Patterico's Pontifications

I just can’t help but think what would happen if Brain Trust Maher was on a television show, and asked to justify some of his bizarre statements. Take, for example, this classy bit:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Y2NhODc1MzE3MTMwNGFlNGQ5OWU3Y2MzODA2MDFmZjE=

Now put a panel together of four or five conservatives who then won’t let him talk or justify himself.

Or have Maher justify some of this thoughts on animal rights, which are also a bit controversial.

This is television? This is debate? Tony Snow is a good guy, but what was he thinking, going on Maher’s show?

Actually, I think Maher is a television troll, saying outrageous and offensive things to get attention. The correct response, I guess, would be to say “Bill who?”

Eric Blair (ef2392) — 1/14/2008 @ 10:58 pm

To be clear, I just think it was extremely unwise of Tony Snow to go on a show like Maher’s to talk about about anything positive involving Republicans or even centrist issues. I think that Snow felt he could speak up against all that crazy, but sheesh.

I let my dislike of Bill Maher get away from me.

Eric Blair (ef2392) — 1/14/2008 @ 11:01 pm

Eric – Maher won’t let anyone get in the way of teh narrative. That’s just the way his show works. He’s a super genius who has the world figured out.

daleyrocks (906622) — 1/15/2008 @ 12:32 am

Typical liberal talk format 4 against one. And notice how
no one lets Snow get out a complete sentence and changes the subject when he starts to win the exchange.

McLovin (48a863) — 1/15/2008 @ 2:05 am

Though in Maher’s defense (god I feel dirty just saying that) he’s pretty darn anti-truther…

Scott Jacobs (c0db90) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:05 am

McLovin, you took the words out of my mouth.

aunursa (090908) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:06 am

And notice how no one lets Snow get out a complete sentence and changes the subject when he starts to win the exchange.

And this is why I love Ann Coulter. When the leftards do that to her, she does it right back to them. She’ll just keep talking and drowning them out saying things like, “You did it to me when I tried to talk, now I’m doing it to you. You repeatedly asked me questions then wouldn’t allow me to say one word in response. So, now, how do you like it?”

tired (62e9e0) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:18 am

I honestly think that Maher is one of those contrarian/argumentarians that annoy folks so (or me, anyway). Who knows what he really believes. He may not know himself, from day to day.

I do know that Ann Coulter is a friend of his, which is disturbing no matter what kind of politics you possess.

Maybe this is all some kind of sick schtick after all.

Eric Blair (839cfb) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:39 am

For me, I give out three cheers for Tony for going into the asses den.

Anyone – left or right – who is willing to go into a hostile environment stacked against them and then calmly argue his or her view gets my
applause.

Look, who looked the best here? Who scored the most points? Tony did, hands down.

You can’t win if you don’t play.

SteveMG (7b313f) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:55 am

Maybe this is all some kind of sick schtick after all.

To a certain degree I believe it is. But, how sick would it be if people could never put their political disagreements aside?

tired (62e9e0) — 1/15/2008 @ 7:05 am

SteveMG, tired, good points all. I just hate all the awful demonization—and yes, both sides do it, and neither should. The right approach, I think, is to let the other person speak. Then respond. Politely.

Politeness is not weak. It doesn’t mean that the polite person doesn’t feel passionately about the topic at hand. It does mean that the polite person cares about discussion and respects the other person.

I’m hopeful about Dennis Miller’s approach to talk radio. I don’t always agree with him, but I appreciate his style. He feels very strongly about many issues, but lets his opponents speak (other than the time constraints of radio, I mean). And he never thinks someone he is debating is stupid or evil because they disagree with him.

The panel where Tony Snow was arguing? Was there a lot of respect there? Civility? Reasoned discussion? Not really. On the other hand, Snow has faced down cancer; how bad can that person from Rolling Stone be?

Eric Blair (839cfb) — 1/15/2008 @ 7:21 am

You’ve got to be kidding me. I give Tony props into entering into a space in which he was outnumbered (I wouldn’t call Cuban a far-left liberal, but he is against the war)…but he didn’t say much of substance besides repeating administration talking points. My favorite part was when the only example of democracy sprouting up as a result of Iraq was Libya voluntarily giving up its weapons…Libya is a democracy now? Give me a break. Maher was absolutely right to point out that the surge is a success because of substantially lowered expectations.

