10 Questions for Al Franken

[Timber Loftis]

NY Times-- March 23, 2004
10 QUESTIONS FOR. . .
Al Franken

The author and satirist answered readers' questions about humor, politics and his new radio venture.

Q. 1. Do you think President Bush knowingly and deliberately lied to the American people about the WMD's used as a causus belli, or is George W. Bush so gullible that he was he completely hoodwinked by Cheney and the pro-war neoconservative crew at the Pentagon so that he actually believed that Iraq had all those WMD stockpiles?

A. Americans have to ask some serious questions about this. What did the president know and, if not, why didn't he know it? If, as may be the case, the president did not understand his intelligence briefings, did he ask to have them explained to him? And did he know that he didn’t understand them? These are questions that must be asked repeatedly and in an accusatory tone.

Q. 2. Is George W. Bush unaware that he is intellectually uncurious, or does he "know that he does not know" (to paraphrase Socrates)? What's the worst thing he's done since becoming president?

A. I think he believes that it's not important to be intellectually curious — that's for intellectuals. As far as the worst thing he's done, I'd say it was to hijack 9/11 and use it for his own political agenda. After 9/11 this country was more united than I'd ever seen it. And almost the entire world was behind us. He squandered an opportunity to lead this country and the world into a new American century. It's sad.

Q. 3. How do you counter the misplaced, ill-conceived, malignant idealism of a Ralph Nader campaign without appearing cynical?

A. I think we should just ignore Nader. But I'd encourage Republican friends to take a good, hard look at the Libertarian candidate for president.

Q. 4. The New York Times piece on you noted that you are considering running for the Senate in Minnesota in '08. Are you serious about this?

A. Yes. I grew up in Minnesota and come back all the time. If I thought I'd be the strongest DFL candidate to take back Wellstone's seat, I'd go for it. But I probably should discuss it with my family. Also, I have a radio show to do. First things first.

Q. 5. Developing a Limbaugh-sized audience requires commentary that is simplistic to the point of being moronic and cynical to the point of being paranoid. How could a liberal radio talk show host conceivably rise (or sink) to such a challenge?

A. I don't buy your premise. Their entertainment value is bile and bluster and distortion and lies. I believe the facts are on our side but realize that there's more to being entertaining than just reciting facts. So, I'm going to be funny, combative and charming.

Q. 6. Our nation experiences eight years of unparalleled prosperity and international good will. Then, come election time, 50 percent of our country decides to vote out the party that brought us our good times. Now, on the combined domestic and international fronts we are at an unprecedented low, yet all the pundits are expecting a tight race. What the hell is wrong with us?!

A. I think Clinton made it look too easy. Here he was a successful president with one hand tied behind his back, always under assault by a hostile Congress and the nutcase right. Americans just assumed it wasn't that hard to be president so they took a flyer on Bush. Gore paid for Clinton's sins, and Bush pretended to be something he's not. As far as this year? I believe the mainstream media's been cowed and not doing their job, leaving the right-wing media free to present a distorted view of this administration. I think this is the most radically conservative administration in history and, if we don't get these guys out of there, the deck will be stacked for decades.

Q. 7. Picture it. President Bill Clinton stands before the American public and misleads us into thinking that we were in imminent danger and that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and we know they have them because we know where they are! We must go to war. With the result the same as it became with George W. Bush, what would the G.O.P. have done?

A. Impeachment.

Q. 8. Granted, Rush is a big, fat idiot, and Bush is an easy target, but I'd like to hear you be more critical of the Democrats — is there anything about John Kerry that gives you pause?

A. Not yet.

Q. 9. Why do liberals like you, Al Franken, hate America?

A. Liberals like me love America. We just love America in a different way. You love America like a 4-year-old loves his mommy. Liberals love America like grown-ups. To a 4-year-old, everything Mommy does is wonderful and anyone who criticizes Mommy is bad. Grown-up love means actually understanding what you love, taking the good with the bad and helping your loved one grow. Love takes attention and work and is the best thing in the world. That's why we liberals want America to do the right thing. We know America is the hope of the world, and we love it and want it to do well. We also want it to do good.

Q. 10. I've got aunts and uncles who are Republican. I really miss the days when Republicans and Democrats could talk civilly, search for common ground, and agree to disagree on the other stuff. Like my dad taught me, "Reasonable people can disagree." At the same time you lament the debasement of civic discourse, you don't exactly elevate it yourself. Why can't we talk about politics without questioning the motives and intelligence of the other side?

A. Nuts to you.

[Djinn Raffo]

That's pretty good. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Rokenn]

#7 is far too true!

[Davros]

I found number 9 to be rather sensible. I don't think it is a simplistic repug v democrat thing like he puts it. Each camp is neither exclusively one or the other, but it is one of the better explanations of the stupidic "why don't you love your country" crap that concerned and questioning people get needlessly smeared with.

Momma's gunna keep you here under her wing
Momma won't let anyone dirty get in
Momma's gunna keep baby healthy and warm
Oooooooooooooh baby, Ooooooooooooo baby
Oooooh babe I guess I'm gunna help build that wall

Momma did it have to be so high.

[Night Stalker]

Originally posted by Davros: Momma's gunna keep you here under her wing Momma won't let anyone dirty get in Momma's gunna keep baby healthy and warm Oooooooooooooh baby, Ooooooooooooo baby Oooooh babe I guess I'm gunna help build that wall Momma did it have to be so high.

This arguement of yours Dav is just pure bollocks! This is a clear strawman! Notice how you start with one arguement, change directions in the middle, then revert to your original assertion. Bollocks I tell you! Bollocks!

Note how your arguement fails under deconstruction:

Point 1
Hush now baby, baby, dont you cry.
Mother's gonna make all your nightmares come true.
Mother's gonna put all her fears into you.
Mother's gonna keep you right here under her wing.
She wont let you fly, but she might let you sing.
Mama will keep baby cozy and warm.
Ooooh baby ooooh baby oooooh baby,
Of course mama's gonna help to build the wall.


Point 2
Hush now baby, baby dont you cry.
Mama's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you.
Mama wont let anyone dirty get through.
Mama's gonna wait up until you get in.
Mama will always find out where you've been.
Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean.
Ooooh baby oooh baby oooh baby,
You'll always be baby to me.

And the conclusion
Mother, did it need to be so high?

Bollocks I tell you!! [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 03-25-2004, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: Night Stalker ]

[Timber Loftis]

For some reason, this thread that now stands before me fills me with the urge to defacate.

(Nooooo, Judge!)

[john]

TL ,Can't wait to hear Frankin on the radio.Just started rereading "Lies and the Lying Liars' book,the chapter about Bill O'Liely has me laughing out load still!!Great book and a really fun ,if not depressing ,read .If what you posted above is from a show of his ,where can I catch him? Thanks..

[Night Stalker]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: For some reason, this thread that now stands before me fills me with the urge to defacate. (Nooooo, Judge!)

Well, if that's the way things are gonna be around here, then all I have to say is goodbye cruel thread. I'm leaving you today. Nothing can change my mind. Goodbye!

[Chewbacca]

I suddenly feel comfortably numb.

Hello? Is anybody out there?

[john]

Yes were out here, but were wasted and we can't find our way home...