# Bill Maher on Valerie Plame - Bush and Cheney are traitors **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2007, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308 "2007-03-24T12:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/1 "2007-03-24T12:12:52Z")
“Traitors,” he began at the end of his New Rules segment, “don’t get to question my patriotism.” Over his left shoulder, images of the President and Vice President. On his face, an expression both determined and pissed off. Beloved and behated by people across the political spectrum, Maher is never unwilling to speak his controversial peace. And that’s what I like about him. It’s almost the only thing I like about him. I think he’s an extreme left-wing tree-hugger who espouses basically that mankind return to the Stone Age or the earth will die. His comedy is often cheap and opportunist. But I had a sort of Al Gore moment, watching Maher’s closing segment. Gore won my admiration with [this speech](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011600779.html), which I called at the time one of the greatest speeches in history. Maher won it last night with this (my own transcription)… Traitors don’t get to question my patriotism. What could be less patriotic than constantly screwing things up for America? Not to generalize, but the twenty-nine percent of people who still support President Bush are the ones who love to pronounce themselves more patriotic than the rest of us. […snip…] Indeed, the party that flatters itself that they protect America better is the party that has exhausted the military, left the ports wide open, and purposefully outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame. That’s not treason anymore? Outing a spy? Did I mention it was one of our spies? And how despicable that Bush’s lackies attempted to diminish this crime by belittling her service, like she was just some chick who hung around the CIA. […snip…] No. Big lie. Valerie Plame was the CIA’s operational officer in charge of counter-proliferation. Which means she tracked loose nukes. So when Bush said … that his absolute number one priority was preventing terrorists from getting loose nukes, okay, that’s what she worked on. That’s what she devoted her life to. Staying undercover for twenty years. Maintaining two identities every goddamn day. This is \*extraordinary \* service to your country. […snip…] George Bush likes to claim that he doesn’t question his critics’ patriotism, just their judgment. Well, let me be the first of your critics, Mr. President, to question your judgment _and_ your patriotism. Because let’s not forget why they did it to her. Because Valerie Plame was married to this guy, Joe Wilson, who the Bush people hated. Because he busted them on one of their bullshit reasons for invading Iraq. He was sent to the African country of Niger to see if Niger was selling nuclear fuel to Iraq. They weren’t. It was bullshit, and he said so… Valerie Plame’s husband told the truth about their lie, so they were willing to jeopardize an entire network of spies to ruin her life. Wow. Even the mob doesn’t go after your family. Mark Twain said, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” And I say Valerie Plame is a patriot, because she spent her life serving her country. Scooter Libby is not, because he spent his life serving Dick Chaney. Valerie Plame kept her secrets. The Bush administration leaked like the plumbing at Walter Reed.Well. When you’re right, you’re right, even when you’re Bill Maher. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/2 "2007-03-24T15:18:58Z")
A little over the top, but in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/3 "2007-03-24T15:23:16Z")
Plus, it had a joke I found pretty funny: The name of Valerie Plame’s husband’s report? “Niger, please!” ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/4 "2007-03-24T15:24:06Z")
A little too subdued, but definitely in the right direction. Treason is treason. Stupidity is not a defense. Tris ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/5 "2007-03-24T15:33:26Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] Plus, it had a joke I found pretty funny: The name of Valerie Plame’s husband’s report? “Niger, please!” [/QUOTE] That is funny. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/6 "2007-03-24T16:03:55Z")
I often agree with Maher. But I loathe the smug self-righteous bastard. He kinda reminds me of Rush Limbaugh. Not in what he says, but in the way he says things. I would no more want him to speak for me than I would want Rush to. (I used to share an office with Rush fan and so I have listened to far more of him than I have of Maher.) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/7 "2007-03-24T16:05:13Z")
Speaking of Maher, he also delivered the goods in [this recent segment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFjRI5jJ5I4). Excerpt: > [@](#): > > And finally, new rule - Liberals must stop saying President Bush hasn’t asked us americans to sacrifice for the war on terror. On a contrary, he has asked us to sacrifice something enormous - Our civil rights. > > […snip…] > > So when it comes to sacrifice, don’t kid yourself - you have given up alot, you’ve given up faith in your governments honesty, the good will of people overseas and 6/10th of the Bill of Rights. Here is what you have sacrificed. Search and seizure, warrants, self-incrimination, trial by jury, cruel and unusual punishment. Here is what you have left, handguns, religion and they can’t make you quarter a british soldier. If prince Harry invades the inland empire he has to bring a tent. > > […snip…] > > George Bush has never been too bright about understanding “furriners”, but he does know americans. He asked this generation to sacrifice the things he knew we would not miss - our privacy and our morality, he let us keep the money. > > […snip…] > > In conclusion, after 9/11 president Bush told us Osama bin Laden could run but he could not hide but then he ran and hid. So Bush went to Plan B, pissing on the constitution and torturing random people. Conservatives always say the great thing Reagan did was making us feel good about America again. Well, do you feel good about America now? I’ll give you my answer, and to get it out of me, you don’t even have to hold my head under water, or have a snarling guarddog rip my nuts off. No, I don’t feel very good about that. They say evil happen when good people do nothing, well the Democrats prove it also happens when mediocre people do nothing. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/8 "2007-03-24T16:35:39Z")
