That is, the $25,000 judgment against him for absolutely, positively refusing to pay workers compensation insurance.

According to public court documents, the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board filed a $25,000 judgment in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Alan Franken Inc, for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.”

Public records from the state of New York, list Al Franken as “Chairman or Chief Executive Officer” of Alan Franken Inc.

The $25,000 judgment filed against Alan Franken Inc., was filed on May 29, 2007 - over four months after Franken announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

Franken had time to resolve this matter before the judgement was filed, as on August 8, 2006, Alan Franken Inc was issued a “Final Notice” from the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.” Public records indicate that no payment was made.

I know he is a good TV writer
I know that he has written a couple successful books
I know that he was a radio talk show host

But where can I see what he did for the people of Minnesota to earn our trust, other than campaign?

For a bunch of people who say you like grassroots candidates, you sure become quickly enamored by the Hollywood jet set.

Come on back, man! Keep making an ass out of yourself!

Still, I gotta give Andy Barr, or who ever among the zillion staff over there, credit for getting this out in the creative manner of posting it on a blog. Maybe you’re re-posting from somewhere else that I haven’t seen yet, but either way, you’re connected to that campaign.

Whatever though, everything is done. You didn’t have to worry about discrediting Ciresi. He seems done, and Jack, who jumped to second place, doesn’t seem to be doing well enough to hold off a first-ballot win by Franken. Gonna be a hell of an RNC here, isn’t it? I imagine the VP choice will vilify Franken more than Obama/Clinton in his speech.

Me? I’m getting the popcorn ready.

Miller: Do you also – are you also concerned, as a DFLer – and we can’t pretend you don’t have a self-interest here – but are you also concerned as a DFLer that there is a lot of ammunition out there, because Al Franken has been a comedian, because Al Franken had a radio show, where he spoke off-the-cuff, and there’s probably a lot of audiotape of that? I mean, as a DFLer, do you also worry that there’s a lot of ammunition out there for Republicans?

Ciresi: Al Franken’s gonna have to deal with what he’s said in the past. I’m gonna have to deal with what I’ve said in the past.

Miller: Do you think that makes him, perhaps, especially vulnerable?

Ciresi: I don’t know if that makes him especially vulnerable. I think that, in light of politics the way it’s done today, absolutely. Knowing the Republicans, I know exactly what they do. They are combing through everything he’s ever done and putting it into little soundbites.
Does that capture Al Franken? Obviously not. Are they gonna do that to try to influence voters? Yes. Okay? That’s the way that politics is done today, unfortunately.

Furthermore, Coleman said Franken is defined for his work on Air America, his “angry diatribes” and for “divisive, negative language” he’s used.

Norm Coleman’s speech at the 2006 GOP Convention. June 2, 2006.

Mike Ciresi Today:

The Ciresi Campaign US mailed a campaign piece that, when opened, reads [across the inside top]:

Judgment Matters: Mike and Al On The War

Mike Ciresi a year ago:

Ciresi: Well, my position on the war is that I don’t think it serves any purpose to go back as to whether we should have gone in or not. My position’s been pretty clear on that. We have to look at where we’re at now.

[…]

Miller: Mike Ciresi, from Ken in St. Paul, “You’ll have to campaign against Al Franken for the DFL endorsement. Why should Franken not be the endorsee?”

Ciresi: Well, I’m not gonna get into why Al Franken should not be, or why Mike Ciresi should be or not be.

Miller: Why? Isn’t that the case you’ll be making to voters?

Ciresi: To me, Kerri, what I would like to say is why I believe I have the experience and the leadership ability, and the accomplishments that would lead somebody to vote for me. And Al Franken’s gonna have to talk to the voters and tell them what he believes he brings to the table…

Miller: But, as you make your case to the DFL delegates, you’re going to have to draw comparisons, I would assume. Unless you don’t care about the endorsement.

Ciresi: No, I do care about the endorsement.

Miller: Are you gonna abide by the endorsement?

Ciresi: Yes, I am.

Miller: So, you will have to work those delegates and say, “Look, I should be your choice. Here’s why. He shouldn’t. She shouldn’t.” Whoever else is out there, right? You have to draw comparisons.

Ciresi: I was with you right up until the words “He shouldn’t. She shouldn’t.” They’re gonna have to make that decision. I’m gonna say, “Here’s why I believe I’m the best candidate that is before you to represent you in the Senate of the United States,” and I’m gonna tell them what I have done.

