"Al Franken can't be sure of nomination at Democrats' state convention"

[kay1864]

I hope he gets the nomination this weekend (plus Al Gore just endorsed him).

I want to see Senator Franken on C-SPAN next year, cutting to the chase, and cutting to the core.

Al Franken can't be sure of nomination at Democrats' state convention
By Matthew Stolle
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

Since his decision to run for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, Al Franken has largely dominated the Democratic field with a potent combination of impressive fundraising and strong grassroots organizing, said Lawrence Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

But the spate of bad news has exposed weaknesses in Franken's campaign. Instead of arriving at Friday's convention as the all-but-certain endorsement candidate, uncertainty has clouded his political prospects.

"I think Franken enters the convention in a stronger position than (Jack) Nelson-Pallmeyer, but he's also very much a damaged candidate and one whom Republicans are eager to face and the Democrats are uncertain to back," Jacobs said.

Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr said the campaign was not concerned about the negative publicity about Franken's unpaid taxes in 17 states -- he's since decided to pay $70,000 in back taxes -- and a sexually graphic column Franken penned for Playboy in 2000. "We're incredibly excited about the amount of support that we've gotten in every corner of the state, including down in Rochester," Barr said.

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=16&a=346137

[BlooInBloo]

1. It would be wonderful if Obama threw his weight behind Franken at this point.

[onehandle]

3. He won't before the state convention, but he better afterwards.

I want to hear Bill O'Reilly say the words, "Senator Al Franken."

[BlooInBloo]

6. hahaha! That would be a keeper-video!

[blondeatlast]

31. Better yet, I want to see/hear Rush say it!

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/imageDB.cgi?isbn=9780440508649

[MiniMe]

39. ooooo, Hannity too.

[bunkerbuster1]

2. Oh, don't wuss out now, Minnesota!

Franken will stomp the living crap out of Norm Coleman. It's personal with Al.

And Al will draw donors from all over the nation who are pulling for him.

[earthlover]

32. I have lived in MN. I like Franken. I hate Coleman. Franken will lose. Sorry.

Coleman is a snake. He will eat Franken alive in the election. Please, stop it before it is too late! Coleman must be stopped!

[tedoll78]

4. Have there been any statewide polls of this theoretical?

I'd love to see a Senator Franken..

[kay1864]

9. Last I heard it was close between Franken and Coleman in the polls

But funds will roll in if he gets the nomination.

However, he has to get the nod over Nelson-Pallmeyer first.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. Yes:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/19057229.html

[Alter Ego]

5. Come on, Minnesota.

How can you say no to the man who brought us "Operation Chickenhawk"?

[Gabi Hayes]

35. that was a work of near genius...let's see if there's anything online.

I know Supply Side Jesus is there; almost as good

watch Al read it here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztY04FXxWXE

[Gabi Hayes]

37. ''I want to know what that smell is,'' said Gingrich, as they trudged down the jungle trail.

''It's shit. Limbaugh shits his pants every time he gets scared.''

live audience laughs hard....

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Hey, Franken has gotten some celebrity donations

Sam Waterston donated $2000 to the cause. (source: newsmeat)

[undeterred]

8. (Jack) Nelson-Pallmeyer is a wonderful progressive candidate

Franken has the name recognition and the money, but Nelson-Pallmeyer is the real deal.

[yurbud]

15. Al pulled his punches on Iraq when he was on the air--what has this Nelson-Pallmeyer

said or done about it?

[undeterred]

25. From his website:

Iraq
I was a strong critic of the war prior to the US invasion of Iraq. I served on a foreign policy advisory group for Paul Wellstone and met with Paul before he took his courageous vote against the war. I debated Congressman Jim Ramstad prior to the war. I said then that we were being lied to; that the administration was cultivating a politics of fear to justify a previously planned war; that the real objectives of the war were to control Iraq’s oil and assure military domination of the Middle East; and that the war would be a disaster for Iraq and for the United States.

I call for the United States to announce immediately its intention to end the occupation of Iraq, with the goal of withdrawing all US troops (and all private contractors) in a period of approximately six months.

The Bush administration never had an exit strategy for Iraq because it does not plan on leaving. The Bush administration invaded and occupies Iraq in pursuit of two principle goals: to establish permanent military bases and to control Iraq’s vast oil supplies. Responsibly ending the occupation depends on rejecting these goals.

Most Iraqis oppose the US occupation and will never agree to the United States having permanent military bases or controlling Iraqi oil. The Bush administration’s recent escalation (surge) does nothing to address Iraqi grievances. We are no closer to a political resolution of conflicts that separate Iraqi factions and the reasons Iraqis are hostile to US forces continue to fester.

