Senator al franken: ain't misbehavin'

As the Washington Post's "In the Loop" column sighed recently, "Franken's been behaving himself so much he's been a huge disappointment." Just as we (and many others) predicted, Al Franken is a head-down-elbows-up, working Senator.

We're waiting too for Franken to get his bearings in the Senate, and feel confident politically in Minnesota after his 312-vote recount victory in one of the
tightest Senate victories ever (.007 percent of the vote).

We like him funny. 

The world’s first talk radio host cum US Senator has has always been wonkish on policy (he graduated Harvard like his nemesis Billo Reilly) but has sponsored such yawners as a bill that prides service dogs for disabled veterans; and another that  extended country-of-origin labeling regulations to dairy products.

His measure to strengthen legal rights of military contract workers (think Blackwater) sexually assaulted on the job really pissed-off Republicans. With their obstructionist strategy, some 30 GOP Senators voted against the Pentagon spending bill that his anti-rape measure amended. Partisans leaped on that- even launching a satirical website, RepublicansforRape.org. 

 Republicans who voted No were mightily pissed when they started getting callers asking “ Why do you support rape?” (good question, no?)

Politico:

Aides point out that despite attacks on Republicans by liberal commentators like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann and on blogs such as Daily Kos, Franken never appeared on any of the shows or on the blogs to make a partisan argument about the matter, saying that the senator turned down entreaties to do so. Also, they point to the 10 Republicans who voted for the amendment as proof that it wasn’t a partisan measure.

Franken has long baited the right, and been their punching bag. But unlike many progressives, he's punched back. He's a gut-fighter and with his acerbic wit and celebrity, he frequently gets the last word, and the takeaway quote.

Republicans are probably glad to have him back on the enemies list, after his bland first months in the Senate. Franken as Frankenstein, the Republicans’ worst nightmare makes for great fundraising. They immediately to jumped .

“It was partisan — and he knew it,”  Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told Politico.  “That’s exactly what I’d expect.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says, “He has been an exemplary legislator.” “When you’ve never been a legislator, it takes a long time to learn it. He’s one of the quickest studies and best at it that I have seen.”

Comments

[AuthenticAndrew]

I don't think this is fair criticism. Is it wise for a junior senator to come out swinging? Doesn't he have to make some friends first? Build up political equity before cashing in?

[AuthenticAndrew]

Another Fox flub that conveniently hurts Democrats

"Oooooooops! Did we do that????"

[sparky]

Al is great. I have watched the different debates on health care on CSpan and he takes his work very seriously.

[Romeo]

Get real, he's a non-event and you know it! He was more effective on SNL.

[joanie]

Service dogs and labeling laws? I like it. It's the little things that count. And returning to a just society for women. How can any true patriot find fault with those things.

Romeo: thou wilst return to Verona immediately.

[Romeo]

The word immediately would likely not have been used in Shakespearian times; rather post haste would have applied.
You're welcome, teacher!

[Lucas Foxx]

It wasn't until the White House Correspondents' Dinner in the '90's that I realized what an intellectual heavy weight Franken is. I never "got" Franken during his SNL years. I'm sure I laughed at his writing. But him? No. I've since read most of his books, and was a regular listener during his Air America stint. I was disappointed when he decided to run for congress, because I thought he would have more power as an unmuzzled commentator/pundit. But we need good people in congress. And he's on track to being a great Senator.

[KS]

He is right up there with Maxine Waters and Barney Frank - partisan to the core.

[Coiler]

Al is one of us, he even helped security remove a violent heckler a while back so he is not afraid of getting his hands dirty.

[AuthenticAndrew]

If Franken throws bombs he'll be labled an extreme partisan hack comedian turned legislator, not that they haven't tried to do so. His best defense is to be the exact opposite of what they want him to be. His election was extremely close. If he doesn't prove to be a valueble senator for his state he could easily be out in the next election.

