Al Franken speaks to protesters at Minnesota State Fair

Junior Senator Al Franken was confront by his constituents at the recent Minnesota State Fair, he addressed their concerns in a civil manner. A nice departure from the posturing and spectacle that often marred interactions between voters and their leaders. Ironic as Franken has quite the reputation for being wrestler-like and confrontational, well suited to the "cage match" format of recent Town Halls.

Dustytrice.com has the video,

Franken Talks Down Angry Mob!!!
I got to witness something really special the other day. About a dozen tea party activists had staked out Sen. Al Franken’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair and confronted him loudly when he arrived. But within minutes, he’d turned an unruly crowd into a productive conversation on health care. The discussion went from insurance reform, to the public option, to veterans benefits, to cap and trade. He made a few laugh and even told a touching story that moved a few to tears. A whole lot of common ground was found.

VIDEO: Al Franken "talks down angry mob"

AL FRANKEN: I'm going to vote the way I want to vote, now let me tell you how I decide I vote. I use my independent judgment and I don't always go by the polls... The point is people have different opinions but I thank you for your passion...

Let's look at other countries, let's not look at Canada, not England. Let's look at Switzerland...

A Franken wins Senate Seat after 7 months, Minnesota Supreme Court rules

After 7 long months for Minnesotans, the Supreme Court has finally settled the much disputed election between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman.

Franken wins Minn. Senate race; Coleman concedes
Al Franken ascended Tuesday from the ranks of former "Saturday Night Live" comedians to an even more exclusive club, outlasting Republican Norm Coleman in an eight-month recount and courtroom saga to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Franken's victory gives Democrats control of 60 seats in the Senate...

PBS Newshour hosted a discussion on the long-awaited outcome in the Minnesota US Senate race
Eric Black trying to encapsulate what Al Franken was and has now become

After Long Court Battle, Franken Wins Minn. Senate Seat
ERIC BLACK: Well, I think he's not going to be your average senator. He didn't come from a typical background for a senator. His pre-politics life left him with some impressions that people found difficult to accept from a senatorial candidate. He's got a different personality. I think he's on his best behavior now and is going to try to keep it up.

But, you know, he was a comedian. He was a radio talk show host. He was very aggressive and argumentative in some of those roles. And now he's pledging to be someone who can work across party lines.

And, you know, he won't have to face the voters of Minnesota for five-and-a-half years. We'll see what they think of his personality when his turn comes around.

Amy Walter brings up Franken's reputation as a funnyman and asserts he has a capable challenger in the affable Amy Klobuchar, formerly Minnesota's lone Senator whilst the Election was in dispute.

AMY WALTER: ... I think he wants to dispel those stereotypes, that I'm just the guy from "Saturday Night Live" ... I'm going to just be the funny guy in the Senate, number one, because, quite frankly, Amy Klobuchar, very funny, so she's, I think, taken that mantle. If you've seen her in public, she's been really seen as sort of a rising star in part because she has this wonderful sense of humor.

But also that his temperament was going to be a problem. Remember, he wasn't just a liberal talk show host. He was a very aggressive attack dog, writing books like, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." So I think he's going to want to -- he wants to come in, prove that he has the policy chops, prove that he has the temperament to do this job.

- Listen to the discussion of Al Franken's Senate win from PBS Newshour

Speaking of funny. Former Presidential contender and actor, Fred Thompson conducts a mock interview with new junior Senator Al Franken.

Fred Thompson mock Interview with Al Franken
FRED THOMPSON: Al I hate to tell you this, you're not good enough. You're not smart enough and nobody who knows you likes you doggoneit.

- Listen to Fred Thompson's Al Franken interview here

Read more about Franken's journey to Senate victory
- Political life imitates art: Stephen Colbert for President and Al Franken for Senate
- Al Franken - The Road to the Minnesota Senate
- Answering the critics: Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and The Terminator
- Al Franken wins the Minnesota Senate seat. Coleman to challenge
- Al Franken: American Pundit really fighting

Joe Scarborough to Norm Coleman: "You Lost, It's Over. Enough"

VIDEO: MSNBC's Scarborough To Norm Coleman: "You Lost, It Is Over"

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough made his point perfectly clear to Norm Coleman, who defiantly won't concede against colorful APF Pundit and would-be Senator Al Franken.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: OK I don't mean to keep interrupting your news but when are the Republicans gonna give up the ghost on this? Seriously, Norm - I like you, you lost. OK can we seat the Senators?... It is seriously not fair to the constituents in Minnesota to drag this out any longer. It's over. It's over Norm OK.

Joe hammering his point home continues incredulously

But seriously enough... Norm you lost. It's over. Quit!

