is a respected author and professor. She went out and did the research. Dotted the I's and crossed the T's. Don't take the word of some autodidact, I agree, but perhaps heed the words of a respected professor and author, if you are able (I would not make any bets on that one, myself).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

46 minutes of your life. That is all it will take. I imagine you will not waste the time, because, as you have so eloquently stated, you have learned all you wish to learn about anything which is outside the purview of your narrow, self-certain worldview and you are done with it. In what you said it is self-evident. In almost every one of your posts it is self-evident.

Also, the book that is linked to in my signature line, Dr. Robert Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians". Twenty years of scientific research, statistically analyzed, by a man who's work has been praised and respected by his peers.

John Dean's book, "Conservatives Without Conscience", from a man with more intimate knowledge of the actual people and personality types than you or I should ever hope to have.

Now, I imagine you would reply (without having read nor looked at prior to criticizing) that Wolf, Dean and Altemeyer are hysterics like I, in spite of all their degrees and their reams of research which mean nothing to you I am sure.

But I say again. If you have contempt for the presentation of my arguments and the formats of my posts, I invite you to test the strength of your convictions against the words of people who are NOT excessively capitalized. However, I would judge a less than 10% chance that you will read any of these books and test your convictions that you know it all about this topic, and probably less than a 50-50 chance that you won't bestir yourself to the tiniest effort even to watch the 46-minute Wolf Lecture.

Still...one last try, likely in vain, but what the hell?

Also, I do applaud you on a FINE Smear and Sneer. One of the finest and most eloquent I have ever heard. You ARE a literate man, aren't you? I can appreciate that.

Finally, are you cyber-stalking me, guy? What the hell do you care how I spend my day off? Will you comment on the many days and weeks that I am absent from DU for periods? Please do tell me what these absences tell about myself as well as the days when I am highly engaged here? Do tell...

Pretty creepy, guy. VERY creepy. (oooooh ooooh! Some capitalizations! Attack! Attack! Attack!)

I had previously thought you occasionally capable of reasonable discourse, but obviously your buttons have been pushed once too often inadvertantly by me and others, for it is not so, anymore.

Off to ignore you go. You can respond. In fact, if I know your type as well as I think I do, you will be unable to resist even though I will never see it. You simply HAVE to make your mark and I have found that with Sneer and Smearers it is almost inevitable. The pleasure you will get from ripping me as hard as you can ad hominem, much harder than the last post of yours and the fact that others may see it and may take note of your vitriolic wit, will be enough to warrant the effort.

I am only guessing, for I am no fool to break my promise and look at the messages of those I have put on ignore, but I imagine there is some bitter howling and cruel, cruel words. So, enjoy! I will check back for the "ignored" response, but I will NEVER see what you wrote.

Watch the Wolf lecture. Read the books. If you have the intellectual courage to do so. Goodbye. :hi:

With any luck we will never run into each other again. There is no point to further discourse.

[EVDebs]

91. You must know how many rifles the Warren Report says were found in the TX Schoolbook Depository then

Three.

[alcibiades_mystery]

92. Respond again when you have a relevant point

Thank you.

[EVDebs]

130. Maher is insulting the Jersey Girls. This won't be tolerated

http://www.911pressfortruth.com /

in case you and Bill Maher haven't heard. Maher said fightin' words IMHO.

[alcibiades_mystery]

139. Keep throwing that spaghetti...something'll stick eventually

Maybe...

[EVDebs]

142. Keep providing 'cover' for the Bush neomorons and their 9-11 BS report

Also, alcibiades, your namesake's talent for making political enemies

"Alcibiades' military and political talents frequently proved valuable to whichever state currently held his allegiance, but his capacity for making powerful enemies ensured that he never remained in one place for long; and, by the end of the war he had helped rekindle in the early 410s, his days of political relevance were a bygone memory"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcibiades

is about as useful here on DU as it was in the time before Christ. More 'bygone memories' for you.

[alcibiades_mystery]

143. Ah yes...

Accusing those who don't agree with you of Bush-lo9ve. Truly the last pathetic refuge of the DU scoundrel. Sad, really.

I'd also be really interested in just how many of the "Truther" claims the Jersey girls have signed on to. Don't think nobody noticed your pathetic attempt to hide behind their credibility.

[EVDebs]

147. Their credibility requires a NEW 9-11 investigation in case you hadn't heard

YOUR actions posted for us to read speak pretty loudly

The Jersey Girls group, 9-11 Press For Truth, implies by its very title that the TRUTH HASN'T BEEN TOLD

http://www.911pressfortruth.com/

but you can always view their DVD or read about their efforts to get to the truth of 9-11. Oh, that's right, you've already bought the Official Conspiracy Theory and don't allow any new information to upset your apple cart.

Keep up running Bushco interference here on DU. At least we know your handle.

[alcibiades_mystery]

153. Ooooooo

My name has been noted in the building by our local little commissars. Well done...

:rofl:

[EVDebs]

163. It just gives DUers a chance to hit the 'ignore' option

on your posts/threads. That's all.

Ooooooooo.

[alcibiades_mystery]

167. Thanks for the Public Service Announcement there, comrade....

:rofl:

[Honeycombe8]

74. Yes...they're becoming a liability for the Dem. Party. Some uninformed people...

might think that other Dems are...well, like that.

[EVDebs]

131. The Jersey Girls are a Dem ASSET. You apologize for the * neocons

when you deny their fight for a NEW 9-11 Commission Report.

[CGowen]

81. Really, that must be a good message for the rapture ready evangelicals n/t

[JeanGrey]

46. Oh Lord. They just look more deluded.

Maybe Paxil IS in their future.

[TeddyKGB]

89. That's the dumbest piece of shit I've ever seen.

Seriously.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. Where's James Dalton when you need him?

:shrug: MKJ

[still_one]

5. Let's here the chorus how the planes didn't cause the building to collapse

let's here the crap about what steel melts at blah blah blah

but lets forget that steel DOESN'T have to melt to cause the building to collapse, it just has to weaken the steel

Let's forget that bin laden accepted responsibility for it

GOOD FOR BILL MAHER. There is a reason most scientists have refuted their premise

[MADem]

8. No, let's not. Really, don't encourage them. They need help as it is. NT

[Pastiche423]

9. OBL never "accepted responsiblity" for the attacks?

Do you have a link that said he did?

