Stuart Smalley Tries to Spoil The Democrats' World

Al Franken has wrestled away Minnesota's U.S. Senate from Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in a tight recount. Franken won by a razor thin margin, which means for the time being the Democrats will have dodged a major bullet.

The political climate being as it is has enabled the Dems a rare opportunity to reach the magic number of 60 Senate seats to override a filibuster. Instead taking advantage of this golden opportunity, the Dems played political roulette by putting its faith in a political neophyte. The Democratic resurgence in the state and the unpopularity of President George W. Bush made Coleman's seat vulnerable.

Analysts have forecasted Coleman's shaky hold on his Senate seat for some time. They projected Minnesota as one of the more likely seats to go Democratic in the November election. So in typical fashion, the Dems creatively found a way, much like the New York Jets, to lose a race that should have been locked up had a candidate with experience and a clear message faced Coleman.

Al Franken could not sit aside and let someone else steal his thunder. As early as 2005, Franken began to hunker down and reestablish roots in Minnesota in order to gear up for the 2008 race. By throwing his name into the ring, Franken thought h his celebrity and standing as an outspoken liberal would be sufficient means to run for the Senate.

Franken has used his celebrity to his advantage. Priscilla Lord Faris, a Minnesota attorney with strong family ties to the Democrats, ran with as much political experience as Franken. Even with her family background, it was no surprise that Faris fell short to Franken's name recognition. Allowing Franken throw his muscle around to win the nomination could have been as big of a mistake for the Dems as green-lighting the "Stuart Saves His Family" movie was for Paramount.

In a state that elected former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura as its governor, you can expect the unexpected. Unlike Franken, Ventura could boast that he was mayor of Brooklyn Park, a suburb outside of Minneapolis. Franken can't say the same, unless you include his two books and his Air America radio program.

For a man that claims to be a loyal Democrat, Franken should not have ran for Senate in such a critical election. But his ego could not let him, the famous Al Franken, run for a lower office. Besides, how else could Stuart Smalley set out to save the world when it seems like the only thing he wants to satisfy is his ego? This is the only possible reason that a first time politician such as Franken could justify a Senatorial campaign.

If Franken really believes what he writes and preaches, then he should not have put the Democrats at risk by running for Senate. Similarly to Caroline Kennedy, name recognition does not make you a good politician without going through the battles. With his small victory and lack of experience, it is very likely that Franken's seat could be the top target for the GOP to pick off in 2014.

Comments

[triteamdan]

What kind of experience and skills do you want in a Senator? I want someone who is intelligent, articulate, knows the facts and is committed to doing the right thing. Al Franken is all of those things and more. He has his own decade for crying out loud (the 80s) and he founded the Air America network. Okay, Air America had more than its fair share of problems, but it gave a national voice to true progressives and liberals to speak the truth and shout down the liars on the other side. The work he has done for this country is definitely substantial and historic and in large part responsible for recoloring the red and blue political map. But more than all of this, his wit, candor and wacky sense of humor is exactly what the senate and this country need right now. Go Al!!!!!!

[DenverJuggler]

I'm really confused Mr. Kohn.
You said this:

The political climate being as it is has enabled the Dems a rare opportunity to reach the magic number of 60 Senate seats to override a filibuster.

But wasn't the Chamblis/Martin race in Georgia the determining factor for 60?
And because Saxby Chamblis won Franken's seat will be 59, not 60?
Unless there's somebody in the GOP who's about to flip to the Dems or is a GOP about to go independent and caucus with the Dems?

Please tell me I'm wrong - I'd much rather have 60 so they can get through some decent legislation instead of hearing the GOP whine about how much money is being spent when they never met a spending bill they said no to with Bush and he never vetoed one.

I understand that Franken worked his butt off in Minnesota and deserved to win.
What's wrong with somebody who is *not* royalty or a member of the club getting in?

Seems like an awful lot of sour grapes to me.

[StillAmused]

You noticed.

[donbsea]

Mr. Kohen ends his article with: "With his small victory and lack of experience, it is very likely that Franken's seat could be the top target for the GOP to pick off in 2014."

That is true.

It's also true that Mr. Franken could be great, or very good, or if nothing else, better than what the last man to fill that position was, and the folks in MN would be pleased, and the Dems would be pleased, and the GOP could be pissed.

Lets wait for seven or ten months with Mr. Franken to be in this position, let him get his sea legs so to speak. This not the first time newbies have been put into the Senate and they have turned out both good and bad in their position, but it's way too early to be nashing your teeth like this. Just chill.

