“He’s a pompous ass.”

Nope, that’s not Bill O’Reilly’s farewell to Al Franken now that he’s signed off from his radio show to pursue a full-time Senate campaign – it’s his radio replacement, Thom Hartmann, talking.

Sources close to both Hartmann and Franken have confirmed exclusively to Big Head DC that there’s little love between the two liberal talkers.

Publicly, the gentlemen have been civil, but Franken lobbied behind-the-scenes to have a bigger name fill his shoes on Air America during the noon to 3 p.m. slot. But Hartmann, who has been a radio host for years, won the coveted seat, and is expected to take over today. And he came a lot cheaper than Franken, according to sources.

“Al is concerned that the station doesn’t have enough big players,” said the same source who quoted Hartmann’s less-than-flattering description of the former Saturday Night Live player.  

Shades of animosity we’re apparent when the AP recently interviewed Hartmann about his new gig: “Everybody does different shows,” Hartmann said. “People have really bonded with Al’s show – he had a lot of loyal listeners. I will do my best for them.”

Both men did not return requests for interviews from BHDC.