Franken

Senate Democrats Get Pranked Before Christmas

Roll Call | Jessica Estepa | Posted 12.12.2011

Read More: Donald Ritchie, Al Franken, Christmas, Secret Santa, Senate Secret Santa, Max Baucus, Christmas 2011, Franken, Politics News

Senate Historian Donald Ritchie last week regaled the Senate Democrats' lunch with the heartwarming history of the chamber's Secret Santa exchanges....

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Mobile Phone Tracking Highlights Need For Baseline Privacy Law

Leslie Harris | Posted 07.10.2011

Read More: Sen. Al Franken, Consumer Privacy, Google, Iphone, Congress, Cpni, Apps, Apps Ecosystem, Privacy Legislation, Location Tracking, Legislation, Franken, Technology News
Leslie Harris

Using mobile devices should not mean that consumers are forced to relinquish control of data about them to a weak and unclear legal environment.

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Spy vs. Spy As Hackers Square Off Over DC Dirty Tricks

Andrew Kreig | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Wikileaks, Bank of America, Coburn, Franken, Chamber of Commerce, Blumenthal, Hbgary, Assange, Rove, Barr, Hunton, Media News
Andrew Kreig

Famous political reporters typically voice bromides about public moods or trends without probing the arsenal of dirty tricks the pros can use to change public perceptions.

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Verizon Throws Fuel on the Net Neutrality Fire

John Tarnoff | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Level 3, Verizon, Cable, Content, Entertainment, Wireless, Comcast, Net Neutrality, Franken, Technology News
John Tarnoff

What Big Bandwidth apologists misrepresent as FCC "regulation" of Net Neutrality is actually the preservation of the open market.

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Friday Talking Points [136] -- Girding For Battle

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Debt, Fcc, Existing Tax Law, Bright, Al Franken, China, Girding Your Loins, Deficit, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Tax Cuts, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Bobby Bright, Reid, Reconciliation, Battle, Abrams, Timothy Karr, Budget, Democrat, Bully Pulpit, Democratic Narrative, Democrats, Barack Obama, Election, Reich, Mddotw, Offense, Harry Reid, Republicans, Paul Ryan, Senate, Social Security, President Obama, 2010 Election, Free Speech, Democratic, Ryan Budget, Obama, Friday Talking Points, Bush Tax Cuts, Paul Abrams, Pelosi, 2010, Defense, Clinton, Bank of China Credit Card, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Ryan, Billionaires Tax Cut, Taxes, Incrementalism, Bill Clinton, Robert Reich, House, Millionaires, Franken, Billionaires, Net Neutrality, Tax, Chris Weigant, Midterm, Federal Communications Commission, Medicare, Disappointing, Bipartisanship, Karr, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The battle looms. It is, in fact, right over a hill right in front of us. So, are Democrats girding their loins for the fight, and roaring their def...

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Al Franken To Hold Fundraiser Featuring Fellow Saturday Night Live Veterans

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Franken, Al Franken, Franken Snl, Al Franken Snl, Saturday Night Live, Al Franken Saturday Night Live, Al Franken Snl Fundraiser, Franken Snl Fundraiser, Politics News

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) is set to reunite with some fellow Saturday Night Live veterans at a Democratic fundraiser this weekend in Los Angeles. The...

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Al Franken Went On 'Profanity Laced' Health Care Rant At Obama Adviser During Meeting

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Sen. Franken, David Axelrod, Al Franken, Axelrod, Franken Axelrod, Franken Health Care, Franken, Politics News

A frustrated Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) launched a profanity-laced diatribe directed at Obama's top adviser, David Axelrod, following meeting between O...

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Ryan Grim

Franken Amendment Picks Up Bipartisan Support

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: The Financial Fix, Credit Rating Agencies, Franken Amendment, Financial Reform, Wall Street Reform, Al Franken, Finreg, Credit Rating, Franken, Business News

A critical amendment to the Wall Street reform bill being debated in the Senate this week picked up a key Republican backer Tuesday. The amendment, sp...

