Tough Luck, Lefty Bloggers…
…but a couple of easy targets have announced they WON’T make Senate runs. From the right, Jeb Bush…and from the (mostly) left, Chris Matthews. The Senate has been the focus of a lot of attention lately, but zero blogging from these quarters, so let me weigh in on a couple of things for the record. First, I understand people not wanting a Senate appointment from the corrupt Illinois governor, but what’s done is done, and Burris will be seated, you can bet on it.
Second, although it appears Al Franken has won, and will also be seated, the news feels me with nausea. Franken can be downright hilarious as a comedian, but he is an EXTREME partisan. It’s as if Janeane Garofalo was the Secretary of State. I can’t imagine, in my wildest dreams, Franken being an effective member of a chamber like the Senate.
On the other hand, my expectations are so low that he probably can’t help but exceed them…
I could not be happier that Al Franken won. To have an intelligent, thoughtful, human being in the Senate will be such a breath of fresh air. Your expectations are so low because you sided with the party of fools, cheats, liars, and criminals. So don’t blame us for that. And I can only dream dreamy dreams that Janeane would become Secretary of State. It would be good for us to have a genuine patriot like her running things.
Yes, ummm….next!
I acutally think Frankin is going to open a lot of eyes. So much of the “analysis” about him is based on people looking at the covers of his books without actually reading them. As Tarbo says (a little insanely), he actually is a smart, thoughtful guy. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an honest-to-God liberal and you aren’t going to like that one bit, but don’t be surprised if he ends up more Russ Feingold than Cynthia McKinney.
Wow, I cannot spell.
*actually
*Franken
I think Franken will fail as a senator for the same reason he failed as a radio host: He’s a very unpleasant person.
I’m not going to defend Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter — they’re just as hyper-partisan/ideological as Franken — but the difference between them and Franken is that they are usually smiling and have a good-natured tone to their voices. I have never seen an interview in which Franken was not scowling and/or snarling all the way through.
A guy who hates everyone that doesn’t believe everything that he believes may be able to do modestly well when his party is in a near-super majority, but when compromise will become necessary, he’ll be finished.
I agree that he’s unlikely to end up like Cynthia McKinney in terms of ideology — aiding terrorists in the Middle East and supporting 9/11 conspiracy theories (much less blaming setbacks on “J-E-W-S Jews”); he is a mainstream liberal — but in terms of other antics . . . Well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised if Franken ends up remembered as the next Preston Brooks.
Also, if they had a runoff today, Coleman would win in a walk.
And lastly, thanks Mark. I guess there are worse places that Janeane Garofalo could be than polluting my favorite show on Sunday.