There was ample media coverage of Saturday’s U.S. Senate debate:
Star Tribune’s Mike Kaszuba:
“People are outraged. They’re confused and frightened,” said DFL challenger Al Franken, who added that he felt Congress “rushed into” the $700 billion bailout package it recently passed. “We have to hope it works.”
A nervous nation has watched as the Bush administration “was running around like a chicken with its head cut off,” Franken said.
…
…Barkley, who joked that he faced criticism from his opponents for the first time Saturday, took aim at Coleman and pointedly told him that “this whole economic collapse, it was on your watch.” Barkley added, “I’m going to pin you on that one.”
Pioneer Press’ Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Dave Orrick:
Franken said Coleman has helped create the problems of the last six years and continues to be wrong on specific issues — from the war in Iraq to his economic philosophy to his criticism of Franken.
“I will vote no for certain things, even if 85 senators vote for it. … I guess, maybe I’m just, I don’t know, a maverick,” Franken said, drawing laughter.
…
The candidates also gave their take on a piece of art — a book, a movie, anything — that has had an impact on their public lives.
Coleman said his favorite movie was “The Godfather” but opted for John F. Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage” as his life’s guide.
Franken rambled a bit about his choice — the book Neil Sheehan’s “Bright Shining Lie,” which is about the Vietnam War.
And Barkley picked the 1939 movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” about a common man selected to become a senator.
Barkley stumbled a bit on his answer to another question — about a Supreme Court justice who most reflected his views.
“I can’t come up with one. If I do, I’ll tell you later,” he said.
Minnesota Public Radio’s Mark Zdechlik:
Throughout the debate, Coleman talked about his record of passing legislation through compromise. He repeatedly suggested that Franken would not be effective in the Senate, charging that Franken would not compromise.
Franken defended his opposition to some of the legislation Coleman referenced, including the 2005 energy act — which included major funding for renewable fuels but also billions in subsidies for the oil industry.
Barkley, once again, sharply went after Coleman over the senator’s “bringing people together” theme.
“I don’t like going after you Norm, but, you know this ‘getting things done,’ ‘bringing people together, I’m the guy that can get things done,’ … this whole economic collapse — not to blame you, but it was one your watch. You guys were asleep,” said Barkley.
Associated Press’ Patrick Condon and KARE11:
For Franken, it was a vow to put Minnesota’s middle class above special interests.
“This election isn’t about the three of us on the stage,” he said. “It’s about you, the people of Minnesota, who haven’t been getting a fair shake from Washington.”
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All three candidates picked at one other’s previously stated views, and Barkley’s healthy third-place finish in recent polls apparently earned the attention of the front-runners as Coleman pointed out a potential hypocrisy in Barkley’s constant criticism of Washington’s deficit spending.
“Citizens Against Government Waste gave you the Porker of the Month Award,” Coleman said, referring to Barkley’s two-month stint as a U.S. senator after he was appointed by then-Gov. Jesse Ventura. “I say that in that you just can’t talk about what you’ll do.”
Barkley said he earned the distinction because of his support for a commuter rail project.
“I’m honored that I’m starting to get attacked. I was wondering when I was going to,” Barkley said.
WCCO’s Esme Murphy posted about it in her blog:
The most devastating moment came when one of the moderators asked, “What do you think is the greatest threat to our country”? The moderator went on to say it could be any threat, not just of the military kind. Al Franken went first and said the biggest threat was Al Qaeda, and that the Bush administration had squandered the past eight years pursuing the war in Iraq, instead of pursuing Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. At the end of his comments Franken ripped into Coleman for his support of President Bush’s policy in Iraq.
Then came Dean Barkley. He said the greatest threat was the skyrocketing national debt. He lashed into Coleman saying “this happened on your watch”. Barkley’s comments echoed a recurring theme by Franken tonight, that President Bush had inherited the largest surplus in US history and was leaving office with the largest deficit.
Then it was Norm Coleman’s turn. Coleman said the biggest threat to our country was the “partisan divide” in Washington. Huh? Yes it is a terrible problem, but Coleman kept repeating this line over and over again throughout the evening. Is that really the single greatest threat facing our country?
It is true that Norm Coleman kept repeating his “bipartisanship” schtick the entire night. At the end the debate, Franken reminded people that Coleman is currently running two races: his reelection to the Senate as well as the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The NRSC, being the most powerful partisan attack and smear machine in the country. Kind of takes the wind out of those “bipartisan” sails, doesn’t it?
As well, Norm Coleman came out of Yom Kippur deciding to not go negative. You know, because of the economy. What happened to that?
Another strange bit was Coleman’s opening statement that basically ripped off Amy Klobuchar’s favorite quote about Roosevelt.
I know I’m not a very neutral source on this but despite needing to be woken up to answer a question, not knowing of any supreme court justices he likes and having to ask twice if it was really his turn, Dean Barkley came in second behind Al Franken on this one.
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