Al Franken visits troops in Baghdad - tells them they are losing the war (USO tour entertainer)

self ^ | 20DEC06 | tongue-tied

[tongue-tied]

Here is an update after nearly a full day:
MAJ Patience believes he got the best of Al and his buddies, so he doesn't want to file a formal complaint.

He said that when he was asking his questions he watched Al Franken turn red and stutter his answers, so he figures he won anyway. Some of his questions (Al's answers):

If you agreed with the initial intelligence as you stated, would you have voted for war if in a position to do so? (no)

If you felt the US was threatened by Iraq, would you have voted for war? (no)

Is there anything that you agree with GW Bush or the GOP doing in this war? (no)

So basically, even if in your mind you know something is right, you would vote against it simply because GW Bush is for it? (yes)

Even though he doesn't feel it necessary, I am going to email the gist of the exchange to the USO office contact and express my displeasure with the choice of Al as 'entertainment' for any of the military.

[TexKat]

President Bush also offered an explanation of his statement yesterday that the United States is neither winning nor losing in Iraq.

The remark, in a Washington Post interview, was in stark contrast to his comments at an October news conference, in which he said that the U.S. is "absolutely winning" in Iraq.

The president told reporters Wednesday that his earlier comments were simply a reflection of his belief that "we're going to win." The president says his comments Tuesday reflected that "we're not succeeding nearly as fast" as he had wanted.

http://www.kxly.com/news/?sect_rank=5&section_id=562&story_id=7106

[Steve0113]

ping

This pr!ck is unbelievable.

[Darksheare]

Too bad Franken can't get the zot.

[oneamericanvoice]

""Whatever would Teresa do? Boo hoo."

"Just have a couple of more raisins."

LOL! Well, there are some people that will put ketchup on everything....ick!

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks for the update, tongue-tied. I would not have the patience the Major has; it goes to show what a difference discipline makes.

I don't get why Frankenface gets this USO gig every year. I did a search and he's been going overseas to "entertain" troops with the USO since 1999.

He's not funny, he's an anti-American propagandist and I would think USO would have a clue by now about this clown. There is no supporting the troops without also supporting the mission; any grunt could tell you this. Hence, he does NOT belong on a USO tour.

My only guess is USO has somehow been infiltrated.

But then, the military allowed pinko Ed Asner to visit wounded warriors at WRAMC to promote some new movie or whatever.

Somebody, please GET A CLUE. Thanks, t-t, for your efforts in pursuing this.

[TexKat]

"However you characterize it, it's not good enough," Gates told the soldiers about America's progress in the war.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1756752/posts?page=1

[tongue-tied]

Not sure how much good it will do, but I sent this to the USO:

On December 19th, 2006 we at Camp Victory were treated to a USO show that included Al Franken as a performer. I remember some of his skits on the program Saturday Night Live, in which he was funny so I could understand him being hired on the basis of his comedy.

His recent work includes being a host on the Air America network, where he basically downgrades all things conservative, particularly President Bush and his administration. He has been an outspoken critic of the war on terror in general, and of this war in Iraq in particular.

As a military member I gladly defend his right to say such things on the radio and criticize our government and our leaders. It is his right and his duty to voice the differing opinions that he and his listeners share. What I take exception to is when he brings his anti-war message directly to the troops in a one-on-one situation, as he did on this night.

During the night meal in the Coalition DFAC, Al Franken and some of his colleagues were eating at a table with an Army Major I work with. After several minutes of overhearing the group discuss all of the negative aspects of the Iraq war, this Major finally spoke up and asked the group to name one positive thing they had read or listened to regarding the war. None of them could name one. During the follow on conversation, Al Franken asked the Major how he felt fighting in a war based entirely on lies and he also stated that our Commander In Chief kept changing the goals of our efforts. Finally, he asked this Major how he felt about fighting in a war which we were losing.

Luckily this exchange was with a relatively mature, senior military member who could hold his own and rebuff some of these comments. What concerns me is that if this had been a junior person on their first deployment being asked about fighting a losing cause. What effect would that have had on this person’s morale? Isn’t that the reason for the USO shows, to boost morale? I didn’t see the show and must assume it did not involve any of the above comments or ideas. But even offstage, these entertainers should be showing support and encouragement to the military men and women they visit.

Given the actions of Mr. Franken and his group, I find his selection as a member of the USO tour shows inappropriate. Again, I fully support his right to speak his mind in any avenue. But the military support function that the USO shows fulfill seems like a very unsuitable arena to express his personal views and actually undermines our efforts. I ask that you reconsider asking him to perform in the future.

Tongue-Tied
Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Iraq

[zip]

Excellent. Thanks from one of the millions of the silent majority. We are here backing our troops, past and present.

[La Enchiladita]

Sorry. I missed this ping big-time this morning; glad I caught it this evening. Tongue-tied, you are an ace to write and send this letter. I respect you for that. I wish the Major would write to the USO as well.

It's really frustrating because USO has to know what Franken's "politics" are and that he doesn't check them before going on a USO tour. He gets to voice his "views" but troops are constrained from doing so? That is grossly unfair and, as you said, demoralizing to the troops who are supposed to be uplifted by these shows.

All I can say is, I hope this was his last tour for USO.

[La Enchiladita]

Ping to post 188... tongue-tied's letter.

[Valin]

Luckily this exchange was with a relatively mature, senior military member who could hold his own and rebuff some of these comments. What concerns me is that if this had been a junior person on their first deployment being asked about fighting a losing cause. What effect would that have had on this person’s morale? Isn’t that the reason for the USO shows, to boost morale? I didn’t see the show and must assume it did not involve any of the above comments or ideas. But even offstage, these entertainers should be showing support and encouragement to the military men and women they visit.

