So what do you think of Al Franken and his electability to the Senate?

[undeterred]

I think he's funny, electable, and will be glad to see someone like him in the Senate.

[Cleita]

1. Not only that, he has said that Paul Wellstone is his hero.

So if he taps into Wellstone's popularity, he might have a good chance to be elected.

[rniel]

2. Sure why not

Me too.

Maybe he's more value to us in the senate than on radio.

[Snotcicles]

20. I Iive in Michigan and I'll send money to Al if he runs.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. I know nothing of Minnesota's political geography

but Al can work a room, he's great in front of a camera or a mic, and he's quick on his feet in a debate so yeah, I imagine he'll be an outstanding candidate.

[ewagner]

4. I'll remain skeptical

about his electability....why?

He tries to stay "in the middle" too much.....which sometimes makes him sound wishy-washy....Coleman will kill him if he does that during an election

You can bet that the Rpub National Committee has somebody assigned to do a "book" on Franken right now...every word he says will be scrutinized and used out-of-context to make him look bad. Oh yes, anything he said in his books that can be used to smear him will be used too.

It will be a filthy campaign....Coleman will see to it and blame it on Franken.....

[LSparkle]

5. Better this week than last, thanks to IdiotBoy Coleman

His performances vs. George Galloway and Barbara Boxer have made him look like a kid in short pants -- not ready for prime time. He should go back to being mayor of St. Paul -- that's more his speed.

[Love Bug]

14. I would agree with you except few here in MN know about

the Galloway "smack-down" of Coleman. The local paper did a wimpy job reporting on the testimony, highlighting the allegations against Galloway and mentioning NOTHING about Coleman sitting there looking like an idiot. I don't know what the TV news reported because I refuse to watch any of them.

And St. Paul doesn't want him back, thank-you-very-much. He was still a Dem when they elected them and they have enough sense not to elect a repuke.

As far as I'm concerned, Coleman can take his trophy wife (who doesn't even live with him) and kids and get the hell out of here. We don't need him around here and his very presence offends the grass that grows over Wellstone's grave!

As far as the electability of Franken -- there is going to be a DFL fund raiser in the Twin Cities on June 11 with Franken as the featured speaker. (I would go except I had already agreed to take care of one of my grandsons.) I think this is a test to see if he can a) draw a crowd willing to donate, and b) see how the average DFLer reacts to him as a possible candidate. In spite of his friendship with Wellstone, I think Franken is more of a Clintonesque centrist than a progressive, but that remains to be seen in a campaign. I recall him saying in an interview (I think before AAR was launched) that he considered himself a DLC Democrat -- and I know that is the kiss of death on DU. We'll see.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Need Something HomeGrown Against Coleman

Al's a great wit, but not sure he'd be that great of a politician. Not sure he really has a grasp on many of the important issues for Minnesotans than a lifelong full-time legislator, politician or activist could bring to this race.

I can't imagine the fine folks in that state really knowing what they were getting when they elected this weasel. However, now that they know, Midwest rational thought will take care of things. We had a similar situation here with Fitzgerald sneaking in and stealing a seat...we made sure he didn't even run 6 years later. Hopefully the folks in Minnesota will do the same, or hand this weaseldick the thumping he deserves.

BTW...is Coleman really his last name? I haven't met too many Jewish kids with that last name.

[KansDem]

7. I see no reason why he wouldn't be "electable."

Consider GOP former actors/entertainers turned politicians:

Fred Grandy ("Loveboat")--House
Fred Thompson--Senate
Sonny Bono--House
Mrs. Sonny Bono--House
Clint Eastwood--Mayor
Ahhhnold--Governor
and of course: Ronald Reagan--Governor/President

It's all about "electability"

[Hand]

9. One more from way back

George Murphy (damned if I know what he was ever in)--Senate (California). He was well known as the stupidest man in the Senate; I believe he only served one term. :dunce:

[jeffgad]

8. I've lived in MN all my life, but I don't know...

I've seen MN move from Hubert Humphrey to Jesse Ventura, from Eugene McCarthy to Norm Coleman. The Twin Cities has been overrun by the same dumb ass suburban Repubs as many metro areas. Personally, I'd vote for Franken in a minute, but I'm afraid his perceived kookiness won't play well. Jesse turned out to be such an embarrassment, they may not want to risk another off-center personality.

