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You are here: Home / Franken

Franken

by John Cole|  August 29, 20039:03 pm| 42 Comments

This post is in: General Stupidity

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Henry Hanks rips into Al Franken, and it isn’t pretty.

BTW- How long before someone on the left notes that Franken is being attacked by the VRWC, and they use that as proof that Franken is ‘scaring the right and they see him as a threat.’ Be the first to find this meme, which will no doubt surface.

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42Comments

  1. 1.

    M. Scott Eiland

    August 29, 2003 at 10:34 pm

    Carrot Top isn’t much of a threat, and I’d still like to see him tossed into a steel cage match with Mike Tyson–preferably after forcing him to taunt Tyson for an hour or so.

    Of course, these days that match might be pick ’em.

  2. 2.

    barney gumble

    August 30, 2003 at 12:21 am

    Right, I’m looking forward to all the “lies” in Franken’s book.

    Haven’t heard a peep, so far.

    Remember how “Bowling for Columbine” was full of lies? It’s been out on DVD 2 weeks now, and suddenly you don’t hear about the “lies” any more.

    At least any place I’ve read. If any one has fresh evidence, I’d like to know about it.

  3. 3.

    Imam Psycho Muhammed

    August 30, 2003 at 12:49 am

    Jesus, “Bowling for Columbine” has been out on DVD for two weeks. I hadn’t heard. Gotta start marking my calendar for these earth shattering events, such as when Franken’s crap goes to paperback.

    Barney you are a sheep.

  4. 4.

    AnswertheQuestion

    August 30, 2003 at 9:00 am

    “Remember how “Bowling for Columbine” was full of lies? It’s been out on DVD 2 weeks now, and suddenly you don’t hear about the “lies” any more.”

    It still is full of lies Barney. What else is there to say about it? So it’s out on DVD? It’s just as full of the same BS as it was when it originally came out.

    Fresh evidence?

  5. 5.

    M. Scott Eiland

    August 30, 2003 at 12:13 pm

    “At least any place I’ve read. If any one has fresh evidence, I’d like to know about it.”

    Well, now we know why the moonbat left has been busily republishing “The Protocols of The Elders of Zion” for fun and profit–they figure that if no one has mentioned again in the last five minutes that the whole thing is a pack of lies, it must be true.

    Maybe there’s a director’s (or, more likely, a NON-director’s) cut of BFC with the lies taken out, perfect for watching while you’re waiting for your hot dog to finish cooking in the microwave.*

    *humorous exaggeration

  6. 6.

    Kimmitt

    August 30, 2003 at 1:53 pm

    At any rate, I’m still looking forward to information regarding inaccuracies in Mr. Franken’s work.

  7. 7.

    Ted Barlow

    August 30, 2003 at 4:21 pm

    My favorite part is that Henry thinks that it shows bias that Today only had on Ann Coulter once. And they weren’t friendly to her? Why is that? Must be bias!

    … of course, she had just written a book that called Katie Couric the “affable Eva Braun” of morning television. And Ann had lied about a quote from Katie Couric. And they invited her on the show to plug her book anyway.

    But rather than appreciating the Today show for their admirable openness in inviting her at all, after she had compared their star to a Nazi and lied about her, Henry thinks that she should have been invited more often.

    What a crock of shit.

    My second favorite part is how Henry says, well, I didn’t find this excerpt funny. As if that proves a goddamn thing. You know, I think James Lileks book of Regrettable Food is a absolute riot. I find James Lileks making fun of liberals far less of a riot. That’s my problem; Lileks didn’t suddenly get less funny. I’ll bet that Henry has laughed at quite a few of Al Franken’s SNL skits, but he can’t be expected to laugh at criticism of conservatives. Fair enough. But it’s Henry’s problem, not Franken’s.

    Seriously, when you guys find errors in the book, post them. Until then, I’m not impressed. It just sounds like typical partisan “search and destroy” of every single public figure on the other side. Wait until you have, you know, a reason.

    (And yes, liberals do it too. Doesn’t make it less shrill, or more impressive.)

  8. 8.

    Calvin

    August 31, 2003 at 12:06 am

    Franken is way too dry and couldn’t deliver a line if his life depended on it – stand him up next to Al Gore and the contrast would make Gore look like a Kindergartener with ADD.

    The Left is accustomed to Michael Moore’s carefully crafted, exaggerated style. Franken also lacks the whole “look how stupid they are because they can’t see through his obesity/baseball cap disguise” superiority that Moore sells so well.

