Are You Franken Serious, Minnesota?

Al Franken may Make Minnesota the Butt of his Next Joke.

A LOOK BACK

Shortly after Al Franken announced his official decision to run for the U.S Senate seat in Minnesota on February 14th, 2007, the loony Left was swift to warn everyone that the Republicans would attempt to smear Franken's credibility by exposing his financial backings.

Well, anomalies can occur: the Left was partially right about something for once. They were right in predicting the obvious financial criticisms of the Franken campaign, but they failed to include how Republicans would also smear Franken because of something much more grave; the man's personality!

We can thank our liberal friends for the warning; however, as the facts have presented themselves so far, the Republicans and Conservatives haven't had to work too hard to smear Franken. Franken's actions prove to be doing just fine with out our help. Al Franken and his delicate choice of public statements are enough to smear him.

After Franken's official announcement to enter the Senate race he said that he would run as a Democrat, stating that "Democrats care so much more for the poor than Republicans do". Franken also expressed his concern about the growing gap between the rich and the poor in Minnesota. That explains why ccontributors to his political action committee include Barbra Streisand, Phil Donahue, Larry Hagman and Norman Lear from the entertainment industry.He also made it clear that his background as a comedian shouldn't fool the Minnesota voters.

Franken speaks to Minnesotans through his video which can be seen on Al Franken's official campaign website. In this video, he addresses his lack of political experience by stating, "I have spent most of my career as a comedian…Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical…and over the next twenty months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously."

Franken, 55, grew up in what he calls "St. Jewish Park." [St. Louis Park] I wonder if his cultural slander towards his own hometown is an attempt to show his more "serious" side to Minnesotan voters, or maybe it is just a peace offering to show how he can also "make fun of himself," and then maybe we might not take all his other slanderous statements against everyone else that seriously.

Either way, could someone mention to him that the next time he wants to make fun of him self; he should probably not use an entire Religious community as the punch line? In a newspaper article published in the Minnesota Star and Tribune, before Franken's official announcement, he told reporters that he expects his years in New York to be an issue in the campaign but has ready a reply as he promotes himself to Minnesota audiences which states: "If I do run against Norm Coleman in '08, I'll be the only New York Jew in the race who actually grew up in Minnesota."

Franken, a 1973 graduate from Harvard majored in Political Science, so he must have known that titling his 1996 book, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot," which was also happened to be his debut into politics, would probably make some sort of imprint and define his future credibility. There are political commentators and then there are public officials. Great political minds like Rush Limbaugh know there place in the political spectrum, while minds like Franken's seem to forget that making fun of someone's weight doesn't make one a stronger political candidate. However, we are talking about someone who, when asked about his Harvard education by Tim Russert on CNBC, blames Pat Buchanan for the lack of Jews enrolled at Harvard.

In an effort to keep his promise to Minnesotans and prove his seriousness Franken called Senator Coleman, "one of the administration's leading butt boys," (Hey, wait. Isn't that what the PC police call, a homophobic slur?) Ask Ann Coulter if she thinks it's a homophobic slur. Not to worry though, Al Franken is a Democrat, and is pro-gay rights, so "butt boy" is ok for him to use. Which has me pondering this whole Al Franken fiasco; look at the Democrats today, they are driven by the extreme angry, anti- (fill in the blank), Left-wing sector of the Party. And the majority of Liberals in this country, as Sean Hannity often says, are suffering from bad cases of "Bush derangement syndrome." So is Al Franken just a reflection of the growing number of angry, blamer Rosie types? Honestly, Franken's obnoxious, political demeanor seems rather mild when you compare it to, lets' say; a sociology professor's demeanor at St. Kate's, whose name will remain anonymous.

Maybe New York and then move to Minnesota, and he also has declared that all Republicans are "shameless dicks." Or another one of my personal favorites is how Franken approaches Minnesota issues. Al on healthcare: President Bush ruined it. Al on the drug problem: Ronald Reagan caused it. Al on Iraq: 2007; Bush caused jihad, 1999; Franken explained a passage in his book 'Why Not Me' in which he attempts to kill Saddam Hussein this way: "The effort to assassinate Saddam Hussein comes from every Jewish kid's fantasy of killing Hitler." That seems to fit well with his anti-death penalty position. Oh wait! He did just make another exception to his position live on David Letterman; if your name is Scooter Libby, Karl Rove or George W. Bush, an execution may be well deserved.

As you can see, there is a comedy a brewing in the land of 10,000 lakes. First it was an egotistical, ex-wrestler who used jokes and low grade comedic potshots to win the hearts and minds of Minnesotans, now its an egotistical, ex-comedian who uses a limited set of clumsy insults and wrestling banter to reel in Minnesotans. This time, let's make sure Norm has the last word, or in this case, has the final punch line. Al just may see his "butt boy" joke on Norm backfire, after he realizes the imprint on his behind appeared right after Norm kicked his butt. Sorry, Franken, you could always write another book titled, "I Franken Lost to the Butt Boy, (With Jokes)."