Al Franken — who’s been doing a podcast (audio only) for years, to which I almost always listen and often write about, and on which he has guests — decided to experiment with a video, just him talking, only a few minutes (nine), explaining the filibuster situation and giving several renditions of his pretty hilarious Mitch McConnell impression.
Seems reasonable. It’ll never pass.
Eric:
STOP TORTURING US!
Tina Smith is a fine representative of sensible Minnesota values. And as Lloyd Bentsen also sort of told us: Tina, we knew Al Franken, Al Franken was a friend of ours and you are no Al Franken.
Not that our friends on the right will see this as good, Al Franken, one of the few on the Judiciary Committee without a law degree, basically forced Jeff Sessions to recuse himself through his questioning during Session’s confirmation hearing. Franken kept his head down and worked at his job, not seeking continual cable news exposure and was just coming into his own as an important voice in the Senate when he was sacrificed on the alter of political correctness so that Kirsten Gillibrand could have a 5 week Presidential run. I have heard that in Franken’s last days in office no other Senator would even speak to him. Self interested, self protecting cowards one and all.
Rs stand by their members to the very last damning piece of evidence. Ds throw ’em out at a hint of trouble.
I want my favorite Senator back. And it will never happen….
Tina Smith may have benefited from the crucifixion of Al Franken — her positions are nonetheless reasonably consistent with his.
“her positions are nonetheless reasonably consistent with his.”
I am in full agreement on that.
If Franken were still in the Senate he would be selling the important and valid content of the YouTube video from a much more influential and prominent position than where he is now.
Tina Smith has advocated for changing / eliminating the filibuster, but in a quieter, less effective manner.
I go back and forth on whether Franken got hosed. His transgressions certainly were on the more benign end of the Metoo scale. But they weren’t nothing either. In a different time, I expect he could have survived.
But there is zero reason to be critical of Tina Smith. She had to run two Senate races in two years.
Just remember that Mr. Franken’s ‘transgressions’ occurred while he was an entertainer, not a politician.
NIcely done, Mr. Franken. Takes me back to “Lies and the Lying Liars…”
This video is Al Franken at his Senatorial best–even if he’s no longer our Senator from Minnesota. He has presented a clear and straightforward explanation of why the Senate’s filibuster rule has to be adjusted. Now. And force Republicans to justify their despicable determination not to permit any U.S. legislation to go forward.
Franken gets to the very heart of the issue. And I LOVE how he satirizes Moscow Mitch!