This morning’s Star Tribune has a piece on Former U.S. Senator George McGovern from South Dakota at a rally in Como Park sponsored by Hunger Solutions. It’s fantastic to see the important hard work and advocacy McGovern is doing, even at age 86. As the Star Tribune reports:
Since 2000, the number of people using Minnesota food shelves has shot up 62 percent, with 2 million visits in the past year.
It was good to see McGovern mention the Senate race too:
“We desperately need more people in Washington with a sense of humor,” McGovern said, mentioning Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken, whose wife, Franni, and daughter, Thomasin, sat in the front row.
More on this rally in the Star Tribune and video at KARE 11.
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McGovern finds rape and childhood beastiality humerous? No wonder he’s been relegated to the has-been trash heap.
I was just about to post something very similar Swiftee about McGovern’s reference to Franken.
Gosh, how do you guys come up with these zingers?
Swiftee, I agree 100%,
You are allowed to make vulgar comments about moonbats, post links to full frontal nudity, and caricature people as a penis and balls, because you are 100% correct on every issue, and have consistently help[ed move pour country in the right direction for years now.
Moonbats, because they are 100% wrong on every issue, are not allowed to do those types of things. They hate America and want us to surrender to terrorists.
Micheal B. Brodkorb, because we are all so correct on every issue, we should run out and get “Sweftee” tatooed on our sloping foreheads. That is who we are going to be labeled as from now until the election.
Lordy lordy, do we all have the vapors today. Clearly, we Republicans are in the mood for hatred of people we disagree with today, for some reason.
Everyone knows we are on our way to a permanent majority of people like Swiftee dictating the direction of our Country. Keep up the great work.
Great Job!
Yeah, nice work Swiftee and Michael. You can demean former US Senator for trying to help people eat. EAT! You guys are classy.
Maybe in response to Coleman’s cancer bill I should have called him a liar instead of praising his efforts. You two are true patriots.
Seriously? What in this article could have offended you? Is it hungry people eating? Or people trying to help one another?
Danno: My comment was directed towards McGovern’s statement that we need more people in the U.S. Senate with a sense of humor and him referencing Franken. I don’t think Franken’s jokes about drugging and raping women are needed in the U.S. Senate. I don’t Franken’s sense of humor is needed in the U.S. Senate.
Michael: As you would ask of others, would you please reference these rape jokes (plural I may add) that you’ve spoken so much about? I would like to see their context for myself. I know you must have several resources for this information in your files, what with all the talk. Thanks!
Wait, let me try… Danno: you must find rape and beastiality humorous!
Am I doing it right?
touche sir, touche
Oops. Can’t find the references Micheal? Swiftee, care to find us some references? And no, as your English teacher would tell you, a blog is not a source.
Mike, I was just about to post something along the lines of what Danno has offered…except I’m wondering why Senator McGovern would invoke the image of a man who writes detailed fantasies about his 12 year old son’s investigations into beastiality at a ceremony that was purportedly considering the plight of people who are hungry.
Does Senator McGovern believe that hungry people enjoy a good rape joke?
Very strange behavior, indeed.
Man! You did it again! You are on fire man… on! fire!
So swiftee and Mr. B are disowning Ann Coulter and Chris Baker?
I’ll take that as a no, Swiftee. You have absolutely no source for your claims. Thanks for clarifying.
Rape! Beastiality!
Randy, have Ann Coulter and Chris Baker (who’s that BTW) been out there making rape jokes, or are they partial to creating fantasies involving kids and beastiality? If they have, I unabashedly denounce them.
Say, Danno? You might contact Representative Betty McCollum (Democrat), or the president of the DFL feminist caucus (the one that quit rather than endorse Porn-O-Rama). I’m sure they can give you all the details.
Alternatively, you could always take your head out of your ass once in awhile since it’s been covered in every major news source for the past two months.
Meanwhile, has anyone run across a transcript, or found a witness to Senator McCain’s supposed “rape joke”? A George Soros daily memo does not count.
Chris Baker is a right-wing talk-radio host who has advocated using machine guns against convetion protesters. He has also said that the WNBA is a lesbian meeting place.
