Al Franken: Who's the "big fat idiot" NOW?

[Jimblast]

Knox?

Mr. Knox asked what I do (which of course should have nothing to do with posting in a tickling forum about politics), and mentioned Mr Franken's living. But since I'm guessing he is a liberal and will not take the issue head on and respect any opinion other than his own, I'll answer. Mr. Knox, I am owner operator of a staffing business which has 11 offices throughout the southwest and generates over 40 million in revenue annually. We hope to invest in another service doubling our size, so chances are, I may be too busy to refute or answer some of these obscene questions. I have to meet payroll on a weekly basis, so I'm one of those hard working employers who gets bashed by your boy Franken. I don't like it. Nor does the rest of mainstream America. Dealing with some of these liberals in this forum (not all, mind you) is like going back the the third grade. I contribute to charities, am a proud mentor in the big brothers big sisters program, served in the military, have my MBA, and played football through college. It's about opinions no matter who you are, what you do, or what your background. Mr. Knox? I would rather be dirt poor than make a living out of slandering people and calling them names as Mr. Franken seems to do. Keep it clean, son. 😎

 

[ShiningIce]

I would rather be dirt poor than make a living out of slandering people and calling them names as Mr. Franken seems to do.

Right, and conservatives NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER do that. 🙄

 

[JoBelle]

Unlike others who ignore all the pertinent information in a post (see above), I have a specific reason for my opinion. (I'll post more than the part where an insult can be slung back.)

As a business owner, I too am tired of the liberal crap I see. An aside....Given that my business is in what most would consider the prime non-conservative camp, I catch grief from everyone. 🙄 Still, at the end of the day, I end up paying more for other people than I do for myself. It gets old. Just realizing that it would involve way too much explaination to get into this subject, I'll just say I'm venting here.

Contrary to what most may assume from some of my posts, I am NOT a conservative Republican. I've always considered myself to be a Democrat until the last couple of years when the over-the-top whining became the donkey's chant. My big turn around was when I realized that any backing of the course of action taken by the elected leaders of our country was tantamount to cold blooded murder. I'd rather be an off-center conservative than lable myself a liberal now.

I'm told that my passion and aggression are out of line because they aren't part of the liberal view. But....when Green Peace endangers the lives of others for their agenda's sake, it's ok. When permanent damage is done to families who end up with 3rd generation welfare recipients, it's ok. When a man murders someone, but claims it's because society treated him wrong because of his skin color, or country of origin, it's ok. Passion for liberal causes is ok.

To condemn the violent actions of one group, then condone the violence of another is just hypocricy, no matter how you color it.

Blah...I hate politics.
Jo

 

[Jimblast]

JOBELLE?!

Conservative, Republican, Independent.....that was very well written. Isn't it amazing how once you become an employer and have to meet payroll, and bust your butt to make it happen every day (when everyone else thinks owning a business is so glamorous), that you end up thinking the way you just expressed. Yet for stating what most of mainstream hard working tax paying America believes, you're considered a racist, idiot, hater of animals, and generally a Hitler supporter. Give yourself some credit Jobelle, it is people like yourself that keep this country running and safe. Safe for everyone including those angry liberals (not all liberals mind you) who whine about everything, protest everything, and hide under a rock like a coward when the going gets tough. I truly appreciated what you wrote, hopefully others will as well. 😀

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I don't care what you own, or who you pay. Ever serve your country, Jim? If you did, that might be in my eyes your only virtue. To me, that's probably the only redeeming quality I know of, really.
Most so called conservatives I know wouldn't piss on a serviceman if he was on fire, much less sign the papers and take the oath, and then they claim Liberals look down on such an occupation.
If you did, Jim, we might become friends in the end. If not...well...

 

[Knox The Hatter]

It's OK, save your breath. You mentioned in another thread that you did.
Jim, when you can offer cogent reasoning to back up your opinions (as some right wingers have within the course of my lifetime, but not many), then people won't call you names or insult your intelligence. When you offer little more than bombast, you just invite it.
Welcome to the board!
By the way...my opinion is that when you write books that make the New York Times bestseller list, you've certainly accomplished something...it's something that I aspire to, as do most writers. I figure that if you've made a successful career in the public eye, than what have you lost? Unless, you're Jimmy the Greek, of course...

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I long for the day we get a Conservative newbie that I can have a truly enlightening conversation with...where said person can truly illuminate on why he or she thinks that the present reg- uh...administration is moving in the right direction in regards to actions and policy, without the demonization of people who disagree. I would like to hear an enlightening Conservative viewpoint about Religion and its place in our society, without said person resorting to bunker mentality diatribes. I would like to talk to someone with a Conservative bent who isn't afflicted by the tunnelvision of ignorance (something that the Right does not have a monopoly on, I freely admit), someone who is not defensive and ashamed. Someone open minded.
After all, Man does not live on Big Jim's 'War and Peace' length conspiracy theories alone.
Can't wait to talk to the dream Conservative I've described. I think it would be fun.

