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Al Franken in 'Deep Level Talks' for Radio Show
NewsMax.com ^ | 11/20/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 11/20/2003 7:02:07 AM PST by kattracks

In-house Democratic Party comic Al Franken says he is in "deep level" negotiations to host a show on a liberal talk radio network set to launch early next year.

The hot-tempered ex-SNL writer tells the Chicago Tribune that he's been meeting with former America Online executive Mark Walsh, who's taken over the project from Sheldon and Anita Drobny.

Hefty contributors to the Democratic Party, the Drobnys announced plans to bankroll a liberal answer to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly earlier this year.

The Chicago couple have sold the majority of their shares in the corporation they created to launch the project, AnShell Media, to Mr. Walsh.

Walsh formerly worked for the Democratic National Committee and currently serves as the party's chief technology advisor.

"These guys seem to be charging forward and making progress," Franken told the Tribune, saying negotiations to bring him on board had reached the "deep level" stage.

Though Franken is famous for his in-your-face verbal assaults - he used the "F"-word earlier this year to attack the Fox News Channel at a rally attended by an applauding Hillary Clinton - Walsh says that his network's political tilt will be primarily "centrist, with a hint of liberalism."

"We're excited about the opportunity," said the liberal media mogul, who finalized his deal with the Drobnys last week.



TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: liberaltalkradio
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To: kattracks
"Hi everybody! Welcome to the Al Franken Is A Big Fat Idiot Show!!!" Also called the No-Brain Zone
61 posted on 11/21/2003 5:42:21 AM PST by BSunday (I'm not the bad guy)
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To: kattracks
My take on this is that it has to do only peripherally with Franken, Schultz or any other potential "celebrity" talk show host. This is a red herring thrown out to keep the public distracted.

I see it as a network temporarily and specifically set up for the purpose of dumping GWB prior to the election. It's a cover......and a place for moneybags liberal/commie investors to tip-toe around the already-porous Campaign Reform Bill. What looks like big money to us is mere peanuts to potential wealthy investors whom I predict will be culled from the ranks of leftist Hollywood, LA and NYC entertainment and big business moguls.

They hate the president and his administration so much that their investment in this network would be viewed by them as a campaign donation to the Dems rather than a solid business investment, although they will cover this aspect up. They know they won't make money on their investment, and they don't care.

I don't think they would care a fig how many main-stream advertisers they get prior or during the duration of the presidential campaign. This is not their mission.

If GWB is re-elected, the network will disappear immediately because the covert mission failed. If he's not re-elected, it will also disappear because the moneybags are not stupid and will not remain after the election pouring cash into a network doomed to failure from a commercial standpoint. Their campaign ploy would have failed and they'll move on.

This proposed network is merely a clever short-term propaganda vehicle designed to fool the masses who will think it's a genuine, long-term business venture.

Forget Franken, Garafalo or any other moronic "talk-show hosts" being talked about. This is a distraction. This proposed leftist network is deadly serious business with a short-term purpose, and the purpose is NOT to provide entertainment or celebrity hosts over the long haul as a true business investment.

Leni

62 posted on 11/21/2003 6:02:17 AM PST by MinuteGal (Everyone...start saving your pesos for the next cruise. Great mutual Christmas gift for the family!)
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To: PJ-Comix
...appearances on Scarborough Country...

I'm not familiar with that reference. Is this something akin to flunking out on a public access channel?

63 posted on 11/21/2003 6:40:23 AM PST by FormerLib
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To: FormerLib
Schultz made a couple of appearances on MSNBC's Scarborough Country and came off as a know-nothing loudmouth jerk. Scarborough caught some flak for having Ed Schultz on his show but he performed a public service by allowing Schultz to sink his national talk radio career before it even began.
64 posted on 11/21/2003 6:51:39 AM PST by PJ-Comix (Algore Invented Urine)
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To: PJ-Comix
...and came off as a know-nothing loudmouth jerk.

In other words, he came off as a run-of-the-mill liberal. Got it, thanks.

65 posted on 11/21/2003 6:55:35 AM PST by FormerLib
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To: FormerLib
If anybody gets any news about Ed Schultz reaction to this news, please post it here. Methinks his reaction will be to hit the bottle at a local bar and get into a fight when he gets heckled for being tossed from his national talk show host career before it even began.
66 posted on 11/21/2003 7:14:35 AM PST by PJ-Comix (PJ's Overall Philosophy Neatly Explains Everything In The Universe In A Tidy Little Package)
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To: Rummyfan
Franken will blow up the first day on the air, and this idea will die a quick expensive commercial death.

No, it is going to take about 3 weeks. This is the average length of time that even the best dem debaters last in chat rooms. The dems, are convinced of one thing. That the only way to get a point across, (truth or a lies doesn't matter), is by continuously repeating it over and over. (Remember Goebbels?). It is their firm belief that every thing the swing voter believes has been fed to him in just such a propagandized way, hence, that will be exactly their plan, and Franken will be no exception. It will get him just as far, in 3 week, his ratings will slip so low, they will have to hold contests, and giveaways just to keep people listening.

67 posted on 11/24/2003 3:08:16 AM PST by morque2001 (Life is a trajedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.)
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