No Joke: Al Franken's Running For Senate

Comedian Says He'll Seek Democratic Nomination For Seat In Minnesota

(AP)  Comedian Al Franken said Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2008, confirming his long-suspected plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

Franken's announcement came on the final day of his radio show on Air America. The former "Saturday Night Live" performer's celebrity instantly makes him a heavyweight contender and brings national attention to the Minnesota race.

"Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I'm asking you to give me," Franken said in a video clip posted on his Web site.

"I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously," Franken said in a transcript of the clip.

Though Franken has a well-known name and is likely to be well-funded, he's expected to be challenged by several other Democrats, including wealthy trial attorney Mike Ciresi.

His candidacy will also test whether Minnesotans are in the mood for another celebrity-cum-politician, after the 1999-2003 governorship of former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura. Ventura's fame and occasionally outrageous behavior regularly brought national attention to the state — but after a while, he also wore on the patience of many Minnesotans.

"He's serious. He's a comic but he's serious," Stephen Hess, a professor of political science at George Washington University, said of Franken. "He's not doing this as some folks have done it to give them better gigs on the Borscht circuit."

Franken, 55, was born in New York City but grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973, and in 1975 he and writing partner Tom Davis joined the writing staff of "Saturday Night Live" during its first season. They soon started appearing in sketches, and Franken remained a fixture on the show well into the 1990s.

In 1996 Franken took his career in a political direction when he wrote "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations," a broadside against the conservative radio host and other figures on the right. He's since published several other books critical of Republicans and the conservative establishment.

As early as 2003, Franken said he was considering a run for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat previously held by his friend, the late Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone.

In 2004 Franken joined the upstart liberal radio network Air America as its biggest-name host. He soon got more directly involved in politics, forming a political action committee that raised more than $1 million for Democratic candidates in the last election cycle.

In 2005, Franken and his wife, Franni, moved back to the Twin Cities, which was widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a campaign. He announced a few weeks ago that Wednesday would be his last day on Air America, but continued to play coy about his aspirations while privately telling prominent DFLers about his plans to run.

Franken is stringing out his announcement over two days — Wednesday's announcement, and a scheduled first public appearance as a candidate Thursday morning at a clinic in south Minneapolis.

In his Web site message, Franken acknowledges he's not a "typical politician." But he stresses his Minnesota roots, talking about his father's decision to open a quilting factory in Albert Lea that failed after two years, prompting the family's move to the Twin Cities.

"I grew up in a hard-working middle class family just like many of yours. And as a middle-class kid growing up in Minnesota back then, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. And I was."

Coleman defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale in 2002, just a few weeks after the plane crash that killed the incumbent Wellstone.

Coleman is viewed as vulnerable after several years of Democratic resurgence in Minnesota and the continued unpopularity of his fellow Republican, President George W. Bush. But his proven skills as a campaigner and adept fundraiser make him a formidable opponent.

Franken has had little good to say about his potential opponent. In his latest book, "The Truth (with jokes)," he criticized Coleman in not-so-flattering terms for his former chairmanship of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

"The subcommittee's chairman, Minnesota Republican Norman Coleman, is one of the administration's leading butt boys," Franken wrote. "He hasn't held a single hearing on postwar corruption."

Hess, the George Washington analyst, said: "Whatever else goes on, Al Franken is going to make it an infinitely more interesting race. And he may even provide a few laughs, and that's not so bad either in the grim days we're facing."

[mbcsmith]

Those squareheads might actually elect the idiot.

[perception5]

"AP) Comedian Al Franken said Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2008, confirming his long-suspected plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman."

Nice way for our corrupt liberal press to introduce Mr. Franken........the correct and more factual introduction probably should have read:
"(AP) Extreme liberal Al Franken, from the now bankrupt far-left radio station Air America said Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2008, confirming his long-suspected plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman."

[scott4261]

Al Franken would be a *** sight better than Norm Coleman! Good luck, Al. I'll miss your show on Air America. But I do look forward to Thom Hartmann reaching a larger audience. He's the smartest person on talk radio!.

[bigwhtpony]

This should be very interesting!

[gtorlando]

Good luck Al, you will make a good Senator!

[dallison7]

What fun!! Al is cool, he really knows how to push the neocons' buttons. This is going to be a great political season.

[randalds]

Give 'em hel*l Al! The right continues to underestimate you and you'll snow them under. Of course (and no offense Al) Norm Coleman is such a dic*khead that it won't be difficult to defeat such a total as*shole.

