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Al Franken Flips Out on CNN
NewsMax.com ^ | 8/26/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 08/26/2003 12:24:18 AM PDT by kattracks

Al Franken must be having a hard time these days.

The liberal media have been parading him on all the shows -- to claim that the liberal media is not liberal at all, but really a right wing propaganda machine.

These liberal media outlets (along with a silly lawsuit from Fox News), have helped to propel Al Franken's new book into the bestseller lists.

But it would only be fitting that when appearing on a liberal network Franken would complain he is being censored.

Decent folks were aghast at such chutzpah on CNN's Crossfire Monday, when Franken subbed for James Carville as the show's co-host, pitted against conservative Tucker Carlson.

As anyone who watched the program saw, Franken was given more than enough time to air his baseless complaints about a right wing cabal taking over the major media.

All was fine while Franken and ally, Joe Conason, also out with a book claiming -- you guessed it -- the right wing control the media -- monopolized most of the conversation.

No doubt they were reveling in the good old days, when a typical TV talk show had four liberals and no conservatives, or one token conservative who was rudely interrupted anytime he dared challenge the prevailing p.c. sentiment.

So when Carlson and fellow conservative, talk show host B.Q. Cullum, began challenging the notion that somehow the major media like the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, the three major networks, CNN, MSNBC, and practically every other media outlet in the country are and remain -- liberal, Franken clearly had a panic attack of seismic proportions and flipped out -- on air.

Franken's hysterics began as soon as B.Q. challenged his claim that the Clinton administration "were building the military that won the war in Iraq and that won the war Afghanistan."

B.Q. responded, accurately, that the Clinton administration was "not funding -- they were not funding the military."

Co-host Carlson tried to add his two cents, when Franken clearly became unglued and began screaming, no less than four times, "I am the co-host of this show. I am the co-host of this show. I am the co-host of this show. Let me say one thing. I am the co-host of this show. I get to say this. Now, Dick Cheney ..."

Franken's unusual behavior drew some nervous laughter from the audience, and even his co-host Carlson was taken aback, saying, "Al, your face is actually twitching, so you're starting to make me a little nervous."

Later, after returning from a commercial break, Carlson again noted Franken's freakish behavior.

Carlson said to Franken, "Your face is starting to twitch again, Al. You are making me nervous, I have to say. I love having you here, but ..."

When Carlson went to wrap up the show, and fade out for the final break, Franken started again, in his nasally high pitched voice, "No, no, no."

A baffled Carlson, who handled himself with great poise, looked at Franken and again tried to end the show.

Here's the transcript:

Carlson: "I know. I'm sorry. We're totally, completely out of time. I'm getting it in my ear. They're saying they're going to cut us off."

Franken: "No, no, no, no."

Carlson: "Yes. No. It's true."

Franken, unrelenting: "Because I've got to say this."

Carlson ". . . I'm sorry."

Clearly, after this show Franken has more evidence of conservative bias for his next book, "How CNN's Conservative Censored Me and Other Ways Right Wing Enterprises Silence Paranoid Liberals Like Me."

We're not finished with Franken.

Let's put aside his dramatics and review the subject matter at hand.

Is the press biased in favor of conservatives?

As Carlson stated, the evidence is not anecdotal. Studies show the press to be very biased, to the liberal side.

Carlson cited one study: "This is a survey from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. And it asked journalists to describe their own political leanings. This is self-reporting: liberal/Democrat, 61 percent; conservative/Republican, 15 percent."

Another baseless claim made by Franken:

"Now, Dick Cheney said that any secretary of defense fights with the military that was given to him by his predecessors. And he said that after the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the first person he thanked was Ronald Reagan. I think Bill Clinton is entitled to that same call from Donald Rumsfeld."

First, Bill Clinton needs to call America and explain how he allowed al-Qaeda to grow for more than a decade.

In the same call he could also apologize for emasculating the CIA and FBI -- to the point that 19 foreigners could penetrate our borders and hijack four jets on Sept. 11, 2001.

There is no question that Mr. Bush, just months into his presidency, truly did inherit this disaster from his predecessor.

More to the point, Clinton also needs to make a second call to Mr. Bush and explain why he reduced America's military capability by almost 50 percent during his eight years. Unlike you Al, the numbers don't lie.

Clinton could also tell him why military stocks had been so depleted after his war in Kosovo and bombing aspirin factories that the Pentagon's arsenal was practically depleted of smart bombs or cruise missiles when Mr. Bush arrived at the White House.

A little story the press has not fully reported: it took more than a year for the Bush administration to go to war against Iraq, partly because it had to keep munitions factories running 24/7 for a year to rebuild stocks depleted during the Clinton years.

Yes, America "won in Iraq and Afghanistan," as Franken says.

But we won because of smart bombs and hi-tech equipment developed largely during the Reagan build up of the 80s -- a build up so vociferously opposed by Franken and his ilk.

