How about a little Al Franken love tonight?

[Brigid]

Lots of talk around here about Barney Frank, Alan Grayson, Sherrod Brown, and Elizabeth Warren, and rightly so -- but how about Senator All Franken? It's true he shuns the limelight, and doesn't seem interested in running for higher office, but how about a little DU love for him?

[sarisataka]

1. That's my Senator

and always willing to put in a good word for him. He does a lot of work and is happy letting other get the lion's share of the credit.

[mac56]

7. mine too

[SomeGuyInEagan]

23. Me, too. Wish we had another like him n/t

[yonder]

40. I'll trade you two

Mike Crapos and Jim Rischs for one Al Franken. I'll even throw in a Simpson and Labradour. That would certainly sour the deal.

Senator Frank Church (RIP) was our state's last great senator. Gosh, I miss that man. You and your fellow Minnesotan's are fortunate indeed.

[sarisataka]

51. No thank you

Bachman is in an adjacent district so I hear far too much of her verbal diarrhea...

[NYC_SKP]

2. Love him!

Al Franken, one of US!

[99Forever]

3. Indeed.

Our Senator Al is one of the good ones, for sure.

[gateley]

4. We DO love him! I was saying he should have been the host at the WHCD!

He's an incredibly good guy.

[freshwest]

33. That would be awesome. He's sharp. has great delivery and a sense of humor for any event.

[Mister Ed]

5. Mighty proud that he's my senator.

It takes some of the sting out of having been (mis)represented in the House for years by Michele Bachmann.

[NBachers]

6. I remember him holding incredible grace during the drawn-out Norm Coleman vote count

and I remember how pumped I was when Al went over the top. In a monumental election, Al Franken was the icing on the cake. A hard-working Senator, to be sure. I love the emails from Al and Franni.

[joanbarnes]

8. Brilliant man, read his books.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. That's my Senator, and I love him.

I don't think he wants to run for higher office, and I'm happy to have him stay in the Senate.

[Marie Marie]

10. He is a rare breed.

He is doing his job for all the right reasons and is never one to jump before the cameras for the glory or the limelight. Glad he is in the Senate and I still miss his radio show on Air America. I learned a lot from his show.

[SheilaT]

11. I've met him at once at some public event

before he ran for office. He was gracious and kind, and I could move to Minnesota just to have him as my senator. Actually, I've lived in Minnesota, and I love that state. It looks as if my life will not take me back there, alas.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

12. LOVE, Love, love, Al Franken

He's been my guru since "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations" in 1995. He's got my allegiance and my donations when affordable.

[freshwest]

34. +1

[mountain grammy]

13. Not my Senator, but still love him.

[pacalo]

14. I like him so much, I'm on his mailing list.

Al Franken's a keeper, Minnesotans!

[Arctic Dave]

15. My Al Franken love.

This is on my mantel.

[Unca Jim]

16. I have heard the rumor that they are planning to run...

Jason Lewis, the idiot talk show host, against him.

Please?

[Tree-Hugger]

17. Love him. nt

[RoccoRyg]

18. Love Al

His books are what got me into politics in the first place. In fact, he autographed my copy of Lies and the Lying Liars when I snuck up on him at a Democratic Party event in Springfield, IL. It's my prized possession.

[libodem]

19. Dearly love him

And loved his book about the lying liars.

[MineralMan]

20. One of my senators. He's great, and I'll work hard to

get him re-elected, too.

[Festivito]

21. He's hiding too much. We're in need of someone to unravel the issues for us...

He's great at that, but he hides behind a curtain whispering to others behind that same curtain.

If he doesn't want to dominate the Sunday talk shows, fine. Have him insist that he gets to bring a friend on each time. The networks could use a few more non-Republican voices.

You get Al if he brings Grayson, Edmonds, or whomever he wants ...

[Bluenorthwest]

22. He's far too quiet in the Senate, he's no Jeff Merkley but he's a good guy

Keeps his powder always dry, that's for sure.

[hfojvt]

24. I've been a fan

but it did not seem like he did all that much in the whole fiscal cliff/ATRA debacle.

