Donald Trump is the Orange Hitler

It was a great pre-election special on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday November 4, 2016. The discussion was serious and the barbs against Donald Trump were biting. Here is a quick review of the show.

Bill Maher called Donald Trump "The Orange Hitler". 

An Interview with President Obama

The show began with an interview with President Obama. It was pre-taped because of Obama’s schedule. This was good for the show because it allowed the interview to go for about a half hour, with additional bits put on YouTube. [See the full interview on YouTube]

Obama defended the ACA (ObamaCare) saying he would have preferred single payer, but it wasn’t possible to start from scratch. He needed to build upon the existing institutions. He calledlikened the ACA to a "starter home." saying that it should be improved.  

Maher pointed out that the news used to be a loss-leader—it didn’t have to make money. Obama said that  it wasn’t possible in the environment we have today. He said that we need "to create a space where truth gets eyeballs" We must have "some common baseiline of facts." Did Obama give a hint about his post election plans? He said, "Maybe we could build some platforms where everybody says let's agree on the facts and argue about means after that."

Obama is optimistic about America and Americans. “I’m a glass half full kind of guy. A government is as good as the people.” He indicated that the problem is that information is not getting to the people. “If I could sit in every living room in the country, I would have the large majority of on my side.” He added, “If I watched Fox News, I wouldn’t like me either. This was a reference to his earlier comment that there is a “Balkanization of the media.”

The best part of the interview was about the upcoming election. Obama said, “The choice should be really clear.” He called out people who say because both parties have problems nothing will change. He enumerated all the changes he was able to accomplish: Reigning in some of the excesses of Wall Street, establishing a Consumer Protection Bureau, health insurance reform, protections for “The Dreamers” were among them.

Obama said, “Every single issue we have made progress on is on the ballot.” He praised Hillary Clinton. “I have worked with her. She cares about people.” He warned that a third party vote is a vote for Trump.

At the end, Obama told Maher, “I watch your show all the time.” I’m sure that Maher who waited eight years to get an interview with Obama was glad to hear it.

Fascism in America

Bill Maher repeated what he has been saying for months. “Trump could win this election.” Maher described it as “a slow-moving right wing coup.” The FBI becoming Trumplandia, doing things to help Trump. The Russians being in league with Trump.

Jennifer Granholm, the former Governor of Michigan was on the panel. She said, Trump would be an "authoritarian nightmare.”

Maher called Trump “The Orange Hitler.” He said, “We would have fascism in this country with Trump. There would be no rule of law.” He pointed out that the Republican dominated Supreme Court shut down the Voting Rights Act, and the states were quick to deny people voting rights by reducing the number of polling places and other tricks. [Fortunately, some state courts have pushed back and limited these attacks on democracy.]

Granholm added, “Trump is undermining democracy. He has said the election is rigged. He has said he won’t accept the results of the election.”

Another panelist, Martin Short, an actor and comedian, said that if you want to sell aspirin you have to tell the truth. We need a Consumer Protection Act for politics. The Trump campaign is filled with lies."

Maher reminded everyone that Hitler was elected to office.Then he declared an emergency to dismantle democracy and seize total power. [I’m sure Trump would try to do the same thing here. He is an authoritarian who says that “I am the only one who can fix it.” A republican Congress would let him do it.]

Maher said that the Republican Congress is already talking about impeaching Hillary. “First they decide you are a criminal, then they look for a crime.” He added, “We are where Rwanda was. Doing God’s work by eliminating the enemy.”

In his facebook special, titled "Whiny Little Bitch, Maher said “Hillary is like a black driver in a white neighborhood and the Republicans are the cops. They keep pulling her over and they keep having to let her go.” [Republicans have investigated her umpteen times, and every time they come up with nothing. Yet the Republican Congress is threatening continuous investigations. This is not how democracy is supposed to work. Please vote for Democrats up and down the ballot so we can have a country that works again.]

Maher said, “Once fascists get power, they don’t give it up.” He expressed concern that people would not take the threat that Trump poses to America seriously. “We cried wolf with McCain and Romney, but this is real.”

[I disagree about the "crying wolf" part.. McCain and Romney would have been very bad for the country and they were rightly criticized. It is just that Trump is a threat of such magnitude that the threats of previous Republican candidates seems minor in comparison. As Maher said in his facebook special, “This isn’t the choice between Coke and Pepsi, this is the choice between Coke and the tap water in Flint.”

