New York Times – February 1, 2007:
After nearly two years of hinting at and laying the groundwork for a challenge in 2008 to Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, comedian and liberal activist Al Franken will soon make an announcement about his plans — and is now widely expected to pursue the Democratic nomination.
A source close to the 55-year-old Franken said the announcement could come during his final talk show on the Air America radio network, scheduled for Feb. 14.
Franken used his show as a political platform before, announcing on air in February 2005 that he would not seek the seat that Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton left open to retire (and which was won in 2006 by Democrat Amy Klobuchar). During that statement, Franken said that he would seriously consider a bid to unseat Coleman in 2008.
Believe it or not, he actually grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Hey………………they voted a wrestler into office, why not a comedian!!
1. Jesse “The Body” Ventura was more than just a wrestler. He was a veteran of the US navy. He was a fantastic actor in such classic movies as Predator and The Running Man. And he was a lover of prostitutes. He was the closest the US has ever come to a real American hero.
He’s good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like him!
Given the nutcases that run many of our states, both governors and state reps, Minnesota could do a LOT worse than Al.
One of the planks in his platform is to get a dark chocolate Almond Joy. One with white coconut. I’m all for that.
they voted a wrestler into office, why not a comedian!!
Calling him a comedian is a little generous. I like Al, and I think he’s an astute political commentator. But I don’t think he’s ever been funny.
5. “But I don’t think he’s ever been funny.”
He played a great henchman in the Rutles!
Why do people like O’Reilly who don’t like Franken call him Stuart Smalley? I mean, Franken came up with the character, so how is that an insult? Franken even made a movie starring the character! I doubt calling him Stuart really bothers him.
7. “Why do people like O’Reilly who don’t like Franken call him Stuart Smalley?”
Well, personally I would have made a joke about his Decade of Al Franken bit from SNL, for some reason I found that funny all of those decades ago. But not many people would have been familiar with it nowadays.
He’s politically astute, smart as hell, and very funny (Al Franken created the coneheads and countless other early SNL features–he was mostly a WRITER on snl.) He’s a Harvard graduate, (political science, no less) and brave enough to say exactly where his politics are.
Al Franken is not a bloviator. Listen to a couple of his shows while you still can. But I am not leaving surf city to vote for him. Too cold in minneapolis.
5…have you ever seen his Stuart bit with Michael Jordan? It’s on the list of SNL classics. But let’s be frank…comedy is in the eye of the beholder.
#9 is right….I just read his latest book and his wit is as sharp as it gets. It’s impossible to predict who makes a good legislator before they get there, but he’s certainly suited to be a great politician.
#1 Hey………………they voted a wrestler into office, why not a comedian!!
Comment by Higghawker — 2/2/2007 @ 4:13 am
He attended Harvard University and graduated cum laude in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in government. He’s more qualified for public office than the current sitting president.
And if he weren’t a liberal, you wouldn’t pull out that BS “he’s just a comedian” card.
I think he’s a liar, too. I saw his face on a cover of a book with the word “lies” next to it, so it must be true.
He’s electable, but what’s going to do for the state? Likewise, since the democratic party in MN difference from the state parties elsewhere, is he reelectable?
I’m a lifelong Minnesotan so:
Jesse Ventura was elected because of a number factors:
a. in the debates he actually spoke his mind instead of spewing the normal don’t-commit-to-anything political non-speak
b. His opponents took him too lightly
c. Roger Moe(D) was going to steal all our income to fund at least a dozen (no exxageration – it was on his campaign website) new gov’t agencies and God know what else, while Norm Coleman(R) (Franken’s future opponent) wanted to take all our money to fund new stadiums for the Vikings, Twins and Gophers all at once. Jesse was the only one promising not to send taxes through the roof.
d. Celebrity certainly played a role
e. Jesse actually had earned accolades as having been a good mayor of Brooklyn Park.
It was after he took office that Jesse turned into nutcase. Franken is starting out as a retard. I’m not religious, but I’m praying to all the Gods everywhere that when the time comes, the voters of Minnesota have more common sense than to elect that idiot.
Al Franken’s amusing–AirAmerica is broadcast on one of the AM stations where I live. I think he’s smart enough (a college degree doesn’t necessarily mean he’s smart of course–see lawyers) to actually be a decent Senator.
Aside–why is it that at least some liberal commentators are quick witted (Franken and a few other Air America hosts), and so few conservative commentators are? Exception: William F. Buckley in his heyday–smart and often quite funny.
11… It’s not like liberals ever said Reagan was “just an actor” or anything. Wait…
#15
I’m just glad to know he can read. I guess Hooked On Phonics really works.
i’ve seen a couple of references alluding to the fact that jesse ventura was a wrestler.i thought he was an entertainer.did he wrestle in high school or college or university?
18. Nice catch.
I guess if the Governator can be elected, anyone can. Wasn’t Gopher from the Love Boat a Senator or Representative?
#15, #17 – Your continued worship is noted.
#14 – Aside–why is it that at least some liberal commentators are quick witted (Franken and a few other Air America hosts), and so few conservative commentators are? Exception: William F. Buckley in his heyday–smart and often quite funny.
That’s easy. Liberals are smart and funny. Conservatives are dim, uptight, humorless jackasses.
Or was that a rhetorical question?
I did get a kick out of the similarities in pictures.
The right actually has enforcers out running blogs aimed only at collapsing Air America, using false ratings, rumors, and top-down talking points which completely ignore the reality which we have experienced over the past few years with Al’s show.
At first it was painful to listen to, so unfamilar was he with radio and trying to squeeze his larger-than-life humor into AM airwaves didn’t seem like a fit for him. But over time what came through was his deep patriotic love for his country, a fast learner on the issues, and easy conversation with the smartest political pundits on air. In fact, I will miss Tom Oliphant and Norm Ornstein even more unless they are quickly added to another show’s line-up (Tom?).
I have a Google alert on “air america radio” and get a dozen references from it every day. Half of those are righty bloggers huffing away about how unfunny and what a failure Franken is, oblivious to anything about the journey he has taken us on, to the very heart of darkness which is the right’s true plan for the world. Even last month, they chanted nonstop that he was “off the air” and had “walked out,” when he was in fact risking his life in Iraq entertaining the troops.
What a metaphor for today’s political climate, and where Al and Air America have brought us. Godspeed Franken and Air America Radio!
gregrocker