Al Franken acting senatorial

[spanone]

Former comedian Al Franken, who holds a 225-vote lead over Republican Norm Coleman in the long-running Minnesota Senate race, isn't waiting for the legal battles to end to start acting like a senator.

In a Monday news release, Franken's staff announced that the Democrat -- identified as "Sen.-elect Franken" -- would hold roundtable discussions this week with mayors in three Minnesota cities "to listen and learn about the economic challenges" they face. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports on the first roundtable in St. Paul and offers an update on the legal wrangling here.

Luke Friedrich, Coleman's press secretary, called the listening tour "Al Franken's 'senator for a day' public relations stunt."

"We have all seen that Al Franken has no regard for the Minnesota election process, but pretending to be a senator before we know who really won is just another sign of desperation from a candidate who’s worried about what will happen if all the votes are counted,” Friedrich said in an email to USA TODAY.

For the record, Franken press aide Jess McIntosh tells USA TODAY that the former Saturday Night Live star has used the senator-elect title since Jan. 5, when the state's canvassing board certified Franken as the winner. Legal challenges have ensued over the ballot counting.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/02/al-franken-acti.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. Go for it. Go for Democracy.

It's the right thing to do. Even Karl Rove will have to admire this Democratic Aikido strategery. Go Al.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Al_Franken_at_Rammstein_Air_Force_Base,_Dec_2000.JPEG/800px-Al_Franken_at_Rammstein_Air_Force_Base,_Dec_2000.JPEG

[spanone]

11. and doggone it, people like him

[Ocracoker16]

2. I hope he doesn't have to act senatorial much longer

I would really like to get our 59th Democrat seated. If Norm Coleman wasn't a Republican asshole, he might consider conceding since he isn't getting anywhere with his legal attempts.

[47of74]

3. I want to see him seated too

If for nothing else than to have the pleasure of seeing Bill-O-The-Clown having to say Senator Al Franken. Come on, Mr. Coleman. You lost. Give it up.

[Warpy]

6. Coleman wants to keep up the nuisance suits

to keep Franken out of office as long as possible, a crybaby stunt to keep one more Democrat out of the Senate during the all important honeymoon period of any new presidency.

At some point, a judge has to stand up to the sorehead and tell him "enough!. Leaving the state without representation in the Senate should not be an option.

[NYC Liberal]

4. They think it's only a PR stunt because that's how they would've done it

Just because Coleman can't be genuine doesn't mean that Franken can't be.

[Justpat]

5. I live in NY

but I supported Al big time. I sent as much to his campaign as I possibly could.

He is a very smart man and will be a great senator.

[liberal N proud]

7. Push the issue Al

Make them see you as a Senator

[marylanddem]

8. I can't wait to see Al sworn in.

That will be a wonderful day.

[Ocracoker16]

15. I can't wait either

I think it would be great if he could be sworn in using his book, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations"

[BlooInBloo]

9. He damn well better. He won.

[me b zola]

10. Frankin has been certified as the winner of the Senate race

by the MN board of elections. Swear him in already!

[peacetalksforall]

12. George Bush's lawyers in 2000 were like angels compared to the Coleman lawyers. Talk about the

jugular. Talk about vicious. I may as well add - talk about slimy.

[EFerrari]

13. Go, Al! You're a nice person, you smell good and people LIKE you.

lol

The new Senator from Minnesota!

:woohoo:

[Raine]

14. Franken needs to be sworn in

IMMEDIATELY!