For our non-American readers, I should explain that Mark Levin is one of the most successful radio hosts in the United States. In fact, a few days ago he was nominated for the National Radio Hall of Fame. I also want to re-emphasize what I said last week: I did not pick a fight with CRTV. They picked a fight with me - and two judges have now ruled that they lost, comprehensively.
The day after the New York Supreme Court confirmed my victory over CRTV, Mark Levin took to his radio show and gave a leisurely retrospective of the stellar career that has brought him to that Hall of Fame nomination. And toward the end, perhaps to neutralize any damage from the court decision of the previous day, he rhapsodized about CRTV's sugar-daddy and lone investor, the student-loan billionaire Cary Katz. Here's what he said (you can hear the audio by clicking the button above):
You're smart, you love your country, you wanna know what's going on... You know, it's like the starting of Levin TV - just bear with me a few more minutes - it's like starting Levin TV.
I met in my living room with a great patriot - a great patriot - who made an enormous amount of money in a completely different business and decided to sell it and get out of it. And this great patriot - Cary Katz - he came to my home and we sat in the living room and we threw around different business models and ideas on what we would do and what we could do.
And he said, 'Do you want to do this?' I said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' We were blocked from satellite TV, we were blocked from cable TV, we were blocked by Netflix. We were blocked by blocked [sic].
He said, 'Well, let's do this on our own. Let's build our own studios. Let's build our own platform. Let's just do this on our own.'
And, that's how Levin TV started. And, now we have a wonderful network called Conservative Review TV - that's CRTV.com - with at least a dozen wonderful hosts, for you to watch anytime you want.
'Cause he's a patriot.
Just how "great" a "patriot" is Cary Katz?
A mere thirty minutes before the start of Mark Levin's show and his paean to the Great Patriot, Katz filed suit against CRTV, LLC in Las Vegas seeking recovery of the gazillions of dollars he's sunk into Levin's "wonderful network" - or in legalese:
Defendant hasn't made promissory note payments to plaintiff.
So I'm a bit confused: If Cary Katz is a "great patriot" because he created Mark Levin's "wonderful network", why is the "great patriot" now suing the "wonderful network"?
Or to look at it the other way: Why would Mr Levin hail as a "great patriot" the guy who's trying to sue Levin's "wonderful network" into bankruptcy and oblivion?
Or to look at it a third way: Is Mark Levin full of sh*t when he hails Cary Katz as a "great patriot"? Or is he merely the latest rube to be suckered by Katz?
Perhaps Mr Levin could clarify in between giving out the 1-800 number for would-be subscribers. Otherwise, impressionable types might get the idea from the lawsuit that the Great Patriot seems more like some sleazy bum that no genuine "constitutional conservative" should be mixed up with.
Cary Katz vs CRTV LLC is, in fact, Cary Katz vs Cary Katz. If you read Judge Gordon's final order, you quickly understand that Cary Katz is CRTV and CRTV is Cary Katz: He's not only the sole investor, and spent two days on the stand testifying as CRTV's principal witness, but he also makes every major decision, and most of the minor ones, too - for example, he personally approves every payment over $1,000. And he also personally decided to leave me on the hook for well over 300 grand in payroll and production costs for shows he aired on CRTV. So, if "defendant hasn't made promissory note payments to plaintiff", it's because Cary Katz's left hand hasn't made promissory note payments to Cary Katz's right hand.
Happily, at some point not too far distant, Mr Katz the Great Patriotic Individual and Mr Katz the LLC will announce that, after tense negotiations between Katz's left buttock and Katz's right buttock, they've hammered out some out-of-court settlement that by sheer coincidence leaves CRTV sufficiently gutted not to be able to pay its other creditors.
As of right now, however, effective with the filing of the Great Patriot's suit, Cary Katz has just rendered Mark Levin's "wonderful network" officially insolvent: its debts outnumber its assets.
Beyond that, CRTV has other shareholders. They're not investors, but Katz has given them stock in return for lending their luster to his dingy enterprise. They include, for example, the former GOP Governor of California, Pete Wilson, whom one would think would know better than to get mixed up in this seamy racket but, like so many superannuated Republicans trading their ever more cobwebbed Rolodexes, doesn't.
Nonetheless, CRTV's second largest shareholder by some considerable margin is Mark Levin.
So Levin's "great patriot" Katz is, in effect, suing Levin.
Did Levin know about this at the time he waxed lyrical about all that living-room bonding? Did he know the Great Patriot was suing his own company when he gave out the 1-800 number and urged you to subscribe? As I said, the case was filed just thirty minutes before Levin began his Friday show. Did the other CRTV hosts - Steven Crowder, Michelle Malkin, Phil Robertson - know their student-loan sugar-daddy was suing himself and thereby rendering Levin's "wonderful network" an insolvent husk? Or were they blindsided? As I was when he yanked the rug out from under me.
Levin is a lawyer in Virginia and Pete Wilson is a lawyer in California, so I'd be interested to know if, as officers of the court and co-owners of CRTV, they've advised their business partner Katz that he's obligated to comply with court decisions and that insider-dealing transfers designed to thwart judges' orders are fraudulent. If not, the stink of Katz's gangsterism will hang on them, too.
Walking toilets like Katz are to be found on both sides of the political spectrum. But one notices that the left's scumbags are at least sufficiently motivated to advance their causes, very effectively - gay marriage, climate change, transgender pronouns, government health care... Too often the right's scumbags are just bored opportunists amusing themselves at the expense of conservatism and fleecing the rubes along the way. And too many marquee names are willing to dignify them as "great patriots".
Trump came along and snaffled the GOP nomination away from the donor class because Conservatism, Inc had proved itself largely impotent. In the hands of Cary Katz, it's both impotent and corrupt. Katz is not a "great patriot": right now, he's a great scofflaw and a great deadbeat. And anyone who makes the mistake of subscribing to his "wonderful network" is just roadkill in the path of his fleeing limo.
Mark Levin is right: "You're smart, you love your country", and you should want to know what's going on - and be far more careful about who you give your hard-earned dollars to. I ended Thursday's report from the New York Supreme Court with these words:
I hope that Cary Katz and CRTV's other owners will accept the verdict, and do as honorable men do who pick a fight and lose: Take their lumps and move on.
"...do as honorable men do..." Boy, I'll bet Katz and the other "great patriots" had a grand old laugh at that one.
