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Submit your question now for Bill and his roundtable guests, and selected questions will be answered on the HBO.com website in our weekly program Overtime, immediately following the Friday premiere of Real Time on 4/25/08.
Please be aware concise, single-topic questions have the best chance of being selected.
Refresh the Bill Maher homepage right before midnight if you do not see the "Watch Overtime" video link.
Scheduled guests:
Blogger Arianna Huffington, comedian Garry Shandling, TV personality Phil Donahue, and Real Time correspondent Matt Taibbi. Plus via satellite, economist Jeffrey Sachs.
Please note: Video is optimized for use with Windows Media Player on a PC.
--
Edited by HBOAdmin5 at 04/25/2008 10:51 AM PDT
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1
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4/19/08
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(168 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 7:44 PM
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Why should McCain draw money from an already troubled social security system?
In addition to social security, McCain appears to be collecting a military pension as well as his senate salary. And he wants to continue tax cuts for his wife, himself and others of their ilk, while the majority of Americans suffer???
He claims to want to be the next leader, shouldn't he first lead by example and stop
being a greedy double - triple dipping governmental parasite?
And what exactly is his NON-taxable income?
How can we establish income caps to prevent the wealthy from selfishly draining our governmental systems?
It IS time for change.
Here's another thing that should be changed:
Supreme court judges should not have the luxury of remaining on the bench forever.
They need to be voted in and out by the people ~ like the politicians they are; we should not
be saddled with those people and their oftentimes bigoted opinions.
How can we change that system?
Finally, it's past time for an election system of one equal vote for each person, PERIOD.
Electoral colleges and super delegates should be abolished.
How can we abolish both escape routes from democracy?
Thanks.
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Posts:
2
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4/25/08
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(167 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:53 PM
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The Politics of Destruction
The ?old guard? represented by people such as Hillary Clinton and John McCain, as well as people like George Bush, Dick Cheney, Carl Rove, and Rush Limbaugh to name but a few in the Washington circle, represent members of an old generation refusing to give up their post, resorting to politics as usual while tearing down the hope for a new generation to finally come to power. It is an old mindset, full of closed minds, and a lack of vision; a mindset full of fear, and suspicion; a generation from the remnants of the great depression, of WWII, of racism, of sexism; a generation of segregation and discrimination. They come from the same generation that has resulted in an entire population of people that will do anything, say anything, step on anyone, and stop at nothing to get what they want, whether it is power, profits or votes. They are responsible for corporate greed, exploitation of both natural and human resources, as well as the destruction of our environment, and the dismantling of the American Dream for most of us, all in name of capitalism. It?s the way it has always been done, and just because it is the way it has always been done, it must be correct, right? Wrong!
We live in a new and changing world, a time of global unrest, global suffering, climate change, with the greatest threat to humanity ? being human kind itself. We live in a time that if we don?t find a way to bridge the gaps that divide us, if we don?t find a way to move past the fear in order to embrace change and each other, if we don?t quit fighting about the differences between us in order to find common ground, we will lose ground - ground we may very well never be able to recover.
And along comes a man, a hope of the new generation, a visionary by the name of Barack Obama. Yes, his name is different, he is different, he is young, he has not yet been tainted by Washington. Yes, he is precisely what we need. Yes, he represents change, and people fear change. They would rather go down with a sinking ship rather than get on another boat. They would rather buy into the same old useless garbage coming out of Washington, because it is what they are used to. They are comfortable with politicians that tell them what they want to hear to get their votes, and then sell them down the river once they come into power.
So, are we to be afraid of Rev. Jeremiah Wright? I am sorry, but I am not. We fear that which we don?t understand, yet understanding brings light to our fear and we are no longer afraid. I am a white woman, but I have grown up in a generation that is more accepting of racial, religious, cultural and ideological differences within human kind. I understand, he has a right to be angry, his words come from a people who have experienced much hardship, oppression, and unspeakable discrimination. His words are truth from the perspective in which they come. His words are not all that different than Dr. Martin Luther King?s words, a man we now celebrate with great honor. I am comfortable with people of different races, of different cultural backgrounds, with bi-racial marriages, with people of different religious beliefs, and with people of no religious beliefs at all. I do not fear that which I don?t understand, but rather seek to understand it.
