Al Franken - a brave individual. I didn't get it completely until I was walking along with him in a crowd. I thought of all the people in America who really do not like him - walking next to him made me worry for my own safety. Really. You have to have courage to write books like, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations." Al Franken also impresses me in another way: One of the things I'm proud of is that I have a good math brain, or used to at least. When I was in 11th grade I got a 760 on the math part of the S.A.T.s I didn't take them again my senior year, so who knows if I could have done better, but I was a little disheartened when I read that Al Franken got a perfect 800. The man has serious smarts - I hope he wins. Obviously, he's a monster comedic talent. When he appeared before crowds of American soldiers in Iraq his opening line was, "Anyone here from out of town?"
I'm not positive he wrote it, but he's a writer first, and you know he can deliver it. 6 words 'til the first big laugh. Not easy to do in comedy.

I used to love that guy on SNL, then I read about his politics...

Franken is getting a bad deal from the mainstream media as they echo the right-wing blogs. The smears are beyond silly. That said, the brightest and best-informed candidate in this race is Democrat Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Jack isn't just smart enough to have written a dozen books, mostly on foreign policy. He wasn't just wise enough to publicly oppose the Iraq war before it started. But he has a moral compass that points true and he has the good judgment to know that true security involves developing sustainable energy...to keep us out of wars for oil, to save the environment we need to survive, and even to provide the new generation of manufacturing jobs we will need to pay our bills.

"Al Franken - a brave individual"

Brave? I listened to his radio show many times. Brave is not something that ever came to mind.

Why do "You have to have courage to write books like, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations." ??

He was just joining the chorus of trash talkers targetting conservatives. Big deal.

Randi Rhodes, Sam Cedar, Mike Malloy Rachel Madow, Stephanie ?, Keith Olberman and all the rest must be really brave too?

Oh the drama,,,,

Mr. Franken's opponent had his kneepads on for Bush for the last 5 yrs--makes it easy to decide who to support in Svenland.

Anyone who puts an opinion out there that millions of people really oppose had better be a little brave. Obviously, on Memorial Day we remember the people who showed true courage on a different scale, but I'm just reporting what I felt. My brother used to talk about this when he was working for Reuters. He'd be interviewing somebody like Arafat and he'd switch into security mode, checking out everyone including the guards. Every now and then a member of the security team becomes the problem.
I couldn't recognize most of the people you mentioned but Al Franken is very recognizable. I'd say Rush Limbaugh is brave, too, especially if he ventures out in public. I mean there are a lot of people out there who would love to take a swing at him.
I've been in hallways with Presidents and they have massive security. Al Franken was just walking through a crowd and I was talking with him. I began studying faces to see if someone was going to jump out at him.
Hell, even Lars Larson has to be brave and not just to fight in the War on Christmas. I'm sure he's packing something. I doubt if Al was, but they all give some thought to security. They all scan the crowd for trouble. All I'm saying is we forget about that aspect of it 'til we're walking alongside them and find ourself scanning the crowd for trouble, too. There was a time when no liberal in America was grinding on the opposition as much as Al Franken. Ask Bill O'Reilly. I believe Al put O'Reilly on the cover of his book, "Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." You have to be a little brave to push it that far and then go out in public.

"Al Franken - a brave individual"

Well I don't know about brave but I do know he has made several unpublicized trips to Iraq to entertain the troops over the years. And yes he kept his politics out of his routine.

Greg C

Ironic that "ben" says that stating one's opinion publicly, even in books, isn't a type of courage, yet "ben" chooses not to connect his full name with his public opinion.

So apparently there is some "courage" involved in putting your opinions out there with your name connected, otherwise, why would "ben" choose to hide.

Yes, Franken is certainly brave not to pay his workers comp tab while professing that all Americans should have health insurance. He just wants someone else to pay for it in all the various programs we now have to cover health needs. Hypocrite?

Hypocrite?

secret audio recordings from Franken's campaign HQ:

"Franken: let's do the payroll and pay these other taxes but wait...heh, heh...let's dodge the worker's comp. even though we've got the money and campaign finance records are public and closely scrutinized, i'd really like to do something intentionally stupid, just so i can get called a hypocrite and go against every principle i've exhibited for years."

Hell, even Lars Larson has to be brave and not just to fight in the War on Christmas. I'm sure he's packing something. I doubt if Al was...

So much for the SAT's being a measure of intelligence.

I believe Al put O'Reilly on the cover of his book...

Ooooh, "Al" dared to lampoon a conservative?

Good heavens! Since we all know how unstable and gun-happy THEY are, "Al" should get a medal - you, too, Bill.

PS, I've always been curious about your SAT scores, you demure guy, you.

I had to look up "demure" so obviously the English part of the SATs didn't go as well.

eco,

When did you become Al Franken's PR guru? Or do you simply share John Edwards' preternatural ability to "channel"?

Not that your predispositions would color your judgement of the situation, or anything like that.

I'll file your apologia under "...avec un morceau de sel...".

I had to look up "demure" so obviously the English part of the SATs didn't go as well.

Self-mocking will get you nowhere.

Do the math!

I'll file your apologia under "...avec un morceau de sel...".

no, seriously, that was from a secret audio tape. tells all, i think. surely, Franken is a hypocrite who hates America. don't you think?

i mean, if he's liberal, there can't be any other possibility. right?

i mean, if he's liberal, there can't be any other possibility. right?

you put it so much better than i, my friend.

Norm Coleman is a weasel and unworthy to hold Paul Wellstone's Senate seat. These are stupid mistakes that Franken made but they are well within the parameters of mistakes that honorable people make, particularly since the money was there to pay the taxes and there was no effort to avoid them.

Al can't let this crap distract him from the main event - sending Norm Coleman back to St. Paul for good.

perfect 800 on his math SATs and in tax trouble...lazy, apathetic or both?

Too bad for Al Franken. I have never found him to be very funny on any level; and found his rantings on Air America mostly vile and angry. I could really care less how "bright" some folks think he is. He's a GRADE A JERK in my opionion; and hope he loses badly in the upcoming election.

Portlandia, I sure hope you are not an attorney. I can just visualize your defense of some white collar criminal by you saying "since the money was there to pay the taxes and there was no effort to avoid them, please, you must acquit". Sure, that would be fair.