“niger, please”. I don’t understand this joke. ---
**Author:** ![Montgomery0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Montgomery0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery0)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/9 "2007-03-24T16:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] “niger, please”. I don’t understand this joke. [/QUOTE] Mr. Plame went to Niger to investigate whether or not they were selling nuclear material to Iraq. His report was that there was no proof whatsoever. So the joke is, “Were they selling nukes to Iraq?” “Niger, please…” (“Nigga, please…”) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/10 "2007-03-24T19:26:29Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] “niger, please”. I don’t understand this joke. [/QUOTE] There is an urban slang expression, chiefly used among blacks: “Nigga, please.” (Intonation typically accents both words equally.) It is an interjectory phrase intended to convey contempt, along the lines of “I doubt your sincerity,” or “Bullshit,” or “Go to hell,” that sort of thing. The word “nigga” (pronounced NIGG-uh) is African American Vernacular English, and means “nigger”, or “black person”, which is almost always a pejorative term, especially when used by whites. (Although many blacks argue that it ought never to be used.) Thus, “Niger, please” is a pun. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/11 "2007-03-24T19:31:01Z")
Impeach the treasonous bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/12 "2007-03-24T20:02:02Z")
Maher reminds me of a little old Jewish lady. Hey, has anyone _seen_ Dr. Ruth lately?! But he is right on this one. Hang the fucking traitors. No, I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/13 "2007-03-24T20:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Beloved and behated by people across the political spectrum, Maher is never unwilling to speak his controversial peace. And that’s what I like about him. It’s almost the only thing I like about him. I think he’s an extreme left-wing tree-hugger who espouses basically that mankind return to the Stone Age or the earth will die. [/QUOTE] You do know he’s a libertarian, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/14 "2007-03-24T20:34:47Z")
The three articles of impeachment that Nixon tripped all apply (or CAN apply) to Bush & Co. Is it right? Is it wrong? Those don’t matter, because that’s not the correct. It’s a necessity. I sure as fuck hope I’m wrong. I hold on to stupid, childish hope that a light bulb is going to turn on and something might mildly go well towards the end. I’m certainly not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/15 "2007-03-24T20:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Waverly] Maher reminds me of a little old Jewish lady. Hey, has anyone _seen_ Dr. Ruth lately?! But he is right on this one. Hang the fucking traitors. No, I’m not kidding. [/QUOTE] And most of Congress with BushCo. One can make the argument that when they were misled by BushCo, they did nothing wrong with backing him, _now_, however, when the facts are obvious to _anyone_ willing to look that BushCo lied to us, engaged in illegal and immoral acts, and just generally shit all over everything this nation is supposed to stand for, and do nothing, then they are no better than BushCo. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/16 "2007-03-24T20:51:35Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] You do know he’s a libertarian, don’t you? [/QUOTE] [No](http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2001/08/01/maher/). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/17 "2007-03-24T20:55:36Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] [No](http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2001/08/01/maher/). [/QUOTE] Ah. Didn’t realize the libertarians had a purity test. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/18 "2007-03-24T21:02:08Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Ah. Didn’t realize the libertarians had a purity test. [/QUOTE] Well, whatever he is, I ain’t. Use whatever labels you wish. You can call Ward Churchill a Democrat for all I care, but he doesn’t really line up with the Democratic platform. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/19 "2007-03-24T21:07:14Z")
It’s just sort of funny, a week back you were urging me to join the libertarian party because they’re stronger on gay rights than the two mainstream parties. I agree with pretty much all of the stances advanced by Maher in that article, except Social Security. Still want me in your party? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308/20 "2007-03-24T21:20:14Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] \*\*Bill Maher on Valerie Plame - Bush and Cheney are traitors \*\* [/QUOTE] 'Bout fucking time somebody called a spade a spade! (No, wait . . . that’s politically incorrect . . .) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-on-valerie-plame-bush-and-cheney-are-traitors/397308.md?page=2)