Ending the occupation is the essential first step to reconciliation within Iraq. The United Nations, international community and Iraq’s neighbors could help promote Iraq stability and reconciliation but they will not help the United States establish permanent military bases or control Iraqi oil. Their assistance depends on ending the US occupation.

We have a moral and fiscal responsibility to help reconstruct Iraq, to help the more than 4 million Iraqi refugees created by the war and to fully support returning US veterans.

All of our hopes and dreams are held hostage to the Iraq war. The $12 billion per month we spend on the war not only hurts Iraqis, it also cripples domestic efforts to address pressing environmental, health, education and other needs at home. It is shameful that the Bush administration demands hundreds of billions of dollars to continue an unnecessary war while refusing to adequately fund programs for returning vets or health care programs for uninsured US children.

Re-orienting our foreign policy
President Bush calls for military expenditures of $650 billion in 2008 to be paid for with cuts in 141 programs including health care, education, development assistance and the environment.

Congress devoted 57 cents of every dollar it appropriated in 2006 to military spending, and less than four cents to education, less than three cents to nutrition, about two cents to housing, less than two cents to the environment, about one penny to foreign aid and less than 1/2 cent to job training.

We have to reorient our thinking about national and global security. Our security depends on the health of our communities, mutual respect, just and sustainable economies, international partnerships, the well-being of others, and the ecological health of the planet.

We must bring a responsible end to the Iraq War within 6 months and ensure that returning veterans receive the medical care and other support they need. We need to improve prospects for peace in the Middle East through determined, balanced diplomacy.

http://www.jackforsenate.org/foreign-policy.htm

[ProgressiveFool]

28. That sounds like the real deal alright

Having Franken in the Senate would be a lot of fun, but this fellow sounds more solid, and also strong and passionate. Sounds like they have a good field to choose from. I would think Wellstone would be happy with either of them.

[undeterred]

30. I love this:

"All of our hopes and dreams are held hostage to the Iraq war. The $12 billion per month we spend on the war not only hurts Iraqis, it also cripples domestic efforts to address pressing environmental, health, education and other needs at home. It is shameful that the Bush administration demands hundreds of billions of dollars to continue an unnecessary war while refusing to adequately fund programs for returning vets or health care programs for uninsured US children."

[yurbud]

34. that's impressive--I'll have to check later and see if Al has been as forthright

[Benhurst]

10. I just want us to pick up another seat. What's his opponent like?

His opponent in the primary, I mean. I know what the assclown Repub is like.

[undeterred]

11. He's a wonderful progressive candidate, better than Franken

http://pdamerica.org/articles/campaigns/2008-03-05-19-59-45-campaigns.php

http://www.jackforsenate.org/

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gMpTmr96V5hKIfyHT4Av4jsVQgrQD90JIDM00

[Vincardog]

12. Good dump the "Centrist" and go with the progressive. I am tired of Pols pandering to the middle and

moving to the right.

[kay1864]

13. Yeah, but....

Unlike Al Gore and Al Franken, Nelson-Pallmeyer has never been in a skit on Saturday Night Live.

So there :P








He hasn't written a best-selling book either. So double there!

[undeterred]

14. If MN elected Wellstone, they should like Nelson-Pallmeyer

MN can handle a progressive Senator. Franken is a good guy but he isn't a progressive.

[kay1864]

17. Plus he and Al Gore have the SAME FIRST NAME

I win :P











:+

[provis99]

16. Jack looks like an upstanding progressive

Why can't other states put forth good candidates like Minnesota does?

[undeterred]

23. Progressive Democrats of America supports candidates like this

http://pdamerica.org/articles/campaigns/index.php

but a lot of the time they are grassroots candidates without a ton of money. 5 PDA sponsored candidates lost in their primaries on Tuesday. But if you see someone on their candidate list, they're good.

And I trust Feingold's Progressive Patriot's Fund too. He's got good taste.
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/nav/about.html

[csorman]

45. Al is not a good candidate

for Minnesota. Trust me - people here are freaked out about him; he rubs them the wrong way. MN is not just city-dwelling liberals - we have a huge number of folks in "Greater" Minnesota who are not too thrilled with Al.

I have heard people who support him and will vote for his endorsement at the convention this weekend say that there is no way he can win. Sure - people in other states think it is cool and that Franken will "crush" Coleman - but there is no way that is going to happen.

Should be an interesting weekend, anyway. Someone on MPR just mentioned Jesse Ventura entering the race as an Independent - oh good grief. Here we go. 3 goofnuts running for the same seat. Ugh.

[Benhurst]

18. Thanks!

:hi:

[dflprincess]

26. Both Franken and Nelson-Pallmeyer have said they will abide by the party endorsement this weekend

so unless someone serious pops up, there will be no real primary. (There's a couple of the nut cases that run every year but nothing that will seriously challenge the DFL endorsed candidate).

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is more progressive and would be a more Wellstone like senator (though quieter). He is the preferred candidate of those of us who like to think we are part of the Farmer-Labor wing of the DFL.

[Gman]

19. Unpaid taxes in 17 states

that he knew that was out there and he ran anyway without clearing them up first? Franken knows they go through everything with a super-fine toothed comb looking for anything. And he left them with a gold mine of dirt?

C'mon, Al. You know better than that.

[high density]

22. Franken is guilty of trusting his accountant too much

http://wcco.com/realitycheck/al.franken.taxes.2.712757.html

[undeterred]

24. Give me a break.

[earthlover]

33. Yeah, and Hillary is guilty of trusting Bush too much on the IWR.....

It is total bs saying it is the accountant's fault. I think anyone who has filled out an IRS tax form knows this in his heart.

Coleman is licking his chops to use this against Franken!

[high density]

36. You think a guy like Franken spends a lot of time filling out tax forms?

How about the tax forms of 17 different states?

:crazy:

[earthlover]

43. If you have the time to make money, you have time to pay taxes

[VP505]

38. He paid his taxes as I understand it

only to the wrong state, but has since cleared that up. I think its a non-issue bing inflated:puffpiece: by wing nuts to try and sink his candidacy.

[gatorboy]

21. A sexually graphic column ... In Playboy!

I'm getting the vapors!

[dflprincess]

27. The Repukes need to be careful about this stuff

it would be a shame if someone started publicly discussing Normie's private life. What would you prefer, a senator who <gasp> wrote an article for Playboy or a senator who is known around Captital Hill as Senator Grab Ass?

[ProgressiveFool]

29. lol shout that out in the Senate cloak room and see how many of the old geezers respond... /nt

[scarletwoman]

40. As a Minnesotan, I NEVER wanted Franken for my Senate candidate & I totally resent his carpetbagging

I just hope to gawd that Nelson-Pallmeyer wins the state convention.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is a genuine progressive, Al Franken is just another jackass "liberal" and he's going to blow our chances of getting another Democratic Senator for Minnesota.

I knew Paul Wellstone, and Franken is no Wellstone. Nelson-Pallmeyer could be, but asshole Franken just had to butt in. Fuck Al Franken. His candidacy just guarantees us another six years of that weasel Norm Coleman. Thanks for nothing, Al, you egoistic fuckwad.

sw

[dflprincess]

41. I don't think it's all ego

Franken was a friend of Wellstone's and getting rid of Coleman seems pretty personal for Franken (as it is for many of us). Franken often mentions Coleman's comment about being a 99% improvement over Wellstone and you can feel his anger when he does. And he at least grew up here, his parents lived here until their deaths and he was back here often to visit them - he's not the carpetbagger other candidates have been in other states.

I'm hoping JNP gets the endoresment, but if he doesn't I will support Franken. I'm not convinced that Franken can't beat Coleman - he just needs to be ready to fight back. If he is the nominee I hope he'll have the money to run some really good ads asking why the Republicans keep brining up crap like the Playboy article instead of discussing the issues and Senator Weasel's record.

[scarletwoman]

42. Oh, I'll vote for him, of course, if he's the one on the ballot. And, yes, I know all about his

genuine ties to Minnesota.

I don't know how to explain, and maybe I'm just being irrational -- but I just really resented Franken showing up and announcing that he wanted to run for Senate.

It wasn't like anyone (that I know of) was ASKING him to move back here and get into politics -- I mean, do we really have a shortage of good Democratic politicians here in Minnesota? He just deigned to grace us with his presence -- like we should consider ourselves lucky that he showed up to "help".

I've been pissed off about Franken from the very beginning. I appreciate that he's a good guy and all that. But did we Minnesotans really NEED him? Were we so short of decent Minnesota Democrats that we needed this B-list (or C-list) celebrity showing up with his Hollywood money to outspend every genuine grassroots progressive to take over the DFL Senate nomination?

I DON'T think he's an asset to the DFL. And I don't think that he'll be able to defeat Coleman. I'd much rather some genuine Minnesota progressive, who had risen through the ranks through grassroots activism and grassroots support was carrying the DFL banner to the Senate contest.

I just feel like Franken imposed himself upon us, and I DO resent it.

But I'll vote for him, of course. Because I ALWAYS vote for the Democrat. I just would have preferred a better Democrat.

sw

[MiniMe]

44. He thought about running in 2006, but this is personal to him

He wants to take Coleman's ass out. He always did a show about Wellstone on the anniverseries of Wellstone's death and seemed to be holding back tears. And he was always really angry at the right wing talking heads when they talked about the funeral and said it was all about politics. I don't think this is about ego at all, but I hope the best dem candidate wins.