I don’t get HBO, but thankfully the folks at Newsbusters monitor such things and let us all know when there is something there worth seeing. Noel Sheppard has the transcript and video of Danielle Pletka’s appearance on Bill Maher’s show. Pletka, who is the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, was pitted against lightweights Bill Maher and Ben Affleck. Hilarity ensued as Pletka wiped the floor with them. I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of Ms. Pletka — if we are lucky. Read all about it at Newsbusters.
The last line was my favorite:
“Pletka: Yeah, I know, but they saw the first ass!”
Did they not read her bio or understand she probably wrote the policy book thats being followed now before they decided to bring her on the show? From the ensuing hilarity of having her hand them their ‘asses’ it would seem not.
The controlling factor of this segment in not how well Pletka did against the three libs (which was as good as might be hoped for). It was the loaded audience. No matter how well she came across, all of the applause lines came at the comments of the libs. When will everyone learn that it is of no use preaching to the choir. All of the conservatives think that she wipped the floor with them, and the libs believe that she was destroyed with the “truth vs power” arguments. The importance of the segment is what effect it has on the 60% of Americans who still have somewhat of an open mind, and having all of the applause for the other side is not a good thing. If this had been a conservative, or even balanced audience, her one liner at the end would have erupted the crowd, and yet there was practically no responce. Sorry guys, but although she wasn’t outclased, she was blindsided and outtalked.
I agree on the audience. It’s unfortunate, but I for one cannot watch Maher at all. His audience is as wacked out as it gets. Hey, anyone can fill a studio with a croud of any belief. Just have to block that part out and watch the debate. I agree with Lorie, Pletka knocked that discussion out of the park and should make be making the circuit this morning(wont happen by the way).
At least the Righties can claim one “KO” this autumn. If this pointless talking head banter is the kind of victory republicans are clinging onto, then the party really is in trouble.
Boy, Danielle really schooled the 2 women to Her left.. not surprising as they are just regurgitating talking points with no individual thought process involved.
However the facts are lost on Mahers audience. They applaud for His comments no matter how illogical they get.
And Ben Affleck thinks gesticulating is the way to argue a point. Too bad he won’t have Maher’s zombie crowd to cheer him on if he ever gets into politics.
Anyone have a reference to her stating that Iran’s president wants to destroy the United States? I think she might be selling a whopper there.
I’ve seen her on TV before – I remember her saying that Michael Moore aided and abetted the terrorists. Very typical hateful stuff.
I’ve seen her on TV before – I remember her saying that Michael Moore aided and abetted the terrorists. Very typical hateful stuff.
Most democrats and liberals seem to be in the camp of worrying about the feelings of terrorists rather than protecting America. If that’s hateful…so be it.
I guess when your party is headed for one of the worst thrashings at the polls seen in a very long time, pausing to celebrate little victories like this are not surprising.
So I read the linked article, or the first couple paragraphs anyway, and once it became obvious that the pst waaay overstated the strength of Pletka’s performance I got bored.
I love a good contest – but this is getting ridiculous. Is the best the Republicans have to offer these days? What a pity — I thought this election was going to be a fight. Now I see it’s just a cakewalk.
My suggestion to the Republicans is save your advertising money for the 2008 election. This one is over. You’ve already lost.
I guess I keep hearing how she “handed them their asses”. But no specifics. At least not hear.
At one point the conversation goes;
Maher: Logically, you have to choose.
Pletka: Bill Maher, you’re not the boss of me, and I don’t have to choose.
That was supposedly a knock down punch…but absolutely and factually Maher was right, Either issues are Black and white or they are nuanced. Because she said something childish like…”you aren’t the boss of me” that went over big with the neocon 3 rd grade level of debate but it was completely wrong.
Some one explain to me how an issue is something other then absolute or nuanced????
I guess when your party is headed for one of the worst thrashings at the polls seen in a very long time, pausing to celebrate little victories like this are not surprising.
Keep hoping and praying for that one Lee…cuz that’s all you have to offer people as it is. I just hope your little diapers aren’t filled up come the morning of November 8th when it doesn’t materialize.
Lee,
Absolutely! That these guy found a victory is all in that they take style over substances. Pletka absolutely distorted Afflecks point about the effect of Bush’s Axis of Evil quote. He DID NOT say they only became evil after that but that they became like a trapped animal more aggressive. And such is the history of the world written with conflicts preceded by such name calling and poor diplomacy….and likewise for many conflicts averted by respect, rationalism and statesmen-like diplomacy.