Final thought: Cary Katz dragged me through a year of ruinously expensive "confidential binding arbitration", per our contract. The key word there is "binding". Twenty-four hours after Judge Gordon ruled CRTV had to pay us four mil plus change, Katz called to say he would never pay it. So he declined to be bound by the "binding arbitration" and has acted accordingly. In doing so, he's not declaring that my contract is worthless but that the binding contracts of his current talent - Michelle Malkin, Steven Crowder, Phil Robertson - are worthless. Unless "conservative" is a synonym for "criminal", this man and his associates should have no place on the American right.
~Tonight at 8pm Eastern Mark joins Tucker Carlson live across America. Tomorrow, Tuesday, please join him for three hours of substitute-host-level Excellence In Broadcasting as he returns to the Golden EIB Microphone of America's Number One radio program, "The Rush Limbaugh Show". He'll be analyzing, among other subjects, today's terror attack in his home town of Toronto.
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Maybe its just me, but can't help but wonder if Katz will pull a David Brock sometime down the line. For those who aren't quite as old as I, Brock was a conservative darling when he was working at the American Spectator during the Clinton administration and exposing some of the worst of Bill and HIl. Then he wrote a pretty awful, poorly researched book on her Hilliraness, found himself out of favor with many conservatives, and flipped to eventually become the George Soros flunky who runs Media Matters today. I always thought Brock's supposed conservatism was simply a form of narcissism and when he couldn't get his fix on the right any more, he flipped so he could continue to get the particular high he needs from the left. Katz strikes me as the same sort of personality.
What a coincidence. We also thought of Brock the other day after reading published dialogue between him and for a better word, 'minions' about how to go about viciously shutting down certain people and groups of perhaps one could say 'conservative' or 'libertarian' or 'inconvenient' who were reporting and publically discussing issues. Ye know them by the closest company they keep and from where their financing comes so going just by the published reporting about him, not sure he was ever in this life or the past three in the Hindu universe was 'conservative. ' Talk is cheap we have to remember -- and what's that old wive's tale that ends with... 'practice to deceive..."?
The other random thought was a legal question: can anyone invoke a RICO investigation or is it just government?
I almost joined CRTV when Mark announced his show as I enjoy his wit,and thought his show would be worth the price of subscription, as I don't care for the rest of the lineup on that channel. Luckily life interrupted and by the time I was going to join, his show had been removed. Sorry Mark for the trouble you had. I guess that is what you get for being a "Sinister Foreigner." But what do we conservatives do when we rely on the Katz', Mercers and Salem Media's to fund conservative voices. We have to dance to their tune or the music stops.
Wow, Cary Katz gives new meaning to the term scumbag. And these shenanigans show what a sham our legal system has become. He should be arrested for fraud.
The only good thing I can say about CRTV is they promptly refunded my money after I cancelled upon learning of Mark's dismissal. Would that they were so honorable when it really counts...
I was moved to invest my limited funds in order to become a founding member of The Mark Steyn Club and cancel my subscription to CRTV solely because of the horid treatment influcted upon you by your one-time business associates. I did so because i appreciate your candor and honesty along with your wicked, dry sense of humor. I also have purchased all of your books and treasure the signed copy i received as a founding member perk. I understand and appreciate your outrage at becoming the catcher in this sodomous business relationship, but for all the reasons i support your brilliant wit and highly intellegent perspective, i must assume you were keenly aware of the scorpion you allowed on your back. In the end it concluded the only way it could. But as only one of the many thousands that ponied up the cash as tangible proof of a very personal commitment to you in your time of need i can only hope the obvious pain and anger you feel is mollified by the outpouring of support you have and continue to receive. I am confident this will prove to be positive steppingstone toward much greater success but only if you endeavor to forgive all involved including yourself and move forward bruised but certainly not broken. Otherwise you become Lenny Bruce replacing your remarkable talent with self-centered revenge which gets real old real fast. You have honed your talent to a razors edge. Don't waste it on pissants like Cary Katz.
What showed up in my Facebook feed this morning but a come-on from CRTV? Hang on, I thought, didn't your lot declare bankruptcy? So I came here to refresh my memory--and it's even worse. Cary Katz, "an individual", he begs us to understand, would have us subscribe to CRTV, a "Delaware limited liability company", he hastens to point out, for the purpose of...what? So that the Delaware limited blah-blah can reimburse the individual for money spent? When "the individual" owns "the company"? As one who treasured Mark's reading of "Dr. Jekyll (pronounced JEEK-el, you know) and Mr. Hyde", I acknowledge the duality of humans. But even the accursed Hyde never sued his better half for "fail[ure] to pay, and upon information and belief, is unable to pay its Obligations". For all Mark's troubles and woes in 2017, he doesn't have to have his good name associated with these gonnifs. I think I might pity Michelle Malkin more.
From the petty crime in my neighborhood that the cops can't be moved to deal with to the large-scale theft perpetrated within our court systems, I'm good and fed up. We are all going to go vigilante before much longer.
Been there, Susanna! My experience around my parts is that if you have a sizable amount stolen from your home you can press charges. I heard of a woman in town who did have this happen to her by a housekeeper and successfully went forward with the charges and proceeded with the case in court. My dog sitter lifted my oringinal wedding bands but that was not enough, so the sheriff told me, to press charges. It was infuriating but in the end, I thought, it was the thief's loss because she lost her position here which would have over the last seven years more than paid for the wedding bands as we paid Insane fees to have the in-house service.
Is there a theory on why Katz would put millions of dollars into CRTV, only to turn around and behave like this? Surely he didn't think it was a good financial investment?
I have a theory. I think Mark came close when he mentioned the part about the left buttock and the right buttock, which, unfortunately, is now hard to get out of the brain. It's the bottoms' bottom line and nothing else. Every buttock for itself when the ship is sinking.
He's a professional poker player. If you've been to Vegas, you probably know that the mentality of poker players is like that of professional bowlers. Making billions in student loans was so repugnant, even Barack Obama put a stop to it. He originally gave political donations to Democrats; then Republicans, in hopes of keeping the gravy train going. But the industry collapsed.