So jokes about murder, genocide, and political assasination pass muster? Even when the jokes are not printed as satire in a magazine, but are said before the audience at a supposedly respectable mainstream political gathering?
Man Swiftee, you really pound home how baseless your argument it. No reference still? Even Mikey ran from commenting at that point.
As for McCain: it was printed by the Tuscan Citizen originally. And as I’ve said before, I could care less about McCain’s rape and killing jokes. You and Mikey are the ones crying foul. It’s on you to find evidence, not on me to find non-evidence.
Slurpee and Brodkorb. Joined at the hip. Two peas in a pod. Proudly representing the GOP with the best their party has to offer. The only one missing from this lineup of the Three Stooges is Mitch Berg.
Danno, your information proved what Mike already pointed out “Meanwhile, the netroots are buzzing about a 1986 Tucson Citizen article describing allegations that John McCain told a crude joke involving rape and …”
The key word there is allegations, buddy. I think Obama prays to Satan every night…and I’ve got the same proof of it as you do that McCain made a rape joke, ‘K?
Randy, if Chris Baker says convetion protesters should be machine gunned, unless they are out there killing people, I’m in the “no” column.
As to the WNBA…well, it is a lesbian meeting place, so what’s the problem?
Swiftee, can you please divulge the names of the congressional aide and the Arizona lawyer who back up your belief that
Obama prays to Satan every night, because those are two of the people that personally heard McCain make the joke. http://static.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/tucson_citizen_gorilla_rape_joke.pdf
I’ve got a couple of GOP operatives that are willing to back me up EZ…just to keep things on par.
Hey Swiftee, I’ve given you more proof regarding McCain’s jokes than you’ve given me regarding Franken’s, if you want to play it that way.
Sigh….Here yo go Danno, knock yourself out. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/politics/2008/06/25/candidatecomedian-al-franken-hurt-by-his-old-porn-o-rama-essay.html
Nice try Swiftee, but this article just give the title of an article in Playboy, and says nothing about the content. Try again.
I mean, you’ve got to have better sources than this. You’re citing rape and bestiality, which this article speaks nothing of.
Swiftee,I agree 100%,
LOLOLOLS…….George Soros.
Great Job
Danno, you have the title, source and date of the original material in which Al’s sick humor is documented. I suggest e-bay.
Swiftee I agree 100%,
Your obsession today with taking moonbats down has been fantastic. The e-mail you sent to Michael B. Brodkorb and the MOB this morning containing todays bullet points obviously worked out very well. It is easy to understand what we are supposed to comment.
Continue, please, to lead the Minnesota Democratic bloggers in the right direction.
We will follow you.
Great Job!
Danno,
http://www.tpt.org/aatc/2008/06/05/franken_jokes_about_rape
http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/05/21/back-by-popular-demand-excerpts-of-frankens-graphic-playboy-column/
The problem is of course that most media outlets won’t reprint Franken’s writings. Keep in mind I don’t claim that Franken’s “humor” make’s Coleman a better candidate. But at least now you can simply click on a couple of links instead of going through all the hard work of looking it up with Google yourself.
This is really sad. Here we are in out 6th year of occupation of Iraq, with over 4100 U.S. dead and something like 1.2 million Iraqis dead, with a price tag of eventually 3 billion and a legacy of corruption. Here we are with an ongoing war in Afghanistan since 2001, things getting really weird in Pakistan, and a new war on the horizon with Iran. We have our bridges falling into the river, our schools failing nearly every child, polar ice melting, people eating dirt to stave off the hunger, fuel prices going through the roof.
And people here want to talk about old Playboy articles, bad Saturday night live skit ideas, full frontal nudity in the local blogs and penises.
Really, does anyone seriously think this is a good way to pick a U.S. Senator?
When a campaign wants to avoid the issues that face the voters, it’s usually its choice to do name calling and keep some non-issue in the forefront. Keep an old article a comedian wrote in the voter’s mind and they hope that voter will forget about their economic woes and the dismal record of the GOP. It’s business as usual for the ol’ GOP. I agree it’s time to get onto something important but I doubt that will happen with the mindset of writers like those above.