    If the title is any indication, Franken’s book will plonk hard as far as ‘zingers’ go – let me guess the punchline: “Bush lies”? He will sell a freaking boatload of books to those that soak up partisan bullshittery, sight unseen. I want to hear some reviews and excerpts that aren’t yawn inducing before I slap down $18 for it.

    And, yes, Coulter’s writing is likely to be crap (haven’t read any). Goldberg’s book read like an e-mail from a fired employee’s account after IT forgot to kill it. I wouldn’t read Limbaugh if it was the only book I had on a 6 hour layover at Narita.

    Why the fuss, anyway? Everyone knows that the best political humor lives on blogs and it’s (almost) free.

  9. 9.

    Barney Gumble

    August 31, 2003 at 12:51 pm

    But you were all sooooo suuuure that the bank scene was fake…or that he said Heston had that rally in Columbine right after the shootings..because the blast fax said so…

    Now that everyone has their own opportunity to single frame through the whole movie looking for this if they so desire,

    suddenly, not a peep out of them.

    not even moorewatch.com…

  10. 10.

    Matthew

    August 31, 2003 at 1:33 pm

    I’m not sure there are a lot of “lies” in Franken’s book, anymore than there were “lies” in Coulter’s book. Coulter is a screaming right-wing witch and in her mind she’s not lying when she calls liberals “traitors.” Likewise, the over the top characterizations we expect to see pulled from Franken’s tract, are of the similiar, normative, my opponents-are-evil variety.

    Be that as it may, there are lies associated with Franken’s book, specifically in terms of its production. I’m a little perplexed why no liberals seem troubled that Franken used a Harvard JOURNALISM fellowship to produce the book.

  11. 11.

    M. Scott Eiland

    August 31, 2003 at 1:35 pm

    “But you were all sooooo suuuure that the bank scene was fake…or that he said Heston had that rally in Columbine right after the shootings..because the blast fax said so…

    Now that everyone has their own opportunity to single frame through the whole movie looking for this if they so desire,

    suddenly, not a peep out of them.

    not even moorewatch.com…”

    Barney, unless the VHS or DVD version has new scenes, there’s nothing new to bring up, and the external evidence proving Moore a liar is still the same. He lied. Deal with it.

  12. 12.

    Robin Roberts

    August 31, 2003 at 3:17 pm

    Barney, “Bowling for Columbine” is still full of lies. Your bizarre opinion that because a DVD version has been published, that all the lies disappeared is among the strangest of your many strange behaviors.

  13. 13.

    Imam Psycho Muhammed

    August 31, 2003 at 6:08 pm

    Ted,

    Won’t be able to tell you the lies in Franken’s book ’cause I won’t be buying Franken’s book. So I’ll just take your honest unbiased assessment of the lies he tells in his book after you fork over your money. Enjoy.

    “Thank God for the autonomic nervous system because some people are too stupid to remember to breathe.”
    -James Lileks

  14. 14.

    Tom McMahon

    August 31, 2003 at 7:23 pm

    Al Franken is our generation’s Shecky Greene.

  15. 15.

    JKC

    August 31, 2003 at 8:09 pm

    This thread is the best laugh I’ve had all day.

    All you guys are doing is proving Franken’s point that the far Right can dish out abuse, but then cowers in the corner and cries “Mommy, make him stop!” when a little bit of it comes back their way.

    Let’s see here… HH doesn’t think Franken’s funny. Fair enough. I guess his sense of humor runs more towards sophisticates such as Rush Limbaugh, who called a then 12 year old Chelsea Clinton “the First Dog.” And perhaps he prefers the inciteful, reasoned commentary of Ann “kill their leaders and convert them all to Christianity” Coulter. To each his own, I guess.

  16. 16.

    Imam Psycho Muhammed

    September 1, 2003 at 1:18 am

    And we all know what a laugh riot Shecky Greene was. Whew.

    JKC,

    Are you feeling abused by the far right? Personally I don’t mind criticism but I won’t stand for abuse. And Franken is an insultingly abusive asshole. And how in the hell do you know what HH thinks is funny. Are you clairvoyant or just a pretentious jerk?

    Franken’s a parasite, he used Limbaugh to sell his first book and he’s using Fox News to sell his second. What a loser.

    And if people like Franken and Garafalo are the best the left can do in this country ya’ll are royally screwed. Good luck, yer gonna need it.

    And with those buck teeth ‘ol Al could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich through a keyhole. Bwahahahahahahahahaha

  17. 17.

    JKC

    September 1, 2003 at 8:26 am

    Well, you certainly are aa believer in Truth in Advertising, Psycho.

    No, I’m not threatened by you far-right loonies. Frankly, you’re a bigger threat to thoughtful conservatives like John Cole, or Senator McCain.

    You think Franken’s abusive? Well boo hoo hoo, Psycho. You WILL stand for it, ’cause it’s a free country and Al Franken has as much right to make fun of your sorry, pudgy face as Ann Coulter does to call all liberals traitors.

    After you’ve cried on Mommy’s shoulder for a while, you might want to consider getting over it.

  18. 18.

    allison

    September 1, 2003 at 1:17 pm

    A friend of mine is stuck in the hospital for two weeks. He is a Democrat who likes humor. Another friend gave him Mr. Frankens book. On my last visit I asked how he liked it. He showed me how far he had read it. About a quarter of an inch in. The problem, he said, is that it just isn’t funny.

  19. 19.

    Imam Psycho Muhammed

    September 1, 2003 at 5:05 pm

    But JKC all liberals are traitors. And man you sure are shrill, are ya panties too tight?

  20. 20.

    Kimmitt

    September 1, 2003 at 6:56 pm

    Unless the book contains some kind of factual errors, why would I be concerned that journalism students were involved in its creation? The book is at least something quite akin to journalism, and I’m certain that the students gained a lot out of working on it.

  21. 21.

    Barney Gumble

    September 1, 2003 at 10:38 pm

    Ha ha, called JKC “shrill” and “traitor”. Call him “strident” and lucky him, he’ll hit the trifecta.

  22. 22.

    Imam Psycho Muhammed

    September 1, 2003 at 10:49 pm

    Barn,

    “Ha ha, called JKC “shrill” and “traitor”. Call him “strident” and lucky him, he’ll hit the trifecta.”

    I have no idea what that means. I didn’t call KFC a traitor, I called all liberals traitors. Man sarcasm sure is hard on a leftist. Well I was brought up to be patient with the feeble minded. I’ll write slower next time so you can understand. Bwaahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

  23. 23.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 1:46 am

    Again people, they’re called links. Click them. Franken is a liar and distorter, he makes stuff up. End of story.

    There is no “admirable openness” on the part of the Today Show, she was invited to be hammered by Couric because the Today Show wanted to defend themselves. They failed… have you seen her on there promoting Treason? Franken and Brock got the red carpet treatment.

  24. 24.

    JKC

    September 2, 2003 at 7:01 am

    Quoth Henry: “Franken is a liar and distorter, he makes stuff up.”

    That, of course, is in contrast to the careful research and measured tones of Ms. Coulter.

    Boo hoo hoo, Henry.

    Look, I don’t think Franken’s the funniest guy in the universe, either. Frankly, I think P.J. O’Rourke’s much funnier, even though I disagree with his politics.

    My point is that guys like Henry have laughed in glee when Rush, Coulter, and O’Reilly lay into the left with flamethrower rhetoric and little use for truth or civility. Let it happen to THEM, though, and it’s boo hoo hoo- Franken fibbed about me, call my lawyer, mommy, “fair and balanced” is trademarked.

    Suace for the goose, guys.

  25. 25.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 8:32 am

    You were saying, gumble?

    JKC – Sauce for the goose? More like “ignore Franken, what about these people?” I never called Coulter “careful and measured,” nor have I claimed Limbaugh and O’Reilly get it all right. However a good many of the criticisms of Slander were unfounded.

  26. 26.

    RW

    September 2, 2003 at 9:14 am

    If nothing else, the dishonest “memorial for New York” pap used to excuse the booing of Republican pols at Wellston’s memorial-turned-pep rally was one of the lamest lies I’ve seen, yet.

    Which, of course, could explain why it was among the more oft-cited talking points for the left when it came about.

    It’s about dishonest, JKC, not changing the subject (goodness, do you guys tire of the knee-jerk “but what about the Republicans” theme?).

  27. 27.

    JKC

    September 2, 2003 at 9:22 am

    Guys: if you don’t like Franken’s book, don’t buy it. Don’t read it. And for God’s sake, stop talking about it.

    I’m moving on.

  28. 28.

    Robin Roberts

    September 2, 2003 at 9:48 am

    Thanks Henry, for posting the Spinsanity link about the interesting changes Moore made to the DVD of Bowling for Columbine.

    Odd JKC, your “moving on” is so selective.

  29. 29.

    billhedrick

    September 2, 2003 at 12:49 pm

    I have to agree with JKC, we need to move on. I think the only thing since Nov. 2000 we should continue to obsess on is 911 since the war is still not done.

  30. 30.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 1:03 pm

    Who is “obsessing” over this? The guy’s book’s been out barely a week and he’s all over the place promoting it. Suddenly, one critique is “obsesssion.” Now you see why the “you’re obsessed with Clinton!” stuff falls on deaf ears.

  31. 31.

    Kimmitt

    September 2, 2003 at 5:07 pm

    So, from what I can see, the best thing Mr. Hanks has on Al Franken is that he played a prank on John Ashcroft and some other conservative leaders. This is lying how, precisely? It’s a goddamn prank! There is no intent to mislead the public; he’s playing a practical joke; next we’ll hear about how since Franken kept his cousin in the dark about his surprise birthday party, he’s a chronic dissembler.

  32. 32.

    MonkeyPants

    September 2, 2003 at 6:52 pm

    My goodness, a gumble infestation.

    Smells like…..troll.

    MonkeyPants
    Imperial Falconer

  33. 33.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 7:28 pm

    Kimmitt – You do know what links are right?

  34. 34.

    Kimmitt

    September 2, 2003 at 7:54 pm

    Yes. I read your links, and then I responded to their lack of import. I couldn’t even parse the screed that referred to the Wellstone memorial; I assume that it was constructed using a textbot of some sort. The rest of your links were about the Ashcroft prank. I was and remain unimpressed by the attempted smear job.

  35. 35.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 8:25 pm

    Clearly you did not read the links as they noted several distortions and at least two total fibs by Franken, mostly having to deal with his attacks on “Bias.”

    His willingness to use Harvard stationery, for example, to lie to the Attorney General of the U.S. as a “prank” doesn’t say much for his credibility either, believe it or not.

  36. 36.

    HH

    September 2, 2003 at 8:29 pm

    Addressing a point brought up earlier, obviously the question is not “why wasn’t Coulter on twice” but “why was Franken on twice?.” D-uh.

  37. 37.

    Barney Gumble

    September 2, 2003 at 8:36 pm

    HH: Thanks for pointing to the spinsanity update, right off the bat I wonder why the column is by brendon instead of ben, and he won’t give the complete quote of the plaque. Will take a little more researching than I can do this minute…I’m suspicious about the claim that the DVD was changed..there are hundreds of prints of the movie out there…

  38. 38.

    Kimmitt

    September 3, 2003 at 1:03 am

    I discounted the attacks on “Bias,” as they were shrill whining, rather than the presentation of fact. Or, more to the point, they presented the fact that the page was shrill and full of whining but had little to do with Al Franking.

  39. 39.

    HH

    September 3, 2003 at 11:57 am

    So basically Kimmitt dismisses the fact that Franken lied about what the history of the Soviet Union to attack Goldberg, made up out of whole cloth other claims about Goldberg, etc. because they are just “shrill whining.”

  40. 40.

    David Perron

    September 4, 2003 at 8:34 am

    He was just availing himself of his franken privelege, I guess.

  41. 41.

    Kimmitt

    September 5, 2003 at 5:42 pm

    I finally managed to get through the transcript — Franken is accusing Goldberg of taking a quote out of context, and Goldberg is saying that he didn’t. So Franken provides some context, but there isn’t a lot of time to go into everything, so things sort of get called on account of lack of LEXIS-NEXUS.

    If you want to see Franken as a dissembler, you go ahead, but the examples you provide are simply unpersuasive to anyone who doesn’t really want to agree with you.

  42. 42.

    jm

    November 1, 2003 at 4:02 pm

    “Rush Limbaugh, who called a then 12 year old Chelsea Clinton “the First Dog.”

    Didnt happen.

    Transcript from lexis nexis:

    Copyright 1992 Multimedia Entertainment, Inc.
    RUSH LIMBAUGH
    SHOW: RUSH LIMBAUGH (9:00 PM ET)
    November 6, 1992, Friday 11:15 AM

    LIMBAUGH: Thank you. This show’s era of dominant influence is just beginning. We are now the sole voice of sanity, the sole voice of reason. We are the sole voice of opposition on all television. This is the only place you can tune to to get the truth of the opposition of the one-party dictatorial government that now will soon run America. Oh, I mean, we are only beginning to enjoy dominance and prosperity. Most of these things on the in-out list are not even funny, but a couple of them–one of them in particular is.

    David Hinckley of–of the New York Daily News wrote this, and what he has–he’s got–it’s very strange. He says, In: A cute kid in the White House. Out: Cute dog in the White House.’ Could–could we see the cute kid? Let’s take a look at- -see who is the cute kid in the White House.

    (A picture is shown of Millie the dog)

    LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) No, no, no. That’s not the kid.

    (Picture shown of Chelsea Clinton)

    LIMBAUGH: (Voiceover) That’s–that’s the kid. We’re trying to…

    _________________________

    Yes, it was a mistake, and yes, he profusely apologized.

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