Trump doesn’t want to “shake things up” as he so often says; he wants to tear it all down. In Maher’s facebook special on 11/2/16,  Maher said Trump would shake things up like a Great Dane at a toddler’s birthday party or like soccer played with handguns.]

Harking back to the Obama interview about the lack of information among the public, David Frum, a Republican on the panel who is currently editor of The Atlantic magazine urged everyone to “buy a subscription to a newspaper, and don’t rely on facebook.”

A Useful Idiot

Maher told us that “Russia is in collusion with the Republican candidate. He is an unwitting agent, a useful idiot.”

[This phrase “a useful idiot” has been in the news a lot. It is spy talk for someone who you don’t even have to convince to betray his country--He is just too stupid to know that the enemy is using him. It is why Hillary Clinton, in the third debate called Trump, Putin’s Puppet.”]

Bible Trumper

In New Rules, Maher said, “There is one good thing that Donald Trump did—He exposed evangelicals for the shameless hypocrites they are. Trumps Commandments are the regular ones with LOL added.”

“He is the world’s least godly man.”

 “Jesus Christ is his Personal Lord and Taylor.”

 “Jesus Christ is from the Middle East. Trump wouldn’t even let him into the country.”

He concluded with praise for the Mormons. Essentially he said they believe a lot of dumb-ass ideas, but they rejected the Orange Hitler.

Here are some other essays that address Bill Maher’s views about Trump and religion.

 Donald Trump: Move Over Jesus

 Donald Trump: I Love the Bible and Other Panders

It Can't Happen Here

CLICK HERE
for more info

Sinclair Lewis wrote"It Can't Happen Here" in 1935. The reprint of this novel is now on amazon’s best-seller list.  I guess a lot of people are worried about fascism in American.

The plot summary in Wikipedia says it all. The novel is about ”the rise of Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, a populist United States Senator who is elected to the presidency after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and "traditional" values. After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government and imposes a plutocratic/authoritarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force, in the manner of Adolf Hitler and the SS.”

You could use the exact words to describe Donald Trump is you remove the words “United States Senator.”  Trump has never held elected office before.  

  

Thumbs Up for the Show Format

The show was great tonight. It began with a serious interview with Barack Obama I’m so glad Maher finally got to have Obama on his show. The interview was long so there was not mid-show comedy bit and no mid-show special guest.

The main reason I wanted to praise this episode was the quality of the guests. I wish every show would have one comedian, one Democratic politician and one thoughtful, intelligent, and polite Republican who does not tell lies. David Frum was that Republican on this show. Some weeks, I just can’t watch the show because the Republican is a loud-mouthed idiot who interrupts everyone, talks over the other guests constantly, and spews lie after lie.

I want to hear intelligent discussion of issues. I don’t want a bar brawl. Please give us guests who know what they are talking about and who can comport themselves like an adult.

P.S. The full interview includes a discussion of atheism. 

--By Catherine Giordano

Addendum: To you want to fight against fascism in America? Please join this facebook group: Blue America Fights Back 

Real Time with Bill Maher 01 22 16 Tell Me About It

Seth MacFarlane

by Catherine Giordano

Real Time with Bill Maher, episode 374, airs at 10pm on HBO on Friday January 22, 2016. Maher and his guests will be telling you all about it.

I’m looking forward to what the multi-talented Seth MacFarlane, the mid-show guest, will have to say. He’s always charming and intelligent. He can even be soulful as he is on his new album No One Ever Tells You. 

Alan Grayson is on the panel and you can always count on Grayson to tell it like it is. He’s not shy about airing his views and he’s willing to be blunt. He’s sure to liven up the panel.

The interview is with Michael McCaul. I am not familiar with him, but I expect he is going to tell us “the terrorists are coming for you.” Terrorists are a threat, but put the threat in proportion. The statistics show that you are more likely to get killed with your own gun (if you own a gun) than by a Islamic terrorist. I think you are more likely to be killed by a deranged American on a mass shooting spree than by a jihadist.

Jon Meacham is always an interesting panelist. He makes his points with humor and without shouting. He’s not a political partisan so you can count on him to tell it like it is.

Liz Mair is definitely a political partisan, but she usually makes her points without rancor. However, the fact that she heads a super-pac dedicated to taking Donald Trump down suggests she may harbor some rancor for this would-be president.

In some polls, close to half of Republicans say they want Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee. Never mind terrorists, it is Republicans who scare me.

Just a list of guests for now. come back for the full review and recap on Saturday.

