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Franken Announces Staff Hire For Eventual Senate Office
Al Franken has made a bold move to seize the mantle of victory in his disputed Senate race, with his campaign announcing a staff hire for his eventual Senate office.
Franken has hired Alana Petersen, who has worked for the past five years for Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), to be his state director. Franken said in a statement:
"I want Minnesotans to be able to rely on me for assistance with the federal government. Whether it's a Social Security check, a small business loan, or help for a returning veteran, my office will be there for the people of our state, following the examples set by Sen. Klobuchar, our fine Congressional delegation, and those who came before us. That's the Minnesota way, and nobody is better at it than Alana. Drawing on her wealth of experience and her ability to reach out to every constituency in Minnesota, when I have the privilege of being certified, she'll work with me to ensure that we hit the ground running on Day One."
Franken told Minnesota Public Radio: "It's a little difficult because we're still in a little bit of a legal limbo but we, again, I don't want to be presumptuous but I feel like it's irresponsible not to get a jump on this."
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
It is both correct and honorable for Al to enlist, prepare and hire a full staff to hit the ground running when he's FINALLY certified and sworn in.
The good people of his State deserve able representation AND staff to facilitate same.
Assuming they're seeking new employment, what has Norm's staff done for Minn. lately? NOTHING because he's no longer a Senator. But, he is a subject of interest to the Fed's and DOJ.
Seems old Norm may be preparing for his new role as a defendant. With practice, it may be something he becomes quite good at?
If ya live long enough, what goes around, comes around :)
Jon
April 20, 2009 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, *we* agree.
But if you ask Governor Perry down Texas way he'd be reckonin' this is just the kinda thing that makes so many Texans these days want to secede.
First the White House guy gets some big margin in the election, mainly by city people and whatever other elements [hint-hint], and before you know it he's trying to pass all kinds of laws and such without consulting the leaders of the several states. What happened to letting the people decide?
Now this other guy wins, and he figures he'll just pack off to Washington and live high off the hog as well, and leave his opponent just sucking air. As Governor Perry would tell ya, "See, Jon, this is why decent folks minding their own business can get themselves so riled up."
April 20, 2009 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kudos to Franken for handling this entire fiasco in a manner that shows reserve and patience. This is a needed series of staffing actions that are entirely understandable and expected now that the writing on the wall is clear, and in neon.
My favorite Franken anecdaote shows just how far he has come in terms of maturity and responsibility. Back when Saturday Night Live first became hot--I mean the white hot phenomenon of Belushi, Chase, Aykroyd, Radner, Curtin, Newman, and Morris, back in that historic and breathtaking period of the end of 1975--everyone wanted tickets to the show. I mean, everyone. It was the Studio 54 of comedy. Hell, they were, as Tom Shales described it, the Beatles of Comedy. And getting tickets to see the show was the golden ticket in New York.
And one day Henry Kissinger's office called to get tickets for one of his family members. It was, I believe, in the crunch hours of Friday before the show, and everyone was amped (on adrenaline and, not surprisingly, appreciable amounts of narcotics). So as everyone is running around, a producer says that Henry Kissinger's office is on the phone, and he wants tickets. So Franken, who was standing there, said, "I'll take this," and he grabs the phone and he shouts, "Tell Henry Kissinger that if he wanted tickets to this show, then he SHOULDN'T HAVE ILLEGALLY FUCKING BOMBED CAMBODIA!" and slammed the phone down.
That man is now going to be a United States Senator. And I cannot say I am disappointed.
April 20, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sadly, that fearless and edgy "Al" seems to have been retired, to make him palatable for mass consumption. It must just kill a guy who, as a humorist, has spent decades snapping the lame on a millisecond's notice to stifle his unique and brilliant comedic impulses, so as not to "offend".
Some will say (look below; they'll say it right here, in a matter of moments!) that this strategy of restrained adulthood is what got Al elected, so what's the problem?
Well, the problem will be the same problem all Dem firebrand politicians eventually developed, in the era of scorched-earth Republican oppo research: in time, you're likely to see Senator Al "moderate" a lot of his positions, so as not to be attacked by the right and his negatives driven-up.
Funny thing is, though... the attacks never do stop. And the Democrats never do learn that.
But their progressive tendencies do tend to get neutered, in the end. I just don't want to see Al's go the way of where his much-beloved laugh lines apparently went.
April 20, 2009 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think you need to worry about that. As Al Franken proved in his victorious Senate campaign, and as Rachel Maddow demonstrates every weekday on Air America radio and MSNBC, you don't have to play the part of the raging hemorrhoid to stand your ground as a liberal and make your point as a progressive.
April 20, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the reminder on Republican tactics.
This is why I often equate Republicans and Russians. Back when Reagan was negotiating with them, he was warned, by his own people, that when you give something to the Russians, they don't give something in return, they just wait to see what else you'll give up.
Sounds just like the Republicans in Congress.
I guess it's the totalitarian mind, that 28% that need to be led by someone with simple answers through a black-and-white world....
And the Dems better wake up to it. The wishes of the GOP need to be ignored for a while...
April 21, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it's been a matter of moments (see above) and I'll say it: Franken has grown up. He's matured, and doesn't go off half-cocked. At the same time he hasn't lost his wit, his humanity, his vision for a morally upstanding Minnesota and America. So he's not a free-ranging asshole anymore. So what? Plenty of those.
April 20, 2009 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's my guy. When he is seated in the senate everything will be better.
April 21, 2009 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is no better man that progressives could have in the Senate than Al Franken, who is truly a progressive, and who is not afraid to speak his mind. I hope he turns out to be a Will rogers figure in American politics. The political money machine process has a way of tainting even the best among them, but the day Al Franken sits in the U.S. Senate as the junior senator of Minnesota will be a fucking great day for the Country. And I don't care whose head explodes over it -- the idea that it grinds the bowel of Faux News, Rush, Colter, Savage, Malkin and the entire GOP makes me smile.
April 21, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink