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krugman.blogs.nytimes.com - 7/5/2009

Al Franken's secret

— krugman.blogs.nytimes.com — David Broder has a column this morning calling for bipartisanship. I know, you're shocked. But what struck... me was this bit about Al Franken: Franken, the loud-mouthed former comedian, will be the 60th member of the Senate Democratic caucus ... Two ... (more) Al Franken's secret

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Al Franken

James Inhofe

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huffingtonpost.com - 7/1/2009

Bernie Sanders Demands Democrats Commit To Stop Health Care Filibuster

— huffingtonpost.com — One of the Senate's most vocal progressives is demanding that the Democratic Party commit to voting against... filibustering health care legislation now that, with the impending arrival of Al Franken, the party has 60 caucusing members. Sen. Bernie ... (more) Bernie Sanders Demands Democrats Commit To Stop Health ...

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tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com - 7/1/2009

Franken's New Capitol Hill Office Seals Final Victory Over Coleman

— tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com — Now that he has won his seat in the United States Senate and will be sworn in... next week, Sen.-elect Al Franken (D-MN) has officially been assigned office space on Capitol Hill -- with some very special significance to it. A Senate staffer has sent ... (more) Franken's New Capitol Hill Office Seals Final Victory ...

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Al Franken

Norm Coleman

United States

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He Actually Knows What He's Talking About
Eschaton — While it's unlikely that the Villagers will ever let this bit of information through, it's true that Franken probably has thought more about actual policy issues than the vast majority of members of Congress. ...

"The salient thing about Franken isn’t that he used to be a satirist."
Althouse — "It's that he used to be a satirist who was so interested in politics that he transitioned to becoming a political satirist and then a candidate for office. All because he was really interested in the issues and wanted to make a difference. Most comedians probably aren’t very well-informed about policy issues, but comedians do have both the time and the means to inform themselves if they’re so inclined, and Franken very much was and is so inclined." ...

Midday Open Thread
Daily Kos — An idea whose time has clearly come: Draft Bachmann. California is busy printing up IOU's. That's not a messed up budgeting system at all... Gay sex has been decriminalized in Delhi, which is expected to lead to further advances in equality in other areas of India. (Bear in mind the law being overturned dates to the British empire.) Holy crap. What Yglesias said. Sheesh, and I'd had a generally favorable view of Amy Klobuchar. John Cole speculates on what ...

Another day, another catch-up post
The Sideshow — ... On the one hand, I know it's true that a political comedian probably knows more about the issues than a Senator does, and I think it's great that Bernie Sanders finally has a colleague he can talk to. On the other hand, I notice that the Dem leadership promptly put Franken on about four committees, which makes me wonder (a) what they think they're buying (probably a guy who doesn't know anything and for that reason will be easily led, in which case they are in for a big surprise), and (b) what Franken thinks they think they are buying. Oh, well, and of course (c) - if they've ...