In similar fashion, am I supposed to be angry about Barack Obama?s ?bitter? comments? I am not. To tell you the truth, I am bitter. I am bitter and I am angry. I am bitterly angry that our supposed leaders fail to lead. I am bitter and angry because while politicians make trade deals that work for corporate America, they forget about working Americans. While they line their pockets with lobbyist money, real working men and women struggle to barely make ends meet. Maybe his comments hit a little too close to home, maybe they contained a little too much truth, maybe that is why people find so much offense to it. Maybe people are scared of the truth and as Jack Nicholson?s famous dramatic speech in the movie ?A Few Good Men demonstrates: ?Truth. You can?t handle the truth!? This is the basic problem with the truth. There are those people who actually can?t handle the truth without getting offended, resulting in others thinking that people can?t handle the truth, and as a result you don?t get the truth
I know the kind of people he speaks about when he says that people ?cling to guns and religion?. They are people that are afraid of anything different than themselves, people that are suspicious if you believe something different then they do, people that are afraid of change. I am not particularly religious, I am a believer in Buddhist philosophy, and the bible toting mainstream Christian population is afraid of such things, I have experienced it first hand. I blame it on a lack of education, lack of worldly knowledge, and lack of cultural understanding. They are all too quick to label something as bad or even ?evil? just because it is different, meanwhile they miss out on all the enrichment such understanding can offer them.
I am afraid we are going to miss out on the chance to really change the world before it is too late, precisely because of the ignorance and lack of vision the vast majority of the American population possess. While they continue to cling to their ?guns and religion? rather than embracing a new way of doing things; Clinging to their fear, clinging to their hatred and suspicion, and clinging to their ?ways? rather than embracing a new way of looking at things, and a new way of seeing and believing.
It reminds me of a joke of sorts?
?There was a flood in a village. One man said to everyone, "I'll stay! God will save me!" The flood got higher and a boat came and the man in it said "Come on mate, get in!" "No" replied the man. God will save me! The flood got very high now and the man had to stand on the roof of his house. A helicopter soon came and the man offered him help." No, God will save me!" he said. Eventually he died by drowning. He got by the gates of heaven and he said to God "Why didn't you save me?" God replied, "I sent a boat and a helicopter. What more do you want!"?
So, America is like the drowning man. Are we going to let that boat sail on without us?
Not in my lifetime has a candidate brought so much inspiration, so much excitement, and so much hope to our democratic process. He has charisma, character, an ability to inspire and unite; with those qualities comes an ability to lead, and isn?t that what we need the most, a leader? His followers see it, they believe it, and the sad fact of the matter is that his supporters are going to be held back from boarding that boat which just might save us all, but we are held back by the people that ?are afraid?, that ?cling to their guns and their religion,? that would rather hang on to that small little life raft that is sinking under the politics of old, the politics of fear, the politics of greed, the politics of suspicion and deception, the politics of destruction?
While the boat, and our hope for the future sails on without us.
It won?t be the first time we missed the mark and missed the opportunity to receive the message of a visionary due to our inability to understand its content. It won?t be the first time, but it just might be out last hope, our last chance, before things become irreversible?
Oh, and by the way?
I live in Florida where I am registered as an independent, and was not allowed to vote in the primary, furthermore, many did not vote because they were told it was not going to count. Most of us want a re-vote but are denied. So no, the votes in Florida should not count since that is the impression we were under from the beginning. And Michigan? Of course they should not count?Barack was not even on the ballot, so how can Hillary claim a victory where she did not have an opponent. How is that fair and democratic? It proves my point, a woman who will say and do anything to win the election ? greedy and unscrupulous. I will not vote for her?
In fact, I will stay home rather than participate in such a general election if she is the nominee.
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Posts:
38
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1/25/08
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(166 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:40 PM
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Bill-
What do you think about the situation in Israel?
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Posts:
38
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1/25/08
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(165 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:39 PM
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Please ask Mr. Sachs to respond to Naomi Klein's criticism of his policies in Bolivia.
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Posts:
38
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1/25/08
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(164 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:36 PM
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What are your views on the ongoing situation in Israel? Haven't heard much from you on that topic this season.
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Posts:
4
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4/18/08
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(163 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:34 PM
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> I've been an avid fan for years. I'm going to hate to
> see little Bush leave office as he makes a great
> punching bag for you Bill. I'd like to hear you
> comment on the following statement made by Bush
> today:
> "Beginning Monday, the effects of the stimulus
> s will begin to reach households," President Bush
> said Friday. "This money is going to help Americans
> offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump
> and at the grocery store."
STIMULUS????? I can't believe anyone would think this a stimulus. The price of everything has tripled and the STIMULUS pkg is to get your tiny minds off of the real problem. The greedy bastards are ripping the money out of our pockets at the fuel pumps and the grocery stores. Julius Caersar did this, he promised every Roman. It didn't work for hime either. The pumps were cheaper.
