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Al Franken Considering Senate Run

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2006
Posted on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 07:53:43 AM EST
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Air America Radio Host and comedian Al Franken is moving his show to Minnesota, where he will decide whether to challenge Norm Coleman for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Al Franken wants to be a senator.

"I'd rather be part of [the process] than commenting on it," he insists. But he pauses, shrugs indecisively, a boyish chuckle follows. "I think. I don't know. That might be part of the calculus of whether I go for it or not." Whether Franken will "go for it" in 2008, against freshman Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, remains to be seen. "I can tell you honestly, I don't know if I'm going to run," Franken continues, as we now sit 41 floors below his studio, in the skyscraper's courtyard. "But I'm doing the stuff I need to do, in order to do it."

Does he have a chance? Former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi thinks so.

"He has national reach; his name and who he is will attract small contributors and large contributors from all over the country, so a lot of little folks too," says Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, who managed Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. "In that way he's like the Dean campaign because he's really somebody that can energize not just Minnesota but around the country, to get involved and contribute."

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    • Al Franken Considering Senate Run | 45 comments (45 topical)
    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:12:05 AM EST
    I'll be surprised if he wins. Happy, but surprised.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#2)
    by nolo on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:23:41 AM EST
    If Minnesotans could elect Jesse Ventura, the least they could do is elect Al Franken.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:25:03 AM EST
    Can't say I care for some of his politics, but he'd be a welcome breath of fresh air in that stale old body, assuming he could retain his sense of humor.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:52:57 AM EST
    If he can still find time to write his books... I'm kind of indifferent toward his radio show, though I think Air America is important. As long as they don't replace him with Springer, they should be fine.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:57:53 AM EST
    I think he could win, and I agree w/ jpaul, he'd be a welcome breath of fresh air in the senate. We need more people in there, both liberal and conservative, who aren't career politicians and have new ideas.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:06:57 AM EST
    Yeah, he's got about as much chance of winning as Terri Schiavo does!!!!

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#7)
    by nolo on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:07:20 AM EST
    Hey!!! I like Jerry Springer just fine. His politics and heart are in the right place, and he's an articulate guy. As for his show, well, I know it's made him damaged goods as far as any future candidacy is concerned. But after having spent some time watching his show (as well as the second-rate ripoffs like Jenny Jones, et al.) during a convalescence three years ago, I came to see it less as shock theater, and more as a very interesting variation on the age old morality play. Sure, all his guests are people who engaged in shocking and titillating behavior, but an important part of the whole show is the audience's vocal condemnation of the behavior at issue. And unlike Jenny Jones, he never seemed purely exploitative of his guests. Just my two cents-- not meaning to derail the thread, though.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:10:27 AM EST
    A Simple Premise: Children are not born to hate, they are taught to hate. Our leaders know this. Unfortunately, more often than not they use this knowledge in the worst possible way. http://gunstreetradio.com/europe_lovelove.htm Free streaming audio and lyrics of the song everyone who is passionate about politics should hear.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:16:13 AM EST
    Well, the Repubs will have one safe seat. Should be a fun thing.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:16:30 AM EST
    What are you hoping to hear from President Bush this evening?

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:25:20 AM EST
    jim, franken is funny, intelligent, self-deprecating, popular, insightful, creative, imaginative, and i could go on and on. he's made a solid living off of nothing more than the power of his mind and creative abilities. keep thinking he'll be beaten easily, go ahead. but in a debate, or any side by side comparison, a guy like franken will win every time. as long as he doesn't get the yips and play it safe, water down his message, or listen to consultants in general. however, i could make an equally strong case that he could make MORE of a differene on the outside, commentating. he'd have more freedom, less constraint in debate, and a spotlight easily stolen in DC.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#12)
    by desertswine on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:37:50 AM EST
    ...and doggone it, people like him.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:46:09 AM EST
    desertwine, nice topper. i handed you that one, baby. sounded like i was trying to saint the cat. sheesh.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:54:36 AM EST
    Wonder if Franken will hire Randi Rhodes to do his radio ads.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#15)
    by Kitt on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:10:10 AM EST
    Martin - Ya gotta learn how to use the buttons, man. Love Love, Hate Hate

