Maher interviews Garry Kasparov

Bill Maher is a bomb thrower - this is not news. But, what his opponents are loathe to acknowledge is that Maher flat-out gets the great guests, and he conducts excellent interviews. One of the best I've seen Maher conduct in quite some time was on Friday night with former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is a candidate for Russian president in 2008.

As Former KGB General Oleg Kalugin said about Putin (via Crooks and Liars)

Putin? Well, I was always outspoken about him. I know this man's background better than many others. I do not talk in details—people who knew them are all dead now because they were vocal, they were open. I am quiet. There is only one man who is vocal, and he may be in trouble: [former] world chess champion [Garry] Kasparov. He has been very outspoken in his attacks on Putin, and I believe that he is probably next on the list.

That would be the very definition of political courage. Kasparov is one courageous activist, and this situation bears watching.

Kasparov spoke about the risk of his outspokenness during his interview with Maher on Friday (also via Crooks and Liars):

Bill Maher: Do you think your fame protects you? Do you think you are such an icon in Russia because of your past chess history that Putin would not kill you?

Garry Kasparov: No I don't think my name affords me an ultimate protection but unlike many other activists in Russia I can rely on my name and my fame, but still I take some measures to minimize the risk. I have bodyguards in Russia, I do not fly Aeroflot, (laughter) I do not consume any food or liquid in places that I'm not fully aware of, but again it's just minimizing the risk. I know that it may not offer me any ultimate protection if the worst comes to worst.

Maher: But when you look at what's going on in Russia, Putin has a very high approval rating. I mean there is something in the...

Kasparov: How do you know? (laughter) I mean are you sure? Are you relying on the polling results of the police state? I think that with the same type of media and pervasive security force, I believe Bush and Cheney could enjoy the same approval rating here. (Applause)

Maher: Checkmate to me.

What an interview. Click on the video above to watch the 7+ minute interview - quite fascinating.