Franken in Talkers Meltdown - (off to the "Funny Farm?")

NEWSMAX.COM ^ | JUNE 14, 2005 | Carl Limbacher & Staff

[CHARLITE]

Air America star Al Franken had a meltdown Friday night while accepting the Freedom of Speech Award at Talkers Magazine's New Media Seminar, before being forced to leave the stage by the event's sponsor.

The liberal yakker launched into a 20-minute tirade against his conservative colleagues, taking shots at Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Bill Bennett, according to WWRL host Steve Malzberg, who witnessed the ugly outburst.

"It was the most bizarre thing I've seen in a long time," Malzberg told NewsMax. "Franken was as obnoxious and arrogant as could be."

After blasting the top talent in his industry, Franken took on the war in Iraq - dissecting a report on a visit to the troops by fellow talk host Rusty Humphries.

As the Air America host droned on, the audience grew restless, with some shouting for Franken to "hurry up."

But according to the New York Post's John Mainelli, Franken wouldn't budge. "It's freedom of speech ... I have about two pages left," he shot back.

Finally, Talkers publisher Michael Harrison gave Franken the hook, beseeching the volatile host: "We honored you, now honor us. Don't kill our party."

Before he departed, however, Franken lept into his own peroration about visiting the troops - appearing to sob as he detailed their injuries.

[JAWs]

They only are honoring this bozo because he's a lib. Even in the Big Apple Air Anti-America outlet would do better if it went back to the Caribbean format.

[NonValueAdded]

They gave him the award so it serves them right.

[mmercier]

Al Franken publicly demonstrating he is mentally unstable is news...?

Slow news day.

[Russ]

More aid and comfort for the enemy...

[Steve_Seattle]

"Even in the Big Apple Air Anti-America outlet would do better if it went back to the Caribbean format."

They ought hire that fiery Puerto Rican guy ("Bob") from Seinfeld to get the Caribbean format reinstated: "What is Air America? What is Al Franken? Does anyone know Al Franken? Did we ask for Al Franken? No, we did not ask for stupid Al Franken!"

[Rumplemeyer]

A perfect end to the evening would have been the securiety guard using:
A) Stun Gun, set on "wet your pants"
B) Wild Kingdom Big Game Tranqualizer Dart, set on high
C) Droping a net on him and off to a warm dark room, where he can eat jello with his bare hands.

All on film, live at 11.

[JAWs]

Rereading this hubris fueled spat, it's apparent his Stewart Smalley character is NOT an act.

[SpinyNorman]

The only word I can come up with to adequately describe Franken is "rabid."

The decision of a local radio station to substitute Franken for Hannity freed up a preset button on my truck radio.

[Robert A Cook PE]

What is with this "award" ?

- The guy's program is an absolute failure. What are they "honoring" him "for"?

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . off to a warm dark room, where he can eat jello with his bare hands."

Aw, I'd give him a rubber spoon.

[SwinneySwitch]

I'm bad enough.

I'm dumb enough.

But, doggone it,

people just don't like me.

[Steve_Seattle]

"What are they "honoring" him "for"?"

The same thing that Pulitzer honored Maureen Dowd for - being on the "right" side.

[tophat9000]

What is Al Franken?

A kosher weenie?....

No I guess Al Franken would be a rejected kosher weenie because all his "beefs" are Bull Shit

[kezekiel]

[jimfree]

"What are they "honoring" him "for"?"

Awards are awards; they are not the judgement of history. I don't mind Al F**ken getting a trophy or medal. His real merit will be judged later.

[RightWingAtheist]

[Leo Carpathian]

Al Fricken is stupid, talks stupid, looks stupid, even if dressed up. Few times I would tune to Err Amerika during commercial at normal station just to see wasaaaap, but after few seconds, quickly punch the button back to Rush. Incoherent garbage that's coming out of this jerk is just unstomachable. Is he the reason SNL went down to sewer drains?

[Tacis]

I think you are all mean and spiteful. When lackies buy your dope on the street and spend what you gave them (keeping some for themselves), naturally you are going to get some bad stuff once in a while. Mixed strength dope coupled with the meds Al normally takes can cause these episodes and it is not kind to make fun of a sick doper no matter how stupid and anti-American he might be.