Anytime anyone talks to me about how “liberal” the Star Tribune is, I remind them that D.J. Tice is the political editor (actually, the title they use at the Strib is Team Leader) at that paper. Today, Tice took up his hatchet and went to town on Al Franken in a
Big Question post where he tries to pretend to be stuck in an ethical dilemma: what is he to do with off-color Al Franken remarks?
The truth is that Tice revels in this particular quandary. Just look at the glee in his writing…
Allow me to supply some missing examples [of Franken quotes], but let this be fair warning: Abandon Sunday School sensibilities, all Ye who click here.
I can just see the smirk on his face as he wrote that little line. D.J. Tice just doesn’t like Al Franken, plain and simple.
The fact is that the Star Tribune is not prepared to publish some of this U.S. Senate candidate’s statements
I think your obsession with MDE’s success is unhealthy.
Michele Bachmann says Eric Black and the Star Tribune is biased.
Re: The Strib blogging & linking to RW pages that have an agenda.
Isn’t Brodkorb the guy who provided a 4 page distortion of Franken the day he declared?
How to handle references to past writings seems like a phony issue.
Who says they need to reproduce the exact words?
What I find curious - how did the paper handle interesting problems like Cheney’s “F*** you” to Leahy on the senate floor?
How would they handle references to Lynn Cheney’s past writings - her LESBIAN Western?
Then, on this very Publius page - there were RW references to “butt boy” as a statement made by Franken. I don’t recall who railed about that one -
Further if you go to the now defunct Crossfire - the show where John Stewart ripped both Begala & the Tucker Carlson, watch Tucker’s lips move when he calls someone else a “butt boy.”
As a print professional, DJ Tice should be able to handle writing about Franken quite well without drumming up silliness, or linking to blogs that have no equivalent standard. He has been an editor long enough to have the skill set.
Has he ever linked here - and would he?
I really have to wonder aloud if this whole “furor” isn’t just trumped up in order to link to the gop page under lame excuse.
Bypassing the need for journalistic accuracy & a way to present inflammatory & perhaps even incorrect assertions about Franken out of context.
Franken is formidable because of his appeal to young adults.
I would be curious if Jesse Ventura or other politicians in this state haven’t even been a little colorful themselves in the past - and whether there was a significantly different standard of presentation?
I’m trusting this isn’t the Strib editorial page testing the waters & feathering the bed for ‘the 08 Republican Convention? I suspect the ensuing right wing 521 attack ads will break the concept of “Minnesota Nice” all by its lonesome.
In conclusion, this very much feels to me like someone is trying to get us used to deferring to partisan sites without differentiating the factual content from hyperbole & blaming someone else for a decline in rhetoric.
Shall I quote Dick or Lynn Cheney to help their cause?
DJ Tice is not exactly an unbiased journalist. He has a curious and long standing relationship with David strom at the tax avoider’s league.
The DFL had better get used to this kind of treatment. Coleman cannot win the election talking about issues. He’s either been on the wrong side or both sides of every important issue concerning Minnesotans and the nation. Tice will sacrifice his credibility as a reporter and that’s fine. Whoever gets the nomination must counter these tactics by focusing on the issues. Coleman has no chance. He is too tied to the coattails of this failed and corrupt administration. Hopefully Brodkrob gets hired by the Coleman staff. In that case, Coleman will lose by 20 percentage points.
“Hopefully Brodkrob gets hired by the Coleman staff. In that case, Coleman will lose by 20 percentage points.”
Now that’s funny! Come to think of it, he really is Michael “Kiss of Death to Political Aspirations” Brodkorb, isn’t he? Wonder if it’s his brainchild to have Pawlenty hitch his wagon to McCain’s star. Another knee-slapper.
Al Franken is a bad U.S. Senate candidate, no doubt about it.
What should be a point of discussion is does he have the temperament needed to actually get something done in the U.S. Senate? Does he have the background that would lead voters to believe he can be successful in Washington (or St. Paul, for that matter)? Does he have the experience needed to get things done?
I’m afraid the answer on all three counts is no.
Rather than wasting all this energy defending the indefensible, isn’t it time to start thinking about beating Coleman?
