Thursday, January 31, 2008
Al Franken acting stupid at Carleton College
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Al Franken didn't exactly leave 'em laughing in Northfield.
Earlier this month Franken was at Carleton College, where the late Sen. Paul Wellstone was a professor, for a student rally related to a special election in the state Senate District 25. After the rally in the great space of Sayles-Hill some students crowded around to take photos with the "Saturday Night Live" alum, author, satirist and celebrity.
Franken's spokesman Andy Barr said via e-mail Tuesday that Al "remembers having a spirited convo w/ College GOPer at the urging of some of the kid's College Dem pals. Seemed like everyone was having a good time, or as good a time as you can have debating Reaganomics."
Franken apparently had more fun than senior history major Peter Fritz.
According to Fritz, things started out fine with him taking photos of fellow Carls (that's what students call themselves) with Franken. Then Franken's curiosity was raised about why Fritz didn't want to be in a pic.
He's a conservative, another Carl yelled out by way of explanation.
At that point, Franken reportedly began peppering Fritz with questions about supporting President George W. Bush and former President Ronald Reagan's tax hikes. Fritz told me he got tense and, as he does in those situations, started chewing the inside of his mouth, a gesture he said was mimicked by Franken; Fritz also thought his style of speech was mocked by Franken.
An aide eventually interrupted Franken's act, Fritz said, by announcing to the candidate that it was time to go.
Fritz told me Monday that he then stuck out his hand to shake Franken's. "Well, at least it's nice to meet you," the GOPer said he told Franken, who reportedly replied, I can't say the same.
There was no handshake, said Fritz.
Barr, Franken's handler, said, "Al doesn't remember saying that, but if the kid does, then okay. ... Al takes enough pictures with people that he doubts he would 'take umbrage' at someone not wanting one."
Although Fritz did not disagree with my use of the phrase "take umbrage," that was how I characterized the moment in my e-mail to Barr.
I asked Barr if Franken's electrolytes were on the decline, or whether he was in a bad mood, wasting such truculence on somebody who hasn't graduated college yet.
"So electrolytes-wise I don't know what to tell you," wrote Barr. "Certainly, it was a long, hard day of campaigning on behalf of [DFL senator-elect] Kevin Dahle. But Al told me he had a really good time meeting all the students -- even the ones who thought he was wrong about everything."
Fritz told me Wednesday he was stunned by Franken's behavior: "I usually expect politicians to, at least, pretend as though, even in that kind of interaction, that they can convince me or have some kind of reasonable dialogue -- the whole Minnesota Nice thing, at least."
Fritz's version of the encounter was backed up by Pablo Kenney, prez of the Carleton Dems.
Star Tribune
Earlier this month Franken was at Carleton College, where the late Sen. Paul Wellstone was a professor, for a student rally related to a special election in the state Senate District 25. After the rally in the great space of Sayles-Hill some students crowded around to take photos with the "Saturday Night Live" alum, author, satirist and celebrity.
Franken's spokesman Andy Barr said via e-mail Tuesday that Al "remembers having a spirited convo w/ College GOPer at the urging of some of the kid's College Dem pals. Seemed like everyone was having a good time, or as good a time as you can have debating Reaganomics."
Franken apparently had more fun than senior history major Peter Fritz.
According to Fritz, things started out fine with him taking photos of fellow Carls (that's what students call themselves) with Franken. Then Franken's curiosity was raised about why Fritz didn't want to be in a pic.
He's a conservative, another Carl yelled out by way of explanation.
At that point, Franken reportedly began peppering Fritz with questions about supporting President George W. Bush and former President Ronald Reagan's tax hikes. Fritz told me he got tense and, as he does in those situations, started chewing the inside of his mouth, a gesture he said was mimicked by Franken; Fritz also thought his style of speech was mocked by Franken.
An aide eventually interrupted Franken's act, Fritz said, by announcing to the candidate that it was time to go.
Fritz told me Monday that he then stuck out his hand to shake Franken's. "Well, at least it's nice to meet you," the GOPer said he told Franken, who reportedly replied, I can't say the same.
There was no handshake, said Fritz.
Barr, Franken's handler, said, "Al doesn't remember saying that, but if the kid does, then okay. ... Al takes enough pictures with people that he doubts he would 'take umbrage' at someone not wanting one."
Although Fritz did not disagree with my use of the phrase "take umbrage," that was how I characterized the moment in my e-mail to Barr.
I asked Barr if Franken's electrolytes were on the decline, or whether he was in a bad mood, wasting such truculence on somebody who hasn't graduated college yet.
"So electrolytes-wise I don't know what to tell you," wrote Barr. "Certainly, it was a long, hard day of campaigning on behalf of [DFL senator-elect] Kevin Dahle. But Al told me he had a really good time meeting all the students -- even the ones who thought he was wrong about everything."
Fritz told me Wednesday he was stunned by Franken's behavior: "I usually expect politicians to, at least, pretend as though, even in that kind of interaction, that they can convince me or have some kind of reasonable dialogue -- the whole Minnesota Nice thing, at least."
Fritz's version of the encounter was backed up by Pablo Kenney, prez of the Carleton Dems.
Star Tribune
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
State of the Union Address
Thank you, Madame Speaker. Thank you all.
Madame Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests and fellow citizens, seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government. NYTimes
Madame Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests and fellow citizens, seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government. NYTimes
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Obama takes big risk on driver's license issue
Sen. Barack Obama easily won the African American vote in South Carolina, but to woo California Latinos, where he is running 3-to-1 behind rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, he is taking a giant risk: spotlighting his support for the red-hot issue of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. sfgate
Sen. Norm Coleman
Senator Coleman remember you're a Republican. I don't want to vote for Mike Ciresi or wierd Al. Please remember the conservative values that you ran on many moons ago. I don't want to plug my nose and vote for a weak Republican again (Past votes for you and T-Paw) Give us something to be excited about. If I must I might give Al a token vote.
Reasons not to vote for John McCain
Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions. The Hill
Mitt Romney
http://www.mittromney.com/
"If you're a conservative, there really is only one place to go right now. I would even argue further than that. If you are a Republican in the broadest sense, there is only one place to go right now, and that's Mitt Romney".
Senator Rick Santorum, endorsing Mitt Romney's presidential bid.
Gov. Pawlenty
I voted for this Governor two times. I feel betrayed by this Governor and not proud of the fact that I voted that way. As a conservative Republican, I finally got motivated to sound OFF! Pawlenty is continuing to pushing his selfish agenda and he quickly forgot who put him in that office.
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