Alexander Burns of Politico (featured Sunday on Yahoo!) sees no chance of Norm Coleman retaining his Senate seat, but he devoted an article to Al Franken’s unique position as a potential top-dollar fundraiser – for conservatives and Republicans. "With only a longshot court appeal standing in the way of Democrat Al Franken’s election to the Senate, Republicans are gritting their teeth and bracing for the arrival of a new senator whose every utterance will sound like nails on a chalkboard to them." Already, he’s a drag on the Democrats:
Polling results this week confirmed Franken's precarious position: more Minnesotans have a negative impression of him than a positive one, by a 45 percent to 37 percent margin. Those would be dismal numbers under any circumstances, but for a newly-elected senator they would be particularly alarming.
Even professors favored by the media establishment aren’t sanguine:
According to Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier, Franken’s record as a "flamboyant and aggressive partisan" would make him ripe for criticism back home. "I think it’s impossible to overstate the hostility Minnesota Republicans feel toward Al Franken," Schier said. "He will be a very useful fundraising tool."
....“I think that he’ll have a constant battle between the desire for – how shall I put it? – comedic satisfaction and a senatorial image,” said Schier. “Can he help himself? Can he prevent himself from trying to be funny in a controversial way?”
Burns added:
Republicans outside Minnesota are equally apoplectic when it comes to Franken. Prominent conservative Rush Limbaugh, who Franken mocked in the title of one of his books, has already jabbed Franken on his radio show, telling listeners in December that Franken "won’t quit [the Senate race] because he doesn’t know how to get a real job…He’s a pathetic figure."
But now Franken looks like the winner, and Republicans cannot count on the "Selected Not Elected" media elite of the Tallahassle in 2000 to lament the manipulations around the result.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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OMG! Call David Shuster
January 11, 2009 - 09:44 ET by BlondeProof positive that Franken's not qualified.
What? Negative polling only applies to Republican women's qualifications?
(*Emily Latella voice*) Never mind.
Blonde
January 11, 2009 - 18:15 ET by DoktorFrankenGreat comparison! And a very current one.
Let's review: Polls are crap. Very good! If Franken has such a large negative rating then how did he get elected. Oooops! Sorry. I forgot that Soros had his grimy paws in this particular race. Actual votes may vary.
Actual votes may vary.
January 11, 2009 - 19:42 ET by BlondeThat's gooooood!
Selected, not elected.
Except when it's a dem who's selected.
Riiiiiight. Got it.
(She says, parodying the old Media).
A couple thoughts from those of us in MN
January 11, 2009 - 10:06 ET by jondelwicheNorm is an OK guy but, in essence, a Dem.
Both he and Franken got only 42% because they both had
so many in their OWN party that disliked them.
Yet, nothing will help Repubs here more than "Sen Frankenjerk"
because the guy is a dink, a carpetbagger (who had the tax problems), cant take criticism, and he wont thrive
in office when his arrival approval #'s are in the 30 percentiles.
Our dislike of him will mobilize our side (similar to Corruption, Inc
nationally with Blago, Edwards, Richardson, Rangel,etc)
Indeed, his term likely will be similar to Ventura's.
I like Ann Coulter, but imagine her as a Senator.....even I wouldnt
want that.
Yet, that's what in store here. It should be fun, and speed the return of our power IF we promote TRUE tort reform, fiscal honesty, security, etc. Al Franken can be the face of the rebound of the right!
According to
January 11, 2009 - 10:32 ET by Dave DAccording to Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier, Franken’s record as a "flamboyant and aggressive partisan" would make him ripe for criticism back home
Funny, that's kind of a long winded way to just say Franken has a record of a bald faced liar, enough to fill book after book. (Oh wait, he's a democrat so that doesn't count does it?)
Already expecting Franken to be Franken
January 11, 2009 - 10:23 ET by Vivaldi5I fully expect Franken to be as ludicrous as he has always been in the Senate:
http://vivaldi5.blog...
That's an attempt at humor, of course, but I don't doubt for a moment that a whole lot that's similarly outrageous will actually come out of Al's big mouth over the next 6 years if this "(s)election" result stands.
→ Match Maid In Heaven
January 11, 2009 - 10:33 ET by Cool ArrowMuch like his idol, Bawney Fwank, I expect Al Fwanken will come out after assuming his position.
That smart ass look on his
January 11, 2009 - 11:16 ET by RR GOPThat smart ass look on his face makes me think that if I were his teacher in high school, I'd probably write him up about every other day.
I think that they know he's more than likely to be a major embarrassment so might as well tie him down on the road now so the Dem bus can easily drive over him later.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
All Franken needs in that
January 11, 2009 - 12:07 ET by celatorAll Franken needs in that photo is a sign around his neck that reads, "My dream is to become a professional putz."
