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Maher: We gave the finger to privacy a long time ago (about wiretapping)

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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-21-06 11:50 PM
Original message
Maher: We gave the finger to privacy a long time ago (about wiretapping)
Absolutely hilarious rant from last Friday's return of the Bill Maher show:

And finally, New Rule: Stop worrying that the government is listening in on your phone conversation. The person you called isn't even listening to your phone conversation. Any American in this day and age who thinks they're not being monitored is so naive and oblivious, I can't believe they're not working already for the Bush Administration.

Which...which is not to say it isn't creepy thinking of Karl Rove monitoring my emails. Which is why all of mine say the same thing: "Hey, did you hear freedom is on the march, and I quit smoking pot?" "Praise Jesus! - Bill."

But the organization that is conducting these wiretaps, the NSA, is a spy agency different from all the others, in that its only function is to listen. You know, like a husband. You know, like a husband!

And if they need to listen to keep a dirty bomb from going off in Long Beach, then I say, "Listen away." All I ask, NSA, is that you don't judge. And more importantly, if you could screen my calls. In fact, just tell everybody I'm not in. Oh, and if I say something funny during one of my phone conversations, write it down and hit me back with an email so I can use it in my next stand-up special.

So, yes, on the downside, our lives here in America are now an open book. But on the upside, Bush doesn't read books! And really, people, if you're so worried about the privacy of your cell phone calls, stop making them when you're in line at Starbucks!

Oh, please, Americans don't want privacy. They want attention! They'll put a camera in their shower and show it on the Internet! To get on television, they'll marry strangers and eat a cow's rectum, and ice dance with Todd Bridges. They're trying to get on a show called "Big Brother"!

We are a nation of exhibitionists from "me" to shining "me." And what we really fear isn't that someone's listening; it's that no one's listening. This whole country is one big desperate cry for somebody to listen to "listen to me, photograph me, Google me, read my blog!" "Read my diary; read my memoir. It's not interesting enough? I'll make shit up!"

You know that I could go on the Internet right now under my alternate screen name, "CherryXXX69," and get complete strangers to email me a picture of their scrotum. I tell you, this country gave the finger to privacy a long time ago.

http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/
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Beelzebud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-21-06 11:52 PM
Response to Original message
1. Bill is dead wrong on this issue... It's no laughing matter..
This is an attempt to erode the constitution. I'm glad Bill is rich, and can leave the country if things get really bad, but the rest of us are stuck here, and I'll take my 4th amendment rights, thank you very much...
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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-21-06 11:56 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Yeah, but did you read the last part?
He's basically saying that people who are bitching about the government listening in on your calls should think the next time they make one while standing in line at Starbucks.
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Beelzebud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 12:28 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. It's an interesting point for him to make. Perhaps he doesn't mind it
because he is a public figure, and nothing he really does is private.

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cry baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-21-06 11:56 PM
Response to Original message
2. The difference is that some people who want attention seek it.
The rest of us revere our privacy and don't seek attention. I don't have any naked pics of me on the internet (you all can thank God for that), I don't blog, I don't want to get on TV...and I think I am an average American.

I like Maher most of the time and love biting political humor, but I just didn't find this rant credible so it wasn't too funny to me. I think he is projecting himself in this rant - he loves to be the center of attention.
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Solomon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 12:31 AM
Response to Reply #2
6. I didn't like it either. Don't lump me in with the exhibitionists.
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devilgrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 01:25 AM
Response to Reply #2
8. I wasn't impressed or amused...
Edited on Wed Feb-22-06 01:26 AM by devilgrrl
it's one thing that people have blogs and post pictures, obviously those people couldn't care less if people know what they're up to. My thing with the wiretaps is that they're not targeting "terrorists" but individuals that oppose the Bush Crime Family.
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seabeyond Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-21-06 11:56 PM
Response to Original message
4. all this rant and he says to nsa listen, dont judge. the error of
his whole argument. dismisses all he said before and after
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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 01:14 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. I'm not defending wiretapping. In fact, I think it's downright illegal.
But it was interesting to hear another take on this issue.
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oasis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 01:25 AM
Response to Original message
9. It's illegal and unconstitutional. Maher's playing the dunce on this one.
:dunce:
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anitar1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 02:24 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Did anyone take him seriously? Did you think he is
defending wiretapping? Actually Maher is a comedian. And yea, we are a country of exibitionists. Just turn on you friendly TV and look at the so called shows that are on. Lots of reality and tell-all shows. Ever noticed how people act when they see a camera. They love it.Andy Warhol was so right.
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oasis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 02:34 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. He's throwing a cheap bone to the Bushies. Maher's remark about
the 9/11 terrorists being "brave" got him canned from his former gig. He's learned that he has to play ball with the Chimperor when it comes to issues of national security.

A small price to pay for this so-called "libertarian".
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