AL FRANKEN OVERSTAYS WELCOME AT TALK FEST

Drudge ^ | Jun 13 2005 | Drudge

[Main Street]

AIR AMERICA's Al Franken became “The Guest Who Wouldn’t Leave” after receiving an award at a talk-radio convention in New York over the weekend.

NY POST's John Mainelli reports Monday: The liberal talk-show host was finally forced off the stage -- amidst shouts from supporters and detractors -- after an acceptance speech became a nearly half-hour rant against Bill O’Reilly and the Iraq war.

“Al, hurry up,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of TALKERS mag, the convention sponsor.

“It’s freedom of speech,” said Franken, referring to the Freedom of Speech Award he’d just been given by the magazine.

“It’s not freedom to kill everybody’s evening, so why don’t you wrap it up,” Harrison argued.

“I’m talking about the war in Iraq and I have about two pages left, and I think the people in Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] who’ve been injured deserve the last two pages of my speech,” Franken countered.

“There are people walking out,” said Harrison. “We gave you the award and it’s time to leave.”

“Everyone who wants to leave can leave,” said Franken, addressing hundreds of talk-show hosts and radio execs at a cocktail reception in a downtown hotel.

“Now don’t leave!” Harrison urged the attendees. “We honored you. Now honor us. Don’t kill our party.”

With that -- while some shouted “keep going, keep going” and “let him finish” -- the Air America star wound down his rant by talking about his visits with Iraq-war vets.

“The soldiers were so magnificent,” Franken said, appearing to suppress sobs.

[Main Street]

[LIConFem]

Another self-important, liberal moron. Sure glad he's on the other side! ;o)

[bubman]

Does anyone have this on tape?

[kromike]

For that matter, Err-America has overstayed its welcome on the radio.

[evets]

[bannie]

They always think that "freedom of speech" means that others don't have a "freedom to not listen."

[lionheart 247365]

Overstays his welcome .

What's new .. .. ..

[kenth]

“It’s not freedom to kill everybody’s evening, so why don’t you wrap it up,”

LOL

[OXENinFLA]

Laura Ingraham said she's trying to get ahold of the audio. Said she thinks there are some tapes of this.

[scott says]

Loud mouth annoying punk, probably the MOST obnoxious of all the liberal morons.

[bella1]

Let him talk, its only going to annoy more and more people.

[LIConFem]

"They always think that "freedom of speech" means that others don't have a "freedom to not listen."

Or the freedom to disagree.

[RushCrush]

“The soldiers were so magnificent,” Franken said, appearing to suppress sobs.

Why does every liberal confirm every liberal stereotype? I can never be pleasantly surprised anymore.

[dead]

I think the people in Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] who’ve been injured deserve the last two pages of my speech,” Franken countered.

No Al, they’ve suffered enough.

[bannie]

EXactly!

[Bombardier]

“Everyone who wants to leave can leave,” said Franken, addressing hundreds of talk-show hosts and radio execs at a cocktail reception in a downtown hotel.

Must be a reference to his ratings......

[agitator]

pingenstein

[AppyPappy]

Franken: "It's all about ME!"

[sandydipper]

Jerk!

[SamAdams76]

Free Republic should look to put together one of these award banquets so that we can honor Howard Dean, Michael Moore and Al Franken. Those three GUARANTEED the re-election of George W. Bush. We couldn't have done it without them and we should recognize their efforts accordingly.

We should also plan for a long evening and let these three speak as long as they want. Just make sure those tape recorders have plenty of batteries! We want to capture every precious word that comes out of their mouths.