He's selfish and egotistic. He is sociopathic. His conscience urges him to atone for his greed and abuse of people. He tried it with CRTV. But, it turns out, he got in way over his head. Atop that, he's jealous of Steyn. Like a cockroach in light, he scurries to a dark corner. His Edward Hyde nature emerges. He decides to return to his comfort zone of pulling wings off insects. Money doesn't matter as much as his ego.
It does certainly seem like his head must be mediating between his buttocks for any of this behavior to make sense.
Obama's plan was of course to put the federal government in full control of student loans. We will then "forgive" the loans of people who put their education towards the disinterested pursuit of social justice (like working for Handgun Control Inc) while of course not forgiving those that put it towards partisan political activity (like working for the NRA).
However, I recently read an article about a student protest that folded like a cheap suit when student loans were threatened. I think Trump should take that nationwide. The Left wanted the federal government in control of student loans - they should get it, good and hard.
That sounds like a legalese way of putting it ["mediating"] than the average person's way. The average person would just say he has his head where the sun doesn't shine. Either way, it's good we're moving along to other loftier discussions.
And, he's getting farther in arrears.
Indeed, and probably short on assets to cover them..
With all due respect, the billions of profits from student loans was not repugnant but such an attractive cash cow that that President Obama and his political party nationalised the sector - a non-healthcare action buried in the 'Affordable Health Care Act' - all fees and interest by the billions into the Dept of Education - a student loan lending government monopoly. Where're the checks and balances?
A vicious cycle of education institutions raising all costs as they offer an expanding menu of dubiously useful degrees to sell to intice a larger population into the fold, while encouraging students to sign on to gov't-controlled loans, a massive government agency gets wildly more money and thus power than ever... What entity in all that is inclined to put any stop to it? Parents? The schools actually coach students that they aren't allowed to have their parents in the room during the enrollment and payment negotiations. The students who rued afterwards that they signed their life away are stuck with the debt -- thanks to Congress it's pretty much the only debt that cannot be restructured for relief. >:(
Mark replies:
You're right, P. And oddly enough, once Obama snuck that through in the Obamacare Act, Cary Katz - previously a Jim Jeffords donor - mysteriously transformed himself into a "constitutional conservative".
When you focus on the details, it's repugnant, for many reasons, whether it's been in the private or public sector. But I don't know when it was ever solely private.
And, this then allows the government to funnel money to the Left by "forgiving" the loans of those who are nobly serving the cause of social justice.
Who knows... but not like that's never happened before. ;)
Hard for anyone in the general public to say where it goes. A lot less transparent now since private banks - which by law have to be transparent -- have been shut out. Last figure noted in the media if we recall correctly was somewhere in the $1-$2 billion a year ... er what do governments call income... profits?
mmm... there's 'cons' and then there're 'fronts?'
Completely speculative from a complete bystander so who knows? but -- Really, this behavior is so odd for a 'billionaire.' But it's not at all odd for someone claiming to be a billionaire.
hmmm... indeed.
lol. that looks silly. was mulling what M. Mark said up there, not what we said.
A thought for upcoming discussion of 'Conservative.' ?
Maybe some background on the usage of the term in U.S. and Europe? It's very situational. For example, 'Conservative' in Europe was Monarchist, 'Left Wing was Revolutionists, the Right Wing was monarchists? In France the Conseil National - left came from the left wing of the building, right was from sitting in the right wing of the building. So what does 'Conservative' mean in Germany versus in U.K?
But the US doesn't actually have a Monarchial or Fascist history as Europe does, so those terms as understood in Europe just aren't accurate in the U.S. context. Currently, the narrative has created a bit of 'tribalism' - one side can't speak to another because it's not allowed. Typical media (university also?) presentations segue between U.S. connotation and European connotation, which is actually deceptive.
Overall, this has created all sorts of communication and failed debates - which benefits certain factions to the detriment of others.
Just ideas to throw in the stew pot.
Existing terminology isn't perfect, for sure. Try to imagine the Fabians, let alone Vladimir Lenin, obsessing over the need to use "organic farming". If you said we were going to junk every agricultural technique invented since 1900, you would have been in the gulag before you got done saying it - and yet that's the 'progressive' position.
Heh. It never fails to be jarring to stand in the produce section and see ORGANIC on one side. It's ALL organic! What ISN'T organic in a food store? Messes up everything, that use of the word. ;)
But really, the U.S. has never had a 'fascist party' that represented any voting bloc of any consequence whatsoever, so why is that term thrown around so loosely and accusingly as if it was Italy or Germany or Spain? And the Monarchists? Didn't they self-deport by fleeing to Canada by 1780?
You know why - because it's an all-purpose hate word for leftists ever since Joseph Stalin.
Though I must say, Jonah Goldberg's 'Liberal Fascism' makes a pretty good case that the Wilson administration was the closest we've ever come.
Good point to make, indeed. I'm already getting a little fuzzy when I hear Seth & Chris say there are very few liberals remaining anymore, but now it's mostly Proressive Leftists. Then, to add to the confusion, we have those in our membership from Canada, and England and Australia and other EU where i'm sometimes referencing my search engines to remind me which party or group is who. Also, it may be changing fast in those places, too. Very glad you brought it up.
Yes, exactly the problem. When it also segues between a concept and a political party, the 'Conservatives" as in Europe it isn't clear to the public. What Americans think of when they hear 'Christian Democrats' and what Europeans think of is wildly different. Americans actually don't know what that is, fooled by referring to what they call 'Christian' (religious belief) and 'Democrat.' (politcal party).
M. Mark's column a few years ago about tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum of European politics - all socialism was a good read, a lot of readers may remember it. (Can't remember the title - oops).
Since the current political media has long played this to the confusion of the public, some better name that isn't tied to the European history would be helpeful. Actually, 'Tea Party' was and is distinctively American - harking back to a definable historical moment of rejection of monarchy, extractive governing and burdensome taxation, and can't be confused as a name or wording with any European political entity or political philosophy.
A general thought - may not be the experience of others who follow this better, so not sure how far it goes, but after reviewing the past ten years of how we typically browsed about for news, we used to follow a few of the 'pundits' so to speak on a fairly regular basis, but after this arrival of a 'conservative network' pretty much all but M. Mark disappeared from the public square, behind a subscription wall. The entire point of the 'new media' was to get ideas and real debate out into the public, not to preach to the choir. Wondering, with this out-of-norm hostile behavior if that was the intention all along, under the guise of 'supporting.' If it doesn't make sense or add up, usually something's not being said. If the fruit is chaos, financial jeopardy and animosity in a community, then how good was the seed?