[napi21]

10. It all depends on who he runs against.

I don't know much about MN politics, except Coleman is a real asshat!

[housewolf]

11. We'd take a lot of heat

for putting up a comedian for senate. Uggghhh... I can just hear them now.

[LondonReign2]

22. Perhaps, but

..think of all the "celebs" the Rupibs constantly run. Sonny Bono? Fred Grandy, aka "Gopher" from the love boat? Yes, Al is a comedian, but is his rep worse than "Gopher"'s?

[EVDebs]

12. Current Repub congress--They look like the Star Wars bar scene

That quip was originated by Kevin Phillips back when Gingrich's 1994 takeover of the House. But now the Repubs all look like Wookies.

[me b zola]

13. Besides the fact that I like him, I think he is highly electable

Name regognition goes along way on the campaign trail, he also has a good chance of raising the $$$ necessary for a strong campaign. He is well informed & responds quickly & well to critics---Coleman wouldn't stand a chance. He is charming & quick witted.

Normally I hate that it takes a cult of personality to be electable, but in this case he, I believe, is actually a good guy who would legislate with integrity and in good faith for his constituents and the American people.

Franken for Senate '06!!

[undeterred]

15. He is smart and well connected and well informed

and he is humble or at least non-abrasive when dealing directly with the opposition. To us he looks like a moderate, but thats good for electability.

[Gothmog]

16. I like him but the stories on past drug use may haunt him

I like Franken and think that he would make a great senator. I still remember how Franken destroyed O'Reilly at that book expo a couple of years ago. It was a great show and Franken did a great job.

I am worried that being in show biz may be a negative for Franken. There are numerous stories about Franken during his SNL days using a significant amount of drugs. That may be used by the repugs to play to their religious base.

[undeterred]

17. My guess is that he would be forthright about it and just say so

unlike Clinton who didn't inhale
unlike Bush who can't talk about it because it would be a bad example

Its hardest to attack someone who owns up to it.

I believe he's been married to the same woman for 30 years. That's gotta be worth something.

[fob]

23. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't riff off of "I didn't inhale" and

joke it away since it's in the open and then turn to normie and say, "How 'bout you? You do much coke in the 70's, norm?"

normie would have to give a "political" answer and it'll be awesome.

[realFedUp]

18. Very. nt

[eyepaddle]

19. I think he's got a solid shot.

For a lot of obvious reasons,
people know who he is, he can rase money, he is a quick wit. He is NOT an idiot, when Normie goes to spew his tripe Al will nail him on it.

Minnesota has long had a tradition of electing semi-oddballs, (Jesse Ventura most famously--but Paul Wellstone most significantly) and I am pretty sure Coleman was on his way out to pasture when the death of Paul and some sickening manipulation of the memorial service granted him a reprieve. He still didn't win by a dramtatic margin.

Locally, while the pukes still control the state house they lost 13 seats in the last election, T-Paw's grovelling to the Taxpayer (evader's) leaugue is starting to unravel, with republicans crossing the aisle to vote for a badly needed increase in the gas tax, and I think that will just be a start really.

Watch the 2006 senate race, if the Dem's hold on to Dayton's seat I thnk Norm is all but finished. On a side note, I wonder how Coleman will react to being pastured, never has somebody so transparently and publicly whored his soul as he did when he switched to the rethug party. Enjoy that sideline you bastard.

[jeffgad]

21. Right on, eyepaddle. Garrison Keillor put it best when he called Norm

an "empty suit." I'm even more embarrassed that he's our senator than I was that Jesse was our governor. He's insincere, boring, and the consummate nerd. How is it that such an intellectually uninteresting ass-kisser can get elected? Oh yeah...I remember now...we're dealing with Republicans...