[question everything]

16. Shortly after 9/11 a video was found

where he clearly accepted responsibility.

He has a background in engineering, or something, so he explained how he knew what he was doing.

Perhaps you need to do some search before you ask someone else to "prove" something.

[Pastiche423]

18. There was a video of OBL after 9/11

But in that video, he did not take responsibility.

Several people translated the video from his native tongue into english and he did not say he did it.

Btw, it is your right to believe our government. I choose not to. I do not believe their lies.

[question everything]

90. He certainly did

"We calculated in advance the number of casualties from the enemy, who would be killed based on the position of the tower. We calculated that the floors that would be hit would be three or four floors. I was the most optimistic of them all due to my experience in this field, I was thinking that the fire from the gas in the plane would melt the iron structure of the building and collapse the area where the plane hit and all the floors above it only. This is all that we had hoped for."

And I am not a conspiracy theorist that, by definition, whatever the government or the news media say is a lie. You must be a very sad and insecure person to go through life always looking over your shoulder seeing a shadow behind you.

Also, there was another tape when he was interviewed by Al Jazerra - no doubt, you trust them:

When asked about U.S. accusations of his "collusion" in the attacks in New York and Washington, bin Laden responded, "America has made many accusations against us and many other Muslims around the world. Its charge that we are carrying out acts of terrorism is unwarranted."

But he then added, "If inciting people to do that is terrorism, and if killing those who kill our sons is terrorism, then let history be witness that we are terrorists."

[Pastiche423]

117. As I said...

You can believe our lying government.

I do not.

Do you speak or read Arabic? If not, then how do you know what the translation says?

[EVDebs]

93. The FBI still doesn't list OBL as wanted for 9-11...and some think the Truther's are nuts ?

[Pastiche423]

118. A'yup

Could it possibly be, that the FBI, like the rest of us have never been given one iota of proof that OBL did what they claim he did?

[Stewie]

148. Huh?

So the government was smart enough to somehow pull off the most complex and succesful controlled demolition in history without stripping out the building first or ANYONE seeing ANYONE install the thousands of required charges, not once, BUT TWICE...and then they forgot to put it on the fake wanted posters.

You sir, need psychological help.

[tom_paine]

34. You mean Fat Osama? ROFL! Have I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell YOU!

Oh, and by the way, did you hear the latest BushSoviet pronouncements?

Unemployment is lower than during Clinton and al-Qaeda is defeated in Iraq, in which much progress is being made.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[defendandprotect]

99. Wait -- Osama actually immediately after the WTC issued a statement denying that he was involved ..

[the other one]

22. And the crap about WTC 7 too. Don't forget

how the building that didn't get hit also fell. BEcause the blah blah from the whatsit made the something or other weak and just like Bush v. Gore it doesn't apply to any other buildings before or since.

Shut up it doesn't matter. Because planes hit two other buildings and those buildings fell it must mean that WTC 7 must have got hit by a plane too, so its the non-conspiracy people who are hiding the truthiness about the third plane I guess...

[EVDebs]

94. Cleveland news video of Flight 93 needs some investigating

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PoWCIFmlSgg

[disndat]

33. In less than 45 minutes??

[donsu]

39. wrong, most scientist say it was an inside job

get your facts straight

[Psephos]

65. "most scientists"

maybe most Scientologists...

Real scientists hold their noses when confronted with true-believer polemics. The mentality required to become a true believer is toxic to scientific inquiry. (Hint: the anger, self-righteousness, and zealotry of truthers are a dead giveaway.)

Eric Hoffer invites you to look in the mirror:

http://www.amazon.com/True-Believer-Thoughts-Movements-Perennial/dp/0060505915/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8372736-5233461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192908455&sr=8-1

[Honeycombe8]

75. "scientologists" ... LOL LOL! n/t

[defendandprotect]

61. Look at the buildings and see that only the top floors were on fire . . .

the kerosene burned off in the first ten minutes -- AND the firefighters said the fire was under control and they would require only "one line."

Look at the COOL, COOL floors -- floor after floor below the impact sites --

These floors are NOT on fire -- there is no reason for them to fall even if your notions were believable.

STEEL frame buildings do not collapse from fire -- they never have before nor since

Wake up!!!

[PittPoliSci]

86. i don't think any fireman ever said we'll only need one line...

...at any fucking fire.

[defendandprotect]

100. Well, you're wrong -- look at some of the transcripts --

That's exactly what they said --
the fires were under control --
They only needed one line.


And, this is the problem . . . people are looking still for MSM to tell them something!!!
Go look for the information yourself.

MOST SERIOUSLY . . . one of the things that drove me nuts immediately was that the firemen were obviously in such danger and it seemed that their own leaders had opened them up to this danger.
How could they have all been so stupid -- setting up command in the LOBBY of the towers??
How could that be?

How could they have sent so many men up in questionable circumstances???

Well, the circumstances weren't questionable. They knew the history of steel frame buildings.
They knew they'd never been brought down before because of fire.
They knew that the plane which hit was inconsequential --
That kerosene did not burn very hotly -- less than 800 degrees?
That the jet fuel would burn off in the first ten minutes --

LOOK at the smoke -- it's black -- that means it's oxygen starved.

The WTC were built to withstand more than one commercial jet flying into it --
In fact, the oddities of watching these photos is that we're suppoed to believe that ALUMINUM planes didn't crumble when meeting this steel mesh?
Think about it, foks -- !!!

[PittPoliSci]

104. as a fireman...

i've never seen a fire in which only one line was necessary to put it out, unless it was a garbage can.

[defendandprotect]

116. Were you in the WTC . . . did you listen to the tapes . . . or are you prejudging?

So -- listen to the tapes and then come back and tell us what they said . . .