Anyhoo, last year liked very much and supported M. Mark's appeal and stance to not create barriers to content to reach as many people as possible. With all that's unfolding here for us to see, this year it seems even more important than ever.
When I was a subscriber to CRTV (because of you and only because of you) I once listened to Mark Levin for a few minutes and quickly concluded that he was not my cup of tea. In addition to my distaste for his style I had and have no use for any conservative anti-Trumper. Bill Kristol, Bret Stephens, Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg and the whole crew at National Review except for Victor Hanson and Andy McCarthy, these folks became non-persons to me. I felt like I had been "used" by them for many years - how could they support the election of Hillary? Did they really believe in conservative principles or was it just "their gig", just what they did to put food on the table? Whoops, I getting on my soapbox again. Mark, I strongly hope you collect every dime Katz and Levin now owe you and that their reputations suffer mightily if they persist in this promissory note fraud.
My new daydream: sitting across the poker table from Katzenjammer and turning over the card revealing my straight flush, gutting the SOB with his "unbeatable" full house (apologies to Edward G. Robinson and Steve McQueen for appropriating their big scene).
I too only subscribed to CRTV because of Mark Steyn and once tried Mark Levin's show for a few minutes.
Couldn't STAND it!! It was so overblown, full of fake alarmism, and ponderously 'prophetic' that it made me feel sick to my stomach. Can't wait for Levin to get what's coming to him ... ! ;-)
Ditto. Same here
So far as I know, Levin, Hannity, and Limbaugh are all friends. Yet you still guest host fro Limbaugh - and have since the inception of this suit. Levin seems to be fairly hostile at this point so it certainly leaves us outsiders somewhat confused.
I didn't subscribe to CRTV because I knew there was no way I would be watching the show everyday, yet I am one of your super fans and love to read your writing. Your slower pace of shorter videos is better for me than a barrage of hour long shows every day. I figured I would just buy your books in an effort to continue to support your efforts versus Mann. When I saw that you were being treated so horribly by CRTV I decided to become a member of Steyn Online, and I am happy everyone can see see your work without paying. My brother is real left winger, but he really liked your article, "The Warning Shot Heard Round the World. (But Not Here.)
Does this mean that shows on CRTV like Louder With Crowder and others have not been paying their employees? If so, I guess implosion is imminent. Sorry for the good "little" people who lose their jobs.
Looking forward to the radio show today, should be gangbusters!
Whoa! Talk about night of the long knives! Pugilistic-expialadotious! Man, you're a courageous guy, Mark! It is like a breath of fresh air......to hear some of these "untouchables" called out for what and who they are. I only hope the old saying.....when you get in a fight with a skunk......doesn't hold true in this case. You're the man, Mark! Pink hat or not.
I presume that the photo on the left is intended to be Pussy Katz?
Mark replies:
Indeed. That's the work of Miss Evi L Blogger Lady, whose website is well worth your time.
So what I understand here is that Katz is gutting the corporation CRTV in order not to pay his legal debts to you that were court ordered when CRTV lost its lawsuit with you. And he gave advance notice that he would not comply with the court order then acted. That is the definition of sleazy.
I hope that he loses this "bigly." This goes beyond civil into criminal intent.
I am sorry that you have to put up with this garbage.
It's enough to give you Katz Scratch Fever. What a mongrel. Thanks a lot Mark for taking the time to tell us about these acts of bastardry. Very illuminating, and spot on about Conservatism, Inc..
I'm not very legally savvy and I have so many questions.
-- How can Katz's suit against CRTV be allowed? Wasn't it just a bad business decision (or indeed bad management)?
-- How can Katz get away with just not paying the award? Is it by bankrupting CRTV?
-- If so, doesn't the responsibility for payment fall back upon the owners, i.e. chiefly Katz? Or are the business liabilities legally sealed off and insulated from those of its owners?
-- Isn't this an obvious case of fraudulent evasion designed to thwart the judges' orders, as Mark says? Are there clear laws against it? (One hopes so.)
-- Does this mean that to extract the award Mark has to embark upon a lawsuit to challenge on the preceding grounds?
-- If so, what is the mechanism then? Would he have to and would he legally be able to bring the suit against Cary Katz the person as opposed to a business?
-- What if Katz still refuses to pay after Mark wins that? Will the authorities take it upon themselves to charge him with evasion or some such? Can they jail him?
Mark replies:
Thanks, Stuart. I'm not a lawyer, although these days, alas, I play one in much of what used to be my private life:
--Technically Katz can sue a company he's the majority owner and CEO of - because, in law, the flesh-and-blood individual and the LLC are separate entities, with separate federal tax ID numbers;
--Katz can't get away with simply not paying, because there are collection procedures: for example, I could attach the portraits of the Founding Fathers in Mark Levin's studio. So he's suing CRTV to ensure that, if the assets get dissipated, the Founding Father pics will be hanging in his rec room, not mine;
--If Katz, in effect, depletes CRTV and enriches himself, that would make him personally liable;
--Once you're in litigation, there are laws in most states against the fraudulent insider-trading transfer of assets. If A sues B for five grand, and a month later B moves the five grand into Mrs B's account, that's a fraud and can be reversed;
--Not necessarily a "suit". CRTV vs Steyn is over. It's res judicata - ie, the Court has ruled and that ship has sailed. What follows now is enforcement;
--Re pursuing Katz personally: it may come to that - if Katz continues his recklessness and lawlessness;
--Well, he hasn't paid since last January. He did not, in fact, pay for about a month's worth of shows he aired. And he has no plans to change that modus operandi. So it will have to be taken from him.
"Great patriotism" is the refuge of the greatest scoundrel.
Thank you very much for the detailed reply, Mark. It gives me some hope that he can be brought to heel. I tracked down that quote, and others might like to know the words that Boswell put around Dr Johnson's:
"Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apophthegm, at which many will start: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." But let it be considered that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak of self-interest."
Viz. "Great patriotism". Another of Dr Johnson's lines might be a good one to contemplate as you fashion your response to Mr Katz: "A cucumber should be well-sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out."
It's hard not to think Levin may have had a hand in Katz's latest 'slip & fall' tactic.
