BS: Senator Al Franken

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Paul Burke
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:45 PM

Al Franken, Al Whittle, Al Qaida, Al Jolson, Al Abama, what's the difference?

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: jacqui.c
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:46 PM

One more vote for the Dems in the Senate.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Wesley S
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:46 PM

He's just waht the Senate needs.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:53 PM

Yes, about time!!

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Emma B
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:59 PM

an eight month recount? I think you could have hit the nail on the head there kat :)

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:00 PM

Go AL!!!!! This guy is the real deal. If the whole senate was Al Frankens, shit would get done!

They did everything the could to keep a VERY good man down. I just hope he stays there for a very long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:30 PM

About time -- but the race WAS so close that a recount should have been mandatory.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: kendall
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:50 PM

They did do a recount and Franken won by an ever bigger margin.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:54 PM

Why is it that they can count the votes in one day yet takes 10 months to recount them???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 06:14 PM

Because Al is a decent, honest man. And that don't sit well with the bastards in high places.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al franken
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 06:15 PM

Partly because many of the votes they were concerned with were absentee ballots....and partly because this is Minnesota.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 07:29 PM

And because the incumbent dragged it through the courts as long as he possibly could.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 07:54 PM

And the courts obliged.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 08:05 PM

Well, at least it's over!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 08:09 PM

Thank goodness, Charley. And, all hail Al Franken! What a wondeful day for the US Senate and the US people! He will be a great asset.

I know... I am a Canuck... but, I just can't help feeling joy when something so right works out right.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Ref
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 08:33 PM

He's a real progressive, which Harry Reid and his gang of corporate appeasers do not applaud. If the shoe had been on the other foot, Coleman would have been seated in January. Mrs. Senator Franken is also a very high class person, so congrats to both of them. I think you should not hold your breath waiting for a joke from Al. He's got serious business to carry out and I imagine he wants to be taken seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Riginslinger
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 09:05 PM

I hope he has the ability to get serious. I think of him the way I think of David Letterman, and that's not good.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 10:18 PM

He can be quite serious. His books are rich with insight even when he laces them with funny stuff. This is LONG overdue and a black eye on the Republican machine.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Ron Davies
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 10:24 PM

He is much closer to Obama than many other Democratic senators.   But now we will see if the Democrats can really deal with a true "big tent".   You can bet that if Obama, with 60 Democratic senators, can't get a large portion of his agenda through, he will be pilloried mercilessly. But Democrats cover a wide range of the political spectrum. And senators must reflect their constituents' views.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 11:59 PM

Hell, I hope he gets funny again.

The most disappointing thing about his campaign was that he NEVER cracked a joke. I think he must have been afraid that his reputation as a comedian would hurt him as a politician—that people wouldn't take him seriously—and so he totally suppressed his sense of humor. As a result, he was rather boring! He even hesitated when he talked, as if he was thinking of something funny to say and then censoring himself.

But he's a brilliant thinker.

Humor can be a great political tool—just look at Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Paul Burke
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 01:58 AM

Wonder where the first post in the thread went?

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 07:32 AM

I hope the Senate can now agree on what to fight about.

I wonder what Bill O'Rielly thinks of this? Or, that fathead, Limbaugh?

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 07:56 AM

Kendall-

O'Rielly or Limbaugh "thinks"?

That would be a surprise.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: jacqui.c
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 08:02 AM

Wonder where the first post in the thread went?

Paul - I think the first two posts were by guest and so were deleted. Interesting subject anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 10:35 AM

I never cared much for Franken as a comedian....I think he works better when he is serious. Maybe he will allow himself a few 'lighter' moments now that he has the job.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 11:39 AM

The aid stations in Hell are loaded from all the broken bones from all those ice skating injuries.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 12:20 PM

?? robomatic... I sort of get the oblique reference to 'Hell freezing over', but I can't make out who or what it is supposed to be a comment on.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 12:36 PM

Perhaps hell has frozen over?

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 04:18 PM

Naawww... Hell is in Michigan, and it is Summer there now.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: DougR
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 07:35 PM

I'm just glad he's one your yours.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: pdq
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 07:39 PM

What do you suppose Franken's first piece of legislation will be, free government-supplied LSD?

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 08:28 PM

Bobert said:

Why is it that they can count the votes in one day yet takes 10 months to recount them???

Assuming that that's a real question, Bobert, and not just the expression of justified frustration:

Partly because they have a huge organization throughout the state for the election, designed and organized with volunteers just for that one day, and only a small part of it for a very short time thereafter. No such preexisting organization for the recount. The logistics are different.

