“I’m Swiss” and other treasonous statements – (2005) Bill Maher, formerly the controversial host of the PBS TV program Politically Incorrect, in his furiously funny and infuriating (to his targets) stand-up comedy act expresses embarrassment for the behavior of President Bush, his administration, and those who twice elected him. I originally saw this in November 2005 on HBO while staying in a Motel 6 in Utah; two years after the performance, taped in March 2005 in Portland, Oregon, it’s still richly rewarding and relevant. Maher employs humor to skewer those who would legislate taste and opinion. Is the US military a closeted gay organization exposed by Abu Grab-Ass? Are the morals and values of people who invest themselves emotionally in their pick-up trucks, guns, and the pledge of allegiance, who obsessively express fear of gay marriage, flag burning, abortion, and atheists, superior to those who respect science and reason?

These are the same people who exempt Rush Limbaugh for addiction to OxyContin but want every marijuana user incarcerated. He points out the greedy selfishness of the contestants on reality TV in contrast to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are involved in the real Survival. My favorite rant occurs when Maher questions the judgment of George W. Bush to sit for seven minutes with My Pet Goat in his hands after being informed that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. In addition he translates rap lyrics into “white” prose, warns of addiction to toxic foods (most of what Americans consume), and deplores network newscasts inundated with prescription-drug commercials. Are there any authentically funny conservative or Republican comedians? “Making fun of the president is not ideological ... Not making fun of the president is,” writes Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times in her criticism of the Fox News Channel’s The ½ Hour News Hour.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .