Run, Al, run!

He's still being dodgy about whether he's going to run against our plastic stepford senator, Norm Coleman, in 2008…but the Al Franken interview in the City Pages is worth a read. Another thing he doesn't do is plug his Midwest Values PAC, which is a really interesting idea. It's a kind of bloggy platform for raising money and promoting the expression of progressive ideas, but it's seriously underutilized.

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He's in. No doubt, he passed up the last one to run against Coleman. After the media nonsense following the Wellstone ceremony, it's personal for him.

"underutilized" platform for expressing progressive values?

I have discovered in attempting that very expression in my blog that there is a problem: progressives are diverse and much more complex politically than single issue voters who hopefully cling to a vague chant like "family values". Speaking for progressives, what do you actually say that fits on billboards and 15 second political spots?

Don't get me wrong here. I wouldn't have bothered blogging at all if I weren't on fire with the conviction that a progressive has more and more civic minded and more useful "values" in his pinky than a whole bus load of fundies could quote or explain.

Isn't Al more useful as he is? After all, if he becomes a US Senator for Minnesota, won't he get bogged down in typical Senatorial things, like trying to get government contracts for Hormel meat products or other Minnesota products?

I just think it's too bad he's running with midwestern values instead of those of mainstream America, i.e. the coasts where there are actually people. Ok, ok, he's running in the midwest. I joke. But it annoys the fuck out of me when people imply that they have a better grasp of morality just because they have to drive 5 miles to see a tree or a person.

I guess he does make a pretty good politician.

Cute jab, JMcH, but guilt by association doesn't hold much water. Is that the best critique you can come up with? A smear?

By Jeff Schmidt (not verified) on 19 Apr 2006 #permalink

Franken can certaintly criticize Republicans well, but would he really make a good senator?

Meh, I'd vote for him.

Franken can certaintly criticize Republicans well, but would he really make a good senator?

Meh, I'd vote for him.

Is that the best critique you can come up with? A smear?

Just trying to fit in here. Besides, I've listened to Gasping For Air America Radio and Franken is a master of smear. Compared to him, I'm a rank amateur at it.

I guess it's all ultimately a matter of you all dishing it out while being unable to take it.

In all seriousness, I sincerely hope Franken challenges Coleman. It will ensure Coleman's re-election.

"After the media nonsense following the Wellstone ceremony, it's personal for him."

Right. Nobody out-asses Al...nobody.

By concrete dear (not verified) on 19 Apr 2006 #permalink