He's officially in and this will be a fun race to watch. I suspect he will beat Coleman. http://www.alfranken.com/
I really believe America rejects his message of hate. They rejected his Air America radio concept, that much we know. The arrogant, angry faux-intellectual persona just doesn't fly with voters -- or anyone really.
Sounds like TJ got the memo from the MN Republican headquarters From the Startribune http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1002254.html Franken jumps into Senate race The comedian turned politician will bring controversy and a show business spotlight to Minnesota's Senate race. By Dane Smith, Star Tribune Last update: February 14, 2007 – 3:56 PM Comedian, author and liberal talk-show host Al Franken declared his candidacy Wednesday for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Norm Coleman, ensuring that the 2008 race will be more entertaining than usual and more closely followed by the national media. Franken at the opening of his statement confronted the central question he will face in the early going -- whether a life-long comic should be taken seriously. "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 message on a campaign website launched at 1 p.m. "I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state," Franken said. "And over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously." Offering personal stories about his childhood in Minnesota and about how his father and other family members were able to survive and thrive with the help of federal education and Social Security programs, Franken said "your government should have your back. That should be our mission in Washington, the one FDR (President Franklin D. Rooosevelt) gave us during another challenging time: freedom from fear." Republican Party officials and conservative bloggers have been issuing pre-emptive attacks on Franken for weeks, focusing on some of his more outrageous skits and statements, and his role in recent years as a scathing critic of President Bush and other conservatives. "Given his blind partisanship and extreme anger, Al Franken is the last person Minnesotans need in the United States Senate," Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said in a statement before the announcement. "While Sen. Norm Coleman continues to work with all sides for the betterment of our stateand nation, Franken offers Minnesotans nothing but polarization and vitriolic personal attacks." Franken talked about his candidacy on the last half-hour of his last show on Air America, a progessive talk-radio network he helped found almost three years ago, and which recently was sold after it went bankrupt. "I'm going to miss the camaraderie of the show (but) I'm gonna use all that I learned here," he said. "I know that I have an awful lot to learn from Minnesotans...and I know I'm going to make mistakes and this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done," Franken said. After the show, Franken hugged staff members from the radio show and jokingly told reporters that "well as you can see, I'm an angry man." He also had two question-and-answer sessions with Minnesota reporters, in which he responded to the accusation that he was angry. "I'm not an angry person but I do get angry about things like this (Iraq) war,". Franken was unequivocal on one crucial question -- whether he will abide by the DFL Party endorsement process and stay out of a primary election if he fails to secure the endorsement of party activists. "I'm going to abide," Franken said. With Election Day more than 20 months away, Franken is the third DFLer to declare. Trial attorney Mike Ciresi, who ran in 2008, and Dick Franson, a frequent candidate for high office who has not won an election since serving on the Minneapolis City Council in the 1960s, have also said they definitely intend to run. Many other Democrats have expressed at least some interest. Dane Smith • 651-292-0164
T_J has obviously memorized the talking points email he received from his handlers. Franken will destry Coleman, and that is a debate I want to see.
You ARE talking about a state the elected Jesse Ventura as their governor. So I don't see them rejecting Franken out of hand because he's a comic. Good for them.
Conquistador, look in the mirror and repeat after me. I'm bitter enough, delusional enough and God dangit ****ing bats*** crazy. If Al Franken is spreading a message of hate, then what message are Neocons from ann coulter to george "if you're not with us you're against us" shrub spreading?
What about the arrogant, angry cowboy persona? Oh wait a second someone with that persona is running the White House right now. I guess when one is losing in politics it is extremely hard to not be hypocritical. The Dems did it too, not so long ago.
i look at the races and i seriously think we have a chance to get near the pivotal 60 seats in the senate. that being said if hillary is elected i don't know if i want full control in the hands of chickenhawk democrats that she'll bring along.
well you have to admit that all those 9/11 widows had it coming. i mean, the nerve of them pushing for investigations into how their loved ones were killed! what a bunch of harpies!
Olberman's ratings are just fine, and in the most advertising friendly demographic he consistently beats O'Reilly.
