Al Franken to take a break from AAR (Update)

Let me say this upfront, it isn't official as far as AAR is concerned folks. Al Franken or AAR has not confirmed that December 8th is his last day. Brian Maloney's Radio Equalizer is reporting this and if anyone knows Maloney his mission is to see Air America run into the ground. I despise the guy, immensely. Yet he is perhaps the best reporter on all things Air America because of his mysterious tentacles inside Air America.

I am blogging this on dKos because when Maloney says something about AAR he is almost always right on target. I know this because when I worked there if we wanted to know something about our company we checked his site.

Supposedly management did an all out search and overhauled our security system to keep hackers and spies out, but to no avail. I saw the guy at a radio convention in June and felt the urge to pin him down and drag the truth about who he knows from his throat...but that would have been criminal and chose to keep my record clean.

Anyways, this is from his post (If you want to read his site look it up, I cannot in good faith help give him hits from dKos):

His last day on the air will apparently be December 8. Already, a few libtalk stations have begun to leak word of Franken's impending exit.

One is KQKE Radio in San Francisco, which recently cancelled Franken and replaced him with Thom Hartmann, a more obscure "progressive" who airs in the same time slot. A check of Franken's site Thursday evening did not turn up any mention of a departure and the company itself has as of yet said nothing.

Along with Maloney, AAR affiliate KQKE announced Franken would be leaving on the 10th of December, you can hear it here.

So what does it all mean? The end of Air America as Maloney maliciously wishes for? No my friends, merely a turning point for a network that showed the nation that there is an audience across the country for a balance to the wingnuttery of the right on the airwaves. The Young Turks are fantastic, especially with their recent acquisition of a certain Kossack that has gained national fame. The progressive/liberal talk format is still relatively new and will continue to grow despite what certain people right-wingers observe as ship sinkers.  

Time to eat a bit of crow...Turns out he might not be leaving for reasons that the GOoPers were hoping for. Steve Young at The Huffington Post has more on what Al is really up to. In a nutshell, he is headed to the Middle East for a USO tour to entertain the troops. The decision is up to him to leave for good and he hasn't made that choice yet.

Also Maloney whines about being called out by Steve at the HuffPo:

In the meantime, here's a memo to our "progressive" detractors: we're either late to a story, early or wrong altogether. We can't be all of those things, it doesn't make any sense. Pick your criticism and stick with it.

Hmmm, I think I'll pick WRONG!

•  Interesting...

  Maybe he's leaving to... campaign for public office?

  by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:17:40 AM PDT

  •  Maybe

    If I was him I would rather stay on the air while campaigning, albeit on a more limited basis to talk about the campaign to millions of listeners.

    by proudprogressiveCA on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:19:53 AM PDT

    •  Forgive my ignorance, but...

      is that legal? To have a broadcast program while campaigning?

      Well, regardless, I'd love to see him run. Sure, it might be a bit of a harmless stunt, not unlike Al Sharpton in the primaries, but who knows?

      by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:23:23 AM PDT

      •  It is legal

        You can look it up, but I remember hearing that it is legitimate.

        by proudprogressiveCA on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:26:09 AM PDT

        •  It's legal up to a point

          This was a big issue in Washington's 8th Congressional district two years ago when Sheriff Dave Reichert (R-Big Hair) was running for the seat Jennifer Dunn was vacating. The Washington Democratic chair recruited talk show host Dave Ross, a popular personality and his station's best draw. (You may have even heard him nationally. At least at one time he was doing occasional fill-ins for Charles Osgood on CBS, and he had a syndicated show of technology soundbytes called "Chip Talk." I don't know if he still does -- I like the guy but it's been a while since I listened in.)

          Anyway, Dave stayed on the air at KIRO right up until the date on which he had to file to run for office. The Republicans made great hay of this, saying that since Ross was the de facto Democratic House candidate his shows amounted to an illegal in-kind campaign contribution from KIRO and demanding that he either take a leave of absence or that the station give the Republicans an equal amount of time. Ross for his part maintained that he had a contract with KIRO that he was obligated to fulfill, and the station backed him up on it. He steadfastly refused to talk about the campaign on the air and even allowed ads the Republicans bought blasting him for staying on the air to run.

