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EV WORLD EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE |
Comedian, author and liberal political commentator, Al Franken is the lead talk show host for the newly-launched Air America Radio network. He achieved celebrity status on the Saturday Night Live comedy show in the US, becoming a best-selling author for his spirited attacks on right-wing media. He is heard daily, Monday through Friday, on a growing national chain of radio stations and via the Internet.
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Of 'Biostitutes' and Earth Day
By EV World
Air America Radio's Al Franken interviews Robert Kennedy, Jr on the Bush Administration's environmental record
Open Access Article Originally Published: April 24, 2004
They are called "confusionists", "cigarette scientists" and "biostitutes," and they will say anything their corporate paymasters want them to, so charges Robert J. Kennedy, Jr., one of America's leading defenders of the environment. He is referring to a small group of "phoney scientists" who deny the reality of global warming, that cigarettes cause cancer or that mercury is bad for you.
Kennedy appeared on the O'Franken Factor, hosted by comedian and author Al Franken and his co-host Katherine Lanpher on Earth Day,
April 22, 2004 to talk about Bush Administration environmental policy, which he considers, "the worst adminstration we've had in American history." He charges that the White House has either overtly or, more typically, covertly proposed some 400 environmental legislation rollbacks, which he states is tracked daily by Bush Greenwatch.
He told Franken that if only a fraction of these proposals are passed, within one year, America essentially will have no way to enforce environmental laws. We will, in effect, be like Mexico with lots of nice sounding laws, which have no teeth because corporations have used their influence to gut any enforcement by the government.
In a wide ranging, 28-minute-long interview, Franken and Kennedy discuss examples of how corporations have co-opted our environmental rights for their own profits, harming our health and passing the costs of their pollution on to taxpayers and consumers.
EV World recorded the interview for those who weren't able to catch the program this week. You can listen to or download the MP3 file using our MP3 Player at the right. We wish to thank Air America Radio for making this interview possible.
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Reader Comments
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14 comments so far...
10-May-2004
2806
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Bill,
Thanks for keeping a diligent vigil and brining to us the issues regarding energy, environment and new developments in alternative energy and transportation. The Al Franken interview with Robert Kennedy Jr. reflects a movement and individual (Kennedy) that many of us have interest in.
Again, from an overall perspective, it is your diligence and approach to issues that keep me coming back to EV World.
Your efforts are appreciated.
Ben"
Posted by: Ben Gisin
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12-May-2004
2861
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EV economics are tied to oil, and post-9/11 geopolitics by the short hairs. High time some of the scatterred good doers gutted by the NeoRight WayWhiteHouse got their licks in. I'm new to this site, as a prospective shade tree electric conversion shop. We should hang together or surely we will hang separately."
Posted by: Robert McBride
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30-Apr-2004
2622
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I'm dissapointed to see EVworld publish views by this 'Comedian'.
You are stooping to his level... and now political siding... but I knew this years ago with other articles and advertisements on the web site... so I see the agenda... and it sucks... It sucks on both sides of the political spectrum. This is not politics. You can fool young america, but you can't fool mature adults who've been around for over half a century and have seen efforts wasted. Ask the common people who've been around for a long time to comment on this... not some 'Comedian'...
I have less respect for your slanted 'political' web site"
Posted by: Bob Lisak
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30-Apr-2004
2630
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I think this is entirely appropriate. If more conservative comedians like Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, or Bill O'Reilly interviewed a right-wing environmental leader like Jim DiPeso, Martha Marks, or Jim Stuhltrager I'm sure Bill would give it equal billing. "
Posted by: Chris Skidmore
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30-Apr-2004
2635
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If you read Al Franken's book 'Lies and the Lying Liars That Tell Them' you may discover that Franken is not just a comedian shooting his mouth off. He insists on factual correctness and is cautious with his own statements. In fact, I wish other Air America hosts would follow his lead. I heard the Kennedy interview live, and was a little dissapointed with Franken's poorly timed interruptions. But it is difficult to do a radio show, and he is just learning."