[notblue]

What happens when the far leftwing Air America radio goes bankrupt because knowbody would listen to the crapp I quess you run for office. Good thing are liberal rags like CBS to give COMEDIANS air play to star there campaigns, what a hoot!!

[motherjones-2009]

Perception5

There is no liberal media. It's a hoax, a load of bull cooked up by the right wing. Ninety percent of media is owned by six powerful corporations: Viacom, General Electric, Time-Warner, Disney, Bertelsmann of Germany, and Murdoch News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch, king of Fox News and its tentacles). These corporations control the debate and dictate everything we see and hear on TV, radio, newspapers, wire service, magazines, etc.

Al Franken won't get any help from the media. The right wing slime machine is going to go after him with anything they've got. And the media will repeat, encourage and assist them all the way! Come on, if the media is so liberal, why did it torpedo John Kerry by repeating the swift boat smears non-stop, night and day? If Franken gets elected, and I pray he does, it will be in spite of the media.

[scott4261]

Actually, sorry to disappoint you, notblue, but Air America was recently purchased and is now solvent. Even Clear Channel was forced to keep WXXM in Madison, WI affiliated w/Air America due to audience demand (not to mention a good fall ratings book). Rush Limbaugh was on the air for more than 5 years before he had a significant audience (Bill Clinton had to become president, so he could have a liberal to rail against and galvanize his audience. Same thing is happening w/GWB and AA). AA seems to be gaining more momentum in less time.

We are at the beginning of a new progressive populist movement and Air America will continue to be one of its leading voices.

[dallison7]

What happens when the far leftwing Air America radio goes bankrupt because knowbody would listen to the crapp I quess you run for office. Good thing are liberal rags like CBS to give COMEDIANS air play to star there campaigns, what a hoot!!
Posted by notblue


LMAO!!

It's jsut starting!! Watch, we will get to see the neocons' heads spin around as they spew their green venom!!!

FUNNY AS HELL!!

[bluestardad]

SpungeBob could do a better job than the Rubber Stamp Republicans!

[tommyr42]

Al Franken is as qualified as any other politician. It's interesting to me that any time a registered democrat gains momentum or popularity, the republicans are waiting in the wings to demoralize and renounce anything they (the democrats) have to say. They just have to say the word "liberal" and, to the republicans, it is an all encompassing negative, evil, republican proliferated, fascist, disciminatory definition of "democrat". I think we can thank Ronald Reagan for that one. I live in the deep south and anyone who is not caucasian or a registered republican is considered a "democrat". And by democrat, they mean black citizens.

[diverinnl]

scott4261, sorry bud but Air America is currently undergoing an auction to payoff it's debt. It is far from solvent.

Auction Is Set for Air America
By DOW JONES/AP
Published: February 13, 2007
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Dow Jones/AP) %u2014 Air America Radio, the liberal news and talk radio network, has won bankruptcy court approval to sell its assets at an auction Friday, starting with a $4.25 million bid from a consortium of purchasers formed by Stephen L. Green, the chairman of SL Green Realty of New York.

Judge Robert D. Drain of Federal Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan said on Friday that the consortium could receive a $150,000 breakup fee if its offer was topped at the auction.

Competing bids, which must start at $4.6 million, are due by Thursday with a 10 percent deposit. Bidding will increase in increments of at least $50,000. A sale hearing will be held immediately after the auction.

The proposed sale, the filing said, will enable the company to keep broadcasting.

Air America has been struggling to find a buyer since it filed for Chapter 11 protection on Oct. 13, listing assets of $7.8 million and debts of $19.8 million.

[scott4261]

diverinnl, The sale to SL Green was the topic of the Rachael Maddow Show recently. Now I may have used the wrong wording by saying that they are solvent, but Air America is not going anywhere.

And you conservatives had better hope it stays around. Since talk radio has been dominated by the right wing since the early to mid-'90s, our discourse has been increasingly lopsided. Air America and Jones Radio (the network which carries Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller)have provided a healthy shot in the arm to talk radio, which had become stagnant as a right-witng echo chamber.

Of course, I'm old enough to remember when WABC in New York and WLS in Chicago had hosts from the left and the right (H e l l , I'm old enough to remember when both of those stations were the giants of Top 40 music radio!). In the age of niche broadcasting, all of that has changed.

Healthy competition is good, both for ratings and for a healthy dialogue

[one_american]

"No Joke"?

Yes it is.

It's the funniest one Franken has ever told.

Only the looney left could ever take him seriously.

[diverinnl]

Healthy competition is good, both for ratings and for a healthy dialogue
Posted by scott4261 at 05:09 PM : Feb 14, 2007

I couldn't have said it better myself. The question remains however, how did Air America get to be in such financial shambles to begin with?

