5/5 If we can't have Bill Hicks...
  by Douglas Stillinger (Bay Area, CA)
...then give we the people Bill Maher..! I've been a casual fan of Maher for years. Don't always agree with him, but I always laugh with him.

Well, this show is simply a cut above. He's magnificent. This is more proof that he's still at (or coming up on) his peak both as a comedian and bull**** inspector.

I'm not sure that anybody is slinging more insightful, eviscerating, and dead-eye accurate slugs of truth than this man, here.

Do the facts a favor: see The Decider. And I don't mean the Commander Guy.

5/5 Side splitting humor if watched alone, if watched with other Maher fans watch out!
  by C. Fuehr (California)
I like Bill Maher but never take the time to search his shows out. After stumbling across this one on TV and spending 60 minutes laughing and wondering how I can translate all of his right on observations to my friends. I came on line to purchase it. I've never seen Bill do true stand up and this was highly entertaining. After just enough conservative observations (and when I say observations I mean side splitting humor) he moves on to general life observations that let you know how "In touch with the american people" he really is.

Enjoy

4/5 Bill is Right on about Bush!!!
  by Debra A. Kelly (Boca Raton, FL)
Not Bills Best but still hilarious and so on target about Bush! I would agree...he is brutally honest and politically up front! Worth owning! You won't be sorry and you'll get your money's worth in laughter.

5/5 Get Ready for Maher Mayhem
  by John F. Rooney
In "The Decider" Bill Maher is very funny and biting in this stand-up assault and skewering of then-President Bush. He knows his facts and marshals them against Republicans, organized religions, drug companies, and Bush 43. (It anticipates his recent movie release "Religulous.") It's a series of hard-hitting, obscene, and rapid fire jokes.
President Clinton comes off fairly well, although I've always thought he would make a perfect target for an all-out assault. If you're a right wing zealot, you'd better avoid this full frontal attack. Maher extols the virtues of condoms. If you're going to attack the right wingers, you might as well hit all the bases.
Surprisingly there is not too much about Vice-president Cheney except his poor aim when hunting. If you're a Bush-basher, a true Democrat, a libertarian, or an agnostic, you'll probably love this. I found it profanely and profoundly hilarious. Political satire has been a rare breed in recent years, and we need more of it to keep us honest and alert.


5/5 Wow - what have I been missing?
  by A consumer (Rockville, MD USA)
I've heard of Bill Maher, never seen his show, but have been curious about him. When I saw The Decider on HBO, I was amazed at how good his stand up comedy is. His timing is dead on. He's a very sharp guy who doesn't just make you laugh, but also gets you thinking. His refreshing wit can sting (die-hard Bush followers will probably react predictably to it) but it's smart, funny, and, to the chagrin of genuine patriots, carries quite a bit of truth -- how we wish it weren't so.

Some of my favorite lines: (----- minor spoiler -----)

"The comedic gods are smiling on me tonight, because I have been saying for the longest time that George W. Bush ... must set a timetable ... for pulling his head out of his [you know what]. And today they actually went in and looked for it! [Colorectal exam.] And they didn't find it, so now we don't know WHERE it is. But we should feel thankful: it's the first time we've heard the words 'Bush', 'Operation', and 'Success' in the same sentence."

"Bush says future history will be kind to him. Yeah, it's JUST US HERE IN THE PRESENT who don't get it! What is he, the Van Gogh of presidents?"

"He says 'They're still debatin' our FIRST president.' No we aren't! The nation's capital is named after him. He's on the One! He's on Mount Rushmore. His nickname is 'FATHER OF THE COUNTRY'. I think the jury's in on George Washington."

"When you pull his string, one of the 5 things that Bush says is, 'We used to think oceans would protect us.' No we didn't! YOU did! YOU thought that. We've known that our enemies discovered boats and flying machines a long time ago."

The timing and inflection are lost in the above, of course, so it doesn't really do justice to his act.

In short, this is a very down to earth and side-splitting hour of entertainment. I highly recommend this DVD and have already bought it for myself and as gifts for others. Bill's act is hilarious throughout, and the hour goes very, very quickly. I still laugh every time I watch it.