Bill Maher: US Is Just Like Michael Jackson--"Fragile, Over-Indulgent, In Debt, Over The Hill" (VIDEO)

On "Real Time" Friday Bill Maher went on a diatribe about how the reason America mourned Michael Jackson so intensely--or as Maher put, lost its "collective shit" over Jackson--was because, well, "Michael Jackson is America." Maher argued that this was case by suggesting that both America and Jackson could be described as "fragile, over-indulgent, childish, in debt, on drugs, and over the hill."

WATCH [segement begins around the 1:45 mark.]

Comments

[CologneCitizen]

The simple reason why Bill Maher is somehow "controversial" to many Americans is the fact they don't understand his kind of humour. Sarcarstic and ironic remarks are often felt as attacks by a lot of Americans. If they could get away from their kind of slapstick humour they would be able to enjoy guys like Maher.

[mereader]

everyone has to be "nice" here and have a "nice" time and billy is a "meanie", that he may be speaking the truth sometimes, hey, it is unpleasant to hear it and we are here to indulge ourselves in general and in particular here with "festivities" provided by our idol's departure...

[dteg]

Sorry but it came off as mean.When the dead have mostly done good in society, most people let them rest. The dirt is still fresh on his grave and Bill Maher should not have used the analogy period. It just comes off as mean spirited and any points he tried to make were lost.

[trinidadgirl]

Yep the point is that Bill probably couldn't have got where he got without the ...fragile etc etc America....you dig?
And Bill, please try not to speak ill of the dead!

[Green-Zanto]

My favorite Bill Maher monologue from this season was from a few weeks ago when he said that we have no actual liberal or progressive party in America, we have a center-right party (the Democrats) and we have an insane party (the Republicans).

This was a great one as well. People are too sensitive if they are offended by making a few jokes about Michael Jackson. The point isn't Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson was just a comedic analogy. If that irritates you for some reason, so be it, but look at what he was actually saying about our country. Was he wrong? About any of it? I don't think so.

Bill Maher is the kind of person we should have in public office. I'm afraid, however, that he is a few decades ahead of his time. Everything he says is essentially common sense: universal health care, non-imperialistic foreign policy, an end to the ludicrous war on drugs, the fact that religion is inherently ridiculous and fictional, that gay marriage is a basic civil right, that America eats ludicrously unhealthy products and are encouraged to do so by a corrupt industry, that corporations have too much power, that we need to actively work on fixing the environment....all of this is basic common sense and probably stuff that people on this site already agree with. Just because Maher delivers his message through comedy, which is occasionally "offensive" (though never to me) doesn't make him any less correct.

[YeWight]

Bill Maher in public office? If you care about common sense and the Constitution, you got Ron Paul. Now, I don't know about Maher, but Paul really is decades ahead of his time. And that's why he can never be the Prez.

[berzelius]

If you think this country is too heavily influenced by or beholden corporate powers now. Wait until we get the libertarian party in power.
Socially I agree with them (although it makes no sense that they are Pro-'life'). But economically, they would be the red-carpet to fascism.

[Hirnlego]

Ayan rand is not really decades ahead of the time..

[Decipherer]

Bill Maher is just right where he needs to be, thank you very much. He is a court jester, a time-honored profession incidentally, and not a politician.

[donklinestiver]

Best summary yet. Being rational is so funny. My favorite monologue was how we dis the French for being intelligent and civilized.

[peanut]

Bill's message would get lost in Washington or any any public office. It is much easier being a commentor or a critic with your own show to steer the discussion or the debate in whatever direction you want it to go.
It would be great if we could "kill off the government " long enough to erase the debt just as Michael's death will erase his debt and continue to make money for his children and his estate. Oh, if only it were that simple!
At best, I think many people would describe Bill Maher as unconventional in his lifestyle. I don't quite agree with you regarding his being "decades ahead of his time." He is open minded about many issues but I fear he is wrong on several others. Comedy often serves as a cover for many of one's demons. Bill, like all individuals, is much more complex than it might first appear to his audiences.

[scotsense]

great post fanned

[marydianeg]

Not Bill's best "New Rules" - seemed like he threw it together fast after a vacation break - it wasn't very clever. Bill - give Michael Jackson a break - let people mourne the man...you can do better.

[Hirnlego]

Why can't you make fun of him and mourn?

[nowarpleez]

Because it is disrespectful and tacky. MJ was someone's father, son, brother and friend.

[RezidentBivrip]

I expected this to be another Bill Maher hate America rant, but it wasn't. I love Maher's show, but at times I can't stand to listen to him. When he starts railing against God or America. Not all us liberals are god hating, country hating, pot smoking, hippies.

Bill needs to stop equating Religion with God like I do, and realize that even as bad a shape as we are in, we are still the greatest country in the world, and as we go, so goes most of the rest of the world. If we fall, then there's a lot of countries that fall with us.

[Green-Zanto]

It is absolute nonsense to call any country "the best country in the world." This is pure and utter nationalism and it is devoid of reality or any kind of critical thinking. This sort of arrogance isn't helpful, honest, or realistic.

Also, Maher's points about religion are quite accurate. In the modern age we have no need for these bronze age myths and there's nothing wrong with pointing out the inherent absurdity involved in believing that ancient mythology is somehow representative of real things.

[Hirnlego]

co-sign

[Melissa]

We are in bad shape at this point in time, but there is no other country I would rather live in. As long as we don't give the country away, or our values in the next 3 1/2 years it will be fixable. Thank God!

[Angelina247]

Bill can't help it. He said mean things about Steve Irwin when he died (The Crocodile Hunter) too. He gets meaner as he gets older. BTW, Bill, you're older than MJ was. How can you call him over the hill????