Their market segment, although liberals refuse to believe it, is extremely narrow and most large companies dropped their advertising dollars in conservative talk radio. They simply can't seem to pull in the sponsors.

[scott4261]

diverinnl, Some investors overstated their available capital at the beginning and Air America has been in the hole ever since. In fact, 2 weeks in, Al Frankin and Jeaneane Garofalo hasd to forgo their pay so the rest of AA's staff could get paid! It hasn't been easy for these guys, but I believe they are finally on the way to financial stability. Any fledgling business has a hard time and AA is less than 3 years old...

[dallison7]

"No Joke"?

Yes it is.

It's the funniest one Franken has ever told.

Only the looney left could ever take him seriously.
Posted by One_American

The joke's on you 'Scooter, Jr.', he's going to win!!

[huskerarmy]

"Their market segment, although liberals refuse to believe it, is extremely narrow and most large companies dropped their advertising dollars in conservative talk radio. They simply can't seem to pull in the sponsors."

Hummm. corporate america doesn't want to sponser liberal radio... go figure. Perhaps the liberal "market segment" has something to do with the fact that liberals tend to sit at computers or behind desks during the day rather than drivin' taxis or them thar big rigs like so many red neck...ur um... red state voters do. To suggest that liberals are an insignificant segment of the population... well just keep telling yourself that for the next several elections.

[huskerarmy]

"Only the looney left could ever take him seriously.
Posted by One_American"
Let's be honest here. If frat boy George W. can be taken seriously, anybody can.

[scott4261]

huskerarmy, Did you take your name from the '80s punk band Husker Du (led by the great Bob Mould)? Just curious....

[motherjones-2009]

It took the right wing 30 years to take over talk radio. Rush Limbaugh's show has been on the air for 15 years. Air America has only existed for two-three years. Radio, like all media, is owned by huge corporations. Air America tried to make it without corporate backing. Clear Channel refused to syndicate liberal talk host, Randi Rhodes even though her ratings have been consistently higher than Limbaugh's. Why? They want to control the message, even if they lose money doing it.

[scott4261]

Actually motherjones, Rush Limbaugh signed on in '88 or '89, but was on the air for more than 5 years before he had a significant audience (Bill Clinton had to become president, so he could have a liberal to rail against and galvanize his audience. Same thing is happening w/George W. Bush and Air America). AA seems to be gaining more momentum in less time.

[diverinnl]

husker, I didn't say "insignificant", I said "narrow". If you were as insightful as you prop yourself up to be, you would know the difference. To assume that all conservatives are ignorant, redneck dolts that only drive taxis or big rigs is laughable and a great insight into the liberal mind.

[aa36042]

Who could stand that whinney little clown? oh wait libs can. im sure the tool will win too..god that guys sucks,

[book54552134]

Frankin is wrong on some issues (abortion, staying the course in Iraq) but in comparison to the 2 Right-wing extremists Minnesota presently has in the Senate, Frankin would be a 100% improvement.

[aa36042]

i think sharpton should be the next pres and this whiney little mouse should be his vp..then all of the libs pryaers would go answered..arnt any of you ever ashamed at the mornons that represnt your party, supply no new ideas, just current policy hatred and social programs? uugh

[scott4261]

think sharpton should be the next pres and this whiney little mouse should be his vp..then all of the libs pryaers would go answered..arnt any of you ever ashamed at the mornons that represnt your party, supply no new ideas, just current policy hatred and social programs? uugh
Posted by aa36042 at 06:18 PM

aa,
Do you really believe your own BS? The Democrats have accomplished more in the last month than the Republicans did in the last 12 years.

[lieberman181]

Another stooge and bozo in more ways than one joining his neo-fascist moveon.org friends.

maybe franken-stein wants to go over to gaza next and break bread with hamas. he'll be lucky if they don't chop off his ignoramus head instead.

Remember HIS immortal words:

"I'm dumb enough, I'm weak enough, and doggone it people **** on me".

[scott4261]

In case you haven't noticed, the Republicans can no longer claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility without being laughed out of the room. Because of George W. Bush's myopic and incompetent leadership, the GOP will lose the presidency as well as more congressional and senate seats in 2008. At that point, the Democrats will have two out the three branches of government. The judicial branch will conservative for years to come, Bush has seen to that.

American politics goes in cycles. The pendulum swung to the left in the 60's, peaking in the '70s (Civil rights, Vietnam, Watergate). It swung to the right in the '80s (Reagan) and then sort of centered in the '90s after peaking to the left in '94 (Clinton/Republican congress). Since 2001, we have been in the far right ditch. Now we are going to take a shift to the left before we settle in the middle again sometime in the next decade.

