I'm giving up on The Al Franken Show.

[Gothic Sponge]

I like his show, but i don't love it like Malloy, Randi, and The Majority Report. Most of Franken's show is just him refuting the right-wing radio idiots. Franken needs to stop wasting time on defense and start doing more offense! Maybe i'll check out his TV show when it starts, but i'm not going to be a regular listener anymore.

[Mika]

1. Al's show is the best thing to come into my office afternoons..

.. since air conditioning.


Al is a real mench.

[Lex]

28. I feel the same way! n/t

[LittleApple81]

2. His interviews are very good though. n/t

[nostamj]

3. uh, the TV show

is going to be the radio show... like Imus does.

[Gothic Sponge]

4. Yes

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20040803/en_nm/leisure_franken_dc

[krkaufman]

43. *Read* the article

Starting Sept. 7, Sundance will package the best of Franken's three-hour weekday radio program into a one-hour telecast of highlights that will air at 11:30 p.m. the same night, with repeats at 2:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. the next morning.

So it'll just be edited "best of..." excerpts of that day's radio broadcast, and so won't be live, either.

[seventhson]

5. Thanks for all of the positive support and criticism (sarcasm off)

WTF, goth? WTF do we care if you do not listen to someone trying to refute the right wing?

Why drag down one of our major advocates in the media?

Franken may not be everybody's cup o'joe but he is a warrior in our battle for freedom.

pissing on him like this just makes you look like a (used) gothic sponge

[Gothic Sponge]

6. Because i'm a Freeper....?

;)

I like Franken, but i wish he would stop always doing defense! You don't win a fight by defending yourself. You win by attacking! Listen to Malloy to see how it should be done. He should stop having that ditto head on his show and start breaking some heads!

[seventhson]

9. I didn't say THAT, but...

critique can be positive or sone in a positive way.

Saying you are giving up on Franken is counterproductive.

If he is not your cup of tea then change, but it looked like you are drhim down in publicich I think is dangerous (reinforces the right wing memes, etc.)

I think Malloy preaches to the choir and this is not always productive. I do NOT like hate speech either, from left or right. Hate is counterproductive in this battle.

Hate hurts us.

Franken on the other hand is appealing to moderates who need to be educated. Neither Malloy nr Randi can do that.

[checks-n-balances]

7. Shouldn't this be moved from the GD board to the LBN board?

Since it's so helpful to our cause and all...

[Billy Burnett]

8. Turn on Rush then

You can listen to all of the 'offense' you want.

[Must_B_Free]

10. Alert! Alert! Groupthink violator!

he must be ejected for his dangerous opinion! Noone must be allowed to deviate from the groupthink!

[seventhson]

11. Bullarky!

(Bullshit and Malarky as my father's friend used to say in front of the kids)

Attacking Franken hurts the cause. Calling this out is not calling for ejection but reflection.

[Gothic Sponge]

13. You're right.

How silly of me to be critical of Franken! Why i must have set "the cause" back 20 years with my remarks! Next time i'll try and be a better soldier and walk in lockstep with all things Franken.

[seventhson]

15. Well....

You CAN see the freeper headlines:

"DUers giving up on AL Franken (he's nnoit offensive enough)" see Gothic Sponge's post (with link)

I get your point but think it could hve been made a little molomatically and without the sensationalism.

BUT - you got responses (which I barely ever do anymore)

[Gothic Sponge]

18. I understand your point.

Don't get me wrong, i like Franken! He is very entertaining! I love "The Queen's Drum Solo" Hehe! I just wish he would pull back on always trying to show the lies of the right. We know they lie!

An analogy my friend said about Franken: "The Right-Wing radio hosts are like Rock Stars in a hotel. They smash everything up! Everyday, Franken tries to clean up the mess they made. Franken needs to start smashing up the room on them."

Not the best analogy, but you get the point.

[dsc]

23. We know they lie

but lots of people don't. His purpose isn't to preach to the liberal choir but to instead sing to the general public. Those lies need refuted as often as possible.

[seventhson]

53. Sorry -

I meant "more diplomatically"

[seventhson]

54. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&foru

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2213619&mesg_id=2213800

[krkaufman]

44. Just an opinion

Hey, it was just one person's opinion. And obscure, at that.

AAR has a wide range of personalities and show formats, and every one will not appeal to every listener. It's called diversity.

