OT, I know, but I have to disagree with GrandmaJ and shoephone, Franken is a good candidate for Minnesota. He draws the crowds and the money at political gatherings, and he has deep knowledge of political issues. His persona works well in the state (ever hear A Prairie Home Companion?). He’s also tied in tightly with the Wellstones and this is the “Wellstone seat” he’d be running for.

I suspect you’re not a Minnesota native. I find it kind of insulting that you cite Prarie Home Companion as a reason that Minnesotans would go for Franken. If you think that’s real Minnesota you’re an idiot. He has a loooooooong way to go before he gets my support. I really can’t stomach his interview style, or his show for that matter. He always makes the interview about him not the interveiwee. He inserts himself and his sappy little comments into everything. Often times his stammering or his stretching to get a joke in, totally screws up the momentuem of an interview. He’s had some great guests but his bullshit screws it up.
Honestly he comes across as a self centered jerk that thinks we’re a bunch of rubes. That he can walk in a take his seat in the Senate. Its ego. He hasn’t lived here for a long time and has no idea what outstate voters think and feel. We ain’t all from lake woebegon and his supporters sure as hell aren’t. They’re upper class elites. His idea of seeing outstate voters in spending time at supporters lake homes. (These ain’t quaint little cabins. They are huge Multi-million dollar estates.) We don’t need or want that.

Minnesota voters are smart and no nonsense. That’s why Wellstone was successful here. He was a straight shooter and folks could see it. Even Republicans grudgingly admit that. Al’s sincerity is suspect.

I really dread the thought of Franken running. Coleman, his opponent, is an empty suit, but he’ll have the big Repulican guns backing him. Franken is an easy target. Franken’s made some really stupid comments in the past and they will capitalize on that. Personally I think his Christy Harvey segment borders on sexual harassment. (Think about that. What if Limbaugh was doing something like that.) In an interview I heard he did a really stupid joke about a guy with a dick on his forehead and his balls hanging in his eyes. I want that kind of person for my Senator? I doubt it. He’ll suck all the air and money out of the campaign. I hope he gets smart and doesn’t run.

**Off-Topic**

As promised, Ned Lamont on the Al Franken Show available for download.

Dear Spazeboy,

Thank you SO much for this! I was most upset to have to miss this interview! (As usual, work interferes with life!)

I agree with Shoephone:

I still can’t stand listening to Franken though. The stammering is so annoying. I pity Minnesotans if he runs in ‘08.

I can only hope for his sake (and ours) that he learns how to speak without the stammer!

Kathie in MN

Way to go, Joe: Take the single biggest mistake of the Dean campaign — sending zillions of young, half-trained kids into an area whose demographics are sharply at odds with that of the kids — and deliberately embrace it! (And even Dean didn’t pay his out-of-state college kids $60 day to do this, IIRC.)

Redshift @ 40

Phil K @ 6

I just don’t understand why Josh Marshall keeps telling everybody how much he likes old Joe. What’s to like?

Lieberman has a reputation as “the nicest man in the Senate.” I take this to mean that he’s really pleasant as long as you’re someone worthy of his notice, and not one of “the little people” or someone who’s unpleasant enough to mention a disagreement. I’m betting that Josh either met or communicated with him under those kind of circumstances.

But as with the infamous Bush “who would you want to have a beer with,” it’s completely irrelevant to whether their politics are worthy or not.

Redshift

i met the man. An it was at a high donor dinner, so he should have been in sucking p mode. He has the personality of smog. I jst don’t get this “nicest man” stuff. I don’t.

I’ve always suspected that Josh is a DLC Democrat. He seems to be fair for the most part, but does show the “Centrist” tendencies. Recently he got hot and bothered when an Emailer suggested that charges for evacuating American citizens from Lebanon be taken from American Israeli aid. So I think their support for Israel may be another common denominator.

:)