Al Franken & Air America Fans

[pwd72s]

A cut & paste from this morn's OREGONIAN for you...written by their "token conservative" columnist. It's nice that Al Franken's paycheck is backed by money taken from a boys & girls club, isn't it???



Air America listeners to the rescue?
Sunday, August 07, 2005
DAVID REINHARD
There's, like, a major corporate financial scandal goin' down, dude. Some greed-head wheeler-dealer took almost a million in government funds intended for children and Alzheimer's patients and put the money into a private start-up company. The money was supposed to be a loan, but the loan was never repaid, Now, the nonprofit is broke and under investigation for "significant inappropriate transaction and falsified documents." And, you know, like, the mainstream corporate media? They're paying no attention to the story, man. Children and Alzheimer's patients get the short end of the stick while fat-cat private interests line their pockets -- only in George Bush's America, right?

Wrong. Only in the Air America scandal that's unfolding. The recipient of $875,000-plus from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club in New York City is Air America, the left-wing radio network designed to take on the talk-radio right.

Air America says it has nothing to do with the "mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club," and that the loan was made to the network's old owners. But Air America says it will repay the funds anyway. In fact, Air America's parent company said it had wanted to start repaying the loan immediately, but couldn't without the New York City Department of Investigation's go-ahead. Investigators, however, told the New York Post that there was nothing stopping Air America from paying up. "DOI has done nothing and given no instruction preventing payment of money owed to Gloria Wise," DOI's Keith Schwam said. "Any statements to the contrary are inaccurate."

This was not the only troubling element in a scandal that so far has been confined to the blogosphere -- Hugh Hewitt, Michelle Malkin, Free Republic, Captain's Quarters and other haunts. Air America's Al Franken recently told the New York Sun's David Lombino he only recently learned the details of the story, but that Air America's new owner, Piquant LLC, discovered the fund transfer in a forensic investigation of the previous owner. But if the company knew about the problem before the city started its probe, why didn't it notify the city?

In other words, what did Al Franken know, and when did he know it?

At least, that's how the question's phrased when the alleged culprit is Karl Rove or George W. Bush.

Surely, Air America's listeners must be scandalized by these Enronesque corporate shenanigans. Victimizing the children -- isn't that what Republicans do? Air America says it's ready to repay the principal to the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club.

I think the network's listeners should do more.

Liberals are always letting the rest of us know just how much sharper and more compassionate they are than the rest of us. Now it's time to prove it: Air America Needs You.

First, its listeners should unleash their "we know better" candlepower and their you-can't-fool-us cynicism to get to the bottom of the Air America's kids-for-kilowatts scandal. And, clearly, a scheme that hurts children and Alzheimer's patients to fund left-wing outreach should appeal to progressives' dark sense of irony.

Second, Air America's listeners should go beyond the network owners on the financial front. Simply repaying funds to club isn't enough. Really, how cover-your-assets corporatist is that? Leftist listeners need to really showcase that storied compassion of theirs. Yes, how about a radio-thon to raise funds for kids and Alzheimer's patients across this broad land? Lefty listeners could, well, "Give piece of change."

Better yet, progressive forces should do what they do best -- hold a rock concert. Franken probably could put the finger on some major talent. It's hard to imagine that the Dixie Chicks, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand wouldn't want to participate in a Live Air America-Aid concert. The guess here is that even stars who said they would leave the United States if Bush were elected or re-elected would return home to help the victims of this hideous corporate scandal.

Granted, Air America's overall rating have fallen in major markets. But here, the left-wing network is still going strong, particularly in the crucial male-ponytail demographic. A little advice for the network's Portland affiliate:

Think globally and act locally.

David Reinhard, associate editor, can be reached at 503-221-8152 or davidreinhard@news.oregonian.com.

[Overpaid Slacker]

Shouldn't that be "fan" -- singular?

JP

[RoninLB]

I haven't confirmed the below story..


August 03, 2005
Air America Hires Dan Rather as Scandal Spokesman
by Scott Ott

(2005-08-03) -- Air America, the unabashedly liberal radio network plagued by allegations of high-level fraud and embezzlement of money meant to benefit children and Alzheimer's patients, today hired former CBS news anchor Dan Rather as the public relations 'point man' to serve as a spokesman for the network.

