Al Franken Is a Big Fat Tax Cheat

Al Franken didn't file corporation income tax returns or pay corporate taxes to CA from 2003 through 2007 for corporation operating out of CA. He owes back taxes, interest, and penalties, but let's not forget that it's illegal to avoid paying and filing tax.

If he can't be trusted to file his tax returns, how can Minnesota trust him with their votes? After all, Franken thinks that he can and should run for the Senate in Minnesota.

Hsu Handcuffed

A top Democratic fundraiser wanted as a fugitive in California turned himself in Friday to face a grand theft charge.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge H. James Ellis ordered Norman Hsu handcuffed and held on $2 million bond. A bail hearing was scheduled for Sept. 5, at which the judge will consider reducing his bail to $1 million.

Hsu appeared in court accompanied by a lawyer and publicist, both of whom declined to say whether the New York apparel executive would immediately post bail. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he skipped the sentencing for a 1991 grand theft charge.

Hsu has been a top fundraiser for a ton of Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Franken, and was even named a trustee at the New School in New York City by former Senator and Presidential candidate Bob Kerrey.

The biggest question remains where did all Hsu's money come from and how does the Paw family figure into this. None appear to have the means to make all this money and donate it, so how exactly was that money made.

A bunch of candidates have already said that they would donate funds provided by Hsu, but someone needs to keep tabs to see if the hundreds of thousands of dollars funneled into Democrat campaigns is accounted for.

UPDATE:
Flip has broken down the numbers on Hsu's contributions to the Democrats across the country, along with those contributions funneled into Democrat campaigns and committees by Hsu. They're pretty staggering - and include candidates across the country.

Idiocy Abounds Today

Item 1:
Boston police department arrests one in connection with hoax devices left all over Boston. The appearance of the devices led to road and subway closures, disruptions of traffic, confusion and a massive police response including the bomb squad.

More than 10 blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a publicity campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. The devices depict a character giving the finger.

Boston police said Wednesday night that one person had been arrested, and authorities scheduled a news conference later in the evening to provide details.

Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.

"It's a hoax — and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick, who said he'll speak to the state's attorney general "about what recourse we may have."

Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc. and parent of Cartoon Network, said the devices were part of a promotion for the TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball.

If it were up to me, I'd make sure that Turner Broadcasting was held fiscally responsible for the entire police response and forced to pay for the emergency response and to make reparations to the city for the costs associated with the hoax. This isn't the kind of press that Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting wants or needs. Heads will roll on that. Turner regrets the inconvenience caused. I'm sure.

Item 2:
Joe Biden declares candidacy for President of the United States and promptly self destructs by making the following comments about fellow Senator and Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy'...

This, from the man who Mark Levin calls the dumbest man in the Senate. Biden sure knows how to put a foot in his mouth. He wasn't exactly a top flight candidate before he threw his hat in the ring, but this pretty much makes him toxic. Of course, Biden fights back claiming that his comments were taken out of context. Typical. What he meant to imply was "clean as a whistle and sharp as a tack". Right. If that's what he meant to say, he could have said it. Instead, he goofed big time. Too bad. So sad.

Oh, and Jesse Jackson was a presidential candidate way back in the 1980s before he got his own case of foot in mouth disease and fell out of favor with the media and establishment Democrats. Al Sharpton has run for President as well, but he's anything but a mainstream candidate.

Item 3:
Al Franken is declaring his run for the Senate.

Comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken has begun calling Democratic members of Congress and prominent DFLers to tell them he will definitely challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008, the Star Tribune has learned.

On Monday, Franken announced that he was quitting his radio show on Feb. 14, and he told his audience that they'd be the first to know of his decision. But Franken has been working the phones in recent days, telling his political friends he's ready to declare his candidacy.

Anyone reading this blog knows I cannot stand Franken, but if Minnesota thinks that he's their guy, sucks to be Minnesota because the joke is on them. Franken's involvement in Air America better be examined by the media far more closely than it has until now because there's more than meets the eye. That should be telling as to what Franken intends to do with taxpayer money and how fiscally [ir]responsible he is.