From the court's summation it appears Levin was advising Katz during CRTV vs. Steyn & it's likely that has continued.
Certainly it would explain the 'great patriot' tongue bath Levin provided after the court's affirmation of Katz's resounding loss, and it would also explain Levin's recent promotion of LevinTV in lieu of CRTV.
Dear Mark Steyn: I cannot grasp why Katz (didn't you decicate a whole album to songs about him? Oh, those cats) would do this, unless he wants to destroy conservatives and found Levin to be a useful idiot to draw in the red rubes. However, suing his company is a red flag, he's going to try to take the llc into judgement-proof territory. I know you have good lawyers and don't wish to kibbutz (sp?), but I urge your lawyer to file attachments immediately (like yesterday) on those founding father portraits and everything the llc owns/possesses. Katz is trying to get his own lien in first, and if he hires the lawyer for the llc, that lawyer will help him do it. You'll then be led on another merry year trying to undo the fraudulent transfers he is very likely doing at this moment. You must file executions on your judgment right away to be the first/best lien on CRTV's assets. The sooner you do this, and get very aggressive (if you can threaten to shut down his network, don't threaten, do it) I've been through similar situation for a client up against a rich guy who thought we were to puny to collect. Extracted every nickel for my client (and my 25%), but only when the foot was tightly pressing against his neck.
BTW, did you say "in small doses" to your host? You are quite a pill, to be taken in small doses.
I think the correct option from the multiple choices you posed above is that Mark Levin is full of sh*t. I lost all respect for Levin, who has made a career out of conservatism, when he spent the entire 2016 presidential primary season opposing the one candidate who was actually proposing to stand for the things Levin has claimed his whole career to stand for, chief among them being stopping illegal immigration. That goes for many of the conservative "intellectuals" and thin tanks (no spelling mistake) out there. Trump's candidacy also helped expose the jealous self-serving mediocrities who haven't advanced conservatism one bit, yet opposed the one man who could, and has done more conservative things in his first year than they have accomplished in a lifetime of hand wrining. That's why I was so distressed when you joined forces with CRTV, and why I never became a subscriber. Ultimately, they did you a favour, and screwed themselves over as well, a win-win.
It sounds like a winding up order directed at CRTV might be a promising line to follow. Good luck, Mark.
Is Mark Levin a rube?
He got suckered by an old RINO Senator (Orrin Hatch) into providing his support and recommendation (which is a huge deal, of course) against a true conservative challenger. Levin admitted as much when the RINO Senator reaffirmed his non-conservative colours after the election. Levin is a super-smart guy and a great patriot, but is perhaps not the best judge of character.
When Steyn's show began on CRTV I told my wife it wouldn't last.
Because, I explained, Levin sounds like he has an ego big enough to sink a battleship. Yet on his show he looks like he's sitting at a desk in his study. While Steyn looks like he's in the swankiest studio I've ever seen.
It all seemed pretty predictable to me. I hope you deposed Levin as part of the CRTV case. I would not be surprised if he was involved in scuppering your show. Not to mention your monetary recovery.
If I remember correctly, even when your show was still on CRTV, when Levin would promote the network on his radio show and list the hosts, your name would not be mentioned.
Good luck.
As far as I can tell, Crowder had built up a reasonable operation - on a shoestring - and was doing OK before CRTV came along. I hope he can continue with Mug Club, even if he has to let go of many of the staff. As long as he keeps Not Gay Gerard, of course. McInnes is a wonderful smart-ass and has had several positions in the last few years. Levin is The Great One; he'll be OK. etc. I'm not sure how much CRTV itself brought to the game.
Still miss those wonderful Mark Steyn interviews in the chalet, though!
Katz's behaviour and gutter ethics are all too common in America these days and its getting worse, not better.
Lawyers aren't merely the enablers, they're the driving force behind the descent into undermining trust in society.
The rules based American system, versus the principles based English common law system, is showing that its not fit for purpose.
I said essentially this in commenting on Mark's previous essay on the subject. There are plenty of people who talk a conservative line but who are really rank opportunists with no integrity, no honor, and no particular goal beyond lining their own pockets. However, this particular scam seems Clintonesque in its brazen crookedness. If a court puts up with this we all can safely and sadly say there is no justice in America.
Dear Mark, Very glad one Court realizes justice within one year; you fight for all of us. Anti-SLAP? Apparently the DC "Justices" have not read the law. Bleed me until I quit?. That's the law? But you did not quit before and you won't now. You take far, far more serious real risks for the advancement of my Free Speech rights than anyone else. I am most obliged. And you are heroic in your demander on talk shows where you just assume all is well. Tonight I renewed my subscription. Carry On! God Bless You, Doug
"You take far, far more serious real risks for the advancement of my Free Speech rights than anyone else. I am most obliged." Excellent comment, Douglas. Laura Rosen Cohen made a similar comment recently, and you are both absolutely correct.
And Mark carries on, as you note.... resilient and brilliant, as ever.
This is the one time where Dr. Johnson's line that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel is applicable! I think Kathy Shaidle has written elsewhere that you've got to be very careful with these personalities - trust nobody. Peter Brimelow's posthumous takedown of WFB was pretty revealing. It's pretty easy to wrap yourself in the flag & claim the mantle of virtue. When an ideological confrère does it we are less likely to call bs. Unfortunately all movements have their cons. Or is all movements eventually become cons
What a bloody mess. I originally read the headline and thought 'Mark, please don't go there-you are going to seem bitchier-than-Comey if you start down this road. We're all on the same team, just take the high road, huh?'
I cannot even believe what I just read, this is the kind of crap I'd expect from crooked liberals not the upper echelon of Conservatism. I'm not all that familiar with Mr. Levin but I'm pretty surprised that this is the kind of business he felt good about creating and becoming a real alternative to the MSM. Moreover, I'm very disappointed at the general caliber of people at the top. There's certainly no shortage of people who disappoint these days, if you can't even count on the constitutional Conservatives....
very muchso! Let's ponder... know them not by their words, but what they do. While the reportedly enormously wealthy guy quit student loans for gambling how many in-debt students with no degrees or useless degrees were - are - still paying them off? Classical Conservatives warn of 'debt slavery' all the time. Why would one who ostensibly believes that's bad, be in a business that expressly sets up that situation? Followed by -- How many families get a knock at the door that one parent gambled away the house - eviction? People should not be disarmed by a couple of words - a noun and an adjective.
