Comments on: Rochester Debate Wrap-up

By: lojasmo

lojasmo — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:12:41 +0000

Disco-

Kindly shut it. Your concern is duly noted.

By: Disco

Disco — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:24:49 +0000

I WILL vote for Al Franken no matter what. My post was most certainly not a troll. But I’ve not been impressed his campaign. I think Normie’s viscous attack ads really caused Franken to mute himself. The last thing he wanted was to reinforce the message of those ads.

I just didn’t sense any energy with Franken. He didn’t appear confident or even happy to be there. He didn’t talk much about his own plans; rather, he attacked Coleman’s votes most of the time.

I’m actually hoping most people DON’T see this debate. It didn’t reflect well on Franken.

By: lojasmo

lojasmo — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:03:49 +0000

Al’s closing was tremendous.

By: loonwalk

loonwalk — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:09:36 +0000

Interesting piece and comments.
Once again, there’s such a huge difference between deciding on a few minutes’ impression versus years of listening to Al Franken’s radio show.
There is no way to sooth apprehensions based on polaroids, but Al has attributes that anyone would vote for and would wish for in a Senator.
He also is not condescending, bullying, or dishonest by nature.
There’s my spin based on years of following Al, reading his books, etc.
(.. might mention that Franken’s books are well referenced, unlike some other factor-ish books)

By: Nitro

Nitro — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:54:25 +0000

gopgal,

If theres one thing the readers of MN Publius have learned, it is that Minnesota Republican bloggers of the troll variety, such as yourself, only comment with a spin that benefits Republicans, insults and ridicules Democrats, and are not really honest about anything.

You, gopgal, painted yourself with that brush a long time ago. Now you’re stuck wearing it.

By: gopgal

gopgal — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:57:09 +0000

Al is subdued and has no energy because he knows what all other Minnesotans know, the Strib poll is dead wrong and he is losing! To the Franken supporters, where was Al concise during the debate about what kind of a Senator he would be? He was all over the place and sounded very nervous and unsure of himself.

By: Dr. Evil

Dr. Evil — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:43:22 +0000

I couldn’t help but see that Barkley was the only one trying to fix our problems. Franken and Coleman seemed more obsessed with destroying the other guy.

I’m thinking I’m going to vote for Barkley and I bet I’m not the only one.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:41:34 +0000

Did anyone noticed how well behaved ther audience was??? The clapping at the end was for Al after his closing statement. He did bring up vaslid points about Norm’s voting record.

Al did very well last night. If Norm was squirming, this is only the beginning. Al was warming up. Knowing Alo, he will be saving the best stuff for last. Ted Stevens and Norm’s “fishing trips” will be brought up.

AS for the getting ahead of those of us who were in line since 4pm, the Coleman supporters rushed to the doors once they opened. Many were shouting, “Go to the back of the line!” If they already had tickets, they would have gotten in anyway. They may have not gotten the best view, but thewy would have gotten in. THat’s what peeved me off.

By: lojasmo

lojasmo — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:11:00 +0000

I understand well, Sean2. Franken supporters had a guaranteed tickets as well, but we weren’t crowded up at the door, ready to rush ahead of the 650 people waiting in line.

I enjoyed listening to, and watching the debate. I especially enjoyed angry Norm.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:56:03 +0000

I listened to part of the debate and watched part of it. It’s interesting what a difference it makes when you see the body language along with hearing the voices. I thought Franken kept an even tone because he knows he’s been accused of being “angry Al” and that his calm voice and demeanor were in contrast to that negative image. He also spoke clearly and to the point. Coleman tried to have it both ways: to say that he’d been an effective actor in Congress but to distance himself from the REpublican record and policies. But he can’t claim to have been against the Republican agenda he supported almost all the time he has been in office. Republicans trying to run as “outsiders” are making a losing case. Barkley channeled the anger a lot of us feel, and articulated the anger about the war and the bailout the most clearly, but when it came to details about policies, he was contradictory.
Coleman’s body language was distracting. he looked like he was going to jump out of his skin. Franken may have sounded heavier than he usually does, but he also looked more collected and focused. His joke when Barkley gave up his time made him sound relaxed to me.
Overall, I enjoyed hearing a debate that was not as tightly scripted as the presidential and vice-presidential debates have been. But I also hear Norm conclude with his “values” which sounded just like the failed policies of the last 8 years, so I think that’s going to hurt him with those who want a change. Whether or not Barkley will siphon votes from Franken or Coleman, I don’t know, but he sounded petulant and sneering most of the time.