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Submit your OVERTIME question now for Bill and his roundtable guests, and selected questions will be answered on the HBO.com website, immediately following the Friday premiere of Real Time on 8/14/09.
Please be aware that 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.
Please note: Video is optimized for use with Windows Media Player. Mac users will need Flip4Mac to view the stream.
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 21, 2009 8:05 PM
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I don't have a question, but I do have something to say. I just took my nine-year-old daughter to the doctor. I got a phone call from the school saying she was ill. I go pick her up and she is red as a beet and complaining about a headache. After I get her home it gets worse so I decide to take her to her doctor. Now, my family has just changed insurance companies and the bastards are taking their time about getting our cards to us. So, I go in there and the first thing these son-of-a-bitches want to know is how they are going to get their money. By this time, my daughter is laid out on the couch, redder than ever, and crying in pain. I call the insurance agent in the waiting room and ask what I can do because these son-of-a-motherfuckers want $120.00 off the rip and I just paid the insurance company $500.00 to start the policy. Of course when he tries to tell them we are insured, they want proof. So, I have to come up off of $120.00. I do it because I love my daughter and I'm not sure what's wrong with her; I want her to get help. But, I made sure I asked them if they still think health care doesn't need reform. Didn't get an answer, but they got $120.00. She was seen and it was determined that she had swine flu. YES! The dreaded piggy flu! Her medicine cost me another $100.00. When I went into the examination room I saw of all things a bible. I just laughed. A couple of things occurred to me during this ordeal. The first is that while folks are calling Obama Hitler of all things, making a case for not giving illegal immigrants healthcare, and talking about socialism the real villain in this piece is hiding in the cut. That villain would be the insurance industry. Maybe the main topic of discussion should be how and why insurance companies work. It seems to me that our care and lives are in the hands of profit mongers. Profit and decisions concerning our health care don't seem to mix. You see the profit will always win out, which is what is wrong with our health care. Instead of all this yelling about shit that has nothing to do with nothing, why isn't anybody looking at the insurance industry? I looked at my nine-year-old and literally saw a dollar sign hanging over her head. What would have happened had I not had the money? If this flu breaks the way they say it will, does everybody think that all parents will have tons of money to deal with it? This situation is the doing of profit-chasing insurance companies. Wake the fuck up! Stop being so damned stupid! For once in your life, stand up for yourselves, and do something that will benefit you and your families. I don't give a shit about all this other bullshit, I see some serious problems with our health care and I have insurance. I hate them. I'm already paying out the ass and then they have the balls to ask for a deductible, which is legal jargon for extortion. If I don't pay that then they don't have to pay! Oh, and about that Bible. You ever notice that conservatives are quick to talk about God and can quote the Bible word for word. But, considering what I have been hearing out of some them lately, I wonder where that Christian spirit is. I think some of them should read that Bible they are so quick to quote. They might find it teaches compassion and to help their fellow man. I'm not really hearing a lot of those Christian morals right now at these townhall meetings. Guess this isn't the Christian nation it claims to be. Anyway, stop arguing about dumb shit. This reform is going to affect real people's lives and no one should be denied health care because they aren't rich enough to afford it. I can afford health care and I'm saying this. I am willing to pay extra taxes to save the life of a complete stranger because no one's life should be for sale. This country needs a serious wake-up call. Money is cool and has it's place, but when you are talking about someone's life I just think that life comes first. Isn't that the argument the pro-lifers use? Well, put your money where your mouth is. Start supporting life and give affordable health care to everyone. Stop being played by the system and take control of your country in a good and positive way. Stop venting because deep down inside you don't like African-Americans. Get over the fact that McCain lost. Realize that we are all Americans and not just Republican, or Democrats, or whatever the fuck is the term of the moment. We HAVE to do something about these insurance companies. Stop fighting each other and tackle the real enemy!
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 21, 2009 6:00 PM
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Bill,
Here's my NEW RULE for the week :
Q - Who's a BLUE DOG Democrat ?
A - A dog that bites the hand that feeds it !
