Al Franken talks politics with David Letterman
By SilentPatriot Tuesday Mar 18, 2008 8:01pm..and throws in some jokes, of course.
(part 2 here)
Franken's opponent, staunch Bush-ally Norm Coleman, is already on the offensive against Franken, drawing on his past as a satirist to argue that he is unfit to be a Senator. Seems to me that someone who votes with Bush 86% of the time is unfit for anything, let alone one of the nation's highest offices. I guess it will be up to the good people of Minnesota to decide that.
We're proud to have Al as one of our ActBlue candidates. Feel free to fill the coffers if you can. How nice would it be to replace a steadfast Bush loyalist with a true progressive, running on a platform of ending the war in Iraq and providing universal health care? Sounds pretty good to me.
For more on the race, check out MNpublius, who does a great job of tracking Minnesota politics.
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Go Al! I wish I lived in Minn. to vote for him, but Illinois is okay too.
We need someone like Al in the Senate to fight for Universal Health Care and aggressively take on the right-wing minority that will be trying to block our progressive reforms, so let's give him all the support he needs.
BOYCOT CHINA!!!!!!!
and thanks for allowing me to post this as well.
I guess it will be up to the good people of Minnesota to decide that
---------------------
the folks I know there are really ready for a change as they have had enough, along with most of the states!
Great clip and thanks C&L for posting it.
Good Luck Al. I pray you win, if you do it will send shudders down the spines of ditto heads everywhere!
Will Al get to speak at the Dem National Convention like Obama did during his Senate run?
That could be fun.
God do I miss Al on Air America. Go Al, kick Coleman's sorry Bush loving ass! Franken08!
Red Lasso
Crash goes my browser.
Uh guys? Seriously now.
I've just blocked Red Lasso.
No more crashes. Their code is screwed up.
Speaking as an authentic product of The Al Franken Decade, I only regret not being able to for him!
No fear mongering, guniunely interesting and interested. We will need 99 more like him.
Seems to me that someone who votes with Bush 86% of the time is unfit for anything
This should be telegramed to Franken's speech writers.
Speaking To Unity
It was refreshing to hear Al Franken speak to the two to one advantage the Democrats enjoy if they exercise their unity option. I have been very concerned with the unity factor, and for the first time, I found the partisan primary fighting on the site uncomfortable. This is my first comment in almost two weeks.
What really found disfavor with me was the media's hand in the Democratic divide. When both camps starting using Republican talking points. the sense of defeat for a united Party became seemed out of reach. Maybe there is an invisible hand similar to market dynamics working its way into the current Democratic divide. Maybe things will fall in place, regardless of who is nominated for the Democratic Party. Al Franken's words seem to inject what we need to win. Maybe he will be the best for his job. He has by vote.
Joseph
This is Paul Wellstone's seat, I believe. Al Franken will serve with honor and dignity.
Coleman was an activist in college and lead an anti-war coalition on campus.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/ColemanBullhorn.jpg
What happened Norm? Too much of that Vitamin A over the years?
Best to you, Al Franken.
I'm really pulling for you. Mostly because I think you'd make an excellent Senator but also to rid us of that horses ass Norm Coleman.
Personally(and Al would NEVER admit this,but) I think when Al was in bed with Arrianna, on Mahr's show That was the push(as it were) for her to come(no pun intended) over from The Dark side.
Surely its not a surprise that Franken is being attacked on his background. Among other things, he played the whiny schmuck in "Stewart Saves His Family", one of the least funny "commedies" of the last two decades. Having a history as an, at best, mediocre commedian does not make him appear Senatorial.
Couldn't the Democrats have found someone more credible to run against Coleman?
To win he has to beat the republican stronghold in the St. Paul - Minneapolis area. They mostly vote overwhelmingly republican. The last governor election the democrat had a big lead till they finished voting in St.Paul/Minneapolis.
They have a mega church there with a pastor that preaches from the pulpit for republicans. No body investigates him. He bought houses, cars, airplanes charged them to the church and leased them back to himself for peanuts. AND the church pays the expenses. Got it made.
Al not be funny but he beats Norm Coleman anywho.
Bob Roberts @ 17:
Ahh RePugs always use war terms like 'attack'. Ever notice? There's always an attack on say,Santa, or 'bomb bomb bomb Iran' or the 'assualt on Christianinty' or (my favorite) the Last Bastion of Maroons.