Item 4:
The New York Times suffers huge Fourth Quarter loss. Restating earnings. Big mess. Don't simply read the article, but instead focus on the actual filings. It's far more juicy and it's what the investors read. This is bad news for the NYT. They're restating earnings because their accounting department was having trouble trying to figure out how to conform to GAAP and tax law. Don't look for the NYT to call for SOX reform or tax reform, even though it is clearly necessary.

UPDATE:
Item 5:
I'm not sure what to make of this, but someone wasn't telling the truth as to what happened.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez has quit the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accusing the chairman, Rep. Joe Baca, of telling people she's a "whore."

Baca denied the charge.

In an interview with The Politico Wednesday, Sanchez, a California Democrat as is Baca, also cited concerns about whether Baca was properly elected Hispanic Caucus chairman in November and about his general attitude toward female lawmakers. The caucus represents 21 Hispanic Democrats in Congress.

"I'm not going to be a part of the CHC as long as Mr. Baca illegally holds the chair … I told them no. There's a big rift here," Sanchez said. "You treat the women like shit. I have no use for him."

In a statement to The Politico, Baca said Sanchez "has decided to resign from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and has chosen to air baseless statements. Let me be clear; her comments are categorically untrue."

Trackposted to Right Pundits, Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, third world county, Faultline USA, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Big Dog's Weblog, Stuck On Stupid, Cao's Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, Maggie's Notebook | Conservative Blog, Jo's Cafe, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

New Life for Air America

As reported by Crain's New York Business today:

Liberal talk radio Air America Radio said Monday that it had reached a tentative agreement to be sold to the founder of a New York area real estate company, less than four months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The network, which filed for Chapter 11 in October after reaching an impasse with an unnamed creditor, also said that Al Franken, its longtime headline personality, would depart next month.

The company had been operating with funding from its current investor group prior to Monday’s agreement with Stephen Green, the founder and chairman of SL Green Realty Corp. Terms of the deal, which need bankruptcy court approval, were undisclosed.

Mr. Green is the brother of Mark Green, a longtime New York politician who has also appeared frequently as a guest on Air America Radio.

The network said in a statement that Mr. Franken's last day on the network would be Feb. 14, and that his 12pm-3pm ET time slot would be taken over by Portland, Ore.-based talk show host Thom Hartmann.

The network didn't specify why Mr. Franken was leaving, but Mr. Franken told the Associated Press earlier this month that he had contacted Minnesota lawmakers to seek advice about a possible run for the Senate.

Air American has had a rough 12 months. The network, which went on the air two years ago, underwent a management shakeup last April when Danny Goldberg stepped down as chief executive.

It’s unclear what Mr. Green’s plans for Air America will entail.

New Yorkers will remember that Mark Green was the former New York City Public Advocate, former candidate for Mayor and former candidate for New York State Attorney General.

Some New Yorkers may also recognize SL Green's name, as they are a big real estate developer in New York city and own several of the office buildings that many of us work in.

Also interesting is Al Franken's plans to possibly run for senator from Minnesota. Why not, Minnesota elected former wrestler Jesse Ventura as Governor, why not a former comedian, former radio announcer as Senator.

Air America Declaring Bankruptcy

Unlike earlier stories claiming the network would be declaring bankruptcy, this time looks like it's the real deal. A deal to save the network fell through, leaving no choice but to declare bankruptcy. The formal announcement is expected later today.

Bankruptcy.

That's what no listeners will do to a radio network. Listeners are the lifeblood of radio, and if there is no one listening, advertisers will not pay for the privilege of advertising on your network.

Radio Equalizer has much more, including details on the failed deal.

My earlier coverage is here.

UPDATE:
Ouch! According to Drudge:
AIR AMERICA filing:
Assets: $4.3 million
Liabilities: $20.2 million
'Al Franken, Inc.' is owed $360,749.98

When a link becomes available for the filing, I'll post it here.

UPDATE:
Sister Toldjah, Dan Riehl, and The Jawa Report weigh in.

MSNBC reports that the network has done nothing but lose money since its inception, but is strangely silent over the Gloria Wise charity scam that AA executives engaged in. The criminal investigations continue.

The Smoking Gun (who else) has the filing. RealNetworks CEO Robert Glaser is claiming nearly $9.8 million. Among other notable claimants, Citibank is owed $2.5 million, Clear Channel Communications over $500,000, and Chuck D. over $10,000. The IRS and NYC and NYS Tax Departments are also providing notice, though amounts owing are not listed.

UPDATE:
Via Legalbgl, he notes that there is no mention of the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the petition. He also notes that the judge handled the Worldcom and Enron bankruptcy proceedings and wonders about the debtor in Possession (DIP) loan from Democracy Allies LLC. Radio Equalizer is asking that question.

What is Democracy Allies LLC? Via Radio Equalizer's readers:

File Number: 4232391 Incorporation Date / Formation Date: 10/10/2006
(mm/dd/yyyy) Entity Name: DEMOCRACY ALLIES LLC Entity Kind: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) Entity Type: GENERAL Residency: DOMESTIC State: DE REGISTERED AGENT INFORMATION Name: THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY Address: CORPORATION TRUST CENTER 1209 ORANGE STREET City: WILMINGTON County: NEW CASTLE State: DE Postal Code: 19801 Phone: (302)658-7581

Technorati: air america, radio buyout, al franken, al franken bankruptcy, bankruptcy.

Air America Still Alive and Kicking for Now

Well, it seems the originator of the story that Air America was filing for bankruptcy today, Think Progress, has retracted the story. It's a curious situation as the network has been in fiscal trouble for some time now, and was struggling with its audience numbers, which translates directly into advertising revenue.

So, if the network isn't declaring bankruptcy, what's really going on at Air America. Did Think Progress get fed bogus information by a disgruntled employee at AA? Who knows, because they aren't saying. Commenters at TP aren't particularly interested in learning how TP came upon the information that AA was on the verge of filing Chapter 11.

Brian Maloney notes the following:

Yesterday, this site theorized that a faction trying to take control of the network may have been talking down the network's value by "leaking" news of a phony bankruptcy filing. Even though such a plan is still at least within the realm of possibility in the coming weeks, it doesn't appear there's any sort of "restructuring" announcement planned for today.

Can the Center For American Progress admit that it's been had by fellow "progressives"? Will they realize it's a case of liberals eating their own? Or, will this be swept under the rug?

Count on the fact that this is business, and no one talks about the business. /Michael Corleone

My earlier coverage of the possibility of bankruptcy is here.

Air America Circling the Drain

Via Mrs. Lawhawk's tip, Air America will be filing for bankruptcy. I can't say that I'm surprised, given how poorly the network did in the ratings, and how it couldn't even manage an audience in New York City. The NYC flagship station, WLIB-AM languished in the ratings, bordering on oblivion for months at an end. Air America came to the airwaves on that NYC station by kicking out a relatively decent performing program, and they promptly cratered in the ratings. Their lease was not renewed in August of this year and so moved down the dial. Well, they're now moving even further down the dial - all the way to off.

Michelle Malkin and Brian Maloney of the Radio Equalizer who had been covering the Air America financial scandal and related chicanery from the network's top officials, starting in 2005 with how officials were taking money meant for the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls club and investing it in Air America.

The Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club has been disbanded, and the AA parent company placed the disputed amount in escrow pending payment.

AA faces litigation over the end of the contractual relationship with the station. It isn't going to be pretty.

UPDATE:
Air America denies the bankruptcy filing is imminent. Al Franken certainly deserves to know the truth of the financial situation at Air America since he's apparently owed quite a bit of money from them.

Others blogging: Dan Riehl, Macranger, Stop the ACLU, Decision 08, and Blue Crab Boulevard.

UPDATE:
Hot Air has a roundup. Allah notes that even though Air America claims that they aren't declaring bankruptcy, Franken's admission that he hasn't been paid in quite some time is a sign that Air America is in deep financial straits. Sister Toldjah and Ed Driscoll are also on the case.

Getting Around To Adult Supervision

With all the leaks about previously secret and classified programs designed to gather intel on terrorist operations worldwide and those that may have contacts in the US, someone ought to lay down the law against these leakers.

Who do they think they are? Are they above the law? The leakers certainly think that's the case.

Someone better disabuse them of this notion, and quick.

Before lives are lost in a terrorist attack that could have easily been prevented had the programs not been exposed and the terrorists altered their methods accordingly.

And another question that ought to be asked is what exactly was the purpose for these leaks in the first place? Was it to discredit and undermine a President and his Administration for political gain? Were there truly legal concerns that outweigh even the war effort? From what I've read of FISA, the applicable law, and the legal arguments, unless the leaker was a legal scholar and intimately knowledgable in all the applicable law, it is not a slam dunk case of illegal actions despite the media claims to the contrary. For every expert trotted forth by the media, there are others who can provide cogent analysis showing that the Administration was well within its legal rights to take these actions. Or, was it because the leakers thought that they could become the Ellsberg of this generation and gain the notoriety that comes with exposing secret efforts to prosecute and win a war?

After all, Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War, which quickly undermined Nixon's war effort and became an instant hero to the Left despite the fact that the documents themselves catalogued the extent to which Lyndon Johnson prosecuted and expanded the war despite his claims to the contrary. It showed the levels to which the US and the Pentagon went to prosecute the war in Vietnam - including escalating the conflict to include incursions into Laos and Cambodia.

The release of those documents - and published in the New York Times (which was later sued and became the seminal case New York Times Co. v. US. The S.Ct. held in a 6-3 decision that the injunctions to cease publication were unconstitutional prior restraints and that the government had not met the heavy burden of proof required for prior restraint. Expect the Times to reiterate the same arguments in its defense of publication and of the journalists themselves.

This is sure to be one of the hot topic bloggings of the early new year. And be sure to read AJ Strata (who should be a daily read - and on some days, hourly), Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin, Powerline (who wonders about the political overtones of these revelations), and Big Lizards (another daily read). Others blogging the subject: Ace of Spades, The Jawa Report, Stop the ACLU, Atlas Shrugs, Prawfsblawg, NewsHog, PunditGuy, Blackfive, MacsMind (who is another in the know source), and Flopping Aces.

UPDATE:
Still more bloggers covering the NSA leak investigation: Sister Toldjah, Baldilocks, Don Singleton, The Political Pit Bull, Mark Tapscott, Outside the Beltway, Jeff Goldstein (a must read - and has links to Clinton era program that did substantially the same as Bush is now accused of doing illegally), Enlighten NJ, Small Town Veteran, Cassandra at Tigerhawk provides a history lesson, and Gateway Pundit.

UPDATE:
Posted to Basil's Blog, Adam's Blog, Conservative Cat, and Don Surber, and TMH Bacon Bits.

UPDATE 12/31/2005:
Submitted to Wizbang's Carnival of Trackbacks.

But They Support the Troops

The USO is having a more difficult time recruiting Hollywood entertainers to go to Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops. But never question their patriotism or their support for the troops. That would be unpatriotic.

[Wayne] Newton said many celebrities have been wary of going because they think it might be seen that they are endorsing the war. "And I say it's not. I tell them these men and women are over there because our country sent them, and we have the absolute necessity to try to bring them as much happiness as we can."

Fear is also a factor. "They're scared," country singer Craig Morton, who is in Iraq on the USO's Hope and Freedom Tour 2005, told USA Today. "It's understandable. It's not a safe and fun place and a lot of people don't want to take the chance."

Not only do these Hollywood elites thumb their noses at the troops, but they believe their own hype. Iraq and Afghanistan are mostly safe, and no less dangerous than those USO tours that operated in Europe and Asia during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or even the first Gulf War. They are spiteful and hateful of the current administration and groupthink definitely plays a role in not going.

For if they go to Iraq, their fellow Hollywood stars may think that they're endorsing the war or the Bush Administration. And that could endanger their status and ability to get gigs in a Hollywood that steers to the Left of mainstream America.

UPDATE:
Posted to Wizbang's Carnival of the Trackbacks, Michelle Malkin, Right on the Right, The Right Nation, Point Five, TMH Bacon Bits, Macstansbury, and the Uncooperative Blogger

UPDATE:
Others blogging the story include: Newsbusters, Memeorandum, Gateway Pundit, Say Anything, and The Officers' Club

Where I'm Coming From

I don't have an about me link on my front page. I never really thought it necessary because I would hope that my readers would know where I'm coming from, get a bit of insight into my thought processes, and my interests. Until now that is - as this posting will hereinafter become my 'about me' link.

Apparently, it isn't enough to write consistently about the rebuilding efforts at Ground Zero that are more properly characterized as a battle for Ground Zero. Or to write about the horrific human rights conditions in the various hellholes in totalitarian regimes from Syria to Saudi Arabia to Sudan to China. Or trying to keep on top of the political situation in the US.

No. I have to lay it out for you in black and white.

So here it goes.

Movies: I'm a huge Star Wars buff. And Pulp Fiction. Especially the quotes. All of them. I think Lord of the Rings as done by Peter Jackson was an amazing piece of moviemaking. Cameron's Titanic was like watching a boat sink with thousands on board over the course of three hours. You knew the outcome and yet I couldn't help but watch it over and over and over again.

I don't get Tom Cruise despite the fact I liked him in Top Gun and thought he was good in Minority Report. I can't stand how the media follows every word that a Hollywood star says on politics, religious, and life in general when they are no closer to having the answers than the guy on the street that walked by you muttering to themselves. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Al Franken, and Barbara Streisand. I'm talking to you. Just because you've got a soapbox doesn't mean that what you say is any more accurate.

Music: I love NIN. And Metallica. And Rush, Pink Floyd, Genesis, White Stripes, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Johnny Cash. And any piece of music that doesn't require lip syncing to perform because the 'artist' is too busy dancing and prancing to actually perform the music - no Britney Spears or Madonna for me.

On writing: I write this blog because I can - and because I have to write or else my head explodes with ideas. It's not a pretty thing and Mrs. Lawhawk wouldn't appreciate the mess.

On the Middle East: The Middle East is a mess. Always has been. Probably always will be. That doesn't mean we can't make things a bit safer for nearly everyone in the world.

On totalitarian regimes: Coddling dictators and totalitarian regimes is a surefire way to find a dagger in your back. You wont know it's coming until you find yourself in the ER.

Keeping things as they are isn't a strategy. Maintaining the status quo isn't foreign policy. It's an admission that you don't have any ideas for dealing with complex issues. Expand the problem.

On human rights: Human rights should be more than sufficient to take aggressive action to stop genocide and mass starvation by totalitarian regimes. Zimbabwe, Sudan, North Korea - I'm talking to you.

The war on terror: Islamic terrorism, and Islamofascism is the most dangerous form of extremism today. It threatens to undermine the global economy, kill thousands, if not millions of people, and most people think that the US is the bigger threat. Go figure. Listen to what these Islamic terrorists say. They aren't kidding. And they're more patient than we are with our 15 second attention spans.

Stepping in and dealing with broken states is the best defense against allowing these regions to become breeding grounds for terrorism. Somolia and Sudan are both failed states that breed Islamic terrorism. So is Saudi Arabia. And Iran.

Iraq: It had to be done. WMD? They were there - just read back throughout the past decade. Saddam was a totalitarian despot hellbent on accumulating WMD, and wasn't about to give them up lightly. Yet, that wasn't the only reason to go after Saddam. His slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people should have been sufficient. As was his complete disregard of numerous international agreements, Security Council resolutions, and the 1991 cease fire agreement. Oh, and the payments for various terrorist groups, sheltering international terrorists, and terrorist training camps at Salman Pak. And the troubling reports that al Qaeda and Iraq may have been in close contact, though that contact may not have been in regards to the 9/11 attacks.

On domestic politics: Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? The Democrats have gone off the reservation. The few sane Democrats are considered outcasts and people are lining up to give 'em the shove off.

There's a distinction between liberals and leftists. The Democrats aren't really liberals. Many of them are Leftists - Communists and socialists by word and deed. Some Democrats talk about liberalism, but their Leftist tendencies shine through. I'm talking about Kerry, Pelosi, and Kennedy - the leaders of the modern Democratic party at the national level. They may claim to be the standard bearers of liberalism, but all their talk about the status quo shows their talk to be just that - talk. They don't take any actions except out of political expediency, and that's an awful place to be politically.

That doesn't mean that the GOP is a bunch of saints. They aren't. Some of them are as bad as the Democrats - political expediency will sometimes do that. Corruption, greed, avarice are part and parcel of the GOP as well, but they have a plan, which is more than you can say of the Democrats at this point in time.

Ground Zero: The rebuilding process has been marred by scandal, controversy, and squabbles over power. I just wish that the hole in the ground can be filled by something worthy of the site sooner rather than later. The victims deserve as much - and frankly so do the rest of us.

New Jersey politics: You will never encounter a more wretched hive of scum and villany. Except maybe in Louisiana, where Mos Eisley has nothing on New Orleans in terms of corruption, danger, and scandal.

Sports: Yankees-baseball. Giants-football. Devils-hockey. The rest? I tolerate the Mets, mostly because of Mrs. Lawhawk. She's a huge Mets fan. Basketball? Not so much.

So there you have it.

Air Who?

Air America, the liberal talk network carried on WWRC-AM (1260), went from bad to nonexistent. After WWRC recorded a mere fraction of a rating point in the spring with syndicated shows from the likes of lefty talkers Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo and Stephanie Miller, Arbitron couldn't detect a measurable listenership for the station this time around.

Is there anybody out there? Just nod if you can hear me...

The grand experiment that is known as Air America has been an abysmal failure. No ratings, no audience, and no one cares.

And there's still that little problem of what Air America did with the money from the Gloria Wise Children's Charity.

Not So Funny Franken Spins On Letterman

He was never particularly funny, and his comments weren't funny, even if they were satire. He is clueless.

He actually thinks that a crime was committed (no sign that any crime was committed in the Plame game), and that the punishment for this particular crime was treason (it isn't - only a moderate jail sentence). Facts are facts, but that doesn't stop unfunny Franken.

What's funny is that he suffers from myopia because he apparently can't see that Air America is the biggest joke since SNL let Ashlee Simpson make a second musical appearance on the show.

UPDATE:
I've dealt with Franken's act before. I wasn't amused then. I'm not now.

As for those who've left comments who think that Franken is funny, who are you trying to convince, me or yourselves? Besides, it would appear that all of Franken's listeners have decided to show up and vent their frustration on my little blog. All three of you. Of course, if you don't believe me, go check out AA's ratings. If you can find 'em. Background noise has a higher rating than AA these days.

Al Franken: That Lying Liar Lied Again

Go forth and learn about Air Enron - the shady deals and stealing from the mouths of babes. This is a story that has it all, and yet the media really doesn't want to touch it with a 10 foot pole. And the real juicy part is that Al Franken, yes, that Al Franken, is right smack-dab in the middle of it.

Al was thinking of running for the Senate in Minnesota. I wish he does, if only to make sure that this scandal gets wider press.

Air America Enron

How is it that the mainstream media is skipping over the story of Air America using nearly $900,000 that was supposed to go to a New York area charity and has so far refused to repay the charity?

Simple.

They don't think that the impropriety of a liberal radio network using money meant for a charity to help inner-city kids is a scandal worthy of their time (or ours), despite the fact that if it were a conservative radio network accused of doing the same, they would have the story on the front page every day until the involved individuals were convicted in the court of public opinion.

Brian Maloney has more.

So does Hugh Hewitt:

We know a lot about the medications Rush Limbaugh has taken.
We know a great deal about Bill O'Reilly's troubles.

But thus far we don't know much about how Al Franken got paid the big bucks last year, when all of the mainstream media seemed to be cheering his debut.

In fact, one should wonder where all that money came from when there were consistent reports of revenue and money problems at the network. How are these guys getting paid if there is such a money crunch.

Perhaps, we now know. They were taking money meant for kids.

UPDATE:
Kudos to Michelle Malkin for keeping this story going.

Al Franken IS A Big Idiot

Al Franken finally screwed with the wrong guy. Actually, he screwed with the wrong gal. Mrs. Lawhawk. Mrs. Lawhawk was minding her own business walking down the street when Mr. Franken not only stepped in front of her, but did so with extreme prejudice. Seems that Al was having transportation issues; namely putting one foot in front of the other without making sure that someone else wasn't occupying the same space. That other foot belonged to Mrs. Lawhawk.

Now, Al muttered a half assed apology before finally hailing a cab.

The Mrs. is okay. She not only got a laugh out of it but gets to say she rubbed 'shoulders' with someone 'in'famous.

I know differently. She had a close encounter of the Frankenstein.