NationStates Jolt Archive

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.

The last hour of his radio show airs here in Honolulu at 8am. I've heard more of it than I care to. He's on the opposite side of the spectrum from Rush Limbaugh, but they both have the same smarmy my-opinion-is-holier-than-yours attitude. Each is convinced of their own correctness, and while you can identify the nugget of truth at the core of the message, you have to wade through the political agenda.

I can't stand that from the right or the left.

EDIT: As for going to see him, I say do it. Only you can make up your own mind whether you can stand listening to him or not, but I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to go in person if I were you.

It ought to be an interesting show. Franken is a center-left Democrat, nothing too extreme. He gets vilified as a crazy liberal because he's the prominent voice on Air America, but his stances are pretty standard--free trade, etc.

It ought to be an interesting show. Franken is a center-left Democrat, nothing too extreme. He gets vilified as a crazy liberal because he's the prominent voice on Air America, but his stances are pretty standard--free trade, etc.

Yeah, but that attitude! UGH!!!

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.

Lucky you. He is one of my heroes :) I'd love to go see him

EDIT: As for going to see him, I say do it. Only you can make up your own mind whether you can stand listening to him or not, but I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to go in person if I were you.
I agree. Besides, how often do you get a chance to see something like that? I'd go see Limbaugh if he did a show at my school. I'd heckle the ever-loving shit out of him and get arrested, but I'd go. :D

its free, its tuesday.

id go.

I agree. Besides, how often do you get a chance to see something like that? I'd go see Limbaugh if he did a show at my school. I'd heckle the ever-loving shit out of him and get arrested, but I'd go. :D
Here, here!

Yeah, but that attitude! UGH!!!

I never spend more than about 35-40 minutes at a time in the car, so I never get an overdose of him. I like his guests more than I do him, no question. My favorite progressive voice is Ed Schultz, though I'm developing a crush on Stephanie Miller now as well.

He is one of my heroes :)

Yikes.

Wow what a choice Limbo or Franken....talk about a rock and a hard place.

Why cant they put them both on at the same time ?

That might be fun...although Rush makes me laugh ...and so does Franken ...on occasion and they can BOTH be spot on...its as the man said ...I am GOD and KNOW more than you so bow down and recieve my wisdom and be happy for it . Thats the attitude that changes the station..

Cant change the station at a live event ...you can leave ..but I hope its free.


I remember BILL MAHRE used to be my hero...and then he went on cable and destroyed himself. All for ratings.

For a while over the Summer I listened to Franken because he was on after Stephanie Miller and I was too lazy to get out of bed and adjust the radio, and there isn't much to say about his show: he just sounds bored and tired these days.
You shoudl go anyway, because it is free, and free=good.

I never spend more than about 35-40 minutes at a time in the car, so I never get an overdose of him. I like his guests more than I do him, no question. My favorite progressive voice is Ed Schultz, though I'm developing a crush on Stephanie Miller now as well.

I remember when Stephanie Miller was local on KFI. I listened to her just about every evening.

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

He's a funny man. Go see him. Enjoy!

I remember when Stephanie Miller was local on KFI. I listened to her just about every evening.
She's smart and she's funny and utterly unafraid to take a joke beyond the line of decency. ;)

It ought to be an interesting show. Franken is a center-left Democrat, nothing too extreme. He gets vilified as a crazy liberal because he's the prominent voice on Air America, but his stances are pretty standard--free trade, etc.


He's too boring for me I perfer Randi Rhodes or when they use to have Mike Malloy. Randi is the liberal equivlent to Rush and Malloy was the lib equivlent to Savage. I always thought that Franken and Springer were too tame and tried to be more entertaining. I was angry when they pulled Malloy and hope they will bring him back. Jon Elliot is good but no way comparable to Mike.

I agree. Besides, how often do you get a chance to see something like that? I'd go see Limbaugh if he did a show at my school. I'd heckle the ever-loving shit out of him and get arrested, but I'd go. :D
I think about half of NationStates General--including me--would be sharing your jail cell that night.

I think about half of NationStates General--including me--would be sharing your jail cell that night.

We'd be a cozy bunch. :D

He's too boring for me I perfer Randi Rhodes or when they use to have Mike Malloy. Randi is the liberal equivlent to Rush and Malloy was the lib equivlent to Savage. I always thought that Franken and Springer were too tame and tried to be more entertaining. I was angry when they pulled Malloy and hope they will bring him back. Jon Elliot is good but no way comparable to Mike.

Isn't Rhodes completely off her casket, though?

Isn't Rhodes completely off her casket, though?