[mereader]

he was not talking about his age

[temenos]

He actually criticized that showboat, Steve Irwin. Crikey!

[auntbaby]

as people continue to live and age..generally our better days are always behind us. i love paul mccartney, but will he ever write another masterpiece like sgt pepper? michael jackson was a young talented person who contributed to our world culture not just usa culture. that's why his death affected people like me.

[Angelina247]

Bill, I'm not sure how you can call MJ 'over the hill'. You're older than he was!!?? You're getting meaner as you get older. I didn't think that was possible.

[tanustar]

This is why black folk will only embrace MJ more firmly! The diminishing of the contributions of African-Americans to American culture and entertainment continues. It is one thing to dislike MJ as a person. Heck, whether one likes his music or not is a matter of personal taste. But, what Bill Maher and others are trying to do is to deny Michael Jackson's place in american entertainment history in a way Elvis and Marilyn Monroe were never denied! It is sickening and very sinister!

[Green-Zanto]

His point wasn't really about MJ.

Why don't you address what he said about our country? What did he say that was incorrect?

MJ was just an analogy. It's not the main point.

Speaking of MJ though, why should we pretend he was some kind of saint just because he had musical talent? The man was a p edophile for crying out loud. We're supposed to look the other way just because he had some hits? His race is not relevant to this at all.

[tanustar]

Nobody said he is a saint! And, the man was acquitted for pete's sake so you can't really say that with certainty! Or the justice system means nothing when it comes to Michael Jackson!

[chronic]

Amen to that!

[temenos]

Oh come on! It's not all about race. Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller are two of my all time favorite musicians and they have earned their place in musical history. Ella Fitzgerald, Dionne Warwick, Diahnn Carroll are marvellous vocalists and the list goes on to Stevie Wonder, Leslie Uggams etc. There are just so many great black musicians I would run over the site word limit trying to name them all and their contributions to music have been enormous.
Frankly, when it comes to Michael Jackson I feel he is over-rated. It's nothing to do with his lifestyle. I feel that he is a minor artist undeserving of being up there with the greats. You will no doubt disagree as you have every right to but I also have the right to express my opinion.

[YeWight]

And minor he was...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_selling_albums#Best-selling_albums_by_country

[Melissa]

One of the greatest entertainers black or white that has not even been mentioned in all this over the top coverage of Michael Jackson was Sammy Davis, jr. Movie star, stage actor, hit records, nightclub entertainer and the list goes on and on. No one was better during that time. How soon we forget.

[MESGAIN26]

minor artist ??? you can express your opinion but your not in title to the facts, name one artist that sold out 50 concerts in less than 30 mins , and sold the most records world wide even in death , and made the genus book of records for most charity giveing

[Titus Pullo]

Though brutally worded, the message is spot on.

The irony, of course, is watching Maher play in the same media dog & pony show that creates the inane drivel he ridicules for a paycheck. I'll leave his thinly veiled rhetorical similarity to Coulter for another post; he at least operates on a level of functionality that allows some logic through the cracks

[tanustar]

Bill Maher's job is to make fun of other people! And, this contributes to America how?

[ObliqueReference]

Turns the mirror on society. Quit hating.

[tanustar]

Please! Bill Maher needs to look into his own mirror before judging others and a whole society from his perch in LA!

[HPotamus]

win.

[hector74elp]

Whoa… this one was incredible. Very clever.

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

Excellent. Wish I could afford cable or satellite.

[ObliqueReference]

It's usually on utube hours after.

[missette]

Maher's wrong. That fact that the nation enthusiastically elected Barack Obama means we realize we are down but not out. America has an amazing track record of electing just the right person in times of upheaval and strife - Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln both led at times when the fate of our nation hung in the balance. Through the election, I say a nation willing to roll up its sleeves, as corny as that sounds, and work together to fight those who would divide us. And sorry, but as i consider Maher to be a liberal, I take offense at someone who claims to be a liberal and then proceeds to bash Americans at large. Let the Republicans be the ones who "love" America but detest Americans. I like us.

[fscuttle]

So why is he wrong?He didnt say we couldnt recover.Are you saying those things arent happening?

[J in CA]

Being honest isn't bashing it's trying to help make things better. Sometime soon this country is going to need an intervention!! Obama being elected is a great thing and I really love that he's our president but you trying to hang that on Mahers comments is a real reach IMO. Our country is as immature and self involved as ever! it's just not as rich right now. If people were serious you wouldn't have politicians who are questioning the presidents actual right to be president, we wouldn't have people buying up guns left and right because they think the government is going to take them away, we wouldn't have people voting to keep equal rights away from gays, we wouldn't have gay people getting arrested in Utah for kissing near that gaudy mormon temple and we wouldn't have nearly 3/4 of the republican party supporting a woman who quit on the state that elected her just to make more money doing something else. We have a lot of paranoid people in this nation and a lot of very selfish people and he's right to point that out IMO.

[MESGAIN26]

being honest,? but the same could be said about Bill Maher, how is bashing jackson have any thing to do with the economy , and deficits , and how has the deficits effected his pay check makeing things better, this isn't the first time our econmy face a recession , imo i think bill maher is selfish what has he actual done to make this world a better place ?

[missette]

But you are talking about 20-25 percent of the population. Maher made it sound as if we are all that way. Hencemy comments about the election of Obama. We clearly are NOT all that way, but the extremists are out in full force in response to the historic election.

[Winston Smith]

I like him and he makes a point but does he ever have anything constructive to say? other that "we should be responsible".