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Beck on Franken victory: "This is like having me in the Senate. ... it shows that we've lost our minds"

June 30, 2009 8:36 pm ET

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    • Author by Pinhead (June 30, 2009 8:42 pm ET)
      12 2
      Nope. Franken is intelligent, sane, and funny.

      P.S. Glenn Beck, author of the book, Common Sense? Thomas Paine must be spinning in his grave
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      • Author by wookie (June 30, 2009 9:01 pm ET)
        14  
        However, having Beck as a senator would be much like having Michelle Bachman as a senator.
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        • Author by Pinhead (June 30, 2009 9:13 pm ET)
          11  
          Let's see... Jesse Helms, Rick Santorum, Trent Lott, Ted Stevens, George Allen... I guess I can imagine Beck as a senator.
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      • Author by mybrotherskeeper (June 30, 2009 9:03 pm ET)
        14  
        Bingo! He and Al Franken do not really have much in common.

        Gotta love, too, how frequently Glenn Beck invokes the "Have we lost our minds?" theme. Uh, Glenn. We?
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      • Author by harley (June 30, 2009 9:58 pm ET)
        13  
        Franken graduated from one of the best Universities in the World and graduated cum laude with BA in poli science.

        Becky has the education of a GED drop-out.
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        • Author by Timmee (June 30, 2009 11:00 pm ET)
          9  
          I saw a video of Al Franken drawing a map of the United States FREEHAND and getting all the states correct and almost in perfect proportion. Maybe it's on You tube...I think it was just a campaign stop in some rec center.

          Report Abuse
        • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (June 30, 2009 11:19 pm ET)
          12 1
          Harley, you're right. Franken is bright and educated, with a background suited for the job. Of course, most of the media refer to him as simply a "comedian".

          The far right calls him a "failed comedian". If I'm not mistaken, he was a founding member of Saturday Night Live, which, for its ups and downs in quality, is still airing 30+ years later.

          He's been involved in successful movies and TV shows, and written books that sold pretty well.

          He's also called a "failed radio host" by Rush and others, after having a show with decent ratings and leaving to enter politics.

          He's not Carrot Top. All comedians are writers to an extent, whether they're good or bad writers correlates to whether they're good or bad comedians. The best satirists are philosophers.

          I don't imagine comedy is an easy profession. Doing it right requires critical thinking abilities, a grasp of logic, and an ability to understand the absurd. The best comedy involves some skill in abstract thinking. All of these are qualities that don't sound too bad in a person serving the public.Basically, they show an ability to think well.

          Funny that St. Ronnie is revered for his "wit". I still see clips of him, and hear him quoted for some of his Greatest Hits; "I'm from the government and I'm here to help", his "youth and experience" zinger.

          These are mostly simple one-liners, probably written by somebody else, and delivered by an old actor who couldn't even read others words that convincingly.

          And don't forget the Dirty Harry quotes. That's considered real talent by the disciples of Raygun.

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          • Author by solon (July 01, 2009 1:11 am ET)
            6  
            Franken also won 5 Emmys for comedy writing and co wrote the very successful movie When a Man Loves a Woman. He is a very successful comedian and writer by ANY standard
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        • Author by nolies4me (July 01, 2009 2:18 am ET)
            2
          So big Deal! Just because a person graduates from a high rated university, does not mean that person has any common sense or is automatically qualified to be a Senator or anywhere in leadership!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by gene2kelly (July 01, 2009 10:30 am ET)
            3  
            Agreed, George W Bush was graduated from Yale and Harvard Business School, because of his family connection. But Al actually graduated on his on without family health..
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          • Author by thejbomb65 (July 01, 2009 10:56 am ET)
            2  
            really? what about barack obama?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by thejbomb65 (July 01, 2009 11:51 am ET)
            2  
            would you like to try logical fallicy for 600?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by harley (July 01, 2009 6:11 pm ET)
            1  
            does not mean that person has any common sense or is automatically qualified to be a Senator or anywhere in leadership!