[Psephos]

120. The most comprehensive report on the tapes, phone messages, radio transcripts, and emails...

is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/102-Minutes-Untold-Survive-Inside/dp/0805080325/ref=pd_sim_b_shvl_img_8/002-2720660-8775239

The entire book has been fact-checked and multiply-corroborated.

I already know you haven't read it or you wouldn't be posting what you did. Now go read it. I notice you exhort others to read the "truth" a lot, yet you've skipped the most accurate and important record of them all. Turn off your own filters for a few hours, and absorb this. You will not be able to set it down.

[EVDebs]

132. "Pull WTC 7" eom

[defendandprotect]

156. The tapes of the firefighters' reports are on line . . .

IF I get a chance to totally return to 9/11 research I will try to find the tapes I am talking about and post them for you --

What I've referred you to is available on line --
Great that you're reading a book -- but I have no way of checking that at this time --
and obviously you know that.

So, again, I'd suggest to you that you find the firefighters' tapes on line --
Otherwise, should I come by the info again, I'll be happy to post it for you.

[PittPoliSci]

154. *yawn*

[defendandprotect]

157. *yawn*

[defendandprotect]

161. Here's the report- "78th Fl- 2 isolated pockets of fires under control, only 2 lines required --"

Fire Department Tape Reveals No Awareness of Imminent Doom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x179697

You're welcome . . . in fact, the first "search" I did turned this up from NY Times . .
you could have found it yourself -- !!

But, glad to help out --


Link to NY Times story
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EEDE...

[donsu]

126. yes, one firefighter said that not even the whole floor was on fire

and he went back down the stairs, helping people leave when he heard an explosion on floors below him and that was the last they heard from him.

[defendandprotect]

159. Also very interesting . . .

was that the WTC LOBBY was almost destroyed, "as if bombed" . . .
and this had been caused by the bombing of the basements BEFORE the plane hit --

I have to tell you, there was a lot I couldn't watch that day ---
because I believed most of what I was seeing --
I truly thought at the time it was a terrorist attack -- but then . . . it was too much . ..
too unbelievable.

As a former New Yorker, I have highest regard for the firefighter and I could just not believe that so many of them had been put in danger --

Of course, they weren't put in danger by their own leaders --
They were put in danger by the people who wired the buildings for demolition --
and planted bombs throughout.

Also -- go back to Oklahoma City --
that's another unbelievable attack.

But -- coming back to the story of what they found in the area where the fires were, they were reporting back that they were under control.

So I feel quite differently now that this is clearer --

but not about the terrorists in the White House who actually did leave these firefighters in the buildings --

[MADem]

6. I enjoyed his response to those shitheads, myself.

He shouldn't take any crap. It's his show, and his lecture on the meaning of the word 'audience'--while brief--was most succinct.

[davepdx]

57. I liked his response too

and that was that the word "audience" comes from the Latin "to listen."

[EVDebs]

95. Yeah, just like 9-11 is Bush's show.

And the audience had better put up or shut up using your logic.

[davepdx]

101. If you or I invited someone into our homes and they started

screaming shit that offended you or me, we'd probably throw them out. I know I would. That is just what Bill Maher did. It was his show - his house. The audience were his guests. They audience doesn't own the place. If they want to protest there are plenty of places where they can protest. Trying to steal Bill Maher's *live* airtime for their protest was nothing but a cheap stunt.

*WE* own the White House. We can't even look inside to see what is going on. We aren't even being invited in. I don't see the logic in your statement.

edited a spelling error

[Raine]

169. Well...yes

they are guests in someone else's place. If someone came onto my turf with that attitude I would kick their asses out to.

[Raine]

168. Me too

I loved it. :thumbsup:

[BenDavid]

10. Well hell! All I can say is the folks that cut up

in the audience better be glad this was not a bushit event or they would find themselves jailed and waiting deportation of Gitmo.....

Ben David

[CC]

11. The hecklers timing sucked

and sounded like the majority of the live audience was glad to be rid of them. I would of liked to of heard what else the congress woman had to say. Shame security didn't toss them sooner.

[mitchtv]

82. I was in the TV audience, and they were so annoying

I was frankly surprise it took so long to et rid of them. They had a good panel, and some good conversation going. Bill going into the audience was just showmanship. Tweety was stunned

[berkshiregrl]

12. good graces

First of all, congratulations for being the first commentary I
found on the most interesting evening on HBO.

Bill Maher used the most direct, engaged, serious (not
overbearing or without humanity) manor in dealing with the
"hecklers" in the audience tonight. While I am not
always a fan of how Mr. Maher goes after his invited guests,
his right to defend the sanctity of the show was justified and
his comments showed rather good graces, as far as I'm
concerned.

That he was able to "get on with the show" and
actually save a chance for the guests to earn their keep,
displayed how deft a host Mr. Maher actually is. 

Who knew the most crass night show host could redeem himself
under pressure. My hat's off.

[Nostradammit]

13. "Sanctity of the show" ?

Are we sanctifying tv shows now?




Fer chrissakes...


Oh yeah, welcome to DU.

[donsu]

40. protesters are hecklers?

you are progressive, liberal?

[heliarc]

55. They are hecklers when they accuse Bill Maher of cowardice.

There may be some element of protest in it, but it's also heckling. It's not like they were kindly petitioning Bill Maher for equal time.

[mitchtv]

83. Bill Maher comedian

audience- Hecklers
Me Liberal Democrat

[EVDebs]

133. Bill Maher and Ann Coulter...dated ?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/10/11/13720/344

and

http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/dating/ann-coulter.htm

This explains a lot. He can't possibly have wanted her for her body which leads us to believe he's attracted to her ... MIND ?

[seriousstan]

14. I now know he would have kicked Code Pinks ass.

I didn't think he would have gone into the audience. That is an invitation to physically fight where I grew up. "Or do I have to come over and kick this guy’s ass out of here?”

I think he could have waited for security and belittled him with wit. This isn't his first heckler.

I do agree with him in the ..Where is security.. idea. A live show should has security to handle this and the countless other potential problems.

