International Falls Daily Journal - Al Franken in the Icebox, By FAYE WHITBECK, Staff Writer - Comments

For a complete list of

Emilyjacinda — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:10:07 -0600

For a complete list of endorsements, including labor unions, progressive organizations, and elected officials, please visit: www.alfranken.com/endorsements

Writing books that made the

Emilyjacinda — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:13:51 -0600

Writing books that made the New York Best Sellers list, and receiving Emmy's communicate to me that he has power and talent in expressing his political and comedic views.

EmilyJ, Are you talking

roj2000 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:17:11 -0600

EmilyJ,

Are you talking about President G.W. Bush?? But, if you are talking about the "Big Al Franken", are you not a little bit ahead of yourself, seeing that he has not even been elected?? The fullness of time has not even shown him to be a great comedian, or talk show host!!!!

What political leader can

Emilyjacinda — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:37:44 -0600

What political leader can you name that has never made a single mistake?

The fullness of time will show him as a progressive and effective leader.

Quick question, when

roj2000 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:17:26 -0600

Quick question, when Minnesota lost Senator Wellstone in that unfortunate accident, why didn't they have the "great one" Al Franken, step up to the plate and run against Coleman?? No, you all had to dig deep for an "Oldie but moldie" Mondale, and wake him up in an old folks home and try a feeble attempt to beat Norm. Heck, TLJ's dog could have gotten more votes than Mondale!! But, now Big Al, is the best and greatest Minnehaha, has ever produced. My, what a difference a few years makes. But Big Al, is like all of the other candidates, "a great improv comedian", but little else. But, I am going to search Big Al's record and see of he has any track record of strongly supporting ANY issue.

So the question I have for

Charley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:50:47 -0600

So the question I have for you, Emilyjacinda: Are you more comfortable with someone who was fooled by the lies than someone who wasn't fooled. That is, if they are both passionate critics of the war now. And the follow-up question: Will you be equally comfortable if Al Franken believes the next series of lies (say, about Iran) and those new lies end up even more tragic than the war we are in right now. What I see is that Al Franken began to oppose the war at about the same time a super-majority of Americans began to oppose it. What I see is that Al Franken began to call for ending the occupation a bit after most Americans had reached the opinion that the occupation was doomed. So I suppose it depends on whether you want your senator to be a leader or a follower. But if you really want a follower, then Norm Coleman would fit that category as well.

Pointing out that Franken

Emilyjacinda — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:46:05 -0600

Pointing out that Franken may have supported the Iraq war in the begining doesn't matter much to me.

Many Americans did support the war in the beginning, because we were mislead. We thought we started this war because of the attacks on 9/11 and/or to help out a less fortunate war torn country. Our "President" kept his real motives hidden until too late.

Anyone who has followed Al Franken should know that he has passionately spoken out against the Iraq war. He, like many Americans express regret about not knowing the real motives for this war. Like many Americans we didn't suspect the obscene and immoral motivations behind our involvement.

Dearest Norpole, you say

Charley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:55:30 -0600

Dearest Norpole, you say that it is false to claim that Franken initially supported the war, but you don't really contradict my statement. You only say that Franken now opposes the lies and fear-mongering used to get us into the war. My point is that Franken was also subject to this hysteria in his initial support of the war, and that fact alone makes me suspect him as a leader. If I am incorrect in saying that Franken initially supported the war, please bring out some public (or private) statement of his opposing the invasion before it happened. If I am incorrect is understanding that he supported the war for some years, again, please show me some early indication that his lapse in judgment was only brief. I am not trying to make up facts here. My understanding is that Franken initially supported the war, supported it for years rather than months, opposed withdrawing American forces until quite recently. Please correct me if I am mistaken. I will tell you that even right this minute, I am not clear if Franken wants to withdraw ALL U.S. troops and contractors, or merely enough to pressure the Maliki government into concessions, and I have been to Franken's website within the past week and talked to key Franken staffers within the past 3 days. But if you think I am mistaken, please directly address my concerns. Otherwise, I will continue to put my volunteer time and money into a campaign with a candidate I consider to be more courageous and better informed: Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

The good people of

IFallsRon — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:43:14 -0600

The good people of Cottonwood would like to know how Al plans to protects our borders.

TLJ, I'm sure if Al Franken

roj2000 — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:11:17 -0600

TLJ,

I'm sure if Al Franken wanted to go fishing up on Stop Island this summer, his buddy, George Soros, would send a jet to get him. What's wrong with having a friend or two with a few bucks in the bank. Besides, when "Chaaaaaaaange" comes about, the HMO Billionaire, will be broke, since we will be using a socialist health care system. I wonder what Big Al's views are on health care? Senator Norm "Full Disclosure" Coleman, will be hard to beat, unless he decides to use the "Men's room" at the MSP Airport. Someone should give "Big Al" a heads up on that. Who knows what I-Falls graduate will be in the stall next door!!

One of the more intriguing

Thomas L. Johnson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:27:04 -0600

One of the more intriguing questions for me is the connection between Norm Coleman and Richard Burke. [I suspect that Al Franken is visiting the Falls just to wangle an invite to the island mansion of a billionaire like Norm. And he doesn't mean Stop Island. There have to be those on this blog, the silent majority, who can likely discuss this oft-rumored connection between the HMO billionaire and the senior senator from Minnesota.

Damning words, indeed.

Thomas L. Johnson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:18:21 -0600

Damning words, indeed.

I realize that this blog is

norpole — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:39:54 -0600

I realize that this blog is a way to communicate ideas, and thoughts and sometimes, feelings, but when a fellow blogger says that Al Franken supported the Iraq War and had done so from the beginning is simply false. In Franken's book, "The Truth (With Jokes)", he outlines throughout the book the fear machine that George Bush used against the American people to fabricate situations to put us in an untenable position. The reality of Al Franken and his campaign is opposite of George Bush, Republicans in general and the reasons why our country is mired in a Middle Eastern civil war.

Actually, I worry a lot

Charley — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:46:28 -0600

Actually, I worry a lot about Franken's judgment. He was an early and long supporter of the Iraq war, which has cost over a half-trillion dollars and nearly 4000 American lives and doesn't seem to have accomplished much. Al Franken actually seems to be behind the curve on quite a number of issues. I would rather have a candidate who looks ahead a bit, someone like Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

IFallsRon, Well said

roj2000 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:57:47 -0600

IFallsRon,

Well said indeed!!!! I like your style....

Al Franken in the Icebox, By FAYE WHITBECK, Staff Writer

Faye Whitbeck — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:14:51 -0600

Celebrity now candidate, Al Franken talks with The Daily Journal

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough ... and doggone it, people like me." Stuart Smalley, Fictional character and book of same name by Al Franken

For those familiar with Al Franken’s celebrity, contemplating a conversation with him easily brings images of self-help guru “Stuart Smalley,” a character he created, and his spoofs on 12-step rehab programs.