Then too, the recount is about tiny details, where the general election is painted with a broad brush, and there were of course allegations that there were mistakes in the initial count, the resolution of which could go either way, so the recount was done under a microscope, so to speak. They took great pains to lean over backwards being careful.

Then once it got into the courts, "the mills of the gods grind exceeding slow"; it's the nature of the beast. And there are times set by the rules for one party to submit something, followed by prescribed times for the opposing party, and diminishing times for the original party, and then the answering party. Then there has to be time for argument worked into the court's schedule, and a date has to be found when all the lawyers can be there, which can be difficult under the best of circumstances, let alone when one side wants to drag things out. After argument, the court has to have time (set by the rules) to research and think and write its opinion and judgment. And then of course whichever party lost on the first go-round will ask for reconsideration, and the whole process is off to the races again.

And then some new motion can be filed by the foot-dragging party (Coleman), and all of the above may have to be done again.

Then an appeal to an appellate court, and ditto, ditto, ditto ad nauseam. And when Coleman lost there, he could and did appeal to the State Supreme Court, and you guessed it, the whole merry-go-round under the rules has to go on again.

The delay was only minimally caused by the actual recounting.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 08:34 PM

Something that puzzles me: Once the Court found that Franken had been properly elected back in November, what happens with the Senator's salary he would have been entitled to had there not been the recount and lawsuits, which were found without merit? Does he get backpay, so to speak? Or does the salary only run from the time he's sworn in at the Senate in Washington and he takes his seat?

I can just hear the arguments that could be made on both sides of that, if it were merely a matter of equity. But I'm sure there's a statute or a rule of the Senate that sets it all out.

Does anybody know?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 09:11 PM

Hmmmm... I don't know the answer to your question, Uncle Dave, but I have a similar one: Does he get to vote retroactively, so to speak? In other words, can he enter a vote on each of the bills, motions, etc., in the Senate over the last 5-plus months on which he was denied a voice because of the meritless lawsuits?

Anyway, hooray for Senator Franken! Long may he serve!

Now if only Jesse Ventura would run for the other Senate seat... :-) :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Riginslinger
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 10:02 PM

Sharon - I've always been a fan of Jesse Ventura. An honest politician is so refreshing.

                  I wonder if the junior senator were to change his name to Frank Allen if maybe...

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 10:57 PM

LOL, Rig!

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: robomatic
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:46 PM

They should do away with the National Prayer Breakfast and replace it with Daily Affirmations a la Stuart Smalley:

"I'm good enough-
And I'm smart enough-

-To serve in the U S Senate!"

I guess the Al Franken decade is beginning after all, just a little bit later than he first announced

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 07:00 PM

Comedy writer, comedian, actor, pundit, author... the guy is just so honest and smart.

AND he has balls!

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 07:06 PM

The real news in this issue is that The dems, by this single seat, now have the power to prevent the fillibuster ( which is a disgrace anyway) and allow much needed legislation through.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 07:22 PM

Way too much has been made of the 60 votes. Getting all 60 on ANY issues would be hard.






(Oh my...the temptation to start individual threads on senators like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK).)(and several more dumb-as-post disgraces)

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 09:40 PM

Bernie Sanders and the traitor, Joe Lieberman, are indepenants. One shouldn't lose sight of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: DougR
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 10:13 PM

Gnu: I totally agree with your first sentence in your post of June 30, 2009, at 5:00 PM.

That does not, of course, apply to your last sentence in that post. We already have enough comedians in the US Senate.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 11:03 PM

Bernie Sanders is pretty far left, but he seems to be VERY bright and totally honest and dedicated to doing what is right, as far as he sees it. He 'favors' a single-payer health care system, but is quite aware he will not get that, so he is working to help Obama get the 'public option' worked out.

Lieberman is 'independent' so he can slither back & forth depending on whose favor he wants to curry at the moment.

(Doug...as far as I can tell, Franken has given up being a comedian and is speaking seriously about being a good senator...but the jibe is hard to pass up, huh?)

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Jul 09 - 11:59 PM

Bill - I've always like Bernie Sanders. And I agree he is totally honest. That's refreshing.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: fumblefingers
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:13 AM

The election judges kept finding votes and they were all for Al.
When they found enough to win, they stopped counting. One is reminded of Landslide Lyndon.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 10:17 AM

Doug think's HE'S a comedian, Bill. But that's not the came thing as a clown.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: DougR
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:34 PM

Well, Bill, I must admit that a sure way for me to gag would be to try in all seriousness to say the "Senator" part of Senator Franken. Especially considering the way the got the senate seat.