Dreams can come true, you know.
For liberal Democrats and the Old Media, everything is crisis, chaos, calamity and catastrophe. That justifies stealing your property and liberties.
That smart ass look on his face...
January 11, 2009 - 22:25 ET by lotr... is because he's stoned.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Al Franken
January 11, 2009 - 12:06 ET by Greg ToombsWhat's to like?
Polling results this week
January 11, 2009 - 12:43 ET by midnight cowboyPolling results this week confirmed Franken's precarious position: more Minnesotans have a negative impression of him than a positive one, by a 45 percent to 37 percent margin
37% positive impression to 45% negative and they elected him?. That's almost like saying GWB could get elected with similar approval ratings. Could there have been some ACORN dirty fingers in this, or are Minnesotans starting to have some serious buyers remorse?
The election of this clown
January 11, 2009 - 12:49 ET by lotrThe election of this clown to federal public office stands as a national embarassment.
Oddly enough, a quote from none other than Bill Clinton comes to mind.
"You guys have got to be careful, you're going to give Minnesota a bad reputation." -- President Clinton
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Just assume a little Freaky Friday thing for a minute!
January 11, 2009 - 12:51 ET by pbthinkerJust assume that all the shennagans that went on favored Coleman, do you think the news media would be climbing on planes, heading for Minnesota, to review the ballots, ala Florida in 2000? There is no chance that the local papers, let alone the national press, will even want to see the facts and figures behind this one.
If the Republicans were smart, which I have numerous questions about, they'd be trying to codify election law to the point that a ballot cast twice is illegal. Let's face it, that's the least they can do. It seems that the Democrats can get away with these specious counts all the time, such as in Washington State in 2006. The courts don't worry about election law, as long as the Democrats are the beneficiary of their rulings.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
Well if the Republicans were
January 11, 2009 - 15:23 ET by Dave DWell if the Republicans were really smart they'd just have a team or 2 to fight back against this sort of garbage. I mean as an entire party the Pubs should assemble a team or 2 of lawyers and activists that are ready, willing, and heavily funded by the entire party that can basically just show up and immediately fight to win whatever seat is being stolen. They're going to need something for whatever seat the Dems try to steal in 2010.(and they will try) Since we know this it's only sensible to be well prepared before the fact.(As opposed to now where the candidate has to try and get a team together and hope they get their stuff together well enough to win. We've seen how well that's worked.) I figure the dems would have a much harder time if any time they try this they know there will be a bunch of lawyers the Pubs can parachute in and have them tear into them like a pit-bull on a toddler. (Also, you'd think there'd be some advantage to actually being in the party. For example like have access to resources to actually nip this claptrap in the bud.)
Actually, Franken should be
January 11, 2009 - 13:26 ET by fitzfongActually, Franken should be the first club Republicans use to beat Harry "The Body Odor" Reid and Chuckie Schumbag with in 2010. This heavy-handed attempt by these two Marxists to prematurely shove Franken down our throats should not be forgotten. These are the two that need to pay a heavy price in two years (no doubt, the incompetent Reid will be the easier target).
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
Wook at thwe buwite side
January 11, 2009 - 13:36 ET by cocodrieHere we have the fuwannkenfuwank. Two fuwwankfut-t-turs wuweddy foww woast-t-t-ting.
Mustard anyone? Those two have the buns.
Poor Al. After all that, it
January 11, 2009 - 14:15 ET by HockeyKidPoor Al. After all that, it turns out he's not good enough, he's not smart enough, and doggone it, people don't like him.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
“…he's not smart enough…”
January 11, 2009 - 19:19 ET by needleWhat? According to my modern bat-ring decoder smart=liberal, as well as gay=queer, etc…
Are you actually trying to suggest that this famously [almost literally] rabid liberal (Al Franken) is not “smart (=liberal)”? Compared to what? Keith Olbermann at a Hamas rally? Actually, I imagine Al would pass that test too.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Stewart Smally the new face of the Democrap Senate
January 11, 2009 - 14:45 ET by CTAl Franken's face is the preeminent expression of a smacked-ass complimented by his personality.
That picture should have
January 11, 2009 - 14:47 ET by pitter43That picture should have been one with a dunce hat on, but then, he'll fit right in with the rest of the democrat/liberals in congress.
Good evening pitter
January 11, 2009 - 19:33 ET by cocodrieThis shows you how smart a college degree makes some people. One of them is going to be our new prezdint.
Franken: The TRUE face of
January 11, 2009 - 19:24 ET by TN MomFranken: The TRUE face of the Dem party!
ALL Clowns!