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 18, 2009 7:48 PM
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> There seems to be talk now of throwing out the public
> option from the reform. Isn't the public option
> necessary to create reform among insurance companies,
> and why is it becoming easier for Republican pressure
> to mold this bill into another piece of failed
> legislation?
>
> Is it really that hard for Democrats to stand their
> ground?
It's the fucking Blue Dog Democrats. In the run up to the 2006 mid-term elections the DNC thought they could take conservative states in they ran conservative Democrats collectively know as Blue Dog Democrats. They did and they won and they've been gumming up the works ever since, they vote with the Republicans a third of the time. They're the assholes who want to kill the public option. If, after all the work that was put in to make this man President and give him a fillibuster proof Senate, the Blue Dogs make this impossible for us. I swear by all that is holy to tar and feather each one of them and slow roast them on an open pit for all to see. Their names will be spoken only in Hell.
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Edited by jrcel at 08/18/2009 4:49 PM PDT
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8/17/09
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 17, 2009 11:54 AM
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There seems to be talk now of throwing out the public option from the reform. Isn't the public option necessary to create reform among insurance companies, and why is it becoming easier for Republican pressure to mold this bill into another piece of failed legislation?
Is it really that hard for Democrats to stand their ground?
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3
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7/28/09
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 17, 2009 11:10 AM
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Look at our great christian nation. A president asks "lets take care of our uninsured." The christian nation says "NO." A man ask for forgiveness for a horrible crime after doing the time. The christian nation says "NO." How can we be a shining example to the world while willingly allow others to die and lacking forgiveness in our hearts? Shame on us!!
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 17, 2009 4:13 AM
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If there are any religious people who think that marijuana should still be illegal, are they insinuating that God made a mistake? Christians must be yelling "What in the hell was he thinking?"
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12
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7/15/09
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 17, 2009 4:12 AM
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> Question: I watched George Lopez' HBO special, Tall,
> Dark, and Chicano. I was shocked at the racist theme
> within the show. Granted, he is a comedian, but I do
> not believe there was any humor implied when he
> stated that no one was going back to Mexico (legal
> citizen or not), and that they were going to take
> over the country. Why the double standard? Any
> ethnicity other than caucasian can make any racist
> remark they choose, and it's ok. I admit Caucasians
> have a history of mistakes, but in today's society?
> Are we now supposed to cower in a corner and say
> nothing? This is progress? Or is it more like revenge?
Judy,
"It's show "business," not show Caucasians"
-Jerry Maguire
16,000 x $75.00+/- = $1,200,000.00
$600,000.00 take home/mas -o-menos. Dayum give me a MIC!
Squad Cars at SA Coffee house's increased by 1000%
Click the Clicker... I did and I am Tall, Light and Chicano!
His beef is with Eric Estrada (CHIPS) and he needed to fill ALL 90min. Diego Luna
ONE LOVE MAN!
Hank
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4
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10/3/08
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 11:39 PM
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So when did Republicans become anti-environment?
How many of you know that Pete McCloskey - 7 time elected Republican Congreessman from California's 11th district co-authored The Endangered Species Act?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_McCloskey
Durring his 2006 successful effort to unseat R. Pombo:
McCloskey's aging campaign bus sported the slogan "Restore Ethics to Congress." McCloskey said, "Congressmen are like diapers. You need to change them often, and for the same reason".
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1/31/08
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 10:49 PM
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Recommend watching Dr. Sanjaya Gupta's "House Call" which air at 4:30 am Pac. on CNN regarding the MD and former insurance evaluator who was interviewed by Dr. Gupta regarding "universal" health care. Dr. Gupta also weighed in.
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10/27/07
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 10:48 PM
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It isn't that I don't agree with Mr. Kutcher; however, if you are struggling financially you have to make tough decisions. For example, cheap food is crap food. I would love to buy healthier food and get a gym memberbship. In fact, I have been trying to find a way to afford a membership. I just can't figure out what I should skimp on, electricity, heat, insurance? I only drive my car, for the most part, to and from work because I can't take the risk of running my tank dry before I get my next paycheck.