Republican operatives are trying mightily to divert the discussion away from the real issues. We don’t have to indulge them.
The most depressing thing about all of this is that the big-name backers of Franken, the McGoverns, the Wendell Andersons, all the DFL Franken endorsers in the state legislature, the State Auditor, fail to understand why running somebody who has published and profited from jokes that mock women and minorities causes harm - it diminishes groups that are already demeaned by the political process.
Franken cannot separate himself from his past. Does the DFL actually think it is a good thing to foist such a candidate on the public? Do they get that women and minorities, especially Asians who are a favorite Franken target, may not appreciate having a senator like Franken in office? Do they understand how depressing it is to open the paper and read another obnoxious quote from one of Al’s skits or books? Do they get how that really does take away from ones self-esteem?
Every time a new revelation comes out about Franken’s work his supporters rise up and argue what’s the big deal, this was in the past, get a sense of humor. Many of the most vocal supporters are caucasian men who are never the butt of a Franken joke.
I wish I could believe the people in power who support Franken understood how running Franken underscores a reality that the DFL needs to face: it isn’t there for women and minorities the way it is for men. You don’t have to go too far back to see this - just look at the 2003 legislative session where women’s issues took a major hit. From there the DFL has periodically tried to improve things for women.
When this is over, I seriously doubt the DFL leaders will have learned much…if Franken wins - there will be a huge sense of “see we can continue to run alpha-male candidates who have an enormous sense of entitlement” If Franken loses it will be blamed on people being too sensitive. Either way the DFL will continue to favor in-your-face alpha-males who are owed a favor over any other candidate who steps up. It’s not about who will serve the people and the party platform best. It’s about who has through financial contributions to the party earned the right to be the anointed one. Note - time put in on lowly jobs like answering the phone or doorknocking for a candidate don’t count toward becoming the anointed one.
Charley is right - we aren’t going to get to the issues during the campaign. Do people think Franken will have a better chance of getting to the issues as a senator? Chances are when he is in office he will spend considerable time deflecting criticism from his humor too.
The Brodkorb-o-meter is flashing bright red. Whenever he immediately gets in on an issue like this and tries to divert attention you know that Norm is in serious trouble. Norm is a weasel. This may be the smoking gun that looses Norm the election.
Charley -
You are very good at claiming the sky is falling. Given what you describe, I’d think we are either in a nuclear holocaust or experiencing a famine of biblical proporations.
I think the point is that, while examining old Playboy articles isn’t the best way to vet candidates, there surely are many good candidates we could choose from without having to accept that kind of baggage. If Minnesota has a population of 5 million people, then I’d say we should expect that our crem de la crem, the top 1%, should be our pool that we choose from to send to DC. That leaves 50,000 smart and driven people to choose from, maybe 10% of whom would even consider a career in politics. So we’re down to 5,000 possible candidates to do us proud in the Senate.
Of 5,000 of our best and brightest, surely we can find someone without Franken’s question marks. In a way, I wish JNP had gotten the endorsement so the debate could have actually been about the issues.
What a joke are these Franken detractors! If Jack had won the endorsement we would have had Broadknob and the GOP being outraged over published work that was “too pacifist.” “degrading to the American Military,” and “completely out of step with the concerns of Minnesotans.” You think that the smears and allegations from the Republicans and fake Democrats would cease just because another Democrat was endorsed? Get Real…
And Demure One I want a complete list of Minnesota Republican women leaders and how they are furthering the rights of women. I want to see a fair comparison of GOP leadership to DFL female leadership counts. You can start with Michelle Bachmen. I have yet to hear you say word one about John McCain making rape jokes… but a constant attack on Al Franken. May I suggest you talk to his wife and children about how badly you have mistaken the character of the man.
I find your whining unbearable when I see the strong female leadership in my local DFL as well as in the State Legislature and in the Senate. I’m male but not white and I find your complaints to be trumped up when compared to the GOP and certainly not reflected in the DFL I work with… is it possible that your problems with the DFL are about you and not your gender?