Marge @ 18:
Do they use Diebold scanners to count the votes?
send ten bucks to al's campaign.
sit back, relax.
watch o'reilly's head pop.
My moniker is anothergreenbus which I chose in memory of our beloved Paul Wellstone. Al is the perfect replacement for Paul, not to mention that wooden toothed, empty suit, Norm Coleman. To paraphrase George Galloway: In this election Norm will be an empty suit hitting a fan.
as long as universal healthcare DOESNT involve the insurance companies
I'm likely for it
Bob Roberts @ 17:
Wow so movie making should be a determinant as to whether someone should run for senator.
I'm sure I rest your case when I bring up R Raygun and 'Bedtime for Bonzo.' Should George Clooney run because he made some good movies? Ralph Feinnes, he's made some good ones and all. Perhaps he should run
That said, I think your having, at best, a mediocre assessment of Franken does not make you appear Credible.
joe cantwell @ 22:
It took 5 seconds for Me to stop it. Heraldo and Bill. Two mental migits in a sandbox. And BOTH are still on the air. I don't watch TV. I rest My case.
David Hawes @ 26:
You stole my first thought,Miss Kitty. But RePugs only know 'attack'.
So if being a satirist is enough to render you unfit to participate in the political system, what professions does Norm Coleman think are acceptable? I'd love to see his list.
Mostly so I could ball it up and jam it up his fucking arrogant ass.
Here's a clue, dipshit: The Stupid Constitution says
And also, GETS THE MOST VOTES in the election.
miss_kitty Hussein @ 25:
I have some home movies that I think are pretty damn good, so maybe I should run for office, since "good" movies are a prerequisite.
David Hawes @ 20:
OK, smart guy ... what term would you have used to describe Coleman's actions? Are you going to describe GOP attack ads as "gently chiding" next?
Marge...please stick to what you know. St. Paul/Minneapolis is NOT a republican stronghold, nor does it have anything to do with Michele Bachman's district (her district is primarily Stearns county). Pawlenty was losing his bid for re-election until the RURAL votes came in.
miss_kitty Hussein @ 25:
Take a deep breath and stop and think ... The issue for me here is that Franken has spent a lot of time in front of the camera playing the buffoon. That does not mean he is one, but it sure hands his opponents a lot of ready made sound bites to mock him with and to detract from his positions. A candidate without Franken's background would not hand the GOP the same ammo.
Your point about President Reagan is too subtle for me. Reagan was utterly unsuited to be President for reasons having nothing to do with his playing second fiddle to a chimp on film.
Bob Roberts @ 32:
So What? That's your issue. If that's all they have for mockery ammo-BFD. They'll make more out of his being a Jew than they can out of Stewart Smally or Jimmy Olstein in the 'What if Superman had been a Nazi' skit on SNL.
If your issues were adhered to, no one could run.
Matt Hussein in Texas @ 29:
Miss Kitty would vote for you. She's the only person I know who thinks making "good" movies are a prerequisite for running for office.
Bob Roberts @ 32:
And Franken spent more time in the industry off camera as a writer. He was paid to communicate ideas to people. He wrote a lot of funny stuff because he's good at writing funny stuff- and while I agree that the Stewart Smalley movie wasn't so great(and it was better than The Coneheads, but blame Lorne Michaels for both), the sketches were damned good.
Throw in his time behind the mic at Air America, where Franken was much, MUCH more the policy wonk than the humorist, you've got a pretty affable and informed candidate.
And remember this: Jesse "The Body" Ventura was the Governor of Minnesota. 'Nuff said.
Didn't John McCain surpass Hillary and Barak in the national polls? American do you want Universal Health care. Furthermore as I've state earlier one person does not control the economy so how is he going "make it fair" for everyone. Its very clear he's just another politician.
Bob Roberts @ 34:
Nice spin Bob Roberts. Fox News Viewer, eh? Spin like that would bust Billo's buttons.
"Wow so movie making should be a determinant as to whether someone should run for senator.
I’m sure I rest your case when I bring up R Raygun and ‘Bedtime for Bonzo.’ Should George Clooney run because he made some good movies? Ralph Feinnes, he’s made some good ones and all. Perhaps he should run
That said, I think your having, at best, a mediocre assessment of Franken does not make you appear Credible."
Pauly Shore for President!
Miss Kitty, you must have missed me.
BTW, remember in your personal universe, I'm a DNC troll, not a Fox viewer....
Al will be kicking this Norm Colman right in his right wing ass. I only wish I could vote for him in that election.
This guy Norm is a real work of art. He has supported and voted on any and every policy shoved in his nasty ass face, to screw the good people of that state and it is good that this is one the democrats can take to the bank, right along with many others, all over this country.
Republicans should know that this is just not going to be their year in politics.
Bob Roberts @ 39:
Ya coulda fooled me. BTW Don't go the next thread -The 'Cheany one' Only teenagers there.
David Hawes @ 41:
Thanks for the warning ... but unfortunately too late. I despise Cheney (not a word I use lightly) but have trouble sympathizing with mindless hate.
BTW, just because I don't think Franken is "God's Gift", that's enough to fool you into thinking I'm a Republican?
AL FRANKEN....at last someone decent to fill the shoes of Paul Wellstone....he's smart too. Get out and vote for Franken; he will do well for the country.
Coleman was a piss poor choice for that seat. And, whatever happened to that 9 billion dollars missing in Iraq; he was in charge of finding out where it disappeared to.
"Stuart saves his family" was damn funny at times, not a great movie, but not bad, but that is beside the point. Politicians come from all backgrounds. What counts is the integrity, vision, humanity, and morality of the candidate. To say that Franken is disqualified because he played the fool and that would give the Repuglic***s too much ammo, exemplifies what is a core weakness of the Democratic party of late.....fear. Fear about what "they" will think, when all the time "they" were never going to vote Democratic no matter what. Franken mentions the emerging "progressive majority," and what if he's right? Fuck what "they" think, full speed ahead. Obama's masterful " To form a more perfect union" speech is a blueprint for how to express your beliefs without excessive pre-damage control analysis.
Go Al!
Gobama!
Bob Roberts @ 42:
Nope that's not it. It's your assessment tools. It's like not voting for someone because they're ugly. If you don't like him for his beliefs, his work ethic or you feel he's a theif, a liar a hypocrite, great. But to say he's no good because the Thugs might mock him because he acted like a buffoon for a living-I see that as mindless as that hate to which you were referring on the Cheney thread.
thief, not theif
miss_kitty Hussein @ 45:
I could explain the rest of my reasoning, which I consider far from "mindless". (Thanks for the personal insult, btw. Is calling me a Nazi next?). However, I'm not going to change your mind ... and I expect you know that great quote about what arguing on the internet is like ...
miss_kitty Hussein @ 46:
No worries. We know you can spell.
I can't spell for shit.
"P h o r C h i t"
Bob Roberts @ 47:
Well the only reasoning you explained was the one I've been on about. Am I supposed to be a mind reader and KNOW your reasoning goes beyond the utterly shallow?
And no. Why would I call you a Nazi? You brought it up. You must have had a reason for that. Are you worried about something?
I LOVE DAVID AND I LOVE AL!!!
Sigh ... I hate having to explain some things. The Nazi reference was to Godwin's law. It was meant to imply that your arguments degenerate in a similar fashion to that postulated by the law.
Since you're the sort who will stay up all night to get the last word (and I have work tomorrow), I yield the floor to you Miss Kitty.
I sure am pulling for Al, I urge anyone anywhere in the country to send money to people like Al Franken, they are putting up their own money, their own effort and their own reputation to battle neoconservative enabling Republican scum like Coleman.
Get em AL!!!!!!!!
Franken...best radio show ever.
Lots of people who didn't catch his show missed the best radio you could ever hear.
But he'll make a dam great senator.
God that was pathetic. Somebody pass Dave a towel to clean the DNA off of his chin.
Why did he not ask Al about the workers comp payments?
Maybe dave could have asked Al about the Air America ripoff of the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club.
If you thought Jesse Ventura was a big joke, you will love Al Franken.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37wrv1ndgiw&eurl=http://boreamerica.com/a...
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/03/06/franken_agrees_to_25000...
Franken agrees to $25,000 fine
Published: March 6, 2008 at 9:42 PM
MINNEAPOLIS, March 6 (UPI) -- Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken has agreed to pay a $25,000 penalty for not carrying workers' compensation insurance for former employees.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doi/pdf/GW_Report.pdf
DOI: Gloria Wise Execs Misappropriated $1.2 Million
BRONX---A two-year long investigation into allegations of wrongdoing and impropriety at the formerly city-funded not-for-profit Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx has found that Gloria Wise executives misappropriated and improperly obtained from Gloria Wise a total of $1.2 million.
