Why The Progressive Movement Should File For 501c3 Status

[Molok]

It is my impression that a lot of Democrats don't like Maher anyway, so I doubt it will have much impact other than, "See, I told you about that guy!"

Maher was a lot sharper when he was younger. He's turning into a grumpy old fart. He says he hasn't changed but that his party has, but the fact is both have changed.

I don't ever remember him expressing anti-scientific rhetoric before COVID. When he talks about doctors lately, he sounds like a lunatic.

Mahr has been anti vaccine for decades, there's a few fun clips of his guests on his show attempting to bring that subject up, and he shuts it down very quickly, lol. I've always found his approach to religion to be juvenile, even if I agree with him in the end. He never seemed to grow out of that angry atheist phase.

[Gadianton]

James Carville: Who's Right, Larry David or Bill Maher

So this whole Hitler Trump question really has been put into focus by the Larry David Bill Maher piece; I really want to address this.

quotes Michael McConnish from a show:

Well, he's not this; you may not like Trump, but he's not Hitler and shouldn't be treated that way.

Do we wait until he's Hitler?

I could recommend 10 people that he could have on his show and talk about authoritarianism; totalitarianism. How does it triumph, because it is played out as Larry David did so brilliantly

Nip it in the bud; don't wait

[Kishkumen]

It is unfortunate that the name Hitler seems to be a thought-stopper for many people. That's how you know he has essentially joined the devil in the popular mythology of our world. People invoke him more as a symbol or legendary character than as a historical person who was both the product of and also an influencer of world events. There is a lot we can learn from studying Hitler. But there is more we can learn from studying fascism, which was a political style that was born in the early 20th century. It is a political phenomenon, not a slur. The 18th century saw the birth of the nation state and modern democracy. The 19th century saw the birth of Marxism and communism. The 20th century gave birth to fascism. This is intellectual history, not a bunch of maturity-challenged adults throwing around epithets. We can all clearly see that Trump is not a believer in democracy, Marxism, or communism, so, where does he fit? Of the terms on that list, fascism is obviously the best fit. The most iconic fascist leader of the 20th century is Hitler, so Trump, who likes to quote Hitler, is readily compared to Hitler.

But, everyone has to admit that doing so is a strategic gaffe. If people were better educated, maybe we could call Trump "President Huey Long." Lots of interesting similarities between those two authoritarian demagogues. I would find it humorous to call Trump "Huey Long with a silver spoon," but few would get it, and it is a little unwieldy.

By going to visit Trump, Bill Maher reaffirmed that he is fundamentally not a serious person. He is, first and foremost, a comedian, and he does pretty well as far as that goes, but he does not cross over very well in the way John Stewart does. John Stewart, too, is a comedian, but he has shown that he is much, much more than that when he goes out into the world to advocate for causes. John Stewart is a serious person who happens to be a talented comedian, too.

[Gadianton]

There is a lot we can learn from studying Hitler. But there is more we can learn from studying fascism, which was a political style that was born in the early 20th century. It is a political phenomenon, not a slur. The 18th century saw the birth of the nation state and modern democracy. The 19th century saw the birth of Marxism and communism. The 20th century gave birth to fascism. This is intellectual history, not a bunch of maturity-challenged adults throwing around epithets. We can all clearly see that Trump is not a believer in democracy, Marxism, or communism, so, where does he fit?

When you put it that way...

[Kishkumen]

When you put it that way...

OK, OK. I know I am not winning anyone over with a history lecture.