“I don’t know if we’ve ever had an opponent who is so disliked by Republicans as Al Franken."

[Occam Bandage]

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.

While Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has filed suit to contest the results of a disputed recount process that turned his narrow lead into a 225-vote deficit, his likely defeat stands to turn Franken, the polarizing former “Saturday Night Live” writer, into the senator who launched a thousand direct mail fundraising appeals.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had an opponent who is so disliked by Republicans as Al Franken,” said Minnesota Republican Party Chair Ron Carey, who cautioned that Coleman’s election challenge could still turn the results back his way. “It’s one thing to lose to an honorable opponent, but Al Franken is not considered an honorable opponent by Minnesota Republicans.”

Marty Seifert, the Republican leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, said Franken’s long record of antagonizing conservatives would make it difficult for him to connect with voters who supported Coleman. “It’s going to be hard for Franken to be very effective with any Republicans, in terms of having any credibility with us, just because he’s been so nasty in the past,” Seifert said. “He certainly has callous and very partisan behavior in the past that is beyond the pale.”

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.”

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 because he doesn’t know how to get a real job…He’s a pathetic figure.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17233.html

Your tears, GOP. Your life-giving, precious tears. They nourish me. I shall collect what I cannot drink and water a garden of delightful misery.

[Wickerman]

1. Al has simply returned the respect the Rethugs give

typical of bullies,they can't stand seeing their own behavior reflected back at them.

[Occam Bandage]

3. What's more, he don't lie. He just points out their lies, and throws them in their faces.

They find this horrendously offensive. A gentleman lets a Republican walk all over him.

[roguevalley]

64. minnesota repubs are scum, pure and simple. Lose and go home, you bastards.

who cares what they think? They still have this impression that someone, somewhere still cares.

[spotbird]

77. If Franken is polarizing

what is Coleman?

This article just shows what hacks they are at Politico.

[patrice]

2. Pardon the comparison SENATOR Franken, but he's our Limbaugh - only much more HONEST. nt

[Downtown Hound]

6. And sober. n/t

[patrice]

11. !

:thumbsup: that!

[glitch]

48. and a family man. Still loves his first wife, happy well-adjusted kids. Not drug or sex-addicted.

Intelligent and funny. There really is no comparison. No wonder the Republicans hate him.

Congratulations Senator Franken!

[keroro gunsou]

66. you forgot

and smart enough, good enough, and dog-gone-it people like him.

[Downtown Hound]

4. Tell me Rush

How does it feel to lose to such "a pathetic figure?" He made an ass out of you awhile back, and a whole host of other Repuke celebs, and now he's a senator. For such a pathetic figure, he sure seems to be kicking your collective asses all over the place.

Here's to you Al. :toast:

[Merlot]

5. the only opponent the repubs would find onorable is one who would have

rolled over and conceeded before all the votes were counted. That, and that alone, would be honorable to them.

"Flamboyant partisan?"

Oh, and as for nails on a chalk board, we've had 8 years of bushco.

[tridim]

13. So "Flamboyant Partisan" is defined as a moderate Democrat who speaks?

Can someone show me one Republican who isn't partisan?

No, Ron Paul doesn't count because he's not a Republican.

[Kip Humphrey]

7. Republicans complaining about "nasty"??? ...go figure!

[nxylas]

8. "That doesn't sound very postpartisan"

If you don't recognize that quote, check out this week's Tom Tomorrow cartoon.

[glitch]

49. Can we still call it postpartisan when only one side practices it? nt

[nxylas]

56. That was kind of the point of the cartoon

[glitch]

60. Ha! That's a keeper, thanks! nt

[keroro gunsou]

67. at the risk...

of getting flogged with a wet noodle...

it seems to me that the republicans have a case of post-partisan depression *ducks thrown fruit/vegetables/hammers*

[SlowDownFast]

71. Good one. n/t

[rocktivity]

80. Bad PC1971! BAD!!!!

:spank:
rocknation

[keroro gunsou]

83. that's the way...

harder.. harder... wait, i'm not in the lounge...

/set mode emily_litella on:

nevermind

/set mode off

[ThomWV]

9. And without haveing even been sworn in he's already my favorite Senator.

Congratulations Al.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. What part of this is negative?

I wish we had a Senate full of Frankens. THAT would moderate Obama's moderation.

[Inkyfuzzbottom]

12. Fuck you Repubes

He's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it people like him.

[book_worm]

14. And Coleman is "honorable"! Get real. He's scum and Al is making the right enemies.

[pacalo]

15. He's "so disliked" because his election was one they couldn't control.

It's a new day & they can't stand it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. That makes the win all that much sweeter. Thanks, Ron

It's nice to know you and your ilk are suffering more than usual.

[dysfunctional press]

17. "Franken “won’t quit because he doesn’t know how to get a real job..."

is limpballs saying that being a u.s. senator isn't a "real job"? :shrug:

does that go for the puglickins too?

and what does a guy with his own decade need with a "real" job anyway?

[Occam Bandage]

18. And what, then, does that say about Coleman?

[Morning Dew]

27. What Rush is saying

is that the jobs he himself holds (Author(ahem) and radio show host) aren't real jobs... he kinda oopsed there, I guess.

Of course Franken adds actor and screenwriter.

[lpbk2713]

19. This could have something to do with it .... LOL.

The truth hurts.


:rofl: :rofl:

[BrklynLiberal]

47. That book was nothing but the absolute truth..and hysterically funny.

[Mist]

20. Hearing this kind of meltdown is music to my ears! The Rethugs are dancing around in

their own bullshit again--being a senator isn't a real job? Hey, Rush, you just insulted all the Rethug senators too, you idjit.

[renate]

50. you owe me a new keyboard

"dancing around in their own bullshit again"

:spray:

[peace frog]

21. Al must be doing something right

to so upset the delicate sensibilities of our GOPer brethren.

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! SUFFER, MORANS!!!!!
:rofl:

[Strathos]

22. Al and is an unapologetic liberal and not going to play their games

I have fears, (mind you, I'm just expressing ONE fear) of Obama wanting to go to the "center" to play the "politics game", but I don't think Al Franken will do that. I wish more of our leaders would stop trying to coddle the fucking republicans and stay with us, on the left. The republicans certainly NEVER compromise. Why is that? Why is the Dems will always try to make nice, but the republicans can do and say anything they want and stay extreme right, and never have to answer for it?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

23. To the Republicans

and Rush I say, 'methinks thou dost protest too much'
:party:
I like the idea of Al in the Senate. If they are bitching it's because they are afraid.
edited because I always forget to use spell check!

[otohara]

24. Would They Consider Any Dem an "Honorable Opponent"

No they would not, so this business about losing to an honorable opponent being somehow better, is a fucking lie.

[Greyhound]

58. Sure, here are three...

As long as they support the premise of the necessity of the ruling elite, you are A-OK with them.

[SlowDownFast]

72. You forgot one:

[charlie]

25. Yes, let's all pretend

we've never heard of Michelle Bachmann, you dumb fucking weenies.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

26. Their tears are as sweet, sweet nectar.

[spanone]

28. that makes me love al all the more

[philly_bob]

29. "Your tears, GOP" -- wonderful poetic comment.

If it's a quote, let us know. If it's yours, be proud.

[creeksneakers2]

30. They are terrified of Al

Al isn't afraid of them and will tell the truth. If Franken survives, the GOP faces the prospect of more like him. The vast right wing conspiracy can't exist without lies and intimidation.

Whatever Al will say about Republicans in the future, it will be honest and fair. That's more than they'll ever do for Al.

[robinlynne]

31. If I were Al, I would put that phrase in the first paragraph of my resume!

[pleah]

32. They hate him because he makes them look like

the fools that they are.

[backscatter712]

33. Oh, let me taste your tears, Rethugs!!!

Yes! Yesss! Oh, let me taste your tears, Scott!
Mm, your tears are so yummy and sweet!
Oh, the tears of unfathomable sadness! My-yummy!
Mm-yummy, you guys!
Yuppitibut, that's all, folks!

[Lucian]

34. Al treats Repukes the way Repukes treat Democrats.

All I hear in this is a bunch of MN Repubs whining. Waaaaaaah. Waaaaaaaaaaah.

[eppur_se_muova]

35. "The slander of some people is as great a recommendation as the praise of others."

(Henry Fielding, English novelist)

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/authors/henry_fielding_a004.htm

I doubt these words ever applied more fully.

[glitch]

61. perfect. nt

[SlowDownFast]

73. Nice. n/t

[MADem]

36. Well, there are some people who think that some "dishonorable" sumbitches

put water in the anti-icing fluid of Wellstone's plane.

There are some people who think that some "dishonorable" sumbitches rigged the Mondale results.

Love the way they use the "flamboyant" word (psst-that means Franken's for gay rights).

I hope he Stuart Smalleys them to death, and as for Rush? It sure takes one, doesn't it! That guy hasn't held a real job since he was a sleazy salesman! And he knows from "pathetic"--the pill-popping putz.

[Edweird]

37. Good. If more of our Congressional Dems were so 'disliked' (particularly our pathetic 'leadership')

we might not be in such deep shit right now.

[AwakeAtLast]

40. I heartily agree

:thumbsup:

[jimlup]

38. You can tell that you're doing something right if ...

The rethugs hate you that much!

[MrScorpio]

39. I have no idea why Republicans and Limbaugh hate him so much

Really. No idea at all.

[LiberalHeart]

41. Well, if the Republicans don't like Franken, he should definitely step down.

[hankthecrank]

42. This just makes my vote for Franken all that more sweet!

Go suck on it Re pubs,

Now how are you going to remove lap dog norm's head from bush ass so bush can go to texas. Don't want bush to be slowed down leaving town!

Don't think I have ever enjoyed a vote. Take that you lowlife shit heads!

[Snotcicles]

43. Once again, Republicans try to sell Fear disguised as Dislike. nt

[bertman]

44. Had an interesting conversation yesterday with two Democratic friends from Minneapolis

who are visiting us. They both said that they voted for the Independent candidate for Senator because "Franken and Coleman were both such big assholes."

These two 30-somethings said they were planning to vote for Franken until they saw the debate(s) between him and Coleman. According to them, the debates were so ugly and filled with personal mudslinging they got turned off and decided to vote Independent.

Very interesting, eh.

[Occam Bandage]

59. Franken ran a very bad campaign, and was a very uninspiring candidate.

I'm surprised--but very happy--that he won. He's a very thoughtful, intelligent person.

[bertman]

76. I was unaware of this until the other day. My friends said that they were "freaked" when

they saw how close the race was. They thought Franken was going to get soundly beaten, so they were very relieved when he won in the recount. They would have been bummed out if he had lost by only a few votes, given their casting "protest" votes for the Independent candidate.

There's a lesson in here. Maybe the DNC will analyze the Franken-Coleman campaign as a what-NOT-to-do object lesson for future campaigns. When we have Democrats who vote against our own candidate in times like this we have a problem.

Also, they said that Franken came across as a petty, sarcastic, nasty person. That was a surprise to me based on hearing him on AA. I knew that he had the capacity for that type of behavior but he seemed like a thoughtful, compassionate Democrat to me.

[Occam Bandage]

78. I think Franken's problem had less to do with what he did

and more to do with who he is. He came into this race with no legislative or political record whatsoever, with very little business experience, and really with nothing to his name but some funny books, a short-lived radio show, and a career as a comedian. His only real shot was to turn the race into a referendum on whether Coleman and the Republicans deserve six more years of that Senate seat--and since Coleman certainly couldn't run on his record, his only real shot was to turn the race into a referendum on whether a carpetbagging comedian deserves six years of that Senate seat. The best thing either man could say about himself was that he was not the other man. When neither candidate can run on their own substance, you are going to have an uninspiring, dirty race. When one of those candidates is a comedian trying desperately hard to be taken seriously, you're going to have a bland, uninspiring, mudslinging race.

Franken's going to have to work his ass off in DC if he wants to hang on to that seat.

[bertman]

82. Good points, Occam Bandage. I agree.

[Road Scholar]

45. What a compliment for good government. Die you gravey sucking pigs.

Just sayin'.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[BrklynLiberal]

46. Knowing how much they dislike him only makes my desire to see him defeat them

all the stronger.
He says it like he sees it, and they do not like that.
He makes people laugh at them, and they HATE that!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you in the Senate, Sen Franken!!!
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[NNN0LHI]

51. I think his Mick Jagger impersonation really impressed them the most

:rofl:

[Still Sensible]

52. He's their new straw man!

It's because he is the epitome of the caricature the Rove/Limbaugh GOP has been railing against for nearly two decades... Al is

1. An outspoken liberal;
2. A "Hollywood" personality;
3. An opposing radio talk host; and
4. Calls them on their bullshit.

[gulliver]

53. They don't like Franken because he thinks THEY are not honorable.

And he's right.

[Greyhound]

54. Another Republik lie. They do not dislike him, they fear him

as do many Democratic Senators. He will not play their game, he will stand for what he believes and will not cover for the crimes of his new colleagues.

Look for the Feinsteins and Reids to block him at every opportunity.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Hmmm. I wonder where Ann Coulter stands on this?

Maybe she can tell us how "pathetic", "dishonorable" or "aggresive" Al Franken is. And what does Michael Savage think? :eyes:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

57. Oh for fuck's sake. "flamboyant and aggressively partisan" ?

Franken is a moderate who initially supported the Iraq invasion. Jesus Christ I'd hate to see these people's reaction if Janeane Garofolo got elected to the Senate. :rofl:

[RubyDuby in GA]

62. You might like this image of GOP tears

[depakid]

63. Franken is simply someone who has the cojones to tell it like it is

and ridicule Republican dishonesty, ineptitude and corruption.

Too bad there aren't more Democrats like him- if there were, the country wouldn't be in the sorry shape that it's in.

[PassingFair]

65. He took shots at "Poppa Bear"!!

Wwwaaaaahhhhhh!

[wroberts189]

68. B.S. Al has always reached out to the right. That's why he is missing a finger. n/t

[Hardrada]

69. He is the Dem's revenge for Jesse Helms

or (Fill in the blank of any obnoxious repug).

[SlowDownFast]

70. Bwahahahaha!!!

I'm loving every second of this!

Sic 'em, Al!

[Joanne98]

74. They hate him because he's funny.

[acmavm]

75. Obviously no one cares what MN repubics think or they'd be handing the

election to Coleman. Of course it helped tremendously that Franken showed an unusual amount of stamina and courage and he didn't fold like another politician who comes immediately to mind.

The worm has turned.

[rocktivity]

79. The Republicans of Minnesota are now a minority group

The only people Franken has to be effective with are the ones who voted him in.

And their idea of a "honorable" candidate is one that they can beat.

Cue the DU "Cry Me A River" String Quartet!

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:
rocknation

[Marr]

81. I invite them Get Over It©. If I understand the prevailing wisdom, losers are to be ignored.

That's how it's been for the last 8 years, at least. We were told that 51% of the vote is a "mandate", and even politicians who lose the popular vote are to be treated with the utmost respect and never questioned.

I'd like to remind these Republicans of their stated ideals, and to please sit down and shut-up, like good little losers.

[AtomicKitten]

84. They are obviously ALL big fat idiots.