:)
Mark:
I am sorry you are going through this. When the initial news broke about you parting ways with CRTV, I immediately canceled my subscription and received my refund. I was very happy to use that money to join the Mark Steyn Club when you initiated that.
Do you have any recourse in this situation? Can you go after this guy's assets? I hope you can get some restitution.
I did exactly the same!
CRTV were quite nice about refunding the money - obviously they had plenty of it at that stage and weren't reliant on subscriptions.
Welcome to The American Justice System, Volume III. Shell corporations with shill owners. Pierce the corporate veil & get some Catz scratch.
Richard, Your use of the term "Catz scratch" fired off a thought in my head. Perhaps Mark could document his travails against CRTV and put it to song. He could enlist Ted Nugent for a rework of his 1977 hit and call it "Catz Scratch Fever."
So, not only do laws and taxes apply only to to the little people, but ordinary bills do, too, as well as court notices.
This is the attitude of the Ancient Egyptian nobleman getting a peasant to stand in for him during the annual inundation, when everyone was supposed to help with irrigating the land. When such an aristocrat prepared for the afterlife, his sarcophagus was flanked by formations of shabti figurines: workers who would do the compulsory work that the lately departed (or departed-to-be) had successfully shirked before. The Egyptian elite may have invented the concept of "the little people". Shabti figures are a few inches high, devoid of personality, purely functional, entirely loyal: a Silicon Valley, Wall St, or Vegas mogul's dream-employee.
Despite all of those doctorates in political sciences, political thought seems to have reverted to the Stonehenge era and lots of people think (possibly without thinking very hard at all) that that is a desirable outcome.
"Too often the right's scumbags are just bored opportunists amusing themselves at the expense of conservatism and fleecing the rubes along the way."
You just summed up the GOP.
For the sake of my fellow club members who are sympathetic to Mark Levin, I would like to recapitulate the anamnesis:
a. Mark Levin, by his own statements, is one of the greatest lawyers and Constitutional authorities in America.
b. He very much wanted to create a tv network that he could control which included other conservative commentators.
c. To this end, he enlisted Cary Katz to fund the enterprise.
d. Mark Steyn was enlisted, as well, to offer a program of diverse interest.
e. Mark Steyn's program turned out to be more popular than Mark Levin's.
f. Mark Levin, a prima donna, took umbrage at this and decided to scuttle Mark Steyn, another prima donna.
g. The good prima donna beat the bad prima donna in court.
h. The bad prima donna agreed with his pal to sabotage the good prima donna's win.
It's not very complicated. However, I doubt that it's worth spending more legal fees to right the wrong.
$4 million. Plus, one side was quite willing to see very nice people with families completely ruined and perhaps even in prison. We want the good guys to WIN.
"I doubt that it's worth spending more legal fees to right the wrong."
If I understand correctly (a big if), Mr. Steyn may never see his roughly $4 M (and growing) settlement if Mr. Katz-the-individual succeeds in dissipating all assets of CRTV-the-company by running an endless lawsuit against himself.
Your amazing assertions and aspersions need somewhat more than zero evidence.
It is worth it, I would guess to the right legal team suing for very big bucks and hitting Katz's deep pockets for it looks like there is a criminal intent here.
The moment I found out that Mark was not going to be on CR TV anymore, I emailed the organization, told them of my outrage that they dropped one of the premier commentators in the world, and insisted that they return my membership money. They did.
So I joined mark's own club in the hopes that they would not drop him. So far so good. from the day I bought America alone I was hooked. And plan to stay that way. Sometimes I admit to feeling guilty that we put so much weight onto one man's shoulders, but he seems to handle it just fine.
Promissary notes? Where's the enormous amount of money? Uh-oh.
So true! "Trump came along and snaffled the GOP nomination away from the donor class because Conservatism, Inc had proved itself largely impotent."
A lot of people walked away from all that because the talk didn't change a thing. The trick of catharsis - getting people wrapped up in the show (talk, theatre, movie) venting, then leaving with a level of temporary psychological satisfaction - yet the real problem was still there. A distraction from actually doing something constructive.
Well said P. Gao.
:)
It will be interesting to see what Mr. Levin's reaction to this Corrupt and Dishonorable suit will be. His whole Life's Work and Reputation are on the line.
Mr. Steyn,
It seems to me that this kind of crap simply affords the 'other side' yet another opportunity to bluster on about (so called) 'greedy and corrupt conservatives'. It's pathetic, sad and tiring.
It is encouraging that you have prevailed in a "fight" that you "did not pick".
Good grief!
PJ
Not to be trite, but this whole sordid business seems to be what the GOPe is based on. Promise, lie, break promise, weasel your way out of obligations, then attack the people who brung ya to the dance.
Both you and Mark are important voices of conservatism. We lack politicians who will stand up and fight the lies and tribalism the left peddles every day. The left doesn't seem to be afraid to fight. When Reagan said that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction, he was absolutely correct. At least you guys are out there doing the job American Republican Senators and Representatives don't seem to want to do.
Don't know if you and Levin are at odds over this...hope not. You're on the same side at the end of the day.
Mark,
I love you and put my money where my mouth is.
This tactic of yours is pouring gasoline on a fire.
Needless inflammstory rhetoric does not advance your cause.
Sincerely & respectfully yours,
I think you have to these days when the Legal System in America is sclerotic and easily used as a tool to further Corruptions. As Lenny Bruce once said: 'In the halls of justice, the only justice is in the halls'.
Sadly, it's come to this. Our Legal System is as Corrupt as the one in the last century of The Roman Republic became.
"Pouring gasoline on the fire"? That's what Katz has done with a transparent attempt to avoid paying the judgement. He's apparently willing to shaft the rest of his talent as well. He put Mark through a year or two of hell, in order to try to line his pockets a little more, and the effort failed and now he's trying to find a way to weasel out of paying, the yellow-bellied whoreson. I see no reason why Mark should be "nice" about it. What Mark wrote wasn't inflammatory, it was just honest.