Posted by: Mike LaBonte
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30-Apr-2004
2638
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This is low even for you Bill. "
Posted by: c l
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30-Apr-2004
2643
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CL...whoever you are, I suspect you haven't bothered to read Franken's books, because if you had you'd appreciate the fact that unlike Limbaugh and his ilk, Franken does get his facts straight and when he is wrong, he admits it, which is something the Bush Administration is loath to do, it seems. I will continue to put on this web site information that cuts through the disinformation being spouted by neocons, the far-right and corporate minions.
So, please feel free to take your opinions elsewhere. It's still a free country the last time I checked; one that allows me to be as biased and opinionated as the Wall Street Journal, World Net Daily, the Washington Times, and Bill O'Reilly."
Posted by: Bill Moore
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30-Apr-2004
2645
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dido, don't let this idiot (AF) or any liberal tell you that conservatives are not the true environmentalists! You CAN be concerned about the future of the traditional family and the environment at the same time(don't let the media know). If Al's going to show up on a regular basis please stop sending his lies to me. I have to sift through enough liberal BS with you guys already. Just worry about building a car that doesn't fund the terrorists."
Posted by: Craig Bench
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30-Apr-2004
2646
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Bill,
Long time no talk. regarding your comment:
"So, please feel free to take your opinions elsewhere."
from your response to the unwanted conservative reader. This is such a great example of the left today. FREEDOM OF SPEECH UNLESS YOU DISSAGREE WITH US! There are so many environmentally concious conservatives out there, but you guys don't want anyone to find out."
Posted by: Craig Bench
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01-May-2004
2648
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I am sure there are millions of concerned and truly compassionate conservatives in America who want to put an end to energy blackmail and our direct or indirect support for oppressive regimes and radical ideologies, but it is my view that this "quiet" majority has allowed itself to be co-oped by far right neocons and apocalyptic charismatics who are as intolerant of personal freedom and responsibility as the Taliban and bin Laden. I suspect that none of you have bothered to listen to the views of anyone other than the likes of O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh and haven't bothered to see if what they tell you is based on fact or distortions and lies.
So, I'll keep offering a platform respected, responsible voices like Robert Kennedy and James Woolsey -- who I see at opposite ends of the political spectrum -- on the subject of energy, transportation and the environment.
As for your allegation that I am intolerant of other views, the fact that I have not deleted anyone's comments here should dispell that misconception.
Now.. let's use this forum to debate the points Kennedy raised instead of casting aspersions, shall we? If the Administration is seeking some 400 rollbacks of environmental regulations, is that a good thing? Who will those rollbacks benefit? Why are they being sought? These are the questions that we need to be talking about, not who's a liberal and who's a conservative.
"
Posted by: Bill Moore
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01-May-2004
2649
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Chris... thanks for the support. Actually, I had to look up some of the names you mentioned, so I can stand to broaden my horizons. What I found when I looked up Jim DiPeso was an article about John McCain's lonely fight on global warming within the Republican Party, with an interesting quote from DiPeso, who is the policy director for RIP, Republicans for Environmental Protection.
Here's the link to the article:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18283"
Posted by: Bill Moore
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01-May-2004
2650
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Oops!!! Freudian slip.... it's REP, not RIP. That dang Al Franken is starting to rub off on me."
Posted by: Bill Moore
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01-May-2004
2651
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Here's a quote from the ConservAmerica web site -- a project of Republicans for Environmental Protection. I couldn't agree with it more.
Conservation is an original American idea. And no wonder. Our history and culture are rooted in America's wild land and waters.
Too often, however, America's environment suffers from partisan bickering. Misguided "conservatives" dismiss environmental protection as a "liberal" cause. "Liberals" claim the environment as an exclusive political preserve. But there is nothing partisan about practicing good stewardship of America's air, water, and natural resources.
We do right by our natural heritage when good-hearted people from different political traditions work together. Recognizing that conservation is conservative has been the key to that success throughout our nation's history. The lessons of this proud history will make us better guardians of the future.
"
Posted by: Bill Moore
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01-May-2004
2652
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More from ConservAmerica web site.... this gets more interesting the further I read this site, especially on the exemplary history of past Republican Administrations on the environment:
I highly recommend reading this site, especially their view of the current Administration.
ConservAmerica"
Posted by: Bill Moore
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