Al Franken- Mark Luther - Rush Limbaugh daily bit.

[Eric J in MN]

If someone is a Republican because he or she grew up in a Republican household, but that person is compassionate, there is chance of persuading the person to join the Democrats.

But Mark Luther was originally a Democrat, and became a Republican after listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Mark Luther was un-bothered by Limbaugh calling Abu Ghraib like a frat prank.

I don't think there is enough compassion in Mark Luther that he can be reached.

[hlthe2b]

1. He's an Enigma......

I saw him when Franken came to the Boulder Theater a few months ago. Luther played keyboards with his teenage son, who is an accomplished violinist. Luther looks a bit like a latter day hippie, with long hair pulled back in a pony tail. He also teaches business at University of Denver, (DU)-- a school NOT known as a bastion of conservatism by any means....Along with the two Luthers, Mark's sister made an appearance--- she is an acknowledged Lesbian who celebrated her marriage to her long term partner some time ago--Mark Luther was not only in attendence, but overtly approving. Both his sister and Mother have a hard time with Luther's conservatism, which leads me to believe he enjoys the attention from being the family pain in the ass? At any rate, he is smart enough to know better....

[haele]

2. Luther sounds like a Randoid who uses Limpballs to justify...

...his "public opinion". If I'm listening to Franken, I generally try to turn off these resident dittohead skits because they are really so painful to listen to. The guy is either completely self-absorbed or is being put up to repeating the noise machine for Franken to play off. There's been a couple things that Luther has said on these bits that would completely sever any contact I would have with him if I were his friend - and I consider myself a fairly accepting, inclusive person.

As Stewart Smiley says "Denial is not just a river in Egypt..." And I can see that's the point Franken is trying to push with these bits, but still...If I wanted to listen to that privileged Dittohead/Randoid spew, I'd go see my Uncle and cousins.

Haele

[Eric J in MN]

3. Mark Luther often says

Well, you make a good point today, Al.

So I don't think he's being "put up to repeating the noise machine.

I just think he's not particularly compassionate, and therefore the Rush Limbaugh philosophy appeals to him.

[0rganism]

4. It showcases poor planning on Franken's part, IMHO

Al Franken's show is the sketchiest thing on AAR to begin with, and the Luther-Limbaugh segment is the sketchiest part of Al's show. And I mean sketch as in "not fully realized", rather than in the showbiz "sketch comedy" sense which Al actually does quite well. Now this isn't because it's inherently a bad idea to publicly criticize Rush and have a sworn dittohead trying to present a defense, that needs to happen more often. When he first started it, I thought it was a great idea. But somehow Al doesn't pull it off, and Mark's continued obstinacy in supporting the unsupportable indicates a generally futile effort.

There are three choices Al Franken could make with respect to the segment that would improve his show:

1) Let Kathrine Lampher (sp?) take the interrogative lead after the introductions; her on-air personality is more convincing than Al's,

2) Start attacking archived segments of the Rush Limbaugh show from the time of Mark Luther's "conversion", and destroy his paradigm shift at its foundation,

or

3) Scrap it altogether. At the one year anniversary, say to Mark Luther, "Well, you've seen firsthand that Rush has misled you every day he's been on the air, for the last year. Are you still a fan?" If yes, declare success and move on to something else. If no, declare Luther hopelessly brainwashed and move on to something else.

Al Franken is at his best when he's doing celebrity interviews and, yes, sketch comedy bits like "Mastication Theatre" and "OyOyOy Show". His rants are fine, but not up to the standards of pro-ranters like Randi and Malloy. Al's fully capable of a solid show, but he seems to prefer a more rehearsed format -- nothing wrong with that.