Bill Maher has made the hashtag “#WhinyLittleBitch” a cornerstone of his election coverage, but honest question: which politician is he talking about? Donald Trump, or someone else? Is there more than one “whiny bitch” in this election? Let’s dive in.
Maher has seemed to be agnostic on the Democratic side of the race, but let’s put that to rest right now.
Monologue
“I know many of you are suffering from Clinton fatigue,” he said. “and if you are, ask your doctor if Bernie Sanders is right for you.”
He added: “Bernie is backstage right now getting his hair undone.” great line.
Bill got the audience to repeat after him “Donald Trump is a whiny little bitch.”
Deeper in the monologue, he talked about 400 writers who signed a petition denouncing Trump for the Orange-faced Satan that he is.
Please join me in signing this open letter regarding the candidacy of Donald Trump. #WritersOnTrump @WritersOnTrump https://t.co/HfAHd1Udvk
— Cheryl Strayed (@CherylStrayed) May 24, 2016
signed… with a h/t to @billmaher and @StephenKing. #WritersOnTrump #AuthorsOnTrump https://t.co/OY0RqGUqmf
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
The future of our country is at stake. It’s even more important than ever that there is a united front against him. He’s no dummy: Donald Trump knows how to play people off of each other, and he knows how to always cast himself as the victim. Nobody knows how well he’ll do with the broader electorate; I’m still skeptical that something won’t derail him head of the GOP convention or further along in November.
So it’s with great agita that I say: the Bernie Sanders campaign is the other whiny bitch in this election.
Update: Bernie Sanders Campaign Responds to HIV/AIDS Activists With Ugly Accusations https://t.co/BbJSo7vDhh pic.twitter.com/P1OXAWqh1Y
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) May 28, 2016
Early on this year, I remained agnostic on the progressive side. I leaned to Clinton, but I was open to all arguments and discussions—despite being blocked and unfollowed by Bernie folks. (I’ve done the same on my end to a far lesser degree.) Between crying victim of an “establishment” under which flag he’s running—going so far as to object to rules committee co-chairman, both of whom are popular Dems—I’m just kinda done.
Will I block or mute or unfollow Bernie folks? No. But if you’re actively working to break down Hillary Clinton to make Bernie Sanders seem more viable, you’re only doing the opposite of that which you seek.
Anyway, back to the monologue.
“Donald Trump says Hispanics love him. I don’t know about that. there’s sort of rioting now. there was a fundraiser in San Diego and the illegals in the kitchen had to send out for more spit.”
Sit-down: Sen. Bernie Sanders (D.-Vt.)
On the purported debate with Donald Trump: “Trump claims to be a tough guy. Hey Donald, let’s have a debate about the future of America.” Don’t hold your breath on that. He’s just playing you like he’s playing the country.
Maher mentioned the polls Bernie v. Trump. “400 super delegates chose Sec. Clinton before the contest even started.”
Maher: “What is the right strategy to run against Donald Trump? Obviously Hillary Clinton doesn’t have it. what is your strategy?”
The above video is from a Super PAC supporting Clinton, but make no mistake—that statement about Hillary Clinton “not having it” it utter horsecrap.
“We are proud, deep down, about our country’s diversity.”
“And some of them marry Donald Trump,” Maher said.
“Capitalism works for most things, but some things should be off limits to the profit motive: Healthcare. Prisons. Covering the elections and elections themselves.”
Bernie goes on to make the same case against Trump that Hillary has been making all along. “The ideas he has are absurd.”
Maher makes an important distinction about “modern” socialism, which cannot be overstated: “Capitalism works for most things, but some things should be off limits to the profit motive: Healthcare. Prisons. Covering the elections and elections themselves.”
So Sanders is using lawyers to try to oust progressive Democrats Dan Molloy and Barney Frank from their convention roles. Good times
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) May 28, 2016
Final proof that this was a softball interview: no mention of the inflammatory letter the Sanders campaign sent to oust the rules committee chairmen (which ultimately failed, according to the AP). No mention of the lawsuit in California about trying to get registration extended—filed with a ultra-right-wing political party.
Catching a green room chill with hubby @jameshperry before @HBO @billmaher Check out @RealTimers tonight. pic.twitter.com/YPjeYnLp3n
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) May 28, 2016
The Panel: Melissa Harris-Perry, Michael Moynihan & Wayne Allyn Root
Not feeling the “flawless” t-shirt that MHP is wearing. Why overstate the obvious? It may be a dig at Donald Trump, but still. Let your ideas do the talking.
The panel discussion kicks off with Trump’s incoherent energy policy in which he called for the cancelation of the Paris Accord.
"Americans believe a lot of stupid things. that doesn't mean we should indulge them in their stupidities." @mcmoynihan #RealTime
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
“Stupid people need to be told they’re stupid.” truth from Bill Maher. Apparently Donald Trump made a statement about how “hairspray used to be great” until it was proven to affect the ozone layer.
hairspray & ozone: "@realDonaldTrump is basing his energy policy on what it does to his hair?" @billmaher #RealTime https://t.co/548NJraqYJ
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
The first presidency where policy is based on “what Donald Trump hears at the beauty salon?” Let’s hope not. Sweet Jesus, let’s hope not.
Wayne Allen Root, the frothy mouthed Trump yutz on the #RealTime panel. where'd they dig this guy up?
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
In researching and writing this recap, I stumbled over a Twitter thread that you absolutely must read. Here’s a link:
Nichols makes the PERFECT argument: stop fucking around on the #progressive side. stop it right now. unify. https://t.co/ZBGMHErt19
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
The panel has gone off the rails and it’s nearly impossible to distill something that is blowing up with misstatements and outright lies. I point you to this tweet from last year that deals with Wayne Allen Root, Trump and their dangerous ilk of government-haters.
if you hate government so much, lawmaking ain't for you. go flip burgers. https://t.co/rOS0j5dcsH
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) November 16, 2015
Final panel point: President Obama visiting Hiroshima and how just his visit is, in and of itself, an apologetic act of contrition. Wholly appropriate, too, I might add.
on @POTUS and #Hiroshima: "apology isn't a sign of weakness—it's a sign of strength." @billmaher #RealTime https://t.co/548NJqSPA9
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
You can’t appease someone like Root, who is just focused on spewing rabidly false talking points that suit his candidate and his supporters.
New Rules
"New rule: boarding group C & D have to back the hell off." @billmaher #RealTime (also known as "Gate Lice") https://t.co/548NJraqYJ #travel
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) May 28, 2016
Finally someone taking Gate Lice to task… I mean, other than me like all the time. It’s an important travel scourge and you should familiarize yourself with it and post to social media so people are shamed in to stopping.
Photo: Gate Lice: (n) persons who clog up boarding area regardless of zone number. #travel #vocabulary… http://t.co/Qb9cvvkr5m
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) April 1, 2015
Bill then spiraled in to a future-think university address that isn’t worth covering. All you need to know is that he dressed up in a graduation space suit and yelled a lot from a futuristic podium.
That’s a wrap guys. Next week I’ll be looking forward to Neil deGrasse Tyson who’ll be on the panel.
Will Pollock is an Atlanta-based freelance multimedia journalist and author of two books (Pizza for Good & Leaving Triscuit), with more on the way. Sign up for the mailing list, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram—and check out the book links below.
Will covers “Real Time with Bill Maher” on a semi-regular basis as a self-deputized RT Reporter, until Bill comes to his senses and has him on to talk about Pizza for Good. For more on Will’s twitter philosophy, click here.
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