Seriously. It’s a 51-49 Senate. Coleman is vulnerable, but he’s not Mark Kennedy. It’s time to get the first-string on the field.
http://www.alfranken.com/pages/issues/
Franken is a fine candidate. His positions on a variety of issues demonstrate the depth of his thinking. That being said, if the DFL doesn’t nominate Franken, they will nominate a candidate with well reasoned, reality based solutions for the problems of Minnesotans and US citizens. Coleman’s record on “getting things done” is abysmal. He could’ve been of voice of reason and restraint but he choose to be a patsy. His record will force Coleman to try and distract and divide. It’s his only hope for re-election. By ‘08, Bush’s approval ratings will be in the low twenties. The DFL needs to firmly and constantly remind voters that Coleman has been Bush’s biggest cheerleader in the Senate. Coleman needs to be tied to Bush’s coattails so when Bush leaves office, Normie gets taken with. GOP losses in ‘08 will be massive and will finally mark the end of the corrupt Reagan legacy. Whether or not Franken gets the nomination is actually of little importance. The DFL nominee is the important part of the story, whomever it is.
Richard, you’re right about Coleman. And Franken certainly shares many of the same positions (more or less) that the rest of the DFL field will.
But running Franken for a vulnerable GOP seat would be roughly the same thing as the GOP sending Sean Hannity out to get an endangered Democrat.
It’s time to get smart.
I like Mike Ciresi. Others may be waiting for someone else and that’s fine. But it’s important that we focus not on political self-gratification, but instead think ahead to next fall.
Franken is an awesome candidate, bright and articulate and not afraid to tell truth to power. The proof that the MN GOP is scared shitless of Al Franken is Brodkorbs tireless and ridiculous screeds of quotes by Al Franken from 20 years ago.
Say, when are we going to talk frankly about Mr Colemans’ …ahem… personal situation? How is his wife doing in Hollywood?
Don’t assume Franken will be the candidate. The whole primary process will insure the best candidate rises to the top. If all the candidates can keep from trashing each other, Coleman will be well behind in the polls no matter who gets the nomination. Ciresi is a fine candidate and would do a great job. Becky Lourey would be another good candidate as would Steve Kelley. Any of the above would beat the tar out of Coleman.
During the 2002 Senate debate that was held in Rochester at RCTC, I watched Norm Coleman squirm when Wellstone spoke. Coleman came off as a total jerk when he kept saying, “when I am elected Senator, I will get things done.” The crowd booed Coleman. All he could do was personally insult Wellstone rather than debate the issues. I was so proud of Paul that night.
After winning election, Coleman went on to say that he would be a 99% improvement over Wellstone. He has in that he has rarely opposed the President with his voting record, nor has given one passionate speech on the Senate floor regarding an issue not in Minnesota’s best interest.
Granted Wellstone went against his word not to serve more than 2 terms, but things had changed so much since 9/11, he could not turn his back on the people or issues inportant to the state. History will be a lot kinder to Wellstone than Coleman.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Coleman - what exactly does history have to say about him at all?
Apologists that “go along, to get along” are not memorable.
kathy,
George W. Bush has no vote in the U.S. Senate, so it’s not correct to say that Coleman has voted with the President 100% of the time. Coleman and the President are both Republicans. Do you elect Democrats to vote with Republicans, kathy? Because I don’t think you do. I don’t elect Republicans to vote with the Democrats either. Whether you like Coleman or not, kathy, I think it’s disingenuous to criticize a Republican for voting Republican — and vice versa for the Democrats.
You know what I meant by my statements, Chris. How often has Coleman voted against Bush’s agenda for the last 4 plus years?? That is what will come into play during the campaign as more enter the race.
And yes, I do understand what you meant regarding supporting one’s agenda via one’s voting record.
kathy,
Coleman voted against drilling for oil in ANWR, for starters. And he made a lot of Republicans angry when he voted against ANWR. In fact, he is the eighth most moderate Republican in the Senate. I just think it’s a false argument to make a scandal out of the fact that a Republican in the Senate supports most of his party’s agenda in Congress. Only in Minnesota do the Democrats demand that the Republicans vote their way. I just don’t understand it.