Greg F.: I wasn't trying to be funny,old friend, when I said I agreed with Gnu's first sentence. Perhaps you didn't read it. Gnu wrote, "Go Al!!!! This guy is the real deal! (Now this is the part I mean)..."If the whole senate was Al Frankens, SHIT (my emphasis)would get done!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:54 PM

Damn right, Doug... "Alsss" would get a lot of shit done and done quick and right... like shit should be getting done, rather than the fucking over of the poor that has been taking place at a very long and slow pace for so many years.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 09:08 AM

Especially considering the way the[sic] got the senate seat.

He got it by winning an open election fair & square, Douggie-Boy.

However, I can see how that might annoy someone of your intelligence & sensibilities.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: artbrooks
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 10:15 AM

Well, it seems to me that Senator Franken has no more or less inherent gag appeal than President Reagan, Governor Schwarzenegger or Congressman/Mayor Bono, all actors elected on the Republican ticket. Franken is, at least as far as his published issues statements are concerned, perhaps a bit to the left of Obama, which puts him squarely in the center of the Democratic spectrum.

BTW, anyone who really thinks that the Democrats now have a "supermajority" and will be able to invoke cloture on any filibusters that the Republicans care to run, is sadly deluded and knows nothing about the realities of American politics. There is no such thing as a "party line", although the Republicans come closer to enforcing one these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 10:23 AM

Art... I do admire the way the party line is "viewed" in the US. In Canuckistan, there are three party/government rules. Protect the minister, protect the minister, and protect the minister. Break any of those three rules and yer screwed, politcian or bureaucrat. Or mail room clerk for that matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Riginslinger
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 11:14 AM

"...Senator Franken has no more or less inherent gag appeal than President Reagan, Governor Schwarzenegger or Congressman/Mayor Bono..."

               He'll be skiing into a tree any day now.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: artbrooks
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 11:16 AM

Gnu, there is an old saying (incorrectly, I think, attributed to a fairly recent politician) that "all politics is local". This is the reason that we can have Democrats that are further right than some Republicans and Republicans that are further left than some Democrats...because they reflect the positions of their constituents and because the alternatives those voters had did not. That is, if a fairly conservative region has the choice between a fairly conservative Democrat and a very conservative Republican, they vote Democratic. On the other hand, a Republican with identical views as that conservative Democrat would go down to resounding defeat if he were running in a much more progressive district. The Republican party does better at keeping their senators and congressmen in line, IMHO, because (other than a couple of outliers in upper New England) they are all in the range from center-right to far right. Democrats, on the other hand, cover the spectrum from center-right to far left.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 12:26 PM

Here, the Prime Minister and Ministers and chosen others sit behind closed doors and decide what should (not) be done. Then, their decisions are communictaed to the MPs of "the government". For any vote held each MP of "the government" votes the same way NO MATTER what thier constituents think. Any MP who does not toe the line is in a world of hurt.

Now, a government must hold an election at minimum intervals of five years (Yes, there was recently a law passed to make it 4 years to the day but the PM who made that law broke that law in jig time.) Six years as an MP is life-long ticket to the financial security of a fat pension. You do the math.

Shit "gets done" much quicker in our system, but that is not necessarlily a good thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 12:50 PM

Doug... Minnesota is famous for scrupulous honesty in vote counting and independent thinking. They elected Jesse Ventura...and they ELECTED Franken...not by much, but those recounts were done with watchers from both sides looking at every ballot.

Sorta beats some of the old stories about Illinois...or...ummm... Texas.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 07:30 PM

...or...ummm... Florida!

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 07:05 PM

If ya donn't have a sense of humor, it isn't funny. Well, I have been happily guffawing since it was final that Al won. ANYTHING we can do now to reverse the damage to this country that was a direct result of having conservatives in power in the USA, not only should it be done, but it OUGHT to be done quicklly.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Songster Bob
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 07:35 PM

"The election judges kept finding votes and they were all for Al.
When they found enough to win, they stopped counting. One is reminded of Landslide Lyndon."

Good thing this is the BS thread, because that is purest bullshit! If they had counted all the faulty absentee ballots, Franken would have likely won by even more (though, since the rejected ones were for simple errors, they were probably Republican ballots). All through the court fights, Coleman tried to get invalid ballots counted, and every time he got any allowed, bingo!, Franken won more than Coleman did.

