Posted on 07/01/2009 9:52:50 AM PDT by newgeezer
 Democrat Al Franken, right, with his wife Frannie Franken smile as they meet the media at their house in MInneapolis Tuesday June 30, 2009 after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Democrat in the Senate race against Republican Norm Coleman. (AP Photo/Andy King) |
Franken, who is expected to be seated in the Senate next week after winning recounts and court challenges in his upset of Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, will headline Harkin's 32nd annual steak fry fundraiser at the Warren County Fairgrounds.
Last year's headliner was Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who had fired up the 2008 Democratic National Convention just days earlier.
The steak fry started in Winterset County but was moved to near Indianola in 1992. The first steak fry was in 1972 and attracted 20 people. It hit its stride in 1990 when Harkin was running for re-election to the Senate.
Since then, it has taken on a "must-do" status as a political event and in recent years has been broadcast live on C-SPAN.
In fact, it has become something of a launching pad for presidential hopefuls. Harkin used the 1991 steak fry to announce his own presidential bid. Bill Clinton and John Edwards have made three appearances, and Elizabeth Edwards has headlined the event, too.
In 2006, Harkin's guest was Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who returned again in 2008 with Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards and Bill Richardson. Al Gore was his guest in 1995 and 1999. Other guests have included the late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone, political consultant James Carville and even one former Republican - Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, who switched parties.
In addition to politicians, Harkin has hosted singer Sheryl Crow and Iowa actor-comedian Tom Arnold.
He’s Good Enough, He’s Smart Enough, and Doggone It, He’s Ugly too..
Today I am ashamed to be an Iowan.
A gathering of communists.
It’s not who votes that counts—it’s who counts the votes.
Guess they should re-name it “Harkin’s small fry” this year.
Has someone started a pool as to when Franken throws his first punch. Actually one can bet when, where, who etc.
I’ll put a dollar down for 10/14/09. Another for somewhere in the capitol building.
I hope the GOP senators do their best to egg him on but they won’t because they just want to get along.
Inhofe, God bless him, referred to Franken as a clown. Its a good start. Hopefully other pubbies who have any stones will follow suit.
Looks like Franken’s wife can eat her corn through a picket fence at the steak fry. And they all can kiss my hairy white ass.
I have a one-word wish for that BBQ: Botulism.
From the looks of those choppers, I think she could be more correctly classified as a rodent.
To be honest, that is not exactly the first thing that came to mind...
Will the senator wear this to the party? If he does not, I would like to know why.
No wonder my parents left Iowegia over 50 years ago.
Al will fix global warming
Badger Ridge, Rochester, Minnesota
http://www.wunderground.com/US/MN/Rochester.html
63.7 °F, Overcast
.
.
The constructiuon workers nearby are wearing sweat jackets, and next summer may need parka’s, thanks for you ignorance Al
Gag me....
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