We also won because of the greatness of our troops and their commanders -- many of whom persevered during the 90s to serve their country under a commander in chief they did not respect.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alfranken; bucktoothedmoron; cnn; conservativebashing; dummycrats; goshpeoplelikeme; hadafit; leftistloons; leftwingnuts; looser; mediabias; threwahissyfit; waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa; whereshismeds
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
He has a reputation for being unable to control his temper, and for nearly getting into physical confrontations with people.

The chances Franken will ever get interviewed on ANY Fox News Channel show can only be described as fat chance for that fat head. Franken, like Jenneane Garafalo, have serious attitude problems, to say the least.

101 posted on 08/26/2003 1:11:39 PM PDT by RayChuang88
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To: kattracks
CARLSON: The vast majority of the working press are unabashed liberals who consistently vote for Democratic candidates. And yet, in recent years, there's been a steady low-grade whine from the left that the media are in fact, somehow, some way, in the grip of a right-wing conspiracy. How can this be?

Stepping into the CROSSFIRE from Boston in an attempt to explain is Joe Conason. He is a columnist for "The New York Observer" and Salon.com.

This has triggered today's Salon stock deathwatch:


102 posted on 08/26/2003 1:12:57 PM PDT by weegee
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To: weegee
The New York Observer has never made a dime either. But it's not designed to; its only purpose is to insure its owner a permanent invitation to all the Manhattan liberal snot society parties.
103 posted on 08/26/2003 1:21:26 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: kattracks
CARLSON: One of the claims you make in your book is that the problem with the conservative media, as they exist, is that they demonize the left, OK? They act like Ann Coulter as a group.

I want to read from you from your own book. This is page three from the introduction. And I'm quoting now. "Conservatism in power always threatens to undue national progress and is almost frustrated by the innate decency and democratic instincts of the American people."

Ending socialism and an expanding government is not "undoing national progress". To say that is to "admit" a bias that socialism is the only answer. Some of the social programs that were passed were considered to be a temporary fix to a national ill. The more government spending there is, the more tax dollars that must be brought in to pay for it (and inflation). It's a cop out and proof that social programs are not meant to solve problems, rather to keep people dependent on government rather than back on their own 2 legs. Rob Peter to pay Paul, then demonize Peter to keep Paul voting for those who provide new social programs.

104 posted on 08/26/2003 1:26:00 PM PDT by weegee
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To: honeygrl
Boy, is Al F. going to be fit to be tied. Looks like Crossfire is getting pre-empted by the President.

Talk about a conspiracy against poor old Al...this will really getting him stewing again.
105 posted on 08/26/2003 1:33:33 PM PDT by texasbluebell
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To: kattracks
CONASON: Yes. We'll get to that.

My view is that conservatism in power tends to want to roll back progress that liberals have made over the last 100 years. That's just my opinion. It's not saying conservatives are evil. They see it differently. But my view is, we have made progress on a lot of issues over the last 100 years, all of which were opposed by conservatives at the time that the progress was being made, whether it was racial issues...

There are 101 lies being tossed out in this rountable interview. That the audience has heard these lies before but has not heard a counter to the claims (and will not hearing a rebuttal to every lie in this interview) shows the inherent bias in the media. If someone says "selected not elected" we all know what that means. Some may put it in the mental ward next to tinfoilers who say "Where was Nixon when Kennedy was shot?" but other people will blindly accept the accusation.

We hear "Albert Gore got the popular vote". This is used to say that President Bush doesn't have a mandate for his agenda. Albert Gore Junior got only 0.52% more votes (just over half a percentage point). This tally was certified and so it is legal. Know this, it does not take into account contested ballots where vote fraud was known to have taken place. It does not include all of the absentee ballots. It does not account for any "dimpled chads" in other states. It is well within the margin of error so no one will know with certainty. But it doesn't matter because this is not how elections are settled in the United States Of American. We would have had to held a national recount if that had been the case. Do people see how bad it was in Florida when just a few counties held recounts? The Electoral College is a GOOD thing. Also witness the "Red-Blue" vote map (county by county). By pure population, the major cities would give the election to the Democrats. That is not reflective of this country. Might as well take away Rhode Island's 2 senators and give them to Texas and California.

This viewpoint is never aired in the media. The DNC talking points are and everyone in the audience understands what they mean (they don't all know the TRUTH though).

I don't need to go into the facts that a greater percentage of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than the Democrats. Keep your voting base dumb, RATs. If they ever knew the truth they'd riot in your headquarters.

106 posted on 08/26/2003 1:40:02 PM PDT by weegee
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To: patj
I saw part of this as I was surfing. I thought Franken kept yelling "This is my show" over and over. Since I never watch CNN, I didn't know he was a sub, but he is still nuts. On another subject; did anyone else see Brit Hume go after Karen Tumulty (sp) from Time last night? She was visibly angry.

Do tell! I've seen Hume in action, and he is the anti-Franken. Not only is he brilliant and one of the world's best-informed men, he's got the nerves of an assassin.

107 posted on 08/26/2003 2:51:08 PM PDT by mrustow (no tag)
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To: weegee
We hear "Albert Gore got the popular vote". This is used to say that President Bush doesn't have a mandate for his agenda. Albert Gore Junior got only 0.52% more votes (just over half a percentage point).

Not only that, but by that logic Bill Clinton should never have been allowed in the White House in the first place. He only got 43% of the vote in 1992, and 49% in 1996. Where was Bill's "mandate" then, RATS?

108 posted on 08/26/2003 3:29:00 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: prairiebreeze
She called him an idiot and other names on air! I was surprised at that.

I'm not the least bit surprised. He's a scumbag prevaricator, and deserved public excoriation for it.

One of the most basic lessons taught to any beginning author is "write what you know." You should always keep that in mind when thinking about a guy who just wrote a book called "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them."

109 posted on 08/26/2003 3:34:35 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: cajungirl; Grampa Dave
I think all conservatives should devote themselves to getting Al to lose it totally on the air and attack someone. That someone would proceed to beat the crap out of him and refuse to hire a lawyer and sue like a nancy boy.

As long as they get Al to throw the first punch. I have long speculated on FR that much of the baiting Al has done of various conservatives at public events over the last few years has been done because he was hoping to get a conservative to physically attack him. Then he could spend the rest of his life falsely claiming, "See? All conservatives are violent psychos!"

In the last year or so, however, I think he's moved beyond that, and isn't just baiting people any more. I think he's truly losing control of himself, and that he eventually is going physically assault someone on his own, in public and likely on-camera, if he doesn't start getting some therapy. He should be especially interesting to watch after the RATS gets their butts kicked nationwide for the third election in a row in November 2004.

110 posted on 08/26/2003 3:42:55 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: hotpotato; CyberAnt
Now I'm really confused. I thought the left has decided we have not won the war in Iraq OR Afghanistan and that we are losing on both fronts.

While Al acts like one of the most rabid Naderite types on the planet, he's actually a DLCer. He's no far-left hardcore socialist; he's simply devoted himself to the Democratic Party and wants them to win at all costs. (I think he'd happily support GWB if Bush suddenly switched party affiliation. It's all about the RATS winning for Al, nothing more.) So the concept of him agreeing that we won Iraq and Afghanistan isn't at all hard to accept.

111 posted on 08/26/2003 3:49:16 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: Timesink
Once you have identified someone as a baiter who wants us or someone to whack him, the game becomes really funny.

Then, you can say anything to this wretched loser and call him anything in hopes of making him lose it and hit you with his purse or some girly slap.

Then you laugh at him and continue to put him down until he tries a real blow. Then it is over for him. Time for lights out.
112 posted on 08/26/2003 3:53:29 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (No more 9/11's! Kill the Islamokazis and the Islamofascists in the Middle East!)
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To: patj
Please explain the Hume / Tumulty exchange. Tumulty is a fairly frequent panelist.

When Hume is hosting the show, he doesn't let his opinions fly as loosely as they do when he's a panelist on Fox News Sunday, but he does ask pointed questions -- usually about the Middle East situation.

113 posted on 08/26/2003 3:57:37 PM PDT by ER_in_OC,CA
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To: kattracks
Ther is no way I would watch al Franken.

I remember him from SNL. He was not funny

" I'm Al Franken blah blah blah, an me Al Franken"

He grated on my nerves back then...

114 posted on 08/26/2003 4:21:54 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: kattracks
ABC's going back to the past with George Stephanopolis.

Great stuff:

No doubt they were reveling in the good old days, when a typical TV talk show had four liberals and no conservatives, or one token conservative who was rudely interrupted anytime he dared challenge the prevailing p.c. sentiment.

115 posted on 08/26/2003 5:46:04 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: Timesink
Great find. Thanks for the ping.
116 posted on 08/26/2003 5:57:04 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: Bonaparte
It's says the obvious - that they're fools:

It's been obvious for years that Franken is seriously deranged. And yet Harvard and CNN can't get enough of him. What does this say about them?

117 posted on 08/27/2003 6:39:30 AM PDT by GOPJ
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To: Bonaparte
It's says the obvious - that they're fools:

It's been obvious for years that Franken is seriously deranged. And yet Harvard and CNN can't get enough of him. What does this say about them?

118 posted on 08/27/2003 6:39:33 AM PDT by GOPJ
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To: kattracks
bump
119 posted on 08/27/2003 9:48:39 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; Black Agnes; BobFromNJ; Brad's Gramma; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; ...
ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

120 posted on 08/27/2003 10:02:25 PM PDT by nutmeg (Is the DemocRATic party extinct yet?)
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