Personally, I can take Randi and Malloy in only small amounts (low vitriol threshold), but also get discouraged w/ Al's passive, methodical approach -- and feel the Dittohead segment would be better served by finding Dittoheads that have been converted, through Franken's show or otherwise, rather than wasting time trying to convert the inconvertible. I *do* see value in refuting the right wing media spin, though.

Just an opinion....

[jdj]

45. Franken on radio bores the hell out of me.

So I don't listen. He'd do well to actually watch and listen to some pros like Randi and Malloy and Lanpher and tailor his style, instead he goes with his on camera persona, which only works because on visual he is so funny.

[Trajan]

12. Im giving up on Sprite ...

I like Sprite, but I dont love it like Coke, Pepsi, or Dad's Root Beer. Most of the time Sprite just sits on my tongue, kinda buzzing and feeling bubbly, and complaining about how the bubbles dont bubble like they used to. Sprite needs to add a dash of color. yeah ... some caramel coloring would be nice ....

Blah Blah Blah ....

Sprite ... coke ..... what's the difference ? ...

I am not going to be a regular sprite drinker anymore ....

Not until it is properly colored exactly how I like ....

[StClone]

14. I think he does both and more

Al is building an Offense by taking apart Rush.

If Rush is continually shown to be a liar, (and the Right's attempt is to paint anyone with truth/facts to be liars) or worst wrong, why would the populace and even Dittowankers listen other than for a laugh?

Anyway if all the other shows as you claim are doing Offense what is wrong with one doing defense? Besides, he will attack when needed and his show is great entertainment.

[Dr Fate]

16. You wont even tune in on Pirate day?

I have not listened in a week or so 'cause I've been busy- but I love it.

[blondeatlast]

17. Katharine oughtta have her own show--not that I don't like Al,

but she's a real radio pro and it shows.

[Selwynn]

19. To each his own. I'm glad AAR doesn't just have what YOU want

I'm glad it has a diversity of programming so that there is something for everyone. I happen to like the show. :)

[LittleApple81]

20. Thanks for that. My opinion exactly. n/t

[Geo55]

22. Zackly....

Malloy is STRONG medicine....put him on at 12 noon and you're gonna put moderate curious listeners off.
Franken goes down easier and draws out the right on things...
while Malloy boils the blood and sends ya marchin'

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. I'm THRILLED that we on the left

FINALLY have SOMEONE to call Limpballs on the BULLSHIT he spews! He's been spewing his crap for YEARS, going UNANSWERED. How do think think we've ended up with a nation full of mindless dittoheads? LIMPBALL'S and his RW radio cohorts are THE reason.

I worship the ground Al Franken walks on....but, that's just me. ;)

:hi:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. I think Franken's whole point is, that RW Dem bashing has previously

gone on without anyone (certainly in the "mainstream" media) addressing the falsehood and misrepresentation. It's either ignored, or, worse, echoed in the "big media". So he sees this as a necessary service.

Since he's just starting out in radio, perhaps he finds it easier to have ready made material from O'Lielly and Rush. As he finds his "sea legs" maybe he'll start to do both offense and defense.

[Fluffdaddy]

30. Word to your mother

It's been a long time coming but now the truth can be heard and that's why the Right hates him.............Thanks Al Franken.

[DancingBear]

25. It's all part of the plan, G_S

AAR is designed, I would guess, to perform two functions:

1) To preach to the choir, i.e. provide a forum for the left, and

2) To educate those whose sole radio venue for information has been Limbaugh, Hannity, et al.

Imagine now if you've been able to convince one of those "moderate Republicans" that many of us (older folks) seem to know to give AAR a chance. You've told them how good it is in debunking the myths of the right, and your friend begrudgingly gives it a listen.

He turns on Franken, and hears Conason, or Sen. Byrd, or David Brock, refuting the right wing with facts. Coll, calm, collectively tearing the lies apart, one by one.

He turns on Malloy, and listens to the mother of all ranters yelling at the Bush crime family.

In this example, which host "wins?" You must conclude that Franken does, as that moderate Repub might concede a point or two along the way, and THAT, my friend, is how you bring this particular type around.

While I love Randi, and really like Mike, there are times and places for all things. What Franken does is invaluable, what Randi does is invaluable, what Malloy does is invaluable. We're building now what the Repugs have had for years (check out their compassionate conservatism message if you don't believe), but we're doing it in a different way. We're doing it honestly.

Let 'em all in to the tent, G_S, even if they don't throw enough vinegar for your taste. Sometimes honey works too.

