New York Times Finally Covers Scandal
Time To Remove Clock?
NYT 'Coverage' Has Conservatives Shaking Heads
For two weeks, the Radio Equalizer's MSM clock (supplied by BoreAmerica) has been logging the mainstream media's non-coverage of Air America's scandal, where it appears to have received $875,000 in taxpayer funds, intended for a Bronx-based community center.
More recently, we've been discussing what the first New York Times story might include. Perhaps both sides, rather than merely covering for Al Franken? Would they acknowledge the blogosphere, for picking up their slack?
Now, we finally have their version of the story, 16 days later. Is it time to remove the MSM clock?
Certainly, we don't expect fairness or balance from the Times. We knew ahead of time to expect slanted, one-sided coverage and that's what we got.
But would it be too much to ask, to have Al Franken accurately quoted? After all, we do have both the audio and transcript of his comments from Monday's show.
New York Times:
Mr. Franken took up the issue on the air on Monday afternoon, telling his listeners that Mr. Cohen was "a crook" who had borrowed money from Gloria Wise.
"I don't know why he did it," Mr. Franken said, according to a transcript of the broadcast made by the Department of Investigation. "I don't know where the money went. I don't know if it was used for operations. I think he was borrowing from Peter to pay Paul."
Mr. Franken also said that the network's new owners "don't legally have to pay it back" - referring to the loans - "because we're a different company or something."
"But morally we do," he said.
Transcript:
FRANKEN: Ok, it turns out he was on the board, or worked for, this Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx or something.
And he uh, borrowed (laughter) $875,000 from, I don't know why they did it, and I don't know where the money went, I don't know if it was used for operations (softer, especially fast), which I imagine it was. I think he was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
And about three weeks into the life of Air America, I became an involuntary investor. I stopped being paid.
So now, we started to make arrangements, and I didn't know anything about this until late last week, and I'm sorry, Rick, that you have to be here for this.
So, not only did Air America get a free pass, in a story that focused on the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club end of the scandal, but Franken's comments were conveniently "cleansed" of unpleasant near-admissions.
It's interesting, the Times used a transcript it says came from the Department Of Investigation. Did the reporter properly reference it, or did the DOI make the error?
What a break for Franken, where he really put his foot in his mouth, the words are excluded from coverage.
Michelle Malkin delivered this verdict:
The article is a rehash of everything blogs and a sprinkling of MSM outlets have already reported. Underwhelming. Entirely expected. And wholly inadequate given the paper's massive previous coverage of Air America.
Send your thoughts on the NYTimes' slothful reporting to ombudsman Byron Calame (public@nytimes.com).
Yes, it's one thing to argue about bias, which we can fight over until the cows come home, but a misquote is a misquote. That's something Calame can't ignore.
Captain Ed, at Captain's Quarters, also nails it:
The New York Times has ended its hermitage in tomorrow's edition by finally reporting on the financial scandal in its own back yard. Alan Feuer reports on the ongoing Air America funding scandal, and manages to make it more boring than a blotter report for a weekly suburban freebie.
Lance at RedStateRant saw a different version from what's now there:
Nonetheless, word of the investigations ignited a firestorm of criticism on the Internet, especially among conservative-leaning blogs that have essentially accused the network of robbing from the poor to pay its bills. "Air America: Stealing From Poor Kids?" asked the headline of a recent posting by Michelle Malkin, a conservative commentator.
Here's what I'm seeing this morning at the Times site:
Nonetheless, word of the investigations ignited a firestorm of criticism on the Internet, especially among conservative-leaning blogs that have essentially accused the network of robbing from the poor to pay its bills.
Wonder why the comment about Malkin is now absent?
More disturbing, the Times version cleanses the controversy over repayment of the funds.
Where the New York Post and other publications have correctly included the agreement dispute, Air America's constantly conflicting statements and silly games that have greatly frustrated the DOI, are not found in the Times story.
Take a look at Thursday's Post (emphasis mine):
"We're not commenting on anything right now because of the delicate nature of negotiations to get the money back" from Air America, said spokesman Jim Grossman.
The left-wing radio network, which showcases Al Franken, last Friday made a $50,000 repayment on the loan to an escrow account controlled by the station's lawyer.
"The [city] Department of Investigation advised Air America to repay $875,000 into an escrow account from which no money can be disbursed without our approval," said DOI spokeswoman Emily Gest.
"Air America has not followed that recommendation."
But an Air America official told The Post yesterday that both sides had agreed to a payment plan months ago and that they were on schedule with their payments.
That was news to the Boys & Girls Club. "Air America has agreed in principle to give the money, but nothing has been finalized yet," Grossman said yesterday.
"They haven't agreed how and when to do it."
Now, compare to the Times version:
Jim Grossman, a spokesman for Gloria Wise, said the club had given Air America about $875,000, though he added that he did not know exactly how, or in what form, it had been given. He also said the club and the network had reached an agreement under which the money had been placed in escrow and would eventually be repaid to the club.
The Times left out key elements of an important piece of the story, didn't it?
Worst of all, there's no exploration of whether air personalities were fraudulently paid with taxpayer funds, even after Franken himself made the suggestion.
To remove Franken's words and ignore key elements of this story, shows the New York Times has learned very little from its recent credibility scandals.
We kept our expectations low for good reasons, it turns out.
The Times did one thing, however: forcing liberals to come up with new excuses to cover for Air America.
No longer can they say it's a "made-up story", now that their newspaper has finally covered it, weeks after they should have.
Big welcome to Powerline, Instapundit, Captain's Quarters (where there is significant new information, thanks again, Ed), Orbusmax, Michelle Malkin, LaShawn Barber (who has a fresh round-up on a number of interesting stories), Larsonian and many others.
Update: Much more on the way shortly, click here for main page and new posts.
AAR Scandal by Darleen Click, City Kid$ by George Adair, MSM Silence by Suzy Rice.
When your Amazon orders begin here, it helps to fund my new site upgrade expenses. Thanks again for your help!
NYT 'Coverage' Has Conservatives Shaking Heads
For two weeks, the Radio Equalizer's MSM clock (supplied by BoreAmerica) has been logging the mainstream media's non-coverage of Air America's scandal, where it appears to have received $875,000 in taxpayer funds, intended for a Bronx-based community center.More recently, we've been discussing what the first New York Times story might include. Perhaps both sides, rather than merely covering for Al Franken? Would they acknowledge the blogosphere, for picking up their slack?
Now, we finally have their version of the story, 16 days later. Is it time to remove the MSM clock?
Certainly, we don't expect fairness or balance from the Times. We knew ahead of time to expect slanted, one-sided coverage and that's what we got.
But would it be too much to ask, to have Al Franken accurately quoted? After all, we do have both the audio and transcript of his comments from Monday's show.
New York Times:
Mr. Franken took up the issue on the air on Monday afternoon, telling his listeners that Mr. Cohen was "a crook" who had borrowed money from Gloria Wise.
"I don't know why he did it," Mr. Franken said, according to a transcript of the broadcast made by the Department of Investigation. "I don't know where the money went. I don't know if it was used for operations. I think he was borrowing from Peter to pay Paul."
Mr. Franken also said that the network's new owners "don't legally have to pay it back" - referring to the loans - "because we're a different company or something."
"But morally we do," he said.
Transcript:
FRANKEN: Ok, it turns out he was on the board, or worked for, this Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx or something.
And he uh, borrowed (laughter) $875,000 from, I don't know why they did it, and I don't know where the money went, I don't know if it was used for operations (softer, especially fast), which I imagine it was. I think he was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
And about three weeks into the life of Air America, I became an involuntary investor. I stopped being paid.
So now, we started to make arrangements, and I didn't know anything about this until late last week, and I'm sorry, Rick, that you have to be here for this.
So, not only did Air America get a free pass, in a story that focused on the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club end of the scandal, but Franken's comments were conveniently "cleansed" of unpleasant near-admissions.It's interesting, the Times used a transcript it says came from the Department Of Investigation. Did the reporter properly reference it, or did the DOI make the error?
What a break for Franken, where he really put his foot in his mouth, the words are excluded from coverage.
Michelle Malkin delivered this verdict:
The article is a rehash of everything blogs and a sprinkling of MSM outlets have already reported. Underwhelming. Entirely expected. And wholly inadequate given the paper's massive previous coverage of Air America.
Send your thoughts on the NYTimes' slothful reporting to ombudsman Byron Calame (public@nytimes.com).
Yes, it's one thing to argue about bias, which we can fight over until the cows come home, but a misquote is a misquote. That's something Calame can't ignore.
Captain Ed, at Captain's Quarters, also nails it:
The New York Times has ended its hermitage in tomorrow's edition by finally reporting on the financial scandal in its own back yard. Alan Feuer reports on the ongoing Air America funding scandal, and manages to make it more boring than a blotter report for a weekly suburban freebie.
Lance at RedStateRant saw a different version from what's now there:
Nonetheless, word of the investigations ignited a firestorm of criticism on the Internet, especially among conservative-leaning blogs that have essentially accused the network of robbing from the poor to pay its bills. "Air America: Stealing From Poor Kids?" asked the headline of a recent posting by Michelle Malkin, a conservative commentator.
Here's what I'm seeing this morning at the Times site:
Nonetheless, word of the investigations ignited a firestorm of criticism on the Internet, especially among conservative-leaning blogs that have essentially accused the network of robbing from the poor to pay its bills.
Wonder why the comment about Malkin is now absent?
More disturbing, the Times version cleanses the controversy over repayment of the funds.
Where the New York Post and other publications have correctly included the agreement dispute, Air America's constantly conflicting statements and silly games that have greatly frustrated the DOI, are not found in the Times story.
Take a look at Thursday's Post (emphasis mine):
"We're not commenting on anything right now because of the delicate nature of negotiations to get the money back" from Air America, said spokesman Jim Grossman.
The left-wing radio network, which showcases Al Franken, last Friday made a $50,000 repayment on the loan to an escrow account controlled by the station's lawyer.
"The [city] Department of Investigation advised Air America to repay $875,000 into an escrow account from which no money can be disbursed without our approval," said DOI spokeswoman Emily Gest.
"Air America has not followed that recommendation."
But an Air America official told The Post yesterday that both sides had agreed to a payment plan months ago and that they were on schedule with their payments.
That was news to the Boys & Girls Club. "Air America has agreed in principle to give the money, but nothing has been finalized yet," Grossman said yesterday.
"They haven't agreed how and when to do it."
Now, compare to the Times version:
Jim Grossman, a spokesman for Gloria Wise, said the club had given Air America about $875,000, though he added that he did not know exactly how, or in what form, it had been given. He also said the club and the network had reached an agreement under which the money had been placed in escrow and would eventually be repaid to the club.
The Times left out key elements of an important piece of the story, didn't it?Worst of all, there's no exploration of whether air personalities were fraudulently paid with taxpayer funds, even after Franken himself made the suggestion.
To remove Franken's words and ignore key elements of this story, shows the New York Times has learned very little from its recent credibility scandals.
We kept our expectations low for good reasons, it turns out.
The Times did one thing, however: forcing liberals to come up with new excuses to cover for Air America.
No longer can they say it's a "made-up story", now that their newspaper has finally covered it, weeks after they should have.
Big welcome to Powerline, Instapundit, Captain's Quarters (where there is significant new information, thanks again, Ed), Orbusmax, Michelle Malkin, LaShawn Barber (who has a fresh round-up on a number of interesting stories), Larsonian and many others.
Update: Much more on the way shortly, click here for main page and new posts.
AAR Scandal by Darleen Click, City Kid$ by George Adair, MSM Silence by Suzy Rice.
When your Amazon orders begin here, it helps to fund my new site upgrade expenses. Thanks again for your help!
published by Brian Maloney at
13:00
67 Comments:
Nice summary of the story and a great post. We threw up a link, and hope that a few of our visitors come by and give it a good detailed read.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 08:36
I guess the Kosacks and the inmates over at DU haven't been given their daily talking points and marching orders yet...
Let me start the ball rolling, maybe save them the trouble.
/*Puts on tin foil hat
Lien Baloney at it again
MM is a whore
Capt Ed is a nazi, just look at his hat!
You can't handle the thought that progressive radio is poised to dominate the airwaves!
BU$H LIED, AAR DIED!
FREE MUMIA!
FREE CHICKEN! (the mating call of Mike Moore)
*/Removes tinfoil hat
OK, Dick Tuck, et al, I think I've covered all of your usual bases. Unless you want to report that the Ottumwa Iowa affiliate of AAR has gained 3 listeners... I hear old man Price put a radio out to scare off the crows, and his hogs have taken a liking to Franken... (hence the ratings spike)
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 08:42
Certainly, we don't expect fairness or balance from the Times. We knew ahead of time to expect slanted, one-sided coverage and that's what we got.
Pot.
Kettle.
Black.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 08:47
So, not only did Air America get a free pass, in a story that focused on the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club end of the scandal, but Franken's comments were conveniently "cleansed" of unpleasant near-admissions.
Yeah. That story hardly mentions AAR or that it's a left leaning radio network! I mena they didn't even include any quotes from AAR spokespersons or on air personalities. What a cover-up job! I mean reading that story you'd hardly know that Air America Radio was even involved! I'm outraged!
Unpleasant near-admissions! Good God do you know haw silly that sounds? I'm embarassed for you on that one.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 08:52
The article is a rehash of everything blogs and a sprinkling of MSM outlets have already reported. Underwhelming.-Michelle Malkin
Well that pretty much sums up the efforts of this site and others to whip this incident up into an Al Franken lynching. Underwelming.
You just can't accept the fact that a reputable media outlet reports the known facts and not the partisan speculation thatpasses for investigative reporting here and at other sites clearly intent on destroying AAR.
You're a sad bunch really.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 08:58
...Alan Feuer reports on the ongoing Air America funding scandal, and manages to make it more boring than a blotter report for a weekly suburban freebie.
Oh right because it's important that the news be exciting and fleshed out with all manner of rumor and speculation. Sad truth is the facts as we know them in this story are, well, boring. When you have some evidence of malfeasance on the part of Al Franken let me know. You know, a grainy video of Al being handed a briefcase in a dark parking garage by Evan Cohen. Something like that.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:03
Your LDL hdl cholesterol may go out of control and there will not be enough HDL hdl cholesterol to aid in unclogging your arteries. If your body cannot maintain a proper balance then there are many medications to keep your hdl cholesterol levels in check, although it is possible to raise your HDL hdl cholesterol levels with exercise and quitting smoking, if you were a smoker. These drugs are called statins, and if you have a hdl cholesterol problem then you should ask your doctor whether or not you should be taking them. This good hdl cholesterol does the exact opposite of low density lipoprotein, or LDL which just build up inside your bloodstream and get stuck on the walls of your arteries. When your body ages, this system falls apart. What exactly is good hdl cholesterol? The HDL then comes to the rescue, and unsticks the HDL hdl cholesterol from your artery walls, and prevents your arteries from being clogged, and saving you from a possible heart attack. 5, but that could rarely happen naturally in you later years of life. This gradual breakdown occurs over many years, and takes place in men at about age 45 and in women it happens when they reach menopause. It is known in the medical field as high density lipoprotein, or just HDL to make it simple. If there is a ratio of below 1 to 5 with your HDL hdl cholesterol and your total hdl cholesterol level then you are considered okay, and it is best if you can have a ratio of 1 to 3.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:09
You sure are stirring up the ignorant lefties with this stuff.
I guess Al getting a big paycheck and money going into the coffers of AAR is too tenuous a connection.
LOL, idiots.
By
E Buzz, at 12 August, 2005 09:12
You a really riling up the lefties with this one.
Nice omission from the times...but I guess getting a paycheck and funds ripped off and depositied in AARs coffers in order to have checks written against it (remember the admission from Al that AAR could operate for something like three weeks) is just too tenuous a connection. Al is so innocent here...
LOL, idiot hypocrites. I'm sure they were just as generoues with Bernie Ebbers and the Worldcom guys, and Enron and all the businesses that lied much like AAR is.
Al lied and poor kids starved.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:20
Excellent coverage! The NYT story, with its misquotations, constitutes MSM lie # 38 of 2005.
http://cassandra2004.blogspot.com/2005/08/msm-lie-38-new-york-times-and-air.html
By
The Cassandra Page, at 12 August, 2005 09:21
Al is so innocent here...
Do you have evidence that Al Franken committed a crime?
I thought not.
Again, do you think the NY Times should print a comment like "Al is so innocent here."
Idiots.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:24
Interestign how this follows the established pattern:
1. Issue raised (SBV or AAR)
2. MSM ignores/obfuscates
3. Central figure (Kerry or Franken) publically discusses issue
4. MSM circles wagons aroung central figure
Now, that isn't to say that AF has any culpability in this matter, but that as the defacto voice of AAR his thoughts on the matter are on interest.
Let's cary the analogy thing a bit further. At its basic level we have a partisan political organ that used improperly obtained public funding to continue operations. If SBV had "borrowed" six figures from a tax-payer funded charity to get its adds on TV do you think anyone would have found it interesting?
By
submandave, at 12 August, 2005 09:26
I wasn't aware that not printing ever word that comes out of someone's mouth constitutes a misquote.
Interesting.
I though misquote meant to quote someone incorrectly. Did the Times quote Franken incorrectly?
Accusing the Times of lying! Serious charges.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:28
And – again – NONE of these “anonymous” (read gutless coward) posters seem to have an issue w/ AAR taking $875K in public money from a charity. And we KNOW that if a “righty” radio station/personality was caught out doing something like this the MSM and AAR would be all over the story (Halliburton anyone?).
It is the continuing hypocrisy of the Left that sees no wrong in stealing or lying for the “correct” cause that keeps stories like this alive on the right leaning blogs.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:30
4. MSM circles wagons aroung central figure
If you read that Times piece as circling the wagons around AAR you are hopelessly blinded by partisan hatred.
The Times reported what is known. It ignored the speculation.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:31
If SBV had "borrowed" six figures from a tax-payer funded charity to get its adds on TV do you think anyone would have found it interesting?
If it could be shown that the SBV's knew that there was something fraudulant about the way the money was obtained at the time. Yes. In fact, I'd expect that the legal authorities with jurisdiction would launch an investigation into the matter and that the news media would report the FACTS.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:34
“I wasn't aware that not printing ever word that comes out of someone's mouth constitutes a misquote.”
If you substantially omit or change key elements while still leaving the “ “ it is – you anonymous twit.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:35
And – again – NONE of these “anonymous” (read gutless coward) posters seem to have an issue w/ AAR taking $875K in public money from a charity.
I'm gutless because you have to insult anonymous instead of being able to insult some meaningless handle like barkhorn1x. I feel so dirty. Please forgive me for my gutlessness.
The money should never have been taken. What more would you like me to say. They received the money. They spent the money. It has been revealed that the money was dispersed to them fraudulantly. There's an investigation ongoing. The money is going to be repayed to whoever it rightly belongs to. What more would you like me to do?
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:41
If you substantially omit or change key elements while still leaving the “ “ it is
Can you show me where the Times omitted or changed parts of Frankens comments that they used in their story? You're not maintaining that not reprinting the entire transcript of his broadcast constitutes a misquote are you?
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:43
Have you read – and understood – anything that has been posted on this blog over the past 10 days? I thought not. Idiot.
I have read it and I can't say that there's anything here that I could consider evidence that AL Franken committed a crime.
Could you help me out. Since you've obviously got a good grasp of the facts why not provide me with a little synopsis.
Help a guy out.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:45
Not quite an accurate statement as the tenor of the piece – and this line, “He also said the club and the network had reached an agreement under which the money had been placed in escrow and would eventually be repaid to the club.”, make it appear as though the money is being repaid. This is false, as we know from other sources that there is only $50K in an AAR escrow account.
Arrangement for the money to be repaid has been made. Indeed the "the money had been placed in escrow" comment is wrong. In a situation like that I'd write a letter to the editor and request that the errant information be corrected. I usually get a response from the Times when I do that.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:52
If by “lying” you are referring to the NYT penchant for ignoring stories that don’t fit their lefty bias
So not covering something that you think they should cover constitutes lying in you book? Interesting.
, purposely omitting key facts,
Do you know that they purposefully omitted key facts?
changing quotes
Again, did they change a quote?
and misleading their readers then yes, you got it.
I'm kind of glad you have such an expansive concept of what constitutes lying. You should have some choice accusations for this very website if that is your definition of lying.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 09:57
I stand corrected.
I had not noticed the "borrowing" to "robbing" change.
I don't have access to the audio clip right now so I will assume that Franken actually said robbing until I can confirm otherwise. If it turns out to be true I will personally write a letter to the Times requesting a correction.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:02
Thank you again Mr. Maloney. We here at Air America would like to thank you for your hysterics regarding our station. There's an old saying in politics that the louder the pigs squealthe more they view you as a threat. After all, if we were marginal or on the brink of failure, you wouldn't whine. You'd keep your mouth shut.
We're now on the verge of beating your hillbilly heroin addicted cult leader in Denver, Portland, and Miami. We believe your good work here will put us over the top. Not bad considering that the Big Fat Idiot had a 20 year head start. My book on the subject is available at Amazon. Please use Brian's links to get there as he depends on your chump change since he's unable to hold a job in radio. I wouldn't feel too bad about it Brian. Afterall, we all can't be talented.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:06
i think its interesting that maloney and malkin are so quick to throw the first stone on this issue. some credible news sources might be posting small stories now, but maloney and malkin didn't even wait until they had all their facts straight. oh yeah, one more thing: why don't you go ask malkin why she bailed on an interview that she had scheduled for Ring of Fire on Air America last year? i only know about it because i worked for the show and actually set up the interview. she cancelled the day before we were scheduled. her publicist said that ms. malkin knew how mean the hosts were and decided not to do it. aw, how cute, ms. malkin got scared of someone who isn't on the same side as her. she's a coward. so all of you faithful michelle malkin fans, go ask her about it. i'm anxious to see what she says about it. and if she forgets, i have the documentation to remind her.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:07
"That’s telling ‘em Al – from one no talent to another - so to speak. I would have thought that after the Stuart Smaley movie you would have become a recluse. Some people have NO shame."
My account said you're full of crap. As for the Stuart movie, I guess it was difficult to follow on the successes of "When A Man Loves A Woman" and my books, available from Amazon through Brian's links, so he can get the chump change.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:15
Brian Maloney--sent you an email
---fyi
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:19
Amazing. The Left jumps up and says no crime for Al Franklin, yet mention Rove or Plame, and they form a lynching mob. I for one am Independent. If there was a crime in which someone can be prosecuted with Air America, then I hope with the belief I have in my country, that person will be prosecuted. Same with Plame. If the investigation shows there was a crime commited and someone who can be prosecuted, they will prosecute them, unless of course that person gets a pardon from the President.... You know, like the several ones Clinton gave out. Politics is ugly.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:20
"why don't you go ask malkin why she bailed on an interview that she had scheduled for Ring of Fire on Air America last year?"
Let's be fair, Ms. Malkin, O'Reilly, and Rush are just too thin skinned to take a dose what they dish out. Remember what happened to Rush when he appeared on Letterman? My second is still waiting to hear from O'Reilly's second for the duel he challenged me to.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:21
"Brian Maloney--sent you an email"
Is Brian Maloney retarded? Do you, Mr. Anonymous, need to tell him on his blog that you sent him email?
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:28
Nowhere on this blog is anyone claiming that AF committed a crime.
I was responding to a comment that said "Al is so innocent here...
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:29
Is Brian Maloney retarded?
Being one who does not like to go ad hominem I'm gonna leave that one alone.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 10:30
"Yeah, and I missed those rough and tumble Al Franken interviews on this subject...."
Tell Malkin to call my booker. We can find a spot for her on my show. Would she mind doing a Friday segment with Joe Conason? The reason I ask is Klein went whining like a little girl when he appeared with Joe, Kathrine, and I.
I have little hope for that coward. Unlike myself and my stealth publicist, Mr. Maloney, she won't even allow comments on her blog. What a neocon chicken.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 11:05
No one is that upset that the New York Times didn't print speculation and rumor, we're upset that when the story is about a right wing group doing something potantially bad, they will print all the speculation and rumor they can turn up. The double standards they have for reporting on left versus right is ridiculous and shows a reckless disregard for the truth. Maybe because they are as liberally biased as conservatives have been saying?
By
Ben, at 12 August, 2005 11:18
"No one is that upset that the New York Times didn't print speculation and rumor, we're upset that when the story is about a right wing group doing something potantially bad, they will print all the speculation and rumor they can turn up."
That's why you have the Moonie, Scaife, and Murdoch media. They'll pass on the lies you want to hear, and you'll lap it up and wash it down with your koolaid.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 11:23
Hey, wasn't the left - who is now saying "is there any evidence Al Franken committed a crime" just whining about Bush saying he'd fire anyone who committed a crime a few weeks ago?
I didn't realize I was speaking for the entire Left when I asked for evidence that Al Franken had committed a crime.
Who knew?
More stereotypical group think bullshit.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 11:32
Why hasn't Brian posted a link to this NY Sun piece from today.
It's about the most clear and even handed piece on the story that I have yet to read.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 11:40
Lyin' Baloney is a media whore.
Wow the gang of prevaricators, Lyin' Michelle Maglalang, Spew Spewit, and on and on (there's no end to them) have finally got their NY Times story.
Yay team. The big revelation is that Evan Cohen is a crook. If you want to know where the money went ask him. D'oh.
The true story is that Lyin' Baloney is a failed wingnut talk show host. Failed miserably. Now he writes blogorrhea and has his hand out for this expensive new website.
Give, give generously wingnuts for this failed polluter of the airwaves! If AAR goes down he might have another shot at joining the heavenly choir of the oxycontin-marinated windbag, Spew Spewit, Savage Weiner and maybe 2000 other prevaricators.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 12:20
"Wow, a fair and balanced report and you people are still whining."
Maybe on Dick Tuck's home planet Uranus that piece was fair and balanced.
Not on planet Earth.
Hey, Dick, the Canton numbers are out, and your precious AA is behind a 1000 watt station that broadcasts recipies.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 13:04
“Give, give generously wingnuts for this failed polluter of the airwaves! If AAR goes down he might have another shot at joining the heavenly choir of the oxycontin-marinated windbag, Spew Spewit, Savage Weiner and maybe 2000 other prevaricators.”
Congrats anon-loser, you win the prize for most ad-homs per column inch coupled with a total lack of real content. Go crawl back to the Daily Koz where postings of this ilk are a requirement for membership.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 13:07
Yes, take down the clock.
We've gotten what we wanted - and expected. Let's keep the pressure on, though.
By
Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 13:55
Two glaring problems with the story:
(1) There is an implication that the money has been put into an escrtow account satisfing Gloria Wise's demands - I think that is NOT the case at all, unless there are new fact I am not aware of.
(2) Frankenberry sez: "because we're a different company or something."
Sorry, but it's not going to be that simple, Al.
Suppose Cohen came to you and I and said: " I've got a business opportunity here - we can make widgets for a quarter and sell them for $1.25, and I can sell 20,000 a month."
Sounds great, so we give him the money - and he borrows some more money and builds a factory, and sure enough, by the end of the month we have produce 10,000 widgets for a quarter apiece, and sold them for $1.25. We've made $20,000!
But wait - there is the monthly loan payment for the money we borrowed. It's $25,000!
PO'd, we get rid of Cohen as a partner, force him to give his stock back to us and we decide to "reorganize".
We don't bother with details like bankruptcy filing, or little niceties like that. We just form a new company, sell the assets to the new company and then we tell the lenders "tough luck".
That is what Frankenberry is saying Hairball America did - and by his reasoning therefore they don't owe the money back to Gloria Wise..
Gee... I have having a little trouble swallowing that. There is a gaping hole here somewhere.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 13:57
when did journalism die?
at one time people read the paper and watched the nightly news to get.....the news
Now all we get is left wing cover-ups and propaganda.
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The Game, at 12 August, 2005 14:00
To all those who said that there has been no PROOF of wrongdoing -
The taking of the money by Cohen from Gloria Wise is accepted by about everyone as an illegal trasaction becauseit it was not properly approved, and if you take the time to read the history of this case you will see that.
It is pretty certain that this money went to Scare America.
It is DEBATABLE whether the reorg protected the new company.
This is NOT going to have a happy ending for Hairball America.
-Tom C.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:07
That is what Frankenberry is saying Hairball America did - and by his reasoning therefore they don't owe the money back to Gloria Wise..
Gee. I doubt that Al Frankenberry was involved in drafting the paperwork that transferred the assets between the two entities so it doesn't really matter worth a shit what he said.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:40
Man, I just have to say that despite everything, this has become my favorite rightwing blog ever. It used to annoy me, even make me angry sometimes, but nowadays it's just an endless source of amusement. Congrats, Bri, you make my day.
"Pot. Kettle. Black." Priceless!
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:42
To all those who said that there has been no PROOF of wrongdoing -
I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't believe there was wrong doing here. I know you'd like to believe everyone on the left thinks there was no wrong doing here but that's not the case at all. What is in dispute is what the criminal liability of the parties involved is. Is Evan Cohen, Charles Rosen, Gloria Wise Club, Progress Media, Piquant llc, Air AMerica Radio and/or Al Franken criminally liable? That is what is being determined by the DOI.
Personally I'd put my money on Evan Cohen and perhaps some other officers of Gloria Wise doing jail time over this. I haven't gotten any inkling from anything the DOI has said that would lead me to believe that Piquant or AAR will be charged with anything. Progress Media? Who knows. I'll wager $1000 Al Franken doesn't face any charges in this whole sordid affair.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:48
Since all of you care so deeply and sincerely about the Gloria Wise Community Center, why don't you all contribute to them?
Here's the link:
http://www.gloriawise.org/bgccontrib.html
Be sure to post a copy of your email'd receipt so Brian can keep track!
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:56
Shirely Ellis just called....told me I could play the "Name Game" too.
Air America's staff:
All Fucken
Ed Slutz
Randy Roads (location for a brothel)
In other words, listen to them and get screwed.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 14:58
Duane,
Don't quit your day job.
If you've got one.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 15:00
Tell Malkin to call my booker. We can find a spot for her on my show. Would she mind doing a Friday segment with Joe Conason? The reason I ask is Klein went whining like a little girl when he appeared with Joe, Kathrine, and I.
3 on 1. Nice. Is Joe the guy who sits in the background and laughs so that we can tell when Franken's joiking?
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eLarson, at 12 August, 2005 15:04
Gee. I doubt that Al Frankenberry was involved in drafting the paperwork that transferred the assets between the two entities so it doesn't really matter worth a shit what he said.
Interesting how Al Frankenberry has gone from a smart, sophisticated modern renaissance man, to a dummy, know-nothing wandering into work everyday in a daze.
Let me put just a small fly in your ointment, here. Mar-May 2004 or so Al Franken stopped getting paid. You don't think maybe he wondered WHY he wasn't getting paid? You don't think his agent or lawyer or himself poked around a bit to try to figure out what was going on and try to determine if this enterprise was viable? Al Frankenberry referred to himself as an "investor" of sorts.
Formal investor or not, with a million dollar contract at stake, you don't think he had SOME insight into the investor's meeting that summer when the financial situation was reviewed?
Al's deniability is going to start fading fast when they start looking at who said what and to whom during the spring and summer of 2004.
Tom C.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 15:20
I wonder if Al is pleased or upset that the NYT edited out his aside regarding the use of the funds that came from the Gloria Wise org.
(Honestly I don't believe Al is culpable... any more than Lefties believe that Repubicans want to put old folks on the street, starve children and so forth.)
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eLarson, at 12 August, 2005 15:37
Brian,
Your just like the Cable TV channels especially FOXNEWS with that missing girl in Aruba. You get on a story and you run it into the ground. This Air America is a NON-STORY except in your mind and the right wing Bloggers.
Quoting these Blogs, regardless how often or how many their number doesn’t change the facts. . . THERE IS NO STORY HERE.
The only thing you might say is that the ON AIR HOSTS and other employees worked for a guy that MAY have done something wrong. Just as you might say the same thing about the employees of Enron or any number of other companies.
As far as I know NO ONE has been convicted of anything. In fact has anyone even been charged with anything??? Hmmmmm.
It seems to me that if you want a REAL SCANDAL you would put your VAST investigative resources into that Jack Abramoff and Tom Delay connection. Now there you have a scandal.
Oh, one last thing this ain’t ARUBA there isn’t a missing girl and your ratings won’t go up.
mickh
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 15:57
Honestly I don't believe Al is culpable... any more than Lefties believe that Repubicans want to put old folks on the street, starve children and so forth.
Well, you can believe what you want to believe now, but if we keep digging the truth will out.
Al Frankenberry wasn't like the kid pushing the shopping carts around in the Wal-Mart parking lot, he has been a centerpiece of the baby from close to inception. He's it's figurehead, spokesman, and has a pretty good person investment in this.
It is reasonable to assume that he knows a lot more about what is going on in the organization than the Mickey The Dunce act he is pulling now.
Sargent Schultz may have thought folks would believe him when he said he "knows NOTHING," but Frankenberry is going to have a lot more trouble making that argument.
Tom C.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 16:10
As far as I know NO ONE has been convicted of anything. In fact has anyone even been charged with anything??? Hmmmmm.
Kind of like the endless Rove blathering thing from the left - the difference being that it is generally agreed that NO LAW WAS BROKEN in the Plame thing.
However...There were a boatload of laws broken in the Gloria Wise deal.
The best, the BEST that can be said about Scam America's dealing in this is that they were sleazy. And there WILL be criminal indictments handed down on this - certainly for Cohen, perhaps others... perhaps even for Air America's current management if they cannot defend their dealings when they were working for the old company...
... Franken DID draw some salary when the Wise thing was going on. It would be indistinguishable whether the actual money he got was from the coffers of the Boys and Girls Club, but fair to infer that some of it was. Al Franken DID benefit from the theft of funds from the Boys and Girls Club.
Sop, the only question between Al and the orange suit is...
What did Frankenberry know, and when did he know it?
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 16:21
MickH - you're dealing with total wingnuts here. Reality doesn't matter in the least to them. Reality is that AAR is just a handful of liberals and lefties confronting the nonsense of the Bushite agenda and the wingnut media namely the 2000 talk radio liars who are a convenient propaganda outlet for the RNC.
AAR is calling BS on Faux News and wingnut talk radio and these frothing at the mouth wingers can't handle it.
AAR is going to stay on the air because people in blue states are sick and tired of crazed propagandists like Lyin' Baloney polluting their airwaves. AAR is going to stay on the air despite the best efforts of crooked Guam Republican Evan Cohen.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 16:43
The talk radio wingnut 2000 - broadcasting RNC talking points 24/7.
Lap it up wingnuts!
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 16:44
Anonymous said...
... Franken DID draw some salary when the Wise thing was going on. It would be indistinguishable whether the actual money he got was from the coffers of the Boys and Girls Club, but fair to infer that some of it was. Al Franken DID benefit from the theft of funds from the Boys and Girls Club.
Hey Anonymous. . .are you a runner?
Cause that is some kind of STRETCH.
dumb but still a stretch.
BTW what about the Jack and Tom show? Any poop on that. (pun intended!!)
mickh
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 16:53
All the News that is fit to lie about.
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David, at 12 August, 2005 17:05
Cause that is some kind of STRETCH.
Nope.
Fact: Money was stolen from Gloria Wise.
Undisputed assumption: This money was put into Hairball America.
Fact: Al Frankenberry drew SOME money out of Hot America around the time that the stolen money was being put into the company.
It is likely that some of Al's money came from Gloria Wise. It's not much of a stretch at all.
Secondly - EVEN IF that could be shown not to be that case - Consider that if Al Franken received SOMETHING since March of 2004, he did better than Gloria Wise- which received NOTHING.
So, rather than pay the Boys and Girls Club back, the organization CHOSE to pay Frankenberry, instead.
Al's money is dirty ANY which way you look at it.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 17:32
Typical wingnut lies. Transform a nobody, crooked Republican from Guam into a guy like Al Franken who had the NERVE to call the oxycontin-marinated windbag a big, fat idiot and also had the NERVE to win a lawsuit with Faux News and rack up bigger sales for his book at the same time!
You wingnuts just can't stand the truth. You want all lies all the time. 24/7 lies on all channels of the radio and TV.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 17:42
Hey Anonymous. . .
Undisputed assumption: This money was put into Hairball America.
What the heck is an “UNDISPUTED ASSUMPTION”.
Isn’t that still an “ASSUMPTION” not based on FACTS.
If I had worked there I would have expected to have been paid. . . your you saying you wouldn’t?
I had a TWO PART reply. . .
Here is part 2, care to answer this time.
BTW what about the Jack and Tom show? Any poop on that. (pun intended!!)
NOW THERE IS A SCANDAL, right!!!
mickh
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 18:01
I love the part where The NYT states that Gloria Wise "gave" them the money.
Now those damn pleebians want it back?! How dare they?! But, lucky for us, the incredibly noble Al Franken will do it.....eventually. Western civilization is saved. Amen.
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 18:02
What the heck is an “UNDISPUTED ASSUMPTION”.
Isn’t that still an “ASSUMPTION” not based on FACTS.
If the money had NOT been put into Scare America we would have heard it by now. No denial pretty much equals a fact with these guys.
But, come to thing of it, didn't Frankenberry say the money WAS put into Hairball America?
So, heh heh heh, I guess I am right, and you are a has-been!
Or maybe you've just been had!
It's shaping up for Franken to be dirty on this one! No wonder he's nervous!
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Anonymous, at 12 August, 2005 22:31
Al Franken stole my shoe!
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Anonymous, at 13 August, 2005 01:20
"BTW what about the Jack and Tom show?"
What about the Jack and Nancy show?
What about the Jack and Jesse Jr show?
What about the Jack and Dennis K. show?
By
Anonymous, at 13 August, 2005 09:39
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