Freedom Ain't Free

Not that I take this very seriously, but still --

"A congressman says comedian Bill Maher's comment that the U.S. military has already recruited all the 'low-lying fruit' is possibly treasonous and at least grounds to cancel the show.

"Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., takes issue with remarks on HBO's 'Real Time With Bill Maher,' first aired May 13, in which Maher points out the Army missed its recruiting goal by 42 percent in April.

"'More people joined the Michael Jackson fan club,' Maher said. 'We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies.'

"Army Reserve Pfc. England was accused of abusing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"'I think it borders on treason," Bachus said. 'In treason, one definition is to undermine the effort or national security of our country.'"

And then, in a fit charity, Bachus added, "I don't want [Maher] prosecuted. I want him off the air."

All this from an Alabama Repub. Go figure.

Maher, for whom I once wrote, is at best a cranky libertarian. He's had some excellent shows regarding Iraq and the Bush admin, and I suspect that's what really rankles the likes of Bachus. To him, in order to promote freedom in the Middle East, we must first eliminate it at home (after all, it can't be in two places at once).

Or maybe he's just another PR-trolling polihack looking for free Fox airtime.