“If Franken was going to vote on the stimulus package, they wouldn’t necessarily need one of the Republicans. So yeah, it matters,” said Ron Bonjean, a former top aide to several Senate Republicans who now operates his own public-relations firm. Democrats brokered a deal with three centrist Republican senators in order to end debate on the stimulus package.
“It’s better for us to have one less member,” said a top GOP leadership aide, though the aide acknowledged of Franken: “He’s got a very good shot at winning.”
Republican senators and right-leaning political action committees have poured money into Coleman’s legal effort.
I’m getting tired of Minnesota only getting half representation… and of course Republicans want to delay seating our Senator-elect as long as possible.
I agree with you, but at least we are getting a clear view of Coleman’s true colors. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the good of the state. He’s a whining, sore-losing, opportunistic carpetbagger.
Pete, don’t tell me you hadn’t figured that out before.
Two thoughts:
1. This has shown how Minnesota has much better elections procedures in place than in other states.
2. We definitely have room for improvement.
The real question is how much damage to the Republican brand will this charade do? I’m pretty certain that the party faithful see this as fighting for every scrap of power. Every independent and moderate Republican I have discussed this with are livid at the foolish delaying tactics not to mention the clueless Republicans in Congress. The DFL has the perfect offense… Can you trust the Republicans to put your well-being in front of their political games? The Coleman mess is just screwing our state because the national party can as even they know eventually Franken will be seated.
And yet the stimulus passed. GOP = Fails at failing /yes.
“opportunistic carpetbagger.”
Who? Norm, or the guy who moved here a year ago from New York City?
While the “carpetbagger” label is arguable (I have no blanket objection to those not born here running for office), if you look up “opportunistic” in the dictionary you see a picture of Norm Coleman.
In the Dictionary for the word “CORRUPT”, you see a picture of Norm Coleman.
Shit!! This guy cannot catch a break!!!
Jeez Aaron, if you are going to state that “GOP Strategists” admit to anything, you might want to a actually find and quote a GOP Strategist instead of a former aide and an unnamed aide.
You will never find a GOP strategist who will admit to anything because they’re not willing to takt responsibility for anything - ever!
Really? give Aaron a break, the actual leader of the Republican Party, Rush Limbaugh refuses to take his calls after that unfortunate incident with Aaron discovering the illegal Viagra and small boy hidden in his luggage.
If someone wants his own Viagra and small boy, he ought to stop rifling through other people’s luggage and buy them himself.
Just like a lib, wanting things that others have worked hard for.
While calling Rush Limbaugh the leader of the Republican Party is laughable, an irony actually exists: In terms of real-world accomplishments, he and Al Franken have excelled in the same profession. (entertainment with a highly partisan bent).
DtM, why are Republican congressmen so afraid to criticize a mere netertainer? Do they admire his hard work at buying Viagra and small boys (Really? have you ever heard of damning with faint praise?)?
DtM, why are Republican congressmen so afraid to criticize a mere entertainer? Do they admire his hard work at buying Viagra and small boys (Really? have you ever heard of damning with faint praise?)?
Sorry for the double post — I thought I stopped it in time to correct the typo.
Randy,
Have you ever heard of humor/sarcasm?
<blockquote.“opportunistic carpetbagger.”
Who? Norm, or the guy who moved here a year ago from New York City?
Al was born and raised in Minnesota (St. Louis Park). Was Norm?
Pete, Al Franken was actually born in New York City on May 21, 1951, he moved here at like age 3. So if he is a carpetbagger it was an exceedingly small one.
Nahm on the other hand moved here when offered a job with the state after going to law school. Prior to this he dealt drugs, lead criminal trespasses at Long Island’s Hofstra University and briefly worked as a roadie for Ten Years After procuring under age groupies.
It is during his heavy drugs and roadie period that god first spoke to Nahm and told him to never give a sucker State an even break. Thusly he came to Minnesota with a large carpetbag.
“Al was born and raised in Minnesota (St. Louis Park). Was Norm?”
No.
Neither was Paul Wellstone
Neither was Keith Ellison
Neither was Jim Ramstad
Neither was Martin Sabo
Neither was Tim Walz
Heck, Rudy Boschwitz wasn’t even born in America. Being born in Minnesota is hardly a requirement for representing us, nor should it be.
Nor was Arnie Carlson, who strangely enough has turned into my favorite Republican. Though lately he has taken to calling himself an Independent to distance himself from a party presently being run by Rush Limbaugh.
