Help me get more positive about Franken's U.S. Senate run.

[northernsoul]

Guys, I would rather eat out of the biohazard buckets from a plasma donation center than endure another six years of Norm Coleperson pretending to represent the great state of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. I hate that creature with the white-hot intensity of a thousand angry suns. This is personal for me.

But... I'm having a very difficult time getting psyched-up for Franken's senate run. I was originally a Ciresi guy (good gravy, what would I give to see one of the best trial attorneys of a generation slice-and-dice his way through Coleperson's stuffed suit in a public debate... sigh). But that didn't work out, and Franken is now the man of the hour. I don't dislike Franken or anything, but I'm having a hard time getting fired up over him. I'm going to pull the lever for him, and I'll probably send him some $$$, but I'm just not feeling fire right now.

So help a fellow MinneDUer out, gimme some positive reasons to really go to bat for Franken.

[goodhue]

1. He is our DFL endorsed candidate.

eom

[kickysnana]

4. So was Moe. n/t

[scarletwoman]

2. Sorry, can't help you. I never wanted Franken as our candidate, & I have a very bad feeling about

our chances to defeat Coleman in November.

I'm holding onto the faint hope that a better DFLer will step up and challenge him in the September primary.

If not, I'll of course vote for Franken in the general election. But to me, choosing Franken as the DFL Senate candidate smacks of the same kind of DFL boneheadness that picked Roger Moe over Becky Lourey in the 2002 gubenatorial election. Remember how well that worked out?

Bah. I really don't want to end up having to holding my tongue over the "I told you so" I'm going to be thinking after Coleman handily wins re-election.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only unhappy Minnesotan, though.

sw

[FutureDemocrat]

13. I am also unhappy with Franken

Honestly, I think we've already lost this one. He's still got my (reluctant) vote, though, I guess.

I'll take the advice of another poster on here and get excited about El Tinklenberg! I'm hoping Bachman is defeated in a landslide.

[FutureDemocrat]

14. Also, I'm mad that we'll probably lose. Senate seats are too important!

Stupid Franken.

[Eric J in MN]

3. If you're not enthusiastic about Franken, then maybe...

...you should find a US House candidate you can get enthusiastic about.

I like Franken's postions for Net Neutrality and against the Bankruptcy Bill.

But each of us doesn't have to be enthusiastic over each Democratic candidate.

[PleaseSayItAintSo]

5. I was a JNP Alternate at the State Convention

I understand your hesitance. But for that damned illusive second-ballot ...

However, immediately after Jack's gracious concession speech, I went to the Franken table, snagged a few buttons, and pinned one on my Madia tee-shirt.

I don't feel excited about Al, but come November, I'm voting for any name with a (D) behind it - as I have done my entire voting life.

I feel the stakes are so incredibly high this election, that it is incumbent on me to work for EVERY Democratic candidate and I'm going to give it my all.

Is Coleman more progressive than Franken? We know the answer to that question.

I'm "fired up and ready to go" to elect Dems up and down the ballot and that fact alone makes me an enthusiastic supporter of Franken.

Hope to see you soon at a campaign event.

[wellstone dem]

8. I was a JNP delegate and

after the endorsement, I shed a few tears and then I took off my JNP button, put on a Franken button, and as soon as I got home I signed up online for Team Franken, and made my first donation.

This is too important. I am very willing to work hard to see Franken beat Coleman. He wasn't my first choice, but he is now.

[dflprincess]

6. Have you read his books?

or did you listen to his show when it was on?

I'm not dancing in the streets over Franken, but he does know his stuff. And, I don't think comparing him to Moe is quite right. Moe got the endorsement and pretty much disappeared. I didn't get a single phone call or piece of literature from his campaign after he was endorsed. Franken has the money and I'm guessing he'll keep campaigning the way he has the last year or so.

I'll take Franken over Ciresi. Ciresi is smart and I'm surprised he didn't do better, but I think Franken is a tad more progressive (though not nearly as progressive as JNP - it just breaks my heart that he didn't get the endorsement).

[djkevvy]

7. Go Al!

1. He has an extremely well-run campaign. I've been volunteering for Al and was on the floor team for the state convention. His campaign is a well-oiled machine, and very much grassroots oriented.

2. He is a fundraising machine, pulling in donations from all around the country.

3. He is a brilliant man, Harvard grad, great memory, and a sponge for knowledge.

4. He has made a career out of uncovering the BS that goes on on the right side.

5. Franni!

6. He is a champion of Democratic ideals, especially labor, education, and alternative energy.

7. He can draw a map of the United States in a matter of minutes. (Seriously, YouTube it...)

8. He is a great speaker, can command an audience, and can show some teeth when he needs to.

[Mister Ed]

9. I think his heart is in the right place and he really cares about people.

I think that's what motivates him to do what he's been doing since - well, since Paul Wellstone died.

And this is coming from a JNP supporter.

[cynthia]

10. Al Franken is smart

My teenagers have only know the idiot Bush and his minions like Coleman. One of them said to me during the 2006 election season, "I think that we should only elect the smartest people" Out of the mouths of babes


If you have listened to Al's show, read his books or listened to him speak, you know that he is one intelligent guy. And we really need smart people to go to Washington, do the research and make good decisions on our behalf.

More than that we need people who really care. I have seen and heard Al get choked up talking about our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the soldiers recovering in places like Walter Reed. For him it is not about getting out of Iraq because peace is better than war, we need to get out of Iraq because it is the wrong place for our soldiers to be, because they are our brothers, sons, sisters, daughters and they are dying needlessly. Al is a genuine human being. I can trust him to make tough decisions because he cares about people (more than he cares about power, money or his ego)

And then there's Franni. She's wonderful. And he is devoted to her. And if she thinks he's decent enough to stay with him all these years, then I trust her judgment, and I think he must be great too.

Watch him, listen to him, read his books. Then send him money.

[lojasmo]

11. Read his books, see him speak, and meet him.

You'll be fine. Al is a GREAT guy, and has done a TON of work for the DFL since he came back to Minnesota.

Seriously...meet him.

[loveable liberal]

12. I love Al!

What's not to like? The real campaign hasnt even started. Just because he's not out in force with an "in your face" type of campaign yet doesnt mean he doenst have it in him. It is way early yet and this is a long haul. Al will win your heart with his personality and his genuine heart. Norm doesnt know a thing about being genuine, he has won his seat by default and when the word starts getting out about him being a womanizer and a water-carrier, Al will pick him apart using facts and humor. I cant wait to vote!