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Franken: Inhofe's "Clown" Comment "Might Be An Incredible Compliment"
Sen.-elect Al Franken (D-MN) appeared on the Bill Press Show this morning, and responded to Sen. Jim Inhofe's (R-OK) remarks about the recent election victory by "the clown from Minnesota."
"I don't know how Sen. Inhofe regards clowns, but it might be an incredible compliment," said Franken.
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Brian
Inhofe is ridicules. The guy just barely learned how to use utensils to eat.
July 2, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
The joy of how Senator Franken will handle the wing nuts! keep it up!
July 2, 2009 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's going to raise the bar on responding to attacks and insults.
Can't wait for the "well, he uses funny language and big words" approach...
July 2, 2009 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
A nice example of why Al is going to be great in the Senate. He will be great at popping the Republican's outrage balloons.
July 2, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Al -- a class act. More to come...
July 2, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
that al franken is so ANGRY. i don't know what minnesota was thinking! just makes my blood BOIL!!!!!
July 2, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Deal! cried the losers, while the winners laughed and laughed!
Ha haaa!
July 2, 2009 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, but I love what Al does with his anger...
and as I've said before, I can't wait until the author of Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot (and Other Observations) takes his seat in the US Senate.
Now I don't have to. Much longer, anyway...
Heads will be exploding from Premiere Radio Networks to Faux News to right-blogistan ...
July 2, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
shoulda said, they already are...
July 2, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
except my point is that al is cool as a cucumber as seen in this deft, witty deflection of inhofe's insult.
July 2, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. The whole attempt by the Right to tag Franken with "angry!" is just bizarre. I understand that claiming liberals are angry is part and parcel of their usual projection (our supporters are upset that you're starting wars and blocking universal healthcare, your supporters are shouting death threats at campaign rallies -- and you think the problem is that we're angry?), but this seems over the top even for them.
Consider the initial encounter between Franken and O'Reilly that resulted in the Fox lawsuit that got laughed out of court -- Franken was somewhat bemused, and O'Reilly was seething with rage. If he didn't get "angry" in that situation, what possible basis is there for claiming he's an "angry" person, other than "who you gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?"
July 2, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry, my snark-o-meter was functioning. :) One can, of course, be skillful in handling anger, and humor is definitely a way of handling and expressing it in an extremely disarming way. Having read RLIABFO I do sense that Al is angry at what he writes about, as well he should be, as well anyone should be. It's not gentle humor. It's biting, and outrageous, and somewhat outraged, and totally appropriate. And yes, in this case he chose the perfect response to this particular pathetic jab from Inhofe. The right wing is going to have trouble figuring out how to deal with this man.
July 3, 2009 1:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Franken followed that statement up with his trademark laugh at his own joke that has gotta get under the skin of conservatives.
July 2, 2009 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nobody tops Dennis Miller in that regard.
Well, Joan Rivers maybe...
July 2, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. In King Lear, it was the motley fool who tried to warn the king of the treachery and conspiracy roiling beneath the surface of the outwardly pleasant court life.
I doubt there's much Shakespeare Inhofe's ever read, but that should come as no surprise.
July 2, 2009 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
One thing for sure. Al will never be over sensitive.
He can take all that he dishes out. ha!
July 2, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Weird, the only other place I saw Al referred to as a clown was on Aljazeera.net yesterday. Does this mean the right wing nuts are getting their talking points from a Muslim extremist news source? If that's the case, as it would seem, then are they abandoning Jesus for Allah? It would certainly explain their low levels of tolerance and belief in torture.
July 2, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Al has a point. I would much rather be a clown than be Joe Lieberman. Or Mitch McConnell. Or John Boehner. Or Eric Cantor. Or Michele Bachmann.
At least clowns provide a useful service for people.
July 2, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Inhofe vs. Franken
The question is, will Inhofe recognize when he's getting his ass handed to him?
July 2, 2009 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do Republicans want to have an honest debate about health care?
July 2, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Inhofe: why do you hate clowns?
July 2, 2009 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would rather be a clown than a buffoon. Clowns are intentionally amusing. It takes years of training to become a successful clown.
On the other hand, there is nothing intentional about buffoonery. No training or self awareness is needed to reach the hights of buffoonery. Apparently Senators from Oklahoma are natural born buffoons.
July 2, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Buffoons, indeed.
July 2, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad he's eased up a bit and allowed some humor in public. Franken seriously clamped down on himself during the campaign, I assume trying to appear serious. I heard him speak at a couple fundraisers last week, and I noticed he joked more and felt freer to go off-script. Especially look at his speech yesterday, where he was adept at moving from almost chocking up to chuckling. It felt natural, though of course a good performance feels natural.
He definitely hit his stride in the third year of the campaign. Too bad it's ended ;)
July 2, 2009 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, but his Senate term is just beginning!
I think Barney Frank is going to have some real competition for "wittiest member of Congress," unless we separate it into House/Senate or amateur/professional divisions...
July 2, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink