billvon 3,107 #1 August 23, 2003 A federal judge just threw out Fox News' lawsuit that attempts to supress Al Franken's book, a book attacking conservatives entitled "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right". From CNN: ---------------------- "There are hard cases and there are easy cases," the judge said. "This is an easy case. This case is wholly without merit, both factually and legally." . . . "It is ironic that a media company, which should be protecting the First Amendment, is seeking to undermine it," Chin said. ---------------------------- Apparently the publisher has decided to print an additional 50,000 copies as a result of the publicity generated by the lawsuit - one of those cases of unintended side effects I suppose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #2 August 23, 2003 Sweet! About time they threw some of this shit out of court. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #3 August 23, 2003 I gotta get that book RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GigaBuist 0 #4 August 23, 2003 Well, I'm glad this one got thrown out of court too. It was a rather flaky argument to begin with. A trademark on the "fair and balanced" term? Gimmie a break! Fox claimed that readers would think that Fox endorsed the book. Give me a break. Maybe, and this is a slight chance, somebody would see the book and ID it with Fox on initial glance, but we're talking about people that can read here. It's not too hard from looking at the cover to see that Al Franken is not a pro-Fox person. The word "Liar" is across the pictures of the newscasters faces for crying out loud. Would "Joe Sixpack" think this is a Fox book? Yeah, maybe... but Joe Sixpack isn't going into Barnes and Noble to buy a book on politics. This is a fair and balanced judgement. Glad to see it booted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #5 August 23, 2003 Ohhhhh the prospects here....I don't avidly hate Al Franken as much as I have utter contempt for him....I might actually buy his book for entertainment purposes. It'll get a thorough screening at Borders prior to purchase.......can't be worse than idiot boy Gore's or Moore's garbage/books. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #6 August 23, 2003 QuoteOhhhhh the prospects here....I don't avidly hate Al Franken as much as I have utter contempt for him....I might actually buy his book for entertainment purposes. It'll get a thorough screening at Borders prior to purchase.......can't be worse than idiot boy Gore's or Moore's garbage/books. How do you feel about Rush L.?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #7 August 23, 2003 I think people get confused by Trademark and Copyright law. Fox's Trademark on "Fair and Balanced" is still sound Franken's use of the phrase "Fair and Balanced" is well within his rights under the "Fair Use" doctrine as it specifically applies to satire. The Judge was right . . . this -was- a simple case.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 August 23, 2003 QuoteHow do you feel about Rush L.? He's a Big Fat Idiot.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #9 August 23, 2003 So an American judge upheld free speech. Write on! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #10 August 23, 2003 QuoteHe's a Big Fat Idiot. No that's Al Franken. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #11 August 23, 2003 Every time I hear the Fox News " Fair and Balanced" George Orwells 1984 comes to mind. It is neither. And god forbid anyone who disagrees with them or this administration. Anyone who does is automatically labeled as Anti-American. Once upon a time I was under the impression that free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution of THESE United States guaranteed those rights. I think of Fox News as something akin to Pravda or Izvestia during the good old Cold War days.. a mouthpiece for the administration of that totalitarian state. New Speak just rocks. Amazon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #12 August 23, 2003 QuoteQuoteHow do you feel about Rush L.? He's a Big Fat Idiot. Rush may be Big and Fat, but to deem him an Idiot isn't reasonably possible. He is one of the most sharp and focused debaters ever to live, which is why he has millions of listeners 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Before you deem all his listeners idiots too, study the show's demographics. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #13 August 23, 2003 How can anyone take someone like Al Franken seriously? I know he has a long and distinguished career as a Saturday Night Live anchor.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #14 August 23, 2003 How could anyone take Ronald Reagan seriously with his long um-distinguished career as an actor... -Hixxxdeath,as men call him, ends what they call men -but beauty is more now than dying’s when Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #15 August 23, 2003 Quote How could anyone take Ronald Reagan seriously with his long um-distinguished career as an actor... Ummm....how about his 30 years of prior involvement in politics? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OATSF14 0 #16 August 23, 2003 The Maharushie is the dude. It is so nice to hear something other than the bleeding heart liberals. Rush, Hannity, my kind of boys. Ditto to all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #17 August 24, 2003 Geeze, doesn't anybody read these days? Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations by Al Franken So, um, my reply was a reference to that book. As for him being a master debater . . . well, I guess if you have total control over the situation and can hang up on detractors it can appear as if you're the master debater Rush, but in reality, he doesn't do all that well in a more fair situation. Which is why you rarely see him in those situations.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #18 August 24, 2003 *** Big fat idiot is wholly unfair. Big, fat opportunistic idiot is more like it.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #19 August 24, 2003 We all know why he used "fair and balanced." I think it was also patently obvious (no pun intended) that there was no likelihood of confusion about the sponsorship of it. I'll hand it to the judge. As much as I prefer Fox News to other stations (I'll watch Chris Matthews' "Hardball" any day), they were simply wrong on this matter. As much as I find Franken to be a horse's backside, he's smart enough to know how to make a buck. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #20 August 24, 2003 Rush is entertaining on occasion - much like Al Franken to some people. I don't listen to Rush very often any more, but enjoy his stuff when I manage to tune in. Sometimes he's way off the mark but most of the time he's got some interesting points presented in a hilarious way. One thing that amazes me is the fascination of some lefties with Rush. They spend a ton of time complaining about him and when they find minute problems with Rush's arguments (sometimes gaping holes to be sure) they crow and puff out their chests and put on airs of intellectual superiority over the 'evil Republicans'. They spend a lot of time attacking him, but little time...er....no time...refuting his arguments when he makes a pertinent point. I also like Rush for a lot of the charity work he's done and you have to admire the way he's handled his recent bout with hearing loss, regardless of your political ideology. My views on Rush. I have been working all day and wish I was skydiving. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #21 August 24, 2003 Interesting. Let's see some examples of FoxNews bein unfair and unbalanced. I'd love to hear about them. I've heard Sheppard Smith, Bill O'Reilly, and even Sean Hannity bash the Bush Administration, so PLEASE don't embarrass yourself by calling them administration mouthpieces. I've yet to hear anyone call someone who disagrees with FoxNews anti-American - where exactly do you get that point of logic? You sound like most lefties when they talk about FoxNews. The fact that a non-left-leaning network has come into the marketplace and done extremely well is enraging to them. The fact that left-leaning news sources no longer have total control of the news agenda is something the left simply cannot stand. And what the left can neither stand for nor refute, they must attack. Looking forward to hearing some examples of bias with which you intend to prove your theory. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OATSF14 0 #22 August 25, 2003 Actually I have a copy of the book. Mellow my brother..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OATSF14 0 #23 August 25, 2003 Anvil, you sound intelligent. Monterey? Spent a year there going thru the Naval Postgraduate School. I was there in July for the Superbike Races. Next time I'm out there I will treat you to a jump. Good to hear from someone who isn't "bleeding". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiverRick 0 #24 August 25, 2003 QuoteHow could anyone take Ronald Reagan seriously with his long um-distinguished career as an actor... -Hixxx I'm glad we did. He was a much better president than actor. never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #25 August 25, 2003 QuoteHe was a much better president than actor. I think he was the finest president we have had in my life time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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