March 6, 2007, Midmorning with Kerri Miller, MPR

A title [and accompanying article] similar to “Coleman Endorses Coleman” [no question mark at the end] is probably more valid and more reliable.

I’m a Virginian and Democrat candidate, Mark Warner, is going to win this state… he’s going to kick Gilmore’s ass in the electon here. Shaheen will win in New Hampshire, Udall will win in New Mexico, and Udall will win in Colorado… these are givens.

So, it’s much better for the Minnesota Democratic Senatorial Candidate to run on the fact that we need 60 votes to change policy…. and this is why Smilin’ Norm Coleman, along with Ted “Weekend at Bernie’s” Stevens, from Alaska, Susan “Real ID” Collins, from Maine, and Gordon “Flip Flop” Smith, need to go.

We have a real shot at a 4-8 seat pick up… and Coleman could be part of the 60 seat strategy that we will continue in 2010.

He droppped a hook in the water and you chomped right into it. Really, KH is right, you should just endorse Franken. That way you can all be fools together.

Scott Howell is salivating at the thought of Franken v Coleman. Dirty tricks in the fall? Hell yeah. Drag on the ticket? Even a bigger hell yeah.

Mike took on Big Tobacco and won.

Do you know how much money ($) goes into the coffers of the State of Minnesota each year because of the settlement?

Do you know how a similar lump sum of that money ($) is spent each year?

Franken got immediate attention and really never had to work to campaign, he shows up somewhere and there are already plenty of people there ready to shake the celebrity’s hand, not the Senate candidates.

Somebody above pointed out the foolishness of Normy “Can Lick Bush” Coleman’s making any comments about the Iraqi War. He supports it. He supported it then and he supports it now. He wants us to be at war in Iraq for McCain’s 100 years… Al Franken will not support George Bush’s mistakes.

Norm really is a slimy guy… his whole quote shorter - “Why don’t him and you fight?”

The Ciresi Campaign US mailed a campaign piece that, when opened, reads [across the inside top]:

Judgment Matters: Mike and Al On The War

The piece includes four Al Franken quotes. Two from radio, one from a book, and one from a magazine.

~ The post in MN Publius at 5:31pm; 2-29-08, was by Yeahman, who obtained his quotes from …

~ Michael B. Broadkorb’s [Minnesota Democrats Exposed] post [published about 4:00pm; 2-29-08], who, obtained his quotes from …

~ Kerry Greeley’s [Campaign Manager for Mike Ciresi] letter [published about 3:00pm; 2-29-08], who obtained her three quotes from …

~ These three sources:
- Al Franken Show, Air America, 5-1-2006
- Al Franken, “The Al Franken Show,” 6-16-06
- Al Franken, Playboy Magazine, 1-(1)-2004

But Coleman also attacks Franken because Franken is easy to attack. He was before the war before he was against it. He is on quite a few clips using naughty words and calling people names. Al Franken, in fact, has been completely subdued during the entire campaign so far. His voice rarely rises above a low growl, and there is a notable absence of zingers for the front-page headlines. He is trying so hard to be senatorial, to act Minnesota nice. But that also makes it hard for Franken to even defend himself against the accusations. He makes a wonderful target for Coleman and his surrogates.

Franken’s high negatives and sometimes muddy positions make him the weakest of the 3 Democrats running. It feels like such a waste of amazing satirical talent. I wish Al Franken would go back to writing political skits and I really wish he would say a bunch of shocking and disturbing truths about Norm Coleman. The way things are right now, Coleman is getting a complete pass.

Second, the thing that really does show what kind of senator a person would make is what they have done and the courage they have shown. The one in the race who’s demonstrated courage and leadership in their life is Mike Ciresi.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a DFL candidate who’s shown as much courage as Mike has shown. Maybe that’s why Coleman is trying to manipulate us into supporting Franken!

Norm Coleman is sly as a fox and has clearly pulled the wool over your eyes. Coleman is a graduate of the Karl Rove school of politics and dirty tricks. He knows that you act fearful of the candidate that you can beat and praise the candidate that you are afraid of. Norm knows it will be a cake walk for him to take on Franken. All the proof one needs is at Colman’s website where there are numerous videos of Franken making off color comments and flip-flopping on the important issues of our time. Coleman is ready to spend the whole election talking about Franken’s record while deflecting attention from his own. By trying to shed some of his negative numbers onto Ciresi, Coleman is hoping that only the weakest candidate will remain to take him on in the general. That weaker DFL candidate is Al Franken.