Posted on 07/06/2009 11:33:21 AM PDT by MplsSteve
After Al Franken is sworn in to the U.S. Senate this week, the nation will be watching to see how the former entertainer performs in a theater where cooperation trumps controversy and wise politicians survive wiseguys.
Preparing for his new role, one of the first people Franken sought out was Tamara Luzzatto, chief of staff for Hillary Clinton when she was in the Senate.
"A number of people have told me to study the Hillary model of being a senator," Franken said after they met last February. "Put your head down and do the work."
Franken appears determined to establish credibility as a serious lawmaker. No acerbic wit. No bombastic attacks on conservatives.
Goodbye Stuart Smalley, the goofy, mincing self-help guru from "Saturday Night Live." Hello, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
"We're going to see a new Al Franken," said analyst Steven Schier, who teaches politics at Carleton College. "Or at least the same Al Franken we've seen in recent months, an Al Franken on Valium, so to speak -- very low-key."
Franken's attempts at a muted tone will likely be tested by the news media horde that will greet his arrival in the Capitol, along with a jam-packed legislative agenda.
"It's going to be about as crazy as one can imagine," said longtime Franken friend and Congress observer Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. Without a chance to catch his breath and ease into the job, Ornstein said, Franken's arrival will be "like being dropped into the middle of a tsunami."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
I am at a loss (although I've tried) to explain how this state could elect an assclown (personally, politically and professionally) to the US Senate.
As I read the headline for this article, I winced at the words "Senator Al Franken". I know I'll wince more at hearing the words "Senator Al Franken."
His election, regardless of whether a person thinks was stolen or not, was a travesty - given Franken's past record of classless humor and political bombast.
There's no doubt Franken will try the Hillary Clinton method - working hard and keeping his mouth closed. The question is whether he's really capable of doing that or not.
The jury remains out on that. Given his past anger mgmt issues, I'm inclined to think not. Time will tell, I guess.
Comments or opiniions - anyone?
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Franken = Caligula’s horse
Shame on Mn
He can be as crazy and vicious as he wants to be.
In this crew, he really won’t stand out.
Let's see, the rest of the Senate began at the beginning of the term. What else has Franken had to do, really, except 'catch his breath,' and meet with the lawyers in charge of stealing the election?
“Goodbye to the class clown” and “Hello to the village idiot”.
Did you hear him reading a statement a few hours ago? If my child read and sounded like he did he’d be in a remedial reading class.
I agree with that 100 per cent
Coleman won by 752 votes.
The ACORN Sec of State agreed to the recount,
and EVERY decision in the recount process went in Franken’s favor.
Stolen election, plain and simple.
Stalin: “Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.”
Franken being elected to the Senate is a glaring example of what is wrong with this country. There is no way that jack@ss should have even been electable.
If he follows the Hillary model he will get nothing done. This might be a good thing.
Yeah, at first I figured the article would be better titled, 'Goodbye to Class.' But then I decided the Senate lost that long ago.
I look forward to Minnesotans growing up someday. Hubert Humphrey, Paul Wellstone, Jesse Ventura, Stuart Smalley. It looks to me like a permanent, multi-generational, case of terminal political naivete.
Regards,
TS
The media also helped elect this loser. It’s pretty much a summation of where we are as a society. The media is winning....
Are we gonna start calling him “Senator Smalley”?
now the U.S. CONGRESS has been officially ordained as a...
Can’t do any worse than Illinois with Little Dick “Gulag” Turban and Roland “Rolly the Boo” Burris. The shame can go around plenty...
I thought Hillary = Caligula’s horse. I’m so confused.
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