Your comments speak volumes, pretty thin critisism if you ask me.

I like (not idolize)Al Franken. He should be given credit for getting Air America started and keeping it going. His audience was growing and he did better than Rush in several radio markets. In addition to his career accomplishments, I admire (caution this might blow your mind coming from a liberal) his values family and otherwise. He is a devoted husband, son and father. He has repeatedly supported the troops through his stints with the USO in Iraq and Kosovo. He decried the cuts in Veteran's health care prior to the Walter Reed scandals. He has a long time friend who is a Rush fan. He often spoke kindly with people who disagreed with him. He was a personal friend of Paul Wellstone (who is one of the few humans who may actually be worthy of idolization)and will model his political philosophy after Wellstone's. In many ways, Al Franken reminds me of my mid-western neighbors: decent, honest, sincere, fun-loving, humble and kind.

I don't have to contrast Al with Billo, since you yourself already mentioned the falafel bully. However, what I really don't understand is the appeal of that other idol of the airwaves. You know the one, the drug-addicted, thrice-married sex tourist? I can't stand to listen to him (mainly because of his arrogance and outrageous lies) so I can't be too specific, but maybe you can explain the appeal.

Another thing I appreciate about Al Franken is that he paved the way for Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. They are my two favorite radio personalities. Stephanie's show is terific, funny and insightful. Thom is a straight talking, common sense, down to earth guy. Finally some balance. Thanks again to Al for leading the way. Oh, no wonder we like him so much!

Where do you get the idea that liberals idolize Al Franken? I'm a liberal and I can't stand the man. I think he's a jerk, a blowhard, and that he is in way over his head on the radio, a medium for which he has absolutely no talent or skill. The fact that I happen to agree with his politics doesn't mean I even like him, let alone idolize him.

Who exactly does idolize him? Can you give me the name of someone?

I am neither liberal or conservative. Al has never impressed me either and I do listen to Air America on a semi-regular basis. I find a lot of the hot air coming off that channel to be no less irritating than off the right wing stations...

There are of course LIBERALS who (and are you reading this Dave? Wake up boy) of course MARCH IN LOCK STEP - JUST as a good portion of CONSERVATIVES.

But I think there are a LOT more people hanging in the bell curve. They find the fanaticism of the Political Correct Red Guard on the liberal side just as revolting as the Holier-than-thou-of-course-you-deserve-to-be-screwed-over-by-the-rich-and-powerful Right Wingers.

And Daryl... Little tip here on the satire... When you're trying to write a satirical post keep it SHORTER and don't bury punch lines in a paragraph (used to be one could have a little fun with the text/font style here before the AP gods descended on us) - since we can't do that anymore you've got to lay the line out there so people can pick up on it easily as they scan...

P. Marlowe

It's funny seeing liberals say how they don't all love Al Franken but they believe all conservatives/republicans love Coulter, Limbaugh and Bush.

Hey Arch Conservative, who invented the term "ditto head"? Must be another liberal conspiracy.

Really? I never said that all conservatives/Republicans love Coulter, Limbaugh, and Bush. I know Republicans who hate all three.

I sure loved his book, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Especially the chapter on all the chickenhawk draft dodgers!

Maybe you haven't Michael but there have been countless times on BC where I have attacked some new piece of idiocy from the left without saying anything about anyone on the right and I get "goes kiss limbaugh's ass some more" or 'you're just a bushbot" or something else along those lines.

But those people weren't talking about ALL conservatives/Republicans, Archie. They were talking about you. And you have certainly made your support for Bush very clear, although it's true that I can't say anything about the other two

So here's your chance to clear the air: how DO you feel about Coulter and Limbaugh?

I can't find any market where Franken was ahead of anyone (including the noon farm report) nor anywhere his market was growing. Just saying.

Where are these "superior writers" the masthead speaks of? Al Franken is a superior writer and political mind. I'm going to donate more to his campaign. I like smart people, and people who can actually write (being in the Senate requires good writing skills).

I'm not convinced that some members of the Senate can either read OR write, or dress themselves, for that matter. As for smart people in government: it's possible to be smart, honest, have some principles and run for office--but it's more usual to get those who value being clever over being smart, and who are happy to sell out intellectually and use politics for partisan purposes and personal gain.

We like Al Franken. We idolize Jon Stewart. Get it right.

Al Franken is witty and funny, at least in the written format, and as long as students at Harvard do most of the work for him.

However, he's also mean-spirited, cruel, obnoxious, and a terribly boring talk show host. Also, he was an accessory in helping someone dodge the Draft, and almost certainly did cocaine (two things he accuses President Bush of doing...hypocrite much?)

But he was great as "the man with unusually long nose hairs" on SNL...

"Hey Arch Conservative, who invented the term "ditto head"? Must be another liberal conspiracy."

Do you even understand the etiology of the term "dittohead" ???

Read this:

Saying "dittos" (or even "mega-dittos") was started by a Rush Limbaugh caller in 1988 as a shorthand way for callers to say they love the program and for Rush to never quit doing the radio show. "Dittoheads" do not have to agree with Limbaugh, as it simply means that they enjoy the show and admire the skill of Limbaugh [one of the most successful radio personalities ever].

"I sure loved his book, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Especially the chapter on all the chickenhawk draft dodgers!"

Did you also enjoy the chapter on Franken's own military service? Oh wait...there wasn't one.

Yes, or how about the chapter where Al Franken makes Bill Clinton (draft-dodger and war-mongering President) out to be the greatest President of the century...

"We like Al Franken. We idolize Jon Stewart. Get it right."

Looks like a certain leftist is unaware that Jon Stewart is Jewsih.

Al and Rosie O got it on. Now you know the rest of the story. Little fem boy Frankenstein.

