I first became aware of Al Franken as a political figure after reading his book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" Gotta love the way he puts Bill O'Lielly in his place. If Franken should call someone a liar on the Senate floor it will make for some interesting C-Span programming. Franken also penned a best selling book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations" Gotta love that title. Franken is my kinda guy. Smart, funny, outspoken and honest. I never did get to hear him on Air America radio, since the radio stations in the Lehigh Valley are dominated by right wingnut talk shows. Some facts you may not know about Al Franken:He graduated from Harvard in 1973: Political Science
He scored a perfect 800 on the SAT Math section
He won 3 Emmy Awards for his writing on Saturday Night Live
He holds strongly progressive liberal beliefs
More at this site: http://usliberals.about.com/od/senatecandidatesin2008/p/AlFranken.htm
Now that Al Franken has won and will finally take his place in the Senate, the Democrats will have a filibuster proof 60 vote-majority in the US Senate. But will that really make a difference?
Senators Kennedy and Byrd are ill, and possibly not in attendance, so that could be only 58. There are two Independents, Lieberman and Sanders, but Sanders is from Vermont and is very liberal, and has spoken out in favor of a public health care option. Lieberman leans right. So it could be only 57.
What will be the Democrats' excuse for not getting things done now? Lack of bipartisan support? Been bought off by the insurance companies and drug companies? It's time for Senators to stop being pusillanimous and pass a public universal health care option, really fight for equal rights for gays, ban assault weapons, and represent THE PEOPLE for a change, not just the campaign donors and lobbyists.
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17 comments:
He's Good Enough, He's Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Him!
That's great news! The Democrats have to manage expectations carefully now, though. And as you say, the fact that there are officially 60 Democrats in the Senate doesn't mean they'll all vote, or that they'll vote the party line.
Apparently Jimmy Carter was the last president whose party controlled the House of Representatives and also had 60 votes in the Senate, with the success that we know.
I hope this time won't be a repeat of that time!
http://www.npr.org/watchingwashington/2009/07/the_myth_of_60_in_the_senate_b.html
Also, I agree with you that people underestimate Franken. Because he was a comic, people think he might be a lightweight. It looks like he used the extra time to study:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/politics/02minnesota.html
I think he's going to do a good job.
Very interesting linkage info, thanks for contributing. And bout time us Democrats have a celebrity politician. This has been a mostly R-dominated area, what w/ Reagan, Fred Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Sanford, Larry Craig, etc., etc.
NPR Link
NYT Link
John Ensign, Ted Haggard ...
Bob Packwood, Mark Foley, Newt Gingrich ...
I believe we are
"piling on" now :)
Don't forget Sarah Palin
(who?) and Jim Bunning, Sonny Bono, Fred Grandy ("Gopher" on "Love Boat"), Jack Kemp ...
Clarence Thomas ...
Jane Curtin: Well, the 1970's are in their final month, and with some thoughts on this decade and the one we're about to enter, here's Weekend Update's Social Sciences Editor Al Franken.
Al Franken: Thank you, Jane. Well, the "me" decade is almost over, and good riddance, as far as I'm concerned. The 70's were simply 10 years of people thinking of nothing but themselves. No wonder we were unable to get together and solve any of the many serious problems facing our nation. Oh sure, some people did do some positive things in the 70's - like jogging - but always for the wrong reasons, for their own selfish, personal benefit. Well, I believe the 80's are gonna have to be different. I think that people are going to stop thinking about themselves, and start thinking about me, Al Franken. That's right. I believe we're entering what I like to call the Al Franken Decade. Oh, for me, Al Franken, the 80's will be pretty much the same as the 70's. I'll still be thinking of me, Al Franken. But for you, you'll be thinking more about how things affect me, Al Franken. When you see a news report, you'll be thinking, "I wonder what Al Franken thinks about this thing?", "I wonder how this inflation thing is hurting Al Franken?" And you women will be thinking, "What can I wear that will please Al Franken?", or "What can I not wear?" You know, I know a lot of you out there are thinking, "Why Al Franken?" Well, because I thought of it, and I'm on TV, so I've already gotten the jump on you. So, I say let's leave behind the fragmented, selfish 70's, and go into the 80's with a unity and purpose. That's what I think. I'm Al Franken. Jane?
Jane Curtin: Thank you, Al. That's the news. Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Just read this in The Nation, and it puts things in context as to why it seems like Obama is not getting much done:
" FDR did not face an army of lobbyists seeking to thwart his every move. Perhaps more important, he did not have to succeed in today's media environment, in which nut cases like Limbaugh/O'Reilly/Hannity manage to set the terms of debate. As sage Washington Post pundit E.J. Dionne Jr. explains, the MSM's proclivity for giving the "right wing's rants...wall-to-wall airtime" gives its ignorance and recidivism legitimacy despite its failure under Bush as well as its lack of support among the larger public."
And I think Obama is not embracing the gay rights issue because he is afraid of social conservatives using it as their "rallying cry" while he is trying to form coalitions of Dems and R's to move ahead on healthcare, energy, and other initiatives.
Thanks anon 3:13 I had forgotten how funny SNL was back then!!
Oh, man, does E.J. Dionne Jr. (and The Nation) nail it, or what? What is w/ all this mainstream media pandering to the lunatic right wingnut minority? Like this here crap in today's local "newspaper," WTF?
The Morning Call must be getting most of its ad revenue from assisted living centers and Viagra.
What a bunch of cranky old whiners.
"He's Good Enough, He's Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Him!"
I think he's gonna need daily affirmations once he gets to Washington. I like Franken too, he's great, and real smart.
Franken is brilliant. Great brain in that head.
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