Bill Maher’s Guests January 22, 2016

Interview

Michael McCaul: U.S. Congressman (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and author of Failures of Imagination: Deadliest Threatsto Our Homeland and How to Thwart Them

Mid-Show Interview: 

No One Ever Tells You

Seth MacFarlane: Filmmaker, producer, actor, singer. His newest album of songs No One Ever Tells You has been nominated for a Grammy.He’s the creator and voice actor for the animated TV series Family Guy. He’s the producer of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

Panelists

Alan Grayson: U.S. Congressman (D-FL), candidate for U.S. Senate (D-FL) He is a contributor to the Huffington Post, where he recently authored The Gun Show Loophole: Common Sense vs. Nonsense.

Jon Meacham: Executive Editor and Executive Vice President of Random House, author of numerous biographies of former presidents. His latest book is Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush.

Liz Mair: Republican political consultant, head of the anti-Trump Make America Awesome Super PAC.

CLICK HERE

Real Time with Bill Maher 01/15/16 Heating Up

Pull up a front row seat to the debate

by Catherine Giordano

The presidential nomination campaigns are heating up. We also had some heated debate on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher on the January 15, 2016 show. As usual, when there are two Republican guests on the show, the debate devolved into a screaming match to the point where I couldn’t make out what was being said.

Here are the highlights of Real Time with Bill Maher, back after a hiatus for his first show of the New Year.

Obama to be a Guest on Real Time?

No point burying the lead in this recap and review of the show. Maher has one burning desire—he wants Barack Obama to be a guest on Real Time before his presidency ends.

Maher feels slighted. Obama has given an interview to pretty much every other show—every late night show, every daytime show, every web podcast. Maher reminded Obama that he has been a supporter both with his comments on the show (plus with a million dollar campaign contribution which he didn’t mention last night). Maher mentioned that Real Time has 4 million viewers—a sizeable audience-- and according to Maher these viewers are the “absolute best.” (“The viewers are informed, engaged, and smart enough to steal cable.”)

Sign the Petition

Sign the Petition

So Bill Maher wants you to sign the petition. Obama instituted a program at the beginning of his presidency. If 100,000 people sign a petition within a 30-day period, the government will address that petition. The website is petitions.whitehouse.gov. This link will take you directly to Bill Maher’s petition. As of this writing, less than 24 hours since the show aired, there are already over 30,000 signatures. Click the link to add your signature.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/ask-president-obama-appear-hbos-real-time-bill-maher

After you sign, you will receive an email to confirm your signature. Click the link in the email and your signature is added to the petition.

Maher tied this request to his 60^th birthday celebration. He did the request as the final segment of New Rules at the end of the show. In the last minute if the show, a mariachi band marched onto stage singing happy birthday. There was even a balloon drop. Maher looked completely surprised and also moved.

Candidate Commentary

Maher began his monologue with jokes about the candidates. He said the Republican Debate should be called The Hateful Eight, referring to the new Quentin Tarantino movie. He called the Republican Party “the party of impotent white rage.”

Chris Christie caught incoming for saying Obama is an” impotent child.” Maher said this came from “the man who needed surgery to give his stomach a time-out. [BTW, despite the surgery, he is still really, really, fat. Also, apparently desperate to get some attention for his failing campaign. He is trying to be the angriest white man on the stage.]

Ben Carson is just the opposite. Maher described him as a “human screen saver” for his painful slowness [Also, when is going to stop rubbing his hands together? It is a really creepy gesture.]

Donald Trump was cited for talking about “foreigners sneaking into the country. “ To which Maher added, “But enough about Ted Cruz.” [That one was a twofer.]

Ted Cruz insulted an entire state with his derisive sneer about “New York values.” Maher couldn’t resist showing the front page response from one of the most popular New York newspapers, The Daily News. And I can’t either.

Here is what New York thinks of Ted Cruz. 

Is Ted Cruz eligible to be President of the United States?

The panel didn’t discuss the issue about whether Ted Cruz is a “natural born citizen or not so I will.

Cruz keeps saying he is eligible because he is a citizen of the United States even though he was born in Canada because his mother was an American citizen. (His father was a Cuban citizen at the time.) But “natural born citizen” does not mean the same thing as “citizen.” If it did, the Constitution would just say “citizen.” Based on what I have heard from legal scholars, I think natural-born means born in the United States (born on United States soil). Natural-born could be construed to mean not only born on one of the states but also born in a U.S. territory or even a U.S. military base or consulate.