But you’re right, Matt Taibbi, the reporter with a shit-eating smirk on his face, was an idiot and did, as Snow pointed out, kept changing the argument. I enjoy his pieces skewering political candidates, but this month’s written fellatio of Obama, plus his “The only reason why people don’t support Edwards is because corporate whores are taking him down” line of reasoning, makes him nothing more than any of the other partisan shills out there.

Mike (8e0e3b) — 1/15/2008 @ 7:23 am

I like how crier’s response is “I just read it in an article backstage”. As if the MSM has any credibility on Iraq reporting.

gabriel (6d7447) — 1/15/2008 @ 7:28 am

On that note of the surge only looking good because of vastly lowered expectations, we get this from the
NYT:

FORT MONROE, Va. — The Iraqi defense minister said Monday that his nation would not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until 2012, nor be able on its own to defend Iraq’s borders from external threat until at least 2018.

It’s important to remember that the surge has so far given a one-year respite on the post-war violence. At the peak of this peace, though, Iraqi officials still believe instability will last for probably 5 years longer, even more. Is that if we keep such consistent troop levels?

Snow went on about how people are wrong to armchair general the war and how everything is 100% right in hindsight…Fair enough. But how wrong does the WH have to be before someone like him can say, “Yeah, those guys were wrong in their predictions”?

Mike (8e0e3b) — 1/15/2008 @ 7:31 am

COnsidering the NYT is unable to do simple math regarding the murder-commision rates of Iraq and Afghanistan vets compared to the national average (guess which one is WAY lower, I dare you), I’m not entirely sure why you would even read that rag…

Scott Jacobs (c0db90) — 1/15/2008 @ 8:07 am

I agree that the debate was somewhat unbalanced and annoying in its format (four against one). Although, come on, Snow spun white house policy for a living — Maher’s the only one who is in the same league (and Maher is second-string to Tony as player of the year).

That said, I think your feelings on the actual debate depend on your gut reaction to war.

Is war a promising way to solve international disputes, that demonstrates our authority and power and commands respect in the world? If you say yes, then Snow validated your assumptions, and you loved what he had to say; finally, it’s turning out that you were right all along.

Is war a last resort you only want to do if cornered? If you agree, then you feel like Maher — right now any damn thing looks like a huge victory because the situation is such a wreck. And you’re infuriated that those who were gung-ho about war generally for the past five years (calling you a cowardly defeatist) are so eager to forget what a miserable situation it’s been, and are now cheering, “See? War IS a great idea!”

Phil (6d9f2f) — 1/15/2008 @ 5:53 pm

because the situation is such a wreck.

Asserting that does not make it so, no matter how many times you and your fellow travelers do so.

JD (3cdc37) — 1/15/2008 @ 6:49 pm

Sorry, JD, I forgot. War is awesome, not a wreck! The tragedies of war aren’t tragedies at all — they’re just minor delays before our inevitable, satisfying victory, when we can thank God for giving us the ability to kick so much ass.

This war went great! Let’s fight another war soon!

Phil (aa9cba) — 1/15/2008 @ 9:04 pm

Phil – Is it fun arguing with all of those voices in your head? Tell you what, you find any one of us here that holds that position, just one, and I will concede that you are correct. You cannot.

JD (3cdc37) — 1/15/2008 @ 9:08 pm

I think Snow did a great job. I still find it amazing that there are Americans out there like Maher, Crier, Cuban, and the little guy from Rolling Stone, who actually want our troops to be defeated. They want America to lose the war. Just incredible.

Rick (50e3ba) — 1/15/2008 @ 9:29 pm

Matt Taibbi is pretty fair in his hatred of both sides:

http://hamptons.plumtv.com/videos/matt_taibi_2008_election

KC (a45203) — 1/16/2008 @ 8:31 am

1/14/2008

Tony Snow Smacks Around Some Liberals on Maher

21 Responses to “Tony Snow Smacks Around Some Liberals on Maher”

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