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:31:55 AM EST
    dadler - Well, that's your opinion of his abilities in comedy. Some share it, many don't. At best he will enter into the race with name recognition. Unfortunately, he will also have some very negative numbers, which will motivate people to vote against him. I would guess Limbaugh would have some real opportunities for pay back. If he wins, which I doubt, he would be as welcome in DC as posion ivy. Politicans distrust humor greatly, and most can't stand being laughed at. My main bone with him was the phony letter sent to Repubs politicans asking questions about sex for a phony book. Funny is funny, but that was just fibbing.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:44:40 AM EST
    Norm Coleman is the man for the job. Al Franken is no Senator. The US Congress should have 100 percent Republican representation and the US Senate should also be 100 percent Republican controlled. Every American should be conscripted into the US military and we should wage war against every nation on earth, friend and foe both. No sense in anybody living other than militant right wing God-fearing patriotic Americans willing to kick-ass from here to eternity. We can start out by re-nuking Nagasaki and Hiroshima for a second go round. Where's Harry Truman when you need him? Nuke a few cities across the globe and the world will be set back a hundred years or more. More for US. Democrats, if there must be such a creature, need to be in the Harry Truman form and not the Al Franken Democrats. Power speaks to truth. The day President Kennedy was assassinated ended American government as it was once prized. The coup de tat is complete. You're a serf, a subject, a useless eater. If the empire wants you, that's bad. If the empire doesn't want you, somehow, that's good. I have more respect for a person to NOT want to be a Senator or a Congressman. Al Franken will be better remembered as a comedian and a political satirist. He shouldn't sully his reputation with the disreputable label of 'Senator'. Unfortunately, these days, that is the case.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:47:51 AM EST
    What are you hoping to hear from President Bush this evening? "Screw you people. I quit."

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:52:05 AM EST
    I'm of two minds on this. Franken is smart and his opinions are sound, but he's a professional actor and comedian. That requires a very healthy ego with not much room for the kind of you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours politics that's necessary in a good congress-critter. That's why actors have become governors -bad actors and bad governors, to be sure, but the governorship provides both the ego rush and attention an actor thrives on and at the same time is more above the fray than senatorships from the messy business of compromise behind every piece of legislation. So my answer is a weakly held no. Franken should not run for Senator. He might consider governorships, if he really has the politics bug, but I think he is doing the best public service he could do right where he is. And I'm sure there is someone else in the state of Minnesota who can easily beat a nothing like Norm Coleman.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#20)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:56:38 AM EST
    PPJ - If you didnt get the obvious satirical point of Frankens stunt,its no wonder you vote for fake Texans with close-set eyes. But then,the talking point,which I have yet to see you ever deviate from,was that Franken did something immoral(see! look at those immoral liberals!).

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#21)
    by scarshapedstar on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:03:23 AM EST
    "My main bone with him was the phony letter sent to Repubs politicans asking questions about sex for a phony book. Funny is funny, but that was just fibbing." Aww, they got fibbed! Break out the smelling salts! Which party is supposed to be "dad" again? Sheesh.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:04:45 AM EST
    But really... Who else is there waiting in the DFL wings here in the frozen tundra that will be ready in '08?

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:18:33 AM EST
    gee, the party that started a war based on lies that has cost over 100,000 dead people. The party that uses torture for entertainment. and jim the demented one is worried they got fibbed to. you're one sick puppy jimbo.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#24)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:33:15 AM EST
    PPJs a talking-point fundamentalist - have some respect for his faith.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:43:04 AM EST
    I hope he does run. If not for the senate, then for something else. Let him put his money where is mouth is. It would be entertaining at the very least.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:53:28 AM EST
    Here's a picture for his campaign literature. Much more about Al Franken here. Some of Franken's best comedy material. Too bad he was serious.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 11:53:33 AM EST
    PPJ....too funny.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    bore, my oops thought your links might have something substantive, (should have reread moniker). linking drudge and lonewacko takes your credibility from 0 to 0 in 0 seconds.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#29)
    by cp on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 01:39:22 PM EST
    from what i've seen, either of my two cats, were they to move to MN and establish residence, could beat norm coleman, not the brightest bulb in a decidedly dull box. there is that one problem with age.............. as far as ego is concerned, actors need to develop a thick skin, to bear up under all of the rejection they get, so i don't think franken would have a problem there. i think limpdickbaugh would run, as fast as his fat little legs will take him, in the other direction, should franken choose to run. franken would gleefully expose him, yet again, as the ignorant twit that he is. this time, on a much more public national stage. old rush would need those depends changed a lot more frequently, with big al on his case constantly.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 01:40:59 PM EST
    Hmmm, perhaps we should arrest the usual suspects... kdog - Glad you liked it. Didn't know you were a fan. jondee - I have faith that you will always say something. I repeat, if you have to resort to fake letters for humor, it aint funny. scar - What's your point? That the CBS Rathergate memos were meant as a joke? ;-) You should ask Randi Rhodes about fake things and humor. Expensive humor, eh? et al - Look, this aint worth arguing about. He isn't going to run. And if he runs, he isn't going to win. Anyone want to b et a $20. contribution to TL that if he runs, he loses?