[defendandprotect]

102. Code Pink ladies beaten up by Bill Maher?? . . .

What kind of a "contest" do you think you're talking about --

This is the future of our nation ---

You had better be concerned more about what actually happened on 9/11 than viewing it as a
disturbance by some annoying females -- !!!

[sutz12]

19. People seem to forget that Maher is not as liberal as his audience.

:shrug:

[Guaranteed]

21. 9/11 conspiracy stuff isn't "liberal," it's nutcase. nt

[Stuckinthebush]

29. Yup...my wingnut brother in law is a 9/11 conspiracy nut

But of course he thinks it was someone other than Bush.

Looney stuff.

[heliarc]

56. Please...

While I am not about to make any claims to whether or not one or another of the 9/11 conspiracies is true --whether it was Osama, or it was Bush or some complex of strange adversaries in between-- I find it hard to make a real judgment on given facts; I am certainly willing to cut down your obvious disregard of any "conspiracy" and the real desire to search for the truth slouching in the dark corners of our government. To look at Ted Stevens and not scream conspiracy, or to look at that idiot Tom Delay and his stupid Jack Abramoff, or looking at Blackwater/Titan/Triple Canopy/Dynacorps even is impossible without believing that some conspiracy or another is in the cards.

Conspiracies happen and it is not your place or anyone else here to call truthseekers looney. It is exactly the response that the Fascists in Chile make when we assert the very widely accepted FACT that 3000 Chilean compatriots of mine were disappeared, or that 80,000 more were tortured. The Church commission proves that Nixon was involved in assassinations of Chilean diplomats and leaders here in the states and abroad. It also proves that covert money was spent supporting the fascists and torturers who killed many in my family and ruined our democracy. The chorus of looneys like you who would take the discourse to the absurd level of name calling and staunch closed mindedness doesn't move us any farther from the truth that conspiracy occurs at all levels in society.

I recognize that there are many out there who are convinced of their many theories of what happend on 9/11, but that does not make the official record true however banal or astounding the true chain of events may really be.

[Stuckinthebush]

58. It's loony.

Sorry.

Some conspiracy theories have some truth to them, this particular one has been thoroughly debunked.

[subsuelo]

141. the official story is even more loony

that's the problem - it's an inescapable conclusion.

[EVDebs]

134. Tell that to the Jersey Girls. eom

[incapsulated]

171. lol, thank you.

Please, I call myself a liberal, I don't want anyone thinking I agree with these people.

[varkam]

23. Being a truther an being a liberal

have nothing to do with one another.

[defendandprotect]

103. Maher is rather right-wing, IMO, on many issues -- and a lot of bullying ....

I don't always like his attitude --
And when it comes to Anne Coulter, I sure don't like his friends ---

[gatlingforme]

124. Bill Mauer is a LIBERTARIAN

[derby378]

125. Libertarians don't support gun control - otherwise, however, you're correct

:hi:

[bamacrat]

20. 9/11 was an inside job.

Bill Maher doesn't believe this, which I find odd considering his very liberal anti-establishment views. I love his show though it's one of the best debate shows ever.

[lligrd]

24. I Still Find That Hard To Believe

although with this administration, I don't find it impossible. Still, I do wonder why anyone who did believe so would choose to embarrass a guy who is clearly against the administration they think were responsible for it.

I do think his "ass kicking" comment was over the line though. I got the feeling he would have enjoyed watching them be tasered.

[rabies1]

30. My thought exactly - good thing he didn't have a taser.

Yeah there's a time and place to speak out but Bills show isn't one of them.
They just made themselves look like a bunch of nutjobs. Bills reaction however, does remiind me
of the lack of tolerance we have in this country. How can we ever expect to work together if we
don't calm down and listen to each other?

[defendandprotect]

63. Maher made comments from his soapbox -- and this is the other side of the story which . . .

has not had an opportunity to break thru in MSM --

Quite like the reality that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and the fact that many Americans believed the Bush/Cheney lies for so long.

[defendandprotect]

105. Agree -- but my feelings are that Maher feels the heat on this and won't go near it ---

he'll keep it in the basement ---

OR ..... 9/11 Truth may find a way to keep after him and get some time on the show where he would be forced to look at info -- bring it into the open -- and THEN use his soapbox to bury it again!!!

[ileus]

27. The only question is MIHOP or LIHOP...that's why we need Hillary in '08

[NoodleyAppendage]

50. Are you kidding? Hillary will do NOTHING to get to the root of the event.

Hillary is part of the problem, not a solution.

J

[defendandprotect]

106. Right -- people who are concerned speak out NOW . . .

[BeatleBoot]

28. How Can Bush Be "DUMB" but "SMART" at the Same Time?

I still can't reconcile that in my head. It makes no sense.

One one hand, "he's the dumbest president we ever had", but "smart enough for 'inside-jobs' " ?

It makes no sense to me.

He's either a dummy or a genius. Pick one.

It reminds me of Aristotle: "A" cannot be "A" and "Non-A" at the same time.

Good for Bill Maher. Those people infringed on the right's of everyone else in that audience.

[kstewart33]

31. Maher was right-on.

I doubt that anyone will be disrupting his show now that they've seen what will happen if they try.

It's his show not the property of jerks who come in solely to disrupt it to make some 2-bit point.

[donsu]

41. smirk is the front man, front men don't do planning, they just front

nt

[tinrobot]

49. Then what about everything else he's 'fronted?'

It's all been a disaster. The people behind the 'front man' are still idiots and the theory still holds.

[Yupster]

43. And if he was smart enough to set the whole thing up,

don't you think he'd give himself a better role than reading "My Pet Goat," and then fleeing around the country all day?

Or maybe that's the dumb Bush part again.

It could be a tag team at The Garden.

Fat and Skinny Osama versus Dumb and Smart Bush. A Texas Death Steel Cage Match.