 

[The Sean Man]

When I was in broadcasting school, it was right about the time Rush had his tv show. Several goth kids in the class were just about in tears, asking "How can Rush say these things?" My teacher pointed out that Rush is an entertainer. And like Al Franken, they have found their niche in being entertainers in the political realm. I remember in high school, a guy in the back of the classroom....he never had anything to say on his own, but had everything to say about everyone else's comments and beliefs. Rush and Al get their press time, sell books, and keep their names in the limelight. They are no more qualified to be political 'experts' than you or I. If they truly had the brass to do something about the things they complain about, they'd run for office...oh, but wait....then THEY'D be heckled by the left and right🙂

The Sean Man

 

[Knox The Hatter]

The line between "entertainer" and "analyst/pundit" has been permanently blurred. Al Franken's a comedian voicing his opinions, as Does Dennis Miller, and the even more hilarious Ann Coulter.
All the arguing, the demonization, the name calling, the braying over a culture war is really a smokescreen created by some very intelligent people who don't want you to focus on the fact that we have problems in our society that the politicians can't do jack shit about. Keep that in mind.

 

[evilqueen]

Whoa, now hold on there Knox, after all where do non-politicians get off commenting about politics, eh? They're just satirists like Will Rogers...George Bernard Shaw...Mark Twain...George Orwell....Jonathan Swift...and who ever listened to them?

And before anyone asks if I'm comparing Al Franken to Orwell let me just say 🙄

OTOH...
Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Tom Lehrer, another wiseguy

OTOOH...
Rush Limbaugh is still a big fat drug addict. And given his stated views about drug addicts, that's just damn funny.

 

[kyle]

The NY post account is troubling. However, Franken is still a big time douche.

 

[Jimblast]

Is it Knox the Hatter or Knox the Hater? Actually, I'm waiting to see anything that resembles reasoning coming from this individual's posts on here. Since neither of us will change the other's mind, maybe we should agree to disagree, or is that in your nature? The New York Times Best Seller list has also carried such authors as: Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, George Bush Sr., Nancy Reagan, Gerald Ford....should I continue? Sean Hannity has a book coming out that I'm sure will make the list. I come from a long line of authors, one (an uncle) who has made that same list 4 times, and another who was (you will find in the dictionary) the first recognized American Novelist and was an author well before there was a New York Times list. Maybe you've studied one of his works in English Literature, 'The Last of the Mohicans'. Both had liberal tendencies, yet neither questioned one's intelligence. Good luck in your writings, Mr. Hatter. I am happy to say I was published once in a worldwide publication in 1987. Penthouse Forum Magazine. It was an 8 page article on of all things....TICKLING entitled 'The Art of Erotic Tickling'. After writing that article, many people started to realize that they weren't the only person in the world with this unique fetish (as people from all over informed me). From that, we created the very first worldwide tickling organization, FeatherMates and created 2 newsletters entitled 'The Tickling Digest'. It truly makes those of us that created that newsletter very happy to see what has evolved with the internet. I haven't talked to my old friend BAC, but it's great to see his works from those days still give people joy. At the time, BAC and I did not share the same political beliefs, but set that aside for creative purposes, and got along quite well. Maybe, putting our political beliefs aside, all of us can continue creating and discussing the art of tickling. Newbie to the Forum I might be, but newbie to this fetish I'm not. I have an idea Hatter, how about taking some of your writing talent and publish something about our mutual fetish so that all of us can benefit? After all, tickling isn't a political undertaking and doesn't discriminate! 😀

 

[Jimblast]

Oh, and Knox? Yes I did serve my country, for 4 years and 4 months with an honorable discharge. And whether I were in the service or not, I certainly would never p*ss on a serviceman nor would any Conservative I know. It is our vote that strengthens your military. I have many friends still in the military, I can't think of one that shares your opinion or would p*ss on Al Franken if he were on fire. 😀

 

[venray]

You're still not reading the Union Leader article. The heckler is described as "shoving and elbowing" the security and the theater manager before Franken got involved. To me, at least, that certainly crosses "the line between physically manhandling someone and shouting at a public figure in an assembly."

Should Franken have stayed out of it? Probably. But as I said above, I can understand his reaction, even if I don't fully condone it. And I don't see that this invalidates my original point: the sleaziness of the Post's article in neglecting to mention that the heckler was the first to start getting physical.

So it's OK for any of us to jumo in when a security or police officer is subdueing someone? I think not...Franken is just a fool who wanted a little more publicity for himself.....


Ray

 

[Roseblossom]

...Al Franken's a comedian voicing his opinions, as Does Dennis Miller, and the even more hilarious Ann Coulter...

Yah, and Bill O'Reilly too! Now that's one funny funny guy.

~Rose~ 😛

 

[Roseblossom]

Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Tom Lehrer, another wiseguy/B]

OMG yeah...

Kinda says it all. Thanks evilqueen.

~Rose~

 

[The Sean Man]

Hey JimBlast!

YOU wrote that tickling article back in '87?!? Thank you for letting me know that there were others out there into the same thing. Buddy, that article was GREAT!

The Sean Man

 

[Knox The Hatter]

"Since neither of us will change the other's mind, maybe we should agree to disagree, or is that in your nature?"

Oh, it's in my nature. I served for four extremely proud years in the United States Navy, by the way. I've met people here, Jim, who voted for Bush, and never tire of talking about how great he is, and can't figure out why anyone would join the service. Let's just say it's beneath them. They have this thing, it's better to go out and fuck your fellow man than to protect him. So, speak for yourself.

"Actually, I'm waiting to see anything that resembles reasoning coming from this individual's posts on here."



How strange! That's what I've been thinking about you, Sir. But, since we're going to agree to disagree, I'm going to put this aside.
In fact, I promise from here on in not to respond to anything you say. Do the same for me.

 

[Jimblast]

Hmmmm.....strange.... servicemen who vote happen to vote 75% Republican and 25% Democrat. This was reinforced when the Military vote was counted in absentee from overseas during the Bush/Gore presidential race. Maybe after they (the best military on the face of the earth) were better protected with superior technology (voted by Republicans), and are better fed (MRE's vs. K Rations...voted by Republicans) and are better funded (don't so much as try to deny funding appropriated to the military is vastly voted in by Republicans) they suddenly forget all that and become Democrats! Makes sense to me! NOT! America's biggest military blunder was started and escalated by Democratic Presidents (Kennedy and Johnson) and ended during the term of a Republican President (Nixon). I did not serve in Viet Nam, however my oldest brother Mike did. As a result, he...like other Viet Nam Vets I know, don't trust government whatsoever. They have an utter disdain for Clinton and many (like my brother) just don't trust the Democrats with issues of war and national security. Kerry is a war hero and is to be appreciated and recognized as such. He is no friend of the military with his voting record, voting against 117 different successful weapons systems that our military depends on today. It's going to come up this election, over and over again.

I'm not sure where this philosophy came from that Republicans don't go to war or serve, but it's false. Let's stick to the truth, shall we? I served this country for 4 years and four months that were not always glorious (as Knox described his tenure which actually I applaud! LOL!) based upon what we were involved in. But with everything I did then and everything I do now, I think of our country first, and our preservation of freedom. Never once was I ungrateful toward those congressmen and senators that armed us better and fed us better than any country on this earth. Mr. Knox, I asked one of the members here about you whom has met you and mentioned you were a really cool person. I believe that and who knows, as a fellow vet, maybe we could one day tip a glass of beer together. Knox I do hope you don't refrain from responding to my posts. As long as we keep it civil, we should respect one another's opinion. The fact that you served (like Kerry), does mean something to me. I may not agree with yours or his politics, but in battle I'm sure I would have tremendous confidence in you, and certainly that supercedes politics. 😀

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Thanks, Jim.
When the Iraq thing started, I was of two minds: first, that all those in uniform, are my bretheren. I truly care about each and every one of them, I think about what they wake up to each day (having to wear that protective suit and carry forty plus pounds of gear in sweltering 120 degree heat; if not actually wondering if this is the day they catch trouble), and have sympathy for them, in that they were given a job to do that requires ten to twentyfold of their numbers in attendance. Everyone pointed to Saddam's needing 20,000 law enforcement officers to patrol a city of three million like Baghdad, when a city two and a half times it's size, like New York, only needs eight thousand, as a sign of his repressive brutality. Fact is, he needed every one of them. Iraq was a place artificially created with a pen, filled with all kinds of diverse people wanting to go their own way. Saddam, coming from a distinct minority, understood his own iron fist. I don't think anyone in the current Bush (or even the Clinton administration) did.
Second: I don't trust this government (no matter who's running it) to do anything right. Nothing in the past 25 to 30 years has convinced me that they are able to. Men and women in uniform always have to be the fall guys for people who want to use them like the toy boats in a child's bathtub, or to play social experiments with for the advancement of a dubious social agenda, or to help underwrite the financial enrichment of enterprises which do not advance the interests of the American people.
As far as Clinton is concerned, what I will never, ever forget is his selling burial plots in Arlington to the highest bidder. To me, that's as reprehensible as any act any American President has ever committed. So, like I said, I walk in lockstep with no one. In my opinion, this administration is truly injuring this country. Opinions differ.
The beer's on me, Jim. Your choice of brand.