Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/18/franken.senate.ap/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITI CS/01/18/franken.senate.ap/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By friendofdd >>>One in particular, Franken relayed: "It's unknown how people will respond to a comedian running for the Senate. I need to figure out a way to let people know I'm extremely serious about Minnesotans and their lives."<<< Great! The possibility of a real comedian in congress and he wants to be serious.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Al Franken is considering a run for Senate? What a surprise. I'm going to have a heart attack and die from not surprised.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 yeah boy, Minnesota really attracts some 'different' people to run for public office -- comedians to wrestlers - at least they could have a comedian who is actually funny run. What next Pauley Shore ?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I'd say Franken is as qualified to run for Senate as, say, Arnold was to run for Governor.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Arnold actually had a few qualifiers of which most people were unaware. I do not know Franken's background well enough to know what, if any, qualifications he has.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Arnold actually had a few qualifiers of which most people were unaware. I do not know Franken's background well enough to know what, if any, qualifications he has.> I know Arnold had been, for instance, on the "President's council on Physical Fitness," but I don't think he had many executive political qualifications (even this piece I found on newsmax of all places, entitled "Shriver Defends Husband's Qualifications," talks about his qualifications in terms of character rather than experience... <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/10/3/213713.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.newsmax.com/archive s/articles/2003/10/3/213713.shtml</a> Maybe there were other qualifications I'm unaware of, and couldn't find in my google search, but then again, one should arguably have higher qualifications to be a governor (executive) than senator (one of 100 legislators) to begin with.
Originally Posted By DlandDug It was not Arnold's political experience to which I refered. It was his life story, as well as his business background. He is one of the few stars who actually is involved in the day to day operations of his rather large production company. He was also involved in other business ventures. In addition, the kind of skills involved in negotiating and closing deals were applicable to the governorship. Did I think that Arnold was best qualified? Not really. But I did not consider him to be unqualified.
Originally Posted By DlandJB I know that Franken has made numerous trips with the USO to entertain the troops in Iraq. He is always warmly welcomed and he tries to steer away from political humor when he is there. Franken is smart, but I believe his mouth will get him in trouble.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <It was not Arnold's political experience to which I refered. It was his life story, as well as his business background.> Well, Franken has several best-selling books, and he must have negotiated those deals... I'm not saying Arnold was completely unqualified. Just that Franken seems to me just as qualified, for a post that if anything requires fewer qualifications. Franken faces a possible negative that Arnold never did, in that he's been nothing but "on the record" politically for the last several years. Anything he said in haste on his radio show could be held against him. Arnold was more of a blank slate politically (not completely, just more so than Franken), which probably helped him. He could define himself more from "square one" and voters inclined to like him could fill in the blanks much easier than with someone whose every political opinion has been broadcast for years.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Arnold's biggest advantage first time around was the incredibly short time that the recall campaign took. By the time the dirt was dug up, the election was pretty well over. By the time he ran a full campaign for reelection, Arnold did have a record to run on, and it was successful. (It also helped that the California Democratic party really believed they could run anybody against Arnold, and chose Phil Angelides.) Franken will be subjected to first a bruising primary, and if nominated a full length campaign season, with lots of national attention. Frankly, I loathe the man's politics, and hope he gets it.
Originally Posted By DlandJB Anything he said in haste on his radio show could be held against him>> Worse than that, anything he said in humor, but repeated back as fact will come back to haunt him.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Unlike Arnold, Franken would also be facing a fairly popular incumbent (AFAIK, anyway. Trippy?)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Unlike Arnold, Franken would also be facing a fairly popular incumbent (AFAIK, anyway. Trippy?)>> Not ignoring the thread... I just got back in town from my WDW trip. He would be facing Norm Coleman who has been quite popular and seen as a rising star in the U.S. Senate. He has aligned himself pretty closely with Dubya though, so that could likely hurt him some in the next election. I would have to know more about Franken before I decided whether or not to vote for him. I'm not at all fond of Coleman, but there are others I'd rather see take a shot at the seat than Franken.
