There's nothing on Earth not even an assassination attempt that can't be made worse by adding religion- Bill Maher

[Another entry in the Transcript Project  at CofA Blog, here Bill Maher describes "magical thinking" at RNC where a bullet missing Trump last week evoked political / religious fanaticism in convention delegates.] [As the producer of this blog and also a pedophile priest crime victim, I want to ask these oh so public christians: Since the shooter used an AR-15, could it be God was trying to give Republicans a message about their support for open carry of weapons like AR-15s????]

Closing of Real Time With Bill Maher 7/19/2024 | HBO 

TRANSCRIPT: 46:10 into show

Finally new rule, there's nothing on Earth not even an assassination attempt that can't be made just a little worse by adding religion. Since the bullet that was meant for Donald Trump missed him last Saturday, Republicans have been indulging in an orgy of magical thinking, saying things like Trump wears the armor of God. Boxing star Jake Paul tweeted about the Miracle at Butler Farm Show grounds. When you try and kill God's angels and saviors of the world, it just makes them bigger, which sounds like something a guy who gets hit in the head for a living would say.

The internet quick filled up with images of angels and Jesus protecting Trump, like this one from congresswoman Maria Salazar. Steve Scalise said yesterday there were Miracles and I think the hand of God was there too. Steve was also shot but God was having an off day and that bullet missed his ear and went into his spleen. 

And of course it was inevitable that someone named Kevin would tweet this video of a flag from the rally that got twisted up in a wire and say it looks like an angel. Look it's an angel and it's wearing a flag just like Sarah Palin used to do. 

My point is that Donald Trump even if you like him is powerful enough as a past president a likely future president and to be perfectly Frank a cult leader.

America doesn't need a demigod [Applause]. From the Pharaohs to Julius Caesar to Hirohito many cultures have tried it, the Earthly being who is simultaneously Divine or at least god-ish, and it never turns out well.

And look I'm not anti-religion oh wait- I'm very anti- that's right, I'm the guy who made the movie Religulous.

Bill Maher

CLIPS FROM FILM

That's the way we need to be with religion, not condescending. But also it's the 21st century, enough is enough with interpreting every random event as a DM from Heaven. 

There's a kind of person in this world who loves to see signs in everything never asking why, if God has something to communicate to us, he doesn't just [ __ ] say it. He's God for God's sakes. Why show up in a flapjack or or a frying pan or a Walmart receipt? 

And … what's with dropping Clues, you know? He makes statues cry, he makes clouds look like stuff, he puts rainbows in the sky. I mean, not anymore since the gays stole it.

The people who see angels in flags are the same people who saw a cross of Steel beams in the rubble of the World Trade Center. Because after he kills you, God likes to leave a calling card, like a serial killer. People see signs because they want to see them. It's why stalkers think Taylor Swift is blinking marry me to them in Morse code. 

But it gets dangerous when the signs make someone think God is on their side. Republican Congressman Mike Collins said after the shooting, God spared Ronald Reagan for a reason. God spared Donald Trump for a reason. God doesn't miss. 

Really?

Tell that to John Lenin Lincoln JFK RFK and Martin Luther King.

Look the [ __ ] who shot at Trump was cowardly unpatriotic selfish vile and weak and he should rot in hell. But thinking that God protects your Heroes but not mine, that isn't cool either. MAGA Nation because they are religious by nature and given to magical thinking have been trending towards demigod worship for a while now. The shirts and flags and posters depicting Trump the Redeemer, the crosses and religious imagery that were heavy in the Crow on January 6^th.

But Trump didn't survive the attempt on his life because of divine intervention. He survived because a virgin couldn't hit the fattest president since Taft. And I'm and again make no mistake, I'm glad he couldn't, but Trump is alive because he's the single luckiest [ __ ] who ever lived. His whole life his whole life is a string of you got to be [ __ ] kidding me. 

That's always the way it goes for Trump. He inherited $413 million from his dad, lost it all, and use the write-off to never pay taxes again. His only form of exercise is eating, but he's somehow stronger than ever at 78. Meanwhile Richard Simmons dead at 76.

END OF TRANSCRIPT [AI generated]

Watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i91mPb860ds&t=1s 

-ke