            No one stated that. But, the GED equivalent intellect of Becky is quite of his league with the skill set, experience, and education of Franken.
            Report Abuse
        • Author by ccdesign (July 01, 2009 10:04 am ET)
          1  
          Didn't dubya go to Yale?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 11:41 am ET)
            2
          There are millions of people w/ degrees from fine universities who are unproductive citizens and there are millions of people who have no degrees who are productive citizens. It seems the only defense liberals have for accepting Franken as a U.S. Senator is that he graduated from an accredited university. That's fine but my lasting impression of Al Franken is of a 60's type anti-government pundit with nothing but contempt for the United States. He may well perform admirably as a senator but he has a great deal of "baggage" to deal with so there will be satire at his expense, much deserved. The most important aspect of his election is that a 60 seat majority gives little wiggle room for democrats to say they are "unable to get anything done"!
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          • Author by thejbomb65 (July 01, 2009 11:54 am ET)
            2  
            I, as a conservative (not neo con nutbag), accept franken because he is smart. unlike yourself. because first and foremost franken's profession was that of a professional comedian. so idk what part of your body (though im sure we can all guess) you pulled that anti government pundit crap from, but he has more brain power and is smart than you. cause guess what. to get into harvard you have to be very smart.....unless your george bush and your family gives alot of money so you can go there and barely graduate.
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            • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 12:21 pm ET)
                2
              Your keen intellect, mastery of phonics and spelling have convinced me I'm wrong and you're right. Thank you!
              Report Abuse
              • Author by thejbomb65 (July 02, 2009 10:06 am ET)
                1  
                Is that all you have? Really? Attacking my lack of total attention to grammar? Come on you can do better than that.
                Report Abuse
          • Author by harley (July 01, 2009 6:10 pm ET)
            1  
            accredited university.


            It's quite clear you really do not know what that means. Harvard is a bit more than just an "accredited university".

            Fail.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 7:10 pm ET)
                1
              It is an accredited university. Am I wrong, Harley?
              Report Abuse
              • Author by thejbomb65 (July 02, 2009 10:12 am ET)
                1  
                Allow me this one Harley please.......

                No rainbows, your not wrong. Harvard is an accredited university just like my own alma matter in PA.

                the difference being Harvard is about 60k in tuition, and a much higher entrance standards to get in (I'm guessing on the tuition, but i know that it was a good deal more than the 12k a year i paid). I scored a 1040 on my SAT's, no way could i have gotten into Harvard with that.

                But putting aside that, if you have lots of money and in essence bribe the university board, you could probably get your son into Harvard too.....just ask George W. Bush.

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                • Author by puppienrainbows (July 02, 2009 2:57 pm ET)
                  1  
                  Soooooooooooooo what. I stated that Harvard was an accredited university and Harley chimed in to discredit, somehow, that assertion. He didn't and couldn't and neither can you and this is pointless!
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Brabantio (July 02, 2009 4:43 pm ET)
                    1  
                    No, his point is that you were understating the truth, not that what you were saying was false.
                    Report Abuse
    • Author by budrykzp9226 (June 30, 2009 8:43 pm ET)
      15 1
      Glenn, make up your mind: are you a wacky court jester who's not to be taken seriously, or a populist hero who speaks truth to non-Republican power? You can't even agree with your own damn chyron.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by snoopy (June 30, 2009 8:57 pm ET)
      6  
      He even does a crappy Karnack immitation.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (June 30, 2009 9:02 pm ET)
      3  
      If I were to support Glenn Beck in his assertion, it would mean that I've been in this strange new world a long time indeed. I remember a time, and Beck probably does too, when it seemed inconceivable that a B-movie actor, who was most famous for playing second banana to a chimp, would ever be President...
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      • Author by tjmccool2284 (July 01, 2009 11:23 am ET)
        1  
        when it seemed inconceivable that a B-movie actor... would ever be President...

        Read Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano written in IIRC 1952. In it he has, among many other plot lines, an actor is president.

        Surprising, maybe, inconceivable, no.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by paul8616 (June 30, 2009 9:03 pm ET)
      11  
      Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (June 30, 2009 9:03 pm ET)
      11  
      ...or like Sarah Palin holding any elected office whatsoever.
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      • Author by snoopy (June 30, 2009 9:11 pm ET)
        8  
        Trailer park Sarah? Loved the piece today from insiders in the mccain camp saying it was a mistake to not vet her beforehand and that she takes pride in being willfully ignorant. Just as I suspected, she was picked for mccain by the right.
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        • Author by robyn20094113 (June 30, 2009 9:33 pm ET)
          6  
          There you go again offending Trailer Trash. Some of my friends......
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        • Author by phredicles (June 30, 2009 11:24 pm ET)
          7 1
          I thought they didn't beother vetting her, even while I was reluctant to believe anyone, even an erratic, borderline senile coot, could be so careless in filling such a potentially important job. I guess we as a nation sure avoided one more train wreck we didn't need there.

          As for her taking pride in being willfully ignorant, that just shows she's a Republican in the tradition of Great Leader Ronnie and Dear Leader Shrub.
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    • Author by blueline99 (June 30, 2009 9:03 pm ET)
      9 1
      Where was he when Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenager (sp) took public offices...

      There's a long history of entertainers become politicians...

      Fred Thompson, Ronald Reagan, Gopher from the Love Boat...

      Just admit it that this is "crazy" because he's a "liberal"

      Get over yourself Glenn
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      • Author by budrykzp9226 (June 30, 2009 9:14 pm ET)
        9  
        ...Clint Eastwood, Sonny Bono... hey, anyone else notice most of these guys prior to Franken have something in common? Something that might make Beck less inclined to criticize them?
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        • Author by jbraskin4786 (July 01, 2009 12:12 am ET)
          5  
          I wouldn't compare Eastwood to some of these other guys. He seems to have a lot of integrity, plus Mr. Bouncy-Bouncy and some of the other wingnuts hate him.
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          • Author by budrykzp9226 (July 01, 2009 1:08 am ET)
            3  
            Well, yeah. Considering his next project's a Mandela biopic, I'm inclined to think he's more reasonable.
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          • Author by jonwisby (July 01, 2009 8:18 am ET)
            2  
            mayor of carmel-by-the-sea for two yrs, doesnt put him in the same league as the rest.
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        • Author by jonwisby (July 01, 2009 8:08 am ET)
          2  
          Just in case there are some who don't know; they are all, but ventura, rethugs.
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      • Author by snoopy (June 30, 2009 9:14 pm ET)
        4  
        Sonny from Sonny and Cher...
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        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 01, 2009 9:12 am ET)
          3  
          Sonny from Sonny and Cher...
          Once, in a committee meeting, Sonny Bono loudly complained that he was tired of all the legalese. Another member of the committee told him, "Get used to it, Congressman. We make laws here. That's our job."

          Bono had no clue.
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      • Author by Brabantio (July 01, 2009 12:26 am ET)
        7  
        Reagan's the one that leaps to mind first. This is a man who couldn't differentiate between fiction and reality at best and was a pathological liar at worst. We're all supposed to kneel and bow to the legacy of the "Gipper", but an entertainer that actually knows what the hell he's talking about in the Senate is evidence that we've lost our minds.
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        • Author by budrykzp9226 (July 01, 2009 1:10 am ET)
          8  
          "Washington couldn't tell a lie. Nixon couldn't tell the truth. Reagan can't tell the difference."
          -Mort Sahl
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        • Author by oneleft (July 01, 2009 8:02 am ET)
          3  
          what we needed during Reagan's era was a GOOD B movie actor.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 11:50 am ET)
            2
          How long has he been a senator now? 1 day, and brabantio has rave reviews for Senator Franken. Awsome, he can draw Minnesota, freehand! Awsome!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by thejbomb65 (July 01, 2009 11:56 am ET)
            2  
            here is something else he could do that you can't get into harvard and graduate with high honors.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Brabantio (July 01, 2009 2:13 pm ET)
            2  
            I didn't say anything about job performance. I said he knows what he's talking about.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 2:48 pm ET)
                2
              Running for senator and being senator are two different things. I'll wait until he is senator before I give him thumbs up but from what I've seen in the past, Franken lacks viable credibility writing law. And it isn't just Minn. that will be affected by any legislation he authors, co-authors or places on the president's desk for signature. I'm critical of Franken because he is a staunch liberal who has no experience as a senator who is sort of a clownish figure. Besides, Bill O'Reilly has a great deal of disdain for Franken and that's good enough for me!
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              • Author by Brabantio (July 01, 2009 3:13 pm ET)
                2  
                I don't know what part of that is supposed to negate intelligence and knowledge. People are not one-dimensional. You can apply yourself to one type of job in a completely separate manner from how you do something else, so whether he's been "clownish" when that's what his job entailed doesn't mean much.

                O'Reilly also thinks that little boys like being kidnapped and that black people don't normally act civilized in a restaurant. If you really take the opinions of racist blowhards to heart, good luck to you.
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              • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (July 01, 2009 3:45 pm ET)
                2  
                ..from what I've seen in the past, Franken lacks viable credibility writing law (puprainbow)

                Really? Has he been writing law in his free time and submitting these to you to grade? Is this just a dream you had?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by puppienrainbows (July 01, 2009 7:17 pm ET)
                    2
                  Not to my knowledge, Col. This is a prejudgement on my part, diametrically opposed to the prejudgement displayed by supporters who laud his senatorial demeanor and skill.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Brabantio (July 01, 2009 11:51 pm ET)
                    2  
                    "Demeanor" wouldn't be prejudgment. And who's said anything about his skills as a Senator?
                    Report Abuse
    • Author by SteveRiverson162410 (June 30, 2009 9:04 pm ET)
      9  
      Difference between Franken and Becky, is at least Franken has political record. While Beck is just an insane political commentator.


      BTW, did Beck just tell all his viewers that he is insane?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 01, 2009 1:19 am ET)
        4  
        If he ever ran and were elected, he could at least say he's honest!

        "Mr. Beck, all you're campaigning on are completely treasonous conspiracy theories that have no basis in facts..."

        "Ma'am, if you read my book, or had any common sense of your own (and enough to not buy the book in the first place), you'd know that I am completely CUH-RAZY! I've told you this before! But because of, and thanks to, viewers like you, I may be elected to public office to have a hand in invading your lives! FASCIST!" *takes out stir fry mix to explain the travels of Lois[sic] and Clark across the Mediterranean[sic to infinity]*
        Report Abuse
    • Author by tharri874 (June 30, 2009 9:30 pm ET)
      6  
      Senator Beck as compared to to Senator Franken would be the same as "Comedian" Beck as compared to Comedian Franken.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mary59 (July 01, 2009 7:03 am ET)
        4  
        How true. Beck is lazy. He just tries to skate by with his unlimited wit and charm and boyish good looks <sarcasm> He never bothers to suck it up and do the hard work of researching a topic to provide a balanced and accurate opinion to his viewers, which is what Franken did in his radio program. Beck is only on the air to catapult propoganda, like all the other misinformers on the right.

        Franken went around the state of Minnesota, listening to people, researching the issues, informing himself and attending every kind of gathering so that he could honestly represent his constituents. Beck is clueless enough to imagine that he's in that league.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by DAWUSS (June 30, 2009 11:02 pm ET)
      2 1
      Is he wearing two watches?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Martha (June 30, 2009 11:04 pm ET)
      5  
      Having Glen Beck in the senate would be no different than what having Michelle Bachmann in the senate is now.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by brettj72 (June 30, 2009 11:21 pm ET)
          2
        she is not a senator dumbass, she is in the house
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mikehuck1976 (July 01, 2009 12:39 pm ET)
          3  
          But she is a lunatic. There are several in the house, though. Bachmann and Steve King of Iowa spring to mind.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by brettj72 (June 30, 2009 11:22 pm ET)
        2  
        Bachmann is a rep, not a senator
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Brabantio (July 01, 2009 12:29 am ET)
        5  
        Bachmann's in the House, but she and Beck do seem to be cut from the same cloth.
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    • Author by Nightflyer28 (June 30, 2009 11:35 pm ET)
      4  
      Funny thing - tuned in Fox earlier today, they were commenting on the Franken thing. THe funny part was when the newsblond said Coleman had been 'gracious' in his defeat, and cut to a clip of his concession speech.

      Huh... would that be the same 'gracious' nature that dragged this thing out this long in the first place?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Romario (June 30, 2009 11:55 pm ET)
      6  
      So in other words, Beck does not support the right of Americans to vote for any candidate they feel like voting for??
      Report Abuse
    • Author by princeofwheels (July 01, 2009 1:05 am ET)
      4  
      Another of those AWKWARD moments for ConTalkers. They are still whinning over getting used to calling Barack Obama, PRESIDENT, and now they are stabbed in thier little hearts again and must use the term SENATOR FRANKEN.

      Oh how they must yearn for the good old days. Senator Santorum, etc. But in thier supposed reality based world, the pain shows in thier collective voices...and the 20%ers continue to listen.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by overmars jr. (July 01, 2009 4:57 am ET)
      5  
      No, Glenn... the fact that you make $20 million a year talking utter refuse is the sign that "we've" (and by "we" I mean your viewers and listeners) lost our minds.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by roninkannushi1711 (July 01, 2009 5:16 am ET)
      5  
      Without looking at the video...
      Glenn Beck is not a comedian. There is an old adage about a comedians ability to do drama, and a dramatic actors inability to do comedy. Mr. Beck is certainly a dramatic actor. His shill-hack antics are juvenile, at best. He is in the laughed at category. His baseless self-promotion, and constant self-deception are tantamount to lunacy.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pwn3rship society (July 01, 2009 5:35 am ET)
      4  
      "You don't want me as a Senator."

      Wow, something Glenn Beck and I can agree on.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (July 01, 2009 5:48 am ET)
      4  
      Having Beck in the Senate???? Surely no one can get their arms around that idea.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mary59 (July 01, 2009 7:06 am ET)
        5  
        Well, Caligula made his horse a senator...
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 01, 2009 7:57 am ET)
          6  
          So if Beck is a Senator that analogy will be half-correct.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by epkklk851 (July 01, 2009 8:44 am ET)
            3  
            I'm betting you're thinking it's the same half of the horse I'm thinking, too.
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        • Author by thejbomb65 (July 01, 2009 11:02 am ET)
             
          yes and then tried to make him a Consul, and was contemplating leaving the Empire to him
          Report Abuse
    • Author by MiGDesign (July 01, 2009 7:45 am ET)
      2  
      how about Arnold or Heck of a Job Brownie,or Chertoff
      Report Abuse
    • Author by o rly (July 01, 2009 8:44 am ET)
      4  
      Franken is smart, educated on the issues, and unlike many dems in the senate has a fully functioning set of balls. I think he could be a darn good senator.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 02, 2009 12:09 am ET)
           
        Oh, the imagery after "fully functioning". It was a funny surprise!

        "Brain" would've been a bit redundant, I suppose...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (July 01, 2009 8:54 am ET)
      5  
      Al Franken is an intelligent, educated, articulate man. Glenn Beck is an anti-intellectual, anti-scholarship, raving conspiracy theorist. I can't say he is anti-education, but he likes to read and recommend bad books and then he writes some of his own, so he has to be pro limited education. He is maliciously sarcastic, he lies under the cover of righteous indignation and worst of all, for someone who claims to be a comedian, he isn't funny. And for a commentator who seeks to form public opinion, he is not informed. The Senate will be better off for Mr. Franken's presence. Television is not the better for Mr. Beck's presence.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 01, 2009 9:15 am ET)
        4  
        Television is not the better for Mr. Beck's presence.
        All the other channels are better for his absence, though.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by epkklk851 (July 01, 2009 9:46 am ET)
          4  
          Very, very true. I had old Becky on last evening and the two other members of the family that were home at the time went screaming from the room! One has to love the unabashed exuberance of college kids. They call it like they see it in the most colorful of language. My husband flat out refuses to enter the room if Glenny is playing. I take him as an appetite suppresant. An hour of his show is enough to put me off my dinner.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (July 01, 2009 11:09 am ET)
      3  
      Leaving aside the fact that Beck comparing himself to someone as intelligent and accomplished as Franken is ridiculous to begin with: The consensus on the right seems to be that Al Franken is a mean spirited partisan hack who was never funny and doesn't really know anything about politics and Beck says 'That would be like having me in the Senate.' I'd say he's half right.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by blueline99 (July 01, 2009 3:30 pm ET)
      2  
      Fox is just bitter because of the Fox v. Franken.

      From Wikipedia...
      On August 22, U.S. District Court judge Denny Chin heard arguments from attorneys representing the plaintiff and the defendant regarding Fox News's request for an injunction to prevent Franken from releasing the book with its current title. In a hearing punctuated at times by laughter from the assembled spectators,[6] Chin questioned Fox News attorney Dori Ann Hanswirth harshly about her contention that the phrase "fair and balanced" on the cover of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them was likely to confuse consumers into believing that the book was produced or endorsed by Fox News Channel. At one point he asked Hanswirth, "Do you think that the reasonable consumer would believe, seeing the word lie above Mr. O'Reilly's face, that Mr. O'Reilly or Fox were endorsing this book?"

      Chin denied the injunction and said that the case was "wholly without merit, both factually and legally". He went on to suggest that Fox News' trademark on the phrase "fair and balanced" could be invalid. Three days later, Fox News Channel filed to drop the lawsuit.
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