SNL Senator ?

[kuranes]

I wonder how he'll do ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6364345.stm

[Rhu]

I read this story years ago (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Me-Al-Franken/dp/0141018429/sr=8-1/qid=1171557370/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9559626-2643633?ie=UTF8&s=books). ;)

[kuranes]

I read this story years ago (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Me-Al-Franken/dp/0141018429/sr=8-1/qid=1171557370/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9559626-2643633?ie=UTF8&s=books). ;)

Ha Ha. I'm looking forward to it.

[C.J.Woolf]

I expect Al Franken will be a worthy successor to Paul Wellstone. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat.

[Prothero]

The voters might be reluctant to choose a radical (left or right) celebrity. It would be hard (read: impossible) for Al Franken to pretend to be a moderate. He probably wouldn't be willing to act the part, and no one would believe him if he did. Jesse Ventura became our Governor and now it's hard to find anyone who will admit they voted for him.

[C.J.Woolf]

The voters might be reluctant to choose a radical (left or right) celebrity. It would be hard (read: impossible) for Al Franken to pretend to be a moderate.
If I was advising Franken I'd tell him to hammer his opponent as a radical. Since a smart Democrat will tie his/her opponent to the anchor that is Bush, it shouldn't be hard. Besides, Minnesota is a progressive state; Franken's positions are moderate there.

[sorabji_66]

please, no more of this unfunny bore.

[Prothero]

If I was advising Franken I'd tell him to hammer his opponent as a radical. Since a smart Democrat will tie his/her opponent to the anchor that is Bush, it shouldn't be hard. Besides, Minnesota is a progressive state; Franken's positions are moderate there.

Good advice, but first he has to convince the Democrats that he can beat Norm Coleman. For a progressive state, which it is, initial polls are already indicating that Franken will probably be a long shot. He might convince the party he can do it, but he seems to ignore how they already have their favorite sons and daughters to consider.
He is also starting off wrong by admitting that he will make mistakes because he has no experience. Voters here aren't foolish enough to trust politicians, but they always maintain some hope. The excuses should come later, not before.

It will be interesting.

[C.J.Woolf]

I'm on the outside looking in, so everything I say is likely to be wishful thinking.

Okay, having gotten that out of the way...

1. He's a long shot now. Jim Webb was a long shot six months before the 2006 election. Republican incumbents are vulnerable. Bush's obstinacy and the GOP's refusal to repudiate him means Democrats can run against him in 2008 as in 2006.

2. Celebrity candidates have the advantage of already having name recognition without being just another politician.

3. I'm really stretching here... Isn't it true that Paul Wellstone would have kicked Norm Coleman's ass had he not died just before the election? People loved Wellstone. And I for one am still pissed that the Coleman campaign used Wellstone's funeral for a political smear. I believe Franken could benefit by claiming Wellstone's mantle. If any candidate can capture the thoughtfulness, the anger, the hope, and the love that Wellstone brought to politics, then that candidate will win.



In case you hadn't noticed, politics brings out my Fe big time. :whistle:

[omnirook]

I'm on the outside looking in, so everything I say is likely to be wishful thinking.

Okay, having gotten that out of the way...

1. He's a long shot now. Jim Webb was a long shot six months before the 2006 election. Republican incumbents are vulnerable. Bush's obstinacy and the GOP's refusal to repudiate him means Democrats can run against him in 2008 as in 2006.

2. Celebrity candidates have the advantage of already having name recognition without being just another politician.

3. I'm really stretching here... Isn't it true that Paul Wellstone would have kicked Norm Coleman's ass had he not died just before the election? People loved Wellstone. And I for one am still pissed that the Coleman campaign used Wellstone's funeral for a political smear. I believe Franken could benefit by claiming Wellstone's mantle. If any candidate can capture the thoughtfulness, the anger, the hope, and the love that Wellstone brought to politics, then that candidate will win.



In case you hadn't noticed, politics brings out my Fe big time. :whistle:

Wellstone would have won by a wide margin. The conspiracy theory folks were quick to point this out when Wellstone was killed. Choosing Mondale to take his place was a stupid mistake. Mondale had LOST a presidential race, and the American public is made up of half-wits: once a loser, always a loser.

(This wasn't always the case in the past, no - people lost elections and ran again and won. Lincoln is a good example. But nowadays, no, happens only rarely, as when the previously defeated Guiliani won in New York against Dinkens - but Dinkens was black, which turned whites out in record numbers to vote against him. Only those whites w/a direct tie to John Gotti voted for Dinkens: Gotti had paid to put up "Vote for Dinkens" posters all over south Queens, one of the few white areas that Dinkens did take. What really hurt Dinkens was losing the hispanic vote and losing a huge chunk of his base, the black vote. That Dinkens had been fair, had kept his word that he would be everyone's mayor, had pissed off the black community no end. I voted for Dinkens. I thought that he was a good mayor, and I'm willing to argue at length as to why he was a good mayor, starting w/how he had taken over a city that was bankrupt and had left it well w/in the black and how Guiliani reversed that and left the city drowning in red ink. The Republicans are so full of shit when it comes to their fiscal responsibility claims that I could tear my hair out if I get worked up about it! The mother-fuckers are the worst wastrels when it comes to money, get away w/it because they are willing to cut the throats of poor people, appealing to the simple-minded working slobs who resent anyone getting government help, who never realize that welfare for the rich outweighs any crumbs that were ever tossed to the poor by the ton to the crumb.)