Mark has earned the right to roast this guy over the coals, after Katz's attempt to rob him after screwing him on the show. I, too, joined CRTV for Mark's show and Mark's show alone, and quit when they cancelled the show and got my money back as well. Katz is apparently a low-life of the lowest order, who only likes to play by the rules if he wins, otherwise he kicks the table over. I actually thought Mark was relatively restrained in his comments on this classless thief. The donor class regards the rest of us as rubes and yokels, only worth sneering over and that's about it, and it doesn't matter which party they belong to, they always know better than the great unwashed, whether GOP or Dems.
Really?
"Needless inflammstory (sic) rhetoric."
Interesting.
However, it's unclear to me just how Marcus Maximus is the aggressor here, and just what "cause" of his he's supposedly "advancing" and therefore undermining by such alleged "rhetoric."
Perhaps you should read the judge's decision in the case. It's remarkably lucid for a legal document.
Given that he was sued for $10 million and attempts were made to destroy his career and reputation, I'd say his "rhetoric" in the piece above is clear, direct and to the point, rather than hyperbolic in any way. Especially considering that in addition to everything else (i.e., the lawsuit itself!) there was "an extraordinary campaign" to trash his relationship with The Rush Limbaugh Show and "other outlets" which might include Fox and/or several others with whom Mark has been associated for a long time! That's his career right there! His life's work!
And, frankly, I'd say "pouring gasoline" on this particular "basket of deplorables" might be a good thing. But he doesn't do that.
Katz's behavior has been disgraceful. But he must have been convincing enough to take in Mark Steyn at some point. Is Levin a co-conspirator with Katz or co-victim with Steyn? Time will tell.
Time will tell, yes. Please read the Judge's summary PDF. An eye-opener. The unknown to the public at the time, but now exposed as an 'enormously wealthy patriot' approached M. Mark, who wasn't interested, so they hired profiling research on him to come up with a deal and show structure he simply couldn't refuse. WTF? What is that? Stalker TV? Time will tell!
I'm one of Mark's biggest fans (although I admit the competition for that claim is stiff). But when you're writing a column ridiculing people for being conned by Katz I think it's only fair to mention that you fell for the same con. Yes, the reader can work it out for himself or go read the judge's ruling. And yes, Mark has every right to be angry. I just think this is slightly below his usual high standard.
Yes, if recall and if interpreted correctly, M. Mark lamented at being duped a year ago when the ton of bricks landed on him? With the court information now, just seems a bit unusual the effort of what appears to be a rather sophisticated and manipulative nature of the recruitment after getting 'No thanks.' And when one signs a contract, one rightfully expects it to to be honored, as it's a legal document. So, what's the game? Lots of questions now --- Destroy 'conservatives' through financial warfare? Is this all there is or are there more players hiding behind others? Very weird situation with surprisingly opaque characters that hopefully will all be illuminated by beaucoup sunshine that this 'affair' obviously needs.
All the best! :)
Yes, that part struck me as very weird. And with Mark's comment to the effect that they were "inside his head", alarm bells were ringing. Sounds a lot like Idealise, Devalue, Discard— in a business context. Whatever's behind it, the CRTV guys are grubs of the highest order.
It sounds like Mr. Katz would rather sink CRTV than pay Mark what he's owed, which is, in a word, dumb. In any event I'm happy Mark is free to write about the case now, even if Mark's lawyers (probably) aren't.
To answer the question: Mark Levin was full of merde (or shite for our English readers) when he said Cary Katz was a great patriot. Levin = Conservatism Inc.
...with all its phenomenal greed masquerading as righteous high dudgeon.
Student loans. I knew enough then. I read on only because Marcus Maximus can skewer bungholes like Lancelot Du Lac piercing squirrels in Sherwood Forest.
I was not disappointed.
Just as I predicted...
Hey! John!
You stealin' my stuff?? I thought I created "Marcus Maximus"! (the nickname, not the ACTUAL Steyn!) Or did we perhaps come up with the moniker independently? You know, the "great-minds-think-alike" thing?
Here's how I came up with the name. Had to be at least four years ago. Rush always refers to Reagan as "Ronaldus Magnus," and I thought: Well "Maximus" beats "Magnus" (no disrespect to Reagan intended), and "Ronaldus" really doesn't cut it actually. No self-respecting Roman would ever have been called "Ronaldus", c'mon, Rush! ("Brian" maybe...but not "Ronaldus! h/t Monty Python). However, MARCUS really IS Latin for "Mark"...hence Marcus Maximus!
Well, if we're really two great minds, that's...great! Or if you're a thief, well you're the best kind!
"Marcus Maximus" (GV) is brilliant. It's in the category of Something I Wish I'd Said. Hope you don't mind if I borrow it occasionally....
That's a compliment to you, Giovanna - the reuse of your term. By the way, you sound like Italian royalty. The great Giovanna Visconti, heiress in the lineage of the viscount of Genoa...
Thank you for the compliment Kate. It's entirely possible that John Harold and I arrived at the same destination independently, so please, borrow away--for a small royalty fee! Credit maybe? Oh, just kidding.
Hi, Sol...yes, it IS a compliment, and as I said to Kate Smyth, John and I may have come up with the nickname independently. It seems a kinda obvious nickname after all.
Royalty? Unfortunately too far removed, I'm afraid. But the name "Visconti" was Italian "royalty" from Milan, not Genoa! Those Genoese, always stealing...See? That's why that crazy peninsula finally dissolved the individual city states and attempted to become a unified country...which, apparently, it's still trying to become! :)
Oh, and Sol, for what it's worth, I'm a fourth generation American who is, of all things, a bona fide Anglophile! Even though, as I said elsewhere on these boards, hapless present-day Albion breaks my heart, daily.
Oops! I inadvertently made this reply to Kate Smyth, and it shoulda been to you, Sol. So here it is in its proper place (I hope!):
"Oh, and Sol, for what it's worth, I'm a fourth generation American who is, of all things, a bona fide Anglophile! Even though, as I said elsewhere on these boards, hapless present-day Albion breaks my heart, daily."
A royalty for royalty seems appropriate. Will leave you to split the proceeds with John H.
Excellent idea, Kate, and supremely fair, I think. 'Course, we still haven't heard from John on this, but if he agrees then it's settled. Case closed. :)
It would be great to see Mark and other quality conservative commentators go the "United Artists" route and found their own production company that they run themselves. That way they cut out the weasels.