Sometimes she goes a little off the wall to get her point thru but no more than Rush. I find her show intresting rnough to listen to which is not often since Atlanta doesn't have a Air America station any more. I actually perfer WRFG 89.3 which has Democracy Now & Free Speech News. It's more towards true progressive programming. WRFG 89.3 (http://wrfg.org/home.asp)

Sometimes she goes a little off the wall to get her point thru but no more than Rush. I find her show intresting rnough to listen to which is not often since Atlanta doesn't have a Air America station any more. I actually perfer WRFG 89.3 which has Democracy Now & Free Speech News. It's more towards true progressive programming. WRFG 89.3 (http://wrfg.org/home.asp)

I just heard her screaming once and she kept talking about missles headed for us because Bush is incompetent... or something. She was screaming. I changed the channel and got mad that Franken wasn't on.

I just heard her screaming once and she kept talking about missles headed for us because Bush is incompetent... or something. She was screaming. I changed the channel and got mad that Franken wasn't on.
Meh Franken is like listening to Garrison Keillor which is ok but can get really dull after a while. Maybe it's cause their both from Minnesota. True sometimes Randi sounds like she's off her meds but she can be sincere and not try to put on a show. Only prob with her is that she often times talks over her callers even if they agree with her.

He's funny, think about what he says don't take everything supper seriously and go have fun. He's a good comedian and I believe you said it was free so...

It ought to be an interesting show. Franken is a center-left Democrat, nothing too extreme. He gets vilified as a crazy liberal because he's the prominent voice on Air America, but his stances are pretty standard--free trade, etc.

As far as Franken's stances, they're reasonably moderate, espescially for the big face for Air America, but his presentation is really rather irritating. He uses the word liars nearly as much as Limbaugh uses the word "Lib-ruhls", (pill poppin' twat, decrying a word that has plenty of good connotations) and comes across as a shrill voice.

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.

Imagine Jon Stewart and Michael Moore bearing a child. Then imagine that man grew up, and dawned a conspicuosly large pair of glasses. Viola!

Imagine Jon Stewart and Michael Moore bearing a child. Then imagine that man grew up, and dawned a conspicuosly large pair of glasses. Viola!
Eww I can't imagine Jon Stewart and Micheal Moore having sex and definatly not together. That's enough to turn a gay guy straight. They're a couple of trolls!

Eww I can't imagine Jon Stewart and Micheal Moore having sex and definatly not together. That's enough to turn a gay guy straight. They're a couple of trolls!

How is Jon Stewart a troll?

More yes but Stewart no

How is Jon Stewart a troll?

More yes but Stewart no

I confused him with Bill Maher. Stewarts ok but still that would be pretty nasty seeing him having sex with Mike Moore. Who would top and who would bottom? (Don't answer that is a disgusting image)

Meh Franken is like listening to Garrison Keillor which is ok but can get really dull after a while. Maybe it's cause their both from Minnesota. True sometimes Randi sounds like she's off her meds but she can be sincere and not try to put on a show. Only prob with her is that she often times talks over her callers even if they agree with her.

I guess I haven't given her a chance but that type of belligerent attitude usually annoys me.

I confused him with Bill Maher. Stewarts ok but still that would be pretty nasty seeing him having sex with Mike Moore. Who would top and who would bottom? (Don't answer that is a disgusting image)




I see Stewart on top.

I see Stewart on top.

Still that's nasty Moore has to be at least 300lbs and i'm sure he can't wipe his butt real well. Can't imagine f@#$%^& and r!@@#$% him without puking up.
I guess I haven't given her a chance but that type of belligerent attitude usually annoys me.

Give her a chance she's really good: listen to this: Republican turned Dem (http://premium.airamericaradio.com/clip.php?id=2749)

Lies and The Lying Liars WHo Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look At The Right - is a very funny book and puts the smack down on Fox, Rush, Coulter, Limbaugh and the like. He and his research team also go after Republican policy and faith based schooling :P

Meh. I'd go.

I don't like him. He is too contemptuous of his opponents and functions mostly as a propagandist.

Then again, for the little time I listened to Air America I never listened to him; all I've done is read both of his books.

Lies and The Lying Liars WHo Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look At The Right - is a very funny book and puts the smack down on Fox, Rush, Coulter, Limbaugh and the like.
Rush AND Limbaugh? There are two of them? Who's this other Rush? Or is this second Limbaugh his neutral twin?

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.


he is a twit....sorry.


as foolish as bush and his cohorts.

Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Franken's politics, the man has won multiple Emmy awards for comedy writing, so I'd be very surprised if going to see him in person wasn't entertaining. :)

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.

Anything is worth seeing once. Go for it.

Best case, you have a good time and learn something.
Worse case, you have a miserable time and learn something.

Anything is worth seeing once. Go for it.

Best case, you have a good time and learn something.
Worse case, you have a miserable time and learn something.

It would be better if you could get someone else to pay for the ticket, though.

It would be better if you could get someone else to pay for the ticket, though.

