Tel-Chai Nation

More now on the Air America scandal, with Michelle Malkin and Brian Maloney presenting their latest investigations into the radio scam, and the lies that Franken and Drobny have been caught comitting. And in this installment, one of the leading samples of evidence in how Al and Sheldon stole money from the community center is this signing sheet here:

As Brian points out:

These newly disclosed documents go beyond casting serious doubt on Air America talk host Al Franken's recent assertions. They prove that Franken and his cohorts were aware long ago of the community center scandal, contrary to their public statements.

And if Franken is running for Senate in 2008, I'd suggest to him to find a better hobby for himself.

Most amazingly is that, after one writer for the Denver Post tried to whitewash the whole scandal, now, another one for the same paper is now writing about it seriously and intelligently. As Joanne Ostrow points out here:

In brief: Official investigations have been launched into the questionable financial transactions involving liberal radio network Air America. New York city and state investigators are looking into whether the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx made improper loans of as much as $875,000 to Air America.

The conservative blogosphere latched onto the story early and kept the drumbeat going until mainstream news outlets reported the story.

The way the right-leaning bloggers framed the story was a bit racier: They reported that Al Franken'scq liberal radio network was robbing poor children and the elderly to pay its bills. Who can blame them for cashing in on what appears to be the utter stupidity of the liberal network in allowing itself to be sucked into this fiscal black hole?

(snip)

Consider this a lesson on several counts. Beyond the media angles, there's the fact that nonprofits intent on using their government grants to help kids and Alzheimer's patients should not be investing in risky radio startups.

Second, Air America has some explaining to do.

Third, when putting together a strictly partisan radio network, you should be especially careful not to run it like a bunch of amateurs.

Fourth, the power of the blogosphere is not to be denied. The persistence of Michelle Malkin, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Barone, Brian Maloney ("Radio Equalizer"), Ed Morrissey and other bloggers kept this story alive.

And fifth, sometimes when right-wingers and their more reasonable conservative brethren claim that the media is biased in favor of the liberal side of the story, they have a point.

Yep. An excellent point indeed.

Also available at Basil's Blog. Others on the subject include: Brainster's Blog, Junkyard Blog, Urban Grounds, Lawrence Simon, Stones Cry Out, Fullosseus Flap's Dental Blog, Power Line, Sierra Faith, The Bad Hedgehog, Rhymes With Right, Iowa Voice, American Lights, Kokonut Pundits, A Planet Where Apes Evolved From Man, Citizen Journal, The Llama Butchers, Marathon Pundit, The Collosus, The Second Opinion, Theologico-Politcus, M.A.W.B Squad, Leather Penguin, Ken Ashford, Christian Coalition Blog, Queen of All Evil, RyanVOX, Dean's World, Electric Desert, Rossputin.Com, Tapscotts Copy Desk, Macho Nachos, Jessica's Well, Braden's Corner of the Net, The Cigar Intelligence Agency, PostWatch.

Labels: communications, United States