2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumLet Me Tell You Something About Sen. Al Franken
Congratulations to Lois Raben of Boca Raton, FL. She won our contest last week; she joined Nancy Pelosi and me in Orlando on Friday; and she received Blue Americas quadruple-platinum RIAA award for the B-52s album Cosmic Thing.
Now on to what I want to tell you, about Sen. Al Franken. (Doesnt that have a nice ring to it: Senator Al Franken?)
Last year, when President Obama was contemplating an attack on the Assad regime in Syria, the Administration arranged for a number of classified briefings for Members of Congress. I supposed that I could tell you what was discussed, but: (a) then Id have to kill you, and (b) thats not the point of this story.
There were around ten briefings. At the one that I went to, there were three Senators, and around 15 Members of the House. If you do the math, youll see that its highly unlikely that all 535 Members of Congress attended even one of these classified briefings.
Im not sure of this, but I think that Sen. Al Franken attended all of them. If not every single one, he certainly attended most of them. So basically, the briefings score was something like this:
Sen. Al Franken: ~10.
Me and Every Other Member Who Gave a Damn: 1
The Other Useless Clods Who Fool the Voters Every Two Years: 0
For the most part, the briefings were the same generals saying the same things about the same things. The only difference was the Q&A. Each Member of Congress got to ask one (and only one) question at each briefing.
Well, Sen. Al Franken had more than one question. He had lots of questions. And he wanted to hear the answers to everyone elses questions. So he attended lots of briefings.
And Senator Frankens questions were intelligent questions. As opposed to some other people. At one point, some GOP Senate doofus asked, I think that China is behind this. Do you agree? Is China behind this?
Answer: No. China is not the cause of the Syrian Civil War. In fact, only an idiot could say that China is behind the war in Syria. And on that occasion, one did.
But Sen. Al Frankens question was cool, discerning, sophisticated and revealing. He had done his homework. He knew what he was talking about, and what he needed to learn.
One of the great things about being a Member of Congress is that I get to see my colleagues as they really are. Some disappoint me. Others impress me. Al Franken impresses me.
I will venture to say that no one outside of Senator Franken and his staff knows that Senator Franken took it upon himself to attend one Syria briefing after another, just so that he could learn as much as possible from the Q&A, and make the right decision on war and peace. He hasnt told anyone. So I will. Im telling you.
Senator Franken is on the ballot on Nov. 4th. There is a good chance that he will win, but nothing is for sure in politics. Regardless, his campaign gives us an opportunity only once every six years! to show him our support, our thanks, for a former comedian who takes his job very seriously now.
Senator Franken deserves your support. So click here, and give it to him.
Courage,
Rep. Alan Grayson
brewens
(13,598 posts)plugging on SNL in the 70's!
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)brewens
(13,598 posts)commedian but that Americans have always appreciated humor from their politicians. From the wry wit of Abraham Lincoln, to the self effacing humor of Ronald Reagan and the hilarious slap-stick of George Bush! Then it shows several clips of Bush being an idiot! I only saw it once but it was classic.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)You could tell by his book, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot "
He's a LOT more than just hilarious.
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)...when Billo became totally unhinged and told Franken to (and I quote) "SHUT UP!!!!!"
Al keeps cool and tries to get a word in edgewise, while Billo keeps making a fool of himself.
Moderated by the late, great Molly Ivins (1944-2007). RIP.
rickford66
(5,524 posts)I was in a hotel gym, on a treadmill, while on a business trip. Amazingly FOX wasn't on the TV and there was no one else around to change the channel. Thanks Al.
JohnnyRingo
(18,636 posts)Admittedly, I do miss his comedy, but the country is far better off for it. You underscore that benefit here.
Thanx for posting!
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)...because Capitol Hill is a joke in and of itself.
D.C. is a slapstick pie-fight and a playground insult fest, whereas Al is more of a cerebral and clever Marx Brother.
tom_kelly
(960 posts)for your continued dedication to our country, Mr. Grayson. I wish I could vote for Mr. Franken.
vi5
(13,305 posts)I was trying to think yesterday of who our reliable liberal standard bearers were in the Senate. Only Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders came to mind. I then remembered Franken, but that's because he stays fairly quiet. Which can be a good thing, but given the dearth of truly and unapologetically liberal voices in our party nowadays, we need more loud and proud than on the sidelines.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Barbara Boxer.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)He is on "our" side on every issue, and he fights for them. He is a first-termer now. I hope he begins to get more of a national soapbox.
3catwoman3
(24,007 posts)...Senator Franken was in his comedic career without also being highly intelligent.
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)You think he'll run for office in NY or NJ someday?
3catwoman3
(24,007 posts)George Carlin.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)the media outlets in his state. He is not a media hog like some senator (McCain fer instance). He gives interviews when he has something substantive to say. I've come to appreciate his service greatly.
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)Like Dennis Miller or that ditzy born-again crackpot Victoria Jackson. Especially Miller, though. Jackson is better suited for a Ringling Brothers tent revival, not a real-world political debate.
Dollars to donuts, Al would stay on point while Dennis the Menace would just start bobbing his head and making obscure pop-culture references that make no sense.
"It's like a combination of Al's short-lived NBC sitcom Lateline, and a duet album of Morrissey and Kate Bush... Billy!"
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)I knew then he was a very smart knowledgeable man, (besides being a natural wit) and was surprised but thrilled when he ran for Senator. Being from Texas, I am giving what modest contributions I can to the two Democrats who have a chance to win this year. Since our Dem. Sen. Candidate doesn't have a chance in hell, I have decided to send Al a small contribution. He will represent me in Texas better than the two nitwits actually from here (Cruz and Cornyn). I am hoping after being reelected he will seek opportunities to speak out publicly more often.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)understand the issues and acts on them. He is my senator and I am voting for him in 2014. We need more people like him in congress. Intelligence and honesty are a must for governing.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,740 posts)He's been an even better senator than I expected. He keeps a low profile, gives interviews only to local media, and absolutely knows what he's talking about. I met him right after Paul Wellstone was killed in 2002 (before Franken became a senator), when he came to Wellstone's campaign HQ to help with Mondale's unfortunately unsuccessful stand-in campaign. I was so impressed with how smart (and nice) he was.
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)Huzzah to you and Senator Franken.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH, SMART ENOUGH, AND DOGGONE IT, PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
DavidDvorkin
(19,479 posts)I haven't seen replies from that account, though.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)Why don't you represent the Villages area anymore, my mom loved you?
brooklynite
(94,602 posts)Seriously, Al calls me 2-3 times a year, so I'm up on his campaign. This is a "Likely Dem" seat and he has a double-digit lead. If you have cash to spend at this point, spend it on a race where it'll make a difference: Alaska, Kansas, Colorado, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, even South Dakota would be a better choice.
If Alan Grayson think's Franken need help, may he can cough up some funds from HIS bank account, since he's in a "Solid Dem" district.
Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)My daughter has met him three or four times within the past two years at various events. His office invited my wife to join him at the Rondo Day parade this summer and she got to march the parade route with him and many other newly naturalized citizens.
The man has boundless energy and is extremely active throughout the whole state.