[BeatleBoot]

52. LoL

:rofl:

[Drunken Irishman]

59. Not only smart enough to come up with it, but smart enough to keep it hidden!

That's what gets me every single time. We've seen over and over how incompetent this administration is. From their handling of Iraq, Katrina, the post 911 world and the economy, which all have been an utter disaster. Yet people want me to believe this same incompetent administration could orchestrate one of the most advanced conspiracy theories in the history of the world? And not only that, but do it so well that there isn't one leak, one person that has indisputable evidence it was all done by the US government? I mean, look how fast the bottom fell out during Watergate, or Clinton's scandals. When you're dealing with a conspiracy at this level and we're supposed to believe the powers behind it are incompetent fools, then something -- anything -- would have to point toward an inside job.

So either this administration is the smartest and most skilled administration in American history -- you'd have to be to do all of this in the limited time Bush had in office -- or Bush is just an idiot and didn't heed the warnings prior to the attacks. I'm sorry, but I've got to go with the latter.

[Snarkturian Clone]

155. I've had thoughts about this myself. NT

[defendandprotect]

107. Look . . . you have to understand that Bush is a front for those who truly control things ---

You think Bush wired the WTC towers for demolition?

Since the coup on JFK -- and that's a MAJOR turning point in the history of the nation -- we have had secret intelligence/military at work domestically, clearing the way for Nixon, Reagan and most recently Bush --

And -- I'll remind those here who might have been around during the Carter days . . . violently attacking Democratic presidencies . . . much like they attacked Clinton.
They are not about to let them be effective leaders in any sense of the game--

Carter for one was trying to research the past -- UFO's for one -- JFK, I believe ....
Clinton immediately asked one of his assistants -- to look into UFOs and the JFk coup ---

Carter was told by then CIA director Bush that he didn't have high enough security clearance to warrante the information on UFOs be given to him!!!

After JFK . . . they didn't let any other presidents -- at least Democrats -- see UFO info.

So -- no . . . Bush didn't plan 9/11 . . . someone else took care of that for him.
I'm sure they also planned his entire day for him --

In this case, the audience may be as ignorant as Maher in regard to 9/11 . . .
I think Maher doesn't want to touch this live wire ---

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Yupster]

44. There's a topic forum called September 11th

Check it out and read more than you'll ever want to.

The fact is that we as a group are predisposed to believe like you. However after years of research and arguuments and accusations, there just isn't any there there.

The generic "Bush did it," is fine.

The problem comes in the specifics. Each time a charge has been made it's been examined and debated and experimented on by engineers and scientists, and each charge has been handily knocked down, usually with ease and a chuckle.

The answer is then, "well that wasn't the strongest argument. This one is." And on and on and on. And then you're back arguing the same point that was easily debunked a year ago by a prestigious university engineering study as if the person making the charge really thinks it's still extant.

The fact is many of us don't believe precisely because we have read and read and read on this topic until we've exhausted every possibility of our belief. There just isn't any there there.

That doesn't make Bush competent or a decent president or anything.

Bush can be a horrendous president, and there can be a large group of deluded conspiracy theorists at the same time.

[JeanGrey]

47. I rank the 9/11 truthers with the same people who still

claim that O.J. didn't do it.

[Dr. Strange]

165. Interesting that you mention OJ.

I've heard that OJ was the pilot of the plane that hit the Pentagon. It turns out that he thought that's where the real killer was. It also turns out that he's a really bad pilot.

I, however, do not officially endorse this theory.

[defendandprotect]

108. Let me recommend that you go back and read the information more carefully . . ..

The official story is for dunces ---

[EVDebs]

135. Getting a new 9-11 investigation isn't relegated to the dungeon. The Jersey Girls want a NEW

investigation into the facts that were intentionally left out of the original report. This is why books like 9-11 ERRORS AND OMISSIONS are written. The MSM and now it seems some on DU increasingly don't like inconvenient truths.

[Strelnikov_]

45. Why does '9/11 Truth' only have room for their truth

There appears to me to be a preponderance of evidence that the Chimp administration and the Republicans committed treason by one of the following:

1) criminal incompetence in ignoring the threats leading up to 9/11.

2) intentionally ignored the threats, and may have even hindered the work of law enforcement, to spur their new 'Peal Harbor'.

combined with:

3) using the event for political gain.


Bin Ladens bunch, labeled Al Queda by the CIA, was a primary worry of the Clinton administration.

It was a simple plan, the kind that work. If a building was brought down by strategically placed explosives, or a 'dirty bomb' goes off near a school in a predominantly Democratic and economically minor City, I would have been reaching for the tin foil (and the way things are going, I am keeping it close). These plans could be pulled off by a few operatives, a necessary component of any conspiracy. Flying planes into buildings with pre-planted explosives? Bit complicated false flag, with many potential failure nodes.

Being a structural Engineer, once I read about the design of the towers a few days later, it became clear that these were badly flawed structures (no structure designed for that number of people should be susceptible to progressive collapse).

IMHO, a badly damaged building 7 may have been brought down by a controlled demolition so that rescuers could 'safely' access the site. I have worked on similar situations with bridges and unstable rock masses. Why they are covering this up could be due to liability (ie they probably killed some 'survivors' when they brought it down).

[CGowen]

79. Have you seen the interview with Frank De Martini, who died on 911?

WTC construction manager, Frank A. DeMartini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDGInaB0eQM




A 1964 report was mentioning that live loads could be increased by 2000%

This "redundancy" is further explained by William Rice, a Professional Engineer,
who states, "Structural steel buildings redistribute the stress when several columns
are removed and the undamaged structural framework acts as a truss network to
bridge over the missing columns." The strength of these columns was described
by "Engineering News-Record" in 1964, reporting that "live loads on these columns
can be increased more than 2000% before failure occurs." {11} Considering this,
even if NIST's estimates are correct the towers should have easily survied the
impact damage.

11. "How Columns Will Be Designed for 110-Story Buildings", Engineering news-Record
2 April 1964

http://stj911.org/evidence/wtc.html

[defendandprotect]

109. Rather . . . 9/11 Truth and other organizations are seeking debates ----

it is the official story people who want to avoid them --
Including NIST ---

As far as pre-intelligence the obvious conclusion is "How could they not have known?"
In fact, in August -- because everyone was so concerned about WH "Operation Ignore" . . .
the United Nations Security Council came knocking on the doors of the White House and our intelligence agencies to deliver all the warnings again. This was one month before 9/11!!!

