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cryowizardJust watched a re-run of this Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher.
I watched the show in its entirety. I hated it. I consider myself a person with balanced views, and for me the show was quite painful to watch because of ultimate lefty swing. I know Bill is a lefty but God, that was quite a show there.
The pinnacle came when Bill talked about Louis Farrakhan and his (ahem) "opinion" that the Federal Government was involved in a conspiracy to blow up the levees and flood the poor black neighbourhoods of New Orleans. Bill was trying to be cautious about the subject saying he doesn't "really believe it", but failed miserably, constantly saying things like "But it's not impossible" and "But when you see some of the things that have gone on in this country...".
Then Spike Lee chimed in totally supporting this "idea" and engaging in some classic demagoguery (to long to quote, see full transcripts here). Tucker Carlson, apparently representing the right (it was the bow-tie that gave him away), confronted Lee calling him "reckless and irresponsible", and "feeding people's paranoia on the basis of no evidence" (my sentiment exactly). Lee, basically, had nothing to answer to that (of course). All the while the audience wildly applauded every mention of the Feds being criminals, of white oppression, etc, although nothing but empty screaming has been brought forth as evidence.
Now, we all know that New Orleans was a giant mess up, from the local government to the State to FEMA and its impotent director. People suffered and died because all levels of government failed them. But saying that spilling of the levees was intentional, and had a racial motive is insane. It was ineptitude, greed and corruption that did the City in, not racism.
I was also appaled by the audience, wildly cheering any negative mention of the Feds, or racism or any other empty bullshit Lee had to say. I'd have to say there were plenty of people in the audience who hate their own country.
I watched the show in its entirety. I hated it. I consider myself a person with balanced views, and for me the show was quite painful to watch because of ultimate lefty swing. I know Bill is a lefty but God, that was quite a show there.
The pinnacle came when Bill talked about Louis Farrakhan and his (ahem) "opinion" that the Federal Government was involved in a conspiracy to blow up the levees and flood the poor black neighbourhoods of New Orleans. Bill was trying to be cautious about the subject saying he doesn't "really believe it", but failed miserably, constantly saying things like "But it's not impossible" and "But when you see some of the things that have gone on in this country...".
Then Spike Lee chimed in totally supporting this "idea" and engaging in some classic demagoguery (to long to quote, see full transcripts here). Tucker Carlson, apparently representing the right (it was the bow-tie that gave him away), confronted Lee calling him "reckless and irresponsible", and "feeding people's paranoia on the basis of no evidence" (my sentiment exactly). Lee, basically, had nothing to answer to that (of course). All the while the audience wildly applauded every mention of the Feds being criminals, of white oppression, etc, although nothing but empty screaming has been brought forth as evidence.
Now, we all know that New Orleans was a giant mess up, from the local government to the State to FEMA and its impotent director. People suffered and died because all levels of government failed them. But saying that spilling of the levees was intentional, and had a racial motive is insane. It was ineptitude, greed and corruption that did the City in, not racism.
I was also appaled by the audience, wildly cheering any negative mention of the Feds, or racism or any other empty bullshit Lee had to say. I'd have to say there were plenty of people in the audience who hate their own country.
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 02:45 pm (UTC)