HBO "Real Time with Bill Maher" #318 May 16, 2014 "Fed-Up"

by Catherine Giordano

Everybody is fed-up about something on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” episode 318, which aired on May 16, 2014.  I’ll spoon feed you the details in this reap and review of the show.

 

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The interview was with Robert Lustig: a pediatric endocrinologist, author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease and a featured expert in the new documentary, Fed-Up. He believes that Americans are killing themselves with poor diet choices.  He brings a lot of scary facts to the table.

• The maximum amount of sugar that is safe to eat is 6 to 9 teaspoons a day.  The average American is getting 22 teaspoons a day. Sugar went from a condiment to a diet staple.
• Sugar causes the same diseases as alcohol.
• Orange juice is not good for you. The only good part of the orange is the fiber.
• Obesity has gotten so bad that there is an epidemic of obese 6-month old children.  Even newborns are obese.

There are three big myths that Lustig wants to expose.

1. Obesity itself is not the problem No. one manifestation of the problem. Chronic Metabolic Disease is the problem. TOFI (Thin outside, fat inside) is the problem.
2. A calorie is a calorie. No, calories from sugar are worse than other calories.
3. It’s about personal responsibility. No, it’s about corporate responsibility.  Sugar laden foods are designed to be addictive.

He is not sugar-coating the dangers. I think I am going to see this documentary and read his book. I think most of America should too.

In the monologue Maher indicates that he is fed up (as we all are) with Don Sterling.  Bill said, “I think he still doesn’t know he is being taped.”   

Maher (and we) are also fed-up with hearing about the Michael Sams’ kiss. Maher said, “An inter-racial gay kiss. The NFL has never seen a kiss like that. Consensual.” 

Are we all a little fed-up with the climate change deniers? My understanding is that if it weren’t for global warming we would be having a mini-ice age right now. So, up to a point, global warming has been a good thing. But it is clear that it has gone too far. And it is clear that part of the warming is man-made and not just normal fluctuations in climate.   

When 97% of climate scientists agree, the argument is over and even Republicans have to get on board. Kellyanne Conway, a panelist on the show who is a Republican strategist and pollster,and president and CEO of “The Polling Group” said, “We have to have an all of the above strategy.”  

Exactly—a little wind, a little solar, a little conservation—it all adds up. Side benefit—fewer oil spills like the one we just had in LA that Maher said resulted in the need to “clean up 15 homeless former child actors.” 

Another panelist, Brian Schweitzer, former governor (D, MT), said that 26 states have already set renewable goals.  

Of course, part of the problem is that while the United States and European companies like Germany takes steps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, other parts of the world are going in the opposite direction.  Ian Bremmer, the third panelist, is a political scientist, president and founder of the Eurasia Group, and author of Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World pointed out that “The Chinese want cars. The problem is that there is just too many of them.  China will bring us [from current levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere of 400 parts per million] to 500 or 600 parts per million.” 

The mid-show comedy segment was a spoof inspired by the purchase of Harlequin Books (romance novels) by Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News.  He said there would soon be a new romance novel “Love’s Fair and Balanced Desire.”

A little taste:

·      Under her icy exterior was a passion that burned like an unprotected embassy in  Lybia

·     His manhood strained growing ever larger, like the deficit under Obama

·     When he struggled with a condom,  She said, “don’t bother, my body has a way of shutting that whole thing down” 

See Bill Maher Rules for more, including the really smutty stuff.

 

The special guest was Kevin Nealon: actor and comedian, author of Yes, You’re Pregnant, But What About Me. Nealon said that his high school team as called “The Fighting Gentiles. Eggshell and vanilla were the team’s colors and they looked like Tic-Tacs in the team photo.”

Note: If you love Tic-Tacs, click this Tic-Tac link. However, Dr. Lustig would probably like me to remind you that there are 0.5 grams of sugar in each piece. If you eat 8 pieces, that is 4 grams which is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar.

The conversation tuned to “American Spring.” This group is fed up with America, although they say they love the country. As Maher said, “Nothing says I love the country as everyone elected as got to go.”  Bill added, “This group formed five years ago. What else happened five years ago? Oh yeah, Obama got elected.” 

“American Spring” is in the news because they planned a big march in Washington to overthrow the government like “Arab Spring” did in some mid-east countries. They promised 10 million to 40 million people.  Forty people showed up—not 40 million, just 40.  Schweitzer said “I’m not saying all Republicans are racist, but the racists sure find a home in that tent.”

Benghazi.  I’m so fed up hearing about Benghazi that I am going to puke, hopefully all over Darrel Issa’s shoes.  Maher asked, “Where’s the crime.” He said listening to Republicans talk about Benghazi is “like trying to relate to someone who is tripping when you are not.”

The final bit in New Rules was titled “American Grandstand” wherein Maher took on Republicans on Benghazi. Maher said it was time for Republicans in Congress to “put-up or shut up” instead of just conducting the eight investigation into Benghazi. He urged them to impeach Obama because, citing Clinton’s 10 point gain in popularity during his impeachment, it is the only thing that will make Obama popular again.   

But what’s the crime?  Can you impeach a president for making you unhappy, for “dereliction of happiness,” for “giving you a case of the sads?”  

He ended by stating that Obama could use a little bit of impeachment mojo. He urged Republicans to make Obama an issue in the 2014 elections “so he can kick your ass for the third time.” 

Bill Maher kicks ass every week.  Can I have some more, please?

 

Guests for Episode 318, 05/16/14

Robert Lustig: a pediatric endocrinologist, author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity,and Disease and a featured expert in the new documentary, Fed-Up.

Ian Bremmer:  a political scientist, president and founder of the Eurasia Group, author of Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World

Kellyanne Conway: Republican strategist and pollster, president and CEO of “The Polling Group”

Brian Schweitzer: former governor (D, MT)

Kevin Nealon: actor and comedian, author of Yes, You’re Pregnant, But What About Me

No time to finish it today, check back in a day or two.