Given the actions of Mr. Franken and his group, I find his selection as a member of the USO tour shows inappropriate. Again, I fully support his right to speak his mind in any avenue. But the military support function that the USO shows fulfill seems like a very unsuitable arena to express his personal views and actually undermines our efforts. I ask that you reconsider asking him to perform in the future.

_____________________________

A long piece but well worth the time
Shameless plug
Comic On duty...World Tour
Comic On duty...World Tour ^ | Steve Eblin
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1049017/posts

Posted on 12/30/2003 5:22:17 PM PST by Valin


September 4, 2003

My name is Steve Eblin, and I’m waiting to go to Afghanistan. No, I’m not a soldier or a reporter. I’m a comedian, part of the “Comics On Duty World Tour” that leaves today for a three-week tour of war torn areas in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Comedy in the Middle East? You bet; where else in the world is drinking beer considered a one-way ticket to hell, but strapping a bomb to your chest and walking into a supermarket is admirable? Funny folks over there, for sure.

I’m known as “The Star Spangled Comic,” and along with 4 other funnymen – Don Barnhart, Mike Burton, Kevin Jordan, and Steve Mazan – I will be entertaining military personnel in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and many other places too poor to afford vowels. For three weeks we’ll tour the large bases and the mobile units, the port cities and the desert outposts, letting the brave men and women in uniform know that the vast majority of us back in The United States support them 100%. In our own way, through our God-given skills as comics, we’ll be letting them know that there is no “divide” in America, and that the morons who carried around signs at the protests reading “We support our troops…when they shoot their officers” are a small, idiotic micro-minority of degenerates who don’t shower nearly enough.

At this moment I’m waiting at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, gate 18A. Gate 18A is filled with an interesting cross section of humanity waiting to board United flight 940 to Frankfurt, Germany; families with strollers, soldiers in fatigues, German citizens returning home. I sit among these folks, watching and listening to their anticipation, wondering what’s waiting for all of them at the end of flight 940. A family reunion? An overseas military assignment, meaning 18 months away from family? Long, lonely nights in a variety of German bars, wondering how far the drive is to Amsterdam? I don’t know. I only know that waiting for me are at the end of flight 940 (and my subsequent connecting flights) is a group of dedicated Americans in uniform who are tired and in need of entertainment in the form of poop jokes. At least that’s what I hope they want, because that’s what they’re going to get.

As I sit here I’m filled with excitement and anxiety. Not the normal airport anxiety, wondering how that $9 hot dog and $6 Coke will affect my trip budget. No, this is the anxiety of heading into the unknown; I’ve done thousand of comedy shows in my career, and I routinely put 50,000 miles per year on my car, but this trip will be different. The shows themselves I’m not worried about, because a show is a show is a show; it’s the realization that I’m not going to Missouri for this series of performances that’s having an effect. Holy granola, I’m going to Afghanistan; it’s that place on TV. You know the one, where the bad things happen? Not that I’m concerned about my safety – because I’m not – but the reality of it is setting in. One wrong turn in Sioux City means a few minutes out of your life; one wrong turn in Uzbekistan and…..I try not to think about it. The excitement is what I concentrate on, because it truly is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a chance to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Bob Hope, as well as the thousands of other entertainers who have given their time over the years; the chance to deliver a personal thank you the men and women whose very lives make up the blanket of my freedom. It’s an opportunity to see parts of the planet that all of those academic types prattle on and on about - in haughty and arrogant terms - without ever having set foot there. It’s the chance to see firsthand just how much truth and/or garbage the media is sending back. It’s the chance to see it for myself, and make an opinion more informed that most other people.

Plus, it’s the chance to tell “Anna Nicole Smith is fat” jokes on an entirely different continent. As a comic, there’s no way I could pass that up.
(snip)
?Shameless plug

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Had the likes of Franken been in Vietnam doing this, he would wake up the previous day in San Francisco with a Fag in his bed, and the next day, after reaching Viet Nam, wake up with a frag in his bed. (Those were the good ol' days!)

[Valin]

There's a good chance that he'll be running against Norm Coleman in 08. And Norm will need all our support...and money, filthy lucre, specie, ducats, moolah....
/subtle hint
ok well maybe not so subtle

[StarCMC]

Very well done TT. It may take several of you speaking up, but eventually they'll get the message. Good on ya ~ and frankly, I am sorry as heck that you have to fight that battle as well as the one on the ground there. It's not right.

[StarCMC]

(Thanks for the ping, dita! *HUG*)

[La Enchiladita]

***HUGS***STAR***;^)

[La Enchiladita]

Valin, I read it!! I consumed every word and savored the amazing saga of the comedy tour. Too bad Steve hasn't posted in 2 years... hope he's okay.

Just a few highlights:

Their response was overwhelming, and what made it almost indescribable was that it was genuine. They meant it. The Colonel meant it. I’ve always been a patriotic person – to the point that another comedian nicknamed me “The Star Spangled Comic” – but I’ve never been prouder to be an American than tonight.

. . . We are in a part of the world where men and women need to be ready to fight for their lives on literally a moment’s notice. I’ll have a good laugh the next time I hear some athlete give a post-game interview and say “It was like a war zone out there.”

The segment on the tour of the A-10 fighter jet was a scream. I could not have laughed harder.

I take the opportunity to ask all of them about morale, and the same answer comes back from each and every one: morale is fine, they want to get the job done so they can come home. It seems the more people I ask this question, the less chance there is of hearing a different answer. If you’re counting, that’s Truth 4, Media 0.

. . . Once again we’re performing for a fully armed crowd; it’s not unlike the late show Saturday at some of the comedy clubs in Texas, but with less alcohol.

And then, the ceremony to mark the second anniversary of 9/11 … .