Al Franken's War, Tears of a Clown

By JOHN WALSH

Last Friday, June 17, was not a good day for the Al Franken radio show. Al was “down,” sounding like he was on the verge of tears, not such a good disposition for a comic. It seems his listeners had let loose on him when he proclaimed that he “agreed with Bush” on the question of withdrawal from Iraq. That is, Franken does not support the Murtha proposal to depart posthaste and call it “redeployment”; in fact Franken does not support any timetable for withdrawal at all. The emails and phone calls apparently poured in after this most explicit declaration yet of his long-held position. Here is the email I sent after hearing him say, in the course of declaring himself a disciple of Bush, that his radio program was the site of genuine “debate” about what to do in Iraq:

http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh06192006.html

This Mr. Walsh's version true or false?

"Disciple of Bush" my ass.

Counterpunch is a plot to fuck up the Democratic Party, right-wing or not.

I have never seen evidence that they have any other purpose.

And counter punch isn't the only one I see.

With me, at least. Please don't assume we know that there is a plot and what th eplot is all about. Tell us if it is your opinion only, if that's what it is.

Personally, I like reading a lot of varieties of positions, especially ones that are trying to do something about getting this crew who has operated since the JFK assassination to the present torture and theft of rights out of our lives and convicted. SInce I don't see or read a lot of action from Dem leaders - just a few - I want to read what other people are writing. But, I would not have known that these are anti-Dem people if you hadn't declared it, so naturally, I want background if there is some.

People often refer to this as the "Haitian man-boobs story":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=367739

They seem to have never found a Democrat that they liked, and will publish exaggerated claims like the one about Al Franken, or false ones like the one about Clark at the link.

usr name stands out from my past reading - kinda nullifying things for me.

Anyway, I've been educated by reading counterpunch from time to time. I'll keep my eyes open. But questioning and challenging Dems is needed. Some are holding back the good guys.

He strikes me more as a moderate liberal, socially progressive, and while he does not support immediate withdrawal from Iraq, he does not believe it is a just war in any way, shape or form. I think he worries what will be left behind if the US leaves as quickly as many want.

I don't agree with him, but I respect his thinking enormously. And I respect his empathy. I think he's funny and smart, and he keeps me company while I spend my daytimes hours in a computer cube. If I was in Minnesota and he was running for Senator, I'd vote for him. Between him and Randi, my day passes less isolated in corporate Amerikkka than it otherwise would.

Anyone who listens to Franken on a regular basis will see that Walsh piece for what it is: a piece of crap. Simple. Poorly written. Lunk-headed ugliness.

Franken the last couple of days is talking about supporting a timetable for American troop withdrawal from Iraq. He emphasizes the polls of Iraqis that indicate 80 percent want the American occupation ended. He also mentioned the support of high-level Iraqi political leaders (such as they have any).

....????
Either you see through it and take responsibility for learning what you need to know youself; or you are just like a FOX newswatcher. I don't let any radio personality influence my opinions that easily. It's bull,anyway, Franken would never.