Al Franken

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McConnell Snaps at Franken: 'This Isn't SNL'

Senate minority leader not amused by funny faces

(Newser) - There was too much of the funnyman about Al Franken for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday. The comedian-turned-senator was presiding over the Senate as McConnell made a speech opposing Elena Kagan's confirmation to the Supreme Court . Franken appeared to be shifting in his seat and making faces, which McConnell...

Scott Brown: the GOP's New Go-to Guy

Massachusetts senator milking fame, growing influence

(Newser) - It's not every day that sitting presidents schedule a sit-down with freshman senators from the other party, but then, Politico notes, Scott Brown isn't your average freshman senator. In his brief time in the Senate, he’s become one of the most recognizable influential Republicans, and the party’s “...

Senators to Facebook: Privacy Changes Suck

Oh, and fancy an FTC investigation?

(Newser) - It's not just tech geeks freaking out about the new Facebook changes; apparently they're causing hand-wringing in the very halls of Congress. Four Democratic senators—Chuck Schumer, Al Franken, Mark Begich and Michael Bennet—have sent an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg complaining that the changes give users less control...

O'Reilly Busts Blogger for Franken Ambush
 O'Reilly Busts Blogger  
 for Franken Ambush  
'you get more if you give a little'
Apr 1, 2010 10:41 AM CDT

O'Reilly Busts Blogger for Franken Ambush

'You were disrespectful,' Fox host tells Jason Mattera.

(Newser) - Listen up, Bill O’Reilly tells young conservative blogger/author/ambush interviewer Jason Mattera: We can’t help being disrespectful sometimes, but it’s no way to get a scoop, or even nail an opponent. O’Reilly was referring to Mattera’s videotaped altercation with Al Franken, in which Mattera claims the...

Reform Foes Send Condom, Threats to Lawmaker

Betty McCollum also got gas-soaked flag

(Newser) - Threats and abuse aimed at Democratic lawmakers who voted for health care reform continue, as Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum received numerous letters, including one containing a condom and another with a piece of a shredded American flag soaked in gasoline. The letter accompanying the condom reads, “Betty McCollum...

Senator Franken Is Finally Being Funny Again

He now seems more comfortable cracking jokes

(Newser) - Senate colleagues expecting humor from funnyman and freshman lawmaker Al Franken have gotten just the opposite, though insiders say the Minnesota senator is getting into the groove and loosening up a bit. Since taking office last year, Franken has snapped at administration officials , Joe Lieberman , and Republican legislators. Now, he’...

Jim Bunning Blocks More Obama Nominees

... over Canadian tobacco-flavoring law

(Newser) - Jim Bunning’s latest parliamentary maneuvering isn’t going to get in the way of anyone’s unemployment benefits, but might strike some as silly all the same: The Republican senator is blocking two minor Obama administration nominees to protest a Canadian law banning tobacco flavorings. And while the issue...

Al Franken Lashes White House Over Health Care Leadership

Takes David Axelrod to task in closed door meeting

(Newser) - Al Franken flipped out at David Axelrod Wednesday, taking him and the administration to task for failing to provide leadership on the health care bill. The outburst came after President Obama urged Senate Democrats to “finish the job,” but didn’t give them any idea how to do...

Top Crossover Success Stories
 Top Crossover Success Stories 
Dec 27, 2009 12:42 PM CST

Top Crossover Success Stories

Zooey Deschanel, Al Franken among two-field stars

(Newser) - We’ve seen lots of celebrities crash and burn in endeavors outside the area where they’ve made their mark; from James Brady Ryan , a look at the top five crossover successes:
  • Zooey Deschanel: Following the acting-to-singing trail blazed by “the mostly bland J.Lo, the horrendous Lindsay Lohan,
...

Dodd Rips Newbies—Ahem, Franken—for Lacking 'Civility'

Comment may be dig at Minn. freshman, who shut down Lieberman

(Newser) - Chris Dodd battled a perceived lack of decorum in the Senate yesterday with some stern language from the floor. The Connecticut Democrat did not name names but rather cryptically chastised the Senate’s “newer members” for failing “to understand how the Senate has worked for more than two...