[conserv]

Yes. He IS on OUR side and will surely crush the nuts of the squirrels.

[Mark C.]

He's a brilliant guy, who works for what he believes in and doesn't much care whose toes he steps on... he may not make it in politics.

[Paul Johnson]

Al is a joke! It only illustrates the downfall of our society that a buffoon like him could be elected by an illinformed citizenry such as we now have. Obama is another example of that. A Nobel prize for nothing? Those Nobel lefties really are licking his balls. The Joanies of the world are at least shrinking.

[joanie]

Shrinking? How so, young soul?

Alan Grayson is the Congressional comedian. And I like it. Let Al be Al.

Post haste. I am in accord with thee.

[joanie]

Hmm...I be in accord with thee?

In any case, grammercy, Romeo.

[Tommy008]

LEFT WING LOON RAY T on KGO just called Obama a "grand disappointment" in a bigtime national poll exposed on kirofm today only 50% of people didnt want Bush back in place of Obama and 44% wanted Bush back WHEN YOUVE LOST ray t YOURE IN BIG TROUBLE

[Tommy008]

"Barack Obama is failing in his job......." Ray T just now, on KGO Houston, we have a problem

[Tommy008]

OBAMA RUDE , UNGRATEFUL ASS IN NORWAY, ARROGANTLY SKIPS LUNCHEON WITH KING..... this is just what i was afraid of when I saw how arrogant Obama was on the campaign trail.... the honeymoon is over in Europe and has been over here for some time...

[Coiler]

KGO is San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose

"This morning, Ray discusses what he DID and did not like about President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech."

[Tommy008]

i know where kgo is i put the phrase houston we have a problem after kgo but didnt space it away from kgo your post is in classic Seattle lib denial phase yes Ray's speech last night started out beign aboiut the specific speeech in Norway that he didnt like but then he expanded his remarks to a broader critique of his presidency. he didnt use the phrase "grand disappointmenr" or "Obama's presidency is failing" because he was mad at one speech. There are obviously other things he is not happy about. no reasonable person would believe he was making those remarks based on one speech he didnt like. get real

[Tommy008]

if he was merely talking about the speech he wpui;d have said "this speech was a grand disappointment." instead he said "BARACK OBAMA is a grand disappointment" you Obama Koolaider Trolley rider types really need to get real. this doesnt mean Obama is doomed at this early stage but he is failing and he needs to turn it around,

[Tommy008]

"what he did and didn't like about the speech"- misleading. i didnt hear the whole ray speech but got in fairly close ot he start.if there was anything he liked about the speech he dispatched with that quickly because what i heard was a long diatribe of a person who was very angry and disgusted about the speech, if there was anything he liked it was so overshadowed by what he didnt like that the above phrase you used is just not accurate

[Ryder]

GETTING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TOPIC.

A rookie senator is not going to be allowed to set forth any kind of agenda. If Al wins a second term then he can take more of a leadership role. So be patient folks. Never much cared for Al. But he seems sincere which puts him above 90% of the clowns in politics. Unfortunately some of you crazies demand instant results and will turn on anyone who doesn't toe your agenda right from the start.

[Coiler]

I doubt Ray Tal is giving up on our president Tommy, just offering up some healthy critique which would seem foreign to some considering right wing radio rarely if at all critiqued Bushler during the 8 years. Progressives do have the ability to disagree unlike neo cons who eat their own regarding same situation.

[chucks]

The $1,800,000,000,000.00 amount that congress is raising the debt limit amounts to $16,539.00 per American tax payer. Combine that with the $111228.00 )or a total national debt of) $12,105,000,000,000.00 that is already each and every one of our share brings our individual share of the debt to $127767.00
So, if each and every one of us pays $1065.00 per month for the next 10 years, plus our normal taxes, we should be ok.
I hope that Mr Frankin presents the Senate with a bill that mandates that all tax paying citizens start paying an extra $1100.00 (allows a cushion for whatever) to pay off this debt in a timely manner. Really, we spent it, so let's not dump it off on our kids.