I consider him to have been AWOL on that.

[Botany]

25. Al Franken's 1st bill ..... helper dogs for wounded vets

Al Franken

[GoCubsGo]

26. I wish he was my senator.

Some people here will bad-mouth him, but they should try living with my senators, the well-known Southern belle, Lindsay Graham, and that clown who replaced that other jackass, Jim DeMented. I'll take Al Franken ANY DAY.

[JackHughes]

27. A good senator, but...

Franken is undoubtedly a good liberal Senator, but he has made a conscious decision not to appear anywhere but on local Minnesota media. He's practically invisible now -- he was a more influential national political figure when he was out of government.

In the Senate he is just one of 100 in a dysfunctional, broken and leaderless institution. As an articulate national pundit he could actually help change the political discourse.

[Ellipsis]

28. ...now he "just" makes law.

[JackHughes]

29. Oh?

If the Democrats were to overhaul the filibuster rule that the Republicans have abused to the point of insanity you might have a point.

As it is now, Senate Democrats are a political party in name only.

[Ellipsis]

30. Ah... glad to see you can stay focused on the topic.

[JackHughes]

31. Franken

That is the point.

Both the sad state of affairs in the Senate and Franken's avoidance of national media should be controversial.

But under these circumstances, that Franken's unique talent could be better applied as a public intellectual, humorist and national pundit should not be controversial.

[Ellipsis]

32. Then stay on it. Al knows what Al needs to do.

allow him the latitude to play a longer game of chess, take care.

[cui bono]

42. Chess...

When are we ever going to stop having to hear about people playing chess???

[Ellipsis]

43. Pawn it off to my lazy discretion of using one word rather then creating a usless diatribe of

spent energy reiterating the point that what Al Franken wishes to however he choose to do it is his right.


One could also counter and say when are people going to stop choosing overused insipid smilies to communicate general concepts?


... to each their own.

[cui bono]

44. Comparing using smilies to the chess meme is hardly a good analogy.

I'd just stick with you being lazy.

[Ellipsis]

46. *grin* nah,...just other things to do.

It doesn't help that I'm a slow typist.

And having a little fun with ya too...


Enjoy the rest of the day cui bono.

[cui bono]

47. You too.

[NewJeffCT]

35. Still love his questioning of a woman representing big insurance

during the healthcare reform debates:

to paraphrase:

Sen Franken: "Could you tell me how many people declared bankruptcy due to medical expenses in France last year?"
Insurance woman: "I would have to look that up and get back to you with that information..."
Sen. Franken: "I can tell you now - it was zero. Can you tell me how many there were in Germany?"
Insurance woman: "I would have to look that up..."
Sen. Franken (interrupting): "It was also zero. How about medical bankruptcies in Switzerland?"
Insurance woman: "Going by your line of questioning, I'm going to guess the answer is zero."

[Brigid]

38. One of Al Franken's better moments.

That is why he needs some love.

[sonias]

36. I love Al a bunch

Al!

[northoftheborder]

37. Wish he was my Senator, but so, so glad he's there for Minnesota and us all.

He would be a good choice for the Cor. Dinner, but probably wouldn't do it, since he's trying to be all serious now. I wish Ed, and some of the other MSNBC hosts would get him on now and then.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

39. My Senator - VITTER (R)

What would I give to have Al Franken in place of David Vitter - my first born!!!

[Auntie Bush]

53. You have my condolences.

[Laelth]

41. k&r for Senator Al Franken. n/t

-Laelth

[ananda]

45. Hearts to Al Franken!

..

[TNNurse]

48. Love, respect and much more

[smirkymonkey]

49. I love Al Franken!

I would be proud to have him as my senator! (even though I am quite happy with Elizabeth Warren!).

[4bucksagallon]

50. I especially loved the reading of the Operation Chickenhawk...

As a Vietnam vet I will never ever let the RWNJ's forget how disgraceful they are/were.

[Billsmile]

52. I Never Get Tired Of This One.

[link:http://

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