So -- that's all pretty clear.

Bin Laden/The Taliban/Al Qaeda are financed creations of the US/CIA . . . !!!!
They are our inventions -- !!!

Look at the WTC '93 attack --
Look at Oklahoma bombing --
Look at the Anthrax attack on Congress right after 9/11 --

And when you say this . . .
QUOTE: Flying planes into buildings with pre-planted explosives? Bit complicated false flag, with many potential failure nodes.UNQUOTE

it's sadly obvious that you have no awareness of "Operation Northwoods" or the later version of it by the Nixon administration called "The Huston Plan" . . . right?????

Or that our military on that very day -- at that very time -- was practicing for just such an attack -- !!!! Are you clear on that -- ????

[EVDebs]

149. Uh, it takes a few days to set the charges for a building's demolition

and have you ever heard of Ptech, the Saudi software firm that still works for the WH DOD and FAA ?

"Ptech was brought to the front of the spotlight following the visit of law enforcement officials to its Headquarters in the middle of the night of December 5th 2002, under the operation of Operation Green Quest, a U.S. Customs Services unit charged with the investigation of alleged terrorist funding networks. The December raid brought a rush of media sourcs to Ptech's Boston headquartesr.<7> amid allegations of Ptech's involvement in terrorist financing, which the White House and the Federal Attorney General of Massachusetts later rebuffed<8>. No one has been arrested of Ptech, and no inditment has been issued against Ptech or any of its officials. The U.S. Government continued to do business with Ptech. Former Ptech employees described Ptech as a company who who encouraged diversity in the workplace and the sharing of individual cultures and traditions, with a culture of socially responsibility and environment protection support and attributed the media frenzy to the charged atmosphere after 9/11 terrorist attack.<9>"

"Ptech's roster of clients included several governmental agencies, including the United States Armed Forces, NATO, Congress, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs, the FAA, the IRS, the Secret Service, and the White House. Despite the media allegation that the company's was connected to terrorism, an allegation that both the US government and the company's official denied, as of May 2004 they were still contracted by several federal agencies, including the White House.

Ptech had a security clearance to work on sensitive military projects dating to 1997."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptech

Now THAT's interesting, a Saudi controlled software firm with pre-9/11 (and now post-9/11) access to WhiteHouse, FAA, Air Force etc. computers all the while during 9-11 there were war games going on, Vigilant Warrior etc.

This was mentioned in the 9-11 Commission Report only in passing and as a footnote.

[donsu]

35. so Bill doesn't believe 9/11 was an inside job - vehemently

so I don't believe in Bill and thank his audience disruptor's for speaking out.

[defendandprotect]

110. Me, too -- !!! !!! !!! There's very little opportunity with MSM so I'm appreciative --

[Amigust]

48. The biggest conspiracy theory of all

is the U.S. government's theory that it was all about a conspiracy of 19 disaffected Arabs. What utter nonsense!

The 9/11 Commission was nothing but one more government whitewash of hideous government criminality.

Maher's refusal to acknowledge that there is massive discrepancy between the government's conspiracy theory and what research has turned up since 9/11 makes him less and less relevant as a political commentator.

[BeatleBoot]

53. Oh, so now the entire 9-11 commission was in on it, too, huh?

So what would their motive be to keep everything on the proverbial QT?

And too keep so many of them on the same page for so long.

How many people are on that panel with how many sub-panels - and they're all "in on it" .

Do they meet in some secret cave with a secret handshake?

Kind of like the Skull and Bones crew meet Batman meet the Eyes Wide Shut crowd?

[Drunken Irishman]

64. Stonecutters, baby!

They're behind this, too.



Who controls the British Crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do. We do.
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do. We do.
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do. We do.
Who robs cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do. We do.

Except the verse you didn't hear in the original episode...

Who controls the 9-11 commission?
Who controls the Twin Towers demolition?
We do. We do.

[Pavulon]

67. Well done. That was a funny episode(nt)

[defendandprotect]

111. Right -- hijackers reported to be Egyptians and Saudis -- and we attack Afghanistan and Iraq -- !!!!

Heroin and OIL . . . OIL . . . OIL . .. . OIL . . .

[Starbucks Anarchist]

54. I'm waiting for the Rosa Parks comparisons.

:eyes:

[defendandprotect]

62. Evidently it's too inconvenient to have truth intrude on entertainment --- ????

[BeatleBoot]

68. Sure it's fine - when you're an invited guest

But the audience is there to listen and to be entertained by the folks paid to entertain them on the stage.

That's been going on for centuries.

What give these yahoos the right to infringe on the rights of not only the other people in the audience, but everyone else sitting in their living rooms who paid HBO to watch Bill Maher and his guests discuss the issues?

[defendandprotect]

98. Maher "invited" this when he used his soapbox to attack "9/11 truth" . . .

In fact, why shouldn't "9/11 truth" have been given a legitimate opportunity to explain their concerns and the investigations?

This is not unlike the JFK coup where we had only the MSM soapbox, which so held up the information getting out re the doubts and the investigations. Here you are now more than 40 years later only begging to have the full knowledge being revealed. Not that most folks believed the official JFk myth -- but MSM blocked the official myth from being knocked over.

Do you want that again?

Personally, I think it's preferable that people STOP and look at what others are point to --
Take the time to look at the information --
give these people a chance to tell you the most important information uncovered.

[Stewie]

150. You're confusing "truth" with "mental illness."

I think I'll disrput the next Democratic debate with the "truth" about how the pyramids were built by UFOs.

[Dr. Strange]

166. Pyramids built by UFOs? WTF?

The pyramids were planted by Rove to provide a cover for killing archaeologists. He kills them and everyone conveniently blames the "curse of King Tut"!

Welcome to DU!
:hi:

[Neshanic]

76. There are three wrongs.

First it is obvious that yes, the hecklers were not in the place to be doing that. I admire their guts, but of course this is a media conglomertae studio, and to be expected to be forced out quickly BY SECURITY is a fact. If these people showed up like a Code Pink situation in a government hearing, then the rules change because that is "our" ground. Everyone's property. So wrong there for them, gutsy, but wrong.