[Romeo]

I hope Tiger Woods pays my share.

[sparky]

Tiger's money is going to be tied up for awhile...

[Romeo]

I believe you're right Sparky; he likely now will be getting what he has so easily given - THE SHAFT.

[mudslide]

Driver or 9 iron?

[B]

again this aftrnoon i tired of the squabbling on Blatherwatch, put the top down on the Packard and drove downtown. Nast rap music was blasting out of the car's AM radio speakers as I parked the car around the corner from Ben Paris at 4th and Pine across from The Bon. "MOTHERFUCKER, MOTHERFUCKER, I'M GIVING YOU A BEATDOWN..." after a chocolate shake and a burger platter in the Ben Paris restaurant section I left a generous 25 cent tip and strolled over into the sporting goods section of the joint. i picked up a Spaulding Willy Mays glove and then was on my way to Frederick and Nelson's. At the Paul Bunyan Room i had coffee and shot the shit with Vern Beaver an old pal. Vern was still excited about Tex Johnston's barrel roll of the Boeing 707 during the test flight last summer....

[sparky]

Sounds like you are in limbo.

[Tommy008]

thank Christ for freedom 970 Portland listenlive on the web. tonight Comcast is out again and shiers is introducing bob sagett (america's funniest home vidoes, i hate this person) fOR 20 minutes of asinine blather or so. kgo IS NO LONGER A REFUGE SINCE THEY have John Rothmam on now in the late evenings as apermanent replacement for Bernie Ward. cant stand Rothman either, he does an old, elderly peoples show. im enjoying an encore hour of HENDRIE from last night on 970 right now and then he goes live at 10pm and goes to to 1 am

[Coiler]

Was Mrs Slocum working at Frederick and Nelson's

[joanie]

I wonder how many will get that, Coiler? You're funny.

[joanie]

Mrs. Slocum's pussy

Sorry. I had to do it.

[sparky]

Loved that show!

[Tommy008]

all the consevative talkshows are featuring a free handgun ad, Savage has that and is also advertising a Caltech auto handgun. Catering to the tea party folks.

[Romeo]

T008 tell me something. You seem to be a fan of Phil Hendrie.
How does he manage to stay on the air with his constant mocking of African Americans and Jewish people. Tonite's show is a case in point. It's far worse than what have others have been kicked off the air for. I don't get it; does he have powerful connections.

[sparky]

I dont understand why people want to listen to someone who uses different voices to pretend he actually has guests.

[Romeo]

Not only that, Sparky but (as he did last night) he sometimes gets legitimate callers who are duped by his 'voice guests' and he patronizes and makes fools out of them. Surely by now everyone should realize that he assumes to be his 'guests' and all should have figured him out. But I suppose there are new listeners tuning in on a random basis. I just don't see how the FCC and/or his bosses (does he have any?) tolerate this. He's not a bad talk show host when he remains serious and reports the news or comments legitimately on current events, but when he goes into that pseudo-make-believe stuff he goves over the top.

[Tommy008]

Hendrie had on last night a "Mr. Fisher", fake black sports columnist and author who was actually Mr. Hendrie himself of course. Hendrie is back to doing fake guest voices after taking a break, perhaps to build up a pool of people who dont know the joke. Mr Fisher was a black racist and had a problem with Jews, perhaps an anti-semite. Hendrie has dumbass racist white "guests" ( actually hendrie himself) and all kind of reprehensible idiotic white fools that he does with his voice. if he does white fools why cant he do a black fool? i find it hilarious when people call in that think the guest is real and become outraged by or ridicule the "guest". some people think videos of people skateboarding into fire hydrants by mistake or accidentally pulling down trees of themselves are hilarious and cant get enough. i dont . i think his fake guests and real, outraged callers are hilarious.