I fail to see how Al Franken is less qualified to be a U.S. Senator than Schwarzenegger or Reagan were to be governor, or Sonny friggin' Bono and Love Boat Guy were for Congress.

Bakestar wrote:I fail to see how Al Franken is less qualified to be a U.S. Senator than Schwarzenegger or Reagan were to be governor, or Sonny friggin' Bono and Love Boat Guy were for Congress.

Reagan had executive experience <wink> as the president of the screen actors guild of america. After giving a rousing speech for the failed presidential campaign of Goldwater in 1964 (sound familiar?), he was persuaded to run for governor 2 years later.

Or, actually, I agree. But nobody seems to care about qualifications, but these guys sure are electable.

Bakestar wrote:I fail to see how Al Franken is less qualified to be a U.S. Senator than Schwarzenegger or Reagan were to be governor, or Sonny friggin' Bono and Love Boat Guy were for Congress.

You forgot that dude from the Dukes Of Hazzard.

Apparently we're just not that into Caroline Kennedy.

This is a little weird for me. I've been going on the assumption that Paterson is basically a spineless careerist pol who was Peter Principled into an office he can't handle; now I find myself sort of hoping this is true, because it would suggest he won't make the (evidently) politically unpopular appointment of someone I don't think has any business going to the Senate. OTOH, I can't stand Andrew Cuomo either.

My choice would be Mark Green, who's among the world's most obnoxious individuals (as is Cuomo) but smart and (at least comparative to some of these other potzers) principled, or Elizabeth Holtzman, who's many kinds of awesome. But neither has much more shot of getting picked than I do myself, and for the same reason: none of us would help Paterson win in 2010.

I think the thread title should be changed. We are in the Al Franken Millennium.

stevelxa476 wrote:I think the thread title should be changed. We are in the Al Franken Millennium.

I met you about 1/10th of the way.

Bakestar wrote:I fail to see how Al Franken is less qualified to be a U.S. Senator than Schwarzenegger or Reagan were to be governor, or Sonny friggin' Bono and Love Boat Guy were for Congress.

the 2nd decade of century 21 will be the period in which we all realize that when it comes to Federal elected officeholders' "necessary" qualifications, the Founders nailed it

In the second decade of the new millenium
a comedic man of the air will come from the Twin Cities
Air, fire, rain, changes will come to the people
and the great nation will crumble in despair


--Nostradamus

Sounds like the Democrats might have an internal food fight over the choice of Leon Panetta as CIA director.

(...and there was much media rejoicing.)

So Mitch McConnell is the head of the Rep party in Washington huh? I hope they have some high draft picks.

Seeing him and Boehner vs Obama in news bytes over the next few years will be funny.

Obama making me warm and fuzzy about our future so far. Can the GOP survive his presidency?

Warszawa wrote:Obama making me warm and fuzzy about our future so far. Can the GOP survive his presidency?

They'll need to re-examine their core principles, yes, but there's no reason to think they wouldn't survive. The GOP "survived" FDR, who was inheriting similarly difficult economic times. What may change is the political consensus on certain issues, for better or worse. The Democrats have, in the past few decades, been seen as soft, at least with respect to national defense. And the GOP won a bunch of elections. So now the new consensus is that both major parties support massive defense spending. Hearing Obama talk tough about Afganhistan, investments in defense spending, and strong anti-terrorism rhetoric (not as strong as Bush, but that would be nearly impossible to replicate) signifies the transformation of the Democrats from the anti-war party. It wasn't winning elections. I expect similar types of changes in the GOP platform over the next 8 years. If they're getting hammered on certain issues, then they'll slowly change their stance.

I expect/hope the fiscal conservative faction of the GOP starts resonating again in the coming years, after federal spending spirals upwards.

Bakestar wrote:I fail to see how Al Franken is less qualified to be a U.S. Senator than Schwarzenegger or Reagan were to be governor, or Sonny friggin' Bono and Love Boat Guy were for Congress.

Or Jessie 'the body' Ventura to be governor, oh wait that really did happen too and in the same state.

Mr Bush, who was president from 1989-93, said on Fox News that Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor, was well qualified to rise to the highest position in the land.
"I'd like to see him run," said Mr Bush. "I'd like to see him be president one day, or senator, whatever, yes I would."
However, acknowledging that the family have controlled the White House for 12 of the past 20 years, he said: "Right now is probably a bad time. We've had enough Bushes in there."

I don't know whats funnier, his first statement or his second

The secretary of the Senate on Tuesday turned Roland Burris away from taking the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Burris left the Capitol offices of the secretary, Nancy Erickson, after a meeting of about 20 minutes.

Jeb Bush won't run for Senate. Damn.

That race is going to be expensive, and wide open.

Warszawa wrote:

Mr Bush, who was president from 1989-93, said on Fox News that Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor, was well qualified to rise to the highest position in the land.
"I'd like to see him run," said Mr Bush. "I'd like to see him be president one day, or senator, whatever, yes I would."
However, acknowledging that the family have controlled the White House for 12 of the past 20 years, he said: "Right now is probably a bad time. We've had enough Bushes in there."

I don't know whats funnier, his first statement or his second

It's not whether you can ever have enough bush (I mean, really)

It's whether bush ever has enough of you

Feinstein is chair of the Rules Committee, and she said yesterday that Burris should be seated. Without the ability to stall, looks like they might just seat him now.

Frankly I'm glad that/if Obama is pissing off some establishment Democrats. They've been sucky, spineless enablers for decades.

Bakestar wrote:Frankly I'm glad that/if Obama is pissing off some establishment Democrats. They've been sucky, spineless enablers for decades.

Feinstein is a clueless old bag. screw her

I kind of like Dianne Feinstein. She's one of the few Dems on Judiciary that ever considers voting for our judges. I think she's screwing up on this one from a political perspective, but probably not from a legal/Senate rules perspective.

I really don't get Bakestar's comment though. Obama was with Reid on this one. Feinstein's move was the one that shook this loose.