Someone else did--the show was free.

Sounds fun.
Franken is a little over the top sometimes, but I enjoy him. Got a couple of his books. Like his act more than the books.

I don't like him. He is too contemptuous of his opponents and functions mostly as a propagandist.

Then again, for the little time I listened to Air America I never listened to him; all I've done is read both of his books.

Could you please explain how his opponents, Coulter, O'Reilly, Hannity et al don't deserve his contempt? It's like saying you don't like prosecuters because they're always trying to put people in jail.

Rush AND Limbaugh? There are two of them? Who's this other Rush? Or is this second Limbaugh his neutral twin?

Rush the band. Franken hates prog-rock.

he is a twit....sorry.


as foolish as bush and his cohorts.

How so? The guy is meticulous to a fault when it comes to backing up his material. I say "a fault" because he's a comedian, and long lists of reading material aren't funny. But he's hardly a "twit." And certainly miles away from planet Neocon.

He's too boring for me I perfer Randi Rhodes or when they use to have Mike Malloy. Randi is the liberal equivlent to Rush and Malloy was the lib equivlent to Savage. I always thought that Franken and Springer were too tame and tried to be more entertaining. I was angry when they pulled Malloy and hope they will bring him back. Jon Elliot is good but no way comparable to Mike.

Well, Springer was way to tame. Ironic as hell when one considers the TV show he came from.

Personally, I'm glad they brought Rachel Madow onto the daylight hours. I really missed her show when they replaced it with Springer. Some right-wingers have said that the line-up has to do with money problems, but if so, it just goes to show that liberalism flourishes when money troubles abound.

And I"m glad they finally trimmed Randi's show a bit. I like her, but 4 hours of nothing but angry liberalism is a bit much. I'm angry and I'm liberal, but I like a higher facts to anger ratio, like on the Sam Seder show.

I confused him with Bill Maher. Stewarts ok but still that would be pretty nasty seeing him having sex with Mike Moore. Who would top and who would bottom? (Don't answer that is a disgusting image)

Still doesn't make sense. How is Jon Stewart or Bill Maher a troll? Do you just mean ugly?

Because they make a lot of sense when they talk. More than any of the network talking heads.

Wow what a choice Limbo or Franken....talk about a rock and a hard place.

Why cant they put them both on at the same time ?

They are. Al Franken plays clips of Rush Limbaugh to show how stupid he is.

On that note, Rush Limbaugh's show has supernatural powers that fixed my car radio.

It had some schizo wire that caused it to randomly change stations, and after a while it just acted like I wouldn't take my finger off the scan button stopping for a second or two on a random station only to take off again.

Then it stopped on Rush Limbaugh and froze. I jumped and changed the channel to Air America, and my radio quickly returned to it's broken behavior. But after a while the Voice of Rush came out again, and I assumed it was an Al Franken clip, because I thought that the stupidity couldn't be representative of Rush, Franken just picks the worst stuff, right? But it just kept going on and on. Dumber and dumber by the second. I was puzzled at why this bit was going on so long, it was already longer than the whole Franken segment usually is.

It seemed that the radio had wandered back into the path of psychic destruction that Rush was unleashing on the radio. My poor traumatized radio was so stricken it let me guide it back to Air America where it remained until I sold it.

But the important thing to note is that the clips that Franken picks aren't chosen because they're the dumbest things Limbaugh says. It's because they're the shortest statements he makes, and will fit into Franken's segments. He says much dumber stuff, but it can't be condensed into a soundbite. It's just long meandering diatribes of stupidity and hatred.

How so? The guy is meticulous to a fault when it comes to backing up his material. I say "a fault" because he's a comedian, and long lists of reading material aren't funny. But he's hardly a "twit." And certainly miles away from planet Neocon.

because like limbag,or mikey moore..they are propagandists for their respective political parties...and even if the other side is correct on even one point..they wont concede it.
that is divisive and counter productive to me.
they are so bent on winning at all costs they kill the conversation...so they can win for the team.
you cannot argue or debate with someone so full of dogma...so whats the point?
i have had my opinions on certain topics changed here...and i was pretty conservative when i came here..not because i was attacked with slander or propaganda,or deluged with 1 sided attitudes..but because of reasoned debate..that i will admit i sometimes went mental over,but after reflection...changed my position.

if someone is unwilling to compromise or even listen to my pov...it will not bode well for their pov getting across...let alone diatribes of dogma they are unwilling to examine.
i will say i am pretty unbending on gun ownership...other then that,i am willing to listen to all arguments.

hope that answers your question.

Moron Al Franken is

Well I found out that Al Franken is doing a free show on my campus tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 pm.