Speaking of "seriously", a sign that Franken will forever be viewed through the prism that he began as a comedian. Co-hosts Mika and Joe share this exchange

JOE SCARBOROUGH: He [Franken] didn't make me laugh at all. Not one time.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Not once. You expect him to. That's gonna be pressure for him. When you're a comedian people expect you to always make them laugh

- Read the latest details on this saga from Norm Coleman's official news section or Al Franken's blog

Update:
With the news that Republican Arlen Specter has switched to being a Democrat, Jon Stewart highlighted the heightened implications of this hotly contested seat

April 28, 2009: How to Judge a Guy in 100 Days
JON STEWART: Specter's move puts the Democrats within a hair's breath of a un-filibusterable 60 seat majority. So now it appears that the Senate's balance of power -- in many respects the very future of our nation is in the hands of Al Franken. (Laughter and applause). What a country?!

Al Franken: American Pundit really fighting

Working on the premise that punditry is not unlike pro-wrestling, I've been of the mind that the animosity pundits express for each other and their ideological opponents was more theatrical than heartfelt.

Whilst arguments can seem heated and the barbs pointed, the jousts are usually verbal and often conducted in the comfort and solace of a radio booth or TV stage. The cartoonish theatrics, the formulaic stances, coupled with the fact that pundits rarely cross paths tends to make me think that conflicts are "all in a day's work" rather than rooted in personal hatred. The political equivalent to loyal opponents 'Wolf and Sheepdog' from the Warner Brothers cartoons.

Whilst there have been rivalries in punditry before, only one person boasts this storied a record for confronting ideological opponents physically in real life.

Al Franken has a history of getting into confrontations with people he disagrees with. Highlights include his famed takedown of a Howard Dean heckler and most recently a post debate staredown with fellow Senate hopeful, Republican Norm Coleman.

VIDEO: Al Franken confronts Norm Coleman after debate

Al Franken isn't afraid to get in someone's face, by his own admission. In his 2004 book, 'Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them', Franken gleefully recounts altercations with Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Brian Kilmeade, Rich Lowry, Karl Rove and even Barbara Bush.

In a chapter titled "I challenge Rich Lowry to a fight" Al provides an insight in to why he's ready to fight.

I caught Rich talking... to some College Republicans. He was saying that Democrats had "feminized" politics. In fact, by making it okay for politicians to cry, Lowry said that we Democrats had "sissified" politics.

Al tracked down Rich and proceeded to challenge him to a fight over the phone. Rich did not immediately take Al up on his offer, asking if he could sleep on it.
Al continues

Later that, I happened to tell my son, Joe, about the call. He thought it was a bad idea. "Dad, if he turns you down, he's going to feel like a total wimp."
"That's the point, son. I couldn't allow him to challenge the manhood of Democrats."...

In the book, Al dedicates entire chapters challenging individual pundits. Rebutting assertions they've made on TV or in their books. Franken punctuating each of these chapter by detailing an amusing (often confrontational) encounter had with the challenged subject.

On Al Franken's encounter with Sean Hannity

When I first met Hannity, I had no idea who the hell he was. It was in 1996, in a green room at Fox News. I had just finished my first appearance on The Factor... and was about to pick up my coat when I was confronted by what appeared to be an angry, Irish ape-man...

Al was promoting his book 'Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot', Sean Hannity didn't care for the book title and it's tone. Quarrelling over an insult Rush Limbaugh supposedly directed to then 13yr old Chelsea Clinton, things got heated

For some reason, that set me off, and before long we were screaming at each other. I had never in my life hated a person more than I hated Sean Hannity at that moment. Finally, Colmes broke us up, and I left, shaking my head. Who was that asshole?

Franken recounts numerous stories like this in his book. One particular chapter titled "I attend the White House Correspondents Dinner and Annoy Karl Rove, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, and the entire Fox News Team" has Franken aptly describing multiple showdowns.

Describing his confrontation with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade

There we were, face to face, two fierce men: one about thirty and in very good shape; the other fifty-one with chronic back pain. A classic standoff.

Al's taunt to then deputy secretary of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz

"Hi, Dr Wolfowitz. Hey, the Clinton military did a great job in Iraq, didn't it?"
He looked at me a couple of seconds, then said "Fuck you".

Whilst it's undeniable that Franken isn't afraid to fight. His comedic disposition makes him comes off more as a prankster than a pugilist. Someone who doesn't mind heated repartee or an awkward encounter if its in the service of a laugh or getting a new story to tell.

When two people are facing off but both are in on the joke, you could argue it's just like pro-wrestling. However if those same two people face off and only one person is taking it as a joke, you'd simply call it fighting.

Exit note:
In my conversation with the late great Dean Barnett, he did argue that it can be real at times. Describing it thusly, "It wasn’t a shtick. It wasn’t an act. It was sort of like if you went to a wrestling locker room and they were still fighting."

Ann Coulter: "Political discourse resembles professional wrestling"

Many people have arrived at the analogy that Politics and Punditry is not unlike pro-wrestling. Wrestlers interested in Politics have come to this conclusion, just ask Don "Cyrus" Callis and the legendary Mick Foley. Politicos interested in wrestling have observed likewise, see Marc Ambinder.

So do pundits see themselves as wrestlers? Arguably the most wrestler-like pundit of them all, Ann Coulter seems to think so.
In her book 'Slander' she writes"

Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right. (2002) by Ann Coulter
Political "debate" in this country is insufferable. Whether conducted in Congress, on the political talk shows, or played out at dinners and cocktail parties, politics is a nasty sport...

Instead of actual debate about ideas and issues with real consequences, the country is trapped in a political discourse that increasingly resembles professional wrestling.

Her observation seemingly delivered without the slightest hint of irony was not surprisingly pounced on by her detractors.

Fellow wrestling pundit, Al Franken mentions this quote verbatim in his own book. Countering with

Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right (2003) by Al Franken
So what is Coulter's contribution to civilizing our political discourse? Well, in the entire 206 pages, she never actually makes a case for any conservative issue. Not school vouchers, not supply-side tax cuts... The entire book is filled with distortions, factual errors and vicious invective - slander, if you will...

Sarah Augusto in a review for Political Research site 'Publiceye.org' offer this assessment of Ann Coulter

A Review of Ann Coulter’s Slander!
If political debate in the United States is the World Wrestling Federation, then Ann Coulter is the SmackDown champion. Slander consists of little more than an angry tirade against all things liberal expressed through sarcastic, inflammatory, and often misleading language. For someone so concerned with the quality of political debate, it is interesting that Coulter seems more concerned with bashing liberals and glorifying conservatives than presenting rational, coherent arguments.

Bryan Keefer in a 'Slander' book review first published in Salon Magazine reservedly agrees with Ann

Throwing the book at her
she derides "arguments by demonization" and argues that "lies and personal attacks are deeply corrosive of public debate and democratic compromises." She correctly observes that perceptions and falsehoods promulgated in the media have a self-reinforcing quality... But given how she herself uses these tactics throughout the book, even Coulter's more astute observations raise obvious charges of hypocrisy.

Yet Slander's sales, alongside those of Coulter's political opposite, Michael Moore, reveal something sad and important about the state of the country: Those with a talent for inflammatory rhetoric rather than facts have their fingers on the pulse of contemporary political debate.

Other links:
- Politics is wrestling, Quote roundup: Ann Coulter, Jon Stewart, Mick Foley, Marc Ambinder, Matt Lewis, Wyatt Cenac, Mick Foley

A tribute to Alan Colmes by The Daily Show and The Colbert Report

As reported last November, Alan Colmes the long time liberal counterpart to the Alpha Conservative Sean Hannity would be leaving their top rating Fox News show.

Jon Stewart of the Daily Show paid a mocking tribute to Alan's 12 year tenure as the "hapless" liberal foil.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Hall & Oates Pay Tribute to Alan Colmes

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Read the full lyrics to the Hall and Oates song at The Huffington Post

Anytime you need a token liberal
Nothin' but a body to fill a chair
The barest shadow of a person
Alan Colmes is always there...

Sean Hannity responded to the comdedic tribute of his long time partner in an interview for Broadcasting and Cable:

Sean Hannity Talks Life Without Colmes
Jon Stewart addressed Colmes’ departure on The Daily Show Thursday night recruiting washed-up 80s pop duo Darryl Hall and John Oates to offer a farewell ditty to the departing Colmes...

Said Hannity: "I was actually thinking of Jon [Stewart] as a co-host but I needed someone who could be smart and funny without 50 writers and two has-been rockers who are badly in need of Botox."

Alan Colmes showed he could laugh off the ribbing that he was a "token liberal (punching bag)" by appearing on the Daily Show's spinoff, The Colbert Report. Effectively reprising his role as the beta Anchor.

Colbert and Colmes

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Colbert and Colmes - Colmes Gets Fired

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

In another Colmes and Colbert segment, watch Stephen (a former Presidential contender) take on "comedians running for office" in reference to new Minnesota Senator Al Franken. Watch Colbert and Colmes on Ronald Burris appointment

Al Franken wins the Minnesota Senate seat. Coleman to challenge

Al Franken (D) has won the Minnesota Senate seat by referee's decision. But it may not stand. The disputed championship will most likely go to the courts as the incumbent Norm Coleman (R) plans to challenge the recount.

Franken Wins Minnesota Senate Race in Recount, But Lawsuit Looms
A Minnesota board has certified election results showing Democrat Al Franken has won the U.S. Senate recount -- by 225 votes.

But that doesn't mean the former Saturday Night Live comedian's race against his Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, is over. While FOX News has learned that Senate Democratic leaders will try to seat Franken on Tuesday, a legal challenge probably will keep the race in limbo...

Extending an already dramatic contest further...

The recount reversed the unofficial Election Day results, which showed Coleman with a 215-vote lead.

Franken made up the deficit over seven tortuous weeks of ballot-sifting in part by prevailing on challenges that both campaigns brought to thousands of ballots...

Al Franken is on the verge of completing an improbable APF resume having begun as a wrestler in his college days, making his name on Saturday Night Live, becoming a formidable voice for the left as flagship talker for Air America Radio to finally being elected to the Senate.

Wrestler, Satirist, Pundit and now Politician - summing up neatly all the universes this blog touches on.

Find some of my favourite Al Franken posts here:
- Al Franken - The Road to the Minnesota Senate
- Political life imitates art: Stephen Colbert for President and Al Franken for Senate
- Answering the critics: Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and The Terminator
- Al Franken, Jonah Goldberg and Rich Lowry on Pundits Fighting
- PunditFight presents: The Al Franken Wallpaper

The latest on the Al Franken / Norm Coleman Minnesota recount

More than a month after the election closed, the Minnesota Senate seat remains up in the air. With more drama, twists and turns than a wrestling, there is certainly no love lost between the two challengers Al Franken (D) and Norm Coleman (R).
Via Politico

Franken grabs lead in Senate recount
Al Franken leads in the Minnesota Senate race for the first time, after a week in which the state's Canvassing Board reviewed more than 1,300 disputed ballots...

But the timeline for certifying a winner is as distant as ever. With more litigation pending and additional absentee ballots still to be counted, the race will not be decided before the end of the year...

Coleman's campaign preached caution in interpreting in the current tally, arguing that it will change before the official count is certified. Its lead recount attorney, Fritz Knaak, argued that the current Franken lead "will be their high water mark."

Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr said the lawsuit shows that the Coleman's campaign is "panicked" that it will end up behind once the recount is completed...

Franken, Coulter, Stephanie and Dennis: Pundit debates

In previous posts I've stated that pundits rarely venture outside their fiefdoms and challenge other pundits face to face. Often times they will call each other out on their own TV shows (like Olbermann) or on the radio (like Levin). Every so often they will challenge each other directly but usually with someone holding court (like O'Reilly hosting Maher).

The best debates however are the long form debates, traditionally held in University settings. Independent moderators moving the proceedings, wrestling-style live crowd feedback, body language and extemporaneous thought.

Here are a collection of some of the best:

A Conversation Between Al Franken & Ann Coulter
Friday, May 14, 2004. Hosted by The Connecticut Forum

From the Left...Al Franken Bestselling author of LIES and The Lying LIars Who Tell Them and From the Right...Ann Coulter Author of the bestseller TREASON-Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism. Political fireworks!
Moderated by Steve Roberts

Talk Radio's "The Great Debate" Stephanie Miller(L) VS Dennis Prager(R)
October 7, 2008. Hosted by Democracy Broadcasting

Talk-radio's Left meets the Right in Los Angeles following the Obama - McCain televised debate. 1-hour of spirited debate between Prager and Miller taped before a live audience of their fans in Glendale, California.

Book Panel including Al Franken and Bill O'Reilly (audio only)
May 31, 2003. Hosted by C-SPAN and BookTV
Read BuzzFlash' reader account:

The story of how Franken tracked down and debunked this claim ran on for 10 or 15 minutes, in excruciating detail. O'Reilly, still silent through most of it, was beside himself and looked to be ready to jump out of his chair and tackle the speaker.

Read a BuzzFlash interview of the incident

Al Franken, Jonah Goldberg and Rich Lowry on Pundits Fighting

In a post pre-dating this blog by 3 years, Conservative pundit Jonah Goldberg contemplates "Pundits Fighting". When the APF blog relates American politics and punditry to pro-wrestling, it deals with the parallels in the theatrical presentation, archetypes, charisma and psychology. It was not intended to be about real life fisticuffs as Jonah contemplates.

Fight Al Franken? I Guess Not...
As many of you have probably heard, Al Franken, the comedian liberals take seriously, challenged my friend and paycheck provider Rich Lowry to a fist fight this week... Franken was responding to Rich's argument that the Left is on a campaign against manliness. As one might expect, Franken thought he was making a brilliant and funny point about conservative hypocrisy...

Jonah Goldberg considers how he matches up with Franken and how Conservative fare against liberals as a whole

Anyway, at first, I thought I might pick up the gauntlet Rich decided to ignore. There are only a couple of problems. First, while not too long ago I think I could have opened a huge can of whup-ass on Franken, these days I'm so out of shape I have the upper body strength of a twelve-year-old girl — albeit a pretty tough one.

But this whole episode has initiated a vast amount of beer talk among my friends. In short, we keep trying to figure out which conservative pundit-types could beat up which liberal pundit-types in a fight. So far, I hate to say, the conservatives don't look as good as I would have thought.

Jonah Goldberg sanctions some hypothetical Pundit matches. Interestingly there are only a few that have become official Pundit Fighters in the APF:

Tucker Carlson and Matt Labash of the Weekly Standard would certainly be good picks but, I'll tell ya, the list for a good conservative goon squad dries up pretty quickly... I know most of my readers don't like Joe Conason, but you'd bet on him if he were in a gladiator ring up against Ramesh Ponnuru or Michael Medved... who would win in a fight: Bill O'Reilly or Geraldo?

View the existing Fighting Pundit roster.

As Jonah Goldberg reminds, there is a further case to make Al Franken the poster child for the American Pundit Fighting. As previously stated, Franken is unique in that he is a wrestler, Saturday Night Live alum and pundit. Possibly a future senator and arguably the first to challenge other Pundits to a fight.

More on Rich Lowry VS Al Franken
- Spinsanity debate: Al Franken vs. Rich Lowry
- The Battle of the Books: Lowry vs. Franken
- Fisking Franken, Rich Lowry setting the record straight
- Read another Pundit, Pete Dominick challenging Bill O'Reilly to a fight

Minnesota double count out: Al Franken and Norm Coleman too close to call

Some drama in the slugfest between Al Franken and Norm Coleman for Minnesota's Senate seat.

First - Minn. Senate race called by AP
The AP called the race for Coleman Wednesday morning, with the incumbent leading Franken by 762 votes out of more than 2.9 million cast. Coleman and Franken each have 42 percent of the vote; independent candidate Dean Barkley finished with 15 percent.

Then - The AP uncalled the race. It’s not over.

The Associated Press called the race for Coleman Wednesday morning, then retracted that call in a rare reversal. Coleman leads Franken by 725 votes out of more than 2.9 million cast. Coleman and Franken each have 42 percent of the vote; independent candidate Dean Barkley finished with 15 percent. A recount could last into December, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State office.

Read Al Franken's statement on "the excitement":

... Let me be clear: This race is too close to call, and we do not yet know who won. We are lucky enough to live in a state with built-in protections to ensure that in close elections like these, the will of the people is accurately reflected in the outcome.

This has been a long campaign, and it’s going to be a little longer before we have a winner. Senator Coleman, Senator Barkley, and I have done a lot of talking. Minnesotans have waited a long time to have THEIR say. And thanks to our state’s laws, we will eventually understand precisely what they have said.

HotAir does a great job explaining the complicated and convoluted recount process in Minnesota - How does a Minnesota recount work?

Barack Obama President Elect: What the pundits have said

Michelle Malkin on Obama as President elect

The One ascends; McCain concedes
Well, it’s official. Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States. Fox and NBC have called the race.
It’s a historic moment.
Congratulations.
Here’s my promise to you: As long as I can still publish a blog and speak my mind openly about the next denizen of the White House, I will.

Mark Levin on Obama as President elect

Obama's Night
On FOX, they're giddy about the Barack Obama election. On MSNBC, they're crying. This country faces serious challenges with an Obama election and such a large Democrat majority. I can't get caught up in Obamamania — I couldn't before and I can't now. This is a historic election, but I am more concerned today than yesterday about the nation's future because of the policies Obama himself said he would pursue. And we conservatives have much work before us...

Hugh Hewitt on Obama as President elect

Congratulations To President-Elect Barack Obama
It is an extraordinary thing, an achievement that will be recognized a hundred years hence, that Barack Obama has won the White House. Even those of us who opposed him, and who will no doubt be opposed to many of his policy objectives over the next four years, must pause and say congratulations on an improbable, amazing rise.

Sam Seder on election night


More pundit APF pundit roundups as they come to hand.

In other news...

Coleman vs. Franken: Recount looms
One of the most bitter U.S. Senate races in Minnesota history remains deadlocked more than 10 hours after polls closed across the state.

With all but a small handful of precincts reporting in, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL challenger Al Franken remain in a virtual tie and the contest appears headed for a certain recount.

PunditFight presents: The Al Franken Wallpaper

This is a non-partisan blog so as with all PunditFight art it should not be taken as an endorsement.

It needs to be said, Al Franken holds a special place in the PunditFight community. He is the only pundit on the APF roster to throw his hat in for public office. He is also the only pundit I know of that has a wrestling background.

Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean... The trouble started when several supporters of fringe presidential candidate Lyndon Larouche began shouting accusations at Dean.

Franken emerged from the crowd and charged one male protester, grabbing him with a bear hug from behind and slamming him onto the floor.

"I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move," Franken said.

View the full NY Post article in PDF format here.

Lets' not forget he is also a Saturday Night Live alum, making Al Franken a peerless Punditfight Triple Threat.

- Download and disseminate your own Al Franken heads (PDF)
- Read previous postings on Al Franken
- Read Al Franken on the issues, from his official website

Answering the critics: Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and The Terminator

I've talked in the past about hyperreality and the surreal in politics. It's a hurdle Celebrity candidates often need to overcome. As it is a logical point of attack, candidates will often build the critique into their messaging. Hoping to turn a perceived weaknesses to their advantage.

Al Franken - a satirist, SNL alum and former Air America Radio Host has always traveled in Democratic circles. His bid for the Minnesota Senate however has been met with skepticism by voters and every bit of press Franken has received has an underlying arc of "Is he serious?".
a) New York Times - Al Franken, Seriously So
b) The Atlantic Magazine - He’s Not Joking
c) Time Magazine - Not So Funny

Al Franken has effectively used the predictable charge of his "seriousness" by Jujitsu-ing it into a string of talking points.

Those delegates knew that I'm serious... the people of Minnesota are going to get to know me and know that I'm real serious about this. I'm serious about having an Apollo program for renewable energy and energy efficiency. I'm serious about getting to universal health care and I'm serious about getting early childhood education for every kid who needs it.

VIDEO: Al Franken with CNN's Campbell Brown

Arnold Swarchenegger in his bid to be California Governor in 2003 was met with incredulity and much international fanfare. Arnold had originally built his reputation as the Action King of Hollywood, hoping to convert his name into a Governorship under the Republican banner. Though political life might seem an incongruous proposition for the musclebound Austrian, Arnold had married into American Political royalty. His wife Maria Shriver is a member of the storied Kennedy family.

Arnold successfully became Governor by deploying lines that proudly embraced his Action-hero persona. In a debate with fellow Celebrity candidate Arianna Huffington (running as an Independent) Arnold had quips like:

1. "Arianna. Your personal income tax is the biggest loophole. I could drive my Hummer through it." (calling attention to the hypocrisy of Arianna's proposed tax plan)
2. "I have a perfect part for you in 'Terminator 4'" (referencing his popular Action movie serial where he demolishes the opposition)

Read the full article from the New York Times - Live, the 'Arnold and Arianna Show'
Update: Watch Arnold proudly integrating his Bodybuilding and Hollywood past whilst stumping for John McCain

Though never actioned, the award for most audacious use of a candidate's celebrity past goes to Jesse Ventura. One might expect an ex-wrestler to distance themselves from their frivolous past if they were running for President, but Jesse isn't your conventional politician.

In his latest book - Don't Start the Revolution Without Me! - the former Minnesota Governor had planned to run for President by enlisting the help of an unlikely political source. He would run as an independent, planning to get ballot access on all 50 states by using a "fake" Wrestling storyline on WWE television to spawn a "real" presidential bid.



Jesse Ventura explains his ambitious wrestling plot for the Presidency

... the WWE who had been involved in the 'Get out the Vote' movement... would be dissatisfied with both candidates and they were going to run their own candidate which of course would be (WWE owner) Vince [McMahon] ... I would come onto the scene representing the people saying McMahon represents corporate America, he's never held office. I'm a legitimate candidate, I'll take him on... all this time Vince is sending his people out gaining ballot access for his new party across America... at the time of WrestleMania I would announce that this was for real. I am now a candidate for President.

Listen and Download the full Jesse Ventura interview from Wrestling-Radio.com

Al Franken - The Road to the Minnesota Senate

Al Franken has always found politics his calling. He has telegraphed this by by parodying it his entire career. In 1999 he published a book Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency , parodying several forms of political media created by and for a hypothetical President Franken - the Campaign diary, strategist's memo, the Bob Woodward expose amongst other.

In his latest book, 'The Truth (with jokes)' published in 2005, Franken closes the book with a satirical epilogue - "A Letter to My Grandchildren". In this chapter he recounts the Bush years and its fanciful proceedings to his fictional grandchildren.
Franken writes:

...Dad loved comedians, and I guess that might be why I became one. That's right. Before I got so involved in politics, I was a comedian. Then I wrote my first political book... my books made me realize that maybe I could have an effect on things that I cared about. That's why I went into radio. And that's why eventually decided to run for the Senate, although I didn't make the final decision until 2007.

True to the script, Franken on his final show for Air America Radio (Feb 2007) formally announced he would run for Minnesota's Senate seat in 2008. It's interesting to note that even though Franken is satirically describing a fictional future he lucidly describes the campaign platform he runs on and the bills he passes (and with whom - Sherwood Boehlert R-NY).

Despite his comedic history, Franken has always been earnest in his political pursuit. Almost by necessity.

He acknowledged the skepticism in his Introductory Video Address

I'm not a typical politician. I've spent my career as a comedian. Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I’m asking you to give me.

I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next twenty months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously...

I may be a comedian by trade, but I'm passionate about the issues that matter to your family because they mattered to mine, too...
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you on the trail.

- Read the transcript of Al's Video message
- Watch Franken's Introduction video in full

Franken has always been mindful of the skepticism due to his "celebrity" and "comedic" reputation. In a previous post I detailed Franken's conscious decision not to appear on Saturday Night Live despite being a venue with considerable political cache (especially this election) and the place where he built his career. Franken was aware an SNL appearance would only cause confusion.

"We have to do everything so people understand that this is a real campaign and not just a conceptual-art piece"

Al Franken was notably absent from a speaking role during the Democratic National Convention. It's uncertain why he wasn't invited but in any case it allowed him to return to his voters in Minnesota

Franken spokesman Andy Barr said Franken will fly into Denver on Sunday night, in time for Monday's convention opener, and will return to Minnesota the following day, spending much of the week at the Minnesota State Fair.

Barr said that the Franken campaign did not ask for a speaking slot and that while Franken would accept one if offered, "we don't think it's going to happen."

The Minnesota delegation were torn with Franken's decision to return home

Minnesota Super delegate... Jackie Stevenson... said it's hard for her to understand why Franken would turn down a convention speaking opportunity.

Stevenson said she would have told Franken he needed this experience and that he needed to be seen doing this nationally...

Delegate Mira Vat Fournier of Fairbault said she wasn't about to second guess Franken's decision. Fournier also said she thinks Franken is an asset to the party and hardly the liability in rural Minnesota some Franken detractors insist Franken is.

Read the full article here

It seems there is a lot more than meets the eye concerning Al Franken. MSNBCs Political News director Chuck Todd relays whispers behind Democratic Party walls

I have had multiple very high level Democrats on the Hill sit there with their fingers crossed," Todd says. "They are scared of Franken winning. More importantly, they fear that if Franken wins, then every liberal Hollywood type is going to say, 'Hey, I can run for office, too.' And they are going to get a rush of these.

Read a full discussion from HotAir - Chuck Todd: Top Democrats want Franken to lose

Whilst it's an understandable fear, as I've stated with my posts on Hollywood Politicians there is little that is exceptional about it. Republicans have had a history of electing Hollywood politicians: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson and the ultimate standard bearer Ronald Reagan. The state of Minnesota where Franken is running for has already set the precedent by electing Jesse Ventura as Governor, a former Wrestler, Actor and Navy Seal. As this case study demonstrates, "celebrity" candidates go through rigorous vetting by having to work extra hard to convince voters of their seriousness.

Of the Hollywood types that have come before him, Franken fits the Fred Thompson mold more than the Schwarzenegger/Ventura archetype - wonky and with surprisingly little showmanship. We will know whether Frankens' script becomes reality in a month's time.

Political life imitates art: Stephen Colbert for President and Al Franken for Senate

In a recent issue of Time Magazine, Joel Stein wrote an intriguing piece on Comedian Al Franken running for Senate in Minnesota.

There was one particularly interesting passage:

Not So Funny by Joel Stein
Back when he was trying to be the Bill O'Reilly of the left, ranting as a host on Air America... Franken didn't have to modulate his personality. Now he has cut way back on the joking and has become a little more boring than people are used to... He won't, for instance, appear on Saturday Night Live this season. "We have to do everything so people understand that this is a real campaign and not just a conceptual-art piece" he says.

The great thing about American Democracy is that almost anybody can become a leader. Granted, you'll need a hefty amount of money and good name recognition, superficially those two things arguably trump experience. But after all is said and done it comes down to convincing voters of your sincerity and that you relate to them.

As far as "conceptual" pieces go you don't have to look any further than Action figures Arnold Swarchenegger and Jesse Ventura. Arnold became Governor of California seemingly on name recognition alone. He was an actor his entire Hollywood career, having never led as a director. To make things more hyperreal there was an infamous scene in the Sylvester Stallone movie 'Demolition Man' (1993) where they satirically alluded to Schwarnegger - Stallone's real life action star rival - as President

STALLONE: "Hold it! The Schwarzenegger Library?"
BULLOCK: "Yes, the Schwarzenegger Presidential Library. Wasn't he an actor?"
STALLONE: "Stop! He was President?"
BULLOCK: "Yes. Even though he was not born in this country, his popularity at the time caused the 61st Amendment…"

Jesse Ventura, a former wrestler and Navy Seal was voted in as Governor of Minnesota, where Franken is running for Senate. Jesse in recent months has flirted with joining the race for Senate and entertained a bid for the Presidency. What makes Jesse a compelling "conceptual" piece besides his unorthodox resume prior to entering politics is the way he's redefined the bounds of what a credible politician and serious commentator can look like. Its worth noting that both Action Stars-cum-politician, Swarchenegger and Ventura starred alongside each other in 'Predator' (1987).

The most telling account on the absurdity of politics bending reality comes from satirist Stephen Colbert. In conversation with comedian RadioTalker Pete Dominick (also Colbert's warm-up act), the fake Right Wing commentator muses on his fake bid for Presidency which faked everyone out including himself

STEPHEN COLBERT: ...I came close to believing my own line of crap - [but] I did not! When was running for President. Because I had to sincerely engage with people...
PETE DOMINICK: That was an interesting time because I don't think anybody in the staff even knew what was going on with you and nobody wanted to ask "What are your intentions here sir?"...
STEPHEN COLBERT: My publicist even asked at one point "Stephen people are confused, is this a joke or is this real?"... and I said "I don't understand the difference"

Listen to the full excerpt of Pete Dominick's conversation with Stephen Colbert on reality

Update:
When it comes to hyper-reality, Jesse Ventura is the undisputed champion. In his latest book 'Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!' (2008), Jesse speaks on his failed play to run for President as an independent. He intended to achieve this by parlaying a wrestling storyline where "he was running for president" into a real campaign that would get him ballot access to make him eligible for a real presidential bid in the 2008 election.
Read the full post - Answering the critics: Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and The Terminator

