Franken Makes Light of Fox Slogan Lawsuit

[kskiska]

NEW YORK -- Al Franken, the humorist being sued by Fox News Channel for use of the phrase "fair and balanced," said Tuesday he doesn't mind the legal action.

But he does wish it hadn't happened during his vacation.

(snip)

"I normally prefer not to be out of the country on vacation when I'm sued. However, from everything I know about law regarding satire, I'm not worried," Franken, who has not filed a response in court, said in a statement released Tuesday. He is vacationing in Italy.

Franken also thanked Fox "for all the publicity." As of Tuesday night, "Lies" had reached No. 4 on the bestseller list of Amazon.com, one ranking ahead of the latest Harry Potter book.

(snip)

Fox alleged that Franken was "either intoxicated or deranged" when he attacked the network and conservative host Bill O'Reilly at an April press correspondents dinner. The lawsuit also says that Franken has been described as "increasingly unfunny."

"As far as the personal attacks go," Franken responded, "when I read `intoxicated or deranged' and `shrill and unstable' in their complaint, I thought for a moment I was a Fox commentator.

more…
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-publishing-franken-lawsuit,0,3625585.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[samsingh]

1. calling Franken unfunny is slander

sue Fox. Sue Fox.

these repug, neocons can only dish bullshit and are crybaby's whenever someone fights back.

[proud patriot]

2. LOL

Man that is a funny fellow :D

[Ohio Dem]

3. Franken's great.

This whole Fox lawsuit is very good news for him.

[ninkasi]

4. As if anybody

with more than two functioning brain cells believes anything Faux says, anyway. They used to be a joke, but now they are just pathetic.

[grytpype]

5. ?????? Does anyone have link to the Complaint in this case ????????

n/t

[depakid]

25. I would LOVE to see a copy

I hope Franken puts the complaint on the web and at some point publishes a second edition of his book detailing the "fine points" of the proceedings....

[dArKeR]

6. Could Franken have set FOX up? Is Franken the hero I've been waiting for?

Could Franken be the one, through trial and subpoena defending himself, to gain record access to FOX's racketerring, collusion, fraud... with The Bush Crime Family and the Republican party?

Mircles come from unexpected places!

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[tom_paine]

9. Goddamned if you shouldn't e-mail that idea to Al.

http://www.alfrankenweb.com/

[Mel]

12. I second that tom_paine

he/she should mail Al with that idea it's a great one!

[Mel]

11. that would be sweet

he did say Democrats have been taken it, and taken it, and we aren't going to take it anymore! Didn't he?

[tom_paine]

7. Go, Al, go!

I like Al's fight. I like his spirit, We are going to need a lot more of that kind of ju-ju if we are going to restore the Old Republic.

Go, Al, Go!

Lead by example...we will follow.

[ewagner]

8. Gotta like that guy!

one another thread: 11:35PM CDT FRANKENS BOOK #1 ON AMAZON

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Ramsey]

10. This is a joke right??

"Fox alleged that Franken was "either intoxicated or deranged" when he attacked the network and conservative host Bill O'Reilly at an April press correspondents dinner. The lawsuit also says that Franken has been described as "increasingly unfunny." "

That's their suit? Are they brain-damaged? Sorry, stupid question :evilgrin:

[PennyLane]

13. Al for President!

This guy's good for a few laughs! I say nominate him!:party:

[Ediacara]

14. did he physically attack o'reilly?

if he didn't, then I don't see what the fuss is about....

[BadGimp]

15. I like the Franen-nator but

He is prone to some rather peculiar rantings...

Other than that he is a bright, funny, dedicated great American.

GO AL!

[FredScuttle]

20. Uh, those "rather peculiar rantings"?

Those are called jokes. I happen to find them hilarious. Fox News and their knuckle-dragging ilk don't have the gray matter to understand Al's brilliant satire, so they point their hairy forearms and grunt "He kooky insult artist. Oop-oop!"

Seriously, I watched that mouth-breather that's subbing this week on Ass-Eyes Country on MSNBC ask his guests, with a straight face, how Al could possible trademark the word "funny". I hope Al exposes the whole lot of them for what they are - fascist mouthpieces for an illegal regime

[dmr]

16. Fox is intoxicated and deranged, not Al

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/12/nyregion/12FRAN.html

- snip -

His publisher released a statement questioning Fox's adherence to the American values it claims to champion.

"It is extraordinary that one of the largest media corporations would take such action," said Lisa Johnson, the executive director of publicity for Dutton, a division of Penguin Group. "In trying to suppress Al Franken's book, News Corp. is undermining First Amendment principles that protect all media by guaranteeing a free, open and vigorous debate of public issues.

"The attempt to keep the public from reading Franken's message is un-American and runs contrary to everything this country stands for."

more ....

[Fovea]

17. She slammed them

harder than a sticky sceen door.

[SideshowScott]

18. Fox Is typical of right wingers..Dish is out all day but can never take it

All day long and night at Fox they Lie and slander and distort but when they get ANY SORT of taste of thier own medicine they cry and run to thier high paid lawyers and and hand out lawsuits like they were candy..THE KIND OF THING THE RIGHT WING TALKING HEADS AND RADIO SAY THEY ARE AGINST i might add..Just like hollywood staying out of politcs..But it totaly backfired on fox beacuse now it prolly sold more than 100,000 more copies for al...God between the O'Reilly dustup and this Franken might have to add 2 more chapters to his book before it comes out!

[Sick of Bullshit]

19. Great retort

"As far as the personal attacks go," Franken responded, "when I read `intoxicated or deranged' and `shrill and unstable' in their complaint, I thought for a moment I was a Fox commentator. "

[alaine]

21. It's now at #1 on the "movers and shakers" list...

and Molly's at #3 with Bushwhacked.

Oh, happy day!

I wish I could get Fox to sue all my favorites writers, every book would become an instant bestseller and would have an "O" on it, but in this case the "O" would not be for Oprah, but for O'Reilly instead.

[Voltaire99]

22. Franken's gift to the left is revealing the right's frailty

The suit is really nutso, and either it will go very badly for Fox or take American law back to the stone age. As the NY Times reports, FOX's complaint is off the charts:

"Franken is neither a journalist nor a television news personality," according to the complaint. "He is not a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be shrill and unstable. His views lack any serious depth or insight."

The smug tone we all know as Fox's house style, with its total disregard for opposing ideas and the need to portray opponents as moral and/or psychological degenerates. It's completely insular, an ex cathedra declaration that News Corp. arbitrates everything under the sun from respectability to sanity. There is no God but Moolah, and Murdoch is his prophet....

From Murdoch's willingness to bring out the big guns, we can see how deeply a nerve Franken has struck. Unless things go terribly wrong in court, this should bring hope to everyone here. These guys really are like religious crusaders--believing their least fart must command a hushed reverance. While they rule you aren't supposed to laugh. Like all absolutists their weak spot is humorlessness, and if you want to drive them nutty, poke fun at them. Mock their verities and deride their symbols--suspend, if you will, their political crosses in urine. ;-)

[placton]

23. and let us all remember

how the Fox crowd tells us there are too many lawyers and too many frivilous lawsuits - except when they do it.

[0007]

24. I'd love to see a USO show go to Iraq

Where Al Franken and Michael Moore would do a show together. Kind of like the O` Bob Hope thingy, 'eh?

Maybe the Dixie Chicks could be part of the show, 'eh?