Al Frankin will be the U.S. Senator from Minnesota, reclaiming the late, great Paul Wellstone's seat. A Democrat will be president. And then you conservatives will get too greedy again and the pendulum will start its swing back to the right.

And so it goes...

[diverinnl]

scott4261, your right on target but we need to put bar up to stop that leftward swing. (just a jab) LOL:)

Anyway, gotta go, have a good one.

[aa36042]

Yes I do feel that way, at least with a republican you can disagree but you generally feel a topic is being discussed in an intelligently dignified way. Libs cater to common denominator bush haters without offering any new ideas..i.e. we are in Iraq now that discussion is over, how best to we handle things now. The general dem cant have this conversation because they only have one line, and that is hatred for one man..they only offer over stuffed social programs that do nothing for anyone (see where most black males are now since they were "blessed" with civil rights legislation in the 60s (and that%u2019s the best thing you could point to)..i just find that I cant have an honest conversation with dems about policy, because they have no ideas, just nonsense and re-direction..and then you put people like sharpton, jackson and now this worm out there..its just madness. I hope one day I can meet one of you tools that actually provides some insight not just cater to the lowest common denominator.

[lieberman181]

So Franken-Stein wants investigations, right?

Well, here's a good one for him.

How about investigating Jimmy Carter on why he was so insistent on propping up the government of Saudi Arabia, one of the most oppressive in the world, yet did a hatchet job on the Shah of Iran when he needed our help. And furthermore, did absolutely nothing when our people were seized outside of one half-a$$ed military op six months after!

Now that Iran is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons to use against us, while our worst ex-President - a Democrat, no doubt - spews Anti-Semitic hate and lies towards Israel, here is a subject Franken-Stein should sink his teeth into - unless, of course he is as gutless in going after fellow Dem crooks, bigots, cowards and perverts as are Botox Nancy and that Cuckolded Shrill Shrew from New York.

[scott4261]

...just cater to the lowest common denominator.
Posted by aa36042 at 06:44 PM

Funny. I have felt that way about the Republicans for more than the last decade!

[aa36042]

nice response. very articulate and you brought up many more good points than me. good one. great talk re: policy..catch you next time. bring up something re: specific policy and off they go...go round up some homeless people and get them to vote for you..maybe them and the 18-22 demographic will pull though for you this time. sad stuff

[taddles-2009]

Another stooge and bozo in more ways than one joining his neo-fascist moveon.org friends.

Posted by Lieberman181 at 06:40 PM : Feb 14, 2007

Liberals aren't neo-fascists but then you'd have to have a few more branches on your family tree to know that.

[taddles-2009]

"And then you conservatives will get too greedy again and the pendulum will start its swing back to the right.

And so it goes...
Posted by scott4261 at 06:40 PM : Feb 14, 2007"

Very possible, politics does swing from one extreme to the other. But with any luck the Dem's will be able to return some civility and accountability to government after the unbelievably bad abuse the Republicons have perpetrated.

[taddles-2009]

"Yes I do feel that way, at least with a republican you can disagree but you generally feel a topic is being discussed in an intelligently dignified way.

Posted by aa36042 at 06:44 PM : Feb 14, 2007"

Of course, the last 7 years with the Republicons in office have been so cordial and full of spirited debate...oh wait, debate would imply both parties involved right...never mind.

Dignified like the Terry Schiavo debacle...yes you Republicons are ever so dignified and intelligent. Present company excepted.

[aa36042]

taddles
Let me try and give you an example. How about education. Bush gave us no child left behind. Has some holes but at least it is a concerted effort to hold schools, teachers and communities responsible for the product they produce "education". Its called the scientific method, you get the system in place, measure the results, evaluate and then fix. Seems like a good plan right? Too bad in ca libs want to call the system unconstitutional because minority students arnt passing the ridicously easy exit exam..you see..its the difference between having an idea, and a hatred for ideas in general. All libs do is poke holes in policy or thought, they do not offer anything..except race excuses, *** suits, bureaucracy and the like that makes people like you feel that something is being done. I could give you policy example after policy example and you want to discuss shivo? Please, run along and go talk to a lib about bush hating..i have actual policy im interested in. just look at the people that vote for your joke party..90% of them didn%u2019t even know who 2/9 of the libs running for president was a month before the election. Your uninformed and im wasitng my time.oh well.

[processor2]

The last thing the Democrat Party needs is another bombastic Socialist/Marxist/Leninist in its midst.