A Republican, a comedian and a Wrestler-cum-Governor run for the Minnesota Senate

APF pundit AL Franken has another person to contend with besides Republican Norm Coleman in his bid for Minessota's Senate seat, former wrestler Jesse Ventura.
Listen to news audio from NPR: Ventura would shake up Minnesota Senate Race

Former Wrestler/Governor Jesse Ventura to enter Minnesota Senate Race

Jesse Ventura has beaten Norm Coleman and a democrat once before, winning the governorship in 1998 as an independent. In the NPR piece, political scientist Laurence Jacobs speaks of Ventura's popularity, "I think Ventura could well win... he's coming in with about a quarter of the vote and he's not even declared his candidacy. That is much better than where he was in 1998 where he started off in single digits and frankly was a joke candidate".

Make no mistake, not everyone is a fan. In a recent post for HotAir.com Ed Morrissey doesn't mince his words speaking of Ventura.

Get ready for more Minnesota madness. Six years after last making the state a national laughingstock as governor, Jesse Ventura may enter the race for US Senate. ...Ventura did manage one signal accomplishment: bipartisanship. By the end of his term, Republicans and Democrats both hated him so much that they began overriding a slew of his vetoes, rendering The Body impotent. By the time he slunk out of office, he couldn’t have been elected dog-catcher in a one-man race.

Read Ed Morrissey's full post and reader comments here:
Jesse to make it a 3-way race?

Jesse Ventura on CNN's 'Larry King Live'
Go to 'Voters 4 Ventura', petitioning Ventura for a 2008 Presidential Run
Read Ventura's political stances compiled by resource 'On the Issues'.
Read Ventura's wrestling bio from WWE's Hall of Fame page
Read Al Franken's bio from their official site
Read Norm Coleman's bio from their official site

The APF - end of week roundup (May 31st)

Hello fans. Its been quite here at the APF, but rest assured there are a lot of things happening behind the curtains. To restart the engines here is the first ever end of week pundit round up.

Bill O'Reilly wins a local Emmy award in Boston and is protested by a fellow newsman.
Sam Seder will be doing his last 'Seder on Sunday' broadcast for Air America, his broadcasting future is uncertain but we hope his voice finds a new home.
Michelle Malkin is not happy with Dunkin Donuts, Rachey Ray and a certain scarf
Keith Olbermann finds a new ally in Scott Mclellan
Marc Maron winds down the funny with fellow funnymen Andy Kindler and Eugene Mirman
Al Franken is in trouble with members of his party, but not for reasons you might think
Michael considered the most Savage shock jock of them all
Stephen Colbert continues his presidential campaign in an alternate universe

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Don't APF hate. Perpetuate!? Matt Taibbi on the vicious circle of hate in punditry

I've actually mentioned this Matt Taibbi's essay on Punditry and Hate before. But it was in audio form. I only read the 2006 piece today and he makes some good points about the culture that is 'American Pundit Fighting'.

Matt highlights the circle of hate that is available for us to consume. A sushi train he calls 'Blame, Hate, Coalesce':

THE LOW POST: Keep on Hatin' by Matt Taibbi
That's what's happening now. When I go to a bookstore now, I don't see any relief from the same basic Blame, Hate, Coalesce strategy Murdoch started rolling half a generation ago. I just see it working in reverse. We had Bernie Goldberg's "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America" and now we have Keith Olbermann's "The Worst Person in the World: And 202 Strong Contenders." We had Bill O'Reilly's "Culture Warrior" and we now have "Sweet Jesus I Hate Bill O'Reilly." We had Ann Coulter's "Godless," which in turn spawned "Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter" and "Soulless: Ann Coulter and the Right-Wing Church of Hate" and even the inspired "I Hate Ann Coulter!" by Anonymous. You had Rush's "The Way Things Ought to Be" and the way things are according to Al Franken, which is that Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot. For those who don't want to buy all the new liberal books, you can get it all in one volume in "The I Hate Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity. . . Reader: The Hideous Truth About America's Ugliest Conservatives," edited by Clint Willis.

You'll be happy to know that I've hyperlinked all the titles, for those who intend to perpetuate the hate.

But for the rest of you, consider the implications of a culture and media landscape built on division.

Keep on Hatin' (pg 2)
It is amazing to me that people can walk into a bookstore, see a pair of books whose titles begin with "I Hate...," and still believe that the two books are different, simply because the politics of one are conservative and the politics of the other are liberal. Even though it is astoundingly obvious, I'm beginning to think that the vast majority of Americans will not realize until it is too late that this is the same shit. Hating the other guy, it's the new racism. It's imposed from above, like racism, and it serves the same purpose. It keeps the population mesmerized by irrelevant passions and distracted from their natural business of tending to their own real political problems.

Listen and download a Matt Taibbi interview on this topic