"Did you also enjoy the chapter on Franken's own military service? Oh wait...there wasn't one."
- Archie

The difference being, of course, that Franken is not a chickenhawk, ie, one who promotes war and spouts macho military slogans, but doesn't have the grapes to actually serve himself.

"Yes, or how about the chapter where Al Franken makes Bill Clinton (draft-dodger and war-mongering President) out to be the greatest President of the century..."
- RJ Elliott

At least he's never referred to Max Cleland as a gigantic thalidamide baby, as you did.

al franken is lame. his political run will be an even bigger failure than his lack of success over the airwaves.

I'm not a liberal or conservative or libertarian or Democrat or Republican or Air America listener or Rush Limbaugh listener, but ... what was the topic again?

"I'm not a liberal or conservative or libertarian or Democrat or Republican or Air America listener or Rush Limbaugh listener, but..."
- Matthew T. Sussman

So yer a Mug-Womp, ehe?

"The difference being, of course, that Franken is not a chickenhawk, ie, one who promotes war and spouts macho military slogans, but doesn't have the grapes to actually serve himself."


Gee Bill Clinton fits that bill but I have never heard you call him out on it.

I'm a little surprised about an email I received today.....from.....drum beat....Alan Colmes. He was complimentary towards me (well, read what I said about him), but didn't even mention Al Franken (which I thought was professional given the stuff Al Franken has said about him). I thought that was nice for him to take time out of his busy schedule to actually thank me. Either that, or he's not used to people complimenting him (but I don't think that's the case).

As RJ pointed out earlier, Franken's problem is that he's boring as hell. He's not a bad comedy writer and he has a droll sense of humor for sketches and sitcoms, but he doesn't have the skill at relatively unrehearsed banter which good radio personalities have. I think that same personality flaw will seve him badly in his political career. He's going to be deadly dull in press conferences and debates.

BTW, Daryl. Nice to see you being an equal opportunity basher. BTW, doesn't Alan Colmes have a syndicated radio show that's not part of Air America?

Dave

"He's going to be deadly dull in press conferences and debates."

Well, he ought to fit right in with most of the other politicians, then. ;)

Can you just imagine Al Franken attending his kids' "parents day" events at school. I feel really sorry for the kids. Must be embarrassing.

I thought Air America died after that cheapskate George Soros didn't bail them out.

absurd thought -
God of the Universe likes
tight billionaires...
.

I received the most nasty email from Al Franken today that I think I've ever received from anyone. It was downright degrading and while anybody can "fake" someone's email address, I just sense that it truly was him. He accused me of being a wingnut scumbag (funny he makes that assumption. Aren't liberals supposed to "not judge" people), said I'm desperate for attention (that may be partially true..but he sure gives into it by emailing me), and bascially, I should "f off and die." Anyway, I just had to share this with you guys.

Sure he did.

He did! I know, it sounds like I constantly brag about receiving emails from the subjects I write about. I know I can't completely convince people, but it's important to realize just how widely read Blogcritics articles are. Do a news search for Al Franken on google. Notice, the VERY FIRST article that comes up is THIS one. Do a search for Alan Colmes on google. The very first item that comes up on google is THIS article. Certainly, I'm not the only one who gets emails from the subjects I write about. Can any other blogcritics share experiences? Perhaps I'm the only one who brags about the emails though.

Perhaps I'll keep writing positive articles about Christina Aguilera. Then, she'll send me a thank you letter (like Alan Colmes did) and invite me to spend some time with her backstage after one of her concerts. In my dreams!

while anybody can "fake" someone's email address, I just sense that it truly was him. He accused me of being a wingnut scumbag (funny he makes that assumption. Aren't liberals supposed to "not judge" people), said I'm desperate for attention (that may be partially true..but he sure gives into it by emailing me), and bascially, I should "f off and die."

Doesn't sound like him....

well, either it was him or an obsessed fan passionate enough to hate me so much for slagging him off. When Alam Colmes emailed me, it was a foxnews.com address, so I know it's him.

I'd opt for the latter. That was certainly my reaction when I got a BC comment from David Duke last year.

"well, either it was him or an obsessed fan passionate enough to hate me so much for slagging him off. When Alam Colmes emailed me, it was a foxnews.com address, so I know it's him."

I don't doubt that you received an email from someone claiming to be Al Franken, but I kinda doubt he'd actually email you and be a totally rude ass-hat. I mean, the man is running for the Senate...and what you describe it the sort of inane thing (if provable) that could derail a candidacy...

Actually, Franken is a war hawk. He supported all of Clinton's foreign interventions (in fact, he thinks that Bubba was the greates president of the twentiet h century; oh well, he is a comedian after all). He supports the war in Iraq, even though he has criticized the way it has been fought.
Besides being a warmonger, Franken is a dyed-in- the-wool uberliberal when it comes to social and economic policy. He supports strict gun control, a woman's "right" to an abortion, a more progressive tax system (as if the one we have isn't progressive enough, what with the top 20% of earners carrying over 60% of the total federal tax burden). He also supports universal healthcare and a monolithic welfare state. I sure as hell don't want him in a position of power and influence.

This article is neither researched nor informative. It seems all you really have to say is 'Al Franken sucks.' If you've read his books, if you actually did something other than find ways to criticize him, maybe your criticism would seem more founded. But you haven't pointed out factual errors, you haven't pointed out flaws in logic. All you've done is insult him.

You seem to neglect the fact that he's a comedian, and along with his slams of politicians and conservative leaders, he accurately portrays them for their hypocricies and their flaws of logic. You can only muster up saying he has Down Syndrome. If you don't think attack politics works, don't use it, because you do nothing but offend people and disassemble your own position. Attack on the facts, and leave the rest to pundits.

I think Al Franken is a broadcasting genius.

Air America is the best thing to happen to radio since Marconi.