Anyone catch Al Franken on STL's NPR?

[Upchurch]

Yesterday (9/17/03), Saint Louis's NPR station had an interview with Al Franken. One of the callers asked what Franken thought about a certain book that had a bunch of what the caller thought were wild claims. Franken said he had heard good things about the book but hadn't read it himself. When the caller listed of a couple of the claims, Franken noted that some of them were true.

Did anyone catch this part of the interview and remember what the title of the book was?

[Crossbow]

Upchurch,

I have not heard the interview you spoke of, but I would like to.

Does ST Louis Public Radio have a web site where one can listen to it?

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Crossbow
Upchurch,

I have not heard the interview you spoke of, but I would like to.

Does ST Louis Public Radio have a web site where one can listen to it? I feel like such an idiot. I never even thought to check online.

Saint Louis's NPR station can be found at http://www.kwmu.org/. The interview was from Saint Louis on the Air (http://www.kwmu.org/Programs/Slota/index.php). And here (http://www.kwmu.org/Programs/Slota/archivedetail.php?showid=1019) is the interview.

[Upchurch]

aaand, here (http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?display=day&todayDate=09/03/2003) is another with Franken on Fresh Air.

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Upchurch
Did anyone catch this part of the interview and remember what the title of the book was? "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy"

[Malachi151]

Originally posted by Upchurch
"The Best Democracy Money Can Buy"

You can find links to parts of that book on my website :p

http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles.htm

specifically:

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=207&row=3

[Malachi151]

I can't get the sound clip to work. Anyone care to do a recap?

[Cain]

I read "The Best Democracy Money can buy" by Greg Palast. The chapters are essentially stand alone (they can be read in almost any order) and all of them are the product of Palast's original investigative reporting. The one on Pat Robertson (I posted about it earlier) should be read by anyone who dislikes the 700 Club.

Unfortunately, Palast often sounds shrill and egotistical. Since the chapters are based on previous news articles, they often repeat. He's also constantly reminding us of how bold and and daring he is, speakin' "truth to power" and all.

Nevertheless, highly reccomended. Palast can tout himself as a brilliant reporter for good reason.

[Mocker Wall]

Al Franken's going to be on "What do you know?" on Sat.

[Lurker]

I watched O'Reilly last night nad he was talking baout Franken at some DNC event and at some other political event where he got in a tiff with Hannity and Colmes. I have never seen O'Reilly as animated as he is when he discusses Franken. He must have really gotten under Bill's skin. I thought O'Reilly was going into cardiac arrest as he busily harangued a liberal editor for not denouncing Franken.

I have been on vacation, what episodes is O'Reilly talking about and are there links to the stories? I would prefer to get the real deal and not the O'Reilly spin on what happened.

Lurker

[Tricky]

As I was flipping channels last night, I came across a promo on Fox with a big picture of O'Reilly and the caption that read something like "Hate Mongers". On the left he showed a small inset of Franken talking loudly (although they didn't include the soundtrack).

Looks like Bill is pulling out all the stops in trying to "get" Franken. Maybe this was the ad for the show you saw, Lurker.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Upchurch
I feel like such an idiot. I never even thought to check online.

Saint Louis's NPR station can be found at http://www.kwmu.org/. The interview was from Saint Louis on the Air (http://www.kwmu.org/Programs/Slota/index.php). And here (http://www.kwmu.org/Programs/Slota/archivedetail.php?showid=1019) is the interview.

Thanks Upchurch!

Via the link I was able, finally, to listen to the interview.

I thought for the most part it was pretty good, however I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed in Al when he said that right after 9/11 he was glad that Bush, and not Gore, won the election because he thought that Bush could do a better job of handling the war.

But, it was a good interview all the same!

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Crossbow
I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed in Al when he said that right after 9/11 he was glad that Bush, and not Gore, won the election because he thought that Bush could do a better job of handling the war.
He said THAT??!!:eek:

Looks like Al may have to turn in his liberal credentials. Or at least, he has had an operation to correct that jerky knee.