The reaction by the host was wrong. Violent, vicious, and everything laid out there to see, just like what we condemn the bad guys of doing. He's a seasoned comdian and entertainer/infotainer. He lost it, and that's his problem, and as far as saying what he said, totally inapropriate for someone that berates the issue of people acting and not thinking. He's wrong.

All of you calling these 9-11 people nuts is wrong. I do not subscribe to the beliefs they hold. I do though have doubts about things and what happened that day in a broad general sense, and to go to the extreme of its an all or nothing belief system on 9-11 is not right. I remember when not in the distant past, global warming people were raked over for generally being nuts. Now they are not. I do not trust our government. Do you? Do you completely? Then to call them assholes, nuts, and everything else in the book is not being the "open mineded liberal" that supposedly resides here. There is a separate forum here for 9-11 and gays. That's a great thing, but to think that it's divided up so neatly in the real world is not good. Those people like me who do not believe the worst case scenario of the 9-11ers can though have some items that make them pause and not be so cocksure that it's a black and white, case closed thing. If anything we are suprised daily with new lows.

[defendandprotect]

112. I'd encourage you to keep reading re 9/11 . . . we were right on Global Warming and we are

right on fascism crossing our threshold -- sadly, in both cases!!!


Let's all keep looking at 9/11 facts together ---

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

78. damn I wish i could do that,

I am working on regulatory hearings right now where basically any crazy person can shout us down and not be removed. They show up by the van load and just scream at us about stuff that has little to nothing to do with the hearings, but they filled out a half page form so were their bitches.

And after such episodes the "conflict resolution analyst" some over-paid dickhead with a ponytail will sit us all down like first graders and discuss how many participants might not be well educated or articulate - but that they are just expressing themselves and that we must be receptive to their concerns and make us brainstorm about how to articulate their concerns.

I would LOVE it if I could just throw them out!

[Neshanic]

80. Your are writing satire I hope.

"I am working on regulatory hearings right now where basically any crazy person can shout us down and not be removed. They show up by the van load and just scream at us about stuff that has little to nothing to do with the hearings, but they filled out a half page form so were their bitches."

Well as what I do for a living is a big part of what you described, that "ponytailed dickhead" is correct.

During hearings that involve major power line easements, road alignments, and master planned communities, these "crazy people" have a right, and more impotantly the knowledge that they will get steamrolled if they do not speak up. Your ponytail friend is also very correct that " many participants might not be well educated or articulate - but that they are just expressing themselves and that we must be receptive to their concerns and make us brainstorm about how to articulate their concerns."

You should maybe listen to him, he sounds like he is a good and wise person in those situations.

I have heard many people speak at public hearings on projects that directly affect them and their life, home and property. You would be surprised at how the developers mouthpieces are shut down by one of the people who is not so eloquent.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

84. there is a difference between being "not so eloquent" and being a loud asshole

who just stands there screaming without allowing us to say anything, especially when their bitching about things that have little to nothing to do with us.

[tonekat]

85. The show was never intended as a free-for-all

...with unsolicited comments. Maher is in the driver's seat, it's his show. He's paid to do an entertaining show, and the guys who thought they were at the college coffeehouse should change their strategy to call radio shows and other venues that exist to have comments from the public, if they want to spread their message. Hollering from the audience has obviously not won them any converts, if this thread is any example.

[defendandprotect]

113. This is David & Goliath -- and this information needs to be moved along -- here's one shot ----

Bill Maher OPENED this dialogue by attacking 9/11 --

He should let the subject be duly opened now -- right on his show --

Let him invite whomever he wants ... as long as the other side can now be heard fairly ---

[Progressive Friend]

87. I don't know why they hate Bill Maher, he is one of the most anti-Neocon personalities on TV

[Divine Discontent]

97. I couldn't agree MORE!

He doesn't share my views on everything but I respected him quite nearly from the first time I saw him, he's very intelligent and I think he has a great finger on the pulse of what's going on.

I'm shocked there's several people defending the people disrupting a TV show. This is not a politician on a stage answering questions, a rally, people protesting another group outside somewhere, etc.

And as you said, he's like the ANTI-Neocon and yet they are all about yelling at him as a group effort? That tells me they're a bit warped in their minds and obsess on their belief of 9/11 being a coverup (which could be so but it doesn't give them a right to disrupt a panel discussion on live TV) so much that they ignore all other things in life, sorta like the nutjobs who focus on abortion and have the stickers and vote ONLY for an anti-abortion candidate and ignore all other issues, if you follow me...

great post though, thanks for your input, as I said, I totally agree with you!

[defendandprotect]

115. In fairness, ask if the information has been blocked in MSM . .. or whether you've had

an honest opportunity to hear what these people have to say -- ???

Notice the intense attack on Rosie O'Donnell and others who have tried to bring this info to the fore . . .

If you don't think you've been given an honest opportunity to hear this other side, maybe you should wonder why?

And, maybe, most of all, it's time to look more closely when people warn you away from an issue waving "tin foil hats" . . . ??? Maybe that should be a signal in itself???

[defendandprotect]

114. Since Bill Maher attacked 9/11 Truth . .. shouldn't you be asking why he "hates" them????

[EVDebs]

137. His date, Ann Coulter, won't give him any unless he attacks 'em ! eom

[defendandprotect]

158. Has he ever had her on the show?

[EVDebs]

164. I've seen her on tape, but most guests would walk out (like Belzer was going to do)

if she showed up in person.

[Vidar]

119. Good for the audience members.

[John Kerry VonErich]

121. My take

I agree that he deserved to be kicked out. But I do see Donsu's view TO A POINT. Remember these people showing up on Geraldo's Fox News show not too long ago? No permit and on private property. And no one got kicked out.

