Puppethead reminded me yesterday that it was Al Franken’s birthday. Sorry I missed it, Al! I figure I’ll try to make it up to Al by talking about how he seems to have grown as a candidate and a person in the two years he’s been on the campaign trail.
The specific incident that started Al Franken off on his quest to become Senator was how the Republican Party and their friends in the traditional media took and spun and lied about the memorial event for Paul Wellstone that was held at Williams Arena, and thus allowed Norm Coleman to eke out a win over Wellstone’s last-minute replacement in the race, former Vice President and Senator Walter Mondale. That raised Franken’s ire. But his interest in politics, an interest that has been lifelong, was combined with a gritty determination and a first-class brain. This, and not just anger, is what got him to do the hard work of forging a campaign through months of door-knocking in the snow and of facing hecklers at town meetings, and learning when his native abrasiveness works and when it doesn’t when talking with the voters. In short, it took the man who made his fortune as a comedian and showed him to be as serious and sober-minded and thoughtful and professional as they come.
His responsible demeanor, particularly in the first days after Election Day when Norm Coleman was still trying to pretend he could whine his way out of an automatic recount, impressed even the editorial staff of a rather conservative rural Minnesota newspaper, the Fairmont Sentinel: "It’s hard to believe we’re writing this, but it’s clear that Franken – known for his over-the-top humor and partisan antics – is the one acting with class in this serious situation."
His professionalism also shows in the people he chose to argue his case. Whereas Norm Coleman went at first with local Republican legal fixtures Fritz Knaak and Tony Trimble and their entourages, and then brought in Bogus Ben Ginsberg to be the public face and mouthpiece of his legal team, Franken went with persons from the law firm of Perkins Coie, an enterprise with offices in Seattle and Washington, D.C. and one of Fortune magazine’s top 100 firms to work for in 2009. (His lead lawyer, Perkins Coie’s Marc Elias, was the chief legal counsel for the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign.) The irony was that the out-of-townies working for Al seemed to have a much better grasp of state law than the local folks working for Norm. They also had a much better handle on things such as the rules of (photocopied) evidence and on not committing witness-tampering as was done by the Coleman camp with Pamela Howell. The superior quality of the Perkins Coie personnel is a key reason why Al Franken is going to be our next Senator.
In short, Al Franken has shown that he’s good enough, he’s smart enough, he’s tough enough, he’s determined enough, he knows how to pick good people to work for him, and gosh darnit, people respect and often even like him. I’m looking forward to seeing him in Paul Wellstone’s old seat.
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Great synopsis PW! In the dark days when Air America radio with Al as the first segment daily started, it soon became apparent that comedian or not, Al was very bright and very committed. And very very serious. When he made the decision to run for office it seemed so right. When he finally takes his rightful seat he will be an intelligent, competent addition to the Senate. Minnesota will be proud and Amy will heave a sigh of relief!
Happy birthday Al! also– OYE
I think David Lillehaug (former US Attorney for Minnesota, by the way) needs some mention as an outstanding member of Franken’s legal team as well. He was masterful in the way he dismantled Coleman’s election judge witness (the one who claimed double counting). And I apparently missed his entertaining missing envelope moment during the trial.
Time’s up, Norm.
Here here! One of my ongoing heros, a true Renaissance man.
Thanks for the post.
I remember watching Franken on CSpan on Book TV taking apart Bill O’Reilly piece by piece. It was hilarious. He was on to present his book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, which I subsequently read. I laughed the whole way through it.
It’s outrageous the way the Pukes are dragging their feet to keep him from serving in the Senate. The Pukes are scum.
cool. happy birthday, Senator Franken.
Billo
“I’m gonna sue you!”
“I’m gonna sue you!”
“I’M GONNA SUE YOU!”
Franken
“Go ahead! Do it!”
LOL. He rocks.
While Al’s induction into the club has been delayed, I see no reason that once in, he’ll ever have to leave.