[Lurker]

Originally posted by Tricky
As I was flipping channels last night, I came across a promo on Fox with a big picture of O'Reilly and the caption that read something like "Hate Mongers". On the left he showed a small inset of Franken talking loudly (although they didn't include the soundtrack).

Looks like Bill is pulling out all the stops in trying to "get" Franken. Maybe this was the ad for the show you saw, Lurker.

Tricky, I am sure it was the promo for the O'Reilly I watched. Bill was apoplectic inhis condemnation of Franken and was busy bullying the liberal, trying to get him to condemn Franken as well even though the liberal had not heard what caused O'Reilly to be so upset.

It is noce to see that Franken has caused so much consternation in O'Reilly. About time.

Lurker

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tricky

He said THAT??!!:eek:

Looks like Al may have to turn in his liberal credentials. Or at least, he has had an operation to correct that jerky knee.

He said it all right! Listen for yourself.

[Tony]

Al Franken is the Ann Coulter of the left.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by Tony
Al Franken is the Ann Coulter of the left.
I thought Michael Moore was the Ann Coulter of the left.

[Tony]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin

I thought Michael Moore was the Ann Coulter of the left.

They're interchangeable ;). The left has more "Ann coulters" than the right.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Tony
Al Franken is the Ann Coulter of the left.
Hardly. Al Franken calls himself a satirist. Ann Coulter imagines herself a serious columnist.

The left has more than the right? I'll bet that for every well-known commentator/satirist on the left I can give you four on the right.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Tricky

Hardly. Al Franken calls himself a satirist. Ann Coulter imagines herself a serious columnist.

The left has more than the right? I'll bet that for every well-known commentator/satirist on the left I can give you four on the right.

Bill O'Reilly was talking about not about Franken's satire but about his largely unreported flaming public tyrades directed at Hannity, Alan Colmes, Paul Wolfowitz (to their faces by the way) and his recent bashing of Brit Hume (who was not there).

Al Franken seems to be a satirist when the camera is on and an obsessed freak when they are off. He is also the DNC's current hot star.

[Cain]

Al Franken is amazing. We should all aspire to his greatness. I'm definitely gonna see the guy when he comes to Caltech next month.

Bill O'Reilly and all the other right-wing commissars (Sean Hannity especially) quake in fear at Franken's razor sharp wit. Possession of the facts doesn't hurt either.

Wolfowitz told him to "f*ck off," and I think that's great.

He annoyed the sh*t out of the Fox table at the correspondents dinner, and I think *that's* great.

He disembowled O'Reilly at that book conference a few months, which, as you can probably guess, I thought was great.

He challenged Rich Lowry (editor of the _National Review_) to a fight.

He b*tch-slapped Bernie Goldberg on national television. Wonderful.

True, he's an operative for the Democratic party, and very pro-establishment. But he's still a funny guy.

Oh, and Al Franken couldn't possibly be the "Ann Coulter of the left." His book is actually well-researched.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Cain
Al Franken is amazing. We should all aspire to his greatness. I'm definitely gonna see the guy when he comes to Caltech next month.




Going to get a dose of propaganda from your master? I bet if you begged him long enough he would let you suck his c***.

[Cain]

Going to get a dose of propaganda from your master?

Tony- feel free as always to support your claims. Cite some of this "propaganda", please. I'm particularly interested in anything from his book. There are plenty of well-known websites that have taken Coulter to task for a number of errors in her self-mocking screed Slander.

I bet if you begged him long enough he would let you suck his c***.

Now, now, don't get my hopes up like that.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Cain


Tony- feel free as always to support your claims. Cite some of this "propaganda", please. I'm particularly interested in anything from his book. There are plenty of well-known websites that have taken Coulter to task for a number of errors in her self-mocking screed Slander.