Franken Won't Let Lieberman Speak

 Franken 
 Won't Let 
 Lieberman 
 Speak 
'i object'
Dec 17, 2009 5:44 PM CST

Franken Won't Let Lieberman Speak

He rejects request for extra time on the Senate floor

(Newser) - Sit down and zip it, Joe. That's essentially what Al Franken told Joe Lieberman to do today, albeit couched in polite Senate speak. When Lieberman used up his allotted time speaking on health care, he asked for unanimous consent for a bit more time. That's usually a formality. It just...

Defense Dept. Opposed Anti-Rape Rule for Contractors

But lefties ripped GOP senators for nay votes

(Newser) - When 30 Republicans voted against an Al Franken amendment prohibiting defense contractors from forcing their employees to agree not to sue if they’re raped, Jon Stewart and liberals everywhere went ballistic. But those 30 Republicans weren’t alone, the Huffington Post reports; the Defense Department opposed the amendment as...

Franken Gets Funny Again
 Franken Gets 
 Funny Again 



Sep 14, 2009 8:30 AM CDT

Franken Gets Funny Again

Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

(Newser) - As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,...

Selleck For Congress: Poll
 Selleck For Congress: Poll 
Sep 3, 2009 5:05 PM CDT

Selleck For Congress: Poll

US News readers want Selleck to run

(Newser) - Al Franken's a senator and Arnold Schwarzenegger's a governor—so US News and World Report asked readers which other celebs they'd like to see in Congress. The winner? Magnum, PI, himself, Tom Selleck, with 41% of the vote. Respondents seem be from all over the political spectrum: Selleck is a...

'Informed' Franken Wows Lawmakers
'Informed' Franken
Wows Lawmakers
Aug 1, 2009 4:52 PM CDT

'Informed' Franken Wows Lawmakers

Between Sotomayor and health care, comedian-turned-senator has been busy

(Newser) - A few weeks into his much-delayed Senate career, Al Franken is already winning plaudits from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the AP reports. A member of two key Senate committees, the Minnesota Democrat has jumped into hot-button debates—like Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation and health care reform—and...

Top Obama Birthday Gifts

(Newser) - President Obama’s birthday is right around the corner—no matter where Lou Dobbs thinks he was born—but what do you get the leader of the free world? Politico asked various Washingtonians their thoughts for Tuesday's big occasion. Some notable responses:
  • Joe Biden: “It’s a surprise!”
...

Sen. Franken Debuts in Sotomayor Hearings

(Newser) - The voice was Stuart Smalley, but the occasion was no joke, and Sen. Al Franken, on his fifth day in office, was sober and respectful as he made his public debut during Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings today. Franken said deferentially that he had much to learn from his colleagues, and...

Baldwin to CNN Anchor: I'll Run If I Want To
Baldwin to CNN Anchor: I'll Run If I Want To
OPINION
Jul 9, 2009 3:56 PM CDT

Baldwin to CNN Anchor: I'll Run If I Want To

Would-be pol threatens to discuss hit-and-run bust...whoops

(Newser) - CNN’s Jack Cafferty sneered at Alec Baldwin’s possible entry into politics yesterday, noting that while newly sworn-in Sen. Al Franken is “Harvard educated,” Baldwin’s “credentials are questionable”—and the NYU grad is having none of it. “Perhaps New York University should print...

Franken Officially Sworn In
 Franken Officially Sworn In 
Jul 7, 2009 12:19 PM CDT

Franken Officially Sworn In

(Newser) - Eight months after the election, Al Franken finally became Minnesota’s junior senator today, Politico reports. Joe Biden swore the former funnyman in on the same Bible late Democratic Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone used. “Congratulations Senator,” said the vice president, causing the Senate gallery to erupt in cheers....

Franken Plays It So Straight It's Funny

But doggone it, people like him

(Newser) - Al Franken the comedian is finally becoming Al Franken the senator, and his Senate colleagues were quick to demonstrate yesterday that, doggone it, they like him, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post. The only humor at a welcoming press conference was (apparently) unintentional, as Majority Leader Harry Reid intoned,...

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