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Edited by Tina555 at 08/16/2009 7:54 PM PDT
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 8:19 PM
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Was it me or did I hear a medical doctor, Dr. Coburn say on Meet The Press Sunday 08/16/2009, That MEDICARE was responsible for INFANT MORTALITY. Now I know that with age, some of us can get rather infantile but????
THIS IS A LEGISLATOR. HE IS ALSO A MEDICAL DR. HE SAID THIS ON NATIONAL TV. IS HE AN IDIOT OR IS HE MISLEADING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON PURPOSE? HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS HATE MONGERING AND MISLEADING INFORMATION WILL THESE PEOPLE PUT OUT THERE.
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8/16/09
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 7:54 PM
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Question: I watched George Lopez' HBO special, Tall, Dark, and Chicano. I was shocked at the racist theme within the show. Granted, he is a comedian, but I do not believe there was any humor implied when he stated that no one was going back to Mexico (legal citizen or not), and that they were going to take over the country. Why the double standard? Any ethnicity other than caucasian can make any racist remark they choose, and it's ok. I admit Caucasians have a history of mistakes, but in today's society? Are we now supposed to cower in a corner and say nothing? This is progress? Or is it more like revenge?
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923
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4/5/03
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(652 of 665)
Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 6:00 PM
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Well as far as being a vegetarian. During the 1940's and 50's DDT was sprayed extensively throughout all parts of the United States on farmland, even in neighborhoods. DDT never fully leaves the metabolized state, if your mother injested foods containing DDT she passes it to you by way of breast milk. Because it's fat soluble never fully leaves animal and human populations.
Carcinogenicity
DDT is suspected to cause cancer. The NTP classifies it as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen", and the EPA classifies DDT, DDE, and DDD as a class B2 "probable" human carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it is as a "possible" human carcinogen. These evaluations are based mainly on the results for animal studies.
There is good epidemiological evidence (i.e. studies in humans) that DDT causes cancer of the:
Liver
Pancreas
Breast
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Edited by jrcel at 08/16/2009 3:26 PM PDT
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Re: Submit Questions for Overtime - 8/14/09
Aug 16, 2009 2:16 PM
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> While I enjoy your show I found Ashtons remarks about
> not wanting to pay for the person who doesnt eat
> properly total B.S. So all of you eat nothing but
> healthy food??? What do you classify healthy?
> Organic? Im a full vegitarian as I have an extreme
> respect/love for animals.I also know the antibiotics
> and steroids they pump into confined livestock is not
> a good thing to injest....but these are only MY
> reasons. Do you fully believe that when you buy
> organic that is what you are getting?It is very hard
> to grow fully organic......Ive done it. One thing to
> remember Ashton,these same individuals that you claim
> are not worth the money to help insure are also the
> ones who buy the theatre tickets to go see a movie
> that you are in ,so that you can make the big
> salary.They may buy that unhealthy popcorn with all
> the melted butter on it and those unhealthy sugar
> snacks to eat while they watch the movie.....but it
> is their two hour escape to get away from that thirty
> thousand dollar a year job that is bearly making ends
> meet................
do you work for Fox News? Apparently the Democrat side of America is just as stupid as the Republican side. Your thinking that he is saying something that he's really not. "I think the lower class is not trying as hard as they could be" - that statement does not mean that I think the lower class isn't trying and it doesn't mean they're lazy, it means they aren't really trying as much as they should be because they have to try ten times harder than the upper class in order to become successful in life and they're not trying even 50% as hard as the rich.
Kutcher didn't say only organic food is healthy, he said try to be healthier, eat organic, make and effort, get a gym membership (go to the YMCA). there's more to Organic foods being healthy for you than just not using chemicals to grow it or neurotoxic pesticides. It's all about how your body absorbs the nutrients.
anyone can grow their own food. I live in government housing in the middle of the ghetto and there's a public gym down the road. No textbooks newer than 1965, but a gym down the road. And I grow my own organic vegetables in organic soil, with organic fertilizers and use neem oil as a pesticided and mold reduction agent. It's pretty easy if you WANT to do it. Most poor people just give up because they think it's rocket science.
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Edited by brtcobalt at 08/16/2009 11:27 AM PDT
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