I’m not sure Cruz’s mother was a citizen at the time of Cruz’s birth. She may have become a Canadian citizen. Her name has been found on Canadian voter rolls. In Canada, there is a monthly “family allowance” paid to the parents of children. Did she ever collect this money? If yes, did Cruz’s mother have to be a Canadian citizen to collect this money or could she have collected it just because her child was considered to be a Canadian citizen  I couldn’t find any information on this. I assume we’ll get the answer when the law suit is brought as it surely will be if Cruz wins the nomination and maybe if he even starts to come close.

Finally, Cruz was a Canadian citizen--he had dual-citizenship allowed under Canadian law-- until May 14, 2014.

Cruz is showing his mother's birth certificate. That is just done to confuse the issue. No one doubts that Cruz's mother was born in the U.S. I would like to see Ted's birth certificate. Does it give his mother's nationality on his birth certificate. 

Cruz likes to point out that no other presidential candidate with circumstances similar to his was ever challenged on his eligibility. But these candidates never became president. Further just because no one brought suit doesn’t mean a suit could not be brought now.

Finally, Cruz keeps saying it is settled law. ”Settled law” is a term used when the Supreme Court has ruled on an issue. The Supreme Court has never ruled on the meaning of “natural born.” In fact, no court has ruled on this issue. There have been some rulings on the qualifications for “citizen,” but never “natural-born citizen.” The scholars say that according to the doctrine of “original intent,” Cruz is not a natural born citizen.

Donald Trump has said that he will not sue Cruz on this. I think that is a wise position. Trump can do (and is doing) enough damage to Cruz just by bringing up the issue. And if Cruz wins or even starts to look like he is winning, Trump can change his mind. In the meantime, Having Cruz in the race keeps all the other potential challengers to Trump from gaining ground.

No matter what the outcome, I would like to see this go to court so we can have a definitive ruling.

Bernie and Hillary

The race for the Democratic nomination in Iowa and New Hampshire is very close. The idea of Bernie winning made panelist Nicolle Wallace positively giddy with joy. She was literally jumping up and down with joy like a little kid (or maybe someone who just found out they won the Powerball lottery). She was cackling with glee. Wallace is a former communications chief for George W. Bush and is currently a political commentator and novelist. Her most recent novel is MadamPresident: A Novel.

Why is Wallace so happy over the prospect of Bernie winning the Democratic nomination? It can only be that she, like most Republicans, thinks he would be easier to beat.

Donald Trump has already called him “crazy Bernie.” Bernie will be Gene McCarthy all over again, losing practically every state. I love Bernie in the Senate, but America will not vote for a self-avowed socialist. (He’s also a Jew and maybe an atheist, but people who won’t vote for him because of his religion would probably be voting Republican anyway.)

I love Bernie’s ideas, but He never says just how he will get it done. He will never get his ideas through Congress. Obama tried for universal health care and even some Democrats wouldn’t vote for it. Bernie won’t be able to get his other stuff through either.

I love that Bernie caucuses with the Democrats, but he has never chosen to run as a Democrat. Now he wants to be the nominee of the Democratic Party. Hillary, for all her faults, has been a Democrat all her adult life, has served in a Democratic administration, and won her seat as Senator from New York as a Democrat.

Cornell West, professor at Union Seminary Theological College, political activist, and author of several books including Black Prophetic Fire, also supports Bernie over Hillary. He said, “Sister Hillary is smart. She is sharp. But integrity is not the first thing that comes to mind.”

I say, “At least Hillary is tested.” She has been viciously attacked for 20 years. What will the Republicans come up with against Bernie? They are holding their fire for now and only attacking Hillary so Bernie can win the nomination. Let’s see how well Bernie does in a head-to-head matchup against a Republican when the political attacks start.

Mid-show comedy—Celebrity endorsements

Maher began by telling us to vote for whoever is their favorite celebrity. He showed a clip from the infamous Duck Dynasty add on behalf of Ted Cruz.

He then launched into endorsement statements from various celebrities and told us what they were really thinking

Jennifer Lopez:        It’s time for a woman president.

                                    Trump will deport my whole family.

The Cake Boss:        Chris Christie will help small business.

                                    You know I make cake, don’t you?

Seth McFarland:       Bernie is serious about climate change.

    An old Jew in the White House--the jokes will practically write  themselves.

George W. Bush:       Vote for my brother, Jeb.

                                    Then I will be only the second worse president.