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Friday Talking Points [110] -- Left Still Waiting For Rahm Apology

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Supreme Court, 60 Votes, Axelrod, White House, Judicial Activist, Corporation, Al Franken, Mullen, Mccain, Apology, Generals on the Ground, President, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Deficit, Comcast, Military, Emanuel, Midotw, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Levin, Carl Levin, Robert a Heinlein, Judicial Activism, Budget, Campaign Finance, Democrat, Nbc, Congress, Democrats, Tom Tancredo, Barack Obama, Admiral Mullen, Secretary Gates, Military Appropriations, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Offense, Shelby, Obstructionist, Branding, Republicans, Retarded, Senate, Gates, President Obama, Rahmbo, Civil Rights, Literacy Test, Democratic, Obama, Mike Mullen, Scotus, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Party of No, Dadt, Clinton, Robert Gates, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Obstructionism, Richard Shelby, Rahm, Hold, John McCain, Tancredo, Cbo, Framing, Franken, Gay, Heinlein, Earmarks, Chris Weigant, David Axelrod, Joe Lieberman, Nominee, Earmark, Secdef, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Democrats need to realize that they still have the biggest majority in both houses of Congress that they are likely to see in their lifetimes.

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Glenn Beck Pays Al Franken A Compliment (AUDIO)

The Huffington Post | Nick Wing | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Sen. Al Franken, Glenn Beck Video, Beck Franken, Glenn Beck Al Franken, Al Franken, Beck, Glenn Beck Radio, Glenn Beck, Senator Al Franken, Franken, Video, Politics News

Glenn Beck gave an unexpected -- albeit long-winded and backhanded -- compliment to Senator Al Franken on his radio program Wednesday morning. Beck ad...

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Al Franken: Spars With GOP Leadership On Senate Floor, Accuses Thune Of Not Reading Health Bill (VIDEO)

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Video, Thune, Senate Debate, Franken, Al Franken, Health Care, Franken Video, Franken Debate, Franken Health Care, Franken Thune, John Thune, Senate, Politics News

Al Franken (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) were off the charts on Monday, at least by the Senate's typical debate standards. In response to a speec...

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My 2009 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michael Jackson, Tea Party, Lobbyists, Progressives, Al Franken, Secession, Reform, Mccain, Alan Grayson, Awards, Farrah Fawcett, Steele, Arianna Huffington, Death Panel, Sarah Palin, Turncoat of the Year, Enough Already, Emanuel, Surge, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Argentina, Single Payer, Sotomayor, Rick Perry, Turncoat, Teabagger, Statue of Liberty, Health Care, Michael Steele, Public Option, Democrat, Sanford, Democrats, Biden, 2009, Barack Obama, Progressive, Rahm Emanuel, Health, Sonia Sotomayor, Best Comeback, Appalachian Trail, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Farrah, Worst Politician, Healthcare, Under the Bus, Nude Hiking Day, Mark Sanford, President, President Obama, Bill Owens, Cheney, Kate Jackson, Filibuster, Secede, Democratic, Obama, Iraq, Vitter, Most Original Thinker, Fair, Grayson, Republican, Lieberman, New Yorker, Atul Gawande, Mclaughlin, Clinton, Bummest Rap, Inauguration, Farrah Fawcett Majors, Most Stagnant Thinker, Most Defining Political Moment, Arlen Specter, Bill Clinton, Teleprompter, Michelle Obama, John McCain, Wall St, Specter, Biggest Loser, Franken, Person of the Year, Most Boring, McLaughlin Group, Texas, Worst Lie, Capitalist of the Year, Lobbyist, Poster, Swimsuit, Best Photo Op, Arianna, Wall Street, Biggest Winner, Chris Weigant, Gawande, Palin, Best Politician, Charlie's Angels, Under a Bus, Medicare, Afghanistan, Fairest Rap, Pu-Litzer, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome once again to our year-end wrap-up and awards ceremony. Honesty dictates that I immediately genuflect to The McLaughlin Group, from whom I have stolen all these award categories.