[annabanana]

29. If we hit the sheeple with everything we've learned........all at once....

THEY'D NEVER BELIEVE IT! My parents still think that the Republicans are the same as they were duuring the Eisenhower administration. How can they understand what's happened if they think all our spokesmen are off the deep end? They would never believe any PNAC info without the background.

[nolajazz]

46. Well said. Exactly what I want to say!

[WillyT]

52. Well Said D_B !!!

Right on point!!!

:hi:

[Eric J in MN]

26. During the segment where Al Franken talks to someone

from the Center for American Progress, like David Sirota, he isn't just refuting a rightwing pundit.

[King Coal]

27. Gothic, if Al wasn't refuting the liars, would you bitch about that?

[Cat Atomic]

31. Franken's show is my favorite, personally. But I can see why you

wouldn't like it if you like Randi Rhodes. They're night and day. I don't care for Rhodes at all but I love Franken. Different strokes and all that.

[Strelnikov_]

37. Agreed, I Prefer Franken's Style Of Show Over

the AM rant radio format. I would like to 'see' a show modeled after NPR's 'Talk Of The Nation', only with a liberal 'edge' and some comic relief for entertainment.

AAR's goal is to sway opinion by educating, and I think you can better educate through an O'Franken/TOTN model.

[Hun Joro]

32. I love Al's show

I also like all the others on AAR (although I've not yet heard Morning Sedition, not being enough of a morning person), but I can see how Randi and Malloy might come on a little too strong to appeal to some people. Al Franken seems to be a truly gentle soul, who is respectful and fair to everyone, and I love him for that. I think it's great how there are many styles and approaches on AAR, and hopefully something for (almost) everyone.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

34. I like Franken's style. He is the Anti-O'Reilly. O'Reilly etc. can foam

at the mouth and spray spittle in his direction and he will calmly destroy them humorously, with their own words most of the time. Ultimately this is a good way to go I think.

[devinsgram]

33. Mike and Randi rule.

Now they have passion.

[eleny]

35. Go piss on someone else's parade

It took a lot of effort and sacrifice to get the network up and going. Franken was a major part of that hard work. I like that he points out the daily lies of the right wing. He's balanced by the other hosts who go for the jugular and he has fantastic guests. Hmm... looks to me like AAR has something for everyone on the left.

[Comicstripper]

36. Al's Alright

Very funny, very bright...
My problem is, he is capitalizing on his feud with O'Riley. That's fine, but... "The O'Franken Factor"? Come on. That's just dumb...

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. He named his show "The O'Franken Factor"...ADMITTEDLY...

to piss off O'LIELEY and was trying to get him and Faux News to sue him again. :) It didn't work and Al has since named the show..."The Al Franken Show." :hi:

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ibegurpard]

39. apparently, from your command of grammar, neither can you.

:eyes:

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. Uh oh....Free Republic

is missing another idiot. :eyes: You could have at least TRIED to pretend to be a Democrat/Progressive. :eyes:

[Downtown Hound]

42. I like the way Franken refutes all the right wing whack jobs

That's why I listen to him. You got Al who does this, Randi who goes on the attack with all the facts, and Malloy who seems to sum up everything you've been feeling in a hilarious and insightful way. It makes for a nice spread. But hey, if it's not your cup of tea, that's cool.

[otohara]

47. Here, Here - we finally, finally have a voice

- I don't like that Katherine woman much who sits with Franken - I hate the way she just cuts people off.

[rman]

48. well, that's very interesting.

not

[NightTrain]

49. I like Franken's show, but...

...I think he's a lot funnier in print than he is on the radio.

I frequently laughed out loud while reading both RUSH LIMBASUGH IS A BIG FAT IDIOT and LIES & THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM. But I hardly do more than crack a smile during his show, particularly during those unfunny bits he produces for it.

On the plus side, Franken does manage to book some great guests! :thumbsup:

[TrustingDog]

50. and you were the one who is so pissed off at Kerry, re Iraq war support

thang.....

I smell something.....

[mzmolly]

51. I LOVE his informative show.

:hi: Sorry you feel differently.

[Protected]

55. Overall I like Al's show

Sometimes he mumbles or drones on a bit too much, but overall I find him to be pretty entertaining. Most of his comic bits seem to have a hit or miss quality to them where they're either very funny or painful to listen to. I'd say there's probably a 50/50 hit to miss ratio right now with his comedy, which is understandable since I doubt he has a team of writers working for him.

What happened to Mark Luther, Al's dittohead friend? I missed a few shows and then I heard a show earlier this week where Al seemed to be acting like he was never coming back.