Franken eyes role as 'people's proxy' in hearings

[onehandle]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – Finally joining the Senate, Democrat Al Franken envisions playing the "people's proxy" during Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court hearings.

Franken, awaiting "an awfully emotional" Tuesday when he is sworn in, is joining the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is to begin hearings next week on President Barack Obama's first nominee to the high court.

"As someone who will have been in the committee a grand total of six days and isn't an attorney I kind of see myself fulfilling a certain role for Americans watching the hearings," Franken said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press.

"So I kind of see myself as people's proxy, not that the other senators aren't, but certainly that's the kind of role I want to play," he said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090707/ap_on_go_co/us_franken_senate

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Go Al, Go." - The citizens of the United States of America

"Don't let the Homelanders impose their Pharisee-inspired Kinky FAIL-Freak Totalitarian Corporatist Tortured Hypocritical Wide-stance 'Family Values' upon our great nation. Stand up for democracy and for the people. That's what we ask."

- The citizens of the United States of America

[No Elephants]

2. Franken eyes role--I thought that was a mispelling of "eyes roll."

:eyes:

That's what my eyes would do if I got a chance to be in today's Senate Chamber.

(Did get that chance in the past, courtesy of a trip arranged by my alma mater).

[mucifer]

8. I misread that, too.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. I am so happy Al is being seated at last

[liberal N proud]

4. Hey, Al, the other senators aren't there for the people

[cali]

6. really? so Russ Feingold, Pat Leahy and Sheldon Whitehouse aren't there for the people?

bullshit.

[daggahead]

5. Sorry to be a cynic ...

... but I hope that Senator Franken does not get bullied by influential committee members into "playing ball." If that happens, I hope he will share his experiences with the public.

[cali]

7. what are you even talking about?

[Occulus]

13. What are they talking about?

Business as usual.

[salguine]

9. The first thought that struck me was that, if Franken starts acting too vocally on

behalf of "The People", he's going to get shut out of every meeting.

[cali]

10. On the Judiciary Committee? Hardly.

[wroberts189]

15. Franken is a tough cookie .. he does not back down.

I really hope I am correct that he does not go along to get along but I have listened to him for years.

[Ian David]

11. Waiting for The Senate to come on C-SPAN. n/t

[xchrom]

12. recommend

[Wednesdays]

14. K&R

:kick: