Posted on 07/01/2009 4:46:37 PM PDT by Publius804
How Cool Is Franken?
by Eric Alterman
Not only does Al Franken’s hard-fought victory give Democrats a magical 60 seats, it gives the Senate its first genuinely funny ex-comedian. Eric Alterman shares memories of his friend and former neighbor.
Senator Franken? As long as it has taken, it’s still pretty hard to believe my friend and former neighbor is due to be sworn in early next week. He’ll be “Senator Franken” to the press and the lobbyists, and “my distinguished colleague” to the rest of that esteemed body. But as for the rest of us, I think we can safely call him “Al.”
The Al Franken/Norm Coleman saga is finally over. Three million or so votes decided by a difference of approximately 300. And with a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate—including the switched-parties-for-personal-political-survival Arlen Specter, now Obama doesn’t have to play “Mr. Nice Guy” with the GOP. For if Al Franken is anything, he is a reliable vote for Barack Obama, and that, given the Republicans’ willingness to filibuster anything and everything they don’t like, is a game changer.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Nothing that couldn’t be cured with an application of tar and feathers.
Eric Alterman looks exactly like I expect a democrat to look - a buck-toothed, pencil-necked, lily livered milquetoast wuss of a man.
This Eric is a real sicko. Franken has never been funny ~ has no sense of humor.
Sorta like framing a t**d - er - an Obama and putting it in your living room..
Oh well, the senate is like that already.
He may surprise us and behave in a professional manner, rather than his usual sarcastic idiotic public persona. But he will be a reliable liberal vote.
Anybody know about Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd returning to the Senate? Because I thought breaking a filibuster requires 60 votes, not just 60% of the 100 member Senate, but 60 actual affirmative votes. So if Teddy and Byrd aren’t there due to health reasons, the Dems. are down to 58, right??? Or do I miss something?
Uh no he isn't... Franken was probably the most painful comedian I ever watched... and that is 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back.
America! What a country! Even a crappy comedian and failed radio broadcaster can become a Senator...
I’ve seen him in the aisle of the Fairway on Broadway talking to his wife. I would say he is as cool as Urkel and the portly guy from Office Space.
Al Franken is funny?
How cold is it in Minnesota?
That's the only relevant cause for Franken cool.
Another in a long line of liberal bed-wetters.
Whoa. Did I just intrude on an alternate reality. I guess I missed something.
"Once more...the Sith shall rule the galaxy..."
Hell isn't that cold....yet.
“genuinely funny ex-comedian.”
I stopped paying attention right there. Seriously, has Franken EVER been funny? I remember as a little kid watching SNL with the classic line up (Belushi, etc.). The “Franken and Davis” skits were the time to go pop popcorn or use the bathroom. He was the least funny thing about “Trading Places.” He didn’t get any funnier with Stuart Smalley, either.
The guy’s success has come solely from being a hanger-on to more talented people - SNL, the Limbaugh books, etc.
Geeze, he was only slightly funny, occasionally back in his SNL days.
He hasn’t been even remotely funny in the last ten years.
A good dose of preparation H would take care of Frankenweenie....makes my hemorrhoids go away.
Nice ears, or are they cotton fillers for an illness?
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