[CGowen]

122. Some were arrested....n/t

[martymar64]

123. I side with Bill on this one

If the 9/11 truthers want to disseminate their views, let them either get their own show or get on someone else's show as a guest. I have a couple issues with Bill, mostly his attitudes regarding women, but for the most part I wholeheartedly agree with him. These people were simply hecklers and deserved to get thrown out. If it was the late Bill Hicks hosting instead of Bill Maher, they'd would have been treated much worse, he was known for laying into hecklers with a vengeance. I keep being reminded of the old, "How would you like it if I came to your job at McDonald's and heckled you?" As far as I know, Bill had nothing to do with 9/11. He wasn't on any commission or panel deciding anything. He has no vote in Congress and has no power to affect policy in any way. He simply expressed his opinion about it, right or wrong. For this one narrow disagreement, people are going out of their way to excoriate him and try to destroy his livelihood.

I appreciate Bill's show because it is a chance to see people (his guests) get to say what they really feel. I appreciated his interviews with Edwards and with Gary Kasparov, they both had more depth than you would get on any other news shows, even Tweety commented on that. If he had allowed the show to be continuously disrupted, then likely HBO would eventually cancel the show and then another avenue for real information is silenced.
The hecklers are wrong in this case.

[Cha]

127. Awwwwwwwww..

Tough Shite, Maher.. The good news is, I'm glad there's people out there who willing to stand up for what they think the bushits did on 9/11 and to use your AUDIENCE to do it.

It's not like the m$$$$$$m is going to listen to them, is it? The Cover-Ups themselves?

[ContraBass Black]

136. Until I saw the video, I thought that the discussion was about terrorism or 9/11.

It wasn't. They were talking about evolutionary biology when the disruption started.

[tomhayes]

138. I've been in his audience four times now....

And you are CLEARLY told when you call to get tickets what the rules are.

The rules are: No cell phones, no electronic devices, and no disruptions.

You are encouraged to applaud and laugh. You are specifically told NOT yell, hiss, or heckle anyone.

What these people did was NOT a protest, it was to try to disrupt a television program. They chose this one because it is broadcast live to the east coast, and played back in it's entirety on the west coast feed exactly as it happened.

CBS Studio City (the show is filmed on the same stage as The Price is Right) has areas set aside for protesters in front of the audience waiting line.

These "truthers" who disrupted by LOUDLY yelling (and the way the studio is set up it would have had to be EXTREMELY LOUD) and disrupting the show is inexcusable. They violated the rules, and I am sure that the folks near them did not appreciate the loud yelling about an unrelated subject.

The debate about this incident has nothing to do with their cause. This was not a political rally, a government function, a party rally or any type of event where the audience present's their thoughts. Real Time with Bill Maher, a show on a pay cable network, exists to entertain, not as a stepping stone for agendas unless the people running the show wish to let someone present that agenda.

Shame on anyone who disrupts this show. Go disrupt a political rally. Go get your own show on public access. Find a single trust worthy memeber of the established media to champion your cause. Don't show up and yell shit at Jeol Stein and Bill maher.

By the way - the show is free, and all you have to do is call to get tickets. There is no "vetting" process, no ID checks, no loyalty oaths required. Just that you WATCH the show, and participate by laughing, applauding, or remaining silent to show support / no support for the ideas presented.

[EVDebs]

145. It's just like being at a GW Bush rally. When the applaud sign goes up everyone bows down

[tomhayes]

146. NO! BECUASE REAL TIME IS NOT A POLITCAL RALLY

If you can not understand the difference between a political rally and a TV show run by a stand up comedian then you are either stupid or an asshole.

And further, there is no LOYALTY OATH required to attend Real Time.

I'd be just a tiny, tiny bit more sympathetic if Real Time was on broadcast media.

Let's hope The Daily Show and The Colbert Report aren't next. (oh, they are taped and can be edited)

[EVDebs]

151. Dennis Miller's audience wouldn't laugh at a Bush joke

because he was giving Bush a "pass". I imagine Maher has given his 'date' Ann Coulter some leeway here in order to keep her on his show as a future 'guest'.

Speech will be restricted. Note that even Richard Belzer feigned leaving when Maher originally had her appearing on his show simultaneously.

Besides, if a smart political group of neocons wanted to, they could infiltrate an audience. Too bad some Truther's decided to do it first.

[tomhayes]

152. man, you are mixed up

> Dennis Miller's audience wouldn't laugh at a Bush joke

Dennis Miller has no live audience because his show was cancelled in 2002, that's why no one is laughing.

And what joke were the people in the audience responding to? None. They just waited until people were discussing another issue and starting screaming trying to use the show for their agenda.

>Speech will be restricted. Note that even Richard Belzer feigned leaving when Maher originally had her appearing on his show simultaneously.

And Belzer had the right to leave. He talked a bunch of shit about Coulter right after her segment was over too.

The difference between Belzer and people in the audience is that Belzer was invited to share his opinions on the panel. But Bill does not want people hecking or attacking one another so that views can be shared that are not in agreement. The audience starting to yell during the show has no part of this format. And this format is a non-broadcast show run by a pot-smoking, womanizing, smarmy Libertarian comedian that you have to PAY an extra $9 dollars a month to be exposed to.

And have you notice Ann Coulter has not been on the Bill Maher show in years? he's even dissing her now. Hit it and forget it.

It's like everyday on the Thom Hartman program when he has some crazy right-wing guy on. He introduces them, pimps their website, treats the person with respect, disagrees with him and shares his views, and is very cordial. But he doesn't let *just anyone* on his show.

>Besides, if a smart political group of neocons wanted to, they could infiltrate an audience. Too bad some Truther's decided to do it first.

Every YEAR Bill Maher *INVITES* the republicans to come to his show. He picks a date and republicans are given preferential status in booking seats. And every year they still don't show up. I have a feeling they don't show up because they don't want to agree the rules he sets forsth, as is their right.

Isn't it telling that the "troofers" have worse manners than the neo-cons?? The "trufers" need to put together a better media presentation, find some suitable spokesmen and get on to local radio, in alternative papers, or Jimmy Kimmel. And they need to stop yelling during a TV show.

[Name removed]

162. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[truebluecollar]

170. I was just waiting for Bill to go...

"Taze 'Em Bro!"