So it was NOT an improper recount -- as attested by two levels of court, including the State Supreme Court.

And the Republican line that the election was stolen is as believable as any damn thing else those twits put out.

And remember: "If you have an election lasting longer than four months, call your physician immediately."


Bob (not like I'm a Democrat or have been following the election aftermath or anything).

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: DougR
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 01:29 AM

Bill D.: Yes, I know the reputation of Minnesota elections. On this one, though, I think they slipped up. There still were a lot of votes that were not counted that perhaps should have been. But what the hey, maybe the Democrats will elect David Letterman sometime in the near future and elect him Majority Leader. Now Franken and Letterman in the U. S. Senate would be a real hoot!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: SharonA
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 10:09 AM

Franken will be sworn in today!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 11:29 AM

"Gawdamm!! That'll show that )*(&$(*%()* moth****(*%&*#( Coleman and his **((($$%%#### lackies...I'm IN!"

A great day for swearing from in!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 12:14 PM

"On this one, though, I think they slipped up."

Doug...That sounds a lot like "I just don't WISH to believe it."....every time they counted more votes, those scrupulous Minnesotans found more for Franken.

Letterman? Not a chance.....he makes much more money doing what he does, and even *I* don't think he'd be a good senator. *I* would never vote for him. Franken knows how to turn OFF comedy.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 07:11 PM

And Dave knows how to turn comedy on politicians.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:08 PM

Who would have believed it two years ago, if anyone had said that in 2009 Senator Al Franken would be sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden?!

I love this country.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: DougR
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:20 PM

Bill D: "scrupulous" or inventive?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:58 PM

I wonder how sweet little Ann Coulter is handling this. She had a particular hate on for Al Franken. On Fox News and elsewhere, she never missed a chance to say something bitchy and nasty about him. And whenever someone tried to say something less than nasty about him, she'd always respond with "Oh, PU-LEEZE!!" while looking like she was about to throw up.

I've been expected her to explode with sheer rage and frustration, sort of like Rumplestiltskin.

Gee! I'd kinda like to see that!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:05 PM

Thanks to someone above who pointed out the various Rethuglican actor/pols. I was going to ask whether it's their own stupidity or a massive disrespect for the memories of Dems that makes the Rethugs sneer that AF is "just a comedian" while telling us with a straight face that Ronnie Rayguns was a statesman.

The real problem for the R's here is that they can't stomach a Democrat who responds to their attacks by counter-attacking, instead of whimpering and lying down.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:12 PM

Doug... not as inventive as Florida, who figured out how to UN-count vote and keep others from being cast at all.

Funny...I didn't hear you complaining back in 2000.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:59 PM

Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire (Democrat) was finally declared the winner on a squeaker victory over Republican candidate Dino Rossi. Can't remember the exact number, but she won by something like 250 votes. Rossi dragged it through the courts, but after several recounts, she still won. As I recall, Rossi wanted to take it to court yet again, but they declare "Enough, already!" After several times in court, it was becoming obvious that Rossi and his supporters were just damned poor losers.

But it happened a lot quicker than Al Franken's being declared the winner.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:38 PM

"just a comedian".... anyone who says that is just an idiot.. an idiot who can't even Google.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:46 PM

Idiots...Rush comes to mind. What a rush... a junkie speaking for the Repubs... now... there's a laugh and half... if it wasn't so sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:02 PM

I saw the label on a prescription bottle of oxycontin once (the stuff Rush Limbaugh was strung out on). It said "May cause dizziness."

That explains a lot.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:09 PM

Dizzy? The man is truly an idiot. That riff on Mike J. Fox was unreal. The man is truly fucked up. How does he sleep at night??? and talk for the repub right? Dead wrong I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:14 PM

Totally agreed!

I was just making a little joke.

A very little joke.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:32 PM

Yes, Don. Nonetheless... the man is a danger to dizzies everywhere. And society as a whole.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 11:25 PM

Rush makes a LOT of money being as controversial as he can legally get by with. He is 92.461% entertainer. We may never know just how much he actually believes of that crap he spouts.

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Amos
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 01:35 AM

He's about as entertaining as a lit match in a powder room.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 04:36 PM

Abama's name is Borok, silly!



A

Subject: RE: BS: Senator Al Franken
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 02:37 PM

Folks like Dick Cheney Rush Limbaugh and Ms. Coulter are probably doing the Democrats more good than harm, because as long as they are held up as prominent leaders of the Republicans they make them appear more right wing, more crank infested, and more out-of-touch.