Amuseinc,
I have pointed out in the past how tedious your homework assignments are - weird how you rarely hand them out to others. But then you are never going to entertain the thought that Franken is a really offensive candidate - his offensive messages now have the seal of approval of the Democratic Party - they are the Democratic party’s messages too. It’s not just a Minnesota DFL seal of approval - it is on a national level. Amazing what a major party will sacrifice, i.e., its reputation, for one person.
You know, the reason that Michael/Swiffer tend to duplicate their respective memes about the “problems” with Al’s previous work as a comic?
It’s because they have absolutely nothing of substance to add to the conversation. If they are forced to debate the actual issues of who will act as an advocate for the people of Minnesota, they quickly leave the conversation. Norm Coleman has NOT helped Minnesota. He has supported a failed and bankrupt action in the middle east and has FAILED to hold investigative hearings into the practices of KBR.
And I would also like to thank our “liberal democrats” and sundry purity trolls here on MNpublius. You make swiftee and MBroadkorb’s jobs easier with your hanging on and clutching your collective pearls. Bravo/brava!
“You think that the smears and allegations from the Republicans and fake Democrats would cease just because another Democrat was endorsed? Get Real…”
- Yes, or at least the focus would be on the candidate’s positions, which is where it should be. Nothing wrong with making a big stink that you don’t like where another candidate stands. That is what debate is for.
“Norm Coleman has NOT helped Minnesota. He has supported a failed and bankrupt action in the middle east and has FAILED to hold investigative hearings into the practices of KBR.”
- Norm Coleman has done an admirable job for 80% of all Minnesotans. Of course the leftmost 20% disagree with what he has made his key issues and most of his votes, but remember that not even a popular figure such as Wellstone ever actually carried 51% of an election. Even the best have people disagree, and you happen to be on the wrong side of Coleman’s work.
DantheMan I agree 100%,
“Norm Coleman has done an admirable job for 80% of all Minnesotans.”
He voted with Bush 90% of the time, endorsing the strong, bold, steady leadership of George W. Bush.
That is what an “admirable job for 80% of all Minnesotans” is, for you moonbats here who just don’t get it.
Great Job, Republican Liberal Website Troller DantheMan
Demure should you ever do anything but whine, kvetch about the DFL and make baseless accusations maybe I can stop asking for backup or as you put it “homework.”
I’m not whining - I am pointing out serious issues. You should grow a pair.
Of what? You whine about supposed feminist faults of the DFL and then refer to testes? Are you Demented? Support your claims once in a while…
You know, I think you represent the DFL well…you do deserve Franken. He and all his baggage are a perfect match for your party.
@ DtM
“Norm Coleman has done an admirable job for 80% of all Minnesotans. Of course the leftmost 20% disagree with what he has made his key issues and most of his votes,”
Explain to me this: Why is Coleman’s approval rating under 50% ?
Things that make you go hhhmmmm… Demure One starts out an outraged feminist DFLer and then all of a sudden starts referring to “your party” versus a previous “our” party. What is that I spy sleeping under that bridge? Looks like a sleeping elephant transvestite?
Nope. Not that exciting amuseinc. You live in a binary world.
Yes, Demure.
You are simply a feminist who thinks the growth of testicles will make one a more competent person. Brava.
Lojasmo you owe me for this coffee covered keyboard I am now attempting to use… good one!
Lojasmo - such interpretation. I was pointing out amuseinc needs to grow up and take an objective look at his candidate. When “quit whining” is the shallow response ones gets to legitimate well written points “grow a pair” seems the appropriate blog response - especially for Franken supporters who must love terms like “butt-boy”. I did think that “grow a pair” might possibly register in the same way as “quit whining” does…
And also I think “grow a pair” is sort of the attitude many in the DFL are telling those who object to Franken’s humor. On the one hand you have many in the general public who are thinking “Nice guys don’t write porn” - then you have the Franken supporters basically saying who cares he is better than Norm…deal with it - grow a pair. Plus it sums up so well the frat-boy aura that surrounds the Franken campaign. You are placing me in the category of a feminist - which I don’t agree with - I just think women should have the same rights and pay equity as men.
BTW - Nice guys don’t write porn.