Although I don't like President Bush as much as he does. Miller's new talk show on CNBC starts tonight:
- Dennis Miller has usually been happy to spray his acerbic wit across the political spectrum, but things will be different on his new CNBC talk program. President Bush is in a mock-free zone.
"I like him," Miller explained. "I'm going to give him a pass. I take care of my friends."
....This is the Miller who has appeared at fund-raisers for Bush, ridden with the president on Air Force One, sat in the gallery at last week's State of the Union speech and was even talked about as a Republican senatorial candidate in California.
His fans didn't necessarily know that Miller. Now they do.
"Nine-11 changed me," he said. "I'm shocked that it didn't change the whole country, frankly." [AP]
I'd say there is still plenty to mock about the president, and "giving him a pass" seems a foolish reduction of possible material and a rather transparent ploy to stay in favor, but his description of himself politically is about exactly where I am:
- Miller cautions against making too many assumptions about his politics. He's conservative on taxes and defense issues but more liberal on social policy, he said.
"If two gay guys want to get married, I couldn't care less," he said. "It's their business. If some foreigner wants to blow their wedding up, I want my government to eliminate him."
The United States right now is simultaneously the world's most loved, hated, feared and admired nation, he said.
"In short," he said, "we're Frank Sinatra." [AP]
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ms. Tek
And the last time Dennis Miller was funny was...?
Um... I don't remember. Does that mean he was never funny?
2 - Eric Olsen
I've always thought he is funny, though I prefer him in small, intense doses. I'll try to catch this new show in the near future.
3 - Joe
He had a bit about general warts that was pretty funny...
4 - duane
Dennis Miller is one of the few celebs that I enjoy listening to when the subject is politics. His obscure pop culture references are often hilarious. He's very quick-witted. He obviously does his homework.
5 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
Dennis Miller is a god-damned cornball.
This guy has to be one of the worst comedians ever. Some of these here bloggers are 100X's funnier than this guy.
6 - Eric Olsen
I believe we should utter a collective thanks
7 - Mac Diva
When I saw a segment on the news about this last night, it disgusted me. Such spinelessness and he is proud of it. Perhaps Miller should just perform in front of a big backdrop that reads 'WIMP" in huge red letters.
8 - Craig Lyndall
I always appreciated Miller too. I might be the only guy on earth who enjoyed having him on Monday Night Football. His randomness was more entertaining than any cliches that John Madden and Al Michaels can force down my throat.
Miller's version of the Weekend Update is one of the best. His HBO show when he would do the comedy against pictures of celebs and politicians was awesome.
I am taking a wait-and-see on political Miller though.
9 - Eric Olsen
I think he's always been "political" - perhaps now he is "partisan."
10 - Mac Diva
I've always known people with Miller's personality type and never liked them. His sort will fall to their knees and practically perform a certain sexual act on any authority figure. But, let anyone they consider 'less' than themselves come near and they will belittle those persons endlessly. One of the things I do on dates is watch how the guy treats the server. If he is condescending or pushy toward the waiter or waitress, that tells me I've run into the sort of person I'm talking about. Later for him.
And, what does riding around on Air Force One have to do with how Shrub is running the country. Miller sounds like a five-year-old boy impressed with a fire truck?
Furthermore, fundamentalist Christians like Shrub have a 'plan' for Jews like Miller. A plan that has been recurring for centuries. Jesus! (Irony intended.) What an arse.
11 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
I agree Diva, Miller IS a groupie.
12 - Craig Lyndall
He hasn't been a groupie in the past. This is why I am going to wait and see what he does on the show.
13 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
Hey, what time is his show supposed to start?
14 - Eric Olsen
9pm eastern
15 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
Thanks.
16 - Chris
Couple of things -- Wait and see approach on Miller's new show. But, it is worth stopping down for tonight to see what all the fuss is about.
For someone who prides themselves on knowing the inner workings and ideology of numerous neo-confederate splinter groups, you sure do toss around the phrase "fundamentalist christian" without much thought. Bush, before becoming president, attended a Methodist church. I have no idea where he goes, if he even gets a chance to go anymore. Now, it is possible for Methodists to be considered Evangenical, but I doubt anyone would consider them fundamentalist.
Not everybody who uses the phrase "Born Again" is poor white trailer trash out to kill black people and force jewish people into hurrying up the Apocalypse.
17 - Mark Saleski
"Born again?! No, I'm not. Excuse me for getting it right the first time."
-Dennis Miller
18 - Jim Carruthers
I'm curious, how is Miller going to do his show with his head stuck so far up his ass?
I'm just saying is all.
19 - Chris
Mark --
Exactly. I was addressing my comments towards those of MD's characterizing the President.
I know perfectly well where Miller stands. One of his funniest bits was about people finding "Jesus" in jail due to a misunderstanding of how to properly pronounce the name.
20 - Al Barger
Diva, you've got this "wimp" thing exactly backwards. Such spinelessness and he is proud of it. Perhaps Miller should just perform in front of a big backdrop that reads 'WIMP" in huge red letters.
No, Miller is up IN YOUR FACE. Anyone who at all defends anyone even an inch to the right of the Clintons gets villified by big chunks of the press and pinkos all around.
Now, one could be a wimp, pulling their punches and carefully avoiding being offensive to anyone. However, coming up front to explicitly say that he absolutely likes the president and intends to be supportive does not constitute being a wimp.
He doesn't lack spine. It's just that you don't like the way his spine is set.
21 - Jim Carruthers
Actually Al, anybody like Dennis Miller who explicty says he will toe a party line and suck up to a polititan is inherently spineless. spleenless and very unfunny. Not that Miller was ever funny. He is to comedy what preparation h is is to rectums.
22 - TDavid
I was never a Dennis Miller fan. His humor was pathetic and lame on Monday Night football the vast majority of the time. This kind of thing only makes it worse for him.
23 - Mac Diva
But, to bow down to power because it is power. That is just plain cowardice. Sammy Davis, Jr., paid the price for public arse-kissing of a president and Miller may, too.
Nor do I buy into the 'Shrub is my Daddy and protecting me from the mean, mean, towel heads' rationale. Miller sounds like a five-year-old boy, again. There is no evidence Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. It has been invaded for other reasons. Nor are the Bush dynasty's policies necessarily going to result in less terrorism. They may result in more.
Religion? Shrub has aligned himself with those people knowingly, even if it is just to get their votes. I'm not letting him off the hook.
Miller is an embarassment to himself, whether he realizes it or not.
24 - Eric Olsen
As I said at the beginning of this brouhaha, I agree in general with Miller's political perspective, and I DO think he is funny more often than not, though he wears on me after a while.
And while I think his embrace of Bush is sincere and the result of a personal political decision rather than some need to fawn at the feet of power, I also don't think it is appropriate for a comedian, an entertainer, to give those he favors "a pass" - it does reduce his overall credibility and gives the impression that there could be a quid pro quo, whether spoken or not.
25 - Jim Carruthers
In Canada, we have Rick Mercer, who destroyed the career of the leader of the Official Opposition on teevee. Mercer had an internet poll to have Stockwell Day change his name to "Doris" -- this got 2 million votes (in a country of 30 million), Doris is now a backbencher in a party which no longer exists. So, does Miller's beard tickle when he shoves his head up his ass?