Once in awhile, Al, if you look at it right. I’ll be honored to be represented by you.
GO BIG AL and Franny
OH! C’monnnnn Al!
We are OH, but had MN relatives a-plenty some time ago who surely would have voted for you.
This total STALL by the repubbles makes no sense, none at all.
We shall cheer so hard, you’ll hear it in MN as well as D.C. when this idiocy plays itself out and sane people give the o.k. to seat you in your rightful place in the Senate.
I personally look fwd to some dunderheads learning what a fine brain and educational background you have to bring to the task. Mebbe they have a clue after all and are terrified. heh.
Sign me, IMPATIENT for justice!
Thanks PW, Happy Birthday Al, and btw, such a nice picture of the happy couple. Lovely.
I read Lying Liars in 03. I thought it would be a quick entertaining read, which it was, but it also had a lot of substance. He was a visiting at Harvard when he wrote it and had 14 Harvard students as research assistants. Formed my whole outlook on the man, so I wasn’t surprised when he ran a classy campaign.
Al’s sense of humor sometimes belies the depth of knowledge he has of the major political issues. He can hold his own in any debate and often uses that humor to make pertinent points.
He’s a progressive who’s not wishy-washy and has always pushed back hard on every wingnut who challenges him. We all should have a major celebration when he’s finally seated. He deserves our full support.
Rachel’s got the prez of Liberty U’s now banned D club. He’s so inarticulate that he should be banned for that alone.
Please…cut the guy some slack…TV cameras take some getting used to and remember his peer group, not to mention his instructional models. I saw it too, and recognized him as uncomfortable and reticent to say too much.
It’s stuff like this that will keep the Republican party impotent. Franken should have been seated within 90 days of the election. American’s know this isn’t fair keeping a Senate seat empty just for revenge or what ever mean spirited motive they have.
This country will never forget being lied into war, nor will we forget the deaths. We will never forget that 8 yrs of them gave us the worst recession since the great depression. We will not forget, not in 2 yrs, not in 4 yrs and not in 8 yrs that we lost our homes, our savings, our jobs, retirement funds and college accounts all the while large corporations were making more profits than in any other time and in any other country in history. Not to mention that the US standing in the world has deminished. They don’t change then they will continue to be impotent.
They treat Dems as if they are their opposition at all times rather than just during the campaign cycle. They are gov representives, gov employees, yet they act like they are Dem’s enemies. And no one likes to fight all the times. They just don’t get that. We are craving for peace while the Rep’s are craving a fight. It is my experience that most people want a peaceful life.
Al’s got a bit of an ego — that’s a necessity for any politician — but he’s also a quick study and his ego isn’t so enormous as to keep him from facing facts. He can and will make lightning-fast changes as needed, and he does his homework.
They just radiate decency and groundedness, don’t they?
A Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away
Apparently, Norm can’t take a hint, so let’s give him one.
If thousands of us donate $1 to defeat Republicans each day Norm Coleman doesn’t concede, we’ll reverse the incentives for his DC Republican funders! Can you donate $1 a day?
Donations go to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which helps progressive candidates run effective campaigns and win.
We’ve raised over $103,000 — how much more Norm?
https://services.myngp.com/NGPOnlineServices/contribution.aspx?X=Ded7FwPHDshrGtqFOE7vW9VcwgIMiaBGhXdSUiuRDlw%3d
It’s a good thing Senate positions are six year terms, because if this were a House fight Franken would already have been denied his seat for a quarter of his entire term! I wish I thought Pawlenty was going to sign the Certification, and I thought at first he would, but this is getting so very ugly that he may just get pissy like he did with our state budget and simply say “No” indefinitely…
If there was ever an example of whore dem party not raising a damn finger to help anything, this is .. oh fuck, fuggedit. Doddering Harry’s got a million other more important capitulations on his plate .. Steny’s late for his manicure ..
They’re so afraid of looking ‘partisan’ — and when the media’s openly on the side of the Republicans, one can see why.