Posted on 12/06/2005 4:41:02 PM PST by SJackson
This newspaper always counted the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone among its favorite people in Washington. Indeed, there were more than a few days during the Minnesota Democrat's two terms in the Senate when we wished he was representing Wisconsin.
Wellstone's death in 2002 hit Wisconsin progressives every bit as hard as it did our neighbors to the west. Many of us thought we had lost our third senator.
Almost as painful was the news, barely 10 days later, that Norm Coleman, a protege of White House political czar Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney, would replace Wellstone. In the Senate, Coleman has proved to be a grandstanding partisan whose self-serving sleaziness stands in dramatic contrast to Wellstone's honorable service.
So it is that, like a great many Minnesotans, we are looking for a suitable replacement for Wellstone to stand against Coleman in the 2008 Senate race.
One of the most intriguing prospects, Al Franken, the comedian, author and social commentator, is in Madison today to present his Air America radio show. And we welcome him as an eminently suitable contender.
Franken is not sure whether he will make the race. But if he does, he will be a far more serious contender than his right-wing critics would have Americans believe. Sure, he comes from the world of show business. But, by comparison, say, with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franken has a significantly more impressive track record as a political activist and a commentator on national and international affairs.
In many senses, Franken reminds us of an entertainer-turned-politician we did not agree with but whom we had to respect: former President Ronald Reagan. Reagan got deeply involved in conservative politics years before he entered the 1966 California gubernatorial race. Reagan was ridiculed by liberals and many in the media but he beat them every time because he actually understood politics and was firm in his beliefs.
If Franken seeks the Senate seat from Minnesota, he will be ridiculed by conservatives and many in the media but he too understands politics and is firm in his beliefs. And, we suspect, Franken would hand Coleman the defeat he should have gotten from Paul Wellstone.
Politics ping. Jane Fonda isn't available.
The scary part is that he would be more intelligent than 90% of the dem senators now. I know, it's like defining which turd is stinkiest.
Uh uh. No way. Not because he's liberal, and I don't like him. Because he's a violent lunatic who should not be allowed near anyone or anything he can harm.
Not!
That's a serious issue, though while I don't advocate duels in Congress, fisticuffs might be entertaining.
...suitable for the bottom of the monkey cage. Senator Al Franken? Even Minnesotans are not that stupid.
Why have you got against horses?
Why = What
Oh puh-leeze, you have got to be kidding!
Senator Franken. What a ridiculous notion. And comparing Franken to Reagan? What drugs is that writer taking?
"Almost as painful was the news, barely 10 days later, that Norm Coleman, a protege of White House political czar Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney, would replace Wellstone."
Oh, how sweet it is to hear the sound of a liberal admitting how much pain he/she/it feels. Maybe someone will be good enough to post this item again tomorrow so it can be enjoyed once more.
The Crapital Times continues its sixty year tradition--
Yes indeed, what a tragedy. I distinctly recall how broken up with grief the Democrats were over his death:
> Franken is not sure whether he will make the race.
So when radio personalities go political, what is the
correlation between their former ratings and the votes?
With ~1% share, where even aired, Franken would seem to
be the perfect candidate, from a GOP perspective :-)
I dunno...this is the state that catapulted Jesse Ventura to a household name.
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