World Agenda: Democrats not all smiles as Al Franken enters Senate

London Times ^ | 7/7/2009 | Catherine Philp

[discocrico]

The comedian Al Franken will be welcomed by fellow Democrats at a lunch on Capitol Hill today after he has been sworn in as senator, taking the party’s Senate vote bank to the magic threshold of 60.

His arrival makes the Democrats the first party in three decades to attain the fabled super majority, allowing them – in theory – to override Republican filibusters and implement their legislative agenda.

A week after Mr Franken was declared Senator of Minnesota, however, doubts are growing as to how politically useful a super majority will be when the hard bargaining over controversial issues such as healthcare and climate change begins.

[discocrico]

It will be interesting to see whether the Dems can muster all 60 votes to pass the progressive's agenda. There is real strong possibility that Ben Nelson or other fiscal hawks could block key legislation if they feel the amount of debt being added by the legislation is unsustainable. In some ways, these fiscal hawks are a check and balance aganist unsustainable programs that have unsustainable long-term liabilities.

[Long Island Pete]

Only Dems can screw things up now, but I am sure they will find a way to blames Republicans.

[Hattie]

They will all do what Obama tells them to do.

[Sacajaweau]

Were I a Senator, I would be ashamed to have someone like Franken on an equal footing with myself....How demeaning!

[Izzy Dunne]

taking the party’s Senate vote bank to the magic threshold of 60.

There's been lots of talk about the threshold of 60 (never heard it called "magic" before, though), but has there been anything close where not having the 60 has hurt the Dems?

[Carley]

Next up

Jerry Springer

Alec Baldwin

David Letterman

[MrB]

He’s going to expose what they all are underneath.

He’s going to assault someone on the Senate floor.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Just a reminder of where OUR money is already going. Closing in on THIRTEEN TRILLION, Kids! Franken is going to be a disaster. I can't WAIT for the stories about his mental illness, sexual perversions and angry outbursts. I hope he punches Hillary! right in the schnoz, LOL! Oh, wait...he's a Dem. His insanity will be celebrated as 'diversity.'

[theDentist]

THis seems to be a report with 1 purpose: to “calm” the people. “Theoretically they can pass these huge spending bills, but don’t you worry, it’s not likely.” I have little doubt that Harry Reid and his minions will pull the long knives on every Dem to vote for these huge legislative disasters....

[AppyPappy]

Yup. He is going to embarass the Democrats. He’ll go on TV and curse the Republicans. He will publically repimand the Democratic leadership if they don’t go along with him. He’ll be like the DU senator.

Then he will assault someone and get tossed out of the Senate. Way to go, Minnesota!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! See my Post #8 - Great Minds. :)

[bustinchops]

For starters, Hoosiers need to quit electing Bayh. He’s not a hard-core lefty. Why not just elect a conservative?

[behzinlea]

How appropriate that the capstone of the Democrat supermajority is a third-rate comedian.

[MrB]

Don’t blame “Minnesota” so much, except for making the race “stealable”.

Coleman won by 752 votes. Then the ACORN elected SOS allowed a recount and EVERY decision made by the SOS’ office went in Franken’s favor.

This election was outright stolen. And it is the fruit of ACORN and the left’s “Secretary of State Project”.

They’re following the Stalin model - those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything.

[YankeeReb]

Correction: The comedian Mean loudmouthed drunk Al Franken will be welcomed by fellow Democrats Stalinists at a lunch on Capitol Hill today after he has been sworn in as senator, taking the party’s Senate vote bank to the magic threshold of 60 and sweeping away the last vestages of the old republic .

There that's better.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

We need someone to be a “mole” drinkin’ buddy for franken. Someone to get him drunk at lunchtime. Sooner or later, he’ll explode.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Good job. That is far better.

[B.O. Plenty]

..Democrats not all smiles as Al Franken enters Senate

...ushered in to the tune of "Bring in the Clowns"

The Minn. Deadbeat-Americans have made the Senate a laughing stock...

[IamConservative]

Joe Biden has some competition now for the biggest dumb*** on capital hill..

[umgud]

There will be enough votes, with RINO help, for immigration reform (nation killing amnesty) as well as many other detrimental pieces of legislation.