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McCain Denied Senator Extra Time To Finish Speaking In 2002

Think Progress | Faiz Shakir | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Senate, Health Care Debate, Mccain, Senate Health Care Bill, Al Franken, Health Care Reform, Health Care, John McCain, Franken, Politics News

Yesterday, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), acting on the orders of the Senate leadership, refused to grant Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) "an additional moment" to...

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Friday Talking Points [95] -- A Call To Action

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Progressives, Al Franken, Chief of Staff, Reform, Alan Grayson, Paul Kirk, Aid of the Party, Emanuel, Midotw, Glenn Greenwald, Nancy Pelosi, Department of Justice, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Peter Paul and Mary, Reid, Public Option, Democrat, House Progressives, Congress, Mary Travers, Democrats, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Acorn, Progressive, Constitution, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Party, Health, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Republicans, Senate, Healthcare, President Obama, David Kris, Sherrod Brown, Obama, Democratic, Democratic Party, Friday Talking Points, Fourth Amendment, Republican, Paul Wellstone, Pelosi, Defense Contractor, Co-Op, Baucus, Typewriter, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Rahm, Representative Grayson, Trigger, Time for All Good Men, House, Franken, Rahmbo, Surreal, Fraud, Chris Weigant, Max Baucus, Kris, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The progressives and Blue Dogs are going to have a showdown. It is going to culminate not in statements to the press (or the lack thereof), not in some whispered whip count, but rather in a very public vote.

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Al Franken Draws Map Of U.S.--From Memory

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Minnesota State Fair, Video, Minnesota, Franken Draws Map, Franken, Minnesota Public Radio, Al Franken, Al Franken Draws Map, Al Franken Map, Comedy News

Senator Al Franken drew a surprisingly accurate map of all fifty U.S. states at the Minnesota State Fair recently. The senator from Minnesota demons...

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Friday Talking Points [92] -- The End Of Silly Season

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Blue Dog, Floor, Children, Al Franken, Reform, Casey at the Bat, Town Hall, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Brown, Vetoes, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, West Wing, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Schoolchildren, Reid, Reconciliation, Lincoln, President Bartlet, Signs, Joint Session, Conference Committee, Committee, Public Option, Democrat, Congress, Address to Congress, Floor Vote, School, Democrats, Silly Season, Barack Obama, Progressive, Mddotw, Health, Harry Reid, Bill, Senate, Healthcare, Law, Senator Brown, President Obama, Speech, Sherrod Brown, Obama, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Legislation, Pelosi, Senator, Insurance, Kids, Schoolkids, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Speaker, Baseball, House, Franken, Blanche Lincoln, The West Wing, Chris Weigant, Health Insurance, Indoctrination, Veto, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Sadly, Obama's speech to school children has become mired in manufactured controversy from the right, with typical sky-is-falling rhetoric about the evil, evil man who occupies the Oval Office.

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Obama's Second Hundred Days

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michael Jackson, Supreme Court, Latina, Sessions, Burris, Empathy, A Tale of Two Cities, Al Franken, Reform, Dickens, Sarah Palin, Second 100 Days, Muslim, Latino, Sotomayor, Health Care, Analog Television, Birthers, Age of Foolishness, Budget, Democrat, Congress, Sanford, Democrats, Barack Obama, Transparency, Rahm Emanuel, First Hundred Days, Health, Sonia Sotomayor, Credit Card, Souter, Healthcare, Senate, Polls, Mark Sanford, Cap and Trade, Gates, President Obama, Cia, Speech, Second Hundred Days, Jeff Sessions, David Souter, Flu, Obama, Democratic, Iraq, Media, Scotus, Republican, Bush, Pelosi, Television, Iran, Gay Rights, Nuclear Weapons, Baucus, Russia, Beer Summit, Arlen Specter, Credit Card Reform, House, Specter, Photo Op, Msm, Beer, Franken, Worst of Times, Charles Dickens, Roland Burris, Gay, Mainstream Media, Waterloo, Best of Times, First 100 Days, Torture Photos, Chris Weigant, Palin, Cairo, Max Baucus, Bipartisanship, Torture, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Our look back at Obama's second 100 days will begin with a short overview, and then move on to the categories: "the best of times," "the worst of times," and "the age of (media) foolishness."