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#31)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 01:55:01 PM EST
    PPJ: It is for a good cause so I will take you up on it. Not because I think Franken will provide a platform that is winnable, but because Minnesotans have displayed with Ventura a willingness to shake things up.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#32)
    by cp on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 02:04:08 PM EST
    ppj, as usual, you set up strawmen, to knock them down. "rathergate" was a ploy, it has yet to be proven, by anyone, that those memos were, indeed, fake. i challenge you to show otherwise. by actual bona fide, non-partisan experts, not the rightwingnut hacks, that instantly popped out of their home woodworks. had i been dan rather or, better yet, cbs, i'd have told gw to go take a flying f*ck at a rolling donut. alas, cbs lost its balls years ago. you know what, i'll take you up on your bet: if franken does decide to run, i think he'll beat norm coleman, handily. JM or TL, hold on to these posts, so i remember, though i don't think i'll need to, where and when to send you the $20.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#33)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 02:39:45 PM EST
    Word of advice to Al Franken...if you run and the race is close in the final couple weeks, do NOT get on a plane!

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 03:18:55 PM EST
    et al - Well, I said "anyone" but hey, I'm game for 5 of you. And it is for a good cause. So far we have Jlvngstn and cp... I'll save the comments as proof. cp - The proof was made several times over, and CBS firing, etc., is the icing on the cake. The memos cost them millions in lost ad revenues, and if they weren't fake they would have fought it like a dog finding a chicken snake in the hen house. (That's a Ratherism, son.) JL - That's what bothers me. Ernesto - And if you do, tell your replacement to not have any requiem celebrations and Repub attack services. ;-)

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 06:41:28 PM EST
    Ernesto, you got that one right. Safer on bus or by train.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 06:45:37 PM EST
    God bless Wellstone and family. How else are you going to celebrate and mourn their death than by reflecting passionately on their politics? Otherwise it's sort of like a funeral for Mother Theresa, but no poor people allowed in. I hope Franken runs.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 08:18:10 PM EST
    How else are you going to celebrate and mourn their death than by reflecting passionately on their politics?
    By getting involved and carrying it on with a healthy contribution to the cause, of course! :)

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#38)
    by cp on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 09:23:22 PM EST
    ppj, once again, the gauntlet is thrown: show me conclusive evidence, from bona fide, non-partisan experts, that the memos were fake. cbs just bailed, they don't even know, but all the evidence in so far seems to indicate they were real. however, i'm no expert, and i don't play one on tv. i'm still waiting, after all this time, for real experts to weigh in. c'mon guy, you had to know more than one of us would take you up on your bet! lol

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:22:34 PM EST
    If he could do what Ms Clinton has done for us here in upstate NY then I think that that they deserve what they get if they elect him. We're still waiting for those two hundred thousand jobs that she promised during her campaign. But if you only care about the R vs D thing then those poor suckers that thought Sen Clinton really cared can go bugger themselves afterall she really cares about NYS, you know the state she "represents" Man O' man can I think that the O'Franken factor would make a good rep for a state that wanted the same result as upstate NY has under Hillary but in Minn. Is the Left that bereft of good talent? If so, sheesh...I guess we get what we desrve.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 12:21:16 AM EST
    I agree with MNObserver - there really aren't any outstanding candidates waiting in the wings. Coleman's a hack, but he's a charismatic hack with lots of money behind him. Don't write him off so easily. But we definitely need to unload him. His ambition could fuel Duluth for a decade.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#41)
    by john horse on Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 03:33:05 AM EST
    You know why Franken would be a great candidate? Because he's good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like him!

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 05:22:06 AM EST
    "Children are not born to hate, they are taught to hate." Better: "Children are not born to hate, they learn to hate." No one had to (or did) teach me to hate; I learned through experience that there are certain people, and certain types of people that are worthy of hate.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 06:06:07 AM EST
    cp - Nope, I was surprised. After all, I offerred a bet on Air America and only one person (finally) took that one. And I lost, and no one would come forth and claim the bet, so I paid TL anyway. As for the memos, nope, I'm not gonna argue that. The world knows they were fake, so you can try and re-write history if you like, but it won't work. But I will jingle you a bit. The dude who gave them to CBS still won't say where he got them, and no one has produced the originals. And of course with the "orginals" the paper would tell us age, very quickly.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#44)
    by Dadler on Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 09:54:39 AM EST
    jim, so lemme see -- franken's negative numbers would come from? his opposition to the war but his traveling to entertain the troops? his concern about normal working people in the social security, medicare, etc? bud, his negatives would come from people like you -- who don't like him for any other reason than other people have told them he's "liberal". give me some way out there thing that franken stands for, proposes, whatever, that just makes your skin crawl. the guy is totally mainstream.

    Re: Al Franken Considering Senate Run (none / 0) (#45)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:35 PM EST
    dadler - His negatives will come from the fact that he is on the far left. Just as Coulter's would come because she is on the far`right. And no, I don't consider him a liberal. He is a member of the Left.

    Al Franken Considering Senate Run | 45 comments (45 topical)