> Wow. Isn't the whole reason for a stimulus package to
> increase consumer disposable income to spend money on
> discretionary items? For Bush to insult the
> intelligence of the American public, once again
> proves the jack-ass that he is. For him to make us
> feel happy these payments are beginning 4 days ahead
> of schedule, gee whiz. So as inflation gets worse and
> food & gas prices continue to soar, we can thank Lil
> Bush as he rides away into the sunset for helping us
> keep food on the table and gas in our vehicles so we
> can commute to and from work.
>
> What a guy!
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Posts:
38
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1/25/08
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(162 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:32 PM
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Questions for Jeffrey Sachs:
What is his response to Naomi Klein's opposition to his policies in Bolivia, as written in her book Shock Doctrine?
As a student in an ivy league school, I notice that most students have no interest in using their brains and abilities to help solve world problems and would rather work on wall street. Does he have any suggestions on how to make the next generation of bright Americans more likely to work to end big problems?
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Posts:
2
Registered:
2/20/08
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(161 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:26 PM
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Bill, as the November election approaches, have you invited or do you plan on inviting Clint Curtis (the whistle blower who has accused Rep. Tom Feeny of asking Curtis' former employer, Yang Enterprises, to write a code that would overturn elecetronic voting machine tabulations in FL in favor of George W. Bush in the 2000 elections) to appear on your show?
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Posts:
426
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4/27/07
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(160 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:24 PM
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Mr Maher, you've been a vocal critic on Corn Ethanol, however appauld Brazil's energy independence with Suger Ethanol, how do you propose we obtain energy independence then?
How long will do you think the media will be in unity over conservation and alternative fuel sources before it's back to business as usual?
Mr. Donahue, what do you think of Keith Olbermann's work, since he was the man that MSNBC replaced you with when you were unfairly fired?
Why does the main stream media give John McCain such impunity on his record and affiliations, while they run Obama and Clinton into the ground?
What does the panel think of the the US military now having the highest rate of suicides since Vietnam?
Do you think we should follow Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's advice for the Bush v. Gore case that we 'Get over it'?
What does the panel think of Rush Limbaugh's Operation Chaos (Republicans vote in Democratic primaries to prolong the nomination process) and his wishing for a ?Riot? at the Democratic National Convention?
What's the panel's opinion on the Tony Rezko Trial?
What does the panel think of Colorado State Rep. Douglas Bruce calling immigrants ?illiterate peasants? and being barred from speaking as a result?
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Posts:
5
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4/25/08
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(159 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 6:05 PM
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Bill,
I would like to know you and your panel's thoughts on wether or not the real problem in America these days is that the majority of Americans do not have enough knowledge about the issues to be able to first know what questions to ask and then know if the answers are good, bad or bullshit?
Scott Johnson
Florida
(Constitutionalist)
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Posts:
3
Registered:
3/7/08
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(158 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 5:58 PM
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Hey Bill,
Why is it that the people who suffer the most due to Republican policies still vote Republican?
Why is the fact being ignored, that if McCain gets in office, the Supreme Court will become even more conservative, thus making things even more unbearable in this country?
And, what is the deal with the media digging up more African-American Female Republicans to act as political commentators? Isn't that an oxy-moron?
Thanks,
PhilXC
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Posts:
112
Registered:
3/30/07
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(157 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 5:47 PM
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Do you think enough Americans are smart enough to see through much of the political BS in ads, in debates, in the media?
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Posts:
1
Registered:
4/25/08
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(156 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 5:40 PM
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Bill,
Rev. Wright said that 9/11 was caused by America's, "chickens coming home to roost..." And we know the response to that.
Rep. Ron Paul said that 9/11 was "blow back to American policies. Almost universal silence.
Why the double standard? Do you think in Rev. Wright were white the story would never have had legs?
Thanks
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Posts:
3
Registered:
3/8/08
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(155 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 5:30 PM
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1.)What are some names of people you'd like to see attached to any of the candidates for the Vice President position?
2.) What will it take for people to get beyond race in this country? Is it possible? I can't believe I am hearing that many people say they will vote for McCain rather than for "a black man" if Obama wins the nomination. What the...? Hearing this a lot more since Philly and now N.Carolina... What is wrong with these people?
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Posts:
2
Registered:
4/25/08
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(154 of 918)
Apr 25, 2008 5:27 PM
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Why is such a big deal being made about what Rev Wright said in reference to 9/11 when it isnt much different then what Bill Maher said that got him fired from ABC or what Micheal Moore said when accepting his Oscar? Mill Maher and Micheal Moore are considered truth tellers while Rev Wright, a US Marine Corp Viet Nam vet his considered a pariah.
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