The movie 13 Hours, Benghazi, and Iran

The mid-show guest was John Krasinski, an actor currently starring in the new movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. The movie may bring up the issue of Benghazi again in the presidential campaign because the movie shows that there was a stand-down order. However, both Maher and Krasinski both said that the movie clearly shows that the stand-down order came from the CIA and not from The State Department or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and that the order was given to civilians who were there to protect the CIA Annex (not the U.S. consulate). Further, these guards ignored the order and ran to help. It also showed that Ambassador Stevens refused the additional security the State Department wanted to give him.

The movie shows that Secretary Clinton was not to blame, but Maher and Krasinski wondered if people would note these facts.  

The show’s guests also discussed the flap over the Iran incident. All of the Republican candidates for president sounded like they were willing to start WWIII over this. I’m scared to death over the thought that one of these people could be commander-in-chief.

Ralph Reed, another Republican on the panel, said the sailors should never have been detained. (He is chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and author of several political books including Awakening:How America Can Turn from Moral and Economic Destruction Back to Greatness. He also writes novels—his most recent novel is Ballots and Blood: A Novel.) However, the boats were in Iranian waters so Iran had every right to board them and take the sailors prisoner. The U.S. would have done the same if the situation was reversed.

The prisoners were well treated and were not harmed. (Perhaps photographs of them should not have been shown, but compared to what could have happened that was nothing. I’ve even heard Republican outrage because the female prisoner was made to wear a head scarf. Really?! They want to start WW III over a head scarf?!)

Finally, negotiations for the release of the prisoners began immediately, and they were released the very next morning. I would say President Obama and Secretary Kerry should be praised for handling this extremely well and preventing a minor incident from escalating.

Our sailors were quickly released and were not harmed because of the Iran deal that every Republican candidate vows to tear up on Day One. Not only were there channels of communication, but Iran quickly released the sailors because it did now want to do anything to jeopardize the deal.

Breaking News: Prisoners in Iran Released

I took a break as I wrote this on Saturday morning (1/16/16), turned on the TV, and learned that five Americans who have been prisoner in Iran for years were just released this morning. The timing coincided with the formal release of the sanctions on Iran.

All those Republican candidates who have criticized the president for not including the prisoners as part of the Iran deal now have to eat crow. Obviously, the release of the prisoners was part of the deal. Once again we see how diplomacy is a better option than military action. Will the Republican candidates still continue to proclaim that they will tear up the deal of Day One? Do they still want to nuke Iran? Their reckless foreign policy ideas make them unfit to be the leader of the free world.

We all have a front row seat to the Republican view of the future of the United States. It will be Hell. Literally, thermonuclear Hell. They can’t wait to start bombing.

Interview

Al Gore is the founder and current chair of The Climate Reality Project and was interviewed about his work in the area of climate change. He is also the author of several books including his most recent book The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change.

Maher began by apologizing for his support of Ralph Nader in 2000. “I was wrong,” he said. (Be careful, Bill, about your support for Bernie. You may have to apologize to the whole country.)

Maher and Gore spoke about how the United States is the only country that denies global warming. Maher said it was because the U.S. is too religious, and too many of the religious think the world is going to end anyway, so why worry about things that might happen in the future. Gore countered with how Pope Francis has made a big difference in getting people to act on climate change.

They also discussed solar energy vs. coal. Maher asked the rhetorical question he has asked before: Why are coal miners fighting for their jobs which are the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs when they could retrain for better paying jobs that won’t kill them. Gore spoke about how the cost for solar energy has come down to the point where it is now cheaper than coal. And the cost of solar is continuing to go down.  

Postlude

It is so nice to know that international tensions are becoming less heated thanks to President Obama’s diplomacy. Now bring on the mariachi band. I want to celebrate.

Bill Maher’s Guests: January 15, 2016

Interview

Al Gore: Founder and current chair of The Climate Reality Project, former Vice President of the United States, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work advocating on behalf of the environment, chair of Generation Management, partner in venture capital firm, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers.. He is also the author of several books including his most recent book The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change

Mid-Show Guest

John Krasinski: Actor. His newest film is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi 

The Panel

Dr. Cornell West: Professor at Union Seminary Theological College, political activist, and author of several books including Black Prophetic Fire

Nicolle Wallace: Former communications chief for George W. Bush, former senior adviser for the McCain-Palin campaign, political commentator, and author of several (White House themed) novels. Her most recent novel is Madam President: A Novel

Ralph Reed: Chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and author of several books including Awakening: How America Can Turn from Moral and Economic Destruction Back to Greatness. He is also a novelist. His most recent novel is Ballots and Blood: A Novel.