The executives allegedly improperly obtained more than $290,000 in income that was untaxed, on-top of already generous salaries, and much of it stolen from government agencies; transferred $875,000 of Gloria Wise's money to a start-up commercial radio station, now called Air America, in which a Gloria Wise executive had a financial stake; and routinely falsified records to deceive government agencies about a number of matters, including how government funds had been spent to whether or not children attending a nursery school had received the required vaccinations.
http://www.cjr.org/politics/tracing_the_air_america_scanda.php?page=all&...
Tracing the Air America Scandal
What do you get when you cross a controversial liberal media outlet, the continuing fingerprints of its former director who resigned in disgrace, and hundreds of thousands of dollars apparently skimmed from a local non-profit that cares for disadvantaged youth…
By Paul McLeary
Wed 10 Aug 2005 01:44 PM
What do you get when you cross a controversial liberal media outlet, the continuing fingerprints of its former director who resigned in disgrace, and hundreds of thousands of dollars apparently skimmed from a local non-profit that cares for disadvantaged youth and the elderly?
Well, one would think you would have a story with all the elements to at least make the business pages of the major dailies — but then, one would be wrong.
Bob Roberts @ 17,
I once saw Al Franken talking about America and the war in Iraq and the man lost his composure and started to cry.
His compassion and concern were overpowering and it is that same compassion that he is bringing to the political arena. I, for one, cannot think of a single Minnesotan that I would rather see in that seat and to be honest, I do not think President Franken is wholly unreasonable.
Perhaps he could cross the aisle and pick up Ben Stein as running mate. Who wouldn't love the Franken/Stein ticket? ;-)
As for the idea that he is not "senatorial," the man is a Harvard graduate.
Fanken's opponent for the Democratic nomination is Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, who, unlike Al, opposed the Iraq War right from the start. Here's Jack's website.
Oh yeah, I forgot. Bob Roberts - LOVED your movie. Jack Black was hysterical.
Franken can be extremely serious on issues regarding working Americans.
I saw him at union hall "get out the vote" rallies over twenty years.
If you don't live there, give there if you cann.
Left&Left @ 6:
Me too.
Al, kick that douchebag, Coleman's ass!!!!
"ending the war in Iraq and providing universal health care"
As someone who lived in Minnesota and campaigned against the earlier mentioned Rep. Michele Bachmann, I had many chances to meet and listen to Al Franken. The two issues italicized above are positions that Franken is rather new to. I credit Franken with mentioning that he still has a primary opponent , 'one I like very much,' he says.
That candidate is Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Jack is favored in the Minnesota progressive community where he has been an outspoken advocate against the war and for single-payer health care (not just universal). I encourage people to go to Jack's webpage and click the link to Minnesota Public Radio's "Select a Candidate" survey. I am willing to bet that the majority of C&L readers will come out as Jack supporters.
http://www.jackforsenate.org/
(Two fyi items - 1st:I do not work for the Pallmeyer campaign but have donated to it, having met both candidates in 2005-06. 2nd: an earlier post hinted that Minneapolis/St Paul is conservative. The surrounding suburban areas are, but the cities and their respective congressional districts are very liberal/progressive with a strong Green party presence).
I'm glad Al is doing well in the race. I got so caught up in the Obamary campaign that I forgot he was running for senate.
I think he would make a fine senator, he certainly cares more then most of the fools we have in there now.
What I don't understand, is that, in less than the time President Obama gave his speech, lest do this as Americans, he has had 1.23 million hits on youtube, and still counting. Why haven't the MSM reported this, just SEAN Hanniety remarks. by the way, Hanniety friend Mr. Turner wrote the book use by Mr. McVay as a blule print to blow up the Federal Building in Co. that not only killed women,children, Jews,Christians,Blacks,Whites and others, But Faux News and the rest of Cable News refuse to talk about. Go Tell.
Rock on Al! No child left behind is pure crap.
BushCo LLC dumming down the curriculum.
BTW Frannie Franken? Al, the woman is a saint! You are indeed blessed.
If Norm Coleman wants to get into a contest to see whose career best deserves mockery, I'm sure Al Franken would be happy to accommodate him.
Franken's humor was, after all, intentional.
I'm afraid that Al may not win. After all, this is a state that honored the legacy of Paul Wellstone by electing a swine like Norm Coleman to take his place (over Walter Mondale, for crying out loud).
Even though I live in Michigan, I am sending Al some cash.
