The Best Episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher Season 5

Guests: Fmr Rep Harold Ford, Jr., actor/activist Sean Penn, comedian Garry Shandling; via satellite, fmr Gov Tommy Thompson and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta Topics: Republican presidential debate, State Dept terror statistics, anniversary of "Mission Accomplished" speech, "D.C. Madam" scandal, food safety, Hurricane Katrina aid

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Guests: Rep. Darrell Issa, author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, actor Steven Weber; via satellite, Sen. Joe Biden and filmmaker David Mamet Topics: Guantanamo Bay detention camp, clash of civilizations, developments in Iraq, David Geffen political comments, cameras in courtrooms

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Guests: Commentator Andrew Sullivan, tennis pro Martina Navratilova, Gen Wesley Clark (ret.); via satellite, Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and author Sir David Frost Topics: California wildfires and global warming, immigration, reaching out to Iran, Bush's abuse of power

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Guests: Fmr Sen Mike Gravel (Alaska), diplomat Barbara Bodine, musician John Mellencamp; via satellite, entertainer Harry Shearer and PETA president Ingrid Newkirk Topics: Hurricane Katrina anniversary, Larry Craig arrest and resignation, Alberto Gonzales resignation, environmentalism and energy needs

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Guests: Columnist Paul Krugman, MSNBC host Tucker Carlson, The View co-host Joy Behar; via satellite, fmr Pres Vicente Fox (Mexico) and author/activist Naomi Klein Topics: U.S./Mexico relations and immigration, Republican presidential debates, State Children's Health Insurance Program and Bush's veto, Middle East policy, more on Blackwater USA incident

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Guests: Author John O'Sullivan, commentator Amy Holmes, Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Mont.); via satellite, journalist Bill Moyers Topics: Virginia Tech shooting, gun control, Alberto Gonzalez testimony to Congress, Supreme Court ruling on abortion, Earth Day

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Guests: Rep Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), Prof Michael Eric Dyson, writer Pete Hamill; via satellite, filmmaker Ken Burns and CNBC's Maria Bartiromo Topics: Ahmadinejad's visit and U.S./Iran relations, funding for Iraq War, global economy, Bill O'Reilly racial controversy, hate crimes legislation

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Guests: Radio host Michael Smerconish, comedian D. L. Hughley, Court TV's Catherine Crier; via satellite, Fmr Sec'y of State Madeleine Albright and Rep. Ron Paul Topics: Funding of Iraq War, Clinton vs. Obama, privatization of government, still more on U.S. attorney firings, death of Pat Tillman

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Guests: Musician Rob Thomas, comedian/actress Janeane Garofalo, author Salman Rushdie; via satellite, fmr CIA agent Michael Scheuer and author Bjørn Lomborg Topics: Israel and Middle East policy, MoveOn.org ad controversy, Ahmadinejad visit to U.S., global warming, Blackwater USA and use of private contractors in Iraq

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Guests: Fmr CIA operative Valerie Plame and her husband, fmr Amb Joe Wilson; political blogger Markos Moulitsas; NPR host Alison Stewart (radio); actor/comedian Martin Short ; via satellite, author Jeremy Scahill Topics: CIA leak scandal, Hillary Clinton's debate performance and Democrats' campaign issues, Blackwater USA, Mukasey confirmation

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Guests: Fmr Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, fmr Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, TV host Craig Ferguson; via satellite, fmr Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and basketball player John Amaechi Topics: Developments in North Korea, Iran, and Iraq; global warming; Mitt Romney and Mormonism; Al Franken Senate campaign

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Guests: Author David Kuo, Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank, comedienne Roseanne Barr, author Deepak Chopra; via satellite, Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (ret.) Topics: Walter Reed controversy, Scooter Libby verdict, Rudy Giuliani campaign, Ann Coulter comments, afterlife and spirituality

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Guests: Prof Cornel West, rapper/actor Mos Def; via satellite, Army Col Larry Wilkerson (ret.) and consumer advocate Ralph Nader Topics: Iraq troop surge and upcoming Petraeus report, defining terrorism, roots of Islamic fundamentalism, black vote and political involvement, Jena Six

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Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, NPR correspondent Jamie Tarabay, commentator Lisa Schiffren, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, fmr US Attorney David Iglesias Topics: Pat Tillman controversy, U.S. attorney firings, privacy in America, Alec Baldwin, future of Iraq

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Guests: Journalist Carl Bernstein, Rep Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), comedian Drew Carey; via satellite, Sen Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and author Robert Draper Topics: Petraeus report and Middle East policy, 9/11 anniversary and relationship to Iraq, Hillary Clinton campaign

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Guests: Fmr Bush speechwriter David Frum, Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, musician John Legend; via satellite, fmr Natl Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and Sen. Bernie Sanders Topics: Iraq War anniversary, more on U.S. attorney firings, energy independence, campaign finance, "purity balls"

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Guests: Author/commentator John Ridley, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Rep. Barney Frank; via satellite, journalist Seymour Hersh and actress Mia Farrow Topics: Middle East dynamics, war criticism from Congress and John McCain, attempt on Dick Cheney, latest on Darfur conflict, James Cameron's Jesus documentary

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Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Martha Raddatz of ABC News, journalist Dan Rather; via satellite, comedian Chris Rock and fmr Gov. Mike Huckabee Topics: Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy, war on drugs, gays in the military, evolution of news business

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Guests: Fmr Sen Bill Bradley, comedian Dana Carvey, Fmr White House Press Sec'y Scott McClellan; via satellite, Rev. Al Sharpton, activist Laurie David, musician Sheryl Crow Topics: Don Imus controversy and firing, extension of military deployments, global warming, performance of Democratic Congress

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Guests: Actor Bradley Whitford, Rep Loretta Sanchez (Calif.), columnist John Fund, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; via satellite, Sen Christopher Dodd (Conn.) Topics: Congressional resolution on Iraq, economic effect of immigration, voter fraud, second Republican debate

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Guests: Actor Tim Robbins, journalist Michel Martin, writer Stephen Hayes; via satellite, Fmr Gov Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and New York Times correspondent Damien Cave Topics: Status of Iraq troop surge, Michael Vick dogfighting investigation, Utah mine collapse and response

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Guests: Columnist Arianna Huffington, comic Paula Poundstone, pollster Frank Luntz; via satellite, NBC News correspondent Richard Engel and columnist Christopher Hitchens Topics: Iraq troop surge, language of politics, how Democrats can win, Kansas tornadoes

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Guests: Fmr Sen John Edwards (N.C.), journalist Joel Stein, Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee (Texas), MSNBC host Chris Matthews; via satellite, chess master Garry Kasparov Topics: Environment, biofuels, drug-resistant viruses, bringing U.S. troops home, Russian politics, Mukasey confirmation hearings, Ellen DeGeneres dog controversy.

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Guests: Humorist P. J. O'Rourke, actor Ben Affleck, Rep Ron Paul (Texas); via satellite, filmmaker Michael Moore Topics: Health-care crisis, world opinion of the United States, Iraq troop surge and funding, Republican presidential race

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