Comic Franken has to show his serious side in Senate bid

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10087743

Published Thursday | July 26, 2007
Comic Franken has to show his serious side in Senate bid

OTSEGO, Minn. (AP) — Al Franken, the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member running for the Senate, will tell a joke when the material is there, like the day President Bush underwent a colonoscopy and transferred power temporarily to the vice president.

Appearing at a recent Democratic event, Franken opened by apologizing for his wife's absence. "She couldn't be here today," he said. "When Vice President Cheney was president for two hours, he had her arrested."


Al Franken checks out "Eeyore" the Democratic donkey at a garden party in Otsego, Minn., as he courts party activists across the state.

The wisecrack drew laughs, but it was really just an icebreaker. Voters who come to a Franken event in hopes of seeing a whole stand-up routine from the author of "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot" are likely to be disappointed.

Franken's goal is to convince Democratic activists that he has the substance and seriousness of purpose to take on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman next year.

To do that, Franken is going through the paces of any fledgling candidate, crisscrossing the state and schmoozing Democratic activists at as many party gatherings and parades as he can.

Last Saturday, Franken was on the trail by 8:30 a.m., hitting a community parade in St. Paul, an academic conference, three Democratic picnics and an open house for his new campaign headquarters in St. Paul, all in about 13 hours.

FULL story at link.

[zehnkatzen]

1. I really hope Franken wins...

...I'm just unhappy that he had to give up his talk show to do it. It was one of the best things on radio in years.

If Minnesotans were smart enough to vote Wellstone in, then they're smart enough to go for Al. That ought to get them over thier Norm Coleman buyers remorse.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Anyone who has heard his show or read his books will know...

...he possesses the seriousness and gravitas to be a Senator. Besides, if a dimwit like Fredo Thompson can be a US Senator, I think the bar has already been lowered...;)

[rocktivity]

3. I hope Al appreciates getting such valuable advice

I'm sure that it NEVER occured to a professional goofball like him that getting political support means coming across as someone who should be taken seriously.

:eyes:
rocknation

[question everything]

7. He is and he does

Heard him a few months ago. Telling the story of his wife being orphaned at an early age and how her mother made it on survivor benefits to help her support the family of five - I think.

And he said how the Republicans "believe in pulling one by the boot straps" and added that his mother in law did not even have boots..

[comtec]

4. Honestly Al's show took a while to get good

However it was fantastic the last year.
I have read/bought all his books, and I agree, he would be a faboo senator.
He is willing to work and research as well as make sure he has a competent staff on hand to help him research.

AL FOR SENATE!

I know that Minn. would be well served with him in office. A friend of Wellstone, and a reasonable liberal.

-A patriot in Exile

[zehnkatzen]

5. Yeah, it started out as uneven as hell...

...that Katherine Lampher, though, she learned him up real good.

All those early AAR shows started out tentatively, hoping you'd like them. I remember listening to a clip from the first Morning Sedition, when MS was going off the air, and Marc Maron sounded very tentative, very afraid to strike out. Completely different by the time the show ended thou. Gawd I miss me the Morning Sedition.

[comtec]

6. GOD I miss morning sedition!

That was hands down the STUPIDEST decision AAR has EVER made. Mark and Marc was a great team and all that kept me sane since they came on the air!

[AndreaCG]

8. Al's show got better after Lampher left

He stopped doing a lot of the so-so comedy sketches because there was no one to bounce them off of, and depended more on guests to fill the void.