[regg4]

Well put and just what I was thinking. Not to say I don't enjoy his books and clearly he is well educated, this is a high "entry level" political position to jump into. Let his performance define him and we'll see what happens.

[schatsie]

Have you seen him go knuckle to knuckle with Coulter... that is exactly why I want him in the SENATE... The Man is great,...He also probably has done more for the troups than anyone since Bob Hope.

[AndThenOneDay]

He won. What's your point in that case? He shouldn't have run because he might have lost? Yeah, but he didn't lose. He won. So what's your point?

[slarabee]

I would LOVE to see you debate with Sen. Franken on any of the important issues. He would shred you.
He IS good enough and dammit I like him.

[jakearoe]

Mr. Kohn,

With all due respect, why would you write this when you obviously do not understand Minnesotans or their politics? Unfortunately, Senator Coleman actually enjoys rather (undeserved) positive public opinion. Many people I know here personally do not believe that Coleman is actually involved anything illegal. Yes, Coleman was vulnerable...but he was no sitting duck. While it is true Coleman lost to Jesse Ventura, it should be noted there also happened to be a third candidate, a DFLer who just happened to have the last name of Humphrey.

Franken also avoided a last minute torpedo attempt by one of our top local DFLers (Betty McCollum) and others, as well as personal attack television adds from our own Ms Lord Faris.

Franken appears to have won, but apparently not by a 'Cohn-approved' margin.

[jeffhussein]

The writer, for whatever reason, has "issues" with now-Senator Franken. Al Franken knows as much as, or more than, most about OUR issues - foreign and domestic - and, not withstanding his ironic exterior, is actually a most earnest man. I think he will make a fine senator and will win re-election handily. Oh, and you can stop calling him Stuart Smalley. The name's Al. Check that, the name's Senator Al Franken. I love it!

[applecrispbetty]

Mr Kohn,
You are being disingenuous if you think that someone with less name recognition than Al would have easily beaten Coleman. You are neglecting the patent dishonesty of Coleman, which could have gotten him re-elected over anybody but Al.

[Missmn]

"Priscilla Lord Faris, a Minnesota attorney with strong family ties to the Democrats, ran with as much political experience as Franken. Even with her family background, it was no surprise that Faris fell short to Franken's name recognition. "

Priscilla Lord Faris fell short because she tried to slip in under the radar. She did not participate in the statewide caucuses, and instead, relied on her name and Republican talking points to try to defeat Al Franken in the primaries. It didn't work, not because of name recognition, but because Minnesota Democrats didn't want to be represented by an underhanded, egotistical, opportunist. Why replace one (Norm) with another?

[Missmn]

As a Minnesotan who votes Democratic, I can tell you that Al Franken was the best hope for defeating Norm Coleman this year. Despite having left Minnesota for Harvard and a successful career as a writer, performer, and radio personality, Al Franken never lost his love for Minnesota, nor the midwestern values he grew up with. Al Franken ran, not out of ego, but because he sized up the competition and decided he had the best chance for defeating Norm Coleman. He was right.

[QforB]

This is a weak piece Dan. Let us all try and get through 2009 & 2010 before we make such sweeping pontifications about 2014. I hope you know that, "dog-gone-it, people like you!"

[paulsamuel]

I don't think you know Al Franken if you think his ego is behind his senate candidacy. Al Franken wants to serve his country and will be a dedicated and honest public servant. Franken is a Harvard grad and has taught at Harvard's Kennedy School for Goverment. He's as politically knowledgable as any pundit, journalist, or politician I've ever seen. I've seen him kick serious ass while debating on political television programs like HardBall. The most important character he has is his hoesty. HE TELLS THE TRUTH! Can't get better than that.

[FYIifyourinterested]

Franken's writings are well researched and thoughtful. For example he knows how to count how many books were written by a person he's attacking. (Three largely political ones, three more largely comic). You say Franken's at fault for lack of party loyalty, then you say that he, the incoming senator, is a bad choice who doesn't deserve to be senator. To me, it seems pointlessly disloyal of you to attack him before he's worked a single day in office. I have not found the line in the constitution stating that politicians have to be lawyers or businessmen, it just worked out that way. Also, accusing politicians of having big ego's is like accusing cooks of liking food. Also, most of what politicians say is prepared by writers and punched up by comedians. By electing someone who can do that on his own, we're already cutting government waste.
The other example of comic writer who did OK in politics is Ben Franklin, who selfishly traded on the popularity of his comic writings to weasel a spot as delegate in the Continental congress and then wormed his way onto the credits of the Declaration of Independence. Bastard.

[schatsie]

you know Al Franken is like a modern day Will Rogers...at least I think so...