I miss the old Democrat Party that used to say "Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather, what YOU can do for your country"

..............

[lhwrites]

aa36042, You want to discuss policy?
No Child Left Behind only works if you fund it, which Bush and the Republican Congress did not do. Therefore, almost all of the children were left behind. By the way, Bush has a capital B and "your", as you used it, is spelled "you're". Before you try to tackle the scientific method, try to tackle basic English. Conservatives love to espouse that liberals hate Bush as if he's some kind of victim. It's just that he lied about WMD, spent billions on a war of choice, and is responsible for 10's of thousands of deaths. There's a policy you can really hate.

[coffeehead-2009]

Until ALL schools get tested it is just a joke-
a ruse to divert public funds to private profit.

There is no follow-up - no comparison to what those *ewwww* mantra mantra mantra --
"liberal teachers" fail at. There is no tracking of funds - we could be paying for pastor pilferer's new home or investing money into real estate deals for private "schools"

It's a sham -- I can almost guarantee that those very students shifted from public to private schools would NOT pass a retest after a year.

Just more "privatizing" and one step closer to a ruling class.

Mandatory testing for ALL students proficiency -
mandatory LICENSING for ALL teachers - regardless if they are "christians or not".

[dallison7]

LOL

'No child left behind' is just another of Bush's failures.

[dallison7]

Please, run along and go talk to a lib about bush hating..i have actual policy im interested in.
Posted by aa36042

Liberals in this country historically are responsible for EVERY piece of legislation that benefits the citizens. Social security, medicare, civil rights, etc. You want to spread your blather about Bush policy, why do you hide from the truth? Instead of coming onto these sites and trying to present yourself as something more than you are, why don't you get right down to it and show us that you are a superior intellect? You rant on about the thoughts of others then site 'no child left behind' as your only shining example. Maybe you aren't bright enough to know that is just another program that Bush threw out there to pretend he is doing something constructive, like the bogus 'health care reform' he is now talking about. You may be aware of another program that liberals put in place to turn losers and dropouts back into productive citizens... it's called the GED. You should probably take advantage of it.

[karlimhof]

The gravest dangers facing our existance are;

1- an environmental disaster
2- nuclear war

These are preeminent policies needed to protect the Nation.

What has Bush done with regards to ensuring these policies are seriously followed?

The answer is nothing; he has boycotted Kyoto sending a clear signal; and NPT (non-proliferation treaties)has been for practical purposes ignored.

Therefore this president has allowed the most important work facing this country to be put aside and instead has taken us to war on false pretenses.

[huskerarmy]

"I miss the old Democrat Party that used to say "Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather, what YOU can do for your country""

The part you seem to miss processor is the "...What you can do for your country." It's the right that tells people "Don't worry about the war. The poor kids will fight it for you. All you need to do is pay for Exxon's record profits, put a ribbon on your car and go shopping." In reality, the neo-cons have been telling america "Ask nothing of your country (Katrina), but rather, what you can do for Exxon Mobil, Halliburton and Pfizer." Americans, those who have been paying attention, are fed up. You can keep waiting for the great "trickle down" from your heros in the mansions on the hill, but you're going to have to get used to it... American's are demanding better government. And that will require some sacrifices from, less subsidies to, your treasured corporate plutocracy.

[huskerarmy]

"The last thing the Democrat Party needs is another bombastic Socialist/Marxist/Leninist in its midst."

I think it's possible that the reason the right is loosing the battle of public opinion is that, in their comfort, they failed to change tactics or vocabulary. The more relevant, though artificial, reactionary terms for progressives these days would seem to be "aid and comfort to the enemy," "support for the terrorists," etc. If you're not going to update your draconian tactics, at least update your vocabulary. Calling liberals "Leninists" does not resonate in todays environment and just makes one look obsolete.

[huskerarmy]

"Its called the scientific method, you get the system in place, measure the results, evaluate and then fix."

Funny isn't it that "science" only means something to righties when they're being patronizing dilholes.

[motherjones-2009]

"The last thing the DEMOCRAT Party needs is another bombastic Socialist/Marxist/Lenninist in its midst".
processor2, where do I begin?

First off, Democrat is a noun; Democratic is an adjective. "Democrat Party' is grammatically incorrect and anyone who uses this term exposes themselves as an ignoramus. It's like calling someone a "Jew boy" instead of a "Jewish boy". It's a not too thinly veiled insult. How would you like it if we started calling your kind "Repubs"?

Second, Al Franklin is a liberal Democrat in the noble tradition of Franklin Roosevelt. Anything good that has happened in this country since the last Gilded Age, you have liberals to thank.