Bill Maher hosts Deepak, Ret. General Paul Eaton

By Stone Martindale Mar 11, 2007, 19:41 GMT

HBO’s Bill Maher's "Real Time" live show had a good cross-section of guests, who dissected the unraveling of Iraq and our government's inability to face the truth and intelligently withdraw our precious manpower and wasted tax monies.

Maher hosted Roseanne Barr, who made some interesting observations, she was too johnny one-note with her "forged documents phony war" commentary.   The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank made excellent, insightful comments and was precise in his remarks, and former Special Assistant to the President David Kuo who authored “Tempting Faith” after leaving the White House, was good tempered and intelligent in his observations.

Maher followed his opening monologue by interviewing Major General Paul D. Eaton (Ret.) who wrote an op-ed published in the New York Times Tuesday. His inside knowledge of the military burdens and betrayals by the administration were disheartening to hear, but important to understand what our hard working military constantly faces by a hypocritical Republican administration. 

Maher quipped during his show, "I feel like the troops have this dysfunctional, abusive relationship with George Bush. The more he mistreats them, the more they seem to like him. I mean, the only speeches he ever makes are in front of the troops or toddlers – the only two groups that won’t boo him, and I’m not that sure about the toddlers. Uh, why do they still like George Bush?"

A good question indeed after the Walter Reed debacle, and the constant complaint from returning troops over inadequately protected vehicles that can withstand gunfire and IED's and lack of competent planning over the entire mission. 

It has become more than a Republican - Democratic issue, as many true, old school Republicans are horrified at what their party has become, and now seems to represent.  Maher's show consistently reveals the cracks in their armor.

The brightest spot in the show was author Deepak Chopra, a self described "profit" with a calmer, more common sense view of belief and faith, who was a good balance for the atheistic Maher. 

Chopra pointed out the differences between personal spirituality versus the corrupted world of all organized religion which preys on the vulnerable and simple minded.  Chopra is also selling a book about his personal vision of the after-life.

The show is never dull, whether you love him or hate him.