          So yes, it's legitimate if done right, but it gives your opponents a great cudgel to beat you over the head with.

          by Omir the Storyteller on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:21:36 AM PDT

      •  No

        I don't think it is.
        That's why i didn't run for Select Board in Vermont.

        by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:30:25 AM PDT

      •  Clarifying:

        It's LEGAL, but you get into prohibitive equal time issues.
        When Reagan was running for President, you didn't see "Bedtime for Bonzo."

        by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:32:01 AM PDT

        •  Thanks for the clarification, Kestrel

          And good to see you this morning.

          But with all the media restraint laws slackening, are the laws the same today as they were in the '80s?

          by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:34:17 AM PDT

          •  only if you're a Democrat or other form...

            of progressive.

            by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:34:53 AM PDT

          •  No

            The Fairness Doctrineis gone, and needs to come back.

            by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:35:44 AM PDT

            •  Hmm.

              I need to read up on that. Thanks for linky magic.

              by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:37:15 AM PDT

        •  What? I Saw Months of Arnold Movies

          on cable during this past year.

          by Gooserock on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:40:02 AM PDT

          •  Cable

            is not broadcast, and is exempt from ET rules, as I understand it.
            Ergo, Fox News.....

            by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:40:41 AM PDT

    •  There may be equal time campaign law issues

      I'm glad he's going.  He cost too much and was not a radio pro.  His name helped at the beginning, but he's not a radio guy and it shows.

      by hardleft on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:23:25 AM PDT

      •  I thought he did all right.

        I wasn't a rabid listener, but I always enjoyed catching a few minutes of his show on streaming internet radio. Then, I stopped listening because it seemed like the only host that was ever on was Jerry Springer.

        by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:25:07 AM PDT

        •  Springer....

          Another non-radio pro.  Glad he's not sucking up money anymore too.  Franken's show is tollerable, but to me, it just sounds like a funny version of NPR.  And only sort of ha-ha funny.

          Liberal radio needs to develop its own stars, and I think it's doing so.  Stars from other venues need to stay out now that things are rolling.  They suck up the star space with medeocre shows. Radio is a hard skill to develop, you can't just pick it up on a whim.

          by hardleft on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:33:50 AM PDT

          •  That's a fair estimation

            it just sounds like a funny version of NPR.

            Not what I'd call entertaining, really, but lighthearted commentary. Not "Daily Show" funny, but humorous.

            by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:35:44 AM PDT

          •  Right, Funny NPR, Good for Me But Not People

            we need.

            I think Ed Schultz is light-years ahead as liberal entertainment for the masses. Not always the brightest or my favorite on every issue, but a great act.

            by Gooserock on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:42:04 AM PDT

          •  I think it was right to start with Al

            to get people to listen initially...now we (in the Bay Area at least) have Thom Hartman in Als spot and he is so much more in depth and meatier or ...as Colbert would say... Hartmann has a more superstantial show
            So I say AAR is right on track, good opening party: good followup...

            kestrel: did you get anyone on the AAR new talent contest? it sounds like yr own job is a little safer now...?

            by dotcommodity on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:00:38 AM PDT

    •  nah

      I can't imagine a single listener of his show who's not voting for him anyway. I'd rather him go walking door to door like Gary Trauner did and actually meet people.

      by Mikesco on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:24:15 AM PDT

    •  Only so much time in a day

      Show prep takes time and so does campaigning. He'd have to make a choice.

      by fly on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:28:50 AM PDT

    •  I gotta say it:

      Franken's problem is that he built his cred as a comedic writer, so people, when listening, expect him to be funnier than he actually is. That same handicap does not impede him in terms of his books, just his radio show. People, I think on first listen, expected to be rolling in the aisles, and it just didn't happen.
      Content was always good, but I just think it wasn't what people expected from that particular person.

      by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:29:43 AM PDT

      •  Good point.

        I think that's kind of the same reason why stand-up comedians generally hate having to go on the radio to promote their appearances, am I right?

        by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:36:43 AM PDT

      •  Franken never really took to radio.

        I love Al, and his appearances on TV, his books, etc., are great. But radio is not just a mic you sit in front of and do your stand up act. It is a unique art form that requires specific skills. I don't think Al ever really applied himself to that. I still enjoy his show,  but mainly because I visualize him doing it.

        As for this story, it seems highly unlikely to me that he would be leaving the show on Dec. 8. That's just too soon without a prior notice. I do expect him to leave to run for senate, but you can't leave your affiliates twisting in the wind. I think that when he leaves, he will give them enough time to program a replacement.

        by KingOneEye on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:03:55 AM PDT

  •  When on the Daily Show, he didn't

    deny it. Stewart asked him if he was going to run for Senate earlier this week, and Franken hemmed and hawed, and gave the usual, "I have to talk to my family over the holidays" answer.

    So, it is possible, IMHO.

    by means are the ends on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:23:16 AM PDT

    •  In the political parlance,

      that answer means "yes."

      by droogie6655321 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:24:04 AM PDT

      •  Franken KILLED John Fund Yesterday

        on Hardball!!!!!  Kept repeatedly talking about all of Fund's "lying, corrupt, crooked 'buddies'"--positively hilarious...Tweety absolutely lost it!!!

        by serrano on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:38:21 AM PDT

        •  anyone got this on youtube? (nt)

          by Brother Maynard on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:54:32 AM PDT

        •  The video's up on YouTube

          In case you don't have windows XP (which MSNBC requires to watch it on the Hardball site) you can watch it here.

          by tbetz on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:55:13 AM PDT

          •  Thanks for the video

            I just watched it, and was in stitches!  It's so funny to see the republi-cons get skewered by the dumbest of jokes/ribs.  They sorely are lacking in the 'sense of humor' department, aren't they?

            And when Fund was trying to use Clinton as Al's "buddy" as a retort, Al was like, "Bill Clinton is a terrific pal!  He is a friend.  Your buddies are all crooks, John."

            BWAhahahaha!!!  Great stuff.  Matthews could only hold his face in his hands while laughing his ass off.

            by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:41:15 AM PDT

          •  Man I enjoyed that so much! I love Franken on TV,

            even more than radio. This guy is hilarious. He does tell the truth with jokes.

            Thanks for the link.

            by means are the ends on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 12:58:16 PM PDT

        •  Saw it too

          and thought it was hysterical watching John Fund do his weak "nyah, nyah, nyah" while not getting the joke repeatedly and while Tweetie was just about ROFL.  Fund is definitely "humor impaired".  Seems like a lot of Rethugs have "humor problems"---from Cheney, who has probably never laughed in his life, to Mr. Funny Pants, the current resident of the White House, who undoubtedly thinks he invented humor.

          by 3goldens on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 04:36:23 PM PDT

•  If true, almost certainly means

  Al is planning a Senate run, I'd guess.
  

  by Jim P on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:19:06 AM PDT

•  Sen. Franken

  Good luck on your campaign, future Sen. Franken.

  I don't know what will happen to Air America, but I'm not worried about any of the network's top talent.  The big Air America names will quickly be adopted by other syndicators should that company go down.

  Look how quickly Mike Molloy was snapped up by a competitor ... and he wasn't really even one of the AAR biggies.

  by bink on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:19:08 AM PDT

  •  How About President Franken?

    Franken/Feingold '08

    by tkmattson on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:22:37 AM PDT

  •  Mike Malloy

    was snatched up by the new radio network in AZ.  We're just thrilled about it too!  ;-)

    by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:23:25 AM PDT

    •  I am so psyched about that

      Always my favorite AAR personality. He is also on their station in Little Rock, Mike rules!

      by proudprogressiveCA on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:25:21 AM PDT

  •  Other syndicators:

    Like this one?
    Or even this one?
    Progressive talk is here to stay. Despite the best efforts of the megachurches to buy up AAR affiliates.

    by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:34:46 AM PDT

•  Can we expect an announcment on December 9?

  Franken for Senate?

  - Albert Einstein

  by Walt starr on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:19:44 AM PDT

  •  He promised Colbert he would announce on his show

    He answered Colbert's question if he was running by saying "If I announce I'll announce on your show from Minnesota," or something like that.

    by proudprogressiveCA on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:23:09 AM PDT

    •  Any way of

      looking into Colbert's upcoming guests?

      by lemming22 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:09:04 AM PDT

•  Air America

  I like the new lineup a lot better with Sam Seder in the mornings and Rachel Maddow on my drive home. I seldom listen to Al Franken since I'm at work then.

  by Carnacki on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:21:29 AM PDT

  •  agreed

    but the morning show with sam greenberg and armstrong williams is utterly unlistenable

    by indefinitelee on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:28:13 AM PDT

    •  Armstrong Williams ....

      closeted gay conservative (see David Brock, Blinded by the Right).

      by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:37:49 AM PDT

      •  oh yea!

        i was listening last week and a caller asked when he was going to come out of the closet. it was a great exchange.

        Armstrong was trying to say that you can be "turned gay" like you can be a straight man, have gay sex a few times and eventually start to like it so you keep doing it, but you wouldn't be gay.

        by indefinitelee on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:46:54 AM PDT

        •  oh my GOD....

          sounds like him, though. [sigh]

          by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:02:50 AM PDT

        •  wtf?

          A srtaight man can have a little gay sex on the side and suddenly turn gay?  Does that apply to any guy?

          by Brother Maynard on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:07:25 AM PDT

          •  That's what many Kos members...

            ...said about Haggard.  There seems to be a requirement for heterosexual purity to remain heterosexual.

            by rserven on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:24:34 AM PDT

            •  And there's not?

              I mean if you're a prison rape victim, that's one thing, there does have to that element of consent.  

              But if the sex is consensual, when you leave that state of "heterosexual purity", you are now in the bisexual category, but that's often only a pit stop before the man realizes (of admits to himself) he's gay.

              by Beowulf on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:34:45 AM PDT

              •  I disagree.

                If a gay man has straight sex, we don't start calling him heterosexual.  As for who is bisexual, I tend to let bisexual people define themselves, rather than assigning people to that class without their permission.  

                by rserven on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:37:45 AM PDT

                •  humans are sexual

                  period.

                  by indefinitelee on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:42:39 AM PDT

                •  well,

                  If everyone gets to create their own definition then I guess there's nothing to debate.  To each his own.  

                  Under my defintion, If a guy has consensual sex with both  men and women and he defines himself as heterosexual, then I suppose in a free country, he has the right to be in denial as long as he wishes.  :o)

                  by Beowulf on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 02:00:59 PM PDT

                  •  Being transsexual...

                    ...the whole thing seems rather silly to me at times.  Before my sex-change, I was married to a woman for 24 years and was considered to be straight.  Now, I'm in a domestic partnership in NJ with a woman and am considered to be a lesbian.  Go figure.

                    by rserven on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 04:27:13 PM PDT

    •  oh yeah, they are soooo bad

      i'm ready to call in and tell them that they don't know their collective asses from their collective elbows, but my drive is too short, so i listen to wnyc or my ipod, god did i miss morning sedition, sigh  .  .  .

      by mad cow on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:05:00 AM PDT

•  Franken is leaving

  so he can run against Norm Coleman in '08.  That's my prediction.  Gosh, I would really love to see him on the Senate floor going mano y mano with the republi-cons.  It would be great!

  Progressive Talk radio isn't going anywhere.  I agree with you there.  If anything, it's growing!  We have a whole new network out here in Phoenix, called NovaM Radio.  They play lots of AAR's lineup, but have lots of their own talent too.  It's a good sign of things to come for us, I think!

  by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:21:45 AM PDT

  •  First he has to win the primary

    and with the 06 bloodbath, it'll be a crowded field.

    by hardleft on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:24:46 AM PDT

    •  Jumping ahead

      Well, of course he's going to have to run for the seat and all that.  I was just fantasizing that Al had done that and won!  I know, I know, getting way too far ahead of myself!  

      by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:49:30 AM PDT

    •  Jumping ahead

      Of course Al will have to run for the seat, and win it.  I was just fantasizing...

      by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:50:29 AM PDT

      •  OOPS! n/t

        by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:51:09 AM PDT

  •  Can he win?

    I don't know anything about MN politics (except for that pro-wrestler fiasco), so don't have a sense of what his chances are.

    by casperr on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:52:43 AM PDT

    •  No

      Franken will get destroyed.  

      by Mia Dolan on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:12:41 AM PDT

      •  They said that

        about Jim Webb too.........
        just sayin'

        by kestrel9000 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:15:56 AM PDT

    •  He stands a chance

      IMO.  Yes, he's a comedian, but he's also a political wonk.  He knows his stuff, and he's devoted the last decade (or so) to political issues even while being funny.  If for any other reason, he'd be a great addition to the Senate for comedic relief!

      Not only that, but he was really tight with Paul Wellstone, and he is an icon in MN.  Loved by nearly all.  If Al can channel the spirit of Wellstone, he'll breeze right by Norm Coleman.

      by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:29:05 AM PDT

•  This sounds like the right time.

  He's obviously running for the Senate and he needs to start campaigning.   I'm glad that he stayed through the midterms and now he can enjoy the holidays and get to work on putting Paul Wellstone's seat back in the hands of grown ups.

  by SpiderStumbled22 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:22:33 AM PDT

•  I like Thom Hartmann

  Frankenly, I'd rather listen to him than Al's show - not that I don't love Al.

  If this is true, it's been a good gig for him, and hope it will have helped to catapult his campaign. If that's true.

  Too much truthiness!

  by bumblebums on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:27:19 AM PDT

  •  I don't think Thom Hartmann....

    will be "obscure" for long.

    by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:38:36 AM PDT

    •  Oh Yes He Will

      Factuality and information have zero mass appeal.

      Thom is great for me personally but he's what NPR would be like if it were NPR. There is absolutely nothing I like that has mass appeal.

      by Gooserock on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:45:33 AM PDT

      •  remember when Ray Suarez did Talk of The Nation?

        he's what NPR would be like if it were NPR

        Thom Hartmann and Ray Suarez...

        How I miss the old days... remember when NPR was part of the evidence based community...

        I listen to talk all day, have since the 70's, since I work at home...but I really cannot listen to NPR now, they are gone to the dark side.

        So no more sponsoring NPR from listeners like me!

        by dotcommodity on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:12:10 AM PDT

•  OT

  Franken was fantastic on Hardball last night.  He completely destroyed John Fund.  I have never seen Fund so rattled.  Franken had Matthews in hysterics as he did me and my partner.

  by accumbens on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:28:44 AM PDT

  •  what were they discussing?

    The new house and senate?

    by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:40:02 AM PDT

•  Love Al, but

  he's just not a radio guy. He's brilliant, I've bought and enjoyed his books, I've attended one of his events here in Milwaukee, but radio just isn't the right forum for his considerable talent. I'd be pleased to see Al Franken in the Senate, and pleased if a progressive who's good on the radio, like Randi Rhodes or Rachel Maddow, took over his radio gig.

  by Korkenzieher on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:35:02 AM PDT

  •  rachel is excellent....Randi is not my cup of tea

    but I know she attracts a good crowd. :-)

    by billlaurelMD on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:39:35 AM PDT

  •  Agreed

    I always listen to Al and I love his show.  However, I find him funnier when he's in front of a live audience.  His interation with them is always entertaining regardless of the fact that it's on the radio, imho.

    by Shaking the Tree on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:53:50 AM PDT

•  I Like

  the Franken show because I really like his weekly guests: Lawrence O'Donnell, Tom Oliphant, Norm Ornstein, Joe Conason, Melanie Sloan. I don't mean to use one of his bits but I really do learn alot from those people. I would miss hearing from those folks.

  by daelin82 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:42:56 AM PDT

  •  And don't forget

    Paul Krugman. Franken's show is one of the few where every once in a while you can listen to Krugman.

    by Getreal1246 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:27:49 AM PDT

•  We already get Hartmann

  Generally I like him. His history lessons and clips from FDR are valuable though, when he has guests on to interview, he sometimes goes into brainiac mode in an attempt to show everyone just how many facts he can hold in his head.  By the time he gets to his question, I've lost track of who he's interviewing.  

  by cosmosis on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:53:32 AM PDT

  •  Yeah - about Hartmann

    We "get it" that you're smart, Thom; that you've started and owned businesses.  You're accomplished.  We get it.

    Now, let the guest make their point - don't interrupt to prove to us you know what they're talking about.  Let. Them. Talk.

    by Ernest T Bass on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 10:24:37 AM PDT

•  As for Al

  Some of his bits are good but his regular guests are a who's who of who's who.  I don't really care what Howard Fineman or Jonathan Alter think, so what they think is always CW.  He hasn't been as good since Lanpher left.  

  by cosmosis on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:55:14 AM PDT

•  Almost forgot, tips anyone?

  or flames, your choice

  by proudprogressiveCA on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 08:57:38 AM PDT

•  Maybe Maloney's source is the NSA or Rove

  a) If Maloney is really just a conservative who is doing a lot of great reporting, good for him.

  b) My admittedly tinfoil hat concern is that I wonder if maybe the Bush Rovies have somehow planted moles at Air America, or used the CIA, FBI or NSA to spy on Air America, or done other really creepy stuff to bring it down. You might say, "Well, Air America's stupid managers did the Bush Rovies' legwork for them." But were the managers really that stupid, or were some of them moles? And, were they really that stupid, or did they go up against a secret Bush Rovie boycott or other Bush Rovie barriers?

  It might be fun to see Democrats in Congress try to lock down all surveillance agency records then try to go in to see if there's any evidence of cash being sent to destroy Air America.

  by sclminc on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:25:34 AM PDT

•  Thom Hartmann

  Can fight the ignorance.

  Some may not find this as entertaining as I do.

  I like the fact that he is polite enough to get the thinktank wingnuts and the right tilted libertarians to come regularly on the show and let him counter their twisted stats and bastardized quotes on the air.

  He is also a "thinking" Indy rather than a "vote for the man not the party" Indy who blows with the headlines.

  He is not a Dem but IS a liberal/progressive.

  His website tolerates more anarchist and socialist than most...

  by NCrefugee on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:27:59 AM PDT

  •  I'll take Tom Hartman over Al Franken anyday!

    I listen to Al Franken whenever I am near a radio from noon to 3, here on the East Cost.  The reason I like listening to his show; however, is because he has the best guests. However, he often interrupts them to get one of his corny jokes in and disrupts the whole flow of the conversation.  Tom Hartman is a very smart, totally informed progressive host that does his home work, and also has great guests.  He also takes phone calls, which Al Franken does not do, and is great at talking to the other side.  I hope very much Tom Hartman is Al Franken's replacement -- it will make for even better listening as far as I'm concerned.

    by rsr on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 12:23:00 PM PDT

•  He almost announced he will run for office

  in 2008, Senator of Minnesota on the Colbert show.

  Anyone who missed him dancing in the end zone, check it out. (sorry I don't have the link at the moment, Google it.)

  by Agathena on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:03:43 AM PDT