Sen. Al Franken Sworn Into Office
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has now been sworn into office as the junior Senator from Minnesota, six months and one day after his term would have otherwise begun if not for the super-close election and resulting litigation that kept his victory bottled up.
The former Saturday Night Live performer, author, radio host and Democratic activist, was administered the oath of office by Vice President Joe Biden, and was accompanied by his senior Senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, and former Vice President Walter Mondale.
After Biden said, "Congratulations, Senator," a raucous round of applause broke out in the chamber -- even from the folks on the Republican side of the aisle who showed up. Sen. Franken then hugged many of his new colleagues.
Franken will have a busy time ahead of him -- with seats on the Health and Judiciary committees, he'll be working on both health care reform and the Supreme Court confirmation process for Sonia Sotomayor.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
why does everyone want Al to take it easy and not ruffle feathers? We need a progressive voice now! Move mountains Al!
July 7, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh my yes. Move mountains, Al. You know you always wanted to, now's your chance. God bless you & that amazing force in your life, Frannie.
July 7, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I mirror the sentiment of everyone here when I say, "it's about damn time." Congratulations to Senator Franken; I will look forward to seeing him kick ass and take names on the Health and Judiciary committees.
July 7, 2009 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
yup
July 7, 2009 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love it when a plan comes together.
July 7, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except Franken, Reid announced, won't be getting his HELP committee assignment until after the committee is done with the health care bill. Not that the votes would change much when Franken replaces Sheldon Whitehouse on the committee.
July 7, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thus ends Eric's Career as the chronicler of this Coleman/Franken election insanity.
Three cheers for Eric! Nicely done, man. Excellent coverage from start to finish.
July 7, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seconded!
July 7, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Third!
July 7, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fourthed. Is that even a word?
July 7, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Palin can have the "Department of Law" and Bush can have "subliminable", you are allowed "Fourthed".
July 7, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get started on the book, Eric!
July 7, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
No more excuses, Harry Reid. If you can't keep your caucus in line on procedural votes, then step aside for a Majority Leader who can.
July 7, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. While sometimes annoying, it's a good thing that Democrats aren't browbeaten into staying in lockstep like Republicans on substantive issues, but if any of them support a Republican filibuster they ought to be drummed out of the Senate, followed by Reid if he can't stop them.
July 7, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Congratulations, Senator Franken! Thanks Eric!
July 7, 2009 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
That really put a smile on my face.
Congratulations, Senator Franken!
July 7, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Honestly, I never thought I'd see this happen this year.
July 7, 2009 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, shouldn't Norm go ahead and pay the lost interest on six months' back pay Al received today? You know, along with the legal expenses. . . .
July 7, 2009 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't wait to hear Bill-o say the words "Minnesota Senator Al Franken." (I know it's childish, but... so is O'Reilly)
Congratulations, Senator!
July 7, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
He won't
July 7, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Finally!
Congratulations S-E-N-A-T-O-R Franken.
July 7, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
ooh, i actually got a little choked up watching that. Go, Franken! Give 'em hell.
July 7, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I did get choked up! I contributed to his campaign and I'm from the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania! WAY TO GO AL!
Thank you Eric for keeping us updated. You sure helped me explain the ins and outs of this hole debacle with my eighth grade Political Science class! I hope Senator Franken recognizes you in some way evensually.
July 7, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
*I mean whole, not hole . . . OK, maybe I DID mean hole.
July 7, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and to think that the guy in the cubicle next to mine is watching the Michael Jackson funeral. Franken's swearing-in is a lot more fun!
And nice choice of companions in Sen. Klobuchar and former VP Mondale although it would have been nice to have the widow Wellstone on hand...
July 7, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get me started on that. Parts of 3 main freeways were closed for the family's procession from Encino to downtown. This occured around 8 a.m. LA freeways are bad enough without this kind of unnecessary business at rush hour. 3200 LAPD on duty just for this.
I hope we get a state budget soon . . . more IOU's issued today.
July 7, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Franken...HURRAY!!!
July 7, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
And none too soon! Way to stick to your guns, Al!
July 7, 2009 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Paul Wellstone would be proud, Minnesota will be proud, I am proud and happy. Great job getting to this high office. Now comes the fun part, Al. You actually get to vote, you actually get to fight for and win reform of health care with either universal single payer or a public option with NO trigger tricks. You also get to help seat a new Supreme Court justice. Quite a civics test for the freshman, but you are up for it. Now get to work and be yourself. You don't do stodgy very well.
July 7, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Franken have a law degree? I thought that was a requirement to sit on the Judiciary Committee.
July 8, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink