The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

18 November 2006

Al Franken, Air America Radio Departure

FRANKENFLAK

As Air America Fades, Al's Future Questionable






When writing about Al Franken, it turns out, your Radio Equalizer just can't win. It's time to put on our Frankenflak jackets.

For weeks, we've been getting snippy emails from readers wondering why we hadn't reported on Stuart's impending departure from Air America Radio, despite the strong hints that it was about to occur. Far from a right- wing plot, some of these were coming from liberal listeners and bloggers.

Do they consider Franken a burden to their cause? The agenda wasn't clear.

Then, when we did report on this still- likely outcome (because enough evidence had finally emerged), some lefties criticized this site for being late to the party. After all, some of them had apparently posted Internet messages to this effect some time ago. That's why we didn't label it as an exclusive story.

Now, we're being slammed at the Huffington Post and elsewhere for supposedly jumping the gun, because Franken either isn't leaving the network, or isn't yet ready to announce it.

Here's the HuffPo's Steve Young (a sworn O'Reilly enemy who recently posted a fake obit for the FOX News Channel talker) on why your Radio Equalizer is wrong:



Franken's Leaving Alright...For Iraq...
News of Leaving Air America, Premature


Right Wing media outlets in the know about liberal talk, reported the breaking "news" that Al Franken would be leaving Air America on 12/8.

Newsbusters, Brian Maloney's Radioequalizer, and a number of other sites all gleefully reported Al's departure from AA.

One right wing site announced that they only reported on the story because it could be "verified via the affiliates." Perhaps they got the info from the same guy at the Quake in San Francisco who has posted premature and inaccurate news of Al's departure in the past.

Even an idjut from Huffington Post, who sometimes uses my body, took off with story.

Yessir, they were right on the money. Except for a couple little things.

1. Al is leaving all right...for Iraq and Afghanistan on a USO Tour.

This is Al's third trip to entertain the troops in the war torn area. You know, like Sean Hannity and Rush Lim... Oh, yeah. Better nix those last two. I forgot. It's only the ones who undermine the troops who head over to the front lines with our guys. The ones pushing to send them over...well, you know. Busy, busy.

2. While some have said he's leaving Ait America, he hasn't. As Al told me last night, at this point, he's "made no decision on leaving the show." And it is up to him. Which means, as of today, when he returns, he could just as well be back at the Air America mike as begin a run for Senate or study the history of bakliva. Nothing has been determined.


First of all, "the guy at the Quake" happens to be the program director of what has been one of Air America's largest affiliates, KQKE- AM. Word of Franken's departure was made on the air by one of their announcers. No right- wing plot here.


Second, many of these stations, if not all, have been informed that Franken's not going to stick around. In fact, Inside Radio, your Radio Equalizer's employer, reported on speculation related to that clear back in October. The only question has been the actual date, which we took from the KQKE- AM audio clip. If we're off a bit on that, so be it.


Finally, if Air America doesn't have a buyer lined up by Thanksgiving, it's all over anyway. We'll be reporting more on that very soon. Somebody has to put up the ca$h to keep it going, or what remains of the dying network will likely go into Chapter Seven liquidation. That could push all of them off the air very quickly.

At the same time, we're hearing that Franken is making other pre- campaign plans, perhaps elsewhere in the media world. We're looking into that now.

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.


ALSO: from Tim Graham at NewsBusters: "Matthews Laughs As Al Franken Jokes John Fund's GOP Buddies Are 'Crooks'"

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15 Comments:

  • Don't worry Maloney. Your progressive readers long ago stopped expecting truth and accuracy in your writing.

    By Blogger none, at 18 November, 2006 17:50  

  • Yes, we have!!

    But, in fairness, Franken's not handling this well and being very coy about all the gossip.

    Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.

    Ultimately, it's the listeners who get screwed over when these little games get played.

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 18 November, 2006 18:42  

  • Well at least me then.

    Anyway speculating about Franken's departure date is harmless fun.

    By Blogger none, at 18 November, 2006 20:11  

  • Being a moron yourself, we guess you would know.

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 19 November, 2006 01:03  

  • Not the kind of transplant you're aiming for, baby....

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 19 November, 2006 20:35  

  • Anyone who wants to see liberal hate first hand can read the "progressives'" postings here.

    By Blogger PCD, at 20 November, 2006 07:59  

  • PCD, ahhhhhh poor baby, we only took 20 years of your hate spit forth on the AM radio "liberals hate America" "liberals want to destroy society by being tolerant of gays". This discourse was indeed started by the far right, nazi brigade. I use the term "nazi" with good reason, when listening to Michael Savage rip to shreds the gay people, it is almost exactly what hitler said about gays. So yes, Nazi is a good term to use when describing someone who tolerates hate like that put forth by Michael Savage.
    You freaks, deserve to be hated. You are regressive and dangerous to America. Conservative talk radio, promotes regressive thinking, and a hate filled America. There is no room for your hate.
    My heart bleeds for you. waaa waaaa, "liberal hate"? Try LIBERAL REALITY

    By Blogger Minister of Propaganda, at 20 November, 2006 09:48  

  • Liberal Reality is Al Franken unemployed.

    By Blogger Lokki, at 20 November, 2006 11:39  

  • I doubt Franken is concerned with giving up his show. He definatly does not need the cash. you make a lot of $$$ from writing best selling books, or did you forget he has written 3 top selling books??? Reality neo-conservatism is DEAD, reality is CNN {as conservative as they are with Glenn Beck] crushed FOX on election night, reality is conservative radio is falling every day in listenershio,, Reality is Franken never needed the radio show, and you and Maloney are simply jealous, Franken has a career, and you are a crappy blogger. I don't even listen to Franken, I listen to Tom Hartman, it does not bother me, nor anyone else, except psychos such as yourself

    By Blogger Minister of Propaganda, at 20 November, 2006 12:09  

  • reality is CNN {as conservative as they are with Glenn Beck] crushed FOX on election night

    I'd ask you for your source on that, but since I do have a source, I know you're just making your information up, yet again.

    Per Media Bistro, which gets its data from Nielsen, nobody crushed anyone. CNN did slightly better in 25-54, and Fox did slightly better in overall viewers.

    Do your research next time, please.

    By Blogger Snowed In, at 20 November, 2006 13:44  

  • Minister of Propaganda:

    "psychos such as yourself...

    My thoughts exactly

    By Blogger Lokki, at 20 November, 2006 14:27  

  • Don't smoke hash, or do heroin, pot, you get the message. Propaganda, HA HA.

    What small people.

    By Blogger AllenS, at 20 November, 2006 17:59  

  • Allan
    Small people? That would be the mentally unstable freaks who take right wing radio seriously. You know, the ones who hang on Savage's lates Naziesque anti-gay speech every word. Drugs??? Look no furthur than Limbaugh, your crowd is the small people crowd, the crowd that needs a magnetic bumper sticker to display your patriotism. Cowardly, small minded, the neo-conservative

    Listen in tonight on indieairplay.com
    Evil Liberal Propaganda Network
    Handing liberal fire to conservative liars
    10OM-mid EST

    By Blogger Minister of Propaganda, at 20 November, 2006 19:51  

  • Strawman, do you ever check your facts before you spew?

    And for that matter, does your irony meter twitch even a little bit when you come on here calling everyone who may not agree with you "mental unstable", "cowardly, small minded," while at the same time hiding behind a nickname?

    Or are you just an asshole by nature?

    By Blogger SierraSpartan, at 20 November, 2006 20:52  

  • Oh, I do hope the evil jihadists do find them all in one building at one time....

    By Blogger hashfanatic, at 20 November, 2006 23:07  

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