I don't see Franken getting elected. The Republicans will play the liberal card openly; somehow or another, they will also play the Jew card.

[C.J.Woolf]

I don't see Franken getting elected. The Republicans will play the liberal card openly; somehow or another, they will also play the Jew card.
I'm pretty sure Wellstone was a Jew, and he was an outspoken liberal.

[Ferrus]

Didn't Jerry Spinger make a similar bid?

[NoahFence]

I just want to see Al Franken in debates. He'll fucking shred anyone whose distant ancestors resembled corporate lackeys.

[omnirook]

I'm pretty sure Wellstone was a Jew, and he was an outspoken liberal.

Yes - he was. But he was married to a Christian and allowed his children to be raised Christian. In a congressional race, Wellstone's Jewish opponent made the mistake of accusing Wellstone of being a "bad Jew" - Wellstone responded by simply saying that his opponent had "a problem w/Christians." Wellstone won. The fact that he was a non-practicing Jew was always quietly spread about in his campaigns ... Yes, Franken is also married to a Christian, and his children are being raised in both faiths - but Franken has been a lot more "openly Jewish" than Wellstone ever was - and the Republicans no doubt will see the huge rise in anti-semitism around the world in the last decade as an oppurtunity to play the Jew card.

EDIT - addendum - Oh, yeah, Wellstone was not nearly as caustic a liberal as Franken ... Don't get me wrong. I like Al Franken and have listened to his show on Air America - I think he does far more as a commentator than he will as an office holder.

[NoahFence]

Don't get me wrong. I like Al Franken and have listened to his show on Air America - I think he does far more as a commentator than he will as an office holder.

I think what this country needs now is some office-holding commentators who aren't afraid to say that the emperor has no fucking clothes on.

[omnirook]

I think what this country needs now is some office-holding commentators who aren't afraid to say that the emperor has no fucking clothes on.

Could be. I don't think so - but it could be ... There's a difference between being in opposition and being in power that doesn't lend itself to too much outspoken criticism. An outspoken Frank in office might make good reading in the news, but his constituents will suffer, will pay a heavy price after he has been frozen out by even the Democrats in Washington. Barney Frank gets a lot done for his home base simply by speaking softly and by being polite even to the people he knows hate him most. To be effective, Franken would have to drop most of what has made him popular - his willingness to call others on their lying, their greed, their hypocrisy. That will hurt his reputation. If he sticks to his pattern of being unflinchingly critical of the establishment, the establishment will be out to get him - and they will. They always do.

[NoahFence]

If he sticks to his pattern of being unflinchingly critical of the establishment, the establishment will be out to get him - and they will. They always do.

A better reason to BECOME the establishment, I have never heard!

These guys aren't invulnerable. The only reason anyone thinks they are is because they're pretty good at convincing people they are. Same as any schoolyard bully, anywhere, ever.

[omnirook]

A better reason to BECOME the establishment, I have never heard!

These guys aren't invulnerable. The only reason anyone thinks they are is because they're pretty good at convincing people they are. Same as any schoolyard bully, anywhere, ever.

Like I said - could be ... but I doubt it ... Hey, you could be right. Franken getting elected will either change everything or nothing - let him try, good luck to him, and good luck to him if he gets in.

[booyalab]

i hate that man. i'm embarrassed that we're from the same state.

[Prothero]

Minnesota continues to be #1 in two important areas. We have the highest voter turnout, and we produce the most turkeys. Sometimes it's difficult to notice a difference.

[Zergling]

Minnesota continues to be #1 in two important areas. We have the highest voter turnout, and we produce the most turkeys. Sometimes it's difficult to notice a difference.

If Al Franken gets elected you will be about even with California for recent entertainment people getting elected (Minn: Franken +Ventura, Cal: Shwartzenegger 9probably spelled wrong), Reagan.)

[booyalab]

Minnesota continues to be #1 in two important areas. We have the highest voter turnout, and we produce the most turkeys. Sometimes it's difficult to notice a difference.

actually i would have slightly preferred Ventura as a senator than I would Franken. Like Ventura, Franken would be more known for what he'd say than what he'd do, but I agreed with some of the things Ventura said. I also found some of the things he said to be laughable, but to a lesser degree than Franken, who is a liberal Ann Coulter minus the knowledge and experience.

[kuranes]

who is a liberal Ann Coulter minus the knowledge and experience.
Who would have thought she'd be a Grateful Dead fan, according to the Wikipedia. =))

[C.J.Woolf]

Who would have thought she'd be a Grateful Dead fan, according to the Wikipedia. =))
Better add to booya's list, "...and cognitive dissonance."

[dubbeltop]

SNL Senator ?

When comedians run for office I always think of Charly Chaplin.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

[booyalab]

Who would have thought she'd be a Grateful Dead fan, according to the Wikipedia. =))

She's also friends with Bill Maher. Maybe it's not cognitive dissonance. Maybe the people who villanize her are just overreacting and hyper emotional.

[kuranes]

I think she must love being villainized. Like Paris Hilton "disliking" the attention she gets from negative things which happen to her. If its an act, though, then she can chuckle with others who are also in "show biz".