It’s not a scandal but it is a way we can judge how to vote. If you agree with the Bush agenda these last seven years, if you think the country’s state in the world has improved for Bush’s leadership, then vote for Coleman. But if you feel that this president should be jailed for numerous crimes against US citizens and world citizens. If you feel that Coleman could’ve used his position on the Senate oversite commitee to investigate war profiteering by US corporations but wasted the opportunity. Supporting the president and his criminal agenda doesn’t qualify one for the Senate. You’ve done a very nice job of outlining why nobody should vote for Coleman. He simply can’t be trusted.
Criminal agenda, Richard???? You’re even more cracked than I thought before.
This gives one pause, as to the phenomenon we are seeing:
An interview with Matthew Dowd
QUOTING —
I think Texas is an early sign of what was happening in the South.
It’s what’s happening in the Midwest now and in some other areas. It’s why Wisconsin is now becoming less a Democratic stronghold and more of a swing, because of the suburban growth. Exurban growth now is a huge phenomenon that’s going on — Minnesota. So it’s happening.
END OF QUOTE
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/interviews/dowd.html
— — — — — — — —
Mutating the state into just another cookie cutter creation?
Isn’t it interesting, that the attacks are against Franken, who predominantly grew up in the state - with Minnesota core values?
All up in arms over what words to use in quotes that would never be quoted except as excuse!
— — -
As for Coleman - and the claim by Chris that Coleman voted against drilling in the Wildlife Refuge…
Anybody that has been following this, realizes this is another example of the Coleman flip-flop.
A vote that appears to take the progressive view - when there is no danger of truly opposing the Bushies. For show.
We already covered that issue, Chris. What other issues not in the best interest of Minnesota and its residents did Norm Coleman give passionate speeches and resistance to?? I can’t think of any others right off hand.
Paul Wellstone was one of a few US Senators with the courage to vote against the war resolution act which gave the president the authority to send troops into Iraq. He did this is an election year and knew he would take an extraordinary amount of heat for it. Vin Weber did his best to slime Wellstone but couldn’t get any traction on the issue because with Wellstone, you might disagree with his opinion on an issue, you could never doubt his integrity and character. After the plane crash, Coleman and Weber went to every media outlet available and announced they wouldn’t be campaigning until the DFL had decided upon a candidate. They announced this every day and in every media source available. Craven, cynical, cowardly, dispicable tactics. The memorial service was a beautiful testament to the Wellstone’s life but it was portrayed as some kind of opportunistic spectacle devoid of meaning or purpose. Most of those doing the complaining, such as Sarah Janacek, admitted later to only have seen snippets of the program. What does this have to do with the original post. Maybe D.J. Tice, if he really wants to do some reporting on this race and not just be a tool for the idiot Brodkrob, should approach Franken and ask about this specific moment in time and how does Franken feel about Weber and Coleman. Ask Al what does he think about how Weber and Coleman used the memorial service and Wellstones death to get Coleman elected. My biggest problem with the Franken campaign is that for Al, I believe, it’s personal. I can understand this even though I never met Mr. Wellstone, I knew he was a voice for all Minnesotans. It’s beyond my understanding how we ended up with a coward like Norm as a replacement.
It’s amazing what kind of ridiculous candidates can sneak through while the public is emotionally frozen, following the obvious and well-documented offing of their most widely loved politician since Humphrey. Coleman will indeed have to totally reverse himself in order to get re-elected. That’s how sad the Republican party is in this state and the country.
This may not be a popular opinion, but I have always felt that Norm Coleman owes his position as a Senator to Paul Wellstone.
I had the opportunity to get to know both Paul and Shiela Wellstone. Approachable and passionate people who did indeed give you the time of day, made you feel inportant no matter the issue, and regardless of party affliation. I do not feel that with Norm Coleman. Maybe that was because Paul Wellstone was not a company man, but more a man of the people.
I wonder how Norm Coleman’s personality and approachability will resonate with the voters come campaign time.
Ok people, listen to what you are saying. The Star Tribune has a conservative bias? Maybe you should take a step back and consider that maybe Franken has a real problem. This is not stuff that was dredged up from 20 years ago - this is all recent.