The American Spectator : Al in a Box

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Al in a Box

By Nicole Russell on 2.17.09 @ 6:07AM

Mr. Franken goes to Washington, to Florida, and pretty much everywhere else except Minnesota as a Senate seat hangs in the balance.

As the recount trial for Senator Norm Coleman and Al Franken heads into its fourth week, a few things are becoming clear: Al Franken doesn't have the bearing of a U.S. senator -- and he may not have the votes to become one either.

On Election Day, the Minnesota Senate race was in a dead heat. After a baffling and flawed recount which showed Al Franken ahead by a mere 225 votes, Senator Coleman and his team of legal experts brought the case to court. The Coleman camp must prove there were errors during the recount process. Franken must prove Coleman agreed to the vote-counting procedures during the recount and now must live with the consequences. Almost every day, the Coleman team makes progress in showing Franken may have declared victory too soon. On February 5, Anoka Country announced it discovered ballots that had never even been counted. Last week, a Dakota county official testified some absentee ballots were wrongly rejected. The list goes on.

One would think, given the progress of the trial, Franken would start acting more like a senator, not less, if only to look good in front of his would-be constituents. No such luck. When it appeared he was the winner, the eager comedian declared victory but took no questions from reporters. This disappearance from the media might have made more sense coming from Coleman, the apparent loser. Coming from the man who claimed to be senator-elect, it was inexplicable.

Franken jetted to Florida to enjoy a two-week vacation amid the sun and turf, while Minnesotans endured yet another biting cold winter. Perhaps Franken will start a new trend -- "Snowbirds for Senate" -- and he and other Democratic senators from the chilly Midwest can draw up bills and communicate with their constituents from West Palm Beach.

Yet Franken may be starting to feel the chill from his erstwhile allies in the local media. Esme Murphy, a reporter for the news channel WCCO and no right-winger, seemed genuinely annoyed he was blowing her and her colleagues off. She blogged she was "desperately seeking Al" and complained that he was soaking in the sun while people like her "have been freezing their butts off." She demanded, tongue in cheek: "I want to know, Al, what you are thinking. Norm Coleman has been around attending the trial, giving his opinions on anything people have asked him. I know because Coleman has gotten quite a bit of flak over an interview he did with me on Sunday. But at least he is out there, and I do think at this critical time people want to hear from the person who could be our next senator."

Maybe the media blackout is intentional, even as the election result hangs in limbo. Murphy asked one of Franken's staffers if they could sit down for a post-election chat. The staffer replied, "I think we are going to be putting Al back in the box for now."

The staffer's remark is as telling as it is humorous. Coleman for Senate spokesman Mark Drake thinks Franken's inaccessibility reflects the Democrat's indifference as much as a conscious strategy. After all, he has a tendency to be caught on tape behaving inappropriately. "Team Franken is obviously very concerned about how he is going to come across or what he's going to say. That's why they're keeping him 'in the box.'"

Though Murphy later added an update that Franken had given two interviews in the last week and a half, they were interviews with local Minnesota press in Washington, D.C. while Franken attended the inauguration. Not local interviews in Minnesota, where he would be in full view of his beloved constituents.

This is in stark contrast to Senator Coleman. Since the election, recount, and during the trial, he has been accessible and visible; he has granted interviews and attended the trial. In other words, he has behaved like someone running for the U.S. Senate -- and with the deportment of someone who would serve there.

In an interview with local political reporter, Tom Hauser, Coleman said, "Bottom line, let's count every validly cast vote. Figure out who the winner is, if it's me I go back to work, if it's Al Franken, he becomes a senator. I think Minnesotans deserve to get it right, I think we need to get it right."

Unfortunately, Al Franken doesn't see the need to get it right before a winner is crowned. Despite a full trial proceeding going on testing the results of the recount he thinks he won, he had the audacity to ask the Minnesota court to put him in the Senate before the outcome of the trial was determined -- while getting a tan in Florida. His request was dismissed, but not before another round of raspberries from the press.

