Franken In
January 4th, 2009 by Nick SaintThere’s always more that can happen once recount madness gets rolling, but it looks as if Al Franken will probably be declared the winner of Minnesota’s Senate race tomorrow. I must say, I’ve been pretty conflicted about this race all along. On the one hand, how seriously can one take the Senate if Al Franken is allowed to join? On the other hand, anything that reminds us not to take our government seriously is probably a good thing. And Norm Coleman does seem like a pretty slimey individual. But then, Al Franken says things like this:
I am honored by this endorsement and proud of all the support I’ve received from the family farmers who make Minnesota a national leader in agriculture. I will work hard in Washington to protect and strengthen the farm safety net, support trade policies that help our family farmers, and create jobs in rural Minnesota by making it the epicenter and engine of a renewable energy economy. Norm Coleman hasn’t always stood up for Minnesota farmers – but I’ll be a Senator they can count on.
Of course, to be elected in a place like Minnesota, you pretty much have to say things like that. Worse, to get re-elected, you have to actually do those things. Coleman wasn’t as good a friend to farm subsidies as he needed to be, which would be admirable, except for the fact that he was doing so at the behest of Karl Rove, which is like robbing fewer banks as a favor to the child prostitution ring that doesn’t want the police sniffing around the neighborhood.
At the end of the day, though, Al Franken will surely be the funniest man in the Senate, and that is certainly worth something. Here’s a clip of him laying into Bill O’Reilly on a panel on Book TV:
If you have the time, continue on to parts two and three. Franken continues to be funny. O’Reilly completely loses his composure. And, interestingly, Franken proves to have almost as little grace under fire. He is, of course, much smarter than his adversary, but both end up looking pretty childish and silly by the end.
On the other hand, he’s won an election in a state he’s actually from after decades of expressing views on a range of policy issues. My own state of New York should be so lucky.
