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Liberals retreat to comfort of alternative ball
Sun Herald.com / AP ^ | 1/20/05 | FREDERIC J. FROMMER

Posted on 01/20/2005 9:16:50 PM PST by TexKat

WASHINGTON - There were no cowboy hats, no cowboy boots. The only fur coat on the rack was a fake one.

While 50,000 revelers celebrated Thursday night at nine official balls across the city, a couple hundred people chose the company of fellow liberals at an "Alternative Inaugural Ball" downtown.

The ball raised $65,000 for the Independent Action political action committee, which supports non-incumbent Democratic candidates.

"Instead of our constituency staying home and being miserable, we decided to celebrate our hard work," said the PAC's executive director, Ralph Santora.

Comedian and radio show host Al Franken was one of the star draws for the evening.

"People are saying, 'You know, it's not so bad,'" Franken said, referring to President Bush's re-election. "It's terrible!"

Franken, who grew up in St. Louis Park, Minn., mocked Bush's inauguration speech's call to support freedom around the world, saying the United States supports allies like Uzbekistan that repress their people.

He also challenged Bush's high ground on values, particularly concerning the war in Iraq.

"What is the morality of going to war on false premises?" said Franken, who is mulling a challenge to Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., in 2008.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said progressives must make the case that Bush's policies are hurting minorities, gays and poor and working people.

"They're going to see some erosion in their position," he said. "We have to make it clear to them that this was not some force of nature, not some tsunami, but the results of conscious policies by these people in power.

"If we succeed in connecting those dots," Frank said to loud applause, "then I think we'll be able to disconnect those people."

Some attendees clearly resented the Republicans who came in from all over the country to attend the official inauguration balls.

"There's this Republican head-in-the-clouds mentality - we just want to have a good time, because we gave a lot of money to the Republican National Committee," said Denise Ross, 31, of Arlington, Va. She also lambasted their fashion sense, recalling seeing women in open-toe sandals and fur coats.

"I wanted to find some way to enjoy the evening without feeling disgusted," added her 34-year-old friend, Alicia Love.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alfranken; alternativeball; barneyfrank; kerrydefeat; myboylollipop; pac; ralphsantora; santora
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1 posted on 01/20/2005 9:16:50 PM PST by TexKat
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To: TexKat
I wonder if they served Prozac punch.
2 posted on 01/20/2005 9:18:08 PM PST by AirForceMom (God Bless America! What a wonderful day.)
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To: AirForceMom

I wonder if Boxer was in attendance still shedding tears.


3 posted on 01/20/2005 9:20:27 PM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat
a couple hundred people chose the company of fellow liberals

Only a couple hundred
Seems even most liberals can't stand being around liberals!

At least they are staying out of sight. Gotta give them that much.

4 posted on 01/20/2005 9:21:55 PM PST by konaice
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To: TexKat

"If we succeed in connecting those dots," Frank (sic) said to loud applause, "then I think we'll be able to disconnect those people."

Al - Never realized that connecting dots was such a difficult task. Oh - they are invisible dots? Like they do not even exist? Kind of like all the "fraud" in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004? Carry on in your imaginary ways - the Ds will continue to slide out of power.


5 posted on 01/20/2005 9:22:18 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - there are countless observable clues that God exists)
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To: AirForceMom

They're celebrating being loosers?

Hahahahahhahahahahahahahah.......


6 posted on 01/20/2005 9:22:35 PM PST by trailboss800
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To: TexKat

"The ball raised $65,000 for the Independent Action political action committee, which supports non-incumbent Democratic candidates."

Shouldn't that 65k go to charity, troops, or tsunami victims? Echo? The Left was SO OUTRAGED over the 40 mil spent on the Inagural Ball, and yet, when its time to put up or shut they...


7 posted on 01/20/2005 9:22:44 PM PST by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
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To: TexKat
"What is the morality of going to war on false premises?" said Franken, who is mulling a challenge to Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., in 2008.

Oh Please

8 posted on 01/20/2005 9:23:17 PM PST by Mo1 (Liberty will come to those who love it)
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To: TexKat

[Comedian and radio show host Al Franken was one of the star draws for the evening. "People are saying, 'You know, it's not so bad,'" Franken said, referring to President Bush's re-election. "It's terrible!"]


HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW. That comedian Al Franken is so funny. I wonder why his radio show has such a dismally low audience considering how funny this guy is.


9 posted on 01/20/2005 9:23:25 PM PST by spinestein (Do I even need the sarcasm tag?)
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To: TexKat
She also lambasted their fashion sense, recalling seeing women in open-toe sandals and fur coats. This is surely a top priority. No wonder the democratic party is in the toilet.
10 posted on 01/20/2005 9:23:30 PM PST by AirForceMom (God Bless America! What a wonderful day.)
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To: TexKat
"What is the morality of going to war on false premises?" said Franken, who is mulling a challenge to Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., in 2008.

Oh, he can't be series! This is too rich!
11 posted on 01/20/2005 9:23:51 PM PST by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save bucks and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
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To: TexKat
The two major draws: Frank 'n Franken (Frank in Franken?).

Oh, happy day for the DUmmies.

12 posted on 01/20/2005 9:24:41 PM PST by DTogo (U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
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To: TexKat
"What is the morality of going to war on false premises?" said Franken, who is mulling a challenge to Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., in 2008.

Does Franken live in Minnesota?

Just what we need. A hothead, out-of-control, physically confrontational idiot freak in the Senate.

13 posted on 01/20/2005 9:25:59 PM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Christine Fraudoire is not my governoire.)
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To: RandallFlagg

Just got back from the Freeper Ball, Franken who?


14 posted on 01/20/2005 9:26:01 PM PST by bmwcyle (Washington DC RINO Hunting Guide)
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To: TexKat

Oooooh, $65,000! I'm so scared!


15 posted on 01/20/2005 9:26:30 PM PST by ScottFromSpokane (http://drunkengop.blogspot.com/)
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To: bmwcyle

I'm jealous!!


16 posted on 01/20/2005 9:26:49 PM PST by AirForceMom (God Bless America! What a wonderful day.)
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To: TexKat

[Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said progressives must make the case that Bush's policies are hurting minorities, gays and poor and working people.]

Yeah, Barney. You'd better start making that case because the American public probably hasn't heard it yet (and don't forget to try to scare the elderly, too).


17 posted on 01/20/2005 9:28:00 PM PST by spinestein (Do I even need the sarcasm tag?)
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To: AirForceMom

You will have to go in 2008 if the RNC does not run a RINO.


18 posted on 01/20/2005 9:28:38 PM PST by bmwcyle (Washington DC RINO Hunting Guide)
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To: TexKat
One of my favorite memories of election night was switching to the Sundance Channel (for the first and last time ever) to see Al Franken reporting live at 11:30 pm.

I was hoping to watch him cry, but what I saw was even better. Al had a white board and red and blue markers and was drawing a color-coded map of the US.

He was explaining how it was insane that people were believing that Kerry was going to lose, and just kept drawing state by state. "OK, here's New Jersey. It's blue. Pennsylvania, blue..."

He was drawing it, while only half-looking at it and pleading to his viewers to not give up hope.

The map was completely unrecognizable as anything resembling the US. After about fifteen minutes he finally added a red Alaska and a blue Hawaii, then held up his completed masterpiece - a purple turd - and announced "This is still Kerry's to lose!"

19 posted on 01/20/2005 9:30:12 PM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: bmwcyle

I would love to!!


20 posted on 01/20/2005 9:30:29 PM PST by AirForceMom (God Bless America! What a wonderful day.)
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