Still, as of this writing, Franken has not attended the trial and mentioned in an interview last week that he "occasionally checks an online trial feed supplied by the UpTake [a liberal citizens news blog in Minnesota]" and finds it "entertaining."

The only comic relief everyone may find is the result of this trial, which may still turn in Coleman's favor. If it doesn't, Minnesotans may tire of a senator who is more interested in entertainment than statesmanship.

topics:
Al Franken

About the Author

Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (46) | Leave a comment

drudge ette obama| 2.17.09 @ 6:16AM

A coworker reminded me that Minnesota is prone to elect the oddballs. No one who has followed Al Franken, if that is admittable, can seriously state that he has sincere political goals other than to be the ugly voice of the left, like he has been the ugly voice of comedy. Flash in the pan comes to mind with him, but his rise gives me cause to shake my head in disbelief, which I seem to be doing a lot of lately.

pamlos| 2.17.09 @ 8:39AM

As a political canvasser for Obama/Franken in the very controversial 6th district in Minnesota, I listened first-hand to the sentiments of the general public at large. I am confident that just as I heard from the people directly in this district, Al Franken reflected sincerely and accurately all their hopes and dreams for themselves and how they wanted government to be run.

JohnnyB| 2.17.09 @ 9:57AM

Ditto to Pamlos. The 6 million plus plurality that elected a new government shows that the old, tired talking head, bullet pointed headed sound bite Republican pablum is a thing of the past. So is Norm Coleman. My advice to etta and their ilk: move on, the country is taking a new direction. Be part of it in a constructive way, rather than babbling right wing venom....

tonypal| 2.17.09 @ 10:14AM

JohnnyB:

For the past 8 years, did you treat Pres. Bush with respect, even though you disagreed with him? Considering you stated that ette was giving us "babbling right wing venom" simply for giving an opinion, consider the tone of the discussion from you and your liberal friends for the last 8 years and let us know whether you consider that to have been venomous. Just a reminder, among the many other wonderful things liberals had to say were comparisons of Pres. Bush to Hitler. Remember that? No venom there.

Also, why should us right wingers get involved in moving the country in a new direction if we disagree with that direction? According to liberals, dissent is patriotic. Is that still the case, or does the definition of patriotism change now that a democrat is president?

Dustoff| 2.17.09 @ 10:18AM

JohnnyB
that the old, tired talking head, bullet pointed headed sound bite Republican pablum is a thing of the past.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Such a odd statement. If you noticed all of Obama's people are former Clinton lackies, who made error after error during his term. Maybe you forgot, but Clinton years didn't turn around until after congess & senate change to REP.

Dustoff| 2.17.09 @ 10:26AM

Pamlos
Al Franken reflected sincerely and accurately all their hopes and dreams for themselves and how they wanted government to be run.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Really, so does that mean we can stop paying taxes like he did? He also had people working for him and he didn't pay for them either. What happen to the dem/lib saying about all people paying into the system?

Tim| 2.17.09 @ 10:29AM

Franken is a comedian no more no less.

Comedians serve us well in society because they make us laugh and keep us in good spirits.

Yes anyone has a right to run for elected office in the United States and yes anyone that wins should be allowed to serve.

But a crucial point in this case seems to be unfolding......As the trial drags on it is becoming clear that what many of us have suspected for months is actually true.

The Franken Camp played games with the vote count so that it would favor him and cheat Coleman.

It is one thing to have the right to run but it is quite another thing to win by not cheating.

After all we may be giving Federal money to Acorn, but we are not Venezuela.....not yet and therefore, Franken has got to play by the rules regardless how much the left loves him.

Marc Jeric| 2.17.09 @ 11:14AM

Our socialists and revolutionary marxists went through 8 years of hate and agony after their failed coup d'etat in Florida 2000 elections. But now they have the ACORN brownshirts with their phony voter registration drives, felonious vote counts, dead voters, and out-of-state busses full of their supporters voting under false addresses, and Democrat functionaries counting and discounting until the "right" vote is reached. Also the new porkulus bill will give them $5 billion to continue their "community organizer" work, especially as census "workers" using "statistical means" to compensate for "undercount of minorities".