He is like every other partisan demagogue. You just like him because he tells you what you want to hear. That's ok, that's why people like Coulter, not me though, I cant stand the woman.


Now, now, don't get my hopes up like that.

I apologize. :p

[pgwenthold]

One thing that Al Franken has in common with Ann Coulter: The right-wing talk show hosts are doing a great job publicizing him!

Of course, the difference is that for Franken they are doing it unwittingly.

[Upchurch]

Al Franken is something of a left-wing/Democrat/whatever propagandizer. However, most of what he writes is a response to right-wing/Republican/whatever propaganda.

I've not read either of his books, but the excerpt I've heard and read focuses more with other commentators such as O'Reilly, Coulter, Hannity, and Limbough than on the right-wing/Republicans/whatever themselves.

The part I find interesting about that subtle difference is that Franken works off of what these commentators have actually said, unlike Coulter who, much like Franko, builds a straw man of her perceived enemy and then tears it down rather than addressing actual positions in context.

[hammegk]

Good thing I'm not skeptically cynical, or I would mention the last time I saw this script on tv it was the "rasslin" hoohah between Andy Kaufmann & Jerry Lawler. Remember the Letterman "interview"?

I.E. What % of Franken's book sales royalties are paid to Fox, or OReilly (etc) for the help? Do you suppose Bill & Al hurt themselves laughing when they meet privately?

[Cain]

He is like every other partisan demagogue. You just like him because he tells you what you want to hear. That's ok, that's why people like Coulter, not me though, I cant stand the woman.

Thanks for that, Tony. When most people are dared to say something stupid they're wise enough to shut up. But on the other hand. Wow, it never ceases to amaze. Didn't I earlier use the phrase "Operative for the Democratic Party"? And how many times have I voted for a Democrat in my life? The answer is exactly zero.

Now, I wanted you to cite a bit of that propaganda. An easily refuted non-truth passed off as fact in Franken's book. Go ahead. Expose the lies and propaganda. Give me a link (the most critical reviews I've seen have appeared on Spinsanity and National Review. Both contentless.) Coulter's book by comparison contains errors on every other page. In order for this whole "Coulter of the Left" bullsh*t to pass you're gonna have to demonstrate a propensity to lie on Franken's part that is at proportional to Coulter. What outrageous comments has the satirist made? Anything on the level of "invading their countries and converting them to Christianity"? Anything about the need to "physically intimidate" conservatives?

If you can't -- and you probably can't then kindly shut up.

As it stands, you're probably the Ann Coulter of this board.

[Sundog]

Originally posted by Tony



I bet if you begged him long enough he would let you suck his c***.

Tell me, why do you think you should be the only person on the board allowed to post things like this? Name one other person who sinks to this level.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Cain



Now, I wanted you to cite a bit of that propaganda. An easily refuted non-truth passed off as fact in Franken's book.


You make 2 blatantly incorrect assumptions. 1) You dont even know what propaganda is. Your definition is too narrow (bordering on completely false). Propaganda isn’t lies or non-truths (but it could be). Propaganda is information used to promote an idea, cause, or person that could consist of lies, half-truths, or truth. Your second incorrect assumption is that propaganda is always a bad thing, this doesn’t surprise me considering the propaganda you have heard about propaganda (isnt it ironic?).

prop·a·gan·da ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prp-gnd)
n.
1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

2. Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.

3. Propaganda Roman Catholic Church. A division of the Roman Curia that has authority in the matter of preaching the gospel, of establishing the Church in non-Christian countries, and of administering Church missions in territories where there is no properly organized hierarchy.

Main Entry: pro·pa·gan·da
Pronunciation: "prä-p&-'gan-d&, "prO-
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV died 1623
Date: 1718
1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions
2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect


Now about Franken, he most definitely does engage in propaganda. He promotes "liberal" ideas, I’m not to familiar with the nuances of his work, so I don’t know whether or not he lies, and I never made that claim.