Mark, Before the left buttock pays the right buttock there are preferred debtors such as Government tax authorities, Banks, and the court that had either cash deposit or irrevocable bank guaranty to cover the court cost. As to Levin I just could not comprehend it he does not seem to be a gullible fool he has seen what is going on just somehow thinking that he will be treated differently than you shows to me that he is too smart for his own good
Scum like Katz infuriate me. The Pussy Hat is a nice touch but if the sociopathic soulless shameless scum manages to dodge paying on your court mandated award he deserves a good tar & feathering at the very least. Even then, a moral victory is no victory in this case.
Mark wrote, quoting the wonderful Enoch Powell: "values exist in a transcendental realm, beyond space and time. They can neither be fought for, nor destroyed."
Sadly, the appalling values of Catz, Soros, the Clintons, Tony Blair, Mann, Obama and the Koch brothers are therefore indestructable.
For them, life is a rigged WWE tournament. For We The People it is a daily bout.
What's that 1-800 number? Our best move is to subscribe to CRTV so Mark Steyn can get his $4 million settlement.
Mark replies:
Please no, Glen. You'd be surprised at the processing fee Katz & Levin would sluice off if you go that route.
"Defendant hasn't made promissory note payments to plaintiff."
I'm thinking that the Tales for Our Time selection of "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" was eerily prescient, as we now learn that evil sleazeball Cary Katz has left great patriot Cary Katz in an awkward position. Great patriot Cary Katz would surely do the honorable thing and pay up, ah, if he only could.
I was one of the first subscribers to LevinTV (Later CRTV). After its deplorable treat of Mark Steyn, I allowed my subscription to lapse. Thank you, Mark, for opening my eyes to what an incessant toilet CRTV is, chiefly due to Cary Katz.
On a side note, it's sad to see someone like Mark Levin being snookered by that Katz clown. His radio commentary is something I'd come to greatly admire. Hopefully, Levin is able to salvage something positive from that toxic sewer of a relationship. "Great Patriot", indeed.
Wonderful, informative post, Mark! Are you sure you do not have a law degree?
I am very sorry to hear what happened to you last year but happy that the court found in you favor. If Mr. Katz is the "patriot" he holds himself out to be, then perhaps he could start paying off the judgement. No doubt he can afford it given the frivolous lawsuit he funded against you.
It is inisughtful writing like the above which is why I am thankful each day for the website membership gift I was given.
So, Mark, did you celebrate your victory by purchasing any new albums on Record Store Day?
If Levin didn't know he was screwed when he waxed poetic about Katz, he surely knows now. As you noted Katz is clearly attempting to skate on his obligations. I was buoyed by your victory. Now I'm saddened that you may not recover your losses.
Heh.
This goes pretty deep, though. The more information, the worse it gets. Business models that absolutely result in student debt and gambling debt? Good grief, 'patriot?' Of what?
Katz sounds like a right scumbag. He will not land on his feet.
Maybe he should be fitted with a bell to warn unprepared innocent prey.
Re: Cary Katz
This guy is giving cats a bad name. (Sorry for that).
Is he attempting to avoid paying you your $4.0 million by bankrupting his company? Definitely a slimeball. Keep the hammer down on him.
Rick
The fact that he is trying this means that he wasn't insured for any liability of this kind. I would assume such insurance is available at a price. Maybe no one would insure him based on past history or maybe he was too cheap to buy it, having figured he'd always have the upper hand, and so didn't need it. What a scumbag.
Mark
I agree, Mr. Levin is perhaps jaded by the temporary funding that was thrown his way. It can happen. More importantly I mourn the lives of those lost and hurt by thee " mentally ill" Islamist in Toronto. Perhaps Mr. Young, Neil that is, will wax mournfully as he did about a nervous National Guardsman, Nine dead in Toronto. God help us.
10 dead as of now, It looked initially like islamist terror attack but from what I hear and see to me it looks as an act of a bonafide murderous nutcase
I'm waiting for Rod Serling to pop up any minute now.
I've read a lot of intelligent commentary over the years, but yours is the only writing that I have repeatedly found to be laugh out loud funny! I appreciate your courage in speaking your mind and in being prepared to stand up for yourself when people try to silence you.
It looks as though you might be screwed in the end, having undergone the cost and effort to win your countersuit against the "great patriot" only to have him take his marbles to some safe haven to avoid paying the judgement. On the bright side, I think Dr. fraudpants must be quaking in his sandals at the prospect of having to face you in court. Congratulations on your decisive victory; let's hope you get your dough.
"...after tense negotiations between Katz's left buttock and Katz's right buttock..." is just too funny! Is this somehow related to "flying by the seat of the pants"? Is Mr Katz trying to fly over the legal landscape without navigational aids, thus "by the seat of his pants? Ah, Mark, the images a little segment of your writing can produce in your fans' minds!
That gave me a chuckle as well - especially when you consider the fact that between that left buttock and the right buttock lies a huge as*****!
Levin did get suckered, but not before he got sold. The movie "The Sting", comes to mind, which took place in the era of gangsterism. Who knew it was prescient? I told my husband that anyone who made their millions from the student loan industry was a crook at best, a predator of young people at worst. Levin made comments from time to time about things financial and economic, and, as people with that background, my husband and I often cried "Foul" listening to his advice. (He should stick with his Constitutional Law and history.) So, not surprisingly, he fell for Katz's scheme, as Katz sought a way to profit from Levin's ambition. Unfortunately, anyone can fall prey to a skillful, pracriced shyster, but only a fool falls in with them for the long haul. I still want to believe that Levin was merely snookered, and not a co-predetor. But I also know that at some point he knew what Katz was doing, and chose to look the other way. Maybe it was out of survival because Katz owned him. Maybe it was arrogant disbelief because of his pride in his own intellectual superiority. Maybe he was just glad Mark Steyn was in Katz's crosshairs instead of himself. Whatever. Nevertheless, when integrity becomes a relative commodity in which one is comfortable watching a fellow associate being fraudulently taken down by their mutual backer financially and professionally, then character becomes self-evident. I am sure that I speak for thousands when I say that I will never look at Mark Levin with the same respect I once had for him. As it turns out, Mark Steyn has been carrying the Freedom Battle Banner both nationally and internationally, and at great risk. Levin will be fortunate to still own the shirt on his back when this is finally over. I have no doubt about Mark's survival. He will always have my utmost respect, admiration and my backing. Besides, his ascerbic wit is worth his presence all by itself.