Doctor Right| 2.17.09 @ 12:41PM

Al FRanken is not acting Senatorial because, in truth, he has no interest in the rudimentary functions of what "Senatorial" implies.

Like the "Apprentice-in-Chief" currently residing in (but hardly ever in) the White House, for Franken, it was all about "the show".

In other words, running for office was the real gig. It got him lots of much wanted attention and publicity (it's a narcissist's t thing...We wouldn't understand...), and gave him a platform to spew his idiotic views after the collapse of the poorly-conceived "Air America".

And now, like Obama, Franken must face-up to actually governing - something he has no experience and very little interest in doing.

Obama solves his problem by letting his dimwitted, Socialist brethren in the House and Senate write his "porkulus" bills while he jets off for another photo-op with the downtrodden, or goes on a 3-day vacation.

Like all limousine Libs, Franken hunkers down for the winter in his mansion in a warm-weather state
while his would-be constituency shivers in Minnesota.

This is the result of the merger of Hoillywood and Politics - all style, and no substance. And when the cameras aren't rolling, please, don't bother us with your innane questions about economics - I'm trying to get a tan, for pete's sake!

amsron| 2.17.09 @ 1:06PM

"baffling and flawed recount"?...well, I suppose it must have been confusing to you since the Florida Supreme Court didn't declare the voting over and award the election to Coleman right away.

Mike M.| 2.17.09 @ 1:24PM

As is typical of a liberal like "amsron," crying tears for the gypped Algore is a never ending story. It is only fair that Franken, Obama, and whichever Democrat cheat because of the evil W., isn't it??

daddio| 2.17.09 @ 1:56PM

What does "acting Senatorial" mean anyway?

amsron| 2.17.09 @ 2:50PM

Mike M. , you're so wrong. I'm a Republican and have been registered as such since I came of age. As for the term liberal, I laugh at your simplistic message of hate. As for Coleman, Franken, and Gore...I hope that this won't come down to something like the travesty in 2000 but undoubtedly that's not important. The delay, deny and destroy tactics of the Neo-Cons are all that matters. They'll have us all living in Potter's Field if we let them. If you think I'm wrong, that's ok. You're probably still listening to Rush and O'Reilly so you haven't had an original thought since 1995.

Dean Vander Linde| 2.17.09 @ 3:11PM

To use a phrase from one of my favorite films, "Office Space," Al Franken is a "no talent ass clown." He is obnoxious, boorish, tasteless, and repugnant. He would be a fine addition to the Democrat caucus in the Senate. God save us from his ilk!

Dustoff| 2.17.09 @ 3:15PM

amsron
+++++++++++

I'm just wondering, what does Rush and Neo-con's have anything to do with each other.?

PS. I don't want your opinon, just facts.

Osamas Pajamas| 2.17.09 @ 3:26PM

If Al Franken were installed as Senator, he would be "The Mistake of '08" but for the fact that OhBummer has already won that distinction.

Doctor Right| 2.17.09 @ 4:20PM

@ daddio

"What does 'acting Senatorial' mean anyway?"

- daddio

I dunno. Good question. It sounded goood, though, didn't it??

Actually, I think I meant to imply that it means "comporting yourself with the dignity and seriousness that is associated with the office."

And then I remembered that Harry Reid is the Senate Majority Leader...

...So I guess that dignity and seriousness are out the window...

Oh well...Like I said, it sounded good.

Doctor Right| 2.17.09 @ 4:23PM

@ amsron

So you're embittered by the 'travesty of 2000" and all those nasty "neo-cons" [codeword- JEWS!], right..?

And...You're a Republican..?

Yeah...Riiiiiiiight.