The day to day running of the Republican Party is with a deluded guy who thinks cops, soldiers and firemen are on some weird form of government welfare. The philosophic and spiritual leader, proven by Congressional groveling at his feet, is Rush “Going deaf from the huge amount of Hillbilly Heroin I wallow in” Limbaugh.
Really?
I assumed that’s what it was, but the opening was far too tempting to resist.
Why do you keep poking fun at Rush Limbaugh and his work? To ridicule Limbaugh’s profession is to ridicule Franken’s. They have each added the same amount and style of discourse and civility to the political debate in the past decade.
Dan I’m not ridiculing Rush Limbaugh. He is a king-maker and can singlehandedly destroy any Republican politicians career with a quip. He has literally millions of angry white men ready at a moments notice to harass any Republican back into lockstep. The fact that the Republican leader is a fat, drug addicted man with a taste for sex vacations is not ridicule.
Rush Limbaugh is the most powerful Republican in America and finally Republicans are admitting it. I can not think of a single Republican politician who could go toe-to-toe with Rush and win a political battle. In a face down with Mitch McConnell who would you bet on? Certainly the present ideological source of the Republican Party is spewing some four hours a day, five days a week on talk radio supported by hemorrhoid creams and shady insurance companies. His leadership position is understood and accepted across America.
The only thing I am bringing up is that the party of Eisenhower and Lincoln is now in his semen-smeared hands. His occupation as a Radio talk-show host has nothing to do with anything as far as I am concerned. The leader of my party is President Obama. I’m happy with my leader and I hope you are happy with yours. Facts is facts, not ridicule.
it’s interesting to hear people equate al franken with rush limbaugh, when in fact he is really the opposite of what they do. the problem with satire, it seems, is that it’s really easy to misinterpret. the title and content of al’s first book on politics, rush limbaugh is a big fat idiot, is not only meant to criticize rush, but also his methods.
al’s humor isn’t partisan, though it’s easy to someone to misinterpret it (purposely or otherwise) as such. in fact, it’s anti-partisan. i’m surprised more people don’t bring that up here on publius.
Franken’s radio show was as in the gutter as the stuff Limbaugh does.
And if there is a leader of the GOP, it is a dead Ronald Reagan. Republicans have problems alright — the best embodiment of what they believe is a man who has been deceased for four years. But I’m not too worried about Limbaugh being a kingmaker. Maybe in rural Alabama people listen to him, but the average Republican views him as just another talking head.
DantheMan,
“Franken’s radio show was as in the gutter as the stuff Limbaugh does.”
Prove it.
i really disagree, dan. i listened to the show quite a bit. anything i ever heard the coleman campaign say was objectionable about it was another example of them completely misunderstanding (and i think purposely so) what was being said. so i’m curious what you found so objectionable, and exactly how much you listened, and have read of his books.
is anyone else frustrated with this portrayal of franken as extremely partisan? not as a misrepresentation of his politics, which i’ve seen discussed, but his satire? just curious.
katzy,
“is anyone else frustrated with this portrayal of franken as extremely partisan?
Yes it is quite frustrating, speaking as someone familiar with the Oy Yoy Yoy Show. Part of why I enjoyed Al Franken was his knowledge of issues, and the effort he personally took to get the information regarding the issues of the day.
American politics have become such a political theatre, with manufactured outrage addicts frothing at the mouth every day asking for more. Al, or any Liberal nationwide are unfortunately swept up in this childish political gamesmanship.
There are some who believe no respect should be given to anyone who disagrees with them on issues, and that the only issue that really matters is winning elections, such as some of the people who disagree with Al Franken.
The truth about his show, then, becomes a subjective matter of opinion, in the minds of these people. Reality becomes irrelevant.
That being said I’m not worried about Al. Win or lose, he’ll be just fine. Either way, we haven’t seen the last of Al Franken. He gives righties the vapors.
amuseinc, thanks. I stand corrected. On the subject of god speaking to him, I heard he claimed recently that god told him that he wants him to be senator.
All this an schizophrenia too?
amuseinc, thanks. I stand corrected. On the subject of god speaking to him, I heard he claimed recently that god told him that he wants him to be senator.
All this an schizophrenia too?
thanks, nitro. i guess what i was trying to say is that al’s humor is ABOUT that childish political gamesmanship, using it in a way to show the childishness of it, as well as the dishonesty, etc. involved. his “partisanship” is very tongue-in-cheek, and people don’t realize that.
looks like yesterday’s rulings were good. hopefully the people of mn will soon get to see how great a senator al’s going to be.