Al Franken, the former comedian who has become the voice of Air America, said the veteran CBS newsman brings "the appearance of credibility to an organization still struggling to establish its own facade of integrity with the American public."

Mr. Rather said he looks forward to "telling the true story" about the Air America executive who borrowed $800,000 from a Bronx, New York, agency which normally helps children and Alzheimer's patients.

"On the surface, I'll grant you, these charges look bad," said Mr. Rather. "But is there really that much difference between helping little children and helping the staff of Air America? And is it really malfeasance to take money intended for people who can't remember anything, and give it to a liberal radio network?"

Despite his employment agreement with Air America, Mr. Rather said, "If there has been any wrongdoing here, I want to break that story."

Network officials said Mr. Rather's six-figure Air America salary is funded by a loan from a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to dying children.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

"Air America says it has nothing to do with the "mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club," and that the loan was made to the network's old owners. But Air America says it will repay the funds anyway. In fact, Air America's parent company said it had wanted to start repaying the loan immediately, but couldn't without the New York City Department of Investigation's go-ahead. "

If this were a conservative scandal, they wouldn't pay the money back. Simple as that.

Perhaps your excellent copy and paste skills could be better put to use alerting the rest of us of things like, ooooh, the energy bill in which a Republican Congress gave $500M of OUR MONEY to the oil industry for research at a time when these companies are making BILLION $ QUARTERLY PROFITS.

get real. Who cares about $800K when $500M was just stolen from you. Those Krazy Republicans, borrowing and spending again. Nice ROI on your tax $, huh?

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
"Air America says it has nothing to do with the "mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club," and that the loan was made to the network's old owners. But Air America says it will repay the funds anyway. In fact, Air America's parent company said it had wanted to start repaying the loan immediately, but couldn't without the New York City Department of Investigation's go-ahead. "

If this were a conservative scandal, they wouldn't pay the money back. Simple as that.

Perhaps your excellent copy and paste skills could be better put to use alerting the rest of us of things like, ooooh, the energy bill in which a Republican Congress gave $500M of OUR MONEY to the oil industry for research at a time when these companies are making BILLION $ QUARTERLY PROFITS.

get real. Who cares about $800K when $500M was just stolen from you. Those Krazy Republicans, borrowing and spending again. Nice ROI on your tax $, huh?

I found this funny. Like what kind of "research" will the oil industry do? Find ways to make us even more dependent so their profits remain record, I suppose...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by cool_chick
I found this funny. Like what kind of "research" will the oil industry do? Find ways to make us even more dependent so their profits remain record, I suppose...

Chick, you want funny... All from a do-nothing Republican Congress.

"Under political pressure to do something about the nation's energy problems in light of soaring oil and gasoline prices, Bush challenged Congress to provide him a bill before lawmakers depart this week on a five-week summer recess.

But even the bill's sponsors acknowledged that their the 1,724-page bill would have little if any impact on today's energy prices or wean the nation away from its thirst for oil.

"We won't have any answers if the question is what are you going to do tomorrow morning about gasoline prices," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, who led the Senate negotiations with the House in crafting the legislation."

[Shaun @ Tru6]

But here's a really good laugh. just why are Republicans so corrupt?

$500M in Pork to DeLay's Texas Cronnies

GOP leaders slipped a provision into a sprawling energy bill to give hundreds of millions of dollars to a private energy consortium in the suburban Houston hometown of House majority leader Tom DeLay -- a consortium that includes energy giant Halliburton Inc. as one of its most prominent members.

The final draft of the energy bill produced by House and Senate negotiators early Tuesday includes a 10-year, roughly $500 million research program for "ultradeep drilling" of oil and gas from beneath the Gulf of Mexico.

The provision directs that 75 percent of that money be administered by a nonprofit "corporation that is constructed as a consortium." The provision was worded to ensure that the contract will go to the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, a nonprofit energy consortium based in Sugar Land, Texas, DeLay's hometown.

[lendaddy]

Holy delflecting the issue Batman!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Holy delflecting the issue Batman!

What issue was that Joel? That Air America is paying back money to a non-profit allegedly swindled by previous management/corporation? I agree, that is a nice, heart-warming story. sort of an After School ABC Special on doing the right thing.

My apologies for sidetracking such a nice story.

This was clearly a slow newsday for this reporter.

Now, about your wallet feeling $500M lighter...

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
What issue was that Joel? That Air America is paying back money to a non-profit allegedly swindled by previous management/corporation? I agree, that is a nice, heart-warming story. sort of an After School ABC Special on doing the right thing.

My apologies for sidetracking such a nice story.

This was clearly a slow newsday for this reporter.

Now, about your wallet feeling $500M lighter...

They haven't paid a dime back and the rest is smoke and mirrors Shaun. They have NO money and will need donations to pay it back.

It was one of the founders of your liberal bastion of goodness that did this, not some corporate monster. No capitaist wort his salt would touch such a venture with a ten foot pole. Just wait...more to come on the AAR front

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by lendaddy
They haven't paid a dime back and the rest is smoke and mirrors Shaun. They have NO money and will need donations to pay it back.

It was one of the founders of your liberal bastion of goodness that did this, not some corporate monster.

So would you like to make donations to Air America to help them pay this $800,000 back or would you rather make donations to, say Exxon-Mobil, last quarter net income: $7.6 Billion.

Which would you choose?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
So would you like to make donations to Air America to help them pay this $800,000 back or would you rather make donations to, say Exxon-Mobil, last quarter net income: $7.6 Billion.

Which would you choose?

Must.......change........subject.......Batman

[bryanthompson]

Heh, hmm... it's funny that Airhead America basically stole money from a charity, meanwhile you have conservatives like Rush that raise tens of millions for many different charities... the Prostate Cancer Foundation, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Sean hannity's Freedom Tour raises millions of $$ on its own for the families of soldiers.

And AA? Steals money from kids' piggy banks.

[RoninLB]

I don't understand why the left can't listen to their own program ?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Must.......change........subject.......Batman

it must be really tough for you guys. What with the struggle against violent extremism going badly, Iran close to having a bomb, NK picking up the family pack of same, China soon to own us and making consistent threatening statements, overt corruption and misplacement of the public trust in the Congress (see above), nothing really accomplished in 5 years, well, except we got bankruptcy reform, that was good, record deficits, borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow (there really may not be!), border security at an all-time low with hundreds of thousands of illegals entering the country every year and Wyoming getting the same $ as NY in terms of homeland security $ and our president wants philosophy taught alongside science in our classrooms, ones that have no money to even fix their HVAC, let alone buy new text books. I'm all for intelligent design theory, just as long as it's taught along with "this is not a pipe."

But then Magritte's work is probably the best metaphor for this admin.

What did I leave out? I guess on the positive side, the Family is still intact. that's good.

And you guys are worried about $800K.

that is simply charming. I wish I could pinch your chubby little cheeks.

[lendaddy]

Exactly,

They they spent/used the money, but their press release would leave you thinking that the owners "embezzled" it, hence they don't really owe it back. Gee, why would they do that? Meanwhile the Boys and Girls Club children go hungry and hurting.....

[yellowline]

Well, they do need all the PR they can get...Half the country probably doesn't know what Air America is, and 49% of the other half isn't willing to listen, or isn't in one of their markets.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when a management or corporation buys out a company, don't they assume all the debts? Or did the previous management successfully claim bankruptcy? Otherwise, I'd think the monkeys, err, I mean management at Air America is indeed responsible for repaying the loan and was from the day they took control.

You can bet that an "outfit" like Air America wouldn't be doling out money for somebody else's mistakes if they didn't have to by law. They don't have money to throw around, which is the reason they're in this in the first place.

And as far as ROI on tax $, I'd rather dump it into oil drilling than subsidize NPR. In any case, 2 wrongs don't make a right, and I'll concede that the gift to the oil consortium was bad.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by yellowline


Correct me if I'm wrong, but when a management or corporation buys out a company, don't they assume all the debts? Or did the previous management successfully claim bankruptcy

I bought out a company (my own) a few yeasrs ago. You would be wrong here.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
I bought out a company (my own) a few yeasrs ago. You would be wrong here.

Sure, I mean if Air America can loophole their way out of paying back these poor little children I think they should. Shaun, you agree?

[lendaddy]

Also,

As much as Congress spends like drunken idiots, the cost is carried mainly by the wealthiest among us. A $500 million incentive to research domestic oil costs guys like us maybe $1-$1.50 for the year and Limbaugh/Gates maybe $25. This theft from the Boys and girls club costs each of these 800 children $1,000 in aid a piece (plus interest)