Wouldn't it be great to see him skewering the right-wing imbeciles with down home humor on the nightly news? His ability to point out the idiocy of republican talking points in a "Lincolnesque" way, is something sorely needed by the democratic party.
Hey Red Lasso Videos....
NEVER WORK!!!!!!!!
Get rid of it!
L.A. Confidential @ 8:
I crash at least once a day when I come to C & L. It always happens when I click on the "Comments" link.
Say it, Bill O'Reilly! Say it! Senator Al Franken!
Norm Coleman participated in one of Rev Moon's coronation ceremonies, according to a Unification Church newsletter (referenced in "Bad Moon Rising", p. 117). That makes HIM unfit to serve, since you can't serve two rulers: The American People and Rev. Moon.
Tell Coleman to choose which he wants...
Franken’s opponent, staunch Bush-ally Norm Coleman, is already on the offensive against Franken, drawing on his past as a satirist to argue that he is unfit to be a Senator.
...however anyone who was the TV spokesman for Boraxo is obviously highly qualified to be the President.
Coleman is like all other Republicans - he'll say anything and hope the tiny-brained don't think too hard about it.
Bob Roberts @ 17:
You think Al's not credible because he is a commedian? Give me a break. I'd vote for Al if I could because he's smart enough, he's good enough, and doggnit, people like him!
Bob Roberts @ 17:
I think we should have more people who aren't lawyers or career politicians in office.
DR @ 71:
It's time for Coleman to denounce and condemn Reverend MOON.
Bob Roberts @ 17:
Having a history as an, at best, mediocre commedian does not make him appear Senatorial.
It seemed to have worked for Regan.
And what did Bush do exactly before he ran the Texas educational system into the ground? Oh yeah ... he was the owner of a failed baseball team and a failed oil company.
I think one can do worse than being a comedian - especially when said comedian had been extremely active in the Progressive movement for six+ years (Air America).
A progressive comedian (oops! satirist ) who's for the people as opposed to a failed businessman who is pro Big Oil.
Me? I'm going with Al.
There's a much better, more liberal and more progressive Wellstone Democrat in this race and it's not Al Franken. His name is Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, and he is still very much in the race for the DFL (that's Democratic-Farmer-Labor for you non-Minnesotans) endorsement in Minnesota. Franken just assumes he has it sewn up, and claims he doesn't have time to debate Nelson-Pallmeyer. But it appears he found time to appear on Letterman.
http://www.jackforsenate.org/
I have never heard Al tell even a small lie, We miss his air america show, His calm demeanor has been a guide to his fans, saving many right wing jerks a fat lip. Atta boy Al
St. Paul trends republican. Minneapolis is solid Dem. Coleman and Bachman are both done.
Franken's show was by far my favorite on Air America. Franken is very witty and intelligent.. but also he didnt seem to enjoy the sound of his own voice as much as other talk show hosts. He very often had people on who could speak intelligently about the issue at hand and thats indicative of a quality that should serve him very well in public service. Knowing when you dont know enough and being able to swallow your pride and seek out people who are more knowledgeable is important.
Perhaps if our current administration had adopted a similar practice... we wouldnt be where we are now.
Can't wait to watch him own the floor on C-Span.
JoeMarasmus @ 1:
Erm, Al doesn't support universal health care as some of you have been lead to believe. He supports universal health care for children up to the age of 18. He also supports a system where all 50 states are left to decide if they want universal health care, but he's never specifically said he wants to support it in Minnesota. That honor goes to Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, the only candidate who has supported universal health care since day one. Seems like Al's collective supporters are more concerned by his "celebrity" than where he really stands on the issues. He doesn't stand a chance against Coleman.
Marge @ 18:
I believe that church is in Rep. Michelle Bachman (R) 's district (see earlier article in C & L) on her. That church & pastor should be audited by the IRS. It is not deserving of tax exempt status. Interesting how the IRS goes after churches with liberal politics but this church in Minnesota gets a pass.
At least the debates will be like a roasting.
chris @ 36:
The dems haven't even decided yet. When the 2nd republican great depression rolls into town this summer, even the diimest of bulbs will have to finally take notice.
Personally, I am going to enjoy watching McInsane try to sell that flaming-turd known as GOP trickle-down under these circumstances. Everytime he opens his mouth or debates the democrats, he will go down further and further in the polls.
And that isn't even taking into account his stay the course rhetoric in Iraq; - a sure loser. The only thing he has going for him, is the democratic congressional leadership.
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