Bill Maher, the comedian and host of HBO's "Real Time," proclaimed "whatever happens in Milwaukee stays in Milwaukee" to open his set in a packed house at the Pabst Theater.
Maher, like politically-charged comedians before him, performed a set Saturday entrenched with anger and severe frustration over the American social spectrum. Despite his resentment over issues such as the current presidential administration, the religious culture that he feels has engulfed America, and Americans' hard-nosed attitude when it comes to issues like an exposed breast on television, he was able to explain his opinions with a sarcastic wit.
Maher's sarcasm can be either liked or hated. He comes off as a cross between a soapbox preacher and an Oscar Wilde play. He presents himself as a man on a mission, who uses comic wit to help further his left-wing agenda — or as he sees it — an agenda of rational thinking.
The show began with a rant of how Maher views the current presidential administration. Immediately, President George Bush was described as "a snot-nosed rich kid, who like other rich kids, is able to do anything he wants." He used this philosophy to fuel the fire about events, such as allegedly using the family name to get into the U.S. National Guard, using faulty evidence to justify invading Iraq and giving tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent of income earners while America is at war.
As the rant continued, it evolved into an observation of why events that occurred 30 years ago are still relevant to the current presidential campaign — namely accusations about the Vietnam military service of Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Maher said the accusations are relevant because the country is in a time of war. We currently have a war president, Maher said, but what we need is "a president who has seen war."
Before ending the rant, Maher criticized Bush for sending an inadequate amount of troops into Afghanistan. Maher claims Afghanistan is not secure from terrorism. Instead, it is secure enough that in "downtown Kabul they can build a Popeye's Chicken."
As the set continued, Maher began to touch on subjects such as censorship, obesity and religion.
Maher said he was upset with the Federal Communications Commission for implementing stricter regulations for broadcasters. He said he thinks it's awkward that the government is going after radio shock jock Howard Stern rather than terrorists.
"Instead of going after real terrorists, I'm the biggest terrorist," said Maher in reference to the comment that resulted in the eventual termination of his roundtable talk show, "Politically Incorrect," from ABC. In the aftermath of 9/11, Maher said on air, "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not about cowardly."
Despite being criticized many years ago for referring to food as a "drug," Maher's accusation has seemingly rung true in the land of double quarter-pounders and super-sizing. He claims the country needs to take as many precautions to limiting obesity as we do smoking.
When discussing religion, Maher appeared George Carlin-esque. He accused Americans of suffering from a type of "Christian neurological disorder" which is reflected in their opinions on abortion, the death penalty, gay marriage and the division between church and state.
A shoot-from-the-hip comedian, Maher exemplifies his New Jersey upbringing with a cynical sense of humor that seeks to search and destroy. Maher is relentless, insulting and simply hilarious.
As Maher would say "Where are my people?" They were all at the Pabst, Bill, hanging on your every word and hoping for a better tomorrow.
Grade: A