Go sell crazy someplace else, jack-off...We're all stocked up here.

drudge ette obama| 2.17.09 @ 5:33PM

What I neglected to say in my initial post is that the co-worker is a Moveon liberal who himself is not impressed with Al baby.

ruth| 2.17.09 @ 6:52PM

Pamlos, JohnnyB and amsron--good little ACORN workers, all.

Sharon J| 2.17.09 @ 7:26PM

AL Franken is an idiot. Just as Obama is a thug and the rest of the government in Washington. They do not pay their taxes rob the american people blind. Oh Obama screamed for months about GW Bush and the secret dealing and how he was going to be transparent and put legislation on line where the American people can what is happening and then gets on TV and states we are in a collapse and we have to pass this bill Nancy Pelosi goes to Italy and Obama goes to Chicago and does not sign it for 3 days. What is wrong with this picture. THUGS

S.L. Toddard| 2.17.09 @ 7:40PM

Al Franken should have been the Joker in the Dark Knight. Never mind, the Joker is smart, funny, unpredictable, nobody's puppet, tough, without an agenda and without hate for any class in particular. Definitely not a libturd. Not a nice guy, mind you, but a hundred times more decent than trash like Franken-stein.

Savvy Media| 2.17.09 @ 11:08PM

Get ready for more clones of "amsron". The move is already underway to use the Obama database, enhanced with hit Googley-tech disciples to target Republican or conservative websites with their bleeting from "imposters" acting as Republicans. The Pelosi-Reid-Obama
followers practice their Alinskyite tactics of disnformation and deceit. We must target and eliminate them.

ruth| 2.17.09 @ 11:09PM

Brilliant, Mr. Toddard! You've seen the Conservative light!!

ruth| 2.17.09 @ 11:16PM

Savvy, where've you been? Since AmSpecBlog's beginning we have been graced by the estimable Alinsky acolytes: Roush, Obomber Rules, Intergroper, Jeremiah, SL Toddard (sometimes), Baz, Boozer, JAX, etc. Your warning is a little late, but thanks anyway.

Michael L. Hauschild| 2.18.09 @ 5:44AM

Acting Senatorial means giving you “advice” and then “consenting” to do what the “Distinguished” deem beltway. Somehow the representative “Republic” has strayed from the premise of the “will of the electorate.” The RNC and their new chair should advocate the denegation of Spector, Snowe, and Collins to rank and file, remove them from all committee positions and body functions other than the simple vote they seem to relish in the spotlight. Somehow being a traitor to your party’s principles has equated to “bipartisanship.” The GOP should dust off the “Remember the Maine" and the “Spector of defeat” battle cries. Had it not been for those three a filibuster could have been mustered and given everyone time to take a long look at the “contract with socialism.”

tony| 2.18.09 @ 8:49AM

Franken deserves a Senate seat as much as Øbama deserved the White House. Neither one is qualified. Neither one has the best interests of the US at heart.

Franken is merely a buffoon; Øbama is nothing more than a puppet. It's the people pulling the strings that we need to take notice of (Soros, Strong, et al). Their intent is to eliminate the "problematic affluent middle class".

Get your torches and pitchforks ready.

Tom Black| 2.18.09 @ 10:31AM

Al Franken, like Barack Obama, is evidence of a disturbing trend among voters: Their noggins are chock-full of an insipid mentality that soaks up the toxic stew of politicians as celebrities/celebrity worship/American Idol/Hollywood airheads/news as entertainment, etc.

The thought that 50 percent of the voters could actually think a mean-spirited, petty jerk like Franken ought to serve as a U.S. Senator illustrates how far we've fallen.

And all of this whining about "obstructionist" Republicans without principle who are only trying to thwart Obama's agenda, well, let's just say it's hard to cozy up with the folks who called your leader Hitler, a Nazi, a fascist, an idiot, et al for eight years.

I criticized Bush for many things, but voted for him because I perceived him to be the lesser of two evils, both in 2000 and in 2004. (I voted Libertarian in 2008, because I'm no fan of McCain).

I disagree with Obama on many issues, believe him to be intelligent but naive and misguided, and utterly lacking in the experience to be President. But I promise, I will never use ugly pejoratives to describe him. And I would ask those who call themselves conservatives to do the same, lest we wallow in the same odious compost pile of hatred and wrath the leftists have inhabited for far too long.

amsron| 2.18.09 @ 11:03AM

DUSTOFF
**********
What do Rush and the Neo-Cons have to do with each other? Hmmm....Nothing, but I've never understood what Rush has to do with anything. Back when he was "aborting" callers I realized that he was an attention grabbing idiot and as time went on I realized he is also a coward. He never DEBATES issues with other "experts" and so hasn't even the guts of a traditional talking head. His points are often made with circular logic (Soldiers like ketchup, you don't like ketchup, therfore you don't support our troops.)
If you want proof that God has a sense of humor, he made Rush, the man who never listens to anyone, unable to hear anyone.

amsron| 2.18.09 @ 11:07AM

Doctor Right

Sorry if I offended you, but keep the conversation polite, please. The point was to expose the bias of Russell's prose, not make people like you even crazier than you already are.

amsron| 2.18.09 @ 11:27AM

Savvy Media-"We must target and eliminate them. "

Thank you for proving my point. I'm am a real Republican but you're not. You're a Fascist. People like Savvy Media are ready to violently attack people who don't think like they do. That leads to little things like Civil Wars, dictatorships and holocausts. Crawl back under your rock, please.

...and what the heck is a Googley-tech disciple?

Frosty| 2.18.09 @ 1:55PM

Liberal troll, amsron/Savvy Media, George Soros is calling you. You've been bought and paid for--please leave. You true blue, real republican, you.

Kat| 2.18.09 @ 2:03PM

Tom, what ugly pejoratives? You mean vicious terms like 'BusHitler' that liberals bleated for over 7 years? I haven't seen any--please advise.

amsron| 2.18.09 @ 3:17PM

Frosty - What the heck are you trying to say? Are you mentally deficient?

Frosty| 2.18.09 @ 6:00PM

No, I'm saying you're just another liberal whore bought and paid for by Soros. You're not welcome here, troll. I typed it slowly so that your simple mind could understand it: Publik skool education and all.

amsron| 2.18.09 @ 8:53PM

Frosty---You can't fool me. You have to type slowly so you can mouth the words.

Frosty| 2.18.09 @ 10:57PM

Funny, troll, funny. Go back under your rock with Soros.

amsron| 2.19.09 @ 9:44AM

I'm out in the sunshine...of truth.

Frosty| 2.19.09 @ 1:50PM

Stupid liberal (pleonasm), you wouldn't know truth if it bit you on the buns. Your Obamassiah can't even fill his cabinet because there's so much corruption in your nasty party. LOL

amsron| 2.19.09 @ 6:54PM

Calm down, Frosty. I'm still not a liberal and I would think even you would be having 2nd thoughts about the GOP after the last 8 years. Maybe that's why you're so angry. Just take your meds and go back to bed. Pleaonasm means using more than one word to say the same thing. Does Frosty fool count?

Frosty| 2.19.09 @ 8:17PM

That's right, redundancy; as in stupid liberal, tool.

amsron| 2.20.09 @ 3:56PM

Wow. You're really amazing...in a low, mean sort of way.

Frosty| 2.21.09 @ 2:38AM

Thanks! Coming from you--that's a compliment. Toodles, libtard.

amsron| 2.23.09 @ 2:52PM

Sorry for the delay in insults. Go away, Troll.

Frosty| 2.23.09 @ 11:30PM

I'm sure you've been slow your whole life, Assron. Short bus and all.

S.L. Toddard| 3.13.09 @ 11:35AM

FYI - The person posting with my name in this thread is NOT me. It's the same troll who does this with other people's usernames. I haven't posted at this site since late January.