Last Resort Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Comedian Al Franken said Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2008, confirming his long-suspected plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Franken's announcement came on the final day of his radio show on Air America. The former "Saturday Night Live" performer's celebrity instantly makes him a heavyweight contender and brings national attention to the Minnesota race. "Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I'm asking you to give me," Franken said in a video clip posted on his Web site. "I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously," Franken said in a transcript of the clip. Though Franken has a well-known name and is likely to be well-funded, he's expected to be challenged by several other Democrats, including wealthy trial attorney Mike Ciresi. Franken, 55, was born in New York City but grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973, and in 1975 he and writing partner Tom Davis joined the writing staff of "Saturday Night Live" during its first season. They soon started appearing in sketches, and Franken remained a fixture on the show well into the 1990s. In 1996 Franken took his career in a political direction when he wrote "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations," a broadside against the conservative radio host and other figures on the right. He's since published several other books critical of Republicans and the conservative establishment. As early as 2003, Franken said he was considering a run for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat previously held by his friend, the late Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone. In 2004 Franken joined the upstart liberal radio network Air America as its biggest-name host. He soon got more directly involved in politics, forming a political action committee that raised more than $1 million for Democratic candidates in the last election cycle. In 2005, Franken and his wife, Franni, moved back to the Twin Cities, which was widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a campaign. He announced a few weeks ago that Wednesday would be his last day on Air America, but continued to play coy about his aspirations while privately telling prominent DFLers about his plans to run. Franken is stringing out his announcement over two days — Wednesday's announcement, and a scheduled first public appearance as a candidate Thursday morning at a clinic in south Minneapolis. In his Web site message, Franken acknowledges he's not a "typical politician." But he stresses his Minnesota roots, talking about his father's decision to open a quilting factory in Albert Lea that failed after two years, prompting the family's move to the Twin Cities. "I grew up in a hard-working middle class family just like many of yours. And as a middle-class kid growing up in Minnesota back then, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. And I was." Franken's celebrity is likely to give him an edge over other Democrats in getting attention, but is no guarantee he'll get past the primary. Besides Ciresi, other names mentioned as potential candidates include state senators Tarryl Clark, Mee Moua and Tom Bakk, and state Rep. Joe Atkins. Franken's candidacy will also test whether Minnesotans are in the mood for another celebrity-cum-politician, after the 1999-2003 governship of former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura. Ventura's fame and occasionally outrageous behavior regularly brought national attention to the state but after a while wore on the patience of many Minnesotans. Coleman defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale in 2002 just a few weeks after the plane crash that killed the incumbent Wellstone. Coleman is viewed as vulnerable after several years of Democratic resurgence in Minnesota and the continued unpopularity of his fellow Republican President Bush, but his proven skills as a campaigner and adept fundraiser make him a formidable opponent. Franken has had little good to say about his potential opponent. In his latest book, "The Truth (with jokes)," he criticized Coleman in not-so-flattering terms for his former chairmanship of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. "The subcommittee's chairman, Minnesota Republican Norman Coleman, is one of the administration's leading butt boys," Franken wrote. "He hasn't held a single hearing on postwar corruption." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mochief Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 i am sooooooooo sorry for ya'll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Comedian Al Franken said Wednesday ... First line of that article says it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maninbox Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 (edited) Great news. Al Franken is my kind of politician and he would get my vote if I lived in his state. Edited February 14, 2007 by maninbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 (edited) Great news. Al Franken is my kind of politician and he would get my vote if I lived in his state. Yeah we know - he is trying to Gerrymander your type over there - from here. Edited February 14, 2007 by Blackdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOE Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 al franken a U S senator, now that is a joke. sadly it is also a possibility Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Hilliary did it and didn't even live in the state, and the Yankee fans re-elected her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallRider Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Let me get this straight . . . in a country that has elected a former actors as gov in California (not once but twice). . . a member of the Love Boat crew in I forget what state . . . and a professional wrestler as gov in Minnesota . . . you guys are suprised that a political satirist is running for Senate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Let me get this straight . . . in a country that has elected a former actors as gov in California (not once but twice). . . a member of the Love Boat crew in I forget what state . . . and a professional wrestler as gov in Minnesota . . . you guys are suprised that a political satirist is running for Senate? Rep. Fred Grandy (R-IA) At least I think he was a Republican. Part of the Class of '94, IIRC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eraserhead Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Don't forget that guy from Law & Order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eraserhead Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Don't forget that guy from Law & Order Fred Thompson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallRider Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Thank you Robert and Harvey . . . I rest my case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Courtesy Wikipedia Alan Autry (Mayor of Fresno, California) Raj Bhakta (Candidate for U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania) Sonny Bono (U.S. Representative, California) Shirley Temple Black (U.S. diplomat) Clint Eastwood (Mayor of Carmel, California) Helen Gahagan (U.S. Representative, California) John Gavin (U.S. diplomat) Fred Grandy (U.S. Representative, Iowa) Ben Jones (U.S. Congressman, Fourth District of Georgia; Two terms) Sheila Kuehl (California State Senator) Nancy Kulp (unsuccessful Democratic nominee for U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania) Robert Montgomery George Murphy (U.S. Senator, California) Steve Peace (actor, often billed as J. Stephen Peace; former CA senator; Appeared in several films including 1978's Attack of the Killer Tomatoes) Ronald Reagan (Governor of California, U.S. President) Arnold Schwarzenegger (Governor of California) Fred Thompson (U.S. Senator, Tennessee) Jesse Ventura (Governor of Minnesota) Frank Britton Wenzel (Mayor of Malverne, New York) Little more to the point. The following list is dated by some years but I figger that although names may change, the stats won't change much Congress: * 29 have been accused of spousal abuse * 7 have been arrested for fraud * 19 have been accused of writing bad checks * 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses * 3 have done time for assault * 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit * 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges * 8 have been arrested for shoplifting * 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits * 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Pop, why do you have ta bring up my rap sheet every time ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Pop, why do you have ta bring up my rap sheet every time ? Pete I thought is wuz only 83. You went out last weekend didn't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleynot Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 It gets better, W and his brother were responsible for the bombing of the world trade center buildings. I see Al Franken bumper stickers on the cars that honk at me ONLY because I'm still running California license plates! They really just want to be like Cali, but won't say it outloud! Real estate, taxes, laws, whatever california does they try and emulate. Al Franken's radio program filing bankruptcy last month was not widely reported. Wonder why? Probably because W made a call. News reports and politicians discuss the west coast on a daily basis around here. Up Tight and Pissy ! Describes Minneapolis folks anyway......... My 2 cents..... HARLEYNOT.........or ever again....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zit Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 It gets better, W and his brother were responsible for the bombing of the world trade center buildings. I see Al Franken bumper stickers on the cars that honk at me ONLY because I'm still running California license plates! They really just want to be like Cali, but won't say it outloud! Real estate, taxes, laws, whatever california does they try and emulate. Al Franken's radio program filing bankruptcy last month was not widely reported. Wonder why? Probably because W made a call. News reports and politicians discuss the west coast on a daily basis around here. Up Tight and Pissy ! Describes Minneapolis folks anyway......... My 2 cents..... HARLEYNOT.........or ever again....... yeah, right...you've never been east of hwy 100! come over to saint paul..where we're all safe and saneish... we get to choose from franken, to our old mayor, and bostonian, and party jumpin pal coleman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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