Now I have heard LOTS of commentary about his views but surprisingly little of his actual views … I have not got around to reading his book either. I was wondering what you all thought of him, if it would be worth braving the crowd to see tomorrow.
Unless you're a really stodgy conservative, it'll be worth going to. He's quite liberal, but he's a brilliant comedian, and I'd go to see a free show like that any day, whatever the comedian's politics.

I say go to the show. I agree with those who say a chance to see someone relatively famous is just worth it as a conversation topic. I find franken himself a repulsive little man, who cant even deliver even the points I agree with, without coming across as a utter asshole.

It would be better if you could get someone else to pay for the ticket, though.

Yeah, but that's true for anything! :D

Well, Springer was way to tame. Ironic as hell when one considers the TV show he came from.

Personally, I'm glad they brought Rachel Madow onto the daylight hours. I really missed her show when they replaced it with Springer. Some right-wingers have said that the line-up has to do with money problems, but if so, it just goes to show that liberalism flourishes when money troubles abound.

And I"m glad they finally trimmed Randi's show a bit. I like her, but 4 hours of nothing but angry liberalism is a bit much. I'm angry and I'm liberal, but I like a higher facts to anger ratio, like on the Sam Seder show.

Yeah Sam is pretty good I'm kinda glad they got rid of Jenenne Garafalo she was ok but she really didn't have a point. Sam makes more sense than Randi does. I also liked Mikes angry liberalism as well as Randi's but both can be too angry sometimes.
Still doesn't make sense. How is Jon Stewart or Bill Maher a troll? Do you just mean ugly?

Because they make a lot of sense when they talk. More than any of the network talking heads.


I mean they're ugly not a I-net troll.

because like limbag,or mikey moore..they are propagandists for their respective political parties...and even if the other side is correct on even one point..they wont concede it.
that is divisive and counter productive to me.

What's wrong with supporting a side? He isn't a partisan hack, because he calls out democrats he disagrees with, and as for the positions he holds, he backs them up with real information. Yes, he states his opinion in a well argued and well supported way. You're saying that that itself, is a bad thing.

they are so bent on winning at all costs they kill the conversation...so they can win for the team.
you cannot argue or debate with someone so full of dogma...so whats the point?
i have had my opinions on certain topics changed here...and i was pretty conservative when i came here..not because i was attacked with slander or propaganda,or deluged with 1 sided attitudes..but because of reasoned debate..that i will admit i sometimes went mental over,but after reflection...changed my position.

Al Franken has admited to changing his opinion. He supported Afghanistan, and when the Iraq thing started, he supported that too. But the evidence since has shown him that he was naive to have supported the president so blindly. He does not demonstrate the flaw you charge him with.

if someone is unwilling to compromise or even listen to my pov...it will not bode well for their pov getting across...let alone diatribes of dogma they are unwilling to examine.
i will say i am pretty unbending on gun ownership...other then that,i am willing to listen to all arguments.

hope that answers your question.

He listens to the opposition all the time. That's essentially all he does. Listens to the opposition. Reads their books. Checks their facts. Then tells the truth where they lie.

In your eagerness to defend the sovreignty of your own opinion by warding off information that might threaten it, you are inflicting yourself with the very blindness that you fear. You have provided not one instance of Franken being unwilling to listen to the opposition. I suspect you have never read any of his writing or listened to any of his show. If you had, you would see that he is the opposite of what you charge. In fact, he did his radio show from a college auditorium once, and he invited the crowd that gathered to protest him onto the show for an interview that was very civil. Al Franken bases his opinion on facts, and provides those facts the the point of tedium. That's not propaganda. That's advocacy.

Yeah Sam is pretty good I'm kinda glad they got rid of Jenenne Garafalo she was ok but she really didn't have a point. Sam makes more sense than Randi does. I also liked Mikes angry liberalism as well as Randi's but both can be too angry sometimes.

I miss Garofalo. She was the reason I started listening to the network in the first place (I certainly never needed a new reason to hate Dubya). But a lot of people are like that. Come for the Garofalo, stay for the Seder. Now that her name has collected an audience, and her A.D.D. has gotten the better of her, she quit. I'm only inclined to take their word for her wanting to leave because anyone who is happy to mix Red Bull and Aderall must be seriously A.D.D.

I miss Garofalo. She was the reason I started listening to the network in the first place (I certainly never needed a new reason to hate Dubya). But a lot of people are like that. Come for the Garofalo, stay for the Seder. Now that her name has collected an audience, and her A.D.D. has gotten the better of her, she quit. I'm only inclined to take their word for her wanting to leave because anyone who is happy to mix Red Bull and Aderall must be seriously A.D.D.

I never saw her as a long term radio person. I did a radio show in college--a blues show once a week for three hours at a time--and let me tell you, it's exhausting. I can only imagine what 3 hours of talk a night must be. It's got to be brutal.