Bill Maher on Barack Obama: "Hoping for a Bit More Audacity."

Just remember... this stuff, it's more important than reelection.

Scott Mendelson

Comments

[kurd55]

Maher is one of the closest things to a liberal that's allowed on teevee nowadays---nothing more. As far as assaying politics, many times he's got all the credibility of the average doped out pot-head. "Oh wow, man."

More than once he's said that Bu$h's warmongering in Iraq was "visionary." He's changed his tune since, but still, just sayin'.

[Britt Loudd]

This country's problems with Energy, Health Care, Climate Change have been in the making for 30 yrs. President Obama has to have it all fixed in 6 months? That's insane! Maher wants Obama to "be Bush"? Look where we are after 8 yrs of Bush. 2 Wars we can't finish, millions of lost jobs, banks & financial services so twisted that we will never get them unraveled...this is what the "Bush attitude" did for the country. Bill Maher needs to rethink.

[slg]

Bill Maher makes the point for all red meat progressives but he's wrong that Obama should swagger more and dictate like Bush (and Reagan before him). The traditional patriarchal male offers no solutions, in fact he is the reason families, communities and Societies have at best floundered for too many centuries. His cynicism and narcissism, reflecting his gods, are a ball and chain on the human spirit, a spirit that will not be denied its freedom.

This President, in spite of inheriting crushing problems and a 20th century patriarchal bureaucracy, takes his job very seriously. He's thoughtful, inclusive, energetic and very wise. I can see how he frightens people who aren't.

[TC4S]

Usually, I can agree with much of what Bill Maher has to say. However, in this instance, I think his criticisms of Obama are unfair. Is he really upset that Obama isn't ramming "change" down people's throats? Do we really want another hyperaggressive president who is unwilling to yield or consider other perspectives? Do we really want another president who takes little heed to the will of the people? I am not suggesting that Obama has done so in every case, but I do think he has made a rather honest effort to do so (of course, it's hard to consider the opposition's argument when it all it consists of is "Do nothing.").

I think we all need to remember that Obama has only been in office less than a year. While he has been progressing rather quickly, he can't take on everything.

[gmt066]

Are we actually advocating following policies that left the last President with an 20 - 30% approval ratings?

Consider that the current administration is trying to govern from the middle, something that Bush never did, I think that may be a pretty decent approach.

Consider that while 70% of the population feels that Bush destroyed America, 30% of the population things that he did a great job. They feel the same about Bush's policies that Maher feels about the policies that he is advocating.

Let's admit that the past 8 years have been a failure and advocate doing things differently.

[allonfla]

Yes, people forget that his ratings contributed heavily to the losses in 2008.

[Merlin7]

Maher is not advocating following Bush's policies. He's advocating being more forceful and effective in getting new policies passed. So far it looks like Obama's good intentions will add up to bupkus in terms of genuine reform.

[Merlin7]

This is truly frightening. It's not just that Obama's promises turned out to be so much gossamer. It's that the pending failure of health care reform, energy reform and other initiatives has made it quite clear that we live in a one-party state. All the debating and posturing don't really mean anything, because at the end of the day the conservatives get their way on key issues. The Democratic Party should just shut down its offices and go home. Or change its name to the more accurate Republicans Lite.

[allonfla]

So obama is being judged based on what has NOT yet happened? Wow!