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I'm Sick of Hearing About the Poor, Poor Millionaires

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Warfare, Wealthy, Tax Rates, Al Franken, Reform, Tax the Rich, Media, Jim Webb, Republican, Reagan, Pelosi, Ultra Rich, Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Ultra Wealthy, Health Care, Robert a Heinlein, Taxes, House, Millionaires, Msm, Franken, War, Democrat, Billionaires, Rich, Webb, Democrats, Mainstream Media, Income Tax, Tax, Chris Weigant, Health Care Reform, Fox News, Class Warfare, Denmark, Healthcare, Heinlein, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Democrats have to get over their knee-jerk reaction to being labeled "tax and spenders" by their opposition. If higher taxes for millionaires are the way to pay for healthcare reform, then let everyone know it, and know why.

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Franken At Sotomayor Hearing Interrupted By Protester, In English And Spanish

AP/Huffington Post | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Franken Sotomayor, Al Franken Protester, Sotomayor Hearing, Al Franken, Franken Sonia Sotomayor, Al Franken Sonia Sotomayor, Franken Protester, Franken, Video, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The newest member of the Senate, former comedian Al Franken, was as serious as his colleagues in his opening statement at the Senat...

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Coleman v Franken: The Appeal, June 1, 9 AM

The Uptake | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Coleman, Franken, Minnesota Senate Race, Franken Coleman, Al Franken Senate, Norm Coleman, Al Franken, Politics News
The Uptake

Rumors say that the judges will roll out their decision around the 4th of July, though there isn't substance to that particular date. The bigger question will be: will Pawlenty - now rumored to be running for Prez - sign the certificate?

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Two Dozen Six Word Political Essays

Dave Hackel | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Olberman, Politics, Franken, Hannity, Obama, Fox, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, John Stewart, Economy, Bush, Politics News
Dave Hackel

As I find politics heartbreaking, I wanted to see if I could capture some of my unexpressed political angst and observations in six-word portions.

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More Bad News For Coleman: Ballot Pool Shrinks

Star Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Franken Coleman, Coleman Recount, Al Franken Norm Coleman, Coleman Election, Norm Coleman Al Franken, Franken Coleman Recount, Norm Coleman, Al Franken, Franken Recount, Coleman Franken, Coleman Lawsuit, Franken, Politics News

In the end, the pool turned out to be pretty shallow. Republican Norm Coleman had hoped an inspection of hundreds of secrecy envelopes holding reject...

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Coleman Wants Do-Over: Lawyers Ask That Election Be 'Set Aside' Altogether

Star Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Franken Coleman, Al Franken Senate, Minnesota Recount, Minnesota, Al Franken Norm Coleman, Al Franken, Minnesota Senate Race, Coleman Franken, Franken Recount, Franken, Politics News

For more than a month, Norm Coleman stressed flaws in Minnesota's election system. And on Monday, Coleman lawyer Jim Langdon wrote the three-judge pa...

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Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot* -- Wants U.S. to Fail, Claims "Creator" Language in Declaration is Preamble to Constitution, Then Gets Constitution Award from CPAC

Paul Abrams | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cpac, Failure, Rush Llimbaugh, United States, Preamble, Constitution, Conservative Movement, Rush Cpac, CPAC Conference, Rush Limbaugh Obama, Rush Wants Obama to Fail, Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Franken, Politics News
Paul Abrams

Rush made no bones about it. He wants the President of the United States to fail -- and he was wildly cheered at CPAC. Apparently, their "team" is the Conservative Movement, not the American people.

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Franken: "We're Going To Win Soon"

The Huffington Post | Stuart Whatley | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Franken Coleman, Air America, Al Franken Air America, Al Franken Senate, Al Franken Norm Coleman, Norm Coleman Al Franken, Al Franken, Al Franken Recount, Franken Recount, Coleman Franken, Franken, Al Franken Minnesota, Politics News

Al Franken gave his first national media interview since November to Air America's Mark Green Friday. Franken acknowledges the difficulties of his lo...

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