McConnell scolds Franken for making faces from dais during his speech

[jefferson_dem]

:rofl:

McConnell scolds Franken for making faces from dais during his speech
By Alexander Bolton - 08/05/10 06:00 PM ET

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) scolded Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on the Senate floor Thursday for allegedly mocking him while he delivered a solemn speech on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

The dust-up came seconds after McConnell delivered a speech on Kagan’s nomination shortly before the Senate voted to confirm her to the high court.

Franken, who was presiding over the chamber from the dais, gesticulated and made faces while McConnell explained his opposition to Kagan, according to witnesses.

The television cameras broadcasting the speech on C-SPAN remained fixed on McConnell, missing Franken’s antics from the Senate president’s chair.

McConnell grew increasingly angry as Franken made fun of him before a crowded public gallery and Senate aides lining the chamber walls. Senate aides said they were shocked that Franken would flout the decorum of the chamber during such a solemn occasion.

After McConnell finished his remarks, he walked up to the dais and rebuked him.

<SNIP>

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/112947-mcconnell-scolds-franken-for-making-faces-from-presidents-chair-during-speech?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=

[AnneD]

1. Thank goodness...

he did not catch the rest of us making hand gestures.

[slampoet]

2. If we have to put up with Mitch McConnell's natural face then he can.......

[BrklynLiberal]

3. What an arrogant, self-important prig McConnell is...the chinless wonder.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peekaloo]

41. Look closer at him (McConnell)

he's not chinless. His chin is resting comfortably in that jawline hammock. :-)

[BrklynLiberal]

45. lololololol

[Gidney N Cloyd]

46. He's got plenty of chins. No lips, but plenty of chins.

[muntrv]

4. Mitch! As your boy Dick Cheney said, GO FUCK YOURSELF!!

[lob1]

5. If Franken was actually mocking McConnell, then I

have to figure that old Mitch was telling a much bigger lie than usual.

[KingFlorez]

6. Hilarious

McConnell needs to get over it, the Republican agenda is far more offensive then Franken making a few silly faces.

[Greyskye]

7. But yelling "you lie!" at the POTUS is OK. Gotcha.

IOKIYAR

[verges]

28. No. It wasn't okay. And we all got pretty upset about it.

And if we allow one of ours to do such nonsense, we become hypocrites. A title I would rather leave to the Republicans, Teapartiers and AM RW commentators.

[verges]

8. It was beneat Franken's dignity as a Senator to do such nonsense.

And he has since apologized in writing to McConnell; as he should. Just bercause Repubs are jerks, doesn't mean that our side should act classless also.But an apology has been given and accepted. End of issue.

[David__77]

9. I completely disagree. These are fascists we are talking about.

We needn't express "class" toward those who harbor a very murderous agenda and have no business in the public square much less in the seat of power. Making faces is a relatively mild expression of displeasure compared with what is deserved.

[joeglow3]

35. My disillusioned parents said the same thing about Joe "You Lie" Wilson

Again, act like an adult if you want to be a Senator.

[karynnj]

42. Verges is riight and Franken with his apology also sees it that way

Here, we were winning - we had the votes for confirmation. McConnell's speech was not going to change that. Franken had the honor of presiding over the Senate. It is an honor that rotates among the junior Senators of the majority party. The dignity of the Senate should be preserved.

In addition, there was the dynamic that he was disrespectful to a very senior (completely unlikable) Republican. Here the loser, whether we like it or not - is Franken. As a Senator, he needs to work with both Democrats and Republicans. Fortunately, this is mild and he immediately apologized.

You might remember that a very junior Republican, Allard of CO, somehow mistook the Senate floor for Fox News and personally attacked Senator Kerry's motivation (on Kerry/Feingold I think). Senator Kerry gave a brilliant fiery response that completely was within Senate rules. Allard got no support from his Republican peers.

[zipplewrath]

12. Yeah, he was wrong

It's one of those, "I can understand how he felt that way" but basically ya have to contain yourself.

[izquierdista]

13. I hope it was a Repub apology

The "I'm sorry if you got offended" type. I just wish it was Sen. Chevy Chase making faces while Sen. Yertle the Turtle was yammering.

[styersc]

14. Franken was wrong and an apology was in order.

I hope it was sincerely offered. I think Dems win when we keep the focus on substance. Leave the theatrics and low class stunts to the conservatives.

[smalll]

15. I agree. If Franken wants to make faces while sitting at his Senator's desk, OK --

but when presiding over the Senate? That's not right. But as you point out, Franken apologized and the apology has been accepted. That's what matters.

[BeFree]

19. Fuck McConnel

Franken has to sit and listen to that windbag full of shit?

Faces is the least an honest person could and should do in the face of such a piece of shit like McConnel. Yall should apologize to Franken.

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. Fucking right Franken has to sit and listen to that windbag full of shit. It's called decorum.

You should look it up.

You're of the opinion that "faces" is proper decorum in the Senate Chamber? Absofuckinglutely hilarious.

I'm embarrassed for Franken actually. It seems as though Franken was embarrassed as well. Childish and rude behavior is not what I want from a Senator who belongs to my party. ESPECIALLY not in the Senate Chamber.

[Lost4words]

39. those hallowed halls have been corrupted and deserve no respect

and the federal govt deserves no respect either!

[smalll]

23. Again, I can accept making faces -- from one's own seat in the Senate. When you're presiding?

That's a different story. As Franken realized when he decided to apologize.

Here's what he said to the press:

"Franken said in a statement to POLITICO. 'He is entitled to give his speech with the presiding officer just listening respectfully. I went directly to his office after I was done presiding to apologize in person. He wasn’t there, so I’ve sent him a handwritten note.'"


http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0810/McConnell_to_Franken_This_isnt_.html

[KingFlorez]

24. Maybe some people are really fed up with the crap

I'm sure McConnell will survive, it's not like he's some innocent in need of defending.

[Lost4words]

38. bull crap!

[nyc 4 Biden]

48. i agree and it's also beneath DU to attack McConnell on the basis of his looks.

come on, this is one of the sleaziest politicians in the country. who cares how he looks. some of my favorite politicians look like a hot mess but who gives a shit. franken's been doin a hell of a job kickin ass in the senate and making us look at him like a Senator and not a comedian. lets keep it that way.

[Perky]

59. Yep. It serves no value to rile the right with the sophomoric.

[niceypoo]

10. Al Franken knows comedy when he hears it

[OhioBlue]

11. I doubt Franken could help himself

he probably exercised a lot of self control by ONLY making facial expressions...

but honestly... he just has that type of face - and probably from being an actor/comedian... his facial expressions just seem to be naturally more elaborate than most.

[rug]

16. The faces were ok but he shouldn't have started singing Under My Thumb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mwsDFm7bQ

[pengillian101]

20. That youtube video was hilarious!

:rofl:

Thanks for posting it :-)

[senseandsensibility]

49. LOL

Thanks for posting.

[zulchzulu]

17. Put six marbles in your mouth and start talking like a redneck = McConnell

It's no wonder people don't just laugh out loud when the asshat opens his cakehole.

[Jennicut]

18. Okay, so he shouldn't have done it. But it IS funny.

[Blue Owl]

21. Shove it McConnell

What a petulant, self-righteous POS. He's earned and deserves every second of it.

[flamingdem]

26. I ruv Al xoxoxoxo

Have you seen his drawings? An artist too!

[Dr.Phool]

27. What is there about McConnell that's NOT to be mocked?

He's a walking inspiration for creative comedians.

[laughingliberal]

29. Mommmeeee!!! He's making faces at me!!! nt

[golfguru]

30. Franken was correct to apologize in writing

That shows he realized his childish behavior and adulthood won him over.
If one has no class, one is not much better than a republican.

[JoePhilly]

31. If Joe Wilson can yell "You Lie" at the President ...

during the State of the Union, Al Franken should be able to drop his pants and moon Mitch McConnell from the dais if he wants to.

He should have taken his hands and make obscene gestures.

[hedgehog]

32. Hmmmm...... Franken presiding over the Senate giving an honest

response to the pompous, self serving lies and half truths being spouted by Senator McConnell......


Someone there had no respect for the American people, and it wasn't Franken. Senate decorum be damned when it is used to shelter the people destroying this country.

[Lost4words]

40. bravo, Bravo, BRAVO!!! We have gotten the middle finger from the senate for some time now!

[Inuca]

33. Franken was wrong, but

how I wish that a video of this will somehow surface :evilgrin:!

[Lost4words]

37. the senate does not deserve respect any longer IMO

I support Al Franken 100%!

[Carolina]

55. Ditto

Couldn't agree more!

[GoCubsGo]

34. It would be really difficult for any sane person to sit and listen to McConnell without reacting.

I would have been shaking my head, rolling my eyes and doing this the whole time:

[Lost4words]

36. McConnell is a pudgy face sissy! Do it again Al!

[hedgehog]

43. May I quote you? I'd like to send that to Senator Al!

[Enthusiast]

44. Won't someone please post a

video clip of Franken mocking McConnell. It could be comedy gold. :hide:

[Phx_Dem]

47. Screaming YOU LIE! at the President is okay though.

Fuck off turtleface.

[felinetta]

50. Mitch, you know what is disgusting you being against S-chip. Screw you.

[JustAnotherGen]

51. I'm sorry

It's funny. And it's probably MUCH better that it was Franken making faces as opposed to say oooo . . . . my boys Weiner or Grayson yelling - you lie! you tool! You lie! . . . Just to give a little something-something back.

I seriously believe we are on the verge of hearing one of THOSE to say 'douche' as opposed to Franken making a face that says 'douche'.

[dave29]

52. GO FYS

:)

[TreasonousBastard]

53. All of you do realize that Franken and McConell were pretty much alone in...

the Senate chamber, don't you?

And that Franken was chairing the Senate during speech time because that's the shit job they give to freshman Senators.

The problem is that Senator Al hasn't been around long enough to fake the faked sincerity and gravitas expected of all Senators. He's still gobsmacked by the bullshit, and probably bored shitless with chairing empty Senate sessions with Senators gassing about forever.

He'll learn.

[mucifer]

54. I'm sure the press will cover this and not the wonderful bill that Senator Franken authors.

[JustAnotherGen]

56. Great quote that TOTALLY explains his behavior

"I do personal attacks only on people who specialize in personal attacks.."
- Al Franken, Playboy interview

Dignified or not? At least now we understand it . . .

[Honeycombe8]

57. It's probably not true, anyway. Unless there's tape proof of it, I wouldn't believe McConnell on

that.

[treestar]

58. The authoritarian personality at work

Judges do that in court a lot. Yell at people for reacting - like they are royalty entitled to deference to the point where they should not have to see any unhappiness from their actions.