Bill Maher stuns viewers with controversial figure he'd rather vote for over progressive Democrats

Bill Maher has said he would rather vote for controversial former governor Sarah Palin than many of the progressive Democrat candidates in the upcoming elections. 

The comedian used his Real Time segment on Friday to blast the growing number of radical socialists in the left-wing party, before saying he would rather support Palin despite her being, according to Maher, a 'bimbo'. 

Maher, a self-described old-school liberal, said President Donald Trump's claim that many of today's progressives are secretly 'communists' is one of the few opinions they share. 

He started his rant by slamming the majority of Democratic Party House Reps. for failing to sign a patriotic pledge recently tabled by two of their colleagues. 

'Last month, two Democratic congressmen released an open pledge they wanted their fellow Democratic members to sign,' the 70-year-old comic told his HBO show.  

'It said, we are capitalists, not socialists. We want safety, not lawlessness. We are proud, not ashamed of America. 

'These should not be hard words for a congressional Democrat to sign on to. You know how many did? Eight. Eight out of 212. Guys, really, there's gotta be an easier way to lose the swing states.'  

'I would vote for Sarah Palin before this s***,' Maher added later in the segment. 'She's a bimbo, but if you asked her to come up with something she likes about America, she could do it, you betcha.'

Palin, a vocal Trump supporter, served as the Republican Governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009.

She ran as vice president alongside the late Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, and also made an unsuccessful bid for the House in 2022. 

Palin is a common target for Maher, who frequently mocks her intelligence and political career. 

After paying her a rare back-handed compliment on Friday, he went on to blast several Democratic candidates and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) agenda which appears to be exerting a growing influence over the mainstream party. 

They included New York congressional hopeful Darializa Avila Chevalier, who he criticized for saying the US should not have borders, and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, for fantasizing about 'a world without prisons'. 

'People are getting elected now who literally don't think we should have police or prisons, or borders,' an incredulous Maher said.

Chevalier, who is backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, made the claim about borders in a post to an old Twitter account which she has since deleted. 

She told CNN she has 'grown considerably since in the years since these tweets'.

Hong has also backtracked on some of her radical positions, including calls to defund the police and abolish the Senate. 

'People gotta realize this is going on,' Maher continued. 'Yes, my vote is in play. I'm not voting for anyone who thinks the wrong side won the Cold War or cheers for the intifada like it's the World Cup.' 

'It's so ironic from the people who obsess about colonization,' Maher said. 'You know what's being colonized now? The Democratic Party.

'And, no, this nonsense is not where most Democratic politicians are right now. But it's also becoming a raging fire festival in the party that neither is anyone putting out.'

However, Maher has also said he believes radical 'Squad' member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could one day make a 'fantastic' presidential candidate. 

The comedian made the claim in November while speaking on his podcast, Club Random.  

He said the New York congresswoman, known as AOC, would need some 'deprogramming' if she were to run for the White House, but said she could prove formidable against 'out of touch Republicans.'

Maher has also been critical of AOC, accusing her along with Mamdani of refusing to face his questions on Real Time despite him being a potential voter for both politicians. 

'It’s the people I vote for, they’re the ones who won’t talk to me. That’s odd, isn’t it?' he said.