Also she claims the Lancet study estimating over 600,000 deaths is rubbish and says 1 million died before that…excuse me but no 1,000,000,000 did not die at the hands of Saddam Hussein in the same period preceding the US invasion. She included in her million all those that died during the Iran/Iraq conflict. In fact the numbers estimated dying in Iraq in the Lancet study are over and above the Pre-war deaths. In fact as I understand it there were not huge numbers of Iraqis dying at the hands of Saddam over the 3- 4 years prior to our second invasion.
And again t call the Lancet Study rubbish s right up there with those calling evolution and global warming a fraud. The study was done by experts in epidemiology using verified techniques.
When a twit like this says something so blatant you know she fighting for nothing but style points easily gained by an uninformed poorly educated population of neocon dopes.
What’s sad is most people here couldn’t even watch the whole show. Many great points were made and I don’t think Lou Dobbs considers himself a liberal. Best of all was Mahers ending monologue telling us that we shouldn’t be so concerned about people like Foley doing our kids when in fact we’re f’ing them ourselves….very well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFYGwCF10k
Speak for Yourself lib cause You dont speak for Me turd brain.
I don’t think she did anything worthwhile there. It was a waste of time and effort.
Just split Iraq into 3 states — and, from this point forward, refuse to engage in ANY humanitarian work. Let the world marvel at a U.S who ONLY worries about themselves exclusively.
-=Mike
…Sorry, Sudan. Nothing personal. You just don’t matter to our interests…
I see Howling Howie’s farts are on here stinking up the place. Muirgeo,Lee, and JP 2 are what someone today called Anal Crust Lickers for Howling Howie and the DNC.
Even if the republicans lose in Nov it won’t be the end of the world, just the end of tax relief, stock market profits, and new home sales, along with an increase in interest rates, tax increases, and record unemployment highs.
One more trip with the phony democrats and they’re creative bookkeepers should be the end of the democ’rat party forever.
Of course President Bush and Rove haven’t let loose with what they know, they can do a lot of damage to the tender ego’s of the democrats in three weeks.
Hellary’s people made fun of Sen. McCains tour of the Hanoi Hilton and the torture he endured.
Hanoi John is begging for another chance to get shot down. He’s so stupid he’ll never learn. Only the fools want him around. Even his wife changed her name back to the dog food company ‘Heinz’ after he lost.
Slick Willie is out trying to cover up his a** over the failures with North Korea. Hey Slick, anyone stupid enough to listen to Dimmy Carter and Madam NotAllTooBright needs a kick in the a**.
The democ’rat party seem to forget real fast thet that demanded the the U.S. go through the One World Government (aka U.N.) for everything concerning Nk and Iran….Now they boo hoo that the idiots in Nk and Iran won’t listen.
Why should they, the democ’rats will only give them a few more bribes in the line of Nuclear Reactors (already gave 2) and billions of dollars to complete the bomb and delivery system , along with a few billion ton’s of oil to operate the NK military on.
Just think, if it wasn’t for the welfare program the democ’rat party started for NK they wouldn’t have a pot to pi** in nor a window to throw it out of.
More later. Got a little volunteer public service call to run. People just keep trying to kill themselves in car crashes. Next they will be burning their homes down because they couldn’t be bothered to clean their Chimney’s.
On the lighter side: I bought a new Lexus 350 and returned to the dealer the next day
because I couldn’t get the radio to work. The salesman explained that the
radio was voice activated.
“Nelson,” the salesman said to the radio.
The Radio replied, “Ricky or Willie?”
“Willie!” he continued and “On The Road Again” came from the
speakers.
Then he said, “Ray Charles!”, and in an instant ” Georgia On My Mind”
replaced Willie Nelson.
I drove away happy, and for the next few days, every time I’d say,
“Beethoven,” I’d get beautiful classical music, and if I said,
“Beatles,” I’d get one of their awesome songs.
Yesterday, a couple ran a red light and nearly creamed my new car,
but I swerved in time to avoid them. I yelled, “Ass Holes!”
Immediately the French National Anthem began to play, sung by Jane
Fonda and Barbara Streisand, backed up by Michael Moore and
The Dixie Chicks, with John Kerry on guitar, Al Gore on drums,
Dan Rather on harmonica, Nancy Pelosi on tambourine, Harry Reid
on spoons, Bill Clinton on sax and Ted Kennedy on scotch.
Damn, I LOVE this car!
As a political commentator/pundit, Bill Maher is a fine comedian!