The reason I compared him to Ann Coulter is not because I think he lies (I don’t know), but he is comparable to her in his venomous and one-sided attacks, maybe worse.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Sundog


Tell me, why do you think you should be the only person on the board allowed to post things like this?


I don't think that, everyone should be able to make posts like that. Don’t fret, it was made in good fun and Cain blew (no pun intended) it off rather humorously.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Tricky

Al Franken calls himself a satirist. Ann Coulter imagines herself a serious columnist.



Good point.

[Count Floyd]

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Originally posted by Crossbow
I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed in Al when he said that right after 9/11 he was glad that Bush, and not Gore, won the election because he thought that Bush could do a better job of handling the war.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


He did say he was briefly glad that Bush was president after 9/11 but it wasn't because he thought he could do a better job of handling the war--it was because he felt that the conservative media (O'Reilly/Limbaugh/etc.) would not have stood behind Gore the same way they stood behind Bush, and there would have been some ugly bickering and second-guessing at a time when the country needed solidarity more than anything else. Franken then followed that up by stating that the worst thing Bush did as President was squander that unique moment of goodwill and solidarity.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Count Floyd

He did say he was briefly glad that Bush was president after 9/11 but it wasn't because he thought he could do a better job of handling the war--it was because he felt that the conservative media (O'Reilly/Limbaugh/etc.) would not have stood behind Gore the same way they stood behind Bush, and there would have been some ugly bickering and second-guessing at a time when the country needed solidarity more than anything else. Franken then followed that up by stating that the worst thing Bush did as President was squander that unique moment of goodwill and solidarity.
Excellent observation, Count. And welcome to the boards, from another old SCTV fan.

[Sundog]

Originally posted by Tricky

Excellent observation, Count. And welcome to the boards, from another old SCTV fan.

Likewise, from someone who's downloading several SCTVs as we speak.

[Cain]

You make 2 blatantly incorrect assumptions. 1) You dont even know what propaganda is. Your definition is too narrow (bordering on completely false). Propaganda isn’t lies or non-truths (but it could be). Propaganda is information used to promote an idea, cause, or person that could consist of lies, half-truths, or truth.

The second part of your preferred definitino isn't even supported by the dictionary entry posted. Anyway, you might have a case if the two sentence you quote were written as one and joined by a hyphen. You compared Al Farnken to Ann Coulter, a notorious propagandist who does not simply advocate one side, but does so by lying. Lying is, um, the operative word. Witness the title of Franken's book: _Lies (and the lying liars who tell them)_.

Oh, but let's see that second incorrect assumption...

Your second incorrect assumption is that propaganda is always a bad thing, this doesn’t surprise me considering the propaganda you have heard about propaganda (isnt it ironic?).

F*cking bullsh*t. Context is everything. Are you suggesting that when you called Al Franken a propagandist it did not have a negative connotation? Though the dictionary may not capture popular impressions, propaganda has taken on a negative connotation (mostly because of Hitler). Granted, in older texts, pre-dating Nazi Germany, propaganda was often a more neutral term.

I found the final paragraph fitting:

The reason I compared him to Ann Coulter is not because I think he lies (I don’t know), but he is comparable to her in his venomous and one-sided attacks, maybe worse.

Ah, yes, the "nuances" of a notorious propagandist. Plus you know next to nothing about what Franken has actually written. That's great. Just great.

[StuBob]

I've found Al Franken to be very funny ever since he did the political convention coverage for the Comedy Channel (only mildly amusing on SNL before that).

Anyway, I don't find his latest book "Lies..." amusing at all. It is downright depressing. IF what he is printing is true (except of course for the obvious satire portions), and that'll take a bit of research to determine, then I can certainly understand his maniacal hatred of some of the right wingers.